The North American Central Plains conductivity anomaly and its correlation with gravity, magnetic, seismic, and heat flow data in Saskatchewan, Canada

The North American Central Plains conductivity anomaly (NACP) lies, virtually in its entirety, within the Trans-Hudson Orogen. Accordingly, should these two features prove to be contemporaneous, then the geometrical relationship between these two is of foremost importance to any evolutionary tectonic model proposed to explain the collision of the Superior and Churchill Provinces in the Hudsonian, and a model that does not include a mechanism for the generation of this anomaly is obviously untenable.

In order to map better the trend of the NACP in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, two magnetotelluric (MT) profiles were conducted over the NACP previously defined by magnetometer arrays and profiles. Data from these two profiles, along with an earlier MT profile just north of the U.S./Canadian border, suggest that the NACP is not a continuous feature, but rather that it exhibits a definite break at latitude 51° N. Other geophysical evidence examined herein is concordant with this characteristic. If a second MT anomaly mapped to the northwest of this break is, in fact, a manifestation of the same geological structure, then one possible interpretation is of a major NW-SE trending sinistral fault in the deep crust, previously undetected, with a movement of some 100–150 km along strike.

The MT data from the southernmost profile, after correction for static shift, are modelled in a 2D manner, and it is shown that the NACP is consistent with an arcuate structure in vertical section of high conductivity (> 2 S m⁻¹) beginning at a depth of 10 km centred on 103° W dipping down to the west reaching possibly the base of the crust. It is also shown that such an arcuate shape in section can explain an observed gravity high of 40 mgal. Such high conductivities cannot be explained in terms of connected fluids, as it would require implausibly high porosities (12–20%). A comprehensive interpretation of all the geophysical data would have to account for the observed characteristics of the anomalous region; which are, high electrical conductivity, positive density contrast, no magnetization, and high heat flow in the basement, in terms of a single causative body. One possible explanation is presented in terms of a zone of lithospheric weakness along which was emplaced low-density differentia from a mantle-derived body. An alternative explanation could be the phase transformation of obducted material into eclogite or serpentinite. However, difficulties exist with both of these explanations and further data are required.     

天水地区大地电磁测量及深部电性结构

天水地区的大地电磁测量结果表明，在４３ｋｍ左右的深度上普遍存在高导层，这可能是壳幔过渡带的反映。岩石圈厚度大约９５－１１０ｋｍ。在天水太京附近可能存在一条大型近东西向地壳－岩石圈构造带，在秦安以北的叶堡和陇城附近可能也存在一条近南北向的大型地壳－岩石圈构造带，它们都是不同构造单元的分界线。１６５４年天水８级大震可能与深部热异常引起的热应力有关。     

Distortions of the electromagnetic field by shallow basins and by resistive outcrops

The interpretation of magnetotelluric (MT) measurements carried out on shallow (several hundred metres deep) basins and on the surrounding highly resistive rock outcrops can be difficult due to different forms of distortion, mainly 3D effects. A good example for study of this problem is the Mór Graben, which is the transition zone between the Bakony and Vértes Mountains (W-Hungary), where more than 20 MT soundings have been made with stations spaced about 2 km apart to determine the structure of a conductivity anomaly at a depth of about 3–4 km.

The statistical treatment of the different distortions due to varying sediment cover (the S-effect or static shift) and to the steep wall of the resistive basement outcrops (edge effect), etc., enabled the estimation of the actual parameters of the conductive formation. The interpretation of the field data is supported by numerical modelling.     

Electrical structure of the tectonically active Kalabsha Fault, Aswan, Egypt

In this work, we use the magnetotelluric (MT) method to detect geoelectrical conductivity anomalies in the Earth's crust and link them to local seismic activity. This application affords the unusual opportunity to study the percolation of water from a lake into a fault system and its effect on the induced seismicity. MT measurements were carried out in the period range 0.0046–420 s at nine sites along a 15 km-long North–South profile crossing the Kalabsha Fault, on the western bank of Lake Aswan. Data were analysed by 2D simultaneous inversion of both polarisations. The resulting model is compared with the local seismicity map and reveals the conductive signature of the fault, as well as geological and tectonic stresses prevailing in the Aswan area. Our MT investigations show the following features:

The measured MT strike aligns with the seismic epicentre axis corresponding to the Kalabsha Fault.

While crossing the Fault, enhanced conductivity is found down to depths of 5 km on a 1–2 km profile segment.

At mid-crustal depths (20 km), a very high conductive body is found to coincide with the main seismic cluster in the Aswan area.

These observations indicate that seismic activity and high electrical conductivity are related. The link between them is the presence of crustal fluids which are presumably the cause of the high conductivity observed. Their presence is also required to trigger the observed seismicity. In addition, we explain the lower conductivity of the local upper crust in terms of stress-modulated rock porosity. We believe that these results are of general significance, as they could explain the mid-crustal seismicity of tectonically active zones.     

Electrical imaging of an alluvial aquifer at the Antinaco-Los Colorados tectonic valley in the Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina

The Antinaco-Los Colorados valley is a wide N–S tectonic depression, located between the Sa. de Velazco and the Sa. de Famatina, both ranges belonging to the Sierras Pampeanas thick-skinned deformation province in Argentina. From previously reported magnetotelluric (MT) data, it is known that the thickness of the sedimentary sequences may reach up to 8 km in the central zone of this basin. In particular, the Quaternary-to-recent alluvial filling contains an aquifer complex of great importance for this semiarid zone providing water for irrigation and also for human consumption. To obtain information about the electrical structure of the alluvial cover, 17 vertical electric soundings were carried out along an E–W traverse profile extending from one side of the valley to the other. A geoelectrical model is proposed taking into account complementary hydrogeological and geophysical information. In this model, the various layers which could contain fresh water are identified and the level of the water table inferred from the model is almost coincident with that observed from existing wells in the surveyed zone.     

喜玛拉雅“东构造结”地区特异重力场的探讨

跨越中、印、缅三国交界的青藏高原东南的喜玛拉雅“东构造结”地区（92°E~97°E，26°N~30°N）一半以上的面积尚没有重力测点，是重力数据空白区,故无法直接研究其重力场特征与深部地壳结构（构造）.本文分析了卫星重力异常的特性，提出应用卫星重力异常作为近似空间重力异常，并作布格改正后，得到的布格重力异常具有与该地区地形高程呈镜像相关的特征，可用以研究深部地壳结构.据三条重力剖面计算得到该地区三个地壳深部结构剖面的结果，给出青藏高原地壳厚度>70 km；喜马拉雅造山带为55 km左右；布拉马普特拉河谷盆地为33~35 km；那加山山脉地区为40~45 km，显示出三者为三个不同的构造单元.同时给出布拉马普特拉构造单元为相对高密度的刚性物质构成，随着印度洋板块向北运移，在碰撞、挤压下，插入青藏高原东南缘一带.导致该地带的强烈构造运动，和频发大、小地震.最后提出了几点认识和建议.     

用远震接收函数研究滇西地区的深部结构

滇西地区地处欧亚板块碰撞或俯冲的边界地带，曾受到多期构造运动的影响，其地质环境和构造背景十分复杂，是我国地震活动比较活跃的地区之一. 本文选用国家、地方和流动数字台网的16个台站的远震记录. 其中PASSCAL甚宽频带流动地震台站4个，提取有效接收函数近2 000条. 两条测线的直线距离分别为650 km和450 km， 横切了滇西地区的一些主要构造单元. 研究表明，怒江断裂可能是一条具有俯冲性质的缝合线. 川滇菱形块体东西两侧的分界线¾红河断裂和小江断裂可能是直立的缝合线或碰撞带. 攀西构造带仍具有大陆裂谷的特征，即地表凹陷、上地幔隆起. 滇西地区的构造格局具有一定的规律性，造山带与缝合线相间分布. 滇西地区由北向南地壳厚度渐次减薄，S波速度整体偏低.      

A study on deep structure using teleseismic receiver function in Western Yunnan

1 Tectonic environment and geophysical background There are two kinds of continental-oceanic contacts relationship: the Atlantic and the Pacific type. The Atlantic type is characterized by extension and lower relative activity. The continent nearby the ocean is stable and its edge is of extension and block tectonics. Europe, Africa and American belong to this kind. The Pacific type is characterized by compression and shear com-pression. The continent near the ocean is more active than othe…     

Mantle thermal structure and active upwelling during continental breakup in the North Atlantic

Seismic reflection and refraction data acquired on four transects spanning the Southeast Greenland rifted margin and Greenland–Iceland Ridge (GIR) provide new constraints on mantle thermal structure and melting processes during continental breakup in the North Atlantic. Maximum igneous crustal thickness varies along the margin from >30 km in the near-hotspot zone (<500 km from the hotspot track) to 18 km in the distal zone (500–1100 km). Magmatic productivity on summed conjugate margins of the North Atlantic decreases through time from 1800±300 to 600±50 km³/km/Ma in the near-hotspot zone and from 700±200 to 300±50 km³/km/Ma in the distal zone. Comparison of our data with the British/Faeroe margins shows that both symmetric and asymmetric conjugate volcanic rifted margins exist. Joint consideration of crustal thickness and mean crustal seismic velocity suggests that along-margin changes in magmatism are principally controlled by variations in active upwelling rather than mantle temperature. The thermal anomaly (ΔT) at breakup was modest (100–125°C), varied little along the margin, and transient. Data along the GIR indicate that the potential temperature anomaly (125±50°C) and upwelling ratio (4 times passive) of the Iceland hotspot have remained roughly constant since 56 Ma. Our results are consistent with a plume–impact model, in which (1) a plume of radius 300 km and ΔT of 125°C impacted the margin around 61 Ma and delivered warm material to distal portions of the margin; (2) at breakup (56 Ma), the lower half of the plume head continued to feed actively upwelling mantle into the proximal portion of the margin; and (3) by 45 Ma, both the remaining plume head and the distal warm layer were exhausted, with excess magmatism thereafter largely confined to a narrow (<200 km radius) zone immediately above the Iceland plume stem. Alternatively, the warm upper mantle layer that fed excess magmatism in the distal portion of the margin may have been a pre-existing thermal anomaly unrelated to the plume.     

On the Coupling of Geodynamic and Resistivity Models: A Progress Report and the Way Forward

Magnetotelluric (MT) studies represent the structure of crust and mantle in terms of conductivity anomalies, while geodynamic modelling predicts the deformation and evolution of crust and mantle subject to plate tectonic processes. Here, we review the first attempts to link MT models with geodynamic models. An integration of MT with geodynamic modelling requires the use of relationships between conductivity and rheological parameters such as viscosity and melt fraction, which are provided by laboratory measurements of rock properties. Owing to present limitations in our understanding of these relationships, and in interpreting the trade-off between scale and magnitude of conductivity anomalies from MT inversions, most studies linking MT and geodynamic models are qualitative rather than providing hard constraints. Some recent examples attempt a more quantitative comparison, such as a study from the Himalayan continental collision zone, where rheological parameters have been calculated from a resistivity model and compared to predictions from geodynamic modelling. We conclude by demonstrating the potential in combining MT results and geodynamic modelling with examples that directly use MT results as constraints within geodynamic models of ore bodies and studies of an active volcano-tectonic rift.     

Making and Breaking of a Continent: Following the Scent of Geodynamic Imprints on the African Continent Using Electromagnetics

The African continent inherits a long history of continental accretion and breakup. The stage of “making” a continent goes back to the Archean, when the first continental masses formed cratons which mostly remained stable ever since. Subsequent collision of weaker continental masses was followed by several extension and compression episodes that resulted in the formation of super-continents. After the assemblage of Gondwana, a period of predominantly “breaking” , i.e., the breakup of super-continents, took over. The modern-day African continent exhibits different types of margins; continental rifting occurs side by side with recent collision. Since the late 1960s, magnetotelluric (MT) experiments have played an important role in studies of the electrical conductivity structure of Africa. The early results significantly shaped the MT community’s understanding of continental-scale conductivity belts and basic characteristics of cratons and mobile belts on both crustal and lithospheric mantle scales for some decades. Modern MT studies in Africa have generally supported earlier results with high resistivities observed on cratons and low resistivities observed across mobile belts. Advances in instrumentation, data processing and interpretation resulted in higher-resolution images of the lithosphere, which in consequence induce an improved understanding of tectonic processes and geological prerequisites for the occurrence of natural resources. The high electrical conductivity of mobile belts and their relation to reactivated fault and detachment zones were often interpreted to characterize mobile belts as tectonic weak zones, which can accommodate stress and constitute zones along which continents can break. Recent breaking of the African continent can be studied on land across the East African rift; however, the lack of amphibian MT experiments across today’s margins does not allow for good resolution of remnants of continental breakup processes. Naturally, the regions and the focus of the MT studies in Africa are diverse, but they all contribute to the story of making and breaking a continent.     

A study on 3-D velocity structure of crust and upper mantle in Sichuan -Yunnan region, China

Many evidences indicate that the collision of two plates deformed strongly the crust of the SYR, and the deformation has been continued up to the present. In addition, the SYR is in the south segment of the South-North Seismic Zone of China, which is one of the regions in the Chinese mainland, where the seismic activity is very high, and the strong earthquakes frequently occurred. Since the 1970s, a series of large earthquakes with magnitude M>7.0 occurred in SYR, such as the 1970 Tongha…     

川滇地区地壳上地幔三维速度结构研究

根据云南和四川地震台网174个台站记录的4625个区域地震初至Ｐ波和Ｓ波走时资料，并结合其它深部地球物理资料，确定了川滇地区地壳上地幔三维速度结构．在上地壳速度异常分布中，四川盆地为正异常，川西高原为负异常，龙门山断裂带为正、负异常的边界．龙门山断裂、鲜水河断裂以及红河断裂等，在下地壳和上地幔的速度异常中仍显示出构造分界特征，说明它们可能穿透了莫霍界面．腾冲火山区和攀西构造带在50km深度上呈现负速度异常，与上地幔温度和物质组成的差异相联系．川滇地区地壳结构的总体特征是:地壳和上地幔的低平均速度，地壳厚度变化剧烈，地壳和（或）上地幔存在高导层、高热流值．这些同印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞的构造背景有关．川滇菱形块体在地壳内总体上为正常或正异常速度，而其边界的深大走滑断裂存在负速度异常，它有助于地壳块体沿断裂的侧向挤出．在主要的地震带上，中下地壳的负速度异常与地震活动性相关．多数强烈地震发生在具有正速度异常或正常速度分布的上中地壳深度上，而其下方则通常是负速度异常带．      

THE DEPTH OF MOHO INTERFACE AND CRUSTAL THICKNESS IN SICHUAN-YUNNAN REGION,CHINA

By using moving average method to separate Bouguer gravity anomaly field in Sichuan-Yunnan region, we got the low-frequency Bouguer gravity anomaly field which reflects the undulating of Moho interface. The initial model is obtained after seismic model transformation and elevation correction. Then, we used Parker method to invert the low-frequency Bouguer gravity anomaly field to obtain the depth of Moho interface and crustal thickness in the area. The results show that the Qinghai-Tibet block in the northwest of the study area deepens and thickens from the edge to the interior, with the depth of Moho interface and the crust thickness of about 52~62km and 54~66km, respectively. The depth of Moho interface in Sichuan Basin is about 38~42km. In Sichuan-Yunnan block, the depth of Moho interface is about 42~62km from southeast to northwest. Beneath the West Yunnan block, west of the Red River fault zone, the Moho depth is about 34~52km from south to north. The Longmen Mountains and Red River fault zone are the gradient zone of the Moho depth change. Along the Red River fault zone, the depth difference of Moho interface is increasing gradually from north to south. No obvious uplift is found on the Moho interface of Panzhihua rift valley. The depth of Moho interface distribution in Sichuan and Yunnan is obviously restricted by the collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate and the lateral subduction of the Indo-China peninsula. The mean square error of the depth of Moho interface is less than 1.7km between the result of divisional density interface inversion and artificial seismic exploration. At the same time, we compared the integral with divisional inversion result. It shows that:in areas where there is obvious difference between the crust velocity and density structure in different tectonic blocks, the use of high resolution seismic exploration data as the constraints to the divisional density interface inversion can effectively improve the reliability of inversion results.     

喜马拉雅“东构造结”地区的特异重力场与深部地壳结构

跨越中、印、缅三国交界的喜马拉雅“东构造结”地区（92°E～97°E，26°N～30°N）有一半以上的面积尚没有重力测点，是重力数据空白区,故无法直接研究其重力场特征与深部地壳结构（构造）.本文应用卫星重力异常资料作为近似空间重力异常，经计算给出的布格重力异常，其特征与该地区的地形高程呈很好的镜像相关.据此得到该区不同方位的3个地壳深部结构剖面.重力异常反演求得青藏高原地壳厚度>70 km；喜马拉雅造山带为55 km左右；布拉马普特拉河谷盆地为33～35 km；那加山山脉地区为40～45 km，即呈现出3个不同构造单元的展布.同时求得“东构造结"区由高密度的刚性物质构成，在印度洋板块的碰撞、挤压作用下呈向北运移，并插入青藏高原东缘.基于这样的构造格局和深层动力过程，导致了青藏高原东南缘和东北缘的强烈构造运动，大、小地震的频频发生和矿产资源的聚集.     

安徽贵池矿集区深部精细结构——来自综合地球物理探测结果的认识

安徽贵池矿集区是长江中下游成矿带中重要的铜多金属矿集区,随着浅表找矿难度的加大,急需了解矿集区深部结构为深部找矿提供深部找矿提供指示.为揭示贵池矿集区深部地壳结构格架、控岩、控矿构造和岩浆系统的空间结构,深化对成矿作用的认识,在该区实施了两条长度各约60km垂直于构造走向的反射地震和MT探测剖面,通过对MT数据有针对性的去噪和反演,获得了研究区10km以浅的地电结构;通过对反射数据的层析反演静校正、叠前保幅多域去噪、精细速度分析和叠前时间偏移等处理,获取了该地区地壳结构的地震成像剖面.结合区域地质构造背景和针对性处理的区域重磁数据,对两条综合探测剖面的反演处理结果进行了分析与解释,研究发现了本区地层的构造反射特征、地壳结构特征和Moho特征,厘定了盖层与基底之间的区域滑脱面、中下地壳滑脱面和Moho面的深度和形态.发现了地壳上冲和俯冲的反射特征,可能是华夏块体与扬子块体晋宁期发生板内碰撞的痕迹.高坦断裂是一个深达地壳级的断裂,其南北两侧具有不同的重磁特征、电性结构特征和地震反射特征,该断裂可能是深部流体上涌的通道,岩浆和地幔热液沿断裂上涌并沿地层和裂隙侵入中上地壳,形成岩基或岩体,或与围岩发生强烈矿化作用形成贵池矿集区多金属矿床.     

高温高压下斜长角闪岩电导率研究及其地球物理启示

中下地壳和俯冲带区域的高电导率异常（0.01~1 S·m^-1）可能与地球内部的特定物质及其变化有关.斜长角闪岩是中下地壳以及俯冲带区域的重要组成之一,高温高压下斜长角闪岩的电导率研究对认识电导率异常具有重要意义.本研究采用交流阻抗谱法,在0.5,1.0,1.5 GPa和473~1073 K条件下测量了天然斜长角闪岩样品的复阻抗,实验结果表明压力对斜长角闪岩的电导率影响非常小,而温度对于电导率影响非常显著,其电导率在1073 K可以达到10^-0.5 S·m^-1;实验获得的活化能值为52.21 kJ·mol^-1,推断其导电机制可能为小极化子传导（Fe²⁺的氧化）主导.结合本实验获得的结果与大陆岩石圈和俯冲带的温度结构,我们计算得到相应的电性结构剖面,并与三种不同构造背景下的大陆岩石圈（克拉通、大陆裂谷和活动造山带）和俯冲带区域的电磁剖面结构进行了对比研究,结果发现斜长角闪岩可以解释大陆裂谷和活动造山带构造背景下的莫霍面附近的高电导率异常现象,同时可能是导致较热的俯冲带区域（例如卡斯卡迪地区）高电导率异常现象的原因.     

A study on 3-D velocity structure of crust and upper mantle in Sichuan-Yunan region, China

Based on the first arrival P and S data of 4 625 regional earthquakes recorded at 174 stations dispersed in the Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, the 3-D velocity structure of crust and upper mantle in the region is determined, incorporating with previous deep geophysical data. In the upper crust, a positive anomaly velocity zone exists in the Sichuan basin, whereas a negative anomaly velocity zone exists in the western Sichuan plateau. The boundary between the positive and negative anomaly zones is the Longmenshan fault zone. The images of lower crust and upper mantle in the Longmenshan fault, Xianshuihe fault, Honghe fault and others show the characteristic of tectonic boundary, indicating that the faults likely penetrate the Moho discontinuity. The negative velocity anomalies at the depth of 50 km in the Tengchong volcanic area and the Panxi tectonic zone appear to be associated with the temperature and composition variations in the upper mantle. The overall features of the crustal and the upper mantle structures in the Sichuan-Yunnan region are the lower average velocity in both crust and uppermost mantle, the large crustal thickness variations, and the existence of high conductivity layer in the crust or/and upper mantle, and higher geothermal value. All these features are closely related to the collision between the India and the Asia plates. The crustal velocity in the Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block generally shows normal value or positive anomaly, while the negative anomaly exists in the area along the large strike-slip faults as the block boundary. It is conducive to the crustal block side-pressing out along the faults. In the major seismic zones, the seismicity is relative to the negative anomaly velocity. Most strong earthquakes occurred in the upper-mid crust with positive anomaly or normal velocity, where the negative anomaly zone generally exists below. Foundation item: National Scientific and Technological Development Program (95-973-02-02), the Climb Program (95-S-05-01) of National Scientific and Technological Ministry of China, and the State Natural Sciences Foundation of China (49874021). Contribution No. 02FE2004, Institute of Geophysics, China Seismological Bureau.     

Electrical signatures due to thermal anomalies along mobile belts reactivated by the trail and outburst of mantle plume: Evidences from the Indian subcontinent

In this study the geodynamical scenario along with concepts of mantle plume and mobile belts is utilized to show that most of the existing and potential high thermal regions fall along the (mobile arms affected by the outburst and) traces of mantle plumes. Effects of channeling and partitioning of thermomagmatic flux (TMF) due to these mantle plumes along the mobile belts, particularly near the triple junctions, can be seen in the form of high heat flow and presence of hot springs. Triple junctions manifest over the Indian lithosphere are: Kutch-Cambay, Narmada Son-Godavari, Tapi-Mahanadi, Tapi-Damodar, Pondicherry region, Gulf of Mannar and SW corner of the subcontinent (off-shore), etc. Apart from mobile belts, the deltaic regions of Krishna, Godavari, Ganga, Cauvery, Narmada-Tapi and Indus, etc., are also posses higher level of thermal anomalies as these regions seem to have been substantially influenced by outbursts and traces of Reunion, Kerguelen, Marion and Crozet hotspots. This is reflected from the correlation between plume affected mobile belts and high heat flow regions, large number of hot springs, anomalous electrical conductivity and also deformation or seismicity. Such correlation can be seen along Cambay, west coast trend, Narmada-Son lineament zone, Godavari-Damodar grabens and Bengal basin. Himalayan belt being ongoing collision zone, thermal anomalies are identified in the form of hot springs along the Himalayan arc. At some locations, which might be junction of tectonic trends, there exist significantly large thermal outputs. Puga in Himalayan region is one such example, as seen from high heat flow (max. 468 mW m^− 2) and geothermal gradient (234 °C/km max.). Similarly, Tatapani in Narmada Son Lineament (NSL) region is another such example. The present study discusses the correlation between thermal reservoirs identified by magnetotelluric (MT) study results and plume activity and suggests the need for systematic and detailed MT investigations along plume activated mobile strips in other regions to search for geodynamical history and geothermal resources.     

我国大陆阪内地震活动与周边板间地震活动关系的探讨

探讨了周缘板块对我国大陆西部地区地震的影响 ,并对不同构造带上地震的时空分布特征、相互关系等进行了分析。结果表明我国大陆西部及周缘地区的地震发生有高潮和低潮的轮回特征 ,同时释放的能量有相互消长的关系 ,并且这种关系遵循一定的比例