(
2012-06)
Blackman, Donna K.; Appelgate, B.; German, Christopher R.; Thurber, Andrew R.; Henig, A. S.
Morphology of four spreading segments on the southern Chile Rise is described based on
multi-beam bathymetric data collected along the axial zones. The distribution of axial volcanoes,
the character of rift valley scarps, and the average depths vary between Segment 1 in the south,
terminating at the Chile Triple Junction, and Segment 4 in the north, which are separated by
three intervening transform faults. Despite this general variability, there is a consistent pattern of
clockwise rotation of the southern-most axial volcanic ridge within each of Segments 2, 3, and 4,
relative to the overall trend of the rift valley. A combination of local ridge-transform intersection
stresses and regional tectonics may influence spreading axis evolution in this sense.
