An integrated geophysical study east of the southern Chagos Laccadive Ridge Complex, Central Indian Ocean Basin: Implications for the Rodriguez Triple Junction dynamics in the Late Cretaceous

Abstract The Central Indian Ocean Basin, east of the southern Chagos Laccadive Ridge complex has evolved due to seafloor spreading in the N-S direction since the Late Cretaceous. The trace of the Rodriguez Triple Junction (RTJ) has been inferred in this basin, but its exact location and dynamics prior to C29o are not known. About 20,000 km of total magnetic intensity data along with satellite gravity mosaic were used to understand the dynamics of the RTJ in the Late Cretaceous. Synthetic seafloor spreading models endorse the presence of Late Cretaceous to early Palaeogene magnetic anomalies C34y to C24o in the study area. Half-spreading rates are initially low (32 mm/yr) between C34y to C33y, and increase up to 78 mm/yr by C28y. Thereafter a decreasing trend is seen (57 mm/yr). Towards the west in the study area, higher spreading rates (120 mm/yr) between C33y and C32ay, and distorted anomalies between chrons C32ay and C30y are observed. Detailed geophysical analysis suggests that the higher spreading rates are due to the presence of transferred crust, and the distorted anomalies are caused by the presence of fragmented tectonic blocks depicting microplate formation and rotation. Plate reconstruction models suggest that the RTJ at C34y time lay southwest of Comorin Ridge which coincided with the northern edge of the Conrad Rise. Until C33y, the RTJ left a linear trace parallel to the fracture zone trend on both the Indian and Antarctic plates, while it gradually moved eastwards on the African plate. The RTJ migrated westwards until C31y causing the transfer of a considerable amount of crust from the African plate to both the Indian and Antarctic plates. Thereafter, the RTJ rapidly reversed its migration direction towards the east until C29o causing the formation and rotation of a microplate on the Indian plate and lengthening of the Southwest Indian Ridge. The present study suggests that this episodic migration of the RTJ may be due to ridge propagation under the influence of the Marion hotspot which was in the vicinity during that period. This RTJ migration resulted in microplate formation, lithospheric transfer and thickened lithosphere similar to the inferences made at many triple junctions in the Pacific Ocean. Thus the origin of anomalous structures such as the Crozet Bank may be related to triple junction dynamics under the influence of Marion hotspot. Further, the counter clockwise rotation of the Southwest Indian Ridge between C33y and C29y may have a causal link with the formation and rotation of the microplate, which occurred during the same period. The present study thus facilitated the inference of the dynamics of the RTJ trace between C34y and C29o on the three plates.