基于P波三重震相的华南地区上地幔速度结构研究

华南块体是研究太平洋板块俯冲和岩石圈减薄机制等问题的最佳场所之一.本文基于中国地震观测台网和大型流动台阵记录到的震中距10°~30°之间的两个中深源地震P波记录,利用三重震相波形拟合技术,获得了中扬子克拉通和华夏地块上地幔高精度P波速度结构.研究结果表明:(1)中扬子克拉通过渡带底部存在高速异常,系太平洋俯冲板块的滞留体.俯冲的板块并没有进入下地幔,660-km间断面下沉约11 km,与后尖晶石相变的克拉伯龙斜率为负有关.而华夏地块过渡带底部并无明显高速异常,接近全球平均模型;(2)整个华南块体,410-km间断面上方普遍存在低速层,主要与上地幔部分熔融有关,与IASP91相比P波速度减小了1.38%~2.29%;(3)在研究区域内,中扬子克拉通和华夏地块都存在岩石圈减薄(80 km),推测可能与太平洋板块俯冲和快速回撤导致的岩石圈拆沉有关.且华夏地块减薄程度较明显,下伏软流圈速度较低,说明其上地幔强度较弱、温度较高.另外,中扬子克拉通过渡带中存在一个较宽的速度梯度带,可能与520-km间断面有关,其具体成因有待进一步研究.     

华北克拉通东北部的远震S波走时层析成像研究

华北克拉通是近年来我国地学界研究的热点之一.本文利用布设在华北东北部地区的华北地震科学台阵所记录的远震波形资料,用波形互相关方法拾取了9105条S波走时残差数据,进而用体波走时层析成像方法反演获得了研究区从地表至600 km深度的S波速度结构.所获得的S波层析成像结果表明,华北克拉通中部块体的山西断陷带低速异常一直从地面延伸至上地幔约300 km深处,推测该低速异常体可能与中、新生代的大同火山群的形成与活动有关.研究发现华北东部存在一高速异常体由东部渤中凹陷的地壳一直向西延伸至太行山山前断裂下方地幔转换带410 km附近,推测该高速异常体可能为太平洋板片向西俯冲在华北克拉通东部块体下方地幔过渡带内的滞留.研究结果显示华北克拉通东部的华北盆地表现为高低速相间分布,表明该地区下方的岩石圈发生了破坏,而位于华北克拉通北缘的燕山造山带显示为高速异常,表明燕山造山带下方的岩石圈没有明显的破坏迹象.     

南北地震带北段的远震P波层析成像研究

本文利用"中国地震科学台阵"探测项目在南北地震带北段布设的678个流动地震台站在2013年10月至2015年4月期间记录到的远震波形数据,经过波形互相关拾取到473个远震事件共130309条P波走时残差数据,通过远震层析成像研究获得了该区(30°N-44°N,96°E-110°E)下方0.5°×0.5°的P波速度扰动图像.结果显示,研究区下方P波速度结构显示强烈的不均一性和显著的分区、分块特征.岩石圈速度结构具有显著的东西差异:祁连、西秦岭和松潘甘孜地块组成的青藏东北缘地区显示明显的低速异常,而属于克拉通性质的鄂尔多斯地块和四川盆地则显示高速异常,表明东部克拉通块体对青藏高原物质的东向挤出起到了强烈的阻挡作用.阿拉善地块显示出弱高速和局部弱低速的异常并存的特征.阿拉善地块西部显示低速异常,而东部与鄂尔多斯相邻的地区显示高速异常,可能表明该地区的岩石圈的变形主要受到青藏高原东北缘的挤压作用.在鄂尔多斯和四川盆地之间的秦岭下方100~250 km深度上表现为明显的低速异常,表明该处可能存在软流圈物质的运移通道.鄂尔多斯北部的河套裂陷盆地下方在100~500 km深度内低速异常表现明显,说明该区有深部热物质上涌且至少来源于地幔过渡带.青藏东北缘上地幔显示低速异常且地幔过渡带中出现明显的高速异常,这种结构模式暗示了在青藏高原东北缘可能发生了岩石圈拆沉作用,而高速异常体可能是拆沉的岩石圈地幔.     

基于P波三重震相的下扬子克拉通地幔转换带顶部低速层初探

本文基于中国地震观测台网记录到的震中距为10°~23°之间琉球俯冲区一个中深源地震的P波三重震相信息,研究了下扬子克拉通转换带顶部P波速度结构.通过射线追踪和理论地震图与观测地震波形的对比,发现下扬子克拉通下方的410 km间断面为一厚度20 km的梯度带,其上存在一由西南向东北变厚的低速层,厚度变化40~57 km,P波速度减低2.7%~4.5%.该低速层可以被认为是由于地幔橄榄岩部分熔融引起的.     

基于P波三重震相研究青藏高原上地幔速度结构及其动力学意义

青藏高原因其复杂的结构和演化历史,一直都是研究大陆碰撞、构造运动及其动力学的热点区域。本文采用三重震相波形拟合技术,基于中国地震观测台网和大型流动台阵记录到的某地震P波垂向记录,获得了包括拉萨、南羌塘和松潘甘孜地块在内的青藏高原上地幔P波速度结构。结果表明:①拉萨和南羌塘地块下方地幔过渡带存在高速异常,推测是俯冲的印度板片滞留体,过渡带底部的板片残余温度较低,使得660-km相变滞后约3～8km。而松潘甘孜地块下方过渡带同样存在高速异常,可能是欧亚岩石圈发生拆沉进入地幔过渡带所致。这说明印度板块俯冲作用的影响已经到达地幔过渡带,其俯冲前缘位于班公怒江缝合带附近。②从拉萨、南羌塘到松潘甘孜地块,200km之上的地幔岩石圈高速盖层速度由南向北逐渐减小,松潘甘孜地块则出现盖层缺失。推测受小规模地幔对流或者热不稳定性的影响,在南羌塘和松潘甘孜地块,增厚的欧亚岩石圈发生拆沉作用,岩石圈被减薄和弱化,造成羌塘地块上地幔低速和松潘甘孜地块上地幔高速盖层缺失。拆沉的冷的欧亚岩石圈可能部分停留在410-km上方,使得410-km抬升约10km,部分沉入地幔过渡带,表现为松潘甘孜地块地幔过渡带中存在高速异常。低温造成660-km下沉约8km,导致地幔过渡带增厚。      

基于波形拟合的中国东海地区410 km间断面附近速度结构研究

410 km间断面是地幔转换带的顶界面,对其速度结构和起伏形态开展地震学探测有助于认识地球内部物质组成和相关的地球动力学过程.本文选取了由中国数字地震台网记录到的位于琉球俯冲区的一个中源地震P波宽频带波形资料,利用三重震相波形拟合研究了中国东海地区410 km间断面附近的精细速度结构.结果表明：中国东海地区下方410 km间断面整体表现为一尖锐的速度界面且有8~15 km的小幅抬升;该间断面之上存在52~62 km厚的低速层,其P波速度降低0.5%~1.6%;440 km深度以下存在1.0%~3.0%的P波高速异常.结合前人在该地区的层析成像结果,我们推测该高速异常体与西太平洋俯冲板片在中国东海地区地幔转换带内的滞留有关;板片内水相E分解使得转换带内水含量增加,这引发了410 km间断面的抬升;410 km间断面之上的低速层应与含水矿物脱水导致的地幔橄榄岩部分熔融有关.     

利用P波接收函数研究青藏高原东南缘地幔转换带结构

研究青藏高原东南缘的深部结构对于理解印度-欧亚板块的碰撞机理和青藏高原的形成演化具有重要的科学意义.本研究对布设在研究区域内566个固定和流动地震台站的波形资料进行了处理,获得77853条高质量P波接收函数,应用接收函数共转换点（CCP）叠加技术获得了研究区域下方精细的地幔转换带间断面起伏形态及转换带厚度变化图像.结果表明：研究区域南北方向上具有两个明显的转换带增厚异常区,南侧异常区位于滇中次级块体与印支块体下方,可能是新特提斯洋板片与上部印度板块间断离并部分滞留在转换带底部的结果;北侧川西地区异常增厚可能与上方岩石圈拆沉并降至转换带有关;腾冲火山起源可能是板块俯冲过程中发生断离造成软流圈物质部分熔融,湿热物质上涌所致.     

Mantle transition zone beneath the Caribbean-South American plate boundary and its tectonic implications

We analyzed receiver-function data recorded by a temporary broadband array deployed as part of the BOLIVAR project and the permanent seismic network of Venezuela to study the mantle transition zone structure beneath the Caribbean-South American plate boundary and Venezuela. Significant topography on both the 410-km and the 660-km discontinuities was clearly imaged in the CCP (common-conversion-point) stacked images. Beneath the southeastern Caribbean, the 410-km is featured by a narrow (～ 200 km EW) ～ 25-km uplift extending in the NS direction around 63° west, while the 660-km is depressed by ～ 20 km in a narrow region slightly west to the uplift, a scenario that is more consistent with westward descent of the oceanic South American plate rather than a break-off of NNW dipping proto-Caribbean oceanic lithosphere along the El Pilar Fault. We also found a thick transition zone beneath the Falcon region in northwestern Venezuela, possibly associated with the subducted Nazca plate. A flat 410-km was observed beneath the Guayana shield, suggesting that the shield has a stable and moderately deep keel, which has little effect on the underlying transition zone structure.     

华南地区上地幔P波三维速度结构和动力学意义:来自有限频层析成像的证据

利用155个宽频带流动地震仪记录的连续地震波形数据,通过有限频层析成像技术,反演获得了华南地区上地幔的高分辨率P波三维速度模型.结果显示,大致以江南造山带为界,研究区域南部的华夏块体的大部分区域上地幔存在一个清晰的低速异常构造,而研究区北部的扬子克拉通的大部分区域上地幔则存在高速异常结构,并且这些速度异常体都向下延伸到地幔转换带.一个重要的结果是在(27°N,118°E)处观测到通过410-km界面的上涌流,并且在上升的过程中逐渐向西和向北扩展,显示为华夏块体深部200～400 km深度的大范围低速异常,可能为华夏块体广泛分布的新生代岩浆活动提供深部来源.更重要的是华夏块体通过410-km界面上涌流在上涌的过程中向北延伸,越过江南造山带"侵入"到扬子克拉通的南部地区,造成了扬子克拉通较厚的岩石圈对应的高速异常体向南倾斜的假象.最后,位于117°E(郯庐断裂的南端)以东的扬子克拉通岩石圈已经被"活化",即被来自南部热的软流圈物质替而代之.同时,推断在华夏块体下方地幔转换带内低速异常体可能是与海南地幔柱有关.海南地幔柱和(27°N,118°E)410-km界面上涌流的关系还有待于今后更大范...     

利用接收函数方法研究华北克拉通中西部及其邻区地幔转换带结构

通过处理ChinArray计划二期和三期台阵中823个台站的远震波形数据,共获得174 562个高质量的P波接收函数,采用接收函数共转换点（CCP）叠加方法开展华北克拉通中西部及其邻区的地幔转换带结构研究,获得了研究区地幔转换带的厚度分布。结果表明:研究区内地幔转换带厚度变化幅值在235—280 km范围内,具有分区特征;阿尔金断裂带东部和汉诺坝火山以北厚的转换带异常可能与冷的岩石圈拆沉有关;河套盆地和阴山造山带附近分布着相对薄的地幔转换带,这可能暗示了该地区存在热的地幔物质上涌或岩浆活动;渤海湾盆地下方厚的地幔转换带异常可能是冷的太平洋板片西向俯冲并滞留于地幔转换带所致。      

Seismic structure of Iceland from Rayleigh wave inversions and geodynamic implications

We have constrained the shear-wave structure of crust and upper mantle beneath Iceland by analyzing fundamental mode Rayleigh waves recorded at the ICEMELT and HOTSPOT seismic stations in Iceland. The crust varies in thickness from 20 to 28 km in western and northern Iceland and from 26 to 34 km in eastern Iceland. The thickest crust of 34–40 km lies in central Iceland, roughly 100 km west to the current location of the Iceland hotspot. The crust at the hotspot is ∼32 km thick and is underlain by low shear-wave velocities of 4.0–4.1 km/s in the uppermost mantle, indicating that the Moho at the hotspot is probably a weak discontinuity. This low velocity anomaly beneath the hotspot could be associated with partial melting and hot temperature. The lithosphere in Iceland is confined above 60 km and a low velocity zone (LVZ) is imaged at depths of 60 to 120 km. Shear wave velocity in the LVZ is up to 10% lower than a global reference model, indicating the influence of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the hotspot in Iceland. The lowest velocities in the LVZ are found beneath the rift zones, suggesting that plume material is channeled along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. At depths of 100 to 200 km, low velocity anomalies appear at the Tjornes fracture zone to the north of Iceland and beneath the western volcanic zone in southwestern Iceland. Interestingly, a relatively fast anomaly is imaged beneath the hotspot with its center at ∼135 km depth, which could be due to radial anisotropy associated with the strong upwelling within the plume stem or an Mg-enriched mantle residual caused by the extensive extraction of melts.     

Crustal thickness, discontinuity depth, and upper mantle structure beneath southern Africa: constraints from body wave conversions

The technique of receiver function analysis is applied to the study of crustal and upper mantle structures beneath the Kaapvaal craton in southern Africa and its surroundings. Seismic data were recorded by the seismic array of 82 sites deployed from April 1997 to April 1999 across southern Africa, as well as a dense array of 32 sites near Kimberley, in operation from December 1998 to June 1999. Arrival times for phases converted at the Moho are used to determine crustal thickness. The Moho depth in the south–western section of the craton was found to vary between 37 and 40 km, except for one station that recorded a depth of 43 km (SA23). Farther north along the western block of the craton (into Botswana) the depth increases up to 43 km. The depth increases even further in the north–eastern section of the craton, where results vary from 40 to 52 km. Just north of the Kaapvaal craton, in the neighbouring Zimbabwe craton, the crustal thickness drops significantly. The results obtained there varied from 36 to 40 km. For the Kimberley area, using the dense array, the Moho depth was found to be 37.3 km. Arrivals of the Ps and Ppps phases were used to determine the Poisson’s ratio in the region. This was found to be 0.26±0.01. Arrivals of phases from the 410 and 660 km mantle discontinuities are used to interpret the relative positions of these discontinuities, as well as for comparison of mantle temperatures and seismic velocities in the region with global averages. In the Kimberley area the 410 and 660 km discontinuities were found at their expected depth, implying that mantle temperatures in the region are close to the global average. The seismic velocities above the ‘410’ were found up to 5% faster than the averages from the global iasp91 model, which is fast even by Precambrian standards. In other sections of the Kaapvaal craton, the velocities are also faster than global averages, but not as fast as beneath Kimberley. In these sections, the ‘410’ is also slightly elevated, while the ‘660’ is depressed, which implies a slightly lower mantle temperature relative to the global average. Beneath the Kaapvaal craton we find evidence suggesting the presence of a zone with a reduced wavespeed gradient at an upper bound of approximately 300 km, which may mark the lower chemical boundary of the craton.     

Mantle transition zone structure beneath the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Over the past decades, there have been hot debates in the geodynamic community regarding to the deep evolution mechanisms of Cenozoic volcanism in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). Of all the constraints available, high resolution structure of upper mantle discontinuities, especially the discontinuities at depths of 410 km(D410) and 660 km(D660), is of the most important, which may provide reliable clues on the magma channel as well as its evolution. In this work, we adopt the common conversion point stacking technique with teleseismic radial P-wave receiver functions to examine the D410 and D660 discontinuities. The primary results exhibit that the major characteristics of the mantle transition zone(MTZ) obtained by different velocity models are largely consistent. Obviously elevated D410 and slightly depressed D660 are observed beneath the Hannuoba Volcano, suggesting possible delamination of the local lithosphere deposited at the D410. This process may induce upwelling of the asthenospheric materials filling the space left by the delaminated lithosphere, and subsequently trigger volcanic eruptions. Strong depressions are observed at both D410 and D660 depths beneath west of the Dariganga Volcano, and the depression of D660 is more pronounced. It leads to the apparently thickened MTZ, indicating the presence of cold material at the D660. This cold material is speculated as a stagnant slab from the subducted Pacific Plate or the remains of a detached island arc system from the collision and formation of the CAOB. Slightly thinner MTZ is found beneath the Hentey Mountains and the Middle Gobi Volcano. Apparently, this thinner MTZ is not significant enough to support the existence of high thermal anomalies,which may rule out the possibility of large-scale hot material upwelling from either the local MTZ or even the lower mantle.     

Crustal seismic structure and depth distribution of earthquakes in the Archean Kuusamo region,Fennoscandian Shield

Two-dimensional crustal velocity models are derived from passive seismic observations for the Archean Karelian bedrock of north-eastern Finland. In addition, an updated Moho depth map is constructed by integrating the results of this study with previous data sets. The structural models image a typical three-layer Archean crust, with thickness varying between 40 and 52 km. P wave velocities within the 12–20 km thick upper crust range from 6.1 to 6.4 km/s. The relatively high velocities are related to layered mafic intrusive and volcanic rocks. The middle crust is a fairly homogeneous layer associated with velocities of 6.5–6.8 km/s. The boundary between middle and lower crust is located at depths between 28 and 38 km. The thickness of the lower crust increases from 5–15 km in the Archean part to 15–22 km in the Archean–Proterozoic transition zone. In the lower crust and uppermost mantle, P wave velocities vary between 6.9–7.3 km/s and 7.9–8.2 km/s. The average V_p/V_s ratio increases from 1.71 in the upper crust to 1.76 in the lower crust.The crust attains its maximum thickness in the south-east, where the Archean crust is both over- and underthrust by the Proterozoic crust. A crustal depression bulging out from that zone to the N–NE towards Kuusamo is linked to a collision between major Archean blocks. Further north, crustal thickening under the Salla and Kittilä greenstone belts is tentatively associated with a NW–SE-oriented collision zone or major shear zone. Elevated Moho beneath the Pudasjärvi block is primarily explained with rift-related extension and crustal thinning at ∼2.4–2.1 Ga.The new crustal velocity models and synthetic waveform modelling are used to outline the thickness of the seismogenic layer beneath the temporary Kuusamo seismic network. Lack of seismic activity within the mafic high-velocity body in the uppermost 8 km of crust and relative abundance of mid-crustal, i.e., 14–30 km deep earthquakes are characteristic features of the Kuusamo seismicity. The upper limit of seismicity is attributed to the excess of strong mafic material in the uppermost crust. Comparison with the rheological profiles of the lithosphere, calculated at nearby locations, indicates that the base of the seismogenic layer correlates best with the onset of brittle to ductile transition at about 30 km depth.We found no evidence on microearthquake activity in the lower crust beneath the Archean Karelian craton. However, a data set of relatively well-constrained events extracted from the regional earthquake catalogue implies a deeper cut-off depth for earthquakes in the Norrbotten tectonic province of northern Sweden.     

Estimates of the transition zone temperature in a mechanically mixed upper mantle

Partial melting of mantle peridotite generates a physically and chemically layered oceanic lithosphere that is cycled back into the mantle in subduction zones. Stirring times of the mantle are too long to allow for complete re-homogenization of subducted basalt and harzburgite, given the low chemical diffusivity of the solid mantle. This suggests that the Earth's mantle is a mechanical mixture of basaltic and harzburgitic components. Using a recently developed thermodynamic formulism we determine the phase equilibria and the seismic properties of a mantle comprised of a mechanical mixture of basalt and harzburgite (MM) and a homogeneous mantle (EA) with identical pyrolitic bulk chemistry. We use the theoretical shear velocity profiles as a new thermometer of the mantle below the magma-genetic zone by modeling the difference ΔT_410-660 between traveltimes of shear wave reflections off the 410-km and 660-km with the potential temperature T_P. ΔT_410-660 are measured from waveform stacks. They indicate that, over 1000+ km wave lengths, the temperature varies by about 200 K. Lowest and highest temperatures are resolved for the western Pacific subduction zones and the central Pacific, respectively. This variation is similar for the EA and MM and is in excellent agreement with estimates of transition zone thickness and shear velocity variations. The median value of T_P for the EA is 1720 K. It is about 1625 K for the MM, a value that is in better agreement with the Normal-MORB values of 1610 ± 40 K inferred from olivine-liquid equilibria given that our sampling region encompasses the Western Pacific subduction zones and the oldest parts of the Pacific Plate. We argue therefore that a mechanical mixed mantle, with generally higher velocities and steeper velocities gradients, represents a better physical reference model than a model based on a fully equilibrated assemblage.     

西北太平洋俯冲地区410-km间断面上覆低速层探测

自20世纪90年代首次探测到410-km间断面上覆低速层以来,全球多个俯冲带和大陆克拉通地区都陆续发现了该低速层结构.对其特性及形成机理的探讨是深部地幔结构、物性和动力学研究的热点问题.本文聚焦于西北太平洋俯冲地区410-km间断面上覆低速层的探测及特性研究上.通过对发生于日本北海道地区两个中等深度地震区域波形资料的分析,利用三重震相波形拟合方法获得了我国东北及日本海西北部下方410-km间断面附近的P波速度结构.速度模型明确显示,410-km间断面上方存在厚~47±14 km,异常值~2%的低速层,横向展布近700 km.结合区域地震层析成像、矿物高温高压物理实验及动力学模拟结果,我们否定了"从下至上"的上涌热物质导致410-km间断面上覆低速层的模型;认为较老且快速俯冲的太平洋板块在地幔过渡带顶部脱水导致硅酸盐矿物的部分熔融,由于熔体密度较大能够稳定存在于410-km间断面之上,从而产生了观测到的横向展布较广的410-km间断面上覆低速层结构.     

Formation time of the big mantle wedge beneath eastern China and a new lithospheric thinning mechanism of the North China craton—Geodynamic effects of deep recycled carbon

High-resolution P wave tomography shows that the subducting Pacific slab is stagnant in the mantle transition zone and forms a big mantle wedge beneath eastern China. The Mg isotopic investigation of large numbers of mantle-derived volcanic rocks from eastern China has revealed that carbonates carried by the subducted slab have been recycled into the upper mantle and formed carbonated peridotite overlying the mantle transition zone, which becomes the sources of various basalts. These basalts display light Mg isotopic compositions(δ26 Mg = –0.60‰ to –0.30‰) and relatively low87 Sr/86 Sr ratios(0.70314–0.70564) with ages ranging from 106 Ma to Quaternary, suggesting that their mantle source had been hybridized by recycled magnesite with minor dolomite and their initial melting occurred at 300-360 km in depth. Therefore, the carbonate metasomatism of their mantle source should have occurred at the depth larger than 360 km, which means that the subducted slab should be stagnant in the mantle transition zone forming the big mantle wedge before 106 Ma. This timing supports the rollback model of subducting slab to form the big mantle wedge. Based on high P-T experiment results, when carbonated silicate melts produced by partial melting of carbonated peridotite was raising and reached the bottom(180–120 km in depth) of cratonic lithosphere in North China, the carbonated silicate melts should have 25–18 wt% CO2 contents, with lower Si O2 and Al2 O3 contents, and higher Ca O/Al2 O3 values, similar to those of nephelinites and basanites, and have higher εNdvalues(2 to 6). The carbonatited silicate melts migrated upward and metasomatized the overlying lithospheric mantle, resulting in carbonated peridotite in the bottom of continental lithosphere beneath eastern China. As the craton lithospheric geotherm intersects the solidus of carbonated peridotite at 130 km in depth, the carbonated peridotite in the bottom of cratonic lithosphere should be partially melted, thus its physical characters are similar to the asthenosphere and it could be easily replaced by convective mantle. The newly formed carbonated silicate melts will migrate upward and metasomatize the overlying lithospheric mantle. Similarly, such metasomatism and partial melting processes repeat, and as a result the cratonic lithosphere in North China would be thinning and the carbonated silicate partial melts will be transformed to high-Si O2 alkali basalts with lower εNdvalues(to-2). As the lithospheric thinning goes on,initial melting depth of carbonated peridotite must decrease from 130 km to close 70 km, because the craton geotherm changed to approach oceanic lithosphere geotherm along with lithospheric thinning of the North China craton. Consequently, the interaction between carbonated silicate melt and cratonic lithosphere is a possible mechanism for lithosphere thinning of the North China craton during the late Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Based on the age statistics of low δ26 Mg basalts in eastern China, the lithospheric thinning processes caused by carbonated metasomatism and partial melting in eastern China are limited in a timespan from 106 to25 Ma, but increased quickly after 25 Ma. Therefore, there are two peak times for the lithospheric thinning of the North China craton: the first peak in 135-115 Ma simultaneously with the cratonic destruction, and the second peak caused by interaction between carbonated silicate melt and lithosphere mainly after 25 Ma. The later decreased the lithospheric thickness to about70 km in the eastern part of North China craton.     

Eastward subduction of the Indian plate beneath the Indo-Myanmese arc revealed by teleseismic P-wave tomography

The deep structure of the eastward-subducting Indian plate can provide new information on the dynamics of the India-Eurasia collision. We collected and processed waveform data from temporary seismic arrays (networks) on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, seismic arrays in Northeast India and Myanmar, and permanent stations of the China Digital Seismic Network in Tibet, Gansu, Qinghai, Yunnan, and Sichuan. We combined these data with phase reports from observation stations of the International Seismological Center on the Indian plate and selected 124,808 high-quality P-wave relative travel-time residuals. Next, we used these data to invert the 3-D P-wave velocity structure of the upper mantle to a depth of 800 km beneath the eastern segment of the arcuate Himalayan orogen, at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The results reveal a high-angle, easterly dipping subducting plate extending more than 200 km beneath the Indo-Myanmese arc. The plate breaks off at roughly 96°E; its fragments have passed through the 410-km discontinuity (D410) into the mantle transition zone (MTZ). The MTZ beneath the Tengchong volcanic area contains a high-velocity anomaly, which does not exceed the Red River fault to the east. No other large-scale continuous subducted plates were observed in the MTZ. However, a horizontally spreading high-velocity anomaly was identified on the D410 in some regions. The anomaly may represent the negatively buoyant 90°E Ridge plate or a thickened and delaminated lithospheric block experiencing collision and compression at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The Tengchong volcano may originate from the mantle upwelling through the slab window formed by the break-off of the subducting Indian continental plate and oceanic plate in the upper mantle. Low-velocity upper mantle materials on the west side of the Indo-Myanmese arc may have supplemented materials to the Tengchong volcano.     

华北克拉通东北部及邻区地壳和地幔转换带厚度研究

本文利用宽频流动台阵记录的远震波形资料和接收函数波动方程叠后偏移方法,获得了华北克拉通东北部边界及其邻近地区的地壳和地幔转换带的间断面结构图像.结果显示研究区域的地壳厚度存在显著的横向变化:以南北重力梯度带为界,西北部的兴蒙造山带地壳较厚(~40 km),东南部的燕山带、松辽盆地和辽东台隆地壳明显较薄(30~35 km).这有可能反映,研究区南北重力梯度带两侧地壳在中-新生代区域构造伸展过程中经历了不同程度的改造和减薄.地幔转换带成像结果显示,研究区410 km和660 km间断面结构存在横向差异.经度121°E-122°E之间,上地幔底部出现双重间断面,深度分别为660 km和690 km.经度122.5°E以东(北黄海地区),410 km间断面有5~20 km幅度的下沉,660 km间断面有5~15 km幅度的抬升;该地区地幔转换带厚度相对全球平均偏薄10~20 km,指示着该地区较热的上地幔底部温度环境.我们认为太平洋俯冲板块可能停滞在研究区119°E-122°E经度范围的地幔转换带中,但未延伸至118°E以西;而俯冲板块在124°E以东可能局部穿透了上地幔底部而进入下地幔,同时引起小尺度的地幔对流,导致北黄海地区下地幔物质的上涌.     

Composition,temperature, and thickness of the lithosphere of the Archean Kaapvaal craton

A new model is proposed for the structure of the Kaapvaal craton lithosphere. Based on chemical thermodynamics methods, profiles of the chemical composition, temperature, density, and S wave velocities are constructed for depths of 100–300 km. A solid-state zone of lower velocities is discovered on the S velocity profile in the depth interval 150–260 km. The temperature profiles are obtained from absolute values of P and S velocities, taking into account phase transformations, anharmonicity, and anelastic effects. The examination of the sensitivity of seismic models to the chemical composition showed that relatively small variations in the composition of South African xenoliths result in lateral temperature variations of ～200°C. Inversion of some seismic profiles (including IASP91) with a fixed bulk composition of garnet peridotites (the primitive mantle material) leads to a temperature inversion at depths of 200–250 km, which is physically meaningless. It is supposed that the temperature inversion can be removed by gradual fertilization of the mantle with depth. In this case, the craton lithosphere should be stratified in chemical composition. The depleted lithosphere composed by garnet peridotites exists to depths of 175–200 km. The lithospheric material at depths of 200–250 km is enriched in basaltoid components (FeO, Al₂O₃, and CaO) as compared with the material of garnet peridotites but is depleted in the same components as compared with the fertile substance of the underlying primitive mantle. The material composing the craton root at a depth of ～275 km does not differ in its physical and chemical characteristics from the composition of the normal mantle, and this allows one to estimate the thickness of the lithosphere at 275 km. The results of this work are compared with data of seismology, thermal investigations, and thermobarometry.