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{{Short description|Tectonic plates intersection}}
{{Coord|39.44|-29.83|display=title}}

[[File:Azorestriple3d.png|thumb|right|The Azores triple junction]]

The '''Azores triple junction''' ('''ATJ''') is a geologic [[triple junction]] where the boundaries of three tectonic plates intersect: the [[North American plate]], the [[Eurasian plate]] and the [[African plate]]. This triple junction is located along the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]] (MAR) amidst the [[Azores]] islands, nearly due west of the [[Strait of Gibraltar]]. It is classified as an [[Triple junction#Ridge–ridge–ridge junctions|R-R-R triple junction]] of the T type (for its shape), as it is an intersection of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge running north–south and the [[Terceira Rift]] which runs east-southeast.

The spreading rate along the MAR does not change abruptly at the ATJ, instead decreasing from 22.9±0.1 mm/yr at 40°N to 19.8±0.2 mm/yr at 38°N. This means the ATJ is not a simple triple junction where three tectonic plates meet at a point. The transitional range of spreading rates instead indicates the presence of a [[List of tectonic plates#Microplates|microplate]], commonly referred to as the [[Azores Microplate]], although the observed behaviour can also be explained in terms of a diffuse boundary.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters|title=GPS and tectonic evidence for a diffuse plate boundary at the Azores Triple Junction|author=F.O. Marques, J.C. Catalão, C.DeMets, A.C.G. Costa, A. Hildenbrand|year=2013|volume=381|pages=177–187|url=http://www.mantleplumes.org/WebDocuments/MarquesEtAl2013EPSL(381)DiffuseATJ.pdf|doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2013.08.051 |bibcode=2013E&PSL.381..177M }}</ref> Its northern boundary intersects the MAR between 39.4°N and 40.0°N and its southern between 38.2°N and 38.5°N. The microplate moves about 2 mm/yr east-northeast along its Nubian (African plate) boundary.<ref>{{Harvnb|DeMets|Gordon|Argus|2010|loc=The Azores microplate, pp. 24–25}}</ref>

==References==
=== Notes ===
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book
| last = da Silva Fernandes | first = R. M.
| title = Present-Day Kinematics at the Azores-Gibraltar Plate Boundary as Derived from GPS Observations
| year = 2004 | publisher = Delft University Press
| url = http://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid:1e56b3a7-b595-48c9-8110-dfea7b28955f?collection=research | access-date = 22 October 2016
| isbn = 9040725578 }}
* {{Cite journal
| last1 = DeMets | first1 = C.
| last2 = Gordon | first2 = R. G.
| last3 = Argus | first3 = D. F.
| title = Geologically current plate motions
| year = 2010 | journal = Geophysical Journal International | volume = 181 | issue = 1 | pages = 1–80
| doi = 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04491.x | bibcode = 2010GeoJI.181....1D
| doi-access = free }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080616091018/http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/africa/azores/tectonics.html Tectonics of the Azores]
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Main-tectonic-structures-that-can-be-defined-in-the-area-of-the-Azores-Triple-Junction_fig4_29629104 Main tectonic structures that can be defined in the area of the Azores triple junction]

{{Triple Junctions}}

[[Category:Triple junctions]]
[[Category:Mid-Atlantic Ridge]]

{{tectonics-stub}}

Azores triple junction - Revision history

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