Mechanisms of construction and destruction of reliefs in the Lesser Antilles subduction zone during the Cenozoic. Grenada back-arc basin opening conditions. Formation of emerged reliefs and species dispersal.
-Multichannel reflection seismics legs 1 and 2. -Wide angle (refraction) seismics leg 1. -Bathymetry legs 1, 2 and 3. -Sub-bottom profiler. -Geological samples: Dredge hauls on leg 3. -Magnetism legs 1, 2 and 3. -Geophysical measurements underway: Gravimetry, current measurements, Temperature, velocity; Continuous. -Seafloor seismology stations (OBS) temporarily deployed leg 1.
Location map
Positionning system
Geodetic system : WORLD GEODETIC SYSTEM 1984 = WGS84
Positioning system : GPS cinématique
Scientific context
The GARANTI oceanographic cruise is part of the ANR research program 17 31-0009 GAARAnti (with 2 A's!) This title is an acronym for the project title "GAARlandia land bridge versus dispersal pathways through the Lesser Antilles - Coupling between subduction dynamics and species evolution processes in the Caribbean domain.
The objectives of the project are to reveal the couplings that exist between the internal dynamics of the Earth and the processes of species evolution through an innovative multidisciplinary project associating Earth and life sciences. The innovative approach is to reconcile geological and biological clocks and chronologies through joint studies in radiochronology, biostratigraphy, and phylogenetics. The framework is to constrain the paleo-bio-geographical evolution of the Antillean arc. The ANR GAARAnti is generating collaborative work between geologists, marine geophysicists, biologists and paleontologists as well as new results to constrain the distribution, chronology and dynamics of biodiversity in the Lesser Antilles during the Cenozoic. We will focus on the role of subduction dynamics on the development of emergent lands to promote or limit species dispersal. Although it is now accepted that the majority of West Indian terrestrial species have a South American origin in the West Indies, the mechanisms (dispersal vs. vicariance) responsible for their evolution and their precise chronologies are still very much debated.
Within the framework of the ANR GAARAnti, the GARANTI oceanographic cruise on board the R/V L'Atalante allowed to prospect at a crustal scale, the structures and architecture of the basins of the Lesser Antilles back-arc domain including the Grenada Basin and the Aves ridge. The objective was to understand the geodynamic evolution, tectonic processes and vertical movements that affected the Caribbean back arc during the Cenozoic in response to subduction stresses. To do so, we deployed three time, 40 Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) along three wide angle seismic profiles (WAS) of about 300-350 km in length. We obtained more than 3500 km of deep Multi-Channel Seismic reflection profiles (MCS), for a total of 35 profiles, and carried out 14 dredging operations at 9 sites from north to south of the Aves ridge.
Map of the MCS, WAS and dredge data acquired on board the R/V L'Atalante during the GARANTI cruise (May June 2017).
Main results
Recognizing the structures of a basin at the crustal scale requires the realization of wide-angle seismic profiles which, by modeling seismic wave velocities and gravity data, allow to image the crust down to the Moho. Padron et al (2021) carried out this work from the three profiles GA01, GA02 and GA03 along which wide-angle seismic data were acquired. On the one hand, in the north (GA03), from the Aves ridge in the back arc to the front arc, we observe a thick crust of about 20 km without much lateral variation of structure, with typical seismic characteristics of a volcanic arc or oceanic plateau crust. On the other hand, towards the south (GA01) and in the center of the GA02 profile, we have highlighted a crust about 17 km thick with a velocity profile typical of an oceanic crust, confirming undoubtedly the oceanic nature of the southeastern Grenada Basin. The transition zone between the thick arc and the oceanic domain constitutes the passive margin of the Grenada Oceanic Basin and provides information on the modalities of oceanization of the basin. By comparing to the structures of typical cases of passive margins from other oceans we conclude that the Grenada back-arc basin opened obliquely to the direction of convergence along the subduction zone and in a moderately volcanic context. This result supports oblique opening models in the debate on how the Grenada back-arc basin was emplaced.
Velocity model showing the crustal structure of the Lesser Antilles back-arc domain (Padron et al., 2021).
These results are complemented by seismic reflection data that provide a detailed picture of the sedimentary basins units, upper crustal units and faults that affect them. Using stratigraphic correlation across the basin to boreholes and based on our rock sampling that provided information on the lithology of the sedimentary units and ages to the formations, it was possible to reconstruct the tectonic history of the Grenada Basin and its relationship with the Aves ridge. Garrocq et al (2021) have thus accurately determined the extent of the oceanic domain of the Grenada Basin and proposed a first structural map and tectonic interpretation of the margins of this basin along the Aves ridge to the west and north. We show that the Grenada Basin opens in a back-arc context from the late Paleocene and that oceanization ends in the middle Eocene. The asymmetry of the oceanic basin shows that it must extend under the southern Lesser Antilles arc that emplace from the Upper Eocene or Oligocene. The vertical motions recorded by the ridge and the basin show syn-rift subsidence followed by a discrete phase of tectonic inversion in the Upper Oligocene - Lower Miocene, then a resumption of the subsidence amplified southward probably due to the load of sediments that originate from the South American continent.
Garroq et al 2021, Reconstitution of the emplacement and evolution of the Grenada Basin in the back arc domain of the Lesser Antilles subduction following the results of the GARANTI cruise
In the northern Grenada Basin and Aves Ridge, our activities are concentrated around the Saba Bank and the Anguilla Plateau on either side of the volcanic arc of the northern Lesser Antilles. There, our work is complemented by our onshore work on the islands in the framework of the ANR GAARAnti and also complements our work in the ANTITHESIS program (Marcaillou, Klingelhoefer, Lebrun 2013-2017 https://doi.org/10.18142/242.
The GA15 MCS line, south of Saba Bank in the back-arc, revealed the presence of thrusts sealed by overlying basin sediments. Correlations from oil drilling data, conducted in the Saba Bank, allowed us to date this compressive event to the middle and upper Eocene. Philippon et al (2020) showed the concomitance of these offshore thrusts with a recognized thrust on the island of St Barthélémy belonging to the remnent volcanic arc. The study reveals that this event is responsible shortening perpendicular to the subduction trench and a regional surge at the end of the Eocene that led to the emersion of a whole territory extending from the Greater Antilles to the north of the Lesser Antilles, nicknamed GRANOLA (GReater Antilles and NOrthern Lesser Antilles). In the paper, we hypothesize that this compressive moment is related to the kinematic reorganization of the Caribbean plate following the collision of the Bahamas Bank with the margin and the development of the new transform plate boundary along the Greater Antilles.
Image of thrusting south of Saba Bank in the northern Lesser Antilles and correlation of the upper Eocene unconformity surface from oil drilling SB-2 (Philippon et al., 2020),
More regionally, extending from Anegada Passage and Anguille Bank in the north, to Saba Bank, until Antigua bank to the south, Cornée et al. (in revision) propose from land-sea correlations, paleogeographic maps since 40 Ma indicating the episodic appearance of mega-islands that once had a role in the dispersion of terrestrial faunas between the Greater Antilles and South America. The article is based on a thorough revision of the stratigraphy of the carbonate platforms of the islands of these banks and the chronology of their development (Anguilla, Tintamare, St Martin, St Barthelemy, Barbuda and Antigua). We propose a new regional stratigraphic setting at sea. The lithological control and the chronological setting at sea are brought by the new samples of the GARANTI campaign and the compilation of all the marine samplings carried out in the region. The compressive event dated at the beginning of the Lower Eocene related to the rearrangement of the North Caribbean plate boundary was followed by a generalized distensive tectonic regime alternating periods of subsidence and margin uplift during the acquisition of the curvature of the subduction zone. In this context, the Kalinago Basin opened intra-arc at the end of the Eocene and beginning of the Oligocene.
Interpretation of profile GA09 north of Saba Bank through the Kalinago Basin and paleogeographic reconstruction in the Lower Oligocene corresponding to the depositional period of the MS3 sedimentary unit (in purple on the profile) syntectonic to the formation of the Kalinago Basin. Cornée et al (in press).
Stratigraphic calibrations carried out jointly at sea and on land allow to constrain regionally and precisely the chronology of tectonic-sedimentary events on the entire Lesser Antilles margin. Thus, Boucard et al. 2021 showed that the opening of V-shaped basins, open to the trench, which develop in the Eocene to Oligocene fore-arc and which pre-date a paroxysm of surrection of the northern part of the Lesser Antilles margin in the Lower Miocene, was concomitant with the acquisition of the margin curvature following the collision of the Bahamas Bank and the reorganization of the North Caribbean plate boundary. We show that the margin front subsequently subsided rapidly in response to strong basal tectonic erosion, which helps to explain the westward (landward) retreat of the northern Lesser Antilles volcanic arc in the Late Miocene.
Reconstruction of the northern margin of the Lesser Antilles showing the development of V-shaped basins in response to the increase in trench curvature. Boucard et al 2021 (see also ANTITHESIS campaign)
Finally, an unexpected valorization of the GARANTI mission results was the discovery of a seafloor morphology of the Grenada basin made of polygonal structures. Gay et al (submitted) show that these structures cover the largest known surface in the world. This morphology is acquired by the formation in the underlying sedimentary formations of polygonal faults resulting from the contraction of sediments during their dehydration and compaction. In the Grenada Basin, we show that polygonal faults develop in the lower and middle Pliocene units and then propagate upward and downward, these sediments possessing a mineralogy rich in smectite that is very favorable to their contraction. Moreover, the morphological analysis of the polygons showed an evolution of their shape, towards an elongation oriented N40° in the north then progressively oriented N160° and more and more elongated towards the south of the basin. This analysis would reveal an active extension in the sedimentary cover of the Grenada basin, controlled in the north by regional tectonic fracturing suggesting a NE-SW oriented extension while in the south the reorientation of the elongation of the polygons follows the increased subsidence of the basin towards the south.
Left: bathymetric map showing polygonal structures in the Granada Basin and the edge of the Aves ridge. Right: against a regional map background, diagram showing elongation of polygon shape and reorientation along the Grenada Basin in response to regional tectonic stress in the north and basin subsidence in the south. Gay et al.
(submitted).
Data acquired and analyses carried out at sea and on shore
The OBS - WAS data were processed and analyzed then published in the paper by Padron et al, (2021). The raw OBS data and velocity models are available in SEANOE (https://doi.org/10.17882/74223).
OBS11 profile GA02 (Padron et al., 2021)
We reprocessed all of the MCS profiles. The processing typically includes, 3 different velocity analysis, time-varying bandpass filtering, FK filtering, noise attenuation, 2D-SRME (Adaptive Surface-Related Multiple Elimination) multiple attenuation processing, a deconvolution, trace staking after NMO correction and post stack migration. Some of these profiles are published in the papers by Garrocq et al, (2021), Cornée et al, (in press), Phillippon et al, (2020).
MCS Line GA29 (Garrocq et al., 2021)
Multibeam echosounder and sediment echosounder data were monitored and processed on board.
Gay et al. in prep. Comparision between MCS and sediment echosounder profiles.
En-route geophysical data including gravity and magnetic data have not yet been processed as a whole. Gravity data from profiles GA01 to GA03 have been processed and published by Padron et al. (2021).
Modeling of gravity data from profile GA02 based on velocity models from wide angle seismic data (Padron et al., 2021).
Rock samples collected are subject to petrological, diagenetic, stratigraphic, paleontological (micro and nannofossils), geochemical, and radiochronological studies. Six andesite samples from submarine lahar deposits were studied geochemically and two of them were dated (Agranier et al., in prep.). Samples from the northern Saba Bank are described and analyzed in an article submitted to Earth-Science Reviews (Cornée et al., in press). Samples from the Aves Rift were analysed by Clement Garrocq in his thesis work and are described in Garrocq et al. (2021).
Sample GA-DR-03-01-9a (Cornée et al., in press).
Published data
Lebrun Jean-Frederic, Lallemand Serge, Marcaillou Boris, Klingelhoefer Frauke (2020). Raw data from a wide-angle seismic survey in the Grenada Basin. https://doi.org/10.17882/74223
Padron Mora Crelia, Klingelhoefer Frauke (2017). Wide-angle seismic velocity models from the Grenada Basin. https://doi.org/10.17882/76298
Bibliography
Publications
Montheil Leny, Philippon Mélody, Münch Philippe, Camps Pierre, Vaes Bram, Cornée Jean‐jacques, Poidras Thierry, Van Hinsbergen Douwe J.J. (2023). Paleomagnetic rotations in the northeastern Caribbean region reveal major intraplate deformation since the Eocene. Tectonics, 42(8), e2022TC007706 (34p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1029/2022TC007706 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00846/95785/
Cornée Jean-Jacques, Münch Philippe, Philippon Mélody, Boudagher-Fadel Marcelle, Quillévéré Frédéric, Melinte-Dobrinescu Mihaela, Lebrun Jean-Frédéric, Gay Aurelien, Meyer Solène, Montheil Lény, Lallemand Serge, Marcaillou Boris, Laurencin Muriel, Legendre Lucie, Garrocq Clément, Boucard Milton, Beslier Marie-Odile, Laigle Mireille, Schenini Laure, Fabre Pierre-Henri, Antoine Pierre-Olivier, Marivaux Laurent, The Garanti And Antithesis Scientific Parties (2021). Lost islands in the northern Lesser Antilles: possible milestones in the Cenozoic dispersal of terrestrial organisms between South-America and the Greater Antilles. Earth-science Reviews, 217, 103617 (24p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103617 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00687/79941/
Padron Crelia, Klingelhoefer Frauke, Marcaillou Boris, Lebrun Jean‐frédéric, Lallemand Serge, Garrocq Clément, Laigle Mireille, Roest Walter, Beslier Marie‐odile, Schenini Laure, Graindorge David, Gay Aurelien, Audemard Franck, Münch Philippe (2021). Deep structure of the Grenada Basin from wide‐angle seismic, bathymetric and gravity data. Journal Of Geophysical Research-solid Earth, 126(2), e2020JB020472 (26p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB020472 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00665/77703/
Boucard M, Marcaillou B, Lebrun Jf, Laurencin M, Klingelhoefer Frauke, Laigle M, Lallemand S, Schenini L, Graindorge David, Cornee Jj, Munch P, Philippon M, The Antithesis 1, 3 And Garanti Scientific Teams. (2021). Paleogene V-shaped basins and Neogene subsidence of the Northern Lesser Antilles Forearc. Tectonics, 40(3), e2020TC006524 (18p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1029/2020TC006524 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00651/76351/
Gay Aurelien, Padron C., Meyer S., Beaufort D., Oliot E., Lallemand S., Marcaillou B., Philippon M., Cornée J‐j., Audemard F., Lebrun J‐f., Klingelhoefer Frauke, Mercier De Lepinay B., Münch P., Garrocq C., Boucard M., Schenini L., The Garanti Cruise Team (2021). Elongated giant seabed polygons and underlying polygonal faults as indicators of the creep deformation of Pliocene to recent sediments in the Grenada Basin, Caribbean Sea. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 22(12), e2021GC009809 (21p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GC009809 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00733/84531/
Garrocq Clément, Lallemand Serge, Marcaillou Boris, Lebrun Jean‐frédéric, Padron Crelia, Klingelhoefer Frauke, Laigle Mireille, Münch Philippe, Gay Aurelien, Schenini Laure, Beslier Marie‐odile, Cornée Jean‐jacques, Mercier De Lépinay Bernard, Quillévéré Frédéric, Boudagher‐fadel Marcelle (2021). Genetic relations between the Aves Ridge and the Grenada back‐arc Basin, East Caribbean Sea. Journal Of Geophysical Research-solid Earth, 126(2), e2020JB020466 (29p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB020466 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00665/77704/
Cerpa N. G., Hassani R., Arcay D., Lallemand S., Garrocq C., Philippon M., Cornée J.‐j., Münch P., Garel F., Marcaillou B., Mercier De Lépinay B., Lebrun J.‐f. (2021). Caribbean plate boundaries control on the tectonic duality in the back‐arc of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone during the Eocene. Tectonics, 40(11), e2021TC006885 (22p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1029/2021TC006885 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00733/84513/
Philippon Mélody, Cornée Jean-Jacques, Münch Philippe, Van Hinsbergen Douwe J. J., Boudagher-Fadel Marcelle, Gailler Lydie, Boschman Lydian M., Quillevere Fredéric, Montheil Leny, Gay Aurelien, Lebrun Jean Fredéric, Lallemand Serge, Marivaux Laurent, Antoine Pierre-Olivier, With The Garanti Team (2020). Eocene intra-plate shortening responsible for the rise of a faunal pathway in the northeastern Caribbean realm. Plos One, 15(10), e0241000 (13p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241000 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00656/76789/
References of Articles published in other Periodicals or Scientific Works acclaimed in the Field
Munch, P., Antoine P.-O., and Marcaillou B. (2020), By land or sea: How did mammals get to the Caribbean islands?, Eos, 101, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EO151745
References of International Seminar Communications
Garrocq C. et al, (2021) Genetic Relations Between the Aves Ridge and the Grenada Back-Arc Basin, East Caribbean Sea, submitted to GD4.3 - Geodynamics of plate convergences, EGU21-10993, EGU General Assembly
Padron, C., et al, (2021) Deep structure of the Grenada Basin from wide-angle seismic, bathymetric and gravity data, submitted to GD4.3 - Geodynamics of plate convergences - EGU21-11712, EGU General Assembly
Cornée, J. J., Munch, P., Philippon, M., BouDagher-Fadel, M., Quillevere, F., Melinte-Dobrinescu Sr, M., Leveneur E., Gay, A., Meyer, S., Léticée, JL., Marcaillou, B, Laurencin, M. Klingelhoefer, F., Lebrun, J-F. & Lallemand, S. (2019, December). Oligocene to Pliocene paleogeography of the northern Lesser Antilles arc. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 2019, pp. T31D-0275).
Garrocq, C., Lallemand, S., Marcaillou, B., Padron, C., Klingelhoefer, F., Lebrun, J-F., Laigle, M., Schenini, L., Beslier, M-O., Gay, A., Münch, P., Cornée, J-J., Quillévéré, F., Mercier de Lepinay, B., Boudagher-Fadel, M., Unravelling the genetic relations between the Grenada Basin, the Aves Ridge, and the Lesser Antilles: a structural and stratigraphic analysis, Vol. 21, EGU General Assembly , 2019
Philippon, M. M., Cornée, J. J., BouDagher-Fadel, M., Munch, P., Boschman, L., Van Hinsbergen, D. J., Gailler S., Quillévéré, F., Léticée, JL., Lallemand, S. & Lebrun, J. F. (2019, December). Greater Antilles in the Lesser Antilles: lessons from Eocene thrusting at St. barthelemey island. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 2019, pp. T31D-0271).
Garrocq, C., Marcaillou, B., Lallemand, S., Münch, P., Lebrun, J-F., Cornée, J-J., Laigle, M., Arcay, D., Garel, F., Cerpa, N., Quillévéré, F., (2019) Evolution and dynamics of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone: Insights from structural and sedimentary records in the back-arc domain, SUBITOP, TOPO-EUROP Conference, 5-10- May, Granada, Spain.
Cornée J.J., Leveneur E., Bou Dagher Fadel M., Quillévéré F., Melinte-Dobrinescu M., Philippon M., Münch P., Léticée JL, Marcaillou B., Klingelhoefer F., and the Antithesis Team, Lebrun JF, Lallemand S., and the GARANTI Team (2018). Characterizing the Neogene tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Northern Lesser Antilles forearc: a land-sea study; abstract at AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, Dec.10-14, 2018.
Garrocq, C., Lallemand, S., Marcaillou, B., Lebrun, J.-F., Münch, P., and the GARANTI Team (2018). A fresh look at the Grenada Basin through seismic imaging: preliminary results from GARANTI cruise; poster at 50th anniversary of Plate tectonics, Paris, June 25-26, 2018.
Padron C., Klingelhoefer F., Garrocq C., Marcaillou B., Lallemand S., Laigle M., Roest W., Lebrun J.-F., Graindorge D., Beslier M.-O., Münch P. and the GARANTI scientific team (2018). Deep structure of the Grenada Basin from wide-angle seismic, bathymetric and gravity data; abstract at AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, Dec.10-14, 2018.
Philippon M., Cornée J.-J., Leveneur E., Münch P., Bou-Dagher Fadel M., Gailler L., Quillévéré F., Léticée J.-L., Boschman L., van Hinsbergen D., Lebrun J.-F., Lallemand S., and the GARANTI Team (2018). Mid-Eocene thrusting in the Northern Lesser Antilles: Unraveling the eastern imprint of the Bahamas Bank collision; abstract at AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, Dec.10-14, 2018.
Gay A., Mercier de Lépinay B., Ratzov G., Lebrun J.-F., Lallemand S. and Garanti Scientific Team (2017). Seafloor giant polygons associated with underlying polygonal faults in the Caribbean Sea, west of Grenada Basin; Réunion Internationale de Sédimentologie (IMS), Toulouse, 10-12 octobre 2017.
Lallemand S., Lebrun J.-F. and the GARANTI scientific team (2017). Asymmetric Grenada Basin and its Relation with Aves Ridge and Lesser Antilles Arc : Preliminary Results from Cruise GARANTI; abstract at AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, Dec. 11-15, 2017
Lebrun J.-F., Lallemand S. and the GARANTI scientific team (2017). Crustal structure of northern Grenada basin call into question the origin of arc migration in the Lesser Antilles: Preliminary results from GARANTI cruise; abstract at AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, Dec. 11-15, 2017.
References of National Seminar Communications
Meyer S., Padron C., Gay A., Lallemand S., Lebrun J.-F., Beaufort D., et l?équipe scientifique de la mission GARANTI (2018). Les failles polygonales affleurantes du bassin de Grenade dans les Caraïbes: signification sur l'état de contraintes de la pile sédimentaire dans un contexte de subduction ; abstract at RST, Oct.22-26, Lille.
Thesis using campaign data
Garrocq Clément (2021). Apport de l'imagerie sismique à la compréhension de la dynamique arrière-arc des Petites Antilles au Cénozoïque / Contribution of seismic imaging to understanding the back-arc dynamics of the Lesser Antilles during the Cenozoic. PhD Thesis, Université de Montpellier.
Garrocq Clément, Apport de l imagerie sismique à la compréhension de la dynamique arrière-arc des Petites Antilles au Cénozoïque, Thèse de l'Université de Montpellier, soutenance prévu le 26 Mars 2021 - Directeurs de thèse S. Lallemand et B. Marcaillou
Morena Pierre (2020). Paléosismologie et potentiel sismogène de la zone de subduction des Petites Antilles à partir de l’enregistrement sédimentaire. PhD Thesis, Univesité de Bretagne Occidentale.
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