Speaker
Description
Research on magma-poor rifted margins provides a unique opportunity to investigate the mechanisms by which continents extend and eventually break apart without significant magmatic activity. Their geological record, either observed at “fossil margins” preserved in mountain belts, or in modern examples using geophysical techniques and drilling, captures the unique complexity of the extreme thinning of the continental lithosphere. The specific architecture of these margins is characterized by hyperextension, driven by low-angle detachment faults and exhumation of upper-mantle rocks at the seafloor. From an applied perspective, magma-poor rifted margins have become increasingly important for carbon-neutral studies and strategies. The associated basins, characterized by elevated heat flow, unique sedimentary rock successions, and peculiar hydrothermal activity, are key to identifying new potential CO2 storage sites, understanding high-enthalpy geothermal applications, and potential sources of strategic minerals. In addition, the exhumed domain hosts natural hydrogen generation through the serpentinization process. These features make the study magma-poor margin extremely valuable both for academic research and sustainable resources exploration.