The Relationship Between Tectonic and Magmatic Processes at 1°N Latitude of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Mid-Atlantic Ridge; morphostructural; non-transform discontinuities.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge presents extreme geodynamic complexity, and understanding this is essential for comprehending the dynamics and processes associated with divergent plate tectonics. This study investigates the relationship between tectonic and magmatic processes in the formation and evolution of geological faults, focusing on the local morphology and geodynamic dynamics of the 1°N latitude region of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The research was conducted aboard the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Research Ship (NpqHOc) Vital de Oliveira, as part of the QWHALES, SeabedMap, and PQ MapMar projects. For data collection, an EM-122 multibeam echosounder was used, with a 12 kHz frequency, a 60o swath, and a speed of 7 knots. The data were processed using Caris HIPS & SIPS software, generating a bathymetric and backscatter map with a resolution of 50 meters. Based on the processed bathymetric data, it was possible to identify the morphology of slow-spreading ocean ridges through derived GIS products such as aspect, slope, Sobel filter, curvature, and roughness. By using these different products, a morphostructural interpretation of the area was carried out, identifying several geological features, such as the axial valley, axial volcanic ridge (AVR), volcanic chains, neovolcanic zone, location of the spreading axis, main faults, seamounts, non-transform discontinuities (NTD), and a possible Oceanic Core Complex (OCC). This interpretation supports and contributes to the foundational understanding of the interactions between magmatism and tectonism in shaping the Mid-Atlantic Ridge of the study area.