Magmatism, structure and age of Dove Basin (Antarctica): A key to understanding South Scotia Arc development

The age obtained for the Dove Basin is older than the age previously proposed for the Protector Basin located to the west, thus suggesting an opposite polarity for the development of some small oceanic basins of the southern Scotia Sea with respect to others generated by an eastward migrating arc over subducted Atlantic oceanic floor. This apparent contradiction could be explained by considering the Dove Basin as originated from an Oligocene to early Miocene arc-back-arc spreading system, which would contribute to the eastward general development of the Scotia Arc, meanwhile Protector Basin was formed by a middle Miocene extensional phase, not genetically related with the main oceanic spreading along the Dove Basin.