Deep Structure of the Grenada Basin From Wide‐Angle Seismic, Bathymetric and Gravity Data

The Grenada back-arc basin is located between the Aves Ridge, which hosted remnant Early Paleogene “Great Caribbean Arc,” and Eocene to Present Lesser Antilles Arc. Several earlier studies have proposed different modes of opening for this basin, including N-S E-W directions. main aim study constrain circumstances leading basin. Three combined wide-angle reflection seismic profiles were acquired in final velocity models from forward travel time gravity modeling image variations thickness structure sedimentary crustal layers. cover has a variable 1 km on top ridges ∼10 North Guadeloupe Island, crust ∼20 thick without significant changes present arc. South Island underlain by oceanic mainly magmatic origin over width ∼80 km. Here, western flank Arc, 17.5-km thick. Arc typical volcanic arcs or plateaus. West thickens 25 at Ridge an 80–100 wide arc-ocean transition zone. narrowness zone suggests that might proceeded direction oblique convergence. Opening probably was accompanied moderate volcanism.