Structure of the Mt Isa region from seismic ambient noise tomography

We use seismic tomography, exploiting group velocities derived from ambient noise, to delineate the crustal structure beneath Mt Isa and the surrounding blocks and basins. The depth extent of the blocks can be traced into the mid-crust and the spatial extent of the associated velocity anomalies mapped over an area of approximately 500 km by 500 km. The Proterozoic Mt Isa block is imaged as a region of elevated seismic velocities comparable to the Yilgarn craton in Western Australia, while the surrounding basins have relatively low velocities. Seismic velocity anomalies display correlations with the regional Bouguer gravity data and with high crustal temperatures in the region. There are a number of isolated low-velocity anomalies under the Millungera basin that suggest either previously unknown thermal anomalies or zones with high permeability, which can also produce lowered velocities.     

Crustal structure of the western part of the Southern Granulite Terrain of Indian Peninsular Shield derived from gravity data

The Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) is composed of high-grade granulite domain occurring to the south of Dharwar Craton (DC). The structural units of SGT show a marked change in the structural trend from the dominant north–south in DC to east–west trend in SGT and primarily consist of different crustal blocks divided by major shear zones. The Bouguer anomaly map prepared based on nearly 3900 gravity observations shows that the anomalies are predominantly negative and vary between −125 mGal and +22 mGal. The trends of the anomalies follow structural grain of the terrain and exhibit considerable variations within the charnockite bodies. Two-dimensional wavelength filtering as well as Zero Free-air based (ZFb) analysis of the Geoid-Corrected Bouguer Anomaly map of the region is found to be very useful in preparing regional gravity anomaly map and inversion of this map gave rise to crustal thicknesses of 37–44 km in the SGT. Crustal density structure along four regional gravity profiles cutting across major shear zones, lineaments, plateaus and other important geological structures bring out the following structural information. The Bavali Shear Zone extending at least up to 10 km depth is manifested as a plane separating two contrasting upper crustal blocks on both sides and the gravity high north of it reveals the presence of a high density mass at the base of the crust below Coorg. The steepness of the Moyar and Bhavani shears on either side of Nilgiri plateau indicates uplift of the plateau due to block faulting with a high density mass at the crustal base. The Bhavani Shear Zone is manifested as a steep southerly dipping plane extending to deeper levels along which alkaline and granite rocks intruded into the top crustal layer. The gravity high over Palghat gap is due to the upwarping of Moho by 1–2 km with the presence of a high density mass at intermediate crustal levels. The gravity low in Periyar plateau is due to the granite emplacement, mid-crustal interface and the thicker crust. The feeble gravity signature across the Achankovil shear characterized by sharp velocity contrast indicates that the shear is not a superficial structure but a crustal scale zone of deformation reaching up to mid-crustal level.     

Using surface regolith geochemistry to map the major crustal blocks of the Australian continent

Multi-element near-surface geochemistry from the National Geochemical Survey of Australia has been evaluated in the context of mapping the exposed to deeply buried major crustal blocks of the Australian continent. The major crustal blocks, interpreted from geophysical and geological data, reflect distinct tectonic domains comprised of early Archean to recent Cenozoic igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock assemblages. The geochemical data have been treated as compositional data to uniquely describe and characterize the geochemistry of the regolith overlying the major crustal blocks across Australia according to the following workflow: imputation of missing/censored data, log-ratio transformation, multivariate statistical analysis, multivariate geospatial (minimum/maximum autocorrelation factor) analysis, and classification. Using cross validation techniques, the uniqueness of each major crustal block has been quantified. The ability to predict the membership of a surface regolith sample to one or more of the major crustal blocks is demonstrated. The predicted crustal block assignments define spatially coherent regions that coincide with the known crustal blocks. In some areas, inaccurate predictions are due to uncertainty in the initial crustal boundary definition or from surficial processes that mask the crustal block geochemical signature. In conclusion, the geochemical composition of the Australian surface regolith generally can be used to map the underlying crustal architecture, despite secondary modifications due to physical transport and chemical weathering effects. This methodology is however less effective where extensive and thick sedimentary basins such as the Eromanga and Eucla basins overlie crustal blocks.     

The Thelon front: A cryptic suture in the Canadian shield?

The Thelon metamorphic front is generally regarded as marking the boundary between the Slave and Churchill structural provinces of the Canadian Shield. It is bounded on either side by coextensive negative (Slave side) and positive (Churchill side) arcuate gravity anomalies. These paired gravity anomalies can be interpreted as an edge-effect between juxtaposed crustal blocks of different mean density and thickness. According to this model the density discontinuity penetrates the whole crust and could represent a cryptic suture between collided cratons. The model is compared with a similar model and interpretation derived from the gravity anomaly associated with the Grenville Front which marks the boundary between the Superior and Grenville provinces of the Canadian Shield.     

华北裂陷盆地不同块体地壳结构及演化研究

通过对华北裂陷盆地内不同块体的深地震测深资料处理 ,得到与构造演化过程相关的、不同性质块体的地壳结构特征。盆地隆起区块体地壳一般呈均匀成层 ,速度随深度逐层增加 ,保留了古大陆地壳块体的稳定结构特征 ;盆地坳陷区块体地壳松散巨厚的表层沉积、通常低速占主导的壳内构造、强反射的下地壳和高低速相间的薄互层壳 幔过渡带 ,反映了上地幔物质上隆、侵入、地壳增温、张裂等塑、脆性变形改造的新生地壳构造。讨论了这两类截然不同块体地壳构造的地球动力学演化及形成。裂陷区内中强地震的孕发和深源矿产、油气生贮存等都与这两类块体地壳结构、构造密切相关。     

Processing and interpretation of the gravity field of the East African Rift: implication for crustal extension

Compilation of new and existing gravity data were undertaken to assess the nature of the crust beneath the East African Rift System. Using 3D gravity modeling code crustal model of gravity profiles across two sectors of the rift were computed. The results are discussed in light of the structure of the rift system.The results of the 3D modeling of gravity profiles across the two rift zones revealed northward thinning of the crust. The maximum crustal attenuation occurs beneath the Afar depression, indicating the Afar rift undergoes an intense fragmentation of the crust resulting from faulting and magmatic activity. However, our computed crustal thickness below the Afar depression falls within an upper bound compared to elsewhere below tectonically active rift zones. This can be explained in terms of crustal accretion resulting from an impact of the Afar mantle plume since 30 Ma ago.The residual gravity obtained using high-cut filtering techniques reveals significant density contrast between the northern and southern sectors of the rift. The northern part of the rift is characterized by regular patterns of positive gravity anomalies, which can be interpreted in terms of a zone of crustal thinning through which relatively dense materials have intruded the overlying crust. In contrast, south of the Main Ethiopian Rift, the anomalies are characterized by random patterns and low amplitudes. The along-rift-axis variation in gravity anomalies implies that the style of crustal deformation changed progressively, beginning with regionally distributed crustal deformation, such as the one we observe within the more juvenile and wider southern segment of the rift, to localized deformation within the active and narrow rift zones of the northern sector of the Ethiopian Rift. We suggest that the key parameters controlling along-rift-axis variation in gravity anomalies are the rate of crustal extension, faulting and magmatic activities.     

南海重力异常特征及其显著的构造意义

在南海地区地震测深数据有限的情况下,利用重力异常可以研究南海大范围的深部地壳结构及地质构造展布特征。基于空间重力异常,结合最新的地形、沉积物厚度及地震测深等数据,分别从地震约束的莫霍面反演和无约束的三维相关成像两个视角研究南海的地壳结构,利用壳幔界面起伏、地壳厚度及三维等效密度分布来探讨地壳结构的纵横向变化。同时,联合采用延拓、水平梯度及线性构造增强滤波方法聚焦重力异常中的区域线性特征,突出显示了反映地壳横向变化的深断裂、洋陆转换边界、海盆扩张轴等线性构造的展布。重力解释与贯穿南海南北的广州-巴拉望地学断面对比表明,重力异常反演及异常的区域线性特征,较好地揭示了南海海域大范围的地壳结构与区域构造展布。     

A geophysical view of the Southeastern Brazilian margin at Santos Basin: Insights into rifting evolution

This study investigates the rifting structures of Santos Basin at the Southeastern Brazilian margin, based on an integrated geophysical approach. Our aim is to constrain the crustal basement topography of central and northern Santos basin, the presence of magmatism and the role of inherited structures in space and time through the rifting processes. We present a new high resolution aeromagnetic dataset, which in correlation with gravity anomalies enables us to interpret the tectonic trends and crustal basement structures. We calculated the magnetic basement depth for the central and northern Santos Basin using power spectrum analysis. The obtained depths range between 2 and 9 kms, and are comparable with results from previous works. From our integrated study, three margin domains could be identified, which display distinct rifting structures and are characterized by important lateral variation along the margin. The proximal domain displays trends and magnetic basement blocks NE–SW oriented, i.e., parallel to inherited onshore crustal basement with an inflexion to E–W oriented trends; the necking domain is characterized by oblique magnetic basement highs and lows (E–W and NW–SE) and a structural trend change. The trends and magnetic basement highs are bounded by NW–SE negative anomalies, interpreted as transfer zones. Oceanwards at the distal domain, the lineaments and transfer zones show a progressive structural inflexion to ENE and E–W, sub-parallel to adjacent South Atlantic Fracture Zones. The observed crustal basement architecture and segmentation suggest the reactivation of pre-rift structures at the proximal margin and the obliquity of rifting relative to them. From the proximal domain oceanwards the structural pattern may reflect the passage from a “continental type” domain, where lithospheric inheritance controls the deformation, to a distal margin where this influence diminishes and “new” structural trends are formed. We propose that northern Santos Basin show evidences of an intensely deformed zone, where rift evolved under oblique extension, similar to that observed at transform margin segments.     

Structural relationship between the Sea of Marmara Basin and the North Anatolian Fault Zone

The North Anatolian Fault (NAF) zone is 1500 km long, extending almost up to the Greek mainland in the west. It is a seismically active right-lateral strike-slip fault that accommodates the relative motion between the Turkish block and Black Sea plate. The Sea of Marmara lies along the western part of the NAF and shows evidence of subsidence. In this area pure strike-slip motion of the fault zone changes into extensional strike-slip movement that is responsible for the creation of the Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean basins. The northern half of the Sea of Marmara is interpreted as a large pull-apart basin. This basin is subdivided into three smaller basins separated by strike-slip fault segments of uplifted blocks NE-SW. Basinal areas are covered by horizontally layered sedimentary sequences. Uplifted blocks have undergone compressional stress. All the blocks are subsiding and are undergoing vertical motions and rotations relative to one another. The uplifted blocks exhibit positive Bouguer gravity anomalies. According to gravity interpretation, there is relative crustal thinning under the Sea of Marmara. The northern side of the Sea of Marmara is marked by a distinctive deep-rooted magnetic anomaly, which is dissected and shifted southward by strike-slip faulting. The southern shelf areas of the Sea of Marmara are dominated by short-wavelength magnetic anomalies of shallow origin.     

Deformations and Manifestations of Degassing in the Sedimentary Cover of the Equatorial Segment of the West Atlantic: Implications for Lithospheric Geodynamics

Manifestations of fluids and deformations in the sedimentary cover, which are both factors of brightening (blanking anomalies) in seismoacoustic records, in the equatorial segment of the Atlantic coincide with the sublatitudinal zones of the activated passive parts of transform faults and with zones of lower gravity anomalies and higher values of remnant magnetization, which form as a result of serpentinization. The cause-and-effect sequence of intraplate phenomena includes: the contrasting geodynamic state → horizontal movements that form macrofractures → water supply to the upper mantle → serpentinization of rocks in the upper mantle → deformations associated with vertical uplift of basement and sedimentary cover blocks, coupled with fluid generation → and fluid accumulation in the sedimentary cover, accompanied by the formation of anomalies in seismoacoustic records. Based on the seismic data, we have identified imbricate-thrust deformations, diapir structures, stamp folds, and positive and negative flower structures, indicating the presence of strike-slip faults in the passive parts of transform faults. The general spatial distribution of deformation structures shows their concentration in cold mantle zones. Correlative comparison of the structural characteristics of deformations shows the direct relationship between the heights of structures and the development of serpentinization processes. As per the age of the basement, deformations range from 27–38 to 43–53 Ma; a quite thick sedimentary cover makes it possible to reveal them based on the characteristic types of seismoacoustic records. The formation of the Antilles arc ca. 10 Ma ago affected the equatorial segment of the Atlantic; it formed kink bands where lithospheric blocks underwent displacements with counterclockwise rotations, deformations related to compression and vertical uplift of crustal fragments, and local extension that favored degassing of endogenous fluids. Sublatitudinally oriented imbricate-thrust deformations with different vergences indicate irregularity and alternating strike-slip directions as blocks between fractures were laterally influenced.     

Vertical-axis rotation controlled by upper crustal stress based on force balance analysis: A case study of the western Transverse Ranges of California

This paper evaluates driving mechanisms of vertical-axis rotation using data from the western Transverse Ranges in southern California. Simple force balance considerations and comparison of torque applied to a rotating block indicate that shear forces applied to the base of the block are not strong enough to produce the motions and deformation observed at the surface. For the measured dimensions of the crustal blocks and crustal viscosities in southern California, stresses transmitted through the upper crust are one to three orders of magnitude stronger than forces generated in the ductile lower crust. These results suggest that the kinematics of crustal blocks in continental deformation zones are primarily controlled by forces within the upper crust rather than a flow field beneath.     

中国大陆岩石圈最新构造变动与地震灾害

中国大陆的地震灾害十分严重,不仅分布广,而且频度高、强度大,对经济建设和社会发展构成了很大的威胁。晚第四纪岩石圈构造变动是地震发生的根本原因。一系列巨大的活动断裂将中国大陆切割成为不同级别的活动地壳块体,地块内部相对稳定,边界构造活动强烈。这些地块从晚第四纪一直持续活动至今。有历史记载以来,中国大陆的119次7级以上地震有104次发生在这些活动地块的边界带上。因而,活动地块的运动及其之间的相互作用构成了中国大陆晚第四纪构造变形的最基本特征,对中国大陆地震孕育和发生起着直接的控制作用。     

Tectonic rotations about vertical axes during the last 4 Ma in part of the New Zealand plate-boundary zone

The declinations of the primary magnetization of sedimentary rocks in the northern part of the New Zealand plate-boundary zone, after thermal or alternating field cleaning, have been used to determine tectonic rotations about vertical axes of rigid crustal blocks. The pattern of rotations during the last 4 Ma, combined with structural style and continuity, defines seven structural domains each ca 100 × 100–200 km across, which contain crustal blocks up to 100 km across and 20 km thick. Large crustal blocks (tens of km across) in two of these domains have rotated clockwise more than 20° relative to one of the margins of the plate-boundary zone in the last 4 Ma. Their behaviour appears to be controlled by the nature of the plate boundaries, such as the presence of an underlying subducted slab and the strength of the crust at the back of the overlying crustal wedge. Small crustal blocks (< 10 km across) may have rotated clockwise through angles greater than 20° during the last 4 Ma, floating on an underlying zone of more distributed deformation. The tectonic rotations of the large crustal blocks, and the nature of the deformation at their boundaries, combined with an interpolation of the relative plate positions, can be used to reconstruct the plate-boundary zone at ca 4 Ma.     

论深源流体参与黔西南金矿床成矿的可能性

通过研究黔西南金矿床时空分布及地球化学特征，讨论了深源流体参与金矿床成矿的可能性。金矿床在时空上受莫面隆起，深大断裂，幔源岩浆岩体的控制，且与航磁异常，重力异常，环形构造等存在对应关系。     

新疆于田及周边地区地震活动性与重力异常特征

基于最新重力场模型对2014年于田M_s7.3地震震区的重力异常特征进行分析, 并应用Crust1.0地壳模型计算得到震区的深部构造形态, 结果显示: 震中位于地壳厚度陡变带上.同2008年于田M_s7.3地震相比, 震中虽位于不同位置, 但发震机制均与深部地壳结构变化密切相关.统计研究区内历史地震活动性与重力异常之间的关系, 发现震中的自由空气异常与地形存在明显的线性相关性, 而布格异常和均衡异常的结果则明显不同.进一步地分别计算不同重力异常的水平总梯度和线性信号, 结果表明: 重力异常梯度量与地形的相关特性更明显.研究表明: M_s7.0以上大震活动与重力异常之间具有明显的统计特性学, 这可能与重力异常反映的深部结构和壳内质量分布的不均匀有关.      

中新生代以来中国大陆的稳定地块

中国大陆主要由塔里木、华北和扬子三个比较大的古老克拉通组成。中、新生代以来,由于受到环太平洋和喜马拉雅两大构造域的影响,这三个克拉通发生了巨大变化。从地壳和岩石圈结构来看,其中相当一部分已不具备了稳定地块的特点。从这些地块目前所处的大地构造位置、地壳及岩石圈的改造方面（主要包括：其上主要盆地和演化史、盆地结构、地壳和岩石圈（软流圈）结构、以及地球物理场、可能的动力学机制等）的对比可以看出,中国各稳     

Tectonics and types of riftogenic basins of the Scotia Sea,South Atlantic

Western, central, and eastern provinces are recognized in the Scotia Sea. They are distinguished by their bottom topography, geophysical characteristics, and crustal structure, which record their different origin and evolution. The western province is characterized by the oceanic crust that formed on the West Scotia Ridge, where active spreading may have ceased as a result of a collision between propagating rift and the structural barrier of the thick continental lithosphere of the Falkland Plateau. The central province is a series of blocks mainly composed of continental crust that subsided to various depths depending on the degree of extension in the course of rifting. These blocks are separated by local areas with oceanic crust formed due to the breakup of the continental crust and diffusive spreading. These areas are characterized by deep bottom and high values of Bouguer anomalies. The southern framework of the central province consists of subsided continental blocks and microcontinents divided by small spreading-type basins formed by lithospheric extension complicated by strike-slip faulting. The eastern province is composed of oceanic crust formed on the backarc spreading East Scotia Ridge. The results of density analysis, analog, and numerical simulations allowed us to explain some features of the structure and evolution of these provinces. The insight into tectonic structure of the provinces and their evolution allowed us to recognize several types of riftogenic basins differing in geodynamics, age, and geological and geophysical characteristics.     

桂东南古罗和王姜冲钾玄质辉长岩的成因:地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素特征制约

古罗和王姜冲岩体产于扬子地块与华夏地块拼合带的西南段,对剖析华南区域构造演化过程具有重要的地质意义。古罗和王姜冲岩体主要由辉长岩及少量的闪长岩组成。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学分析表明,古罗和王姜冲辉长岩的侵位结晶时限分别为(163±1) Ma和(158±1) Ma,属于燕山期岩浆活动的产物。岩石无Nb、Ta负异常,具有板内钾玄岩系列特征,锆石的ε_Hf(t)值主要集中在0.7~8.3之间,其二阶段Hf模式年龄($T_{DM_{2}}$)为672~1 168 Ma,暗示其源区主要为新元古代—中元古代岩石圈地幔。综合地球化学、锆石Hf同位素组成特征及区域地质资料,认为古罗和王姜冲岩体是在板内伸展-减薄环境主要由亏损的软流圈地幔和富集的岩石圈地幔岩浆混合形成,且在上升过程中受到壳源组分混染。     

四川阿坝——秀山地学断面

四川省阿坝—秀山地学断面长约1000km,横跨上扬子地台和松潘-甘孜地槽褶皱系。在综合研究现有地质、地球物理资料的基础上,对断面及邻区划分出不同性质的三大岩石圈块体;结合表壳变形特征又区分出以四川地块为中心的东、西对冲构造体系;并进一步划分出8个次级构造带(块)。在垂向上划分出地壳、岩石圈厚度及形态,讨论了地壳次级分层及壳、幔低速层、低阻层和高阻层异常的特征,提出了初步解释。指出龙门山断裂带西部地壳缩短、增厚的主要因素。概述了地壳演化。     

新元古代扬子—华夏陆块拼合带：来自华南重磁异常的启示

扬子和华夏两大陆块是构成华南大陆的最基本单元, 但它们的拼合带位置（尤其是西延位置）是人们长期争论的焦点。本文以国家专项“深部探测技术与实验研究”探测得到的深反射地震剖面以及华南大陆的地质资料为约束, 对重、 磁异常作地壳构造融合解译, 追踪扬子—华夏陆块拼合带。由于华南大陆广泛发育具有剩磁多期、 多类的火山—侵入岩, 本文将磁异常换算为受剩磁影响小的解析信号作构造解译, 减小剩磁造成的地质解释偏差。研究认为, 扬子与华夏两陆块的拼合带东界为鹰潭—萍乡—衡阳—贺州—北海一线, 而西界为宜昌—张家界—铜仁—都匀—百色一线, 鹰潭以东和以北的拼合带位置因为受大规模岩浆岩的干扰而不清。