The Timing of Aleutian Arc Inception and Nascent Magmatic Evolution : Current Status and Future Prospects

The Alaska/Aleutian subduction zone was chosen as the highest priority Primary site for Subduction Cycles and Deformation (SCD) research because it is the most seismically and volcanically active region in North America and opportunities for new discoveries abound. Moreover, several unique characteristics of the Aleutian Arc prompt the testing of fundamental hypotheses. For example, the origin of large, systematic variations in fault-slip behavior and magma composition can be investigated along-strike, and the lack of back-arc extension and longitudinal intra-arc rifting that produces remnant arcs means that the entire record of arc growth via magmatic additions is mostly preserved. The latter makes it possible to tightly link the composition and volume of plutonic, extrusive, and metamorphic rocks to seismic measurements of crustal structure (Holbrook et al., 1999; Shillington et al., 2004) and time scales of crustal growth (Kay and Kay, 1985; Jicha et al., 2006).

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