Continental microplates are enigmatic plate boundary features, which can occur in extensional and compressional regimes. Here we focus on microplate formation and their temporal evolution in continental rift settings. To this aim, we employ the geodynamic finite element software ASPECT to conduct 3D lithospheric‐scale numerical models from rift inception to continental breakup. We find that depending on the strike‐perpendicular offset and crustal strength, rift segments connect or interact through one of four regimes: (1) an oblique rift, (2) a transform fault, (3) a rotating continental microplate or (4) a rift jump. We highlight that rotating microplates form at offsets >200 km in weak to moderately strong crustal setups. We describe the dynamics of microplate evolution from initial rift propagation, to segment overlap, vertical‐axis rotation, and eventually continental breakup. These models may explain microplate size and kinematics of the Flemish Cap, the Sao Paulo Plateau, and other continental microplates that formed during continental rifting worldwide.

中文翻译：

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裂谷联系形成大陆微板块：数值模拟及其在佛兰芒高原和圣保罗高原的应用

大陆微孔板是神秘的板块边界特征，可能会在拉伸和压缩状态下发生。在这里，我们重点研究微板块的形成及其在大陆裂谷环境中的时间演化。为此，我们使用地球动力学有限元软件ASPECT进行了从裂谷开始到大陆破裂的3D岩石圈尺度数值模型。我们发现，根据走向垂直偏移和地壳强度，裂谷段通过以下四种机制之一进行连接或相互作用：（1）斜裂谷，（2）转换断层，（3）旋转的大陆微孔板或（4）裂痕。我们强调指出，在从弱到中等强的地壳构造中，旋转微孔板的偏移量大于200 km。我们描述了从最初的裂谷传播到片段重叠，垂直轴旋转，最终大陆分裂。这些模型可能解释了佛兰芒帽，圣保罗高原以及全球大陆裂谷期间形成的其他大陆微板的微板尺寸和运动学。