Crustal structure of the baltic shield based on off-FENNOLORA refraction data

Since the early 1960s, deep seismic sounding experiments have been carried out on the Baltic Shield. In this study, we will mainly concentrate on the results obtained from two international profiles. Sveka and Baltic, carried out in Finland in 1981 and 1982. Results from these profiles are shown and discussed, and compared with those obtained from the FENNOLORA and from the other recent refraction profiles of the Baltic Shield in Fennoscandia. According to the results from Sveka and Baltic, and average crustal velocity is 6.6–6.7 km/s, which is rather high. Several distinct reflection boundaries have been found within the crust. In the lower part of the crust, a high-velocity layer with a P-wave velocity of 7.0–7.5 km/s has been found in some cases. In addition, the results indicate that the crustal structure has a clear block-like character, different blocks being separated from each other by deep fractures. The crustal thickness in the Baltic Shield is about 45 km on average, whereas around the Ladoga-Bothnian Bay zone in Central Finland, it is about 10 km thicker than this. Thus, there is a large-scale depression in the Moho boundary in the central part of the Baltic Shield.     

Saudi Arabian seismic-refraction profile: A traveltime interpretation of crustal and upper mantle structure

The crustal and upper mantle compressional-wave velocity structure across the southwestern Arabian Shield has been investigated by a 1000-km-long seismic refraction profile. The profile begins in Mesozoic cover rocks near Riyadh on the Arabian Platform, trends southwesterly across three major Precambrian tectonic provinces, traverses Cenozoic rocks of the coastal plain near Jizan, and terminates at the outer edge of the Farasan Bank in the southern Red Sea. More than 500 surveyed recording sites were occupied, and six shot points were used, including one in the Red Sea.Two-dimensional ray-tracing techniques, used to analyze amplitude-normalized record sections indicate that the Arabian Shield is composed, to first order, of two layers, each about 20 km thick, with average velocities of about 6.3 km/s and 7.0 km/s, respectively. West of the Shield-Red Sea margin, the crust thins to a total thickness of less than 20 km, beyond which the Red Sea shelf and coastal plain are interpreted to be underlain by oceanic crust.A major crustal inhomogeneity at the northeast end of the profile probably represents the suture zone between two crustal blocks of different composition. Elsewhere along the profile, several high-velocity anomalies in the upper crust correlate with mapped gneiss domes, the most prominent of which is the Khamis Mushayt gneiss. Based on their velocities, these domes may constitute areas where lower crustal rocks have been raised some 20 km. Two intracrustal reflectors in the center of the Shield at 13 km depth probably represent the tops of mafic intrusives.The Mohorovičić discontinuity beneath the Shield varies from a depth of 43 km and mantle velocity of 8.2 km/s in the northeast to a depth of 38 km and mantle velocity of 8.0 km/s depth in the southwest near the Shield-Red Sea transition. Two velocity discontinuities occur in the upper mantle, at 59 and 70 km depth.The crustal and upper mantle velocity structure of the Arabian Shield is interpreted as revealing a complex crust derived from the suturing of island arcs in the Precarnbrian. The Shield is currently flanked by the active spreading boundary in the Red Sea.     

Orientation studies for gold in the central pediplain of the Saudi Arabian shield

Orientation studies were carried out by the BRGM mission in Saudi Arabia between 1982–1986 to investigate the dispersion of gold in soils and wadi sediments and to define the optimum sample medium around eight prospects in the central Arabian pediplain. A comparison of gold distribution in several sieved fractions with various pedologic horizons shows that the distribution of gold changes abruptly from the coarser sizes near the source to the finest sizes 150 m downstream.The coarse fraction recommended by previous workers is not representative and yields erratic results in the specific environment of the pediplain. Gold is enriched and more homogeneously distributed in the minus 80 μm fraction of the skeletal soils and wadi sediments.Regional geochemical survey can be effective using a sensitive analytical method for gold and the minus 80 μm fraction of the brown gravelly sediment with a minimum density of 2 samples per km². Geochemical halos in the 30–50 ppb range indicate gold mineralization 500 to 1000 m upstream, depending on relief.In a first follow-up stage, continued use of the same size of the upper argillaceous layer with a regular reg sampling grid gives more contrasted and more extensive anomalies than using a coarse material. These anomalies may be slightly offset by the present arid erosion. A second follow-up stage is then recommended at a closer grid and sampling the brown blocky layer below the surficial reg pavement. Again, the use of the finest fraction at this exploration stage has given the best probability of finding a blind gold target.Optical determination of gold on a nonmagnetic fraction of heavy panconcentrate is not recommended, because nugget growth is practically absent in the present arid conditions and flour-sized gold particles are lost in desliming samples.     

Interpretation of a seismic-refraction survey across the Arabian shield in western Saudi Arabia

In February 1978 seismic-refraction profiles were recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey along a 1000 km line across the Arabian Shield in western Saudi Arabia. This report presents a traveltime and relative amplitude study in the form of velocity-depth functions for each individual profile assuming horizontally flat layering. The corresponding cross section of the lithosphere showing lines of equal velocity reaches to a depth of 60–80 km.The crust thickens abruptly from 15 km beneath the Red Sea Rift to about 40 km beneath the Arabian Shield. The upper crust of the western Arabian Shield yields relatively high-velocity material at about 10 km depth underlain by velocity inversions, while the upper crust of the eastern Shield is relatively uniform. The lower crust with a velocity of about 7 km/s is underlain by a transitional crust-mantle boundary. For the lower lithosphere beneath 40 km depth the data indicate the existence of a laterally discontinuous lamellar structure where high-velocity zones are intermixed with zones of lower velocities. Beneath the crust-mantle boundary of the Red Sea rift most probably strong velocity inversions exist. Here, the data do not allow a detailed modelling, velocities as low as 6.0 km/s seem to be encountered between 25 and 44 km depth.     

Late cretaceous to recent palaeoenvironments of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea

Integrated micropalaeontological, palynological and lithological analysis of the Upper Cretaceous to Recent sedimentary succession, as observed in deep and shallow well drill cores and field samples, has revealed a highly varied history of environments of deposition. Supratidal, freshwater conditions prevailed during the Late Cretaceous, Oligocene, Early and Late Miocene to Recent Marginal marine conditions are represented in the Palaeocene to Lower Eocene successions, but without any indication of hypersaline sabkha environments. Marginal marine conditions involving periodic hypersaline sabkha and hypersaline lake development existed during the Early and Late Miocene. In most of the studied areas, very deep, normal salinity marine conditions, within the upper bathyal regime, existed during the Early Miocene; episodes of marine suboxia are indicated by the microfaunal and organic facies character. Later, during the late Early Miocene and early Middle Miocene, similar deep marine conditions prevailed, but with episodes of hypersalinity that culminated in the late Middle Miocene. Such conditions are believed to have resulted from the isolated of the basin and the precipitation of deep marine precipitates. These changes in palaeoenvironment are considered to reflect episodes of eustatic sea level fluctuation, which are possibly linked to the structural evolution of the Red Sea.     

Effect of tectonic prominence and growth of the Arabian shield on Paleozoic sandstone successions in Saudi Arabia

Paleozoic successions in Saudi Arabia are exposed around and bordering the south, north, and northeastern edge of the Arabian shield. They are represented by the Wajid group in the south and by the Taymah, Tabuk, Qalibah, Huj, and Buraydah groups in the north and northeast. The Wajid group includes Dibsiyah, Sanamah, Khusayyan, and Juwayl formations. The Taymah group includes Siq, Amai’er, Quweira, Saq, and Qasim formations. The Tabuk group includes Zarqa, Sara, and Hawban formations. The Qalibah group includes Baq’a, Qusaiba, and Sharawra formations. The Huj group includes Tawil, Jauf, and Jubah formations. The Buraydah group includes Berwath, Unayzah, and Khuff formations. The Wajid group form one block in the south and the other groups form another block in the north, and they can be correlated. There are similarities between the northern belt which consists of the Cambro-Ordovician formations of the Tayma and Tabuk groups and the southern belt which consists of the Dibsiyah and Sanama formations of the Wajid group. Similarities include sandstone composition, sedimentary environment, paleocurrent directions, unconformities, tectonic events, and influence of Gondwana glaciations. These formations and probably some or all the rest of the Paleozoic formations used to form one block but later separated after erosion caused by gradual tectonic growth, uplift, and prominence of the Arabian shield. During early Paleozoic time, the process started by poststabilization then sedimentation and at a later stage the growth and uplift of the shield occurred gradually. Growth of shields is a fact and it is the only way to explain the exposure of the Wajid sandstone on top of the highest mountain of the shield which exceeds 3,000 m in As Sawdah in Asir area in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The sandstone sediments of these outcrops were deposited on a low lying basin before been raised to this elevation.     

Crustal structure of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea

Seismic refraction profiles now number 9 in the Gulf of Aden and 15 in the Red Sea with a further intensive study by the Cambridge University group between latitudes 22 and 23°N. The results of these surveys indicate that the main trough of the Gulf of Aden is underlain by oceanic crust while only the deep axial zone and a questionable amount of the main trough of the Red Sea are underlain by oceanic crust.

Seismic reflexion profiles reveal the nature of Layer 1 and the upper surface of Layer 2. A strong subbottom reflector is found beneath the main trough of the Red Sea at 0.5 km but is found to be absent in the axial zone. This survey together with the refraction work and geological evidence suggests a complex history for the main trough of the Red Sea. Reflexion profiles and dredging in the Gulf of Aden indicate that the thickness of sediments increases away from the central rough zone and that the sediment is underlain by volcanic material.     

Crustal properties from S-wave and gravity data along a seismic refraction profile in Romania

VRANCEA'99 is a seismic refraction line that was carried out in 1999 to investigate the deep structure and physical properties of the upper lithosphere of the southeastern Carpathians and its foreland. It runs from the city of Bacau to the Danube River, traversing the Vrancea epicentral area of strong intermediate-depth seismicity and the city of Bucharest.

Interpretation of P-wave arrivals led to a velocity model that displays a multi-layered crust with velocities increasing with depth. The range of P wave velocities in the sedimentary cover increases from N to S and a structuring of the autochthonous basement of the Moesian Platform is observed. The crystalline crust displays thickness variations, but at the same time the lateral velocity structure along the seismic line remains almost constant. An intra-crustal boundary separates an upper crust from the lower crust. Within the upper mantle a low velocity zone is detected at a depth of about 55-km.

The interpretation of observable S-waves resulted in a velocity model that shows the same multi-layered crust, with S-velocities increasing similarly with depth as the P-waves. The corresponding Poisson's ratio is highly variable throughout the crust and ranges from 0.20–0.35 for the sedimentary cover to 0.22–0.25 for the crystalline crust. The interpretation of the V_p, V_s and Poisson's ratio in petrological terms suggests a large variety of rocks from sand and clay to sandstone, limestone and dolomite within the sedimentary cover. Within the crystalline crust the most probably rock types are granite, granodiorite, granite–gneiss and/or felsic amphibolite–gneiss in the upper part and gneiss and /or amphibolite in the lower part.

Based on the 2-D seismic velocity model, a density model is developed. Density values are assigned to each layer in agreement with the P-wave velocity model and with values accepted for the geological units in the area. After several iterations a good fit between the computed and observed Bouguer anomalies was obtained along the seismic line.     

The Effect of finite strain and deformation history of HALABAN area,eastern Arabian shield,Saudi Arabia

The present study aims to evaluate a relationship between the mineralogy and structural analysis in the Halaban area and to document the tectonic evolution of Halaban and Al Amar faults. The collected samples were taken from deformed granitiods rocks (such as granite, gneisses and tonalite), metasedimentary, metavolcanic, metagabbro and carbonate rocks are trend to NE-SW with low dip angle in the Halaban area. These samples were 8 from granite, 14 metagabbro, 6 metavolcanics, 5 tonalite, 6 metasedimentary, 10 gneisses and 8 carbonate rocks. Our results are described for the different axial ratios of deformed rocks as the following: XZ sections range from 1.10 to 4.60 in the Fry method and range from 1.70 to 2.71 in the Rf/? method. YZ sections range from 1.10 to 3.34 in the Fry method and range from 1.62 to 2.63 in the Rf/Phi method. In addition, XY sections range from 1 to 3.51 in the Fry method and range from 1 to 1.27 in the Rf/? method for deformed granite rocks, metasedimentry rocks, and metagabbro. The stretch axes for measured samples in the X direction axes (S_X) variety from 1.06 to 2.53 in the Fry method and vary from 1.20 to 1.45 in the Rf/? method. The values of the Y direction axes (S_Y) vary from 0.72 to 1.43 in the Fry method, which indicates contraction and extension in this direction and vary from 1.13 to 1.37 in the Rf/? method which indicates extension in this direction. Furthermore, the Z direction axes (SZ) varies from 0.09 to 0.89 in the Fry method and from 0.52 to 0.71 in the Rf/? method. The stretches axes in the Z direction (SZ) show a vertical shortening about 11% to 91% in the Fry method and show vertical shortening about 29% to 48% in the Rf/? method. The studied rock units are generally affected by brittle-ductile shear zones, which are sub-parallel to parallel NW or NNW trend. It assumed that different rock types of have similar deformation behavior. Based on these results, it is concluded that the finite strain is accumulated during the metamorphism after that was started the deformation by thrusting activity. The contacts between the different rock types were deformed during thrusting under semi-brittle to ductile deformation conditions by simple shear. A component of vertical shortening is also involved causing subhorizontal foliation in the Halaban area.     

The Bani Ghayy group; sedimentation and volcanism in pull-apart grabens of the Najd strike-slip orogen,Saudi Arabian shield

The cratonisation of the Arabian Shield involved the accretion of ensimatic arc terranes in the west and south followed by continental collisions along the Nabitah and Al Amar sutures and the onset of the Najd strike-slip orogen. Volcanosedimentary successions which post-date these collisions have been proposed as the products of magmatism in transitional volcanic arcs. One such succession, the Bani Ghayy group, lies unconformably above a series of volcanosedimentary rocks associated with an older active continental margin and was deposited in three separate, elongate, fault-bounded grabens. Each graben contains coarse fanglomerate and fan delta deposits along the margin and proximal greywackes toward the centre. Reef limestones occur locally whereas volcanogenic rocks are widespread. The latter are geochemically bimodal and with the sediments are typical of continental rifting environments although deformed ultramafic rocks within internal reverse faults suggests that the grabens were floored, in part, by primitive mantle derived crust. Deposition of the Bani Ghayy group post-dates incipient motions along fractures of the Najd fault system. The orientation of the Bani Ghayy grabens and the geometry of the boundary faults are consistent with development in a regime of northwest-trending dextral shear. However, the Bani Ghayy grabens are displaced and deformed by later movements of the same faults but in a sinistral sense. Other successions correlated with the Bani Ghayy also preserve features consistent with deposition in continental grabens and the possibility that they represent arc volcanism is discounted.     

Deformed dike swarms as an implication of transpression deformation in Western Arabian shield,Wadi Fatima,Saudi Arabia

Utilization of satellite images and field observations of dike swarms in pre-Fatima basement show that these dikes are older than the overlaying Fatima Formation. Dikes digitization and orientation analysis on satellite images show that the prevailing trend of the dikes is ENE-WSW. The granitic rocks of pre-Fatima basement and its hosted dikes expose evidences of completely a different deformation regime from the overlaying Fatima Formation. These evidences include shearing, dextral shear indicators, isoclinal folds, deflection and rotation of crystals, mineral elongation, and mylonitic and gneissose textures. Strain analysis results of using Fry method on quartz and feldspar grains support the presence of deformation in these ENE-WSW dikes. These results gave a strain ratio of 2.1:1.3:1, which suggest an amount of 40% stretching in the ENE-WSW direction parallel to the dike walls, and an amount of 30% shortening in the NNW-SSE direction. Mesoscopic and microscopic scale structures confirm the existence of dextral ductile-brittle shearing followed the emplacement of the dikes and before the pure shear deformation that caused the thrusting and folding of Fatima Formation. This ductile-brittle deformation is correlated with the dextral transpression that formed the Fatima Shear Zone (FSZ).     

Gold mineralizations in the Arabian shield: statistical control on mining potential

Saudi Arabia possesses numerous low-grade gold deposits and many occurrences are located in the Arabian Shield. Currently, there are five operating gold mines and major plans are underway to develop three gold mining regions in various parts of the shield. Because of the presence of numerous deposits and a significant amount of investments earmarked for the development of these deposits by the Saudi Government during the last few years, Saudi Arabia is expected to become one of the leading gold producers in the world. This paper starts with an introduction of gold mineralization and mining activities in the Arabian Shield in a historical perspective. This is followed by a brief review of geology and the geological importance of the Arabian Shield as a host for various types of gold deposits. The latter part of the paper discusses the statistical distribution of gold grades and its impact on cutoff grade variations on the gold reserves and their mining potentials. Finally, considering the lognormal distribution of gold grades and reduction in cutoff grades, it is demonstrated how some of the previously classified uneconomic resources can be gradually converted into mineable reserves with increasing proportions.     

The role of aeromagnetic data analysis (using 3D Euler deconvolution) in delineating active subsurface structures in the west central Arabian shield and the central Red Sea,Saudi Arabia

In this paper, we present a case study of structural mapping by applying the 3D Euler method to the high-resolution aeromagnetic data that was collected in the west central Arabian Shield region and the coastal region of the central Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. We show the 3D Euler deconvolution algorithm and apply it to magnetic potential field data from the west Central Arabian Shield and the Central Red Sea. The solution obtained with 3D Euler deconvolution gives better-focused depth estimates, which are closer to the real position of sources; the results presented here can be used to constrain depth to active crustal structures (volcanisms) for the study area. The results indicated that the area was affected by sets of fault systems, which primarily trended in the NNW–SSE, NW–SE, EW, and NE–SW directions. Moreover, estimated Euler solution map from aeromagnetic data delineated also the boundaries of shallow, small, and confined magnetic bodies on the offshore section of the study area. These nearly exposed basement intrusions are most likely related to the Red Sea Rift and may be associated with structures higher up in the sedimentary section. These volcanic bodies are extended to the continental part (onshore) of the west central Arabian Shield, particularly beneath both sides of the Ad Damm fault zone. This extension verifies that the fault was largely contemporaneous with a major period during the extension of the Red Sea Basin. Moreover, according to the distribution of circular magmatic-source bodies (circular-shaped ring dikes) that resulted from this study, we can state that the clustering of most earthquakes along this fault may most likely be attributed to the active mantle upwelling (volcanic earthquakes), which are ultimately related to volcanic processes. Furthermore, the oceanic crustal structures near and in the Red Sea offshore regions were also estimated and discussed according to the ophiolite occurrences and further opening of the Red Sea. Our results are largely comparable with studies of previous crustal sections, which were performed along the Red Sea Rift and the Arabian Shield. As a result, the areas above these anomalies are highly recommended for further geothermal study. This example illustrates that high-resolution aeromagnetic surveys can greatly help delineating the subsurface active structures in the west central Arabian Shield and the middle coastal region of the Red Sea of Saudi Arabia.     

Crustal structure of the Eastern Alps along the TRANSALP profile from wide-angle seismic tomography

The objective of the TRANSALP project is an investigation of the Eastern Alps with regard to their deep structure and dynamic evolution. The core of the project is a 340-km-long seismic profile at 12°E between Munich and Venice. This paper deals with the P-wave velocity distribution as derived from active source travel time tomography. Our database consists of Vibroseis and explosion seismic travel times recorded at up to 100 seismological stations distributed in a 30-km-wide corridor along the profile. In order to derive a velocity and reflector model, we simultaneously inverted refractions and reflections using a derivative of a damped least squares approach for local earthquake tomography. 8000 travel time picks from dense Vibroseis recordings provide the basis for high resolution in the upper crust. Explosion seismic wide-angle reflection travel times constrain both deeper crustal velocities and structure of the crust–mantle boundary with low resolution. In the resulting model, the Adriatic crust shows significantly higher P-wave velocities than the European crust. The European Moho is dipping south at an angle of 7°. The Adriatic Moho dips north with a gentle inclination at shallower depths. This geometry suggests S-directed subduction. Azimuthal variations of the first-break velocities as well as observations of shear wave splitting reveal strong anisotropy in the Tauern Window. We explain this finding by foliations and laminations generated by lateral extrusion. Based on the P-wave model we also localized almost 100 local earthquakes recorded during the 2-month acquisition campaign in 1999. Seismicity patterns in the North seem related to the Inn valley shear zone, and to thrusting of Austroalpine units over European basement. The alignment of deep seismicity in the Trento-Vicenza region with the top of the Adriatic lower crust corroborates the suggestion of a deep thrust fault in the Southern Alps.     

Crustal structure of the peninsular shield beneath Hyderabad (India) from the spectral characteristics of long-period P-waves

The crustal transfer functions have been obtained from long period P-waves of thirteen teleseismic events recorded at Hyderabad (HYB), India. The crustal structure beneath this seismograph station has been obtained after comparing these functions with the theoretical crustal transfer functions which were computed using the Thomson-Haskell matrix formulation. The method is suitable and economical for determining the fine crustal structure. The crust beneath Hyderabad is found to consist of three layers with total thickness of 36 km. The thicknesses of top, middle and bottom layers are 21 km, 8 km and 7 km, respectively.     

Crustal structure along a traverse across the Middle and High Atlas mountains derived from seismic refraction studies

In 1986 explosion seismic investigations have been carried out along a traverse of about 350 km length running from NNW to SSE crossing the High and Middle Atlas. Two further profiles run E/W through the Middle and NW-SE through the High Atlas.Neither the High nor the Middle Atlas mountains have a significant root. The maximum thickness of crust with 38–39 km is found under the northern border of the High Atlas. South and north of the High Atlas the crustal thickness amounts to 35 km. The upper as well as the lower crust are stongly structurized in the vertical direction. Significant for the profiles observed is the change between high and low velocities in the whole crust. The velocities at the uppermost mantle are relatively low with values of 7.7–7.9 km/s. The average velocities for the whole crust are 6.1–6.2 km/s.

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Zusammenfassung Sprengseismische Untersuchungen wurden 1986 längs einer etwa 350 km langen Traverse durchgeführt, die NNW-SSO verläuft und den Mittleren und den Hohen Atlas quert. Zwei weitere Profile verlaufen E-W durch den Mittleren und NW-SO durch den Hohen Atlas.Der Hohe und der Mittlere Atlas besitzen keine ausgeprägte Gebirgswurzel. Die maximale Krustendicke wird mit 38–39 km unter dem nördlichen Rand des Hohen Atlas angetroffen. Südlich und nördlich vom Hohen Atlas beträgt die Krustenmächtigkeit 35 km. Sowohl die obere als auch die untere Kruste sind in vertikaler Richtung stark strukturiert. Auf allen beobachteten Profilen ist ein Wechsel zwischen hohen und niedrigen Geschwindigkeiten für die gesamte Kruste charakteristisch. Die Geschwindigkeiten im obersten Mantel sind mit Werten von 7.7–7.9 km/s relativ niedrig. Die Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeiten für die gesamte Kruste liegen bei 6.1–6.2 km/s.

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Résumé Durant l'année 1986 des sondages sismiques de tirs ont été entrepris le long d'une traverse d'environ 350 km de longueur se dirigeant du nord nordouest au sud sud-est et parcourant le Haut et Moyen Atlas. Deux autres profils parcourent le Moyen Atlas de l'est à l'ouest et le Haut Atlas du nord-ouest au sud-est.Le Haut et Moyen Atlas ne possèdent pas de racine montagneuse. L'épaisseur maximale de 38–39 km de la croûte a été localisée sous le bord nord du Haut Atlas. Au sud et au nord du Haut Atlas l'épaisseur de la croûte s'élève à 35 km. La croûte supérieure ainsi que la croûte inférieure est très structurée en direction verticale.Ce qui est caractéristique pour tous les profils observés c'est un changement rapide entre de grandes et petites vitesses et concernant le total de la croûte. Les vitesses dans le manteau le plus élevé haut sont relativement basses avec 7,7–7,9 km/s. Les vitesses moyennes pour la croûte entière sont de 6,1 à 6,2 km/s.

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1986 350 , NNW SSE . : E-W , NWSE . . , 38/39 , 35 . , . . : 7,7–7,9 /. 6,1–6,2 /.

     

Crustal structure of the Hawaiian Archipelago, northern Melanesia, and the Central Pacific Basin by seismic refraction methods

The crustal structure of the Hawaiian Archipelago, northern Melanesia, and parts of the Central Pacific Basin have been studied by seismic refraction methods. The systematic variation found in crustal thickness in the Hawaiian Islands is explainable by a hypothesis of differential subsidence. The crustal structure of northern Melanesia points to tensional forces in an east-west direction and compressional forces in a north-south direction. In the Central Pacific Basin, a 7.4 km/sec layer in the lower crust seems to be present over a wide area.