New estimates of rapid sea-floor spreading rates and the identification of young magnetic anomalies on the East Pacific rise, 6° and 11° S

Abstract Detailed surveys of the crest of the East Pacific Rise at 6° and 11°S form the basis for estimates of sea-floor spreading rates of 8.2 and 8.3 cm/yr, respectively. These estimates are significantly higher than previous ones of 6.5 to 7.5 cm/yr. The high quality of the magnetic profile at 6°S allows identification of shorter magnetic events such as the two Olduvai events of Cox. DSDP drill-hole data indicate that the present spreading rates have persisted throughout the Cenozoic.