A Cenozoic Record of Uplift, Erosion and Dynamic Support: Examples from Madagascar

Abstract:

The physiography of Madagascar is characterised by high-elevation and low relief topography. Cretaceous limestones at elevations of ~300 m above sea level and newly dated emergent ~125 ka coral reefs suggest that Madagascar and its margins have been uplifted during Cenozoic times. Rivers in Madagascar are often deeply incised and contain steepened reaches, which implies that they are responding to changes in uplift rate. However, apatite fission track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology, and ¹⁰Be derived erosion rates suggest that both Cenozoic and recent denudation rates have been low. Extensive laterite-capped flat surfaces also suggest there were long periods of tectonic quiescence during the Cenozoic. To bridge the gap between evidence for uplift and quiescence, we inverted 2566 longitudinal river profiles using a damped non-negative, least-squares inversion scheme for histories of uplift rate. We used a simplified version of the stream power erosional model (∂z/∂t = -KA^mSⁿ + U, where n = 1). Longitudinal profiles were extracted from the 90 m resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model. Calibration of the stream power erosional model is based on new radiometric dating of marine terraces and incised lateritic peneplains. Fits to observed river profiles are excellent. Results indicate that Madagascar's topography grew by 1 - 2 km during the last 15-20 Ma. Calculated uplift and denudation is consistent with independent observations. Our results suggest that drainage networks in Madagascar contain coherent signals that record regional uplift. Admittance calculations and nearby oceanic residual age-depth measurements from the passive margins suggest that as much as 0.8 – 1.1 km of Cenozoic uplift in Madagascar was supported by the mantle.