| Manus plate | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Minor |
| Movement1 | north-west |
| Speed1 | 92mm/year |
| Features | Pacific Ocean |
| 1Relative to theAfrican plate | |
TheManus plate is a 100-km-wide tectonic microplate located northeast ofNew Guinea. The Manus plate was formed in between theNorth Bismark Plate and theSouth Bismark Plate. The Manus plate currently rotates counter-clockwise in the Melanesia area.[1]
The Manus plate formed during theBrunhes-Matuyama reversal, making its maximum age approximately 781,000 years old.[2] The Manus plate formed in-between and on top of thetransform boundaries that were separating the North and South Bismark plates.[2] The plate was formed of young mid-ocean ridge basalt, along with pieces of older oceanic floor that had broken off of the South Bismarck plate.[2]
The north and northeast boundaries of the Manus plate, with the North Bismark and Pacific plates are bothconvergent boundaries.[3] The plates southeast borders of the South Bismark plate is adivergent boundary.[3] The southwest boundary bordering the South Bismark plate is atransform boundary. The Manus plate currently has a rate of rotation of 51°/ Ma at the spot, -3.04°N, 150.46°E, in the counter-clockwise direction, due to the plates left lateral motion.[4] This is likely the fastest plate rotation, on Earth at this time.[4]
3°02′13″S150°27′22″E / 3.0370°S 150.4560°E /-3.0370; 150.4560
