A comparative study of Pleistocene phosphorites from the continental slope off western India

Two types of phosphorite recovered from the continental slope off western India are described. The first type, phosphorite 1, comprises a hard, grey nodule composed of carbonate fluorapatite (CFA) and calcite as major minerals. The phosphorite consists of light‐brown microcrystalline apatite containing a few skeletal fragments and planktonic foraminifera. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies show evidence of dissolution of skeletal calcite and filling of the resulting cavities by phosphate composed of ovoid to rod‐shaped apatite microparticles. Apatite also occurs as coatings on these particles. The P₂O₅ content of the phosphorite is 29%, and the CO₂ content of the CFA is about 4·5%. The rare‐earth element (REE) abundance (ΣREE=2·02 μg g^–1) is lower than in other modern phosphorites. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio and ?Nd value of this sample are 0·70921 and –9·9 respectively. The ¹⁴C age found through accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating (18 720 ± 120 years BP) is much younger than that determined by the U‐series method (100 ka). The second type, phosphorite 2, comprises a friable, light‐brown nodule consisting of CFA as the only major mineral, with a CO₂ content of the CFA of 4·5%. In thin section, the phosphate is light brown and homogeneous, and a few bone fragments are present. The P₂O₅ content is 33%, and REE contents (ΣREE = 0·18 μg g^–1) are lower than in phosphorite 1. The age of phosphorite 2 is >300 ka. Phosphorite 1 appears to have formed during the late Pleistocene through replacement of carbonate by phosphate; phosphorite 2 is also of Pleistocene age but is much older than phosphorite 1. The initial substrate for phosphorite 2 was a fish coprolite, which was subsequently phosphatized during slow sedimentation under low‐energy conditions. Microbial mediation is evident in both phosphorites. The colour, density and P₂O₅ content of the phosphorites are found to be dependent on the nature of the initial substrates and physico‐chemical conditions during phosphatization. The CO₂ content of the CFA is not related to the precursor carbonate phase. The nature of sediments, rates of sedimentation and the time spent undergoing phosphogenesis at the sediment–water interface may control REE concentrations in phosphorites.     

Seismic activity at the western Pyrenean edge

The present-day seismicity at the westernmost part of the Pyrenean domain reported from permanent networks is of low to moderate magnitude. However, it is poorly constrained due to the scarce station coverage of the area. We present new seismic data collected from a temporary network deployed there for 17 months that provides an enhanced image of the seismic activity and its tectonic implications. Our results delineate the westward continuity of the E–W Pyrenean band of seismicity, through the Variscan Basque Massifs along the Leiza Fault, ending up at the Hendaya Fault. This seismicity belt is distributed on a crustal scale, dipping northward to almost 30 km depth. Other relevant seismic events located in the area can be related to the central segment of the Pamplona fault, and to different E–W thrust structures.     

Heat flow of the eastern Canadian rifted continental margin revisited

Continental shelves are regions where heat flow is not measured directly by conventional marine techniques, but estimated from oil exploration data with possible bias. In order to overcome this problem, we recently proposed a method based on neural networks (Geophys J Int 2006, 166 :115) that provides better constraints on thermal conductivity: it allowed us to derive 161 heat flow estimates on the eastern margin of Canada, where previous studies had concluded to the existence of heat flow higher than that in the adjacent continent and ocean. We conversely found rather homogeneous values (∼45–55 mW m⁻²) all along and across the margins, from Labrador to Nova Scotia. The difference seems essentially related to the porosity of sediments that was not taken into account in previous studies. Our results support a high asymmetry for the conjugate Iberian‐Canadian margins, and could indicate that mantle heat flow increases abruptly from the Canadian shield to the margins.     

Interaction of the Western Boundary Undercurrent with the continental margin off Newfoundland

Sedimentation on the Newfoundland rise is strongly influenced by the Western Boundary Undercurrent (WBU). The upper rise (2600-2800 m) is swept by a rapid (ū= 8·5 cm sec^?1), south-flowing core of the WBU which has generated a sandy contourite facies characterized by coarse gravelly, sandy sediments; current-induced bedforms such as scour moats, lineations and lee drifts; ferro-manganese-stained gravel clasts; a high proportion of broken foraminiferal tests and a diagnostic benthic foraminiferal assemblage. The overlying nepheloid layer, when compared to adjacent waters, is thickest (800 m), most sediment laden (80 μg 1^?1), contains the highest proportion of terrigenous sediment and exhibits the best developed bottom mixed layer (～ 15 m thick). Comparisons with earlier data from the same area imply the dimensions and sediment load of the nepheloid layer vary with time. Empirical considerations, based on near-bottom current meter records from Labrador and Newfoundland, suggest the WBU is capable of transporting bedload with threshold friction velocities (u*) of around 0·87-1·14 cm sec^?1 for between 1 and 15% of the time. The prevailing transport direction is southwards along the rise, but this may be punctuated periodically by brief incursions to the north. The erosional regime of the upper rise is bordered by a regime of fine-grained deposition typified by muddy contourites. Both the lower slope and lower rise are mantled by bioturbated muds, the former zone having terrigenous mud and the latter, biogenic calcareous mud. The accompanying nepheloid layer is thin, biogenic-rich and devoid of an identifiable mixed layer.     

Transects of the ancient and modern continental margins of eastern Canada

Rocks of the west flank of the northern Appalachian Orogen (miogeocline) record the history of the late Precambrian-early Paleozoic passive continental margin of Eastern North America. The ancient margin was destroyed by ophiolite obduction and arc collision during the Ordovician Taconic Orogeny. The present sinuous form of the miogeocline is interpreted to reflect ancient promontories and re-entrants of a previous orthogonal margin bounded by rifts and transforms.Four major terranes are recognized east of the miogeocline in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. From west to east, these are the Dunnage, Gander, Avalon and Meguma. The Dunnage and Gander terranes were linked to the miogeocline during the Middle Ordovician Taconian Orogeny. The Avalon terrane arrived later, possibly during the mid-Paleozoic Acadian Orogeny. The Meguma terrane of southern Nova Scotia had docked with the Avalon terrane by Carboniferous time. The Dunnage terrane contains arc volcanics which lie above an ophiolitic substrate. The Gander terrane comprises a thick sequence of clastic sedimentary rocks, underlain by basement rocks with continental affinities. It has been interpreted as a continental margin, perhaps once on the eastern side of the Paleozoic Iapetus ocean. The Avalon terrane consists of belts of sedimentary and volcanic rocks which are probably underlain by Grenvillian basement. Its tectonic affinities are unclear. The Meguma terrane comprises a thick sequence of sediments, derived from the south-east. It is found only in southeastern Atlantic Canada. The boundaries between terranes are compressional in the west and steep, transcurrent faults in the east.The surface extent of the geological terranes is grossly correlative with deep structural zones, although no direct evidence exists for linking the two because most surface structures can be traced geophysically to only a few kilometres depth. A striking feature of the deep crustal structure is a lower, high velocity crustal layer beneath the Dunnage and Gander terranes.The modern margin of Atlantic Canada developed by rifting and by transform motion between adjacent continents. Stretching and thinning of the lithosphere, and the consequent production of basaltic magma that in places intrudes or underplates the thinned continental crust, are the most likely processes responsible for the evolution of the modern margin. These processes predict the observed deep sedimentary basins along the margin, the thinning of continental crust, and the high seismic velocities found within the ocean-continent transition zones.Rifting adjacent to Nova Scotia began in Late Triassic-Early Jurassic time between the present African and North American plates. These plate motions are also responsible for the major transform margin south of the Grand Banks. Separation between Iberia and the eastern Grand Banks occurred in mid-Cretaceous time, before the Late Cretaceous opening of the Labrador Sea. While the rifted segments of the margin exhibit deep sedimentary basins and thinned continental crust, the Grand Banks transform segment is characterized by a sharp transition zone and a relatively thin sediment cover. Numerous volcanic seamounts are built on the ocean crust adjacent to this transform segment.Mimicry of Paleozoic promontories and re-entrants by modern rift and transform margin segments, the location of Mesozoic sedimentary basins on ancestral Appalachian structures, and the reactivation and propagation of major Precambrian and Paleozoic structural boundaries during the latest phase of ocean opening attest to ancestral controls of the modern margins.The rift phase of both the ancient and modern passive margins is characterized by volcanism, mafic dike intrusion and by the development of basins filled with clastic sediments. The drift phase of both the ancient margin and the present Nova Scotia margin is marked by a change in sedimentary environment, such that carbonates replaced the rift phase clastic sediments. Two of the markers used to delineate the ancient ocean-continent transition zone; carbonate banks and steep gravity anomaly gradients, should be used with caution as the modern analogs of these markers may lie 100 km or more of this transition zone. Furthermore, it is naive to view the ancient transition as simple and narrow, for the modern margins exhibits complex transition zones between 30 and 300 km wide.In general, the evolution of the ancient and modern passive margins appear to be remarkably similar. Predictably, closing the present Atlantic will mimic the evolution of the Appalachian Orogen.     

Seismic imaging of lithospheric discontinuities and continental evolution

Discontinuities in physical properties within the continental lithosphere reflect a range of processes that have contributed to craton stabilization and evolution. A survey of recent seismological studies concerning lithospheric discontinuities is made in an attempt to document their essential characteristics. Results from long-period seismology are inconsistent with the presence of continuous, laterally invariant, isotropic boundaries within the upper mantle at the global scale. At regional scales, two well-defined interfaces termed H (60 km depth) and L (200 km depth) of continental affinity are identified, with the latter boundary generally exhibiting an anisotropic character. Long-range refraction profiles are frequently characterized by subcontinental mantle that exhibits a complex stratification within the top 200 km. The shallow layering of this package can behave as an imperfect waveguide giving rise to the so-called teleseismic Pn phase, while the L-discontinuity may define its lower base as the culmination of a low velocity zone. High-resolution, seismic reflection profiling provides sufficient detail in a number of cases to document the merging of mantle interfaces into lower continental crust below former collisional sutures and magmatic arcs, thus unambiguously identifying some lithospheric discontinuities with thrust faults and subducted oceanic lithosphere. Collectively, these and other seismic observations point to a continental lithosphere whose internal structure is dominated by a laterally variable, subhorizontal layering. This stratigraphy appears to be more pronounced at shallower lithospheric levels, includes dense, anisotropic layers of order 10 km in thickness, and exhibits horizontal correlation lengths comparable to the lateral dimensions of overlying crustal blocks. A model of craton evolution which relies on shallow subduction as a principal agent of craton stabilization is shown to be broadly compatible with these characteristics.     

Structure and evolution of the continental margin off Norway and the Barents Sea

The Norwegian Margin formed in response to early Cenozoic continental breakup and subsequent opening of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea. There is a welldefined margin segmentation and the various segments are characterized by distinct crustal properties, structural and magmatic styles, and post-opening history of vertical motions. The sedimentary basins at the conjugate continental margins off Norway and Greenland and in the western Barents Sea developed as a result of a series of post-Caledonian rift episodes until early Cenozoic time, when complete continental separation took place.     

中国东部中—新生代大陆构造的形成与演化

20世纪60年代提出的"威尔逊旋回"以关闭洋盆两侧板块的碰撞作为板块运动旋回的终结,然而板块构造学说"登陆"20多年来的实践说明这种认识是不全面的。大陆弥散而宽广的陆内变形说明洋盆闭合两侧板块的碰撞并未终止板内构造作用。古亚洲大陆形成后中国东部中—新生代广泛发育的板内构造变形、岩浆活动、克拉通内盆地的形成都和古亚洲大陆南、北,印度洋和北冰洋洋脊的持续扩张、西太平洋和菲律宾洋壳的俯冲相关。本文拟厘清中国东部中—新生代大陆构造形成与演化的重大事件、构造性质、形成背景及其时空展布:(1)晚海西—印支期古特提斯洋关闭陆块拼合碰撞古亚洲大陆雏形形成;(2)晚侏罗—早白垩世蒙古—鄂霍茨克海闭合,陆-陆碰撞古亚洲大陆形成,挤压逆冲推覆构造在陆内变形中形成高潮,西太平洋伊佐奈岐洋壳板块的斜俯冲叠加了自东而西的影响;(3)早白垩世晚期—古近纪加厚地壳-岩石圈减薄、转型,陆内伸展变形达到高潮,大陆克拉通泛盆地、准平原化;(4)始新世晚期—早中新世(40~23 Ma)太平洋板块运动转向对东亚大陆NWW向的挤压和印度洋脊扩张印—澳板块对古亚洲南部陆-陆碰撞挤压的叠加,形成中国东部新生的构造地貌;(5)中-上新世—早更新世受东亚—西太平洋巨型裂谷系和印度洋中脊扩张的叠加影响,中国东部岩石圈地幔隆升、地壳减薄,陆缘、陆内伸展变形相继形成边缘海、岛弧、裂谷型盆地和剥蚀高原地貌;(6)早更新世晚期(0.9~0.8 Ma)—晚更新世末(0.01 Ma)中国东部大陆构造地貌基本形成。     

Quaternary geology and deglaciation of the continental shelf off Troms, north Norway

The study is based mainly on 4700 km shallow seismic profiling, soil mechanical, and micropaleontological analyses from forty localities, and seven radiocarbon datings. Six foraminiferal assemblages are recognized. The thickness of Quaternary deposits ranges from sparse to more than 200 m. They consist of top sand, soft sensitive clay, and glacial drift divided into four seismic stratigraphic units. The oldest unit, which is the thickest and most extensive, is built up of various sediments and is partly eroded, especially in the southern part. The remaining units occur as three complex linear belts running broadly parallel to the present coast and were deposited during deglaciation. Dating of the outer unit, the Nordvestsnaget Drift, suggests a maximum age of 13,300 years B.P., and datings from the top of the middle unit, the Mulegga Drift, have given a minimum age of about 12,200 years B.P. Seismic stratigraphy shows that the inner unit, the Havbrobakken Drift, is younger than the Mulegga Drift, but no datings have been obtained so far.     

Subsidence and strike-slip tectonism of the upper continental slope off Manzanillo, Mexico

The direction of convergence between the Rivera and North American plates becomes progressively more oblique (in a counter-clockwise sense as measured relative to the trench-normal direction) northwestward along the Jalisco subduction zone. By analogy to other subduction zones, the forces resulting from this distribution of convergence directions are expected to produce a NW moving, fore-arc sliver and a NW–SE stretching of the fore-arc area. Also, a series of roughly arc parallel strike-slip faults may form in the fore-arc area, both onshore and offshore, as is observed in the Aleutian arc.In the Jalisco subduction zone, the Jalisco block has been proposed to represent such a fore-arc sliver. However, this proposal has encountered one major problem. Namely, right-lateral strike-slip faulting within the fore-arc sliver, and between the fore-arc sliver and the North American plate, should be observed. However, evidence for the expected right-lateral strike-slip faulting is sparse. Some evidence for right-lateral strike-slip faulting along the Jalisco block–North American plate boundary (the Tepic–Zacoalco rift system) has been reported, although some disagreement exists. Right-lateral strike-slip faulting has also been reported within the interior of the Jalisco block and in the southern Colima rift, which forms the SE boundary of the Jalisco block.Threefold, multi-channel seismic reflection data were collected in the offshore area of the Jalisco subduction zone off Manzanillo in April 2002 during the FAMEX campaign of the N/O L'Atalante. These data provide additional evidence for recent strike-slip motion within the fore-arc region of the Jalisco subduction zone. This faulting offsets right-laterally a prominent horst block within the southern Colima rift, from which we conclude that the sense of motion along the faulting is dextral. These data also provide additional evidence for recent subsidence within the area offshore of Manzanillo, as has been proposed.     

Seismic reflection and refraction studies for investigating fault zones along the Geotraverse Rhenoherzynikum

In 1973 detailed seismic crustal studies were performed across the prominent fault zone between the Hercynian fold systems of the Rhenish Slate Mountains (western part of Rhenoherzynikum) and the Saar-Nahe trough. Reflection data show a zone of strongly dipping reflectors, separated from another area with nearly horizontal layering. Data from refraction stations confirm the picture of a fault zone cutting two old crustal blocks down to the Moho. A similar but smaller survey was performed in 1975 across the western Rhine graben fault near Landau. This fault is tensionsal and could not be observed with the same certainty and up to the same depth range as the former one. Apparently, its dip near the surface is smaller than anticipated and may even assume still smaller values at intermediate crustal depths. Moreover, high temperatures in this area tend to limit the maximum depth of the fault zone, in accordance with the concept of a direct relationship between the depths of seismicity along faults and the temperature—viscosity regime. The area between the two reflection surveys was studied by refraction observations, making use of the shots of the reflection work. In general, the reflection investigations are well able to reveal the geometry and the maximum depth of fault zones and show many structural details, while the supplementing refraction work determines the overall velocity depth relation and may follow important horizons.     

Structural characteristics off Miyagi forearc region, the Japan Trench seismogenic zone, deduced from a wide-angle reflection and refraction study

The Japan Trench subduction zone, located east of NE Japan, has regional variation in seismicity. Many large earthquakes occurred in the northern part of Japan Trench, but few in the southern part. Off Miyagi region is in the middle of the Japan Trench, where the large earthquakes (M > 7) with thrust mechanisms have occurred at an interval of about 40 years in two parts: inner trench slope and near land. A seismic experiment using 36 ocean bottom seismographs (OBS) and a 12,000 cu. in. airgun array was conducted to determine a detailed, 2D velocity structure in the forearc region off Miyagi. The depth to the Moho is 21 km, at 115 km from the trench axis, and becomes progressively deeper landward. The P-wave velocity of the mantle wedge is 7.9–8.1 km/s, which is typical velocity for uppermost mantle without large serpentinization. The dip angle of oceanic crust is increased from 5–6° near the trench axis to 23° 150 km landward from the trench axis. The P-wave velocity of the oceanic uppermost mantle is as small as 7.7 km/s. This low-velocity oceanic mantle seems to be caused by not a lateral anisotropy but some subduction process. By comparison with the seismicity off Miyagi, the subduction zone can be divided into four parts: 1) Seaward of the trench axis, the seismicity is low and normal fault-type earthquakes occur associated with the destruction of oceanic lithosphere. 2) Beneath the deformed zone landward of the trench axis, the plate boundary is characterized as a stable sliding fault plain. In case of earthquakes, this zone may be tsunamigenic. 3) Below forearc crust where P-wave velocity is almost 6 km/s and larger: this zone is the seismogenic zone below inner trench slope, which is a plate boundary between the forearc and oceanic crusts. 4) Below mantle wedge: the rupture zones of thrust large earthquakes near land (e.g. 1978 off Miyagi earthquake) are located beneath the mantle wedge. The depth of the rupture zones is 30–50 km below sea level. From the comparison, the rupture zones of large earthquakes off Miyagi are limited in two parts: plate boundary between the forearc and oceanic crusts and below mantle wedge. This limitation is a rare case for subduction zone. Although the seismogenic process beneath the mantle wedge is not fully clarified, our observation suggests the two possibilities: earthquake generation at the plate boundary overridden by the mantle wedge without serpentinization or that in the subducting slab.     

青藏高原东缘新构造与活动构造研究新进展及展望

新构造运动与活动构造对人类的出现、演化、生存和发展都产生着深刻影响。近年来在青藏高原东缘部署开展的活动断裂调查与活动构造体系研究、川滇地块旋扭变形的古地磁学研究、西秦岭地区新构造与活动构造研究、滇西盆谷区的新构造幕划分、腾冲火山活动特征及其新构造背景调查等都取得了一系列重要进展与成果。这些成果对于深入认识和理解青藏高原东部地区现今地壳变形特征及其动力学机制和探索活动构造体系控震作用都具有重要意义,并可为该区的重大工程规划建设与国土规划利用的科学决策和城镇化发展等提供重要的地质依据。     

滇东黔西地区陆相二叠—三叠系界线粘土岩特征

在滇东黔西地区，海相和陆相二叠－三叠系界线附近均有界线粘土岩存在。本文介绍了该区陆相界线粘土岩的特征，并探讨了其成因。这些粘土岩主要矿物成分为伊／蒙混层矿物（20％－80％）和高岭石（35％－80％），碎屑物中有锆石、磷灰石、六方双锥石英、其他类型石英和微球粒等。提出界线粘土岩中的物质主要是火山成因，也有正常沉积物的加入，可能还拌有撞击作用的影响。     

Seismic attenuation of coda waves in the eastern region of Cuba

Cuba's seismic attenuation had never been studied in detail. In this paper we present the results of the research on the seismic attenuation of Cuba's eastern zone based upon the information collected by the seismological Cuban network from 1998 to 2003. 581 earthquakes were selected from the Cuban catalogue to make this study. All of them, recorded by at least three seismic stations, had their epicenters located in the eastern Cuban region (19.3–22 N, 79–73 W), epicentral distances between 15 km and 213 km, their coda duration magnitudes ranging from 2 and 4.1 and their focal depths reaching up to 30 km. The seismic wave attenuation was studied using coda waves. The single scattering method proposed by Sato in 1977 was applied, the attenuation and frequency dependency for different paths and the correlation of the results with the geotectonics of the region are presented in this paper.The mean Q_c value calculated was Q_c = (64 ± 2)f^{0.84 ± 0.01}. The relatively low Q₀ and the high frequency dependency agree with the values of a region characterized by a high tectonic activity. The Q_c values of seven subregions of eastern Cuba were calculated and correlated with the geology and tectonics of the area.     

The morphology and late Quaternary paleogeomorphology of the continental shelf off Sydney,NSW

Shallow seismic-reflection profiling and proton-precession magnetometry have been conducted over the continental shelf off Sydney between Broken Bay (in the north) and Bate Bay (in the south) as well as over part of the upper continental slope in the area east of the coastline between Narrabeen and Port Hacking. In this area, four major paleodrainage channels incise the bedrock, within the coastal estuaries and on the inner and mid-shelf:

1. the Hawkesbury paleo-watercourse, which is joined offshore by four lesser paleochannels, that we call the Newport, Mona Vale, Narrabeen and Long Reef paleo-watercourses;

2. the Parramatta paleo-watercourse, which is joined by the Bondi paleo-watercourse;

3. the Botany paleo-watercourse and

4. the Georges paleo-watercourse, which is joined under the Kurnell Peninsula land isthmus by the Cooks paleo-watercourse, and then by the Hacking paleo-watercourses in Bate Bay.

Of these paleodrainages, only that of the Hawkesbury River has discernible expression at depths >120 m, the sea-level low and inferred paleo-shoreline of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) at ca 20 ka. Some of the lesser paleo-watercourses are manifested only at depths shallower than the ?120 m paleo-shoreline and include those of the Maroubra paleo-watercourse and the combined Manly/North Head paleo-watercourses. Paleochannels detected below the LGM shoreline are those of:

• the ancestral Hawkesbury River;

• the minor Peak paleo-watercourse east of Coogee, which is discernible at depths shallower than the ?100 m isobath and is maintained to depths greater than ?210 m; and

• the minor Island paleo-watercourse whose head terminates at ～?140 m east of Bronte, lies entirely below the LGM paleo-shoreline, and can be traced to a depth of ?260 m.

Based on the paleotopographic and sediment-infill geophysical records obtained, 10 stages in the evolution of the paleo-watercourses are proposed.     

青藏高原东缘新构造与活动构造研究新进展及展望

新构造运动与活动构造对人类的出现、演化、生存和发展都产生着深刻影响。近年来在青藏高原东缘部署开展的活动断裂调查与活动构造体系研究、川滇地块旋扭变形的古地磁学研究、西秦岭地区新构造与活动构造研究、滇西盆谷区的新构造幕划分、腾冲火山活动特征及其新构造背景调查等都取得了一系列重要进展与成果。这些成果对于深入认识和理解青藏高原东部地区现今地壳变形特征及其动力学机制和探索活动构造体系控震作用都具有重要意义,并可为该区的重大工程规划建设与国土规划利用的科学决策和城镇化发展等提供重要的地质依据。     

Temporal relief deformation of the western inner continental shelf off the Nile delta,Egypt

Twenty three bathymetric profiles up to a depth of 28 m were surveyed along and across the western inner shelf off the Nile delta. These surveys were conducted during 1919/22, 1976/77 and 1986. Comparison of these profiles establish that there are significant delta-wide changes in the patterns of erosion and accretion that correspond to sediment movement resulting from the prevailing dynamic factors affecting this area. Maximum bottom erosion (negative relief deformation) was detected along Abu Quir bay, on the tip of the Rosetta promontory, along both sides of the Rosetta mouth, and along the Burullus-Baltim coast. In contrast, there has been maximum bottom accretion (positive relief deformation) at Abu Quir cape and at Abu Khashaba. The sources of the accreted sediment probably come from areas of beach erosion as well as from offshore due to the combined effect of the offshore-onshore exchange.     

Seismic velocities from explosions off the central coast of New South Wales

Travel times from explosions fired on the continental shelf off the central coast of New South Wales were observed at permanent stations and spreads of seismic exploration instruments, and combined with existing results to give a seismic crustal profile across part of southeastern Australia. An intermediate layer, dipping to the southwest, underlies the surface rocks and has a P velocity of about 6–52 km./sec. Beneath Sydney, its top may either be in contact with the basin sediments at a depth of about 5 km., or separated from them by a wedge of a few kilometres of 6 km./sec. material. The Mohorovi?i? discontinuity (M) is at a depth of 25 km., dips to the southwest at about 4 degrees, and the velocity under it is about 7.86 km./sec. The depth to the top of the intermediate layer under the Snowy Mountains is about 20 km., and the revised depth to M is about 42 km. M dips at about 2° to the southwest in this region, and the velocity at the top of the mantle is 8.1 km./sec.