abstract: Shallow earthquakes in the upper part of the overriding plate of subduction zones can be devastating due to their proximity to population centers despite the smaller rupture extents than commonly occur on subduction megathrusts that produce the largest earthquakes. Damaging effects can be greater in volcanic arcs like Java because ground shaking is amplified by surficial deposits of uncompacted volcaniclastic sediments. Identifying the upper-plate structures and their potential hazards is key for minimizing the dangers they pose. In particular, the knowledge of the regional stress field and deformation pattern in this region will help us to better understand how subduction and collision affects deformation in this part of the overriding plate. The majority of the upper plate deformation studies have been focused on the deformation in the main thrusts of the fore-arc region. Study of deformation within volcanic arc is limited despite the associated earthquake hazards. In this study, I use maps of active upper-plate structures, earthquake moment tensor data and stress orientation deduced from volcano morphology analysis to characterize the strain field of Java arc. In addition, I use sandbox analog modeling to evaluate the mechanical factors that may be important in controlling deformation. My field- and remotely-based mapping of active faults and folds, supplemented by results from my paleoseismic studies and physical models of the system, suggest that Java’s deformation is distributed over broad areas along small-scale structures. Java is segmented into three main zones based on their distinctive structural patterns and stress orientation. East Java is characterized by NW-SE normal and strike-slip faults, Central Java has E-W folds and thrust faults, and NE-SW strike-slip faults dominate West Java. The sandbox analog models indicate that the strain in response to collision is partitioned into thrusting and strike-slip faulting, with the dominance of margin-normal thrust faulting. My models test the effects of convergence obliquity, geometry, preexisting weaknesses, asperities, and lateral strength contrast. The result suggest that slight variations in convergence obliquity do not affect the deformation pattern significantly, while the margin shape, lateral strength contrast, and perturbation of deformation from asperities each have a greater impact on deformation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geological Sciences 2016

Résumé en français indisponible. / Mechanisms of volatile transfer from subducting slab to the melting region beneath arc volcanoes are probably the least understood process of arc magma genesis. Fluorine, which suffers minimum degassing in arc primitive melt inclusions, retains the information about the role of volatiles during magma genesis at depth. Experimentally determined solubility of F in aqueous fluid, and partition coefficients of F between fluid and minerals provide first order geochemical constraints about the volatile-transporting agent.My thesis experimentally determined F solubility in fluid and its partition coefficients among several phases. The systems are in equilibrium with hornblende and a humite group mineral (some contain melt or pyroxene) at 1 – 2 GPa, from 770 to 1047 °C, or equilibrium with hydrogrossular, pyroxene and norbergite or chondrodite at 2.5 – 3 GPa and 877 °C. The experiments were conducted with piston cylinder and cold sealing technique. The oxygen fugacity conditions were controlled by NNO buffer, while some were unbuffered. The fluids were extracted into volumetric flasks, and their compositions were determined by mass balance calculations. Moreover, the consistency was verified by HPLC for fluorine ion, and ICP-MS or ICP-AES for major cations of the quenched fluids.In 1 GPa experiments, the quench phases are so rare that the majority of the fluid compositions from direct analyses are consistent with mass balance results in their uncertainties. Moreover, my mass balance procedure takes into account all the measurements errors, which leads to large uncertainties on fluid compositions. The consistency demonstrates that most of fluorine aflter annealing in the capsule is present as fluorine ion. Futhermore, increases of the masses of starting materials, fluid proportions and analytical precisions will improve the uncertainties performances. ������������ can be represented by a single value 0.135 ± 0.036, which is independent of temperature, bulk composition and buffer conditions at 1 GPa. Df between fluid and humite group minerals is much less. Xf of hornblende and norbergite decrease from 1 to 2 GPa, while F partitionig between them doesn't change much. It indicates that F partitioning between fluid and minerals increases. Moreover, F concentrations in norbergite between NNO buffered and unbuffered experiments are significantly different. Meanwhile, Fe concentration variations of norbergite indicate that unbeffered experiments have higher oxygen fugacity than the NNO buffered ones. According to high temperature improves the free radical exchange reactions, H2O + 0.5O2 ⇄ 2OH. It indicates that both water fugacity and oxygen fugacity contribute to OH fugacity in fluid. I developed a simple model in which XF in humite group minerals are correlated to the ratio between F and OH. It is sucessfully applied to estimate the F concentration in the fluid, which co-exists with clinohumite, using Xf value.With the knowledge of my study, a new constraint can be framed on slab flux. The average F concentration in the fluid is 2700 ppm for F-rich experiments and it constrains the maximum amount of F carried by fluid in the presence of amphibole. Using partition coefficient of F to estimate F abundance in subducting slab, one can conclude that the increase of F concentration in the subarc mantle by fluid, in equilibrium with hornblende, to be less tan 5 ppm. Significant F enrichments found in arc lavas cannot be derived from aqueous fluid of subductiong slab in the presence of amphibole. Therefore, this result highlights the role either 1) slab melt, 2) fluid in equilibrium with eclogite, or perhaps 3) supercritical fluid for the element transfer from slab to mantle wedge.

La zone de subduction Hellénique, en Méditerranée orientale, est caractérisée par le taux de sismicité le plus important d’Europe. Des séismes de forte magnitude (Mw 7,5-8) ont eu lieu le long du segment Sud-Ouest de la zone de subduction Hellénique, au large du Péloponnèse, au cours du 19ème et 20ème siècle. Ce segment de 400 km de long a également été le lieu de nucléation du plus important séisme d’Europe, en 365 ap J.C, avec une magnitude supérieure à 8, ayant entraîné un tsunami dévastateur. Deux principaux modèles scientifiques s’opposent sur la question du couplage sismique de l’interface de subduction, allant d’un couplage sismique total au niveau de l’interface, à l’hypothèse opposée d’un couplage quasi inexistant. Cependant, ces modèles opposés considèrent des géométries approximatives et parfois extrêmes, fautes de contraintes disponibles sur la structure et la géométrie de l’interplaque sous l’avant-arc dans cette zone. La localisation de la faille responsable du séisme de 365 ap J.C est également débattue, en l’absence de données géophysiques permettant d’identifier les interfaces potentiellement responsables de cet événement dévastateur. La faille de méga-chevauchement et le domaine avant-arc du segment Sud-Ouest de l’arc Hellénique ont été l’objet d’étude de la campagne océanographique Ulysse en Novembre 2012 afin de déterminer la géométrie des structures et unités majeures dans cette portion de la zone de subduction, mais également d’apporter un éclairage sur la tectonique récente qui affecte cette zone / The Hellenic subduction zone, in the eastern part of the Mediterranean sea, is characterized by the highest rate of current seismicity in Europe. In the southwestern segment, several earthquakes of large magnitude (Mw 7,5-8) occured a the turn of the 19th to 20th century. This segment of 400 km long, has also been the nucleation site of the largest historical earthquake in Europe, named the 365 AD earthquake, with a magnitude of Mw 8. This event generates a devastating tsunami, which spread along the Adriactic Sea and in the Nile Delta region. Two main models differ about the interplate seismic coupling question in this region, from a total seismic coupling at the interplate, at the opposite assumption of a very weak seismic coupling. However, these opposing models consider an approximate geometry, mostly because of the lack of information available on the geometry and the localization of the interplate in this region of the forearc domain. The localization of the fault responsible of the 365 AD event is also debated, because, there is no available data who provides imagery of the interfaces potentially responsible of this devastating earthquake. The megathrust fault and the forearc domain of the southwestern segment of the Hellenic subduction zone has been the target of the Ulysse marine survey in November 2012. The aim of this survey was to provide information of the structural geometry of the main units in this part of the subduction zone, and to bring information on the recent tectonic activity in this region

No description available.

Les rides de Barracuda et de Tiburon sont deux reliefs sous-marins situés dans la partie ouest de l'océan Atlantique, là où la lithosphère océanique des plaques Amérique du Nord (NAM) et Amérique du Sud (SAM) est entraînée par subduction sous la plaque Caraïbe, formant l'arc volcanique des Petites Antilles et le prisme d’accrétion de Barbade. Le processus et la période de soulèvement conduisant au relief actuel de ces rides (qui semblent être un marqueur important dans l'histoire géodynamique de la région) sont sujets à débat depuis des décennies.L’interprétation de nouvelles données de sismique réflexion et de bathymétrie multifaisceaux acquises à travers les rides de Barracuda et de Tiburon (campagne Antiplac, 2007 ) a permis de dater les périodes de soulèvements des rides et réaliser des reconstructions paléogéographiques incluant les flux sédimentaires majeurs, depuis le Crétacé jusqu’ à l’Actuel.L’analyse structurale révèle des phases de réactivations tardives d’anciennes zones de fractures dans un contexte transpressif, conduisant aux surrections des rides de Tiburon et de Barracuda.Les processus géologiques possibles impliqués dans la formation des rides de Barracuda et de Tiburon coïncident avec les modèles cinématiques récents décrivant les mouvements relatifs entre les plaques NAM et SAM, le long de la limite de plaque diffuse.Ces résultats permettent de mieux définir la limite de plaque entre NAM et SAM. Elle est nécessairement hétérogène exploitant les zones de faiblesses dans la lithosphère que sont les zones de fracture. Au sein de cette limite de plaque la lithosphère serait donc fragmentée. / The Barracuda Ridge and the Tiburon Rise, two oceanic-basement ridges, lie in the western Atlantic Ocean, where oceanic lithosphere of the North American (NAM) and South American (SAM) plates is subducted beneath the Caribbean plate, creating the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc and the Barbados Ridge accretionary complex. The process and the timing of the uplift leading to the present day morphologies of the Tiburon and Barracuda ridges, that seem to be key markers in the geodynamic history of the region, has remained a matter of debate for decades.From the analysis of new multibeam and seismic reflection profiles acquired in 2007 (Antiplac crusie) DSDP-ODP boreholes available, we provide new information on the timing of the formation of the Barracuda Ridge and Tiburon Rise in their present-day configurations. We propose paleogeographic reconstructions with the main sediments fluxes deposited in the area of the Barracuda and Tiburon ridges from the Late Cretaceous to present. Structural analysis shows reactivation of fracture zones in a transpressive setting leading to the uplifts of the Barracuda and Tiburon Ridges.The location of the Barracuda Ridge and the Tiburon Rise and the timing of the uplift fit well with recent global plate kinematic models describing the movements of NAM relative to SAM along a diffuse plate boundaryThis NAM-SAM plate boundary zone, therefore must most certainly be heterogeneous in nature, exploiting weaknesses in the lithosphere provided by fracture zones where mechanically advantageous, but forming new boundary segments elsewhere, to transfer motion between reactivated segments of the fracture zones.

At the northern extent of the Cascadia subduction zone, the subducting Explorer and Juan de Fuca plates interact across a translational deformation zone, known as the Nootka fault zone. The Seafloor Earthquake Array Japan-Canada Cascadia Experiment (SeaJade) was designed to study this region. In two parts (SeaJade I and II, deployed from July – September 2010 and January – September 2014), seismic data from the SeaJade project has led to several important discoveries. Hypocenter distributions from SeaJade I and II indicate primary and secondary conjugate faults within the Nootka fault zone. Converted phase analysis and jointly determined seismic tomography with double-difference relocated hypocenters provide evidence to several velocity-contrasting interfaces seaward of the Cascadia subduction front at depths of ~4-6 km, ~6-9 km, ~11-14 km, and ~14-18 km, which have been interpreted as the top of the oceanic crust, upper/lower crust boundary, oceanic Moho, and the base of the highly fractured and seawater/mineral enriched veins within oceanic mantle. During SeaJade II, a MW 6.4 mainshock and subsequent aftershocks, known as the Nootka Sequence, highlighted a previously unidentified fault within the subducted Explorer plate. This fault reflects the geometry of the subducting plate, showing downward bending of the plate toward the northwest. This plate bend can be attributed to negative buoyancy from margin parallel mantle flow induced by intraslab tearing further northwest. Seismic tomography reinforces the conclusions drawn from the Nootka Sequence hypocenter distribution. Earthquakes from the entire SeaJade II catalogue reveal possible rotated paleo-faults, identifying the former extent of the Nootka fault zone from ~3.5 Ma. / Graduate

La plupart des gisements de Ni-Cu sont issus de magmas komatiitique ou tholéiitique associés à des panaches mantelliques. Leur genèse fait intervenir l’exsolution d’un liquide sulfuré immiscible, l’interaction entre les liquides silicaté et sulfuré afin de concentrer ce-dernier en éléments chalcophiles, et l’accumulation du liquide sulfuré en quantités économiques. La saturation en sulfure est généralement atteinte en réduisant la solubilité des sulfures. Celle-ci se fait par assimilation de roches encaissantes siliceuses et/ou sulfurés.Le dyke d’Älgliden de la ceinture de Skellefte, en Suède, contient des sulfures de Cu et Ni dont les quantités ne sont actuellement pas économiques. La minéralisation d’Älgliden est atypique dans la mesure où elle contient d’importantes teneurs en Au, elle a un faible rapport Ni/Cu et enfin est formé dans un contexte de subduction. Le dyke recoupe un gisement porphyrique à Cu-Au contenant des sulfures ce qui laisse suggérer que la minéralisation d’Älgliden est formée par assimilation.Les objectifs de ce projet de recherche étaient d’examiner les processus de formation de la minéralisation d’Älgliden et son potentiel minier ainsi que de mieux comprendre la formation des gisements à Ni-Cu en contexte de subduction. Ce travail inclut l’étude pétrologique du minerai et de ses roches hôtes, la détermination de compositions minérales, l’analyse des éléments majeurs et traces sur roche totale et enfin des analyses des isotopes du soufre. Ce projet a été financé par la compagnie Boliden qui détient le gisement d’Älgliden.Le dyke est composé en majeure partie de norite à olivines, et minoritairement de leucogabbros. Les compositions sur roches totales, les textures magmatiques et les compositions minérales suggèrent que les norites à olivine se sont formées par accumulation d’olivine tandis que les leucogabbros représentent des liquides résiduels avec ou sans cristaux cumulus de plagioclase ± orthopyroxene. Les norites sont interprétées comme étant formées par une ou deux injections de bouillie cristalline suivie de cristallisation fractionnée. Le magma parent des roches d’Älgliden était un basalte hydraté et évolué dont la teneur en MgO est estimé à 6%.Le minerai sulfuré est principalement disséminé à travers l’ensemble de l’intrusion d’Älgliden. Quelques concentrations modérées de minerai se présentent sous la forme de sulfures en réseaux, de veines de sulfures et de sulfures massifs, lesquelles sont spatialement associées aux leucogabbros et aux xénolites de l’encaissant. L’association entre les leucogabbros et les concentrations en sulfures, leur faible teneur en métaux et leur faible rapport Ni/Cu suggèrent que la phase sulfuré s’est exsolvée tardivement au cours de la différentiation magmatique. Ce timing semble défavorable pour la minéralisation d’Älgliden puisqu’il inhibe à la fois l’interaction entre les liquides silicaté et sulfuré et l’accumulation du liquide sulfuré.La contamination du magma d’Älgliden par son encaissant n’est pas corroboré par les concentrations en élément trace et les compositions isotopiques du soufre. En revanche, ces données indiquent que le magma d’Älgliden s’est mis en place dans une zone de subduction où l’on pense que la saturation en sulfure a été atteinte par réduction d’un magma oxydé et riche en élément volatiles, via la cristallisation de magnétite et/ou dégazage. Les valeurs positives de δ34S suggèrent que l’apport de matériel dérivé du slab est responsable du caractère oxydé du magma d’Älgliden.L’état d’oxydation des magmas d’arc leur permet de dissoudre de grandes quantités de S et d’Au. Leur caractère évolué est responsable de leur fortes concentrations relatives en Au et leur faible rapport Ni/Cu. Ainsi, en contexte subduction les sulfures magmatiques sont susceptibles d’avoir ces caractéristiques, et si l’exsolution du liquide sulfuré a lieu plus tôt que dans le cas d’Älgliden cela pourrait conduire à la formation de gisements économiques. / Most major sulfide Ni-Cu deposits originated from komatiitic or tholeiitic magmas that formed in association with mantle plumes. Their genesis involves the segregation of a immiscible sulfide liquid, reaction of the sulfide liquid with silicate melt to upgrade the sulfide in chalcophile elements, and the concentration of the sulfide liquid in economic amounts. Saturation in sulfide is commonly achieved by lowering the sulfide solubility via assimilation of siliceous wall rock or by increasing the S content by adding S-bearing materials.The Älgliden dike in the Skellefte Belt in Sweden contains currently uneconomic Ni-Cu sulfide mineralization. The Älgliden mineralization is atypical insofar as it contains a significant amount of Au, has a low Ni/Cu ratio and formed in a subduction-related geodynamic setting. The host intrusion intrudes sulfide-bearing Cu-Au porphyry mineralization which led to the suggestion that the Älgliden Ni-Cu-Au mineralization was linked to the assimilation of sulfide-bearing wall rocks.The goals of this research project were to investigate the ore forming processes of the Älgliden mineralization and its ore potential, as well as to improve our understanding of the genesis of Ni-Cu deposits in subduction zones. The work is based on a petrological study of the ore and its host rocks, determination of mineral compositions, analyses of major and trace elements in bulk rocks, and sulfur isotope analyses. This was supported by the Boliden company which owns the deposit.The dike is composed mainly of olivine norites with minor leucogabbros. Bulk rock compositions, magmatic textures and mineral compositions suggest that the olivine norites formed by accumulation of olivine and that the leucogabbros represent residual melts with or without cumulus plagioclase ± orthopyroxene. The norites are interpreted to form by one or two injections of an olivine-rich crystal mush and subsequent fractional crystallization. The parental melt of the Älgliden rocks was a hydrous and evolved basalt estimated to contain ≈6 wt.% MgO.The sulfide ore is mainly disseminated throughout the whole Älgliden intrusion. Some weak ore concentrations occur as network to vein and massive sulfides that are spatially associated with the leucogabbros and wallrock xenoliths. The association between the leucogabbros and the concentrations of sulfide, their low ore grade and Ni/Cu ratio suggest that the sulfide segregated late in the differentiation process. This timing appears unfavorable for the Älgliden mineralization because it inhibited both sulfide-silicate liquid interaction and the accumulation of sulfide.Contamination of the Älgliden magma by its wall rocks is not supported by trace element data and S isotope compositions. Instead these data indicate that the Älgliden magma was emplaced above a subduction zone where the sulfide saturation is thought to occur by reduction of the oxidized and volatile-rich magma by magnetite fractionation and/or by degassing. Positive δ34S values suggest addition of slab-derived material which is thought to be responsible for the oxidized character of the Älgliden magma.The oxidation state of arc magmas allows them to carry large amounts of S and Au. Their evolved character is also responsible for their relatively high Au contents and low Ni/Cu. Such characteristics are likely to occur in magmatic sulfide mineralization in subduction zone settings, and if sulfide liquid segregation had occurred earlier than at Älgliden the process may have produced economic sulfide deposits.

L’évolution des assemblages pétrologiques avec l’augmentation de pression et de température est couramment perçue à l’équilibre et figée dans le temps. Le développement des sources synchrotron de rayons X permet à présent de mesurer in situ et en temps résolu les vitesses de transformations minéralogiques à haute pression (HP), haute température (HT). Cette thèse présente l’utilisation de cette technologie dans 2 contextes géologiques. (i) Le potentiel sismogène de la déstabilisation des minéraux hydratés dans les plaques en subduction est vérifié. Les cinétiques de déshydratation du talc, de la phase à 10Å et de l’antigorite ont été mesurées à HP-HT en système clos. Nous avons identifié que l’antigorite se déshydrate en passant par un stade intermédiaire. Toutes les vitesses de libération de fluides associées sont plus rapides que la déformation visqueuse des roches et sont donc compatibles avec le déclenchement de rupture. (ii) Les cinétiques de transition olivine-ringwoodite ont été déterminées dans la loupe de costabilité pour des compositions riches en Fe. Elles mettent en évidence une amorphisation partielle de l'olivine en début de transformation. Cela pourrait perturber de manière significative la vitesse des ondes sismiques lors de leur passage au niveau de la zone de transition mantellique. Par ailleurs, les temps caractéristiques de réaction et la réduction conséquente de la taille des grains, indiquent qu’une telle transition de phase induit une atténuation sismique importante. Ces résultats expérimentaux in situ HP-HT révèlent des mécanismes originaux de transition de phase et contribuent ainsi à une meilleure compréhension des modèles géodynamiques / The evolution of petrological assemblies with increasing pressure and temperature is commonly perceived at equilibrium and fixed within time. The development of X-ray synchrotron sources now enable to measure in situ, time-resolved rates of mineralogical transformations at high pressure (HP), high temperature (HT). This thesis presents the application of this technology in two geological settings. (i) The seismogenic ability of breakdown of hydrated minerals within the subducting slab is checked. The dehydration kinetics of talc, 10Å phase and antigorite were measured at HP-HT in a closed system. We have found that antigorite dehydrates through an intermediate stage. All associated rates of released fluids are faster than the viscous deformation of rocks and are therefore compatible with the trigger of rupture. (ii) The kinetics of olivineringwoodite transition were determined within the co-stability loop for Fe-rich compositions. They show a partial amorphization of olivine at the beginning of the transformation. This could significantly affect the velocities of seismic waves when crossing the mantle transition zone. Moreover, the characteristic times of this reaction and the substantial reduction in grain size, indicate that such a phase transition may induce a significant seismic attenuation. These in situ HP-HT experimental results reveal novel mechanisms of phase transition and thus contribute to a better understanding of geodynamic models

The steep forearc slope along the northern sector of the obliquely convergent Hikurangi subduction zone is characteristic of non-accretionary and tectonically eroding continental margins, with reduced sediment supply in the trench relative to further south, and the presence of seamount relief on the Hikurangi Plateau. These seamounts influence the subduction process and the structurally-driven geomorphic development of the over-riding margin of the Australian Plate frontal wedge. The Poverty Indentation represents an unusual, especially challenging and therefore exciting location to investigate the tectonic and eustatic effects on this sedimentary system because of: (i) the geometry and obliquity of the subducting seamounts; (ii) the influence of multiple repeated seamount impacts; (iii) the effects of structurally-driven over-steeping and associated widespread occurrence of gravitational collapse and mass movements; and (iv) the development of a large canyon system down the axis of the indentation. High quality bathymetric and backscatter images of the Poverty Indentation submarine re-entrant across the northern part of the Hikurangi margin were obtained by scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) (Lewis, 2001) using a SIMRAD EM300 multibeam swath-mapping system, hull-mounted on NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa. The entire accretionary slope of the re-entrant was mapped, at depths ranging from 100 to 3500 metres. The level of seafloor morphologic resolution is comparable with some of the most detailed Digital Elevation Maps (DEM) onshore. The detailed digital swath images are complemented by the availability of excellent high-quality processed multi-channel seismic reflection data, single channel high-resolution 3.5 kHz seismic reflection data, as well as core samples. Combined, these data support this study of the complex interactions of tectonic deformation with slope sedimentary processes and slope submarine geomorphic evolution at a convergent margin. The origin of the Poverty Indentation, on the inboard trench-slope at the transition from the northern to central sectors of the Hikurangi margin, is attributed to multiple seamount impacts over the last c. 2 Myr period. This has been accompanied by canyon incision, thrust fault propagation into the trench fill, and numerous large-scale gravitational collapse structures with multiple debris flow and avalanche deposits ranging in down-slope length from a few hundred metres to more than 40 km. The indentation is directly offshore of the Waipaoa River which is currently estimated to have a high sediment yield into the marine system. The indentation is recognised as the “Sink” for sediments derived from the Waipaoa River catchment, one of two target river systems chosen for the US National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded MARGINS “Source-to-Sink” initiative. The Poverty Canyon stretches 70 km from the continental shelf edge directly offshore from the Waipaoa to the trench floor, incising into the axis of the indentation. The sediment delivered to the margin from the Waipaoa catchment and elsewhere during sea-level high-stands, including the Holocene, has remained largely trapped in a large depocentre on the Poverty shelf, while during low-stand cycles, sediment bypassed the shelf to develop a prograding clinoform sequence out onto the upper slope. The formation of the indentation and the development of the upper branches of the Poverty Canyon system have led to the progressive removal of a substantial part of this prograding wedge by mass movements and gully incision. Sediment has also accumulated in the head of the Poverty Canyon and episodic mass flows contribute significantly to continued modification of the indentation by driving canyon incision and triggering instability in the adjacent slopes. Prograding clinoforms lying seaward of active faults beneath the shelf, and overlying a buried inactive thrust system beneath the upper slope, reveal a history of deformation accompanied by the creation of accommodation space. There is some more recent activity on shelf faults (i.e. Lachlan Fault) and at the transition into the lower margin, but reduced (~2 %) or no evidence of recent deformation for the majority of the upper to mid-slope. This is in contrast to current activity (approximately 24 to 47% shortening) across the lower slope and frontal wedge regions of the indentation. The middle to lower Poverty Canyon represents a structural transition zone within the indentation coincident with the indentation axis. The lower to mid-slope south of the canyon conforms more closely to a classic accretionary slope deformation style with a series of east-facing thrust-propagated asymmetric anticlines separated by early-stage slope basins. North of the canyon system, sediment starvation and seamount impact has resulted in frontal tectonic erosion associated with the development of an over-steepened lower to mid-slope margin, fault reactivation and structural inversion and over-printing. Evidence points to at least three main seamount subduction events within the Poverty Indentation, each with different margin responses: i) older substantial seamount impact that drove the first-order perturbation in the margin, since approximately ~1-2 Ma ii) subducted seamount(s) now beneath Pantin and Paritu Ridge complexes, initially impacting on the margin approximately ~0.5 Ma, and iii) incipient seamount subduction of the Puke Seamount at the current deformation front. The overall geometry and geomorphology of the wider indentation appears to conform to the geometry accompanying the structure observed in sandbox models after the seamount has passed completely through the deformation front. The main morphological features correlating with sandbox models include: i) the axial re-entrant down which the Poverty Canyon now incises; ii) the re-establishment of an accretionary wedge to the south of the indentation axis, accompanied by out-stepping, deformation front propagation into the trench fill sequence, particularly towards the mouth of the canyon; iii) the linear north margin of the indentation with respect to the more arcuate shape of the southern accretionary wedge; and, iv) the set of faults cutting obliquely across the deformation front near the mouth of the canyon. Many of the observed structural and geomorphic features of the Poverty Indentation also correlate well both with other sediment-rich convergent margins where seamount subduction is prevalent particularly the Nankai and Sumatra margins, and the sediment-starved Costa Rican margin. While submarine canyon systems are certainly present on other convergent margins undergoing seamount subduction there appears to be no other documented shelf to trench extending canyon system developing in the axis of such a re-entrant, as is dominating the Poverty Indentation. Ongoing modification of the Indentation appears to be driven by: i) continued smaller seamount impacts at the deformation front, and currently subducting beneath the mid-lower slope, ii) low and high sea-level stands accompanied by variations on sediment flux from the continental shelf, iii) over-steepening of the deformation front and mass movement, particularly from the shelf edge and upper slope.

In the late Pleistocene, most of British Columbia and northern Washington was covered by the Cordilleran ice sheet. The weight of the ice sheet caused up to several hundred metres of depression of the Earth’s crust. This caused relative sea level to be higher in southwestern British Columbia despite lower global eustatic sea level. After deglaciation, postglacial rebound of the crust caused sea level to quickly drop to below present levels. The rate of sea-level fall is used here to determine the rheology of the mantle in southwestern British Columbia. The first section of this study deals with determination of the postglacial sea-level history in the Victoria area. Constraints on sea-level position come from isolation basin cores collected in 2000 and 2001, as well as from previously published data from the past 45 years. The position of sea-level is well constrained at elevations greater than -4 m, and there are only loose constraints below that. The highstand position in the Victoria area is between 75-80 m. Sea level fell rapidly from the highstand position to below 0 m between 14.3 and 13.2 thousand calendar years before present (cal kyr BP). The magnitude of the lowstand position was between -11 and -40 m. Though there are few constraints on the lowstand position, analysis of the crustal response favours larger lowstand. Well constrained sea-level histories from Victoria, central Strait of Georgia and northern Strait of Georgia are used to model the rheology of the mantle in southwestern British Columbia. A new ice sheet model for the southwestern Cordillera was developed as older models systematically underpredicted the magnitude of sea level in late glacial times. Radiocarbon dates are compiled to provide constraints on ice sheet advance and retreat. The Cordillera ice sheet reached maximum extent between 17 and 15.4 cal kyr BP. After 15.4 cal kyr, the ice sheet retreated, and by 13.7 cal kyr BP Puget Sound, Juan de Fuca Strait and Strait of Georgia were ice free. By 10.7 cal kyr BP, ice was restricted to mountain glaciers at levels similar to present. With the new ice model, and using an Earth model with a 60 km lithosphere, asthenosphere with variable viscosity and thickness, and transitional and lower mantle viscosity based on the VM2 Earth model, predicted sea level matches the observed sea level constraints in southwestern British Columbia. Nearly identical predicted sea-level curves are found using asthenosphere thicknesses between 140-380 km with viscosity values between 3x10^18 and 4x10^19 Pa s. Predicted sea level is almost completely insensitive to the mantle below the asthenosphere. Modeled present day postglacial uplift rates are less than 0.5 mm yr^-1. Despite the tight fit of the predicted sea level to observed late-glacial sea level observations, the modelling was not able to fit the early Holocene rise of sea level to present levels in the central and northern Strait of Georgia.