Regional tectonic setting of the southwestern Atlantic.

Abstract

Begins with an explanation for the presence of a tectonic element within a paleoenvironmental drilling program, in terms of the importance of the Rio Grande Rise as an influence on and sampler of deep and intermediate circulation and sedimentation. The state of knowledge of the origin and history of this part of the S Atlantic before Leg 72 drilling (including that of the Rio Grande Rise- Walvis Ridge system of seamounts and ridges) is then reviewed, and the main body of the Rio Grande Rise is considered in detail. Finally, with benefit of hindsight, we examine how Leg 72 drilling could most effectively help our understanding of the evolution of the Rise and increase the precision with which a subsidence history may be computed. -from Authors