Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
which seems to be the type of crust occurring in most ophiolites. The causes of backarc
spreading are diverse and much debated. In some cases the overlying plate seems to
move away from the subducting plate, leaving the island arc in place with a new spread-
ing area behind. Alternatively, the down-going subducting plate may either generate a
rising and spreading mantle
diapir
of molten rock above it, or drag on the overlying
mantle, causing it to form secondary convection cells that fracture the overlying ocean-
ic crust.
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