Thermal-rheological structure of the lithosphere beneath Jiyang Depression: Its implications for geodynamics

Thermal regime of the lithosphere is the scenario of the lithospheric thermal evolution, and the thermo-mechanical state of lithosphere definitively controls its deformation style and mechanism. Better understanding of the lithospheric deep thermal-rheo- logical structure of sedimentary basin will shed light on the formation and evolution dynamic process of the basin. Surface tectonics is the response of the deep structure, and is controlled by the lithospheric ther-mal-rheological properties.…

Thermal-rheological structure of the lithosphere beneath Jiyang Depression: Its implications for geodynamics

Jiyang Depression, located in the southeast Bohai Bay Basin, has the geomorphologic framework of multiple uplifts intervening with sags. Combined the abundant geo-temperature data and thermo-physical parameters of rock samples derived from oil and gas exploration during the past years, with geothermal approaches, here we investigate the lithospheric thermal regime of this depression. Consequently, based on the obtained thermal structure of the lithosphere, along with rheological modeling, the lithospheric rheological profiles of Jiyang Depression are then determined. Our results show that the temperature at the bottom of sedimentary cover within depression varies from 129℃ to 298℃, accompanied with the basement heat flow ranging between 54.3 and 60.5 mW/m2; and 406℃-436℃ for temperature at the bottom of the upper crust, along with heat flow varying from 47.7 to 52.6 mW/m2; while the temperature at the bottom of the middle crust is between 537℃ and 572℃, as well as heat flow ranging from 41.3 to 56.3 mW/m2. The temperature at Moho ranges from 669℃ to 721℃, the heat flow derived from mantle is between 38.1 and 43.1 mW/m2, and calculated thickness of the thermal lithosphere beneath depression varies from 71 to 90 km. Lithospheric thermal regime is a close correlation with such factors as crustal thickness and surface heat flow, etc. Usually, the larger the surface heat flow, the larger the deep temperature and heat flow within lithosphere, and the thinner the thermal lithospheric thickness. This high thermal regime of the lithosphere in Jiyang Depression is thought to be related to Cenozoic back-arc spreading during the western Pacific plate subduction into Eurasian continent. Lithospheric rheological modeling shows that the lithosphere in Jiyang Depression is characterized by its distinct rheological stratification as follows: The upper and most part of the middle crust are of brittle, while the lower crust and the lower part of middle crust are all ductile, and lithospheric mantle is dominated by the ductile layer. Additionally, lateral rheological heterogeneities exist in the depression, and the lithospheric strength of sags within depression differs much from each other. The total lithospheric strength of Jiyang Depression is between 1.52 and 2.16×1012 N/m, effective elastic thickness (Te) of the lithosphere in Jiyang Depression is about 24 km, approximating to the thickness of mechanically strong crust (MSC). We suggested that the dehydration of minerals in the subducting zone, along with upwelling of hot materials in the mantle wedge during subduction and back-arc spreading, results in the partial melting at the bottom of curst, which triggers magma intrusion and underplating. This geodynamics process maybe is the reason for the reduction of lower crustal viscosity for ductile flow. Lithospheric rheological stratification controlling the differential deformation styles of brittle fracture or frictional slide in the upper crust and ductile flow in the middle and lower crust, accounts for the basin formation and evolution of Jiyang Depression during Cenozoic.