Tectonosphere and formation of the Mozambique Ridge: density and physical modeling

Abstract

The tectonosphere and formation conditions of the Mozambique Ridge are considered. The Mozambique Ridge is located in the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean between the Natal and the Mozambique Mesozoic Basins. The way how the ridge formed remains debatable. The anomalous structure of the crust of the Mozambique Ridge can be explained either by underplaying - thickening of the oceanic crust from below due to magmatism, or by stretching and thinning of the continental crust. Based on gravitational and magnetic field anomalies, seismotomography and other geological and geophysical information, density modeling was carried out along four profiles. Physical modeling determined the conditions of formation of the Mozambique Ridge. It formed due to the splitting of the African-Antarctic continent, the presence of structural heterogeneities in the lithosphere of the African continent and the influence of the Karoo plume.

Keywords

• mozambique ridge
• tectonosphere
• spreading
• density and physical modeling