Correlations of tephras in Celebes and Sulu Sea basins: constraints on geodynamics

Abstract

The Pleistocene renewal of volcanic activity from two different magmatic series are compatible with the incipient volcanism along the Cotabato Trench (immature island arc geochemistry), and with the basaltic plateaus of the central cordillera of Mindanao. This new geodynamic framework is consistent with new subduction along the Philippine Trench around 4 Ma as suggested by the tephra of the west Philippine Basin. -from Authors