Seamount subduction and accretion in West Junggar, NW China: A review

Are Volatiles From Subducted Ridges on the Pampean Flat Slab Fracking the Crust? Evidence From an Enhanced Seismicity Catalog

“…A causal relationship between subducted bathymetric highs and clustering of seismicity far from the trench suggests that the effects of even relatively minor features can persist in a subduction regime long after they are consumed. While some have argued that minor features are likely to be decapitated and accreted onto the forearc (e.g., Yang et al., 2022), our results suggest that even minor bathymetric highs can remain largely intact, persisting at least some 200 km beyond their initial encounter with the trench. These intact minor ridges could add positive buoyancy to the slab, which would contribute to slab flattening, although the concave down patterns in the longitudinal cross sections of seismicity (Figure 11) suggest these limbs are dipping down and away from the JFR.…”

“…The extent to which bathymetric highs interact with the overriding plate is similarly controversial. A subducted seamount may be decapitated shortly after subduction and accreted onto the forearc, becoming part of the accretionary prism (e.g., Yang et al., 2022), or remain intact for some distance along the plate interface, denting and uplifting the margin and preventing frontal accretion in its wake (Dominguez et al., 1998, 2000; Rosenbaum & Mo, 2011; Ruh et al., 2016). Seamounts may also enhance accretion when thick loose sediment exists in flanking flexural moats (Clarke et al., 2018; Staudigel et al., 2010).…”