IN SITU MEASUREMENTS OF SHEAR-WAVE VELOCITY IN SEDIMENTS WITH HIGHER-MODE RAYLEIGH WAVES*

A seismic survey was carried out on a tidal flat in the SW-Netherlands in order to determine shear-wave velocities in sediments by means of higher-mode Rayleigh waves. The dispersion properties of these Rayleigh waves were measured in the 2-D amplitude spectrum–or f, k-spectrum–and resulted in phase velocities for six different modes as a function of frequency (5–30 Hz). These observed phase velocities were inverted for a nine-layer model for the shear-wave velocity to a depth of 50 m.     

Seismic anisotropy in granite at the Underground Research Laboratory, Manitoba

The Shear-Wave Experiment at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's Underground Research Laboratory was probably the first controlled-source shear-wave survey in a mine environment. Taking place in conjunction with the excavation of the Mine-by test tunnel at 420 m depth, the shear-wave experiment was designed to measure the in situ anisotropy of the rockmass and to use shear waves to observe excavation effects using the greatest variety of raypath directions of any in situ shear-wave survey to date. Inversion of the shear-wave polarizations shows that the anisotropy of the in situ rockmass is consistent with hexagonal symmetry with an approximate fabric orientation of strike 023° and dip 35°. The in situ anisotropy is probably due to microcracks with orientations governed by the in situ stress field and to mineral alignment within the weak gneissic layering. However, there is no unique interpretation as to the cause of the in situ anisotropy as the fabric orientation agrees approximately with both the orientation expected from extensive-dilatancy anisotropy and that of the gneissic layering. Eight raypaths with shear waves propagating wholly or almost wholly through granodiorite, rather than granite, do not show the expected shear-wave splitting and indicate a lower in situ anisotropy, which may be due to the finer grain size and/or the absence of gneissic layering within the granodiorite. These results suggest that shear waves may be used to determine crack and mineral orientations and for remote monitoring of a rockmass. This has potential applications in mining and waste monitoring.     

Numerical study of seismic scattering and waveguide excitation in faulted coal seams

Finite‐difference P‐SV simulations of seismic scattering characteristics of faulted coal‐seam models have been undertaken for near‐surface P‐ and S‐wave sources in an attempt to understand the efficiency of body‐wave to channel‐wave mode conversion and how it depends on the elastic parameters of the structure. The synthetic seismograms clearly show the groups of channel waves generated at the fault: one by the downgoing P‐wave and the other by the downgoing S‐wave. These modes travel horizontally in the seam at velocities less than the S‐wavespeed of the rock. A strong Airy phase is generated for the fundamental mode. The velocity contrast between the coal and the host rock is a more important parameter than the density contrast in controlling the amplitude of the channel waves. The optimal coupling from body‐wave energy to channel‐wave energy occurs at a velocity contrast of 1.5. Strong guided waves are produced by the incident S‐sources for source angles of 75° to 90° (close to the near‐side face of the fault). As the fault throw increases, the amplitude of the channel wave also increases. The presence of a lower‐velocity clay layer within the coal‐seam sequence affects the waveguiding characteristics. The displacement amplitude distribution is shifted more towards the lower‐wavespeed layer. The presence of a ‘washout’ zone or a brecciated zone surrounding the fault also results in greater forward scattering and channel‐wave capture by the coal seam.     

Seismic Velocity and Q Structure of the Middle Eastern Crust and Upper Mantle from Surface-wave Dispersion and Attenuation

—Observed velocities and attenuation of fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves in the period range 7–82 sec were inverted for shear-wave velocity and shear-wave Q structure in the Middle East using a two-station method. Additional information on Q structure variation within each region was obtained by studying amplitude spectra of fundamental-mode and higher-mode Rayleigh waves. We obtained models for the Turkish and Iranian Plateaus (Region 1), areas surrounding and including the Black and Caspian Seas (Region 2), and the Arabian Peninsula (Region 3). The effect of continent-ocean boundaries and mixed paths in Region 2 may lead to unrealistic features in the models obtained there. At lower crustal and upper-mantle depths, shear velocities are similar in all three regions. Shear velocities vary significantly in the uppermost 10 km of the crust, being 3.21, 2.85, and 3.39 km/s for Regions 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Q models obtained from an inversion of interstation attenuation data show that crustal shear-wave Q is highest in Region 3 and lowest in Region 1. Q’s for the upper 10 km of the crust are 63, 71, and 201 for Regions 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Crustal Q’s at 30 km depth for the three regions are about 51, 71, and 134. The lower crustal Q values contrast sharply with results from stable continental regions where shear-wave Q may reach one thousand or more. These low values may indicate that fluids reside in faults, cracks, and permeable rock at lower crustal, as well as upper crustal depths due to convergence and intense deformation at all depths in the Middle Eastern crust.     

Seismic crust structure beneath the Aegean region in southwest Turkey from radial anisotropic inversion of Rayleigh and Love surface waves

The Turkish plate is covered by hundreds of accelerometer and broadband seismic stations with less than 50 km inter-station distance providing high-quality earthquake recordings within the last decade. We utilize part of these stations to extract the fundamental mode Rayleigh and Love surface wave phase and group velocity data in the period range 5–20 s to determine the crust structure beneath the Aegean region in southwest Turkey. The observed surface wave signals are interpreted using both single-station and two-station techniques. A tomographic inversion technique is employed to obtain the two-dimensional group velocity maps from the single-station group velocities. One-dimensional velocity–depth profiles under each two-dimensional mesh point, which are jointly interpreted to acquire the three-dimensional image of the shear-wave velocities underneath the study area, are attained by utilizing the least-squares inversion technique, which is repeated for both Rayleigh and Love surface waves. The isotropic crust structure cannot jointly invert the observed Rayleigh and Love surface waves where the radial anisotropic crust better describes the observed surface wave data. The intrusive magmatic activity related to the northward subducting African plate under the Turkish plate results the crust structure deformations, which we think, causing the observed radial anisotropy throughout complex pattern of dykes and sills. The magma flow resulting in the mineral alignment within dykes and sills contributes to the observed anisotropy. Due to the existence of dykes, the radial anisotropy in the upper crust is generally negative, i.e., vertically polarized S-waves (Vsv) are faster than horizontally polarized S-waves (Vsh). Due to the existence of sills, the radial anisotropy in the middle-to-lower crust is generally positive, i.e., horizontally polarized S-waves (Vsh) are faster than vertically polarized S-waves (Vsv). Similar radial anisotropic results to those of the single-station analyses are obtained by the two-station analyses utilizing the cross-correlograms. The widespread volcanic and plutonic rocks in the region are consistent with the current seismic interpretations of the crustal deformations.     

SHEAR WAVES BY AN EXPLOSIVE POINT-SOURCE: THE EARTH SURFACE AS A GENERATOR OF CONVERTED P-S WAVES*

The most common source of seismic energy is an explosion at some depth in a borehole. The radiated waves are reflected not only at the subsurface layers but also at the free surface. The earth's surface acts as a generator of both P- and S-waves. If the source depth is much less than the dominant wavelength the reflected waves resemble closely the waves generated by a single force. Theoretical seismograms were computed with different methods to look for the relevance of the surface-reflected waves. The numerical experiments show reflected shear waves even for small shotpoint—receiver distances. Due to their polarization these waves can be detected most easily on in-line horizontal geophones. The existence of these waves was examined during a conventional survey in Northern Germany. Conventional data analysis shows a large variability in the ν_p/ν_s ratio. The method used here produced a shear-wave section with a rather good signal-to-noise ratio down to 4 s S-wave reflection time.     

SECONDARY SHEAR WAVES FROM SOURCE BOREHOLES1

Previous studies of radiation from point sources in fluid-filled boreholes have most often been based on far-field, stationary phase analysis. In these papers, the explicit contribution of the borehole itself acting as a waveguide has not been properly considered, with a few exceptions. In general, these studies accurately describe S-wave radiation in high-velocity rocks such as granites and limestones and P-wave radiation in most rocks, and experiments have confirmed this. However, tube waves directly influence the external wavefield and in fact create a shear-wave ‘wake’ outside the borehole due to constructive interference of tube-wave emission if a velocity condition is met. This constructive interference or wake is generated when the tube-wave velocity is greater than the shear-wave velocity. When this happens, a tube-wave complex pole invalidates the mathematical assumptions for stationary phase analysis and the stationary phase predictions do not agree with experimentally derived radiation patterns. Shales at shallow depths and other soft sediments characteristically have tube-wave velocities greater than shear-wave velocities. Because the tube-wave is of relatively high amplitude compared to body waves generated directly by the source, these secondary shear waves can be the highest amplitude arrivals on receiver arrays. The shape and properties of these secondary shear waves are calculated and shown to have identical properties to Mach waves of aerodynamics and seismology. For instance, these waves are geometrically conical and the aperture of the cone and the moveout velocity can be calculated. This paper also demonstrates the important effect that casing has on the Mach waves and provides predictions about when these waves are likely to be observed. Finally, evidence of Mach waves in data sets is examined and it is shown how these waves have been confused with receiver borehole tube waves. It is possible, though rare, that the tube-wave velocity of the borehole is greater than the compressional-wave velocity of the surrounding medium. In this case secondary compressional or compressional Mach waves would be generated although this problem is not addressed here.     

Interpreting non-orthogonal split shear waves for seismic anisotropy in multicomponent VSPS

There are two main sources of non-orthogonality in multicomponent shear-wave seismics: inherent non-orthogonal split shear waves arising from substantial ray deviation in off-symmetry planes due to strong anisotropy or complex overburden, and apparent non-orthogonal split shear waves in the horizontal plane due to variation of the angle of incidence even if the two shear waves along the raypath are orthogonal. Many techniques for processing shear-wave splitting in VSP data ignore these kinds of non-orthogonality of the split shear waves. Assuming inherent non-orthogonality in zero-offset VSPs, and apparent non-orthogonality in offset VSPs, we derive equations for the four-component data matrix. These can be solved by extending the linear-transform technique (LTT) to determine the shear-wave polarizations in zero-offset and offset VSPs. Both full-wave synthetic and field data are used to evaluate the technique and to examine the effects of non-orthogonal polarized split shear waves. If orthogonality is incorrectly assumed, errors in polarization measurements increase with the degree of non-orthogonality, which introduces a consistent decreasing trend in the polarization measurements. However, the effect of non-orthogonality on the estimation of geophone orientation and time delays of the two split shear waves is small and negligible in most realistic cases. Furthermore, for most cases of weak anisotropy (less than 5% shear-wave anisotropy) apparent non-orthogonality is more significant than inherent non-orthogonality. Nevertheless, for strong anisotropy (more than 10% shear-wave anisotropy) with complicated structure (tilted or inclined symmetry axis), inherent non-orthogonality may no longer be negligible. Applications to both synthetic and real data show that the extended linear-transform techniques permit accurate recovery of polarization measurements in the presence of both significant inherent and apparent non-orthogonality where orthogonal techniques often fail.     

Shallow Seismic Velocity Structure of the Betic Cordillera (Southern Spain) from Modelling of Rayleigh Wave Dispersion

A detailed dispersion analysis of Rayleigh waves generated by local earthquakes and occasionally by blasts that occurred in southern Spain, was undertaken to obtain the shear-wave velocity structure of the region at shallow depth. Our database includes seismograms generated by 35 seismic events that were recorded by 15 single-component short-period stations from 1990 to 1995. All these events have focal depths less than 10 km and body-wave magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0, and they were all recorded at distances between 40 and 300 km from the epicentre. We analysed a total of 90 source-station Rayleigh-wave paths. The collected data were processed by standard digital filtering techniques to obtain Rayleigh-wave group-velocity dispersion measurements. The path-averaged group velocities vary from 1.12 to 2.25 km/s within the 1.0-6.0 s period interval. Then, using a stochastic inversion approach we obtained 1-D shear-wave velocity–depth models across the study area, which were resolved to a depth of circa 5 km. The inverted shear-wave velocities range approximately between 1.0 and 3.8 km/s with a standard deviation range of 0.05–0.16 km/s, and show significant variations from region to region. These results were combined to produce 3-D images via volumetric modelling and data visualization. We present images that show different shear velocity patterns for the Betic Cordillera. Looking at the velocity distribution at various depths and at vertical sections, we discuss of the study area in terms of subsurface structure and S-wave velocity distribution (low velocity channels, basement depth, etc.) at very shallow depths (0–5 km). Our results characterize the region sufficiently and lead to a correlation of shear-wave velocity with the different geological units features.     

Experimental study on the interaction between peat, lignite and germanium-bearing solution at low temperature

Since Goldschmidt discovered unexpectedly high concentration of Ge in coal in 1930[1], many research- ers have studied the characteristics of Ge-bearing coal, the existing form or mode of occurrence and the dis- tribution characteristics of Ge in coal[2―13], but little was known about the pathway and the physical- chemical conditions of Ge entering the coal[7]. Al- though Ge exists mainly in the organic form in coal[8,9], the organic Ge in natural water is stable and does not participate in…     

煤巷小构造Rayleigh型槽波超前探测数值模拟

对煤巷小构造地震波场进行了数值模拟研究,分析了层状煤层中地震波的传播特征.研究表明:(1)在煤巷迎头前方煤层内以纵波震源激发的Rayleigh型槽波相对于体波能量较强,波列较长,波速较低.(2)沿煤层传播的Rayleigh型槽波在小构造面上产生Rayleigh型槽波反射波,反射Rayleigh型槽波垂直分量相对于水平分量能量较强.沿煤层反向传播的反射Rayleigh型槽波在煤巷迎头面上转换为沿煤巷底板传播的Rayleigh面波.沿煤巷底板可以接收到能量较强的反射Rayleigh型槽波产生的Rayleigh面波,其可以作为超前探测小构造面的特征波.在地震记录上反射Rayleigh型槽波产生的Rayleigh面波波至最迟,在时间域与其他波列时间间隔较大,其垂直分量能量相对于水平分量较强,在地震记录上容易识别.(3)在相同的地质条件下应用反射地震超前探测方法,标志煤巷迎头前方存在小构造面的反射地震波能量较弱,受煤巷顶、底板界面和采煤迎头面的强反射波干扰,在地震记录中难以识别.     

Approximation to Cutoffs of Higher Modes of Rayleigh Waves for a Layered Earth Model

A cutoff defines the long-period termination of a Rayleigh-wave higher mode and, therefore is a key characteristic of higher mode energy relationship to several material properties of the subsurface. Cutoffs have been used to estimate the shear-wave velocity of an underlying half space of a layered earth model. In this study, we describe a method that replaces the multilayer earth model with a single surface layer overlying the half-space model, accomplished by harmonic averaging of velocities and arithmetic averaging of densities. Using numerical comparisons with theoretical models validates the single-layer approximation. Accuracy of this single-layer approximation is best defined by values of the calculated error in the frequency and phase velocity estimate at a cutoff. Our proposed method is intuitively explained using ray theory. Numerical results indicate that a cutoffs frequency is controlled by the averaged elastic properties within the passing depth of Rayleigh waves and the shear-wave velocity of the underlying half space.     

Seismic Anisotropy and Velocity Variations in the Mantle beneath the Saxothuringicum-Moldanubicum Contact in Central Europe

—We report on results of a passive seismic experiment undertaken to study the 3-D velocity structure and anisotropy of the upper mantle around the contact zone of the Saxothuringicum and Moldanubicum in the western margin of the Bohemian Massif in central Europe. Spatial variations of P-wave velocities and lateral variations of the particle motion of split shear waves over the region monitor changes of structure and anisotropy within the deep lithosphere and the asthenosphere. A joint interpretation of P-residual spheres and shear-wave splitting results in an anisotropic model of the lithosphere with high velocities plunging divergently from the contact of both tectonic units. Lateral variations of the mean residuals are related to a southward thickening of the lithosphere beneath the Moldanubicum.     

Evolution of Can-Etili(Canakkale-NW Turkey) lignite basin:Sedimentology,petrology,palynology and lignite characterization

This study examines the development and sedimentology of Can-Etili lignite basin in Biga Peninsula(NW Turkey) along with the palynologic and petrographic properties of the coals in this region.The CanEtili lignite basin discordantly overlies Oligocene-aged Can volcanics.The basin consists of caldera type sedimentation developed by the combined effects of volcanism and tectonics.The volcanic rocks forming the basement of the basin consist of andesitic,dacitic and basaltic lava flows as well as agglomerates,tuff and silicified tuffs,and kaolin which is their alteration product.The basement volcanic rocks cooled from high potassium and calc-alkaline magma.The trace element geochemistry of different rocks within the volcanics reveals that they are from a volcanic arc.The Can Formation contains lignites and consists of6 lithofacies representing alluvial,fluvial,marsh and lacustrine environments.These lithofacies are the lower volcanogenic conglomerate,the claystone,the lignite,the laminated organic claystone,the tuff intercalated sandstone-siltstone and the upper volcanogenic conglomerate.The lignite in the basin is limnic and is formed in a non-fluvial marsh and marsh-lake environment.An abundant percentage of vegetation(Engelhardia,Sapotaceae,Cyrillaceae) is compatible with temperate and subtropical climatic conditions in the basin during sedimentation of lignite.The coals of Can-Etili basin are humic with high sulfur content(6-6.5%average) mostly containing huminite compounds belonging to the class of lignitelow bituminous(C-A) coal.Their coalification rank is between 0.38%and 0.56%Ro.The coals are formed in limnic-limnotelmatic marsh zones based on their microlithotype components.The inorganic components of the coal mostly consist of pyrite and clay.The trace elements,As,Th,U and V,are higher than international coal standards.The coal quality is adversely affected by high sulfur content and sulfur driven trace element enrichments.The lignite reserve(possible-proved) of Can-Etili basin is greater than a hundred million tons,and the average coal seam thickness is 17 m.The lignite production in the basin is 3 mt/year and 1.8 million tons of this are used in the local thermal power plant.     

松潘-甘孜地块东部、川滇地块北部与四川盆地西部的地壳剪切波分裂

松潘-甘孜地块东部、川滇地块及四川盆地西部属青藏高原东部,是中国大陆内部强烈地震发生的主要地区之一.本研究利用四川区域数字地震台网2000年1月至2010年4月的地震波形资料,使用剪切波分裂系统分析方法(SAM),获得了研究区内44个台站的快剪切波偏振方向和慢剪切波的时间延迟.剪切波分裂参数的空间分布特征显示,由于受到区域主压应力场以及局部地质结构的影响,快剪切波的偏振方向表现出复杂的特征.龙门山断裂带北东段和西南段的快剪切波偏振方向分别显示北东和北西的优势方向,川滇菱形地块西北部和东南部的快剪切波偏振方向分别显示近东西和北北西的优势方向.青川断裂北侧和南侧地震的快剪切波偏振方向分别为近南北向和近东西向,北侧地震的慢剪切波的时间延迟大于该断裂南侧地震的慢剪切波时间延迟.研究表明,复杂的地质结构以及活动断裂的几何形态会造成剪切波分裂参数的区域化的分布特征.     

地震槽波的数学-物理模拟初探

针对地震槽波在低速层的传播特性,开展了煤层内地震槽波勘探的数值模拟和物理模拟研究的初探工作.在数值模拟研究方面,采用交错网格有限差分法对煤层中的地震槽波进行三分量全波场模拟.基于波场快照和人工合成地震记录研究了不同模型中的波场特征和各种波型的传播规律.在物理模拟方面,通过选用不同配比的环氧树脂和硅橡胶类材料构建地震槽波物理模型,利用透射法和反射法观测系统获得了清晰的地震槽波记录以研究槽波的地震学特征.研究表明,在煤层内槽波的地震波场中,Love型槽波的能量小于Rayleigh型槽波的SV分量,大于Rayleigh型槽波的SH分量.相对于Love型槽波和Rayleigh型槽波的SH分量,Rayleigh型槽波的SV分量在围岩中的泄露能量较强.在煤层界面附近的围岩中,地震波仍以槽波形式传播,随着距离的增加能量逐渐衰减.随着煤层变薄,煤层槽波主频向高频方向移动,频散现象增强,传播速度增大.     

Seismic Characterization of Neapolitan Soils

— Detailed shear-wave velocity profiles versus depth have been obtained in typical lithostratigraphies of Napoli. FTAN and hedgehog methods have been applied to Rayleigh surface waves recorded in refraction seismic surveys. The comparison with literature measurements shows good agreement with nearby down- and cross-hole tests. The pumiceous and lapilli content, and the different welding and alteration degree of the Neapolitan pyroclastic soils cause a strong scattering of the shear wave velocities (V_S) from bore-hole measurements, even for the same formation. Surface measurements, based on FTAN-hedgehog methods, determine average V_S along travel paths of about 100 m, give results that are comparable with down- and cross-hole velocity profiles, and have the additional advantage of being less scattered, and thus more representative of average properties than bore-hole measurements. The results of surface measurements should be preferred in the computation of realistic seismograms and are particularly suitable in urban areas, as they are not destructive and need just one receiver.     

DISPERSION CALCULATIONS FOR SH AND P-SV WAVES IN MULTILAYERED COAL SEAMS*

Recent work by Räder, Schott, Dresen and Rüter has provided a means of calculating dispersion and amplitude distribution curves for SH channel waves in multilayered media. An alternative calculation procedure is presented and the P-SV wave type is also included. Numerical results are given for a coal seam containing a band of dirt of either higher or lower seismic velocities than the coal itself.     

Advantages of Using Multichannel Analysis of Love Waves (MALW) to Estimate Near-Surface Shear-Wave Velocity

As theory dictates, for a series of horizontal layers, a pure, plane, horizontally polarized shear (SH) wave refracts and reflects only SH waves and does not undergo wave-type conversion as do incident P or Sv waves. This is one reason the shallow SH-wave refraction method is popular. SH-wave refraction method usually works well defining near-surface shear-wave velocities. Only first arrival information is used in the SH-wave refraction method. Most SH-wave data contain a strong component of Love-wave energy. Love waves are surface waves that are formed from the constructive interference of multiple reflections of SH waves in the shallow subsurface. Unlike Rayleigh waves, the dispersive nature of Love waves is independent of P-wave velocity. Love-wave phase velocities of a layered earth model are a function of frequency and three groups of earth properties: SH-wave velocity, density, and thickness of layers. In theory, a fewer parameters make the inversion of Love waves more stable and reduce the degree of nonuniqueness. Approximating SH-wave velocity using Love-wave inversion for near-surface applications may become more appealing than Rayleigh-wave inversion because it possesses the following three advantages. (1) Numerical modeling results suggest the independence of P-wave velocity makes Love-wave dispersion curves simpler than Rayleigh waves. A complication of “Mode kissing” is an undesired and frequently occurring phenomenon in Rayleigh-wave analysis that causes mode misidentification. This phenomenon is less common in dispersion images of Love-wave energy. (2) Real-world examples demonstrated that dispersion images of Love-wave energy have a higher signal-to-noise ratio and more focus than those generated from Rayleigh waves. This advantage is related to the long geophone spreads commonly used for SH-wave refraction surveys, images of Love-wave energy from longer offsets are much cleaner and sharper than for closer offsets, which makes picking phase velocities of Love waves easier and more accurate. (3) Real-world examples demonstrated that inversion of Love-wave dispersion curves is less dependent on initial models and more stable than Rayleigh waves. This is due to Love-wave’s independence of P-wave velocity, which results in fewer unknowns in the MALW method compared to inversion methods of Rayleigh waves. This characteristic not only makes Love-wave dispersion curves simpler but also reduces the degree of nonuniqueness leading to more stable inversion of Love-wave dispersion curves.     

Seismic structure of Iceland from Rayleigh wave inversions and geodynamic implications

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