Disparate crustal thicknesses beneath oceanic transform faults and adjacent fracture zones revealed by gravity anomalies

Abstract Plate tectonics describes oceanic transform faults as conservative strike-slip boundaries, where lithosphere is neither created nor destroyed. Therefore, seafloor accreted at ridge-transform intersections should follow a similar subsidence trend with age that forms away from intersections. Yet, recent compilations of high-resolution bathymetry show the significantly deeper along than adjacent fracture zones. We present residual mantle Bouguer anomalies, proxy for crustal thickness, 11 fault systems across full range spreading rates. Our results indicate crust thinner in deformation zone either zones or inside corner regions. Consequently, faulting appears not only to thin valley but also leads secondary phase magmatic addition transition passive These observations challenge concept being plate boundaries.