Description: Highlights • 2-D velocity models at the highest slip patch during the Chilean 2010 Mw 8.8 earthquake. • The highest slip patch correlates with large accretionary prisms. • The highest slip patch correlates with low continental slope angles. • A similar pattern is observed along the giant 1960 Mw 9.5 earthquake rupture area. Abstract Subduction megathrust earthquakes show complex rupture behaviour and large lateral variations of slip. However, the factors controlling seismic slip are still under debate. Here, we present 2-D velocity-depth tomographic models across four trench-perpendicular wide angle seismic profiles complemented with high resolution bathymetric data in the area of maximum coseismic slip of the 8.8 Maule 2010 megathrust earthquake (central Chile, 34°–36°S). Results show an abrupt lateral velocity gradient in the trench-perpendicular direction (from 5.0 to 6.0 km/s) interpreted as the contact between the accretionary prism and continental framework rock whose superficial expression spatially correlates with the slope-shelf break. The accretionary prism is composed of two bodies: (1) an outer accretionary wedge (5–10 km wide) characterized by low seismic velocities of 1.8–3.0 km/s interpreted as an outer frontal prism of poorly compacted and hydrated sediment, and (2) the middle wedge (∼50 km wide) with velocities of 3.0–5.0 km/s interpreted as a middle prism composed by compacted and lithified sediment. In addition, the maximum average coseismic slip of the 2010 megathrust event is fairly coincident with the region where the accretionary prism and continental slope are widest (50–60 km wide), and the continental slope angle is low (〈5°). We observe a similar relation along the rupture area of the largest instrumentally recorded Valdivia 1960 9.5 megathrust earthquake. For the case of the Maule event, published differential multibeam bathymetric data confirms that coseismic slip must have propagated up to ∼6 km landwards of the deformation front and hence practically the entire base of the middle prism. Sediment dewatering and compaction processes might explain the competent rheology of the middle prism allowing shallow earthquake rupture. In contrast, the outer frontal prism made of poorly consolidated sediment has impeded the rupture up to the deformation front as high resolution seismic reflection and multibeam bathymetric data have not showed evidence for new deformation in the trench region.

Description: Highlights • A serpentinised peridotite basement is strongly supported by S-waves analysis • Depth dependent serpentinisation resembles to that observed at magma-poor margins. • Mantle exhumation was preceded by MOR-type magmatism and later intraplate volcanism. Summary The Tyrrhenian basin opened in the Neogene following the E–SE retreat of the Appenines–Calabrian subduction system and the subsequent back-arc extension of an orogenic crust. The resultant crustal structure includes a complex distribution of continental, back-arc magmatism, and mantle-exhumation domains. A clear example of this complex structure is found in the central and deepest part of the basin (i.e. Magnaghi–Vavilov sub-basin) where geophysical data supported that the bulk of the basement is composed of partially serpentinised peridotite representing exhumed mantle rocks, and intruded by basalts forming low ridges and volcanic edifices. However, those data sets cannot univocally demonstrate the widespread presence of serpentinised mantle rocks, let alone the percentage of serpentinisation. Here, we use S-wave arrivals and available geological information to further constrain the presence of mantle serpentinisation. Travel times of converted S-waves were used to derive the overall Vp/Vs and Poisson's ratio (σ), as well as S-wave velocity of the basement in the Magnaghi-Vavilov Basins. This analysis reveals Vp/Vs ≈ 1.9 (σ ≈ 0.3) that strongly supports a serpentinised peridotite forming the basement under the basins, rather than oceanic-type gabbro/diabase. P-wave velocity models is later used to quantify the amount of serpentinisation from fully serpentinised (up to 100%) at the top of the basement to 〈 10% at 5–7 km deep, with a depth distribution similar to continent–ocean Transition zones at magma-poor rifted margins. Seismic reflection profiles show normal faulting at either flank of the Magnaghi–Vavilov Basin that is potentially responsible for the onset of serpentinisation and later mantle exhumation. These results, together with basement sampling information in the area, suggests that the late stage of mantle exhumation was accompanied or soon followed by the emplacement of MOR-type basalts forming low ridges that preceded intraplate volcanism responsible for the formation of large volcanoes in the area.

Description: The Gulf of Cadiz and the passive continental margin of southern Iberia to the west of the Strait of Gibraltar locally accommodate the presently ongoing convergence between Africa and Eurasia by widespread, rather diffusive, seismic activity. Seismicity of the northern Gulf of Cadiz was derived from an amphibious seismological network, including 24 temporary marine offshore stations, besides the permanent networks in Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. During the 6 month of the offshore network operation, in total 86 local earthquakes were located at six or more offshore stations with the majority of earthquakes occurring to the southwest of Iberia and along the Algarve continental margin off southern Iberia. The distribution of events along the Algarve margin mimics features reported for the Atlantic passive continental margins of both South and North America. Focal mechanisms at the Portimão Bank support that seismically active areas are associated with compression. Similar stress patterns are reported for the east coast of South and North America. However, while earthquakes along the American east coast occur at crustal levels, earthquakes in the northern Gulf of Cadiz occur both in the lower crust and upper mantle, with the majority of events rupturing within the mantle, including a number of well-located earthquakes beneath crust forming the continent-ocean transition zone. The large number of earthquakes in the mantle might be caused by the unique geological setting, where deformation occurs in cool lithosphere of Mesozoic age. We suggest that seismicity along the Algarve margin is caused by re-activation of pre-existing margin-parallel faults rather than corresponding to newly formed structures related to a new developing plate boundary.

Description: Highlights: • We present new active and passive seismological data offshore Maule, Chile. • We discuss the outer rise seismicity and Vp, Vs and Poisson's ratio models. • We compare our results with published data available in the area and with bathymetric features. • We confirm hydration of the upper oceanic lithosphere and partial serpentinization of the upper mantle. We have studied the dependency between incoming plate structure, bending-related faulting, lithospheric hydration, and outer rise seismic activity offshore Maule, Chile. We derived a 2D Poisson's ratio distribution from P- and S-wave seismic wide angle data collected in the trench-outer rise. High values of Poisson's ratio in the uppermost mantle suggest that the oceanic lithosphere is highly hydrated due to the water infiltration through bending-related normal faults outcropping at the seafloor. This process is presumably facilitated by the presence of a seamount in the area. We conclude that water infiltrates deep into the lithosphere, when it approaches the Chile trench, producing a reduction of crustal and upper mantle velocities, supporting serpentinization of the upper mantle. Further, we observed a mantle Vp anisotropy of 8%, with the fast velocity axis running normal to the abyssal hill fabric and hence in spreading direction, indicating that outer rise processes have yet not affected anisotropy.The first weeks following the megatrust Mw = 8.8 Maule earthquake in 2010 were characterized by a sudden increase of the outer rise seismic activity, located between 34° S and 35°30' S. We concluded that this phenomenon is a result of an intensification of the water infiltration process in the outer rise, presumably triggered by the main shock, whose epicenter was located some 100 km to the south east of the cluster.

Description: Highlights: • Researcher Ridge, a chain of volcanic seamounts in the central Atlantic is identified as a classical hotspot track; • The underlying small mantle plume is believed to get captured by the westward migrating Mid-Atlantic Ridge; • The bathymetric/geochemical anomaly of the Mid-Atlantic-Ridge at 14° N can therefore be explained by plume-ridge interaction. Abstract: Researcher Ridge is a 400 km long, WNW-ESE oriented chain of volcanic structures, located on ~20 to 40 Ma old oceanic crust on the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) at ~15° N. Researcher Ridge has been little studied, and its age and origin are currently unclear. At roughly the same latitude (14–15° N), the MAR axis is bathymetrically elevated and geochemically enriched (hereafter referred to as the 14° N MAR anomaly). This study presents 40Ar/39Ar age data, major and trace elements, and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic compositions of volcanic rocks dredged from several seamounts of the Researcher Ridge. In addition, new geochemical data of MORBs from two 13–14° N dredge sites on the MAR are also presented. The results reveal that Researcher Ridge lavas have geochemically enriched ocean island basalt compositions (chondrite-normalized [La/Sm]N = 1.7–5.0, and [Ce/Yb]N = 1.58–11.3) with isotopic signatures (143Nd/144Nd = 0.51294–0.51316, 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70266–0.70405, 206Pb/204Pb = 19.14–19.93, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.57–15.63, 208Pb/204Pb = 38.82–39.17, and 176Hf/177Hf = 0.28307–0.28312) trending towards the FOZO or HIMU mantle end member composition. Based on the new age and geochemical data, Researcher Ridge is interpreted as a classic hotspot track, albeit formed by a relatively weak melting anomaly. The lavas from the 14° N MAR anomaly have an enriched E-MORB type composition ([La/Sm]N = 1.81–2.29, [Ce/Yb]N = 1.6–3.9). Their isotopic compositions (143Nd/144Nd = 0.51298–0.51313, 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70250–0.70282, 206Pb/204Pb = 18.90–19.31, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.52–15.58, 208Pb/204Pb = 38.45–38.95, 176Hf/177Hf = 0.28315–0.28320) plot at the enriched end of the local MORB array and partly overlap the Researcher Ridge lava compositions, suggesting a genetic relationship. We propose that the 14° N MAR anomaly is caused by deflection of upwelling Researcher Ridge plume material towards the westward migrating MAR, causing the production of E-MORBs with similar isotopic compositions to the Researcher Ridge lavas. Once the plume was captured by the spreading ridge, off-axis hotspot track volcanism ceased, resulting in a seamount gap between the eastern end of the Researcher Ridge and the 14° N MAR anomaly.