The eastern Walvis Ridge and adjacent basins ( South Atlantic): morphology, stratigraphy, and structural evolution in light of the results of Legs 40 and 75 ( DSDP).

Abstract

Data from gravimetric and magnetic surveys and multichannel processed seismic profiles correlated with DSDP data obtained by the Glomar Challenger at Sites 530, 531, 532/362, and 363 (Legs 40 and 75) permit definition of the regional stratigraphy and structural evolution of the Walvis Ridge and adjacent basins. The easternmost Walvis Ridge is probably continental crust thinned at a rifting center along the trend of the Namibian and Angolan margin. The central plateau of the eastern Walvis Ridge is interpreted as abnormal ocean crust emplaced near sea level. The W end of the E Walvis Ridge adjoins the N-S segment of the ridge and was formed after a late Aptian-early Albian eastward jump of the spreading center N of the ridge, translating the salt deposits to the S American side of the young ocean basin. -from Authors Centre Oceanol. de Bretagne, BP 337, 29273 Brest Cedex, France.