The Formation Mechanism of Island Arc
- 1 Xibu Drilling Engineering Co., Ltd. of CNPC, Karamay, China
Abstract
The shape of island arc is formed by changing the axis of back-arc basin caused by rock expansion along the long axis of back-arc basin; that is, island arc is driven to bend along the subduction zone, so that the arc-shaped island is formed.Rock expansion along the long axis of back-arc basin is attributed to lower part of continental crust melting (underplating) on the dehydration belt (along the long axis of back-arc basin) due to dehydration of subducted oceanic crust, and the arched melting plane is formed, so that rocks on the melting plane are subject to differentiated temperature rise and differentiated expansion. The length of rock expansion along the long axis of back-arc basin is in direct proportion to the radian of island arc. The arc length of island arc is equal to the sum of the length of the long axis of back-arc basin and the length of rock expansion. The displacement and the arc length of island arc can be calculated according to the length of rock expansion; on the contrary, the length of rock expansion can be calculated according to the displacement or the arc length of island arc. According to the length and the lithology of rock expansion, the value of temperature rise of rocks above the melting plane, the melting thickness (underplating) at the bottom of continental crust and the settlement depth of back-arc basin can be reckoned.
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