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Absolute migration of Pacific basin mid-ocean ridges since 85 Ma and their tectonic implications for the Pacific plate
Abstract
East Pacific Rise (EPR) and Juan de Fuca ridge experienced an abrupt change in their migration direction that persisted until about anomaly 6 (20 Ma), probably due to changes in subductionzone configuration in the northern Pacific. This may represent a period of tectonic instability for the Pacific plate during which the EPR was probably subducted beneath the North American
continent. This period culminated by the appearance of the Galapagos propagator and a major reorganization of the East Pacific Rise south of the Galapagos.