Fig. 10: Present-day age structure of the Central Atlantic predicted by the plate reconstruction by Müller et al.26 with our plate boundary adjustments.
From: Subduction history of the Caribbean from upper-mantle seismic imaging and plate reconstruction
a Satellite-derived free air-gravity anomaly, with observed fracture zone traces (thick black lines). Coloured dots (ages in Ma) are from the plate reconstruction predictions, with green dots representing segments produced by Central/ Equatorial–Atlantic spreading (NAM–AFR poles), and yellow dots those produced by Equatorial–Atlantic spreading (SAM–AFR poles). See Supplementary Fig. 10 for details. A northward propagation of NAM–SAM–AFR triple junction is shown by the transfer along Mercurius and Marathon FZs from NAM to SAM poles. In other words, the NAM–SAM boundary has not been stable over time, especially for the older parts of the oceanic lithosphere relevant for our study. b Predicted seafloor age structure. Colour scale from ref. 68. Green, yellow and red stars indicate matching points along the conjugate margins. Note the small fragment of relatively old Proto-Caribbean lithosphere entering the southern Lesser Antilles. Dotted blue line illustrates the trace of the subducted Marathon and Mercurius fracture zones, which are interpreted to form the boundary between the Equatorial and Central Atlantic lithosphere.
