Crustal structure and tectonics of the Hidaka Collision Zone, Hokkaido (Japan), revealed by vibroseis seismic reflection and gravity surveys

This study is the first integrated geological and geophysical investigation of the Hidaka Collision Zone in southern Central Hokkaido, Japan, which shows complex collision tectonics with a westward vergence. The Hidaka Collision Zone consists of the Idon'nappu Belt (IB), the Poroshiri Ophiolite Belt (POB) and the Hidaka Metamorphic Belt (HMB) with the Hidaka Belt from west to east. The POB (metamorphosed ophiolites) is overthrust by the HMB (steeply eastward-dipping palaeo-arc crust) along the Hidaka Main Thrust (HMT), and in turn, thrusts over the Idon'nappu Belt (melanges) along the Hidaka Western Thrust (HWT). Seismic reflection and gravity surveys along a 20-km-long traverse across the southern Hidaka Mountains revealed hitherto unknown crustal structures of the collision zone such as listric thrusts, back thrusts, frontal thrust-and-fold structures, and duplex structures. The main findings are as follows. (1) The HMT, which dips steeply at the surface, is a listric fault dipping gently at a depth of 7 km beneath the eastern end of the HMB, and cutting across the lithological boundaries and schistosity of the Hidaka metamorphic rocks. (2) A second reflector is detected 1 km below the HMT reflector. The intervening part between these two reflectors is inferred to be the POB, which is only little exposed at the surface. This inference is supported by the high positive Bouguer anomalies along the Hidaka Mountains. (3) The shallow portion of the IB at the front of the collision zone has a number of NNE-dipping reflectors, indicative of imbricated fold-and-thrust structures. (4) Subhorizontal reflectors at a depth of 14 km are recognized intermittently at both sides of the seismic profile. These reflectors may correspond to the velocity boundary (5.9–6.6 km/s) previously obtained from seismic refraction profiling in the northern Hidaka Mountains. (5) These crustal structures as well as the back thrust found in the eastern end of the traverse represent characteristics of collisional tectonics resulting from the two collisional events since the Early Tertiary.     

Upper and middle crustal deformation of an arc–arc collision across Hokkaido, Japan, inferred from seismic refraction/wide-angle reflection experiments

The Hidaka Collision Zone (HCZ), central Hokkaido, Japan, is a good target for studies of crustal evolution and deformation processes associated with an arc–arc collision. The collision of the Kuril Arc (KA) with the Northeast Japan Arc (NJA), which started in the middle Miocene, is considered to be a controlling factor for the formation of the Hidaka Mountains, the westward obduction of middle/lower crustal rocks of the KA (the Hidaka Metamorphic Belt (HMB)) and the development of the foreland fold-and-thrust belt on the NJA side. The “Hokkaido Transect” project undertaken from 1998 to 2000 was a multidisciplinary effort intended to reveal structural heterogeneity across this collision zone by integrated geophysical/geological research including seismic refraction/reflection surveys and earthquake observations. An E–W trending 227 km-long refraction/wide-angle reflection profile found a complicated structural variation from the KA to the NJA across the HCZ. In the east of the HCZ, the hinterland region is covered with 4–4.5 km thick highly undulated Neogene sedimentary layers, beneath which two eastward dipping reflectors were imaged in a depth range of 10–25 km, probably representing the layer boundaries of the obducting middle/lower crust of the KA. The HMB crops out on the westward extension of these reflectors with relatively high Vp (>6.0 km/s) and Vp/Vs (>1.80) consistent with middle/lower crustal rocks. Beneath these reflectors, more flat and westward dipping reflector sequences are situated at the 25–27 km depth, forming a wedge-like geometry. This distribution pattern indicates that the KA crust has been delaminated into more than two segments under our profile. In the western part of the transect, the structure of the fold-and-thrust belt is characterized by a very thick (5–8 km) sedimentary package with a velocity of 2.5–4.8 km/s. This package exhibits one or two velocity reversals in Paleogene sedimentary layers, probably formed by imbrication associated with the collision process. From the horizontal distribution of these velocity reversals and other geophysical/geological data, the rate of crustal shortening in this area is estimated to be greater than 3–4 mm/year, which corresponds to 40–50% of the total convergence rate between the NJA and the Eurasian Plate. This means that the fold-and-thrust belt west of the HCZ is absorbing a large amount of crustal deformation associated with plate interaction across Hokkaido Island.     

The crustal structure of the axis of the Great Valley,California, from seismic refraction measurements

In 1982 the U.S. Geological Survey collected six seismic refraction profiles in the Great Valley of California: three axial profiles with a maximum shot-to-receiver offset of 160 km, and three shorter profiles perpendicular to the valley axis. This paper presents the results of two-dimensional raytracing and synthetic seismogram modeling of the central axial profile. The crust of the central Great Valley is laterally heterogeneous along its axis, but generally consists of a sedimentary section overlying distinct upper, middle, and lower crustal units. The sedimentary rocks are 3–5 km thick along the profile, with velocities increasing with depth from 1.6 to 4.0 km/s. The basement (upper crust) consists of four units:

• 1.(1) a 1.0–1.5 km thick layer of velocity 5.4–5.8 km/s,
• 2.(2) a 3–4 km thick layer of velocity 6.0–6.3 km/s,
• 3.(3) a 1.5–3.0 km thick layer of velocity 6.5–6.6 km/s, and
• 4.(4) a laterally discontinuous, 1.5 km thick layer of velocity 6.8–7.0 km/s. The mid-crust lies at 11–14 km depth, is 5–8 km thick, and has a velocity of 6.6–6.7 km/s. On the northwest side of our profile the mid-crust is a low-velocity zone beneath the 6.8–7.0 km/s lid. The lower crust lies at 16–19 km depth, is 7–13 km thick, and has a velocity of 6.9–7.2 km/s. Crustal thickness increases from 26 to 29 km from NW to SE in the model.

Although an unequivocal determination of crustal composition is not possible from P-wave velocities alone, our model has several geological and tectonic implications. We interpret the upper 7 km of basement on the northwest side of the profile as an ophiolitic fragment, since its thickness and velocity structure are consistent with that of oceanic crust. This fragment, which is not present 10–15 km to the west of the refraction profile, is probably at least partially responsible for the Great Valley gravity and magnetic anomalies, whose peaks lie about 10 km east of our profile. The middle and lower crust are probably gabbroic and the product of magmatic or tectonic underplating, or both. The crustal structure of the Great Valley is dissimilar to that of the adjacent Diablo Range, suggesting the existence of a fault or suture zone throughout the crust between these provinces.     

太行山中北段神仙山逆冲推覆构造发展与演化

太白维山逆冲推覆构造是太行山中北段多金属矿的主要控矿因素,前人对该逆冲推覆构造的变形特征、演化机制及其与成矿作用的关系进行了详细研究,而对南东侧神仙山逆冲推覆构造的研究较少。根据野外第一手资料,对神仙山逆冲推覆构造的几何学特征进行了统计,对各组成单元(飞来峰、逆冲推覆断裂、外来岩系(推覆体)及原地岩系)的展布特征、产出形态和变形机制进行了分析,根据组合样式、地层厚度及各逆冲推覆断裂与切割地层之间的几何关系,对其运动学特征进行了研究,得出神仙山逆冲推覆构造总体推覆方向为由NW向SE,总推覆平均距离约为23.3 km。结合该推覆构造切割的地质体与被覆盖、被改造的先后关系,探讨了神仙山逆冲推覆构造的发展与演化过程,该逆冲推覆构造经历了华力西中、晚期—燕山早期的初始活动,燕山中、晚期的主期发展和喜马拉雅期的后期改造3个阶段,为进一步研究神仙山逆冲推覆构造带上地层、岩浆岩、矿产与构造的关系提供了构造地质资料。     

用转换函数研究珠峰站地壳结构

[STBZ][ZW（*][HT6H]〓收稿日期：;修回日期：. *基金项目：[HT6SS][ZK（]国家重点基础研究发展计划项目“青藏高原形成对全球变化的响应与适应对策”（编号：2005CB422001）;中国科学院知识创新工程重要方向项目“青藏高原内陆俯冲与造山作用”（编号：KZCX3 SW 143）资助.[ZK）] [HT6H]〓作者简介：[HT6SS]（1983 ）,男,海南儋州人,硕士研究生,主要从事地震波传播理论研究.[WT6HZ]E mail:[WT6BZ]youliangsu@yahoo.com.cn[ZW）] [HT4F][HT5K]（）[JZ）] [HT5H][GK2] 摘〓要：[HT5K]为开展高喜马拉雅地区地质构造—气候反馈作用的研究,中国科学院青藏高原研究所于2004年开始在珠峰地区建立了综合观测研究站,并于2004年下半年开始相继开展了大气边界层（含辐射和土壤观测）、大气湍流和辐射系统、风温廓线、无线电探空系统、沙尘暴观测、冰川变化等大气科学观测研究、地表过程的环境研究和地球动力学研究。为了解珠峰站下方的地质构造,于2005年8月在综合观测研究站布设了宽频带地震仪（记录器为Reftek130,摆为STS2）,并于2006年5月取得首批数据。利用宽频带地震仪提供的三分量地震波形记录,应用转换函数及快速模拟退火算法对珠峰站下的地壳横波速度结构进行了反演。反演结果表明,珠峰站的莫霍（Moho）面深度在70 km,地壳结构复杂,尤其在中上地壳,明显呈高低速互层结构,反映了板块边界处构造活动、物质交换活跃,表明这些地区还未达到均衡。为高喜马拉雅地区地质构造—气候反馈作用的研究提供地球物理依据。     

Moho depths and three-dimensional velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath the Baikal region,from local tomography

We studied the 3D velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the Baikal region using tomographic inversion of ∼25,000 P and S arrivals from more than 1200 events recorded by 86 stations of three local seismological networks. Simultaneous iterative inversion with a new source location algorithm yielded 3D images of P and S velocity anomalies in the crust and upper mantle, a 2D model of Moho depths, and corrections to source coordinates and origin times. The resolving power of the algorithm, its stability against variations in the starting model, and the reliability of the final results were checked in several tests. The 3D velocity structure shows a well-pronounced low-velocity zone in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the southwestern flank of the Baikal rift which matches the area of Cenozoic volcanism and a high velocity zone beneath the Siberian craton. The Moho depth pattern fits the surface tectonic elements with thinner crust along Lake Baikal and under the Busiyngol and Tunka basins and thicker crust beneath the East Sayan and Transbaikalian mountains and under the Primorsky ridge on the southern craton border.     

Double seismic zone beneath the middle of Hokkaido, Japan, in the southwestern side of the Kurile Arc

The vertical section of microearthquakes, determined accurately by using the Hokkaido University network, shows two dipping zones (the double seismic zone) 25–30 km apart in the depth range of 80–150 km beneath the middle of Hokkaido in the southwestern side of the Kurile arc. Hypocentral distribution of large earthquakes (m_b > 4) based on the ISC (International Seismological Centre) bulletin also shows the double seismic zone beneath the same region. The hypocentral distribution indicates that the frequency of events occurring in the lower zone is four times greater than that in the upper zone. The difference in seismic activity between the two zones beneath Hokkaido is in contrast with the region beneath northeastern Honshu in the northeastern Japan arc.Composite focal mechanisms of microearthquakes and individual mechanisms of large events mainly characterize the down-dip extension for the lower zone as is observed beneath northeastern Honshu. For the upper zone, however, the stress field is rather complex and not necessarily similar to that beneath northeastern Honshu. This may be considered to indicate the influence of slab contortion or transformation in the Hokkaido corner between the Kurile and the northeastern Japan arcs.     

Crustal structure in Tengchong Volcano-Geothermal Area, western Yunnan, China

Based upon the deep seismic sounding profiles carried out in the Tengchong Volcano-Geothermal Area (TVGA), western Yunnan Province of China, a 2-D crustal P velocity structure is obtained by use of finite-difference inversion and forward travel-time fitting method. The crustal model shows that a low-velocity anomaly zone exists in the upper crust, which is related to geothermal activity. Two faults, the Longling–Ruili Fault and Tengchong Fault, on the profile extend from surface to the lower crust and the Tengchong Fault likely penetrates the Moho. Moreover, based on teleseismic receiver functions on a temporary seismic network, S-wave velocity structures beneath the geothermal field show low S-wave velocity in the upper crust. From results of geophysical survey, the crust of TVGA is characterized by low P-wave and S-wave velocities, low resistivity, high heat-flow value and low Q. The upper mantle P-wave velocity is also low. This suggests presence of magma in the crust derived from the upper mantle. The low-velocity anomaly in upper crust may be related to the magma differentiation. The Tengchong volcanic area is located on the northeast edge of the Indian–Eurasian plate collision zone, away from the eastern boundary of the Indian plate by about 450 km. Based on the results of this paper and related studies, the Tengchong volcanoes can be classified as plate boundary volcanoes.     

2D model of the crust and uppermost mantle along rift profile, Siberian craton

A two-dimensional model of the crust and uppermost mantle for the western Siberian craton and the adjoining areas of the Pur-Gedan basin to the north and Baikal Rift zone to the south is determined from travel time data from recordings of 30 chemical explosions and three nuclear explosions along the RIFT deep seismic sounding profile. This velocity model shows strong lateral variations in the crust and sub-Moho structure both within the craton and between the craton and the surrounding region. The Pur-Gedan basin has a 15-km thick, low-velocity sediment layer overlying a 25-km thick, high-velocity crystalline crustal layer. A paleo-rift zone with a graben-like structure in the basement and a high-velocity crustal intrusion or mantle upward exists beneath the southern part of the Pur-Gedan basin. The sedimentary layer is thin or non-existent and there is a velocity reversal in the upper crust beneath the Yenisey Zone. The Siberian craton has nearly uniform crustal thickness of 40–43 km but the average velocity in the lower crust in the north is higher (6.8–6.9 km/s) than in the south (6.6 km/s). The crust beneath the Baikal Rift zone is 35 km thick and has an average crustal velocity similar to that observed beneath the southern part of craton. The uppermost mantle velocity varies from 8.0 to 8.1 km/s beneath the young West Siberian platform and Baikal Rift zone to 8.1–8.5 km/s beneath the Siberian craton. Anomalous high Pn velocities (8.4–8.5 km/s) are observed beneath the western Tunguss basin in the northern part of the craton and beneath the southern part of the Siberian craton, but lower Pn velocities (8.1 km/s) are observed beneath the Low Angara basin in the central part of the craton. At about 100 km depth beneath the craton, there is a velocity inversion with a strong reflecting interface at its base. Some reflectors are also distinguished within the upper mantle at depth between 230 and 350 km.     

Evidence for compressionally induced high subsidence rates in the Kurile Basin (Okhotsk Sea)

A combined volcanological, geochemical, paleo-oceanological, geochronological and geophysical study was undertaken on the Kurile Basin, in order to constrain the origin and evolution of this basin. Very high rates of subsidence were determined for the northeastern floor and margin of the Kurile Basin. Dredged volcanic samples from the Geophysicist Seamount, which were formed under subaerial or shallow water conditions but are presently located at depths in excess of 2300 m, were dated at 0.84±0.06 and 1.07±0.04 Ma with the laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar single crystal method, yielding a minimum average subsidence rate of 1.6 mm/year for the northeast basin floor in the Quaternary. Trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data from the volcanic rocks show evidence for contamination within lower continental crust and/or the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, indicating that the basement presently at 6-km depth is likely to represent thinned continental crust. Average subsidence rates of 0.5–2.0 mm/year were estimated for the northeastern slope of the Kurile Basin during the Pliocene and Quaternary through the determination of the age and paleo-environment (depth) of formation of sediments from a canyon wall. Taken together, the data from the northeastern part of the Kurile Basin indicate that subsidence began in or prior to the Early Pliocene and that subsidence rates have increased in the Quaternary. Similar rates of subsidence have been obtained from published studies on the Sakhalin Shelf and Slope and from volcanoes in the rear of the Kurile Arc. The recent stress field of the Kurile Basin is inferred from the analysis of seismic activity, focal mechanism solutions and from the structure of the sedimentary cover and of the Alaid back-arc volcano. Integration of these results suggests that compression is responsible for the rapid subsidence of the Kurile Basin and that subsidence may be an important step in the transition from basin formation to its destruction. The compression of the Kurile Basin results from squeezing of the Okhotsk Plate between four major plates: the Pacific, North American, Eurasian and Amur. We predict that continued compression could lead to subduction of the Kurile Basin floor beneath Hokkaido and the Kurile Arc in the future and thus to basin closure.     

Crustal thinning beneath the Rwenzori region, Albertine rift, Uganda, from receiver-function analysis

The Rwenzori mountains in western Uganda, with a maximum elevation of more than 5,000 m, are located within the Albertine rift valley. We have deployed a temporary seismic network on the Ugandan side of the mountain range to study the seismic velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath this section of the rift. We present results from a receiver-function study revealing a simple crustal structure along the eastern rift flank with a more or less uniform crustal thickness of about 30 km. The complexity of inner-crustal structures increases drastically within the Rwenzori block. We apply different inversion techniques to obtain reliable results for the thickness of the crust. The observations expose a significantly thinner crust beneath the Rwenzori range with thickness values ranging from about 20–28 km beneath northern and central parts of the mountains. Our study therefore indicates the absence of a crustal root beneath the Rwenzori block. Beneath the Lake Edward and Lake George basins we detect the top of a layer of significantly reduced S-wave velocity at 15 km depth. This low-velocity layer may be attributed to the presence of partial melt beneath a region of recent volcanic activity.     

Deep Background of Wenchuan Earthquake and the Upper Crust Structure beneath the Longmen Shan and Adjacent Areas

By analyzing the deep seismic sounding profiles across the Longmen Shan,this paper focuses on the study of the relationship between the upper crust structure of the Longmen Shan area and the Wenchuan earthquake.The Longmen Shan thrust belt marks not only the topographical change,but also the lateral velocity variation between the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin.A lowvelocity layer has consistently been found in the crust beneath the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and ends beneath the ...     

广西地区岩石圈表层与深部构造之关联性:源于岩石圈密度与磁性结构的解读

广西地处华南地块、印支地块与西太平洋板块的汇合部位,因特殊的构造部位,广西区内大地构造单元归属、构造单元边界等许多基础地质问题一直存在争议.自新生代以来的板块构造运动对岩石圈的改造,广西地壳与上地幔在地震波速度及温度结构方面具有显著差异.应用卫星重、磁异常数据以及区域重力和航磁资料对广西地区岩石圈密度和磁化率结构及其与上地壳构造的关系开展了研究,结果显示广西地区地壳密度和上地壳磁性结构与现今地表构造较为契合,但下地壳密度结构与上地幔存在不连续现象;此外,岩石圈磁化率结构指示中下地壳存在不同范围和程度的解耦.对广西岩石圈密度与磁性结构的解读认为,在中生代以来岩石圈被大规模改造的背景下,幔源物质上侵至上地壳的规模和范围都有限,这可能是整个广西地区上地幔结构与地壳构造不对应的主要原因.      

Crustal Structure of the Crimean Mountains along the Sevastopol–Kerch Profile from the Results of DSS and Local Seismic Tomography

The paper discusses the velocity structure of the crust beneath the Crimean Mountains from the results of active and passive seismic experiments. Based on a new interpretation of seismic data from the old Sevastopol–Kerch DSS profile by modern full-wave seismic modeling methods, a velocity model of the crust beneath the Crimean Mountains has been constructed for the first time. This model shows the significant differences in the structure of two crustal blocks: (1) one characterized by higher velocities and located in the western and central Crimean Mountains, and (2) the other characterized by lower velocities and located in the east, in the Feodosiya–Kerch zone, which are subdivided by a basement uplift (Starokrymskoe Uplift). The former block is characterized by a more complex structure, with the Moho traced at depths of 43 and 55 km, forming two Moho discontinuities: the upper one corresponds to the platform stage, and the lower one, formed presumably at the Alpine stage of tectogenesis as a result of underthrusting of the East Black Sea microplate beneath the southern margin of the Scythian Plate in Crimea. At depths of 7–11 km, velocity inversion zone has been identified, indicating horizontal layering of the crust. Local seismic tomography using the data on weak earthquakes (m_b ≤ 3) recorded by the Crimean seismological network allowed us to obtain data on the crustal structure beneath the Crimean Mountains at depths of 10–30 km. The crustal structure at these depths is characterized by the presence of several high-velocity crustal bodies in the vicinity of cities Yalta, Alushta, and Sudak, with earthquake hypocenters clustered within these bodies. Comparison of this velocity model of the Crimean Mountains with the seismicity distribution and with the results from reconstruction of paleo- and present-day stress fields from field tectonophysical study and earthquake focal mechanisms allowed the conclusion that the Crimean Mountains were formed as a result of on mature crust at the southern margin of the East European Platform and Scythian Plate, resulting from processes during various phases of Cimmerian and Alpine tectogenesis in the compressional and transpressional geodynamic settings. The collisional process is ongoing at the present-day stage, as supported by high seismicity and uplift of the Crimean Mountains.     

东昆仑大地震的深部构造背景

本文以深地震测深剖面资料揭示的地壳结构形态为切入点 ,探讨东昆仑 8.1级大地震的深部构造背景。沱沱河—小柴旦长 5 0 0km的剖面范围内发现两处大的莫霍面错断 ,分别位于东昆仑 柴达木结合带之下和金沙江断裂之下。青藏高原北部的地壳厚度 6 1～ 75km :莫霍面具有一致南倾 ,逐步加深的产状及弱反射性特征 ;下地壳明显增厚 ,但速度未见明显降低 ;上地壳发育逆冲、走滑断裂 ;地壳中部存在低速层。北邻的柴达木盆地地壳相对刚性 ,厚 5 2± 2km。东昆仑及邻区的壳幔结构有利于强地震孕育。在印度板块向北推挤和柴达木地块的向南插入的区域挤压应力场中 ,青藏高原北部较弱的下地壳缩短增厚 ,变形过程中的蠕滑引起地壳浅部的应力放大。但NE向主压应力的作用不是大地震形成的唯一要素 ,与青藏高原北部各地体侧向运动有关。侧向运动速率和幅度的差异使应力在各地体的边界断裂积累并使其复活。而低速层对形成孕育大地震需要的“立交桥式”的局部应力环境是必不可少的条件。     

A DEEP SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILE ACROSS ALTUN FAULT BELT

A DEEP SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILE ACROSS ALTUN FAULT BELTtheNationalkeyfoundationresearchanddevelopmentplanfund(G19980 40 80 0 )     

Crustal structure, fault segmentation, and activity of the Median Tectonic Line in Shikoku, Japan

We conducted a seismic tomographic analysis to estimate the crustal structure beneath the Shikoku and Chugoku regions in Japan. The Philippine Sea slab (PHS slab) subducts continuously in a SE–NW direction beneath this region, and the crustal structure is complex. Furthermore, the Median Tectonic Line (MTL), one of the longest and most active arc-parallel fault systems in Japan (hereafter, the MTL active fault system), is located in this area, and the right-lateral strike–slip movement of this fault system is related to the oblique subduction of the PHS slab. The MTL active fault system has ruptured repeatedly during the last 10 000 years, and has high seismic potential. Our tomographic analysis clarified the heterogeneous crustal structure along the MTL active fault system. This fault system in Shikoku can be divided into two segments, an east segment and a west segment, on the basis of the velocity structure. This segmentation model is consistent with other such models that have been determined from geological and geomorphological data such as fault geometry, slip rate, and faulting history. This consistency suggests that the surface characteristics of the MTL active fault system are related to structural properties of the crust. In particular, a prominent low-velocity (low-V) zone is present in the lower crust beneath the east segment. Our tomographic images show that the lower crust structure beneath the east segment is obviously different from that of the other segment. Furthermore, this low-V zone may indicate the presence of fluid, possibly related to dehydration of the PHS slab. As the presence of fluid in the lower crust affects the activity of the fault, stress accumulation and the fault failure mechanism may differ between the two segments of the MTL active fault system.     

中国兴蒙—吉黑地区岩石圈结构基本特征

兴蒙—吉黑地区岩石圈由额尔古纳、兴安、松嫩和佳木斯4个古陆块及完达山中生代大陆边缘增生杂岩构成。Nd同位素模式年龄显示,佳木斯陆块时代最老,1500～2200Ma;额尔古纳陆块次之,1000～1600Ma;兴安和松嫩陆块具有相同的Nd模式年龄,500～1200Ma。地球化学示踪分析表明,该区古生代时表层地壳的Nd同位素模式年龄以中元古代为主,而中生代花岗岩的Nd同位素模式年龄主要为新元古代,表明该区深部地壳的年龄较表层地壳的年龄年轻,显示出该区地壳具有下新上老的年龄结构。Os同位素分析同时证明,该区岩石圈地幔也多表现为年轻性质。地震(Vp)速度结构显示,该区岩石圈结构在垂向上具有两个明显的特征:一是与传统意义上的地震岩石圈概念明显不同,该区岩石圈地幔的低速带没有稳定连续的顶界面,低速异常顶界面深浅不一,与高速异常体犬齿交错,某些构造单元之下的低速异常直达Moho,但底界面却十分稳定,深度为230～240km;二是“立交式”速度结构,表现为在地壳范围内,速度等值线总体呈北东向展布;岩石圈地幔的速度等值线呈北北西-近南北向展布;低速异常圈层的速度等值线为近东西向展布。     

Imaging of Vp, Vs, and Poisson’s ratio anomalies beneath Kyushu, southwest Japan: Implications for volcanism and forearc mantle wedge serpentinization

We determine detailed 3-D V_p and V_s structures of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the Kyushu Island, southwest Japan, using a large number of arrival times from local earthquakes. From the obtained V_p and V_s models, we further calculate Poisson’s ratio images beneath the study area. By using this large data set, we successfully image the 3-D seismic velocity and Poisson’s ratio structures beneath Kyushu down to a depth of 150 km with a more reliable spatial resolution than previous studies. Our results show very clear low V_p and low V_s anomalies in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the northern volcanoes, such as Abu, Kujyu and Unzen. Low-velocity anomalies are seen in the mantle beneath most other volcanoes. In contrast, there are no significant low-velocity anomalies in the crust or in the upper mantle between Aso and Kirishima. The subducting Philippine Sea slab is imaged generally as a high-velocity anomaly down to a depth of 150 km with some patches of normal to low seismic wave velocities. The Poisson’s ratio is almost normal beneath most volcanoes. The crustal seismicity is distributed in both the high- and low-velocity zones, but most distinctly in the low Poisson’s ratio zone. A high Poisson’s ratio region is found in the forearc crustal wedge above the slab in the junction area with Shikoku and Honshu; this high Poisson’s ratio could be caused by fluid-filled cracks induced by dehydration from the Philippine Sea slab. The Poisson’s ratio is normal to low in the forearc mantle in middle-south Kyushu. This is consistent with the absence of low-frequency tremors, and may indicate that dehydration from the subducting crust is not vigorous in this region.     

Active continental subduction and crustal exhumation: the Taiwan orogeny

ABSTRACT A tectonic model of active continental subduction followed by crustal exhumation is proposed to explain the orogeny in Taiwan. The subducted crust is represented by a low-velocity zone dipping eastwards beneath the major part of Taiwan, while the exhumed crust is marked by a high-velocity bulge, high heat flow and absence of seismicity beneath the eastern Central Range. The boundary between the subducted and exhumed crust has been identified from surface geology and analyses of thermal history across the Central Range. The dynamic force that has been driving the exhumed crust is identified by results from focal mechanisms, structural geology and geodetic survey in the eastern Central Range. Such a tectonic model may provide a good explanation for the evolution of the Taiwan Orogeny, as well as an active case for studying other long-extinct systems of continental subduction and exhumation.