The geology of the Reykjanes Ridge reflects variations in the style of crustal accretion related to mantle plume processes and tectonic reconfigurations. Following a ~30° change in spreading direction, ridge segments progressively reassumed a linear orientation under the influence of a regional mantle melting anomaly. This process is incomplete, with ongoing reorganization along the southernmost part of the ridge. We investigate the ongoing impacts of this reorganization on ridge propagation, seafloor morphology, and structural fabrics using a combination of geophysical evidence to inform the regional and detailed remote-predictive geological mapping over the southernmost ~200 km of the ridge, covering ~11 M.y. of spreading history. Our results show that this area is more segmented than previously described, as we identify two new fracture zones. In this area, transforms evolved to discontinuities between ~8.2 and 4.2 Ma, associated with the evolution of the segments comprising the southern part of the Reykjanes Ridge. At ~9.7–8.2 Ma, a new segment (S2) forms at the expense of segment S3. The evolution of southern most part of the Reykjanes Ridge is related to magma supply associated with buoyant upwelling mantle cells. The elimination of transform motion coincides with reorientation of the seafloor fabric from N-trending at the active plate boundary, to a complex NE-trending fabric in off-axis. This results in dissection of axial volcanic ridges by the oblique plate boundary zone. The complex interplay between segment reorganization and short ridge jumps along the migrating discontinuities results in more crustal accretion to the North American plate overall.

The transition from subduction to transform motion along horizontal terminations of trenches is associated with tearing of the subducting slab and strike-slip tectonics in the overriding plate. One prominent example is the northern Tonga subduction zone, where abundant strike-slip faulting in the NE Lau back-arc basin is associated with transform motion along the northern plate boundary and asymmetric slab rollback. Here, we address the fundamental question: how does this subduction-transform motion influence the structural and magmatic evolution of the back-arc region? To answer this, we undertake the first comprehensive study of the geology and geodynamics of this region through analyses of morphotectonics (remote-predictive geologic mapping) and fault kinematics interpreted from ship-based multibeam bathymetry and Centroid-Moment Tensor data. Our results highlight two unique features of the NE Lau Basin: (1) the occurrence of widely distributed off-axis volcanism, in contrast to typical ridge-centered back-arc volcanism, and (2) fault kinematics dominated by shallow-crustal strike slip-faulting (rather than normal faulting) extending over ~120 km from the transform boundary. The orientations of these strike-slip faults are consistent with reactivation of earlier-formed normal faults in a sinistral megashear zone. Notably, two distinct sets of Riedel megashears are identified, indicating a recent counter-clockwise rotation of part of the stress field in the back-arc region closest to the arc. Importantly, these structures directly control the development of complex volcanic-compositional provinces, which are characterized by variably-oriented spreading centers, off-axis volcanic ridges, extensive lava flows, and point-source rear-arc volcanoes that sample a heterogenous mantle wedge, with sharp gradients and contrasts in composition and magmatic affinity. This study adds to our understanding of the geologic and structural evolution of modern backarc systems, including the association between subduction-transform motions and the siting and style of seafloor volcanism.