Caribbean-EAFRC Graphics

Figures for Caribbean Back-Arcs and East African Rift Volcanism: Mesoplate Tracers

Figure 1. Mesoplate boundaries (dotted), modified from Pilger (2003a, b).

Figure 2. Magmatic centers of the Caribbean. Present-day (0) centers are active volcanoes. Other centers are as interpreted and reconstructed by Pindell and Kendall, 2002, relative to a fixed North America. Ages in m.y.

Figure 3. Interpreted major plate boundaries of the Caribbean, based on interpretation and reconstructions of Pindell and Kendall (2002), restored to “original” location relative to Atlantic-Indian Ocean (Tristan) hotspot reference frame. Methods of boundary digitization are described in the Appendix. Reconstruction methods are described in the text.

Figure 4. Interpreted magmatic centers of the Caribbean (original interpreted locations relative to North America shown in Figure 1, based on Pindell and Kendall, 2002), restored to position relative to Atlantic-Indian Ocean (Tristan) hotspot reference frame. Methods of data point digitization are described in the Appendix. Reconstruction methods are described in the text. Note clustering of magmatic loci along a narrow zone close to the contemporary volcanic arc of the Lesser Antilles.

 Figure 5a. East African volcanics: latitude versus age, <= 60 Ma , with hypothetical hotspot loci at 5 m.y. restored according to model of Müller et al. [1993] with interpolation by Pilger [2003].

 Figure 5b. African volcanics: longitude versus age, <= 60 as in Fig. 5a.



Figure 6. Stereo view: filtered isotopic ages of East African Volcanics, <= 60 Ma , with hypothetical hotspot loci at 5 m.y. according to model of Müller et al. [1993] with interpolation by Pilger [2003]. Younger data points closer to viewer.

Figure 7. Stereo view, filtered East African volcanic isotopic ages (<= 60 Ma), restored to cooling location, according to model of Müller et al. [1993] with interpolation by Pilger [2003]. Younger data points closer to viewer.

© 2010 Rex H. Pilger, Jr.