ALBERT

Description: Valdivia Bank (VB) is a Late Cretaceous oceanic plateau formed by volcanism from the Tristan-Gough hotspot at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). To better understand its origin and evolution, magnetic data were used to generate a magnetic anomaly grid, which was inverted to determine crustal magnetization. The magnetization model reveals quasi-linear polarity zones crossing the plateau and following expected MAR paleo-locations, implying formation by seafloor spreading over ∼4 Myr during the formation of anomalies C34n-C33r. Paleomagnetism and biostratigraphy data from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 391 confirm the magnetic interpretation. Anomaly C33r is split into two negative bands, likely by a westward ridge jump. One of these negative anomalies coincides with deep rift valleys, indicating their age and mechanism of formation. These findings imply that VB originated by seafloor spreading-type volcanism during a plate reorganization, not from a vertical stack of lava flows as expected for a large volcano. Key Points - Valdivia Bank is characterized by quasi-linear magnetic anomalies that are parallel to the inferred paleo-Mid-Atlantic Ridge - Magnetic anomalies imply that the plateau becomes younger E-W consistent with formation via seafloor spreading during anomalies C34n-C33r - Rift valleys, division of C33r, and anomaly curvature imply complex ridge tectonics and a ridge jump

Description: Valdivia Bank is an oceanic plateau in the South Atlantic formed by hot spot magmatism at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during the Late Cretaceous. It is part of the Walvis Ridge, an aseismic ridge and seamount chain widely considered to be formed by age-progressive volcanism from the Tristan-Gough plume. To better understand the formation and history of this edifice, we developed a bathymetric map of Valdivia Bank by merging available multibeam echosounder data sets with a bathymetry grid based mainly on satellite altimetry (SRTM15+). The bathymetric map reveals previously unresolved features including extensive rift grabens, volcanic mounds and knolls, and large-scale sediment transport systems. After Valdivia Bank was emplaced and probably eroded at sea level, it underwent a period of rifting, followed by a secondary magmatic pulse that caused regional uplift to sea-level, followed by subsidence to current depths. Shallow banks at depths of ∼1,000 m are the result of a thick sediment pile atop uplifted volcanic crust. Several shallower mounds (∼1,000–520 m) and a guyot (∼220 m) likely resulted from coral reef growth atop one or more volcanic pedestals formed during the younger Cenozoic magmatic event. As sediments accumulated on the shallow platforms, sediment transport systems developed as gullies, channels and mass transport deposits carved valleys and troughs, shedding sediment into abyssal fans at the plateau base. The new bathymetric map demonstrates that oceanic plateaus are geologically active long after initial emplacement. Key Points - A bathymetry map was constructed for Valdivia Bank from multibeam data merged with satellite altimetry-predicted depths - Valdivia Bank experienced extension, forming rifts, and secondary volcanism, uplift, and exposure, then was capped by carbonate sediments - Valdivia Bank shows evidence of mass wasting, partly triggered by Cenozoic uplift and erosion, but also owing to sediment cap instability

Description: The past ∼200 million years of Earth's geomagnetic field behavior have been recorded within oceanic basalts, many of which are only accessible via scientific ocean drilling. Obtaining the best possible paleomagnetic measurements from such valuable samples requires an a priori understanding of their magnetic mineralogies when choosing the most appropriate protocol for stepwise demagnetization experiments (either alternating field or thermal). Here, we present a quick, and non‐destructive method that utilizes the amplitude‐dependence of magnetic susceptibility to screen submarine basalts prior to choosing a demagnetization protocol, whenever conducting a pilot study or other detailed rock‐magnetic characterization is not possible. We demonstrate this method using samples acquired during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 391. Our approach is rooted in the observation that amplitude‐dependent magnetic susceptibility is observed in basalt samples whose dominant magnetic carrier is multidomain titanomagnetite (∼TM 60–65 , (Ti 0.60–0.65 Fe 0.35–0.40 )Fe 2 O 4 ). Samples with low Ti contents within titanomagnetite or samples that have experienced a high degree of oxidative weathering do not display appreciable amplitude dependence. Due to their low Curie temperatures, basalts that possess amplitude‐dependence should ideally be demagnetized either using alternating fields or via finely‐spaced thermal demagnetization heating steps below 300°C. Our screening method can enhance the success rate of paleomagnetic studies of oceanic basalt samples. Plain Language Summary Oceanic basalts are ideal recorders of the Earth's magnetic field. To decipher magnetic histories recorded in rocks, paleomagnetists need to isolate the magnetization directions and intensities within rocks by one of two possible methods. One method typically involves progressively heating the samples to high temperatures. The other method involves exposing samples to alternating magnetic fields with increasing peak field intensities. Both of these methods are ultimately destructive to the original magnetization preserved within rocks. However, without knowledge of a given rock's magnetic mineralogy, randomly choosing thermal or alternating field demagnetization methods may result in high failure rates. We developed a pre‐screening method to help decide which cleaning method will likely be more successful for a given sample based on low‐field magnetic susceptibility measurements. These measurements do not affect the original magnetic information recorded in a rock, thereby permitting subsequent paleomagnetic studies on the same sample. Our technique can be performed as rapidly as 2 min per sample, is non‐destructive, and does not require complicated sample preparation. Key Points Paleomagnetic studies utilize either alternating field or thermal demagnetization, but it is difficult to choose the best protocol a priori Amplitude‐dependence of magnetic susceptibility measurements permits preliminary magnetic mineralogy characterization in submarine basalts Rapid amplitude‐dependence measurements may aid in deciding upon the best demagnetization protocol for submarine basalt samples

Description: In the South Atlantic, a reorganization of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge began before anomaly C34n (83.6 Ma) and ended before anomaly C30n (66.4 Ma), complicating tectonics of Rio Grande Rise and older Walvis Ridge (WR), which formed together at the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge. This reorganization is poorly understood because magnetic anomalies C30n‐C34n are poorly defined near WR. We interpreted these anomalies along westernWRto improve knowledge of Rio Grande Rise‐WRtectonic development. Anomaly trends indicate that Valdivia Bank has an E‐W age progression, perpendicular to that predicted by hot spot models. Anomaly spacing and width is irregular and anomalous near WR, implying a series of ridge jumps and possibly a microplate between anomalies C34n and C32n. Eastward ridge jumps transferred microplate lithosphere to the South American plate. This study shows that Late Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the Rio Grande Rise‐WRlarge igneous provinces was more complex than previously understood.