Numerical models of subduction of the oceanic crust with basaltic plateaus

Light continents and islands characterized by a crustal thickness of more than 30 km float over a convective mantle, while the thin basaltic oceanic crust sinks completely in subduction zones. The normal oceanic crust is 7 km thick. However, anomalously thick basaltic plateaus forming as a result of emplacement of mantle plumes into moving oceanic lithospheric plates are also pulled into the mantle. One of the largest basaltic plateaus is the Ontong Java plateau on the Pacific plate, which arose during the intrusion of a giant superplume into the plate ～100 Myr ago. Notwithstanding its large thickness (averaging ～30 km), the Ontong Java plateau is still experiencing slow subduction. On the basis of numerical modeling, the paper analyzes the oceanic crust subduction process as a function of the mantle convection vigorousness and the density, thickness, viscosity, and shape of the crust. Even a simplified model of thermocompositional convection in the upper mantle is capable of explaining the observed facts indicating that the oceanic crust and sediments are pulled into the mantle and the continental crust is floating on the mantle.     

西构造结—帕米尔及周边深部结构与构造探榷

帕米尔高原是五大山脉汇结之中心,被称为"西构造结".在此山高耸谷陡深是人迹罕至的无人区.应用稀少的地面重力和人工地震数据和卫星重力资料,以NNW和NEE向两条长达1620 km的十字交叉剖面,对帕米尔高原地区地壳深部结构与区域地质构造进行了研讨.帕米尔高原中心地区地壳厚度(莫霍界面深度)接近70 km,并在总体上呈向四周逐渐延展减薄(变浅)的总趋势,到帕米尔的周边地区减薄为50余km左右.这里是一个壳幔结构变异的构造强烈活动地域.     

青藏高原东缘的地壳流及动力过程

黏滞性地壳流对地壳及上地幔变形作用及动力机制,是大陆新生代造山带的一个重要研究内容.青藏高原中下地壳存在部分熔融或含水物质的黏滞性流体,已为一系列地球物理及岩石学研究所证实.为研究青藏高原东缘地壳流的动力作用,本文用密集的被动源宽频带地震台的观测数据,反演了地壳上地幔精细速度结构和泊松比.研究表明,川西及滇西北高原的中地壳内普遍存在低速层,而高泊松比的地壳只分布在川西北地区.位于中地壳的黏滞性地壳流从青藏高原腹地羌塘高原流出,自北西向南东流入青藏高原东缘.这些黏滞性地壳流带动了上地壳块体水平移动,当它们受到刚强的四川盆地及华南地块阻挡时将发生分层作用,地壳流将分为二或更多分支不同方向的分流,向上的一支地壳流将对上地壳产生挤压,引起地面隆升,向下的一支地壳流将使莫霍面下沉加厚下地壳·黏滞性地壳流的运动在地壳中产生应变破裂发生强烈地震活动,地震的空间分布与震源机制也受到地壳流动力作用控制.     

The thermal structure of subduction zones constrained by seismic imaging: Implications for slab dehydration and wedge flow

Thermal models of subduction zones often base their slab–wedge geometry from seismicity at mantle depths and, consequently, cannot be used to evaluate the relationship between seismicity and structure. Here, high-resolution seismic observations from the recent Broadband Experiment Across the Alaska Range (BEAAR) constrain, in a rare instance, the subducting slab geometry and mantle wedge temperature independent of seismicity. Receiver functions reveal that the subducting crust descends less steeply than the Wadati-Benioff Zone. Attenuation tomography of the mantle wedge reveals a high Q and presumably cold region where the slab is less than 80 km deep. To understand these two observations, we generate thermal models that use the improved wedge geometry from receiver functions and that incorporate temperature- and strain-rate-dependent olivine rheology. These calculations show that seismicity within the subducting crust falls in a narrow belt of pressure–temperature conditions, illuminating an effective Clapeyron slope of 0.1 K/MPa at temperatures of 450–750 °C. These conditions typify the breakdown of high-pressure hydrous minerals such as lawsonite and suggest that a single set of dehydration reactions may trigger intermediate-depth seismicity. The models also require that the upper, cold nose of the mantle wedge be isolated from the main flow in the mantle wedge in order to sustain the cold temperatures inferred from the Q tomography. Possibly, sufficient mechanical decoupling occurs at the top of the downgoing slab along a localized shear zone to 80 km depth, considerably deeper than inferred from thrust zone seismicity.     

华南陆缘高热流区的壳幔温度结构与动力学背景

华南陆缘是我国重要的矿产、地热资源区.晚中生代以来,在太平洋板块西向俯冲,地幔热对流活动共同作用下,该区出现多期岩浆-热事件和大规模爆发式成矿作用.在前人研究基础上,本文利用地表热流观测资料、地震剪切波资料、重力位球谐系数,计算了壳-幔温度结构,分析了动力学背景.计算结果表明：华南陆缘东南沿海地带,地壳10 km以浅温度达200℃以上,居里点温度475℃,莫霍面平均温度550℃.地壳浅层较热,花岗岩中放射性元素衰变放热是地壳浅层地下水热活动的重要热源,但地壳总体温度不高,为"冷壳热幔"型热结构.地幔中,90 km深度,温度950~1250℃;120 km深度,温度1050~1400℃;150 km深度,温度1200~1450℃;220 km深度,温度1500~1700℃."热"岩石圈底界深度在110~150 km之间,西深东浅.岩石圈内,地幔应力场为挤压-伸展相间格局;岩石圈之下,地幔应力场为一个以南昌为中心、长轴NE-SW向的椭圆.分析认为,晚中生代以来,太平洋板块的西向俯冲,导致华南陆缘在区域性SE向地幔对流背景上叠加局域性不稳定热扰动,在175~85Ma期间,上地幔物质向上流动,形成不同的岩浆活动高峰期.同时,岩石圈地幔受俯冲洋壳流体的影响,含水量高,黏度小,在地幔流切向应力场作用下,岩石圈底界由西向东"波浪"状减薄.现今岩石圈之下仍具备地幔小尺度热对流温度条件,但除地表浅层外,地壳整体温度不高,岩石圈构造稳定.     

体波波形反演对青藏高原上地幔速度结构的研究

采用波形反演方法对青藏高原地区震中距8°-38°范围内的宽频带炸波波形进行拟合,研究该地区上地幔平均速度结构以及上地幔纵、横波速度的横向不均匀性结果表明青藏高原地区的平均地壳厚度约为68km,上地幔盖层平均厚度约为30－40km,速度约为8.10km／s雅鲁藏布江附近地壳厚度最大,约80km,相应的上地幔Pn速度为8．15km／s左右,青藏高原中部地区的地壳平均厚度约68-70km．位于拉萨地块北部的羌塘地块S波速度相对较低,其地壳和上地慢的平均S波速度分别比拉萨地块低1％和2％以上34°N以北,90°E附近的区域存在明显的上地幔P波低速异常区,P波的平均速度小于7．8km／s据此结果及前人工作,推断印度板块的俯冲可能以雅鲁藏布江缝合带附近为界,青藏高原巨大的地壳厚度是由于欧亚板块碰撞造成地壳缩短与增厚引起.     

西藏-日本剖面的岩石圈构造

利用长周期数字地震仪的面波记录,研究了西藏——日本剖面的岩石圈构造,在资料处理中采取了纯路径效应提取和反演连续速度模型的计算技术,分别得到了大陆边缘、华北和青藏高原的岩石圈速度分布.前二个地区上地幔的速度结构相似,不仅岩石层较薄,而且存在高低速度层的相间分布,表现出活动构造的特点;青藏高原具有稳定地台的上地幔构造,但其地壳部分却属活动构造.这三个大地基本单元在构造上的差异可以从地壳追寻到上地幔200km深处,反映出印度板块和太平洋板块的不同运动.据此推断华北、日本的地震活动在动力源上属于壳-幔性质,而青藏高原的地震属于壳内性质。      

青藏高原“亚东—东巧—葫芦湖”大陆裂谷带形成的深层动力过程

正确理解亚东—东巧—葫芦湖构造带的形成与属性对深化认识青藏高原的地壳形变、物质运动的行为与轨迹和深层动力过程极为重要.通过较系统的多元要素分析和研究发现：（1）基于壳、幔结构的空间展布特征表明,这是一条在EW向拉张力系作用下的陆内裂谷带;（2）强烈地震的活动与发生、大地热流异常值展布和地幔对流应力场研究证明,它是一条现今活动的大陆裂谷带;（3）该裂谷带的形成与演化乃地球内部物质与能量强烈交换的产物.     

Continental subduction and exhumation of high-pressure rocks: insights from thermo-mechanical laboratory modelling

Thermo-mechanical physical modelling of continental subduction is performed to investigate the exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust. The model consists of two lithospheric plates made of new temperature sensitive analogue materials. The lithosphere is underlain by liquid asthenosphere. The continental lithosphere contains three layers: the weak sedimentary layer, the crust made of a stronger material, and of a still stronger lithospheric mantle. The whole model is subjected to a constant vertical thermal gradient, causing the strength reduction with depth in each lithospheric layer. Subduction is driven by both push force and pull force. During subduction, the subducting lithosphere is heating and the strength of its layers reduces. The weakening continental crust reaches maximal depth of about 120 km and cannot subduct deeper because its frontal part starts to flow up. The subducted crust undergoes complex deformation, including indicated upward ductile flow of the most deeply subducted portions and localised failure of the subducted upper crust at about 50-km depth. This failure results in the formation of the first crustal slice which rises up between the plates under the buoyancy force. This process is accompanied by the delamination of the crustal and mantle layers of the subducting lithosphere. The delamination front propagates upwards into the interplate zone resulting in the formation of two other crustal slices that also rise up between the plates. Average equivalent exhumation rate of the crustal material during delamination is about 1 cm/year. The crust-asthenosphere boundary near the interplate zone is uplifted. The subducted mantle layer then breaks off, removing the pull force and thereby stopping the delamination and increasing horizontal compression of the lithosphere. The latter produces shortening of the formed orogen and the growth of relief. The modelling reveals an interesting burial/exhumation evolution of the sedimentary cover. During initial stages of continental subduction the sediments of the continental margin are dragged to the overriding plate base and are partially accreted at the deep part of the interplate zone (at 60-70 km-depth). These sediments remain there until the beginning of delamination during which the pressure between the subducted crust and the overriding plate increases. This results in squeezing the underplated sediments out. Part of them is extruded upwards along the interplate zone to about 30-km depth at an equivalent rate of 5-10 cm/year.     

大别造山带地壳结构反演及其动力学意义

大别造山带是全球最大的碰撞造山带之一,三叠纪时期,扬子板块深俯冲至地幔的200km处,经历了超高压变质作用。白垩纪早期,该造山带发生了强烈的伸展和垮塌,以及大规模的后造山地幔源岩浆侵入和火山活动。本研究收集了大别造山带及其邻区(29°~34°N、114°~119°E)的震相资料,采用双差层析成像技术,对大别造山带地壳结构进行反演,研究地壳结构与后造山地幔源岩浆侵入和火山活动之间的关系。结果显示,大别造山带中上地壳存在低速结构,该低速结构可能是熔融的幔源侵入物质,由于俯冲板片断裂,或下地壳/岩石圈发生拆沉,导致软流圈物质上涌至地壳底部、侵入地壳中,形成大别造山带地壳中的低速结构;同时,合肥盆地显示为低速区,可能是受浅部沉积层影响。研究中横切大别山的4条剖面显示,该地区下方存在北向倾斜高速结构,该高速结构可能是襄樊-广济断层,或者是扬子板块向华北板块下方俯冲的遗迹。     

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 influence of crustal structure on compositions of subduction-related magmas

A survey of Sr isotopic ratios and other compositional features of subduction-related magma suites reveals significant correlations between these averaged parameters and characteristics of the underlying crust (i.e., thickness, composition, and age). These observations lead to the conclusion that crust and(or) mantle rocks in the hanging walls of subduction zones are involved in modification of primary mafic magmas (typically basalt or basaltic andesite). It is proposed that mafic magmas will stagnate within the crust or uppermost mantle where they may differentiate and react with wall rocks. The extent to which such processes manifest themselves will depend upon details of the local crustal structure. In particular, the composition and age of the crust will strongly influence such parameters as Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions. Such data strongly indicate the involvement of crustal rocks in locales underlain by old sialic crust (e.g., central Andes). Depending upon the level of magma stagnation and evolution within the crust, different trends in isotopic composition may result. These isotopic trends may be enhanced by partial melting of the wall rocks to produce relatively silicic anatectic magmas, and locally they may reflect subduction of continental sediments. Interpretation of the isotopic data may be more ambiguous in locales underlain by younger and more mafic continental crust (Cascades, E Eleutians) and those underlain by oceanic crust owing to the similarity in isotopic composition of primary magmas and the latter crustal materials. Yet some degree of crustal involvement in magmatic evolution seems highly probable even in these more primitive terranes. Consequently, most island arc magmas, and especially those more evolved than basalt, are probably not primary in the sense that they do not represent direct melts of the upper mantle. Studies of arc volcanic rocks may yield misleading conclusions concerning processes of magma generation related to subduction unless evolutionary processes are defined and their effects considered. It appears that modern volcanic arcs provide a poor analog for models of early crustal development because the modern mantle-derived magmatic components are more mafic in composition than average continental crust.     

滇西地区壳幔解耦与腾冲火山区岩浆活动的深部构造研究

根据青藏东部边缘的深部地球物理资料,分析了滇西地区壳幔耦合和腾冲火山区岩浆活动的深部构造特征,确认了地幔各向异性与上地幔速度结构(包括P波速度和S波速度)的内在联系,指出产生这一结果的原因与以腾冲火山区为中心的地幔热物质上涌有关:上地幔顶部平均温度升高导致介质强度降低,在印支块体的侧向挤压或印缅块体的向东俯冲作用下发生韧性变形,造成滇西地区地幔各向异性的快波方向与青藏东部地壳块体的旋转方向不一致.此外,鉴于中下地壳低速层的横向非均匀性,估计韧性流动并非贯通青藏高原的东部边缘,而是被不同的构造块体和边界断裂限定在局部地区.总体而言,滇西地区下地壳的地震波速度和电阻率偏低,具备发生韧性变形的构造条件.作为地壳和上地幔之间的解耦层,它使得青藏东部地壳块体旋转产生的构造应力未能传输至上地幔.腾冲火山区的地壳结构与不同时期的岩浆活动有关,火山区东侧的高速结构代表了上新世时期火山通道内冷凝固结的岩浆侵入体或难以挥发的高密度残留物质,火山区西侧的低速结构反映了更新世以来持续至今的岩浆活动,壳内岩浆源主要分布在10～20km的深度范围内,横向尺度约为15～20km,有可能通过地壳深部的断裂与上地幔岩浆源区相连,估计腾冲火山区下方的岩浆活动将持续进行.     

汕头－吕宋岛岩石圈速度结构与震源构造──台湾浅滩7．3级地震构造之一

汕头－吕宋岛岩石圈速度结构剖面，划分出华南陆缘古生代陆壳、陆架区晚古生代－中生代陆壳、陆坡带中生代－早第三纪过渡壳、新生代南海海盆洋壳及吕宋岛中生代－新生代岛弧陆壳与东吕宋海槽洋壳等地壳构造组分，并确定了上述地壳构造之间的边界断裂构造及其性质。结合地震震源分布及机制，初步确定了华南陆架盆岭构造带北、南两侧地震构造的控震构造与发震构造性质及其震源力学特征；１）指出１９９４年９月１６日台湾浅滩７．３级地震属于板缘壳幔地震及造成一千公里有感范围的原因；２）马尼拉海沟的海底地堑构造与南海海盆岩石圈地幔上隆是马尼拉海沟俯冲带震源显示正断层性质的原因，且为被动的或转换俯冲带；３）东吕宋海槽仍属于菲律宾海俯冲带性质；吕宋岛东西两侧俯冲带岩石圈板片震源深度的准三层分布，可能表明俯冲带岩石圈板片存在相应的低速滑移层。     

中国西部及邻区岩石圈S波速度结构面波层析成像

本文利用瑞利波群速度频散资料和层析成像方法,研究了中国西部及邻近区域(20°N—55°N,65°E—110°E)的岩石圈S波速度结构.结果表明这一地区存在三个以低速地壳/上地幔为特征的构造活动区域:西蒙古高原—贝加尔地区,青藏高原,印支地区.西蒙古高原岩石圈厚度约为80 km,上地幔低速层向下延伸至300 km深度,说明存在源自地幔深部的热流活动.缅甸弧后的上地幔低速层下至200 km深度,显然与印度板块向东俯冲引起俯冲板片上方的热/化学活动有关.青藏高原地壳厚达70 km,边缘地区厚度也在50 km以上并且具有很大的水平变化梯度,与高原平顶陡边的地形特征一致.中下地壳的平均S波速度明显低于正常大陆地壳,在中地壳20~40 km深度范围广泛存在速度逆转的低速层,这一低速层的展布范围与高原的范围相符.这些特征说明青藏高原中下地壳的变形是在印度板块的北向挤压下发生塑性增厚和侧向流动.地幔的速度结构呈现与地壳显著不同的特点.在高原主体和川滇西部地区上地幔顶部存在较大范围的低速,低速区范围随深度迅速减小;100 km以下滇西低速消失,150 km以下基本完全消失.青藏高原上地幔速度结构沿东西方向表现出显著的分段变化.在大约84°E以西的喀喇昆仑—帕米尔—兴都库什地区,印度板块的北向和亚洲板块的南向俯冲造成上地幔显著高速;84°E—94°E之间上地幔顶部速度较低,在大约150~220 km深度范围存在高速板片,有可能是俯冲的印度岩石圈,其前缘到达昆仑—巴颜喀拉之下;在喜马拉雅东构造结以北区域,存在显著的上地幔高速区,可能阻碍上地幔物质的东向运动.川滇西部岩石圈底界深度与扬子克拉通相似,约为180 km,但上地幔顶部速度较低.这些现象表明青藏高原岩石圈地幔的变形/运动方式可能与地壳有本质的区别.     

Deep structure,volcanism and Wadati-Benioff zone of the northwestern pacific convergent margin

The morphology of the Wadati-Benioff zone in the region of Kamchatka, the Kurile Islands and Hokkaido, based on the distribution of 6319 earthquake foci, has verified the existence of an intermediate-depth aseismic gap and its relation to active andesitic volcanism. It appeared that deep-focus earthquakes in this region belong to a paleosubduction zone activated by an intermediate-depth collision with the active subduction zone in the area of Hokkaido. A system of deep seismically active fracture zones was delineated in the continental plate and confirmed by the results of deep seismic sounding. Two of these fractures, dipping toward the subduction zone, may be considered as the principal feeding channels for active and Holocene volcanoes of the continental volcanic bels of Kamchatka.     

Upper Mantle Domains beneath Central-Southern Italy: Petrological, Geochemical and Geophysical Constraints

—The Italian peninsula shows high complexity of the mantle-crust system and of the Plio-Quaternary magmatism. The lithospheric thickness has remarkable lateral variations from about 110 km to about 30 km. Intermediate and deep-focus earthquakes indicate the presence of a lithospheric slab under the Aeolian-Calabrian area and at the southern end of Campania. Much less extensive intermediate-depth seismicity characterizes the Roman-Tuscany region, where the existence of a relic slab has been hypothesized. The deep seismicity in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea is associated with active calcalkaline to shoshonitic volcanism in the Aeolian arc. Alkaline potassic volcanism occurs in central Italy, and potassic lamproitic magmatism coexists with crustal anatectic and various types of hybrid rocks in the Tuscany area.¶The parallelism between changing magmatism and variation of the structure of the crust-mantle system makes central-southern Italy a key place where petrological and geophysical data can be used to work out an integrated model of the structure and composition of the upper mantle. Beneath Tuscany the upper mantle has been affected by intensive subduction-related metasomatism. This caused the formation of phlogopite-rich veins that cut through residual spinel-harzburgite and dunite. These veins, possibly partially molten, may explain the unusually soft mechanical properties that are detected just below the Moho. In the Roman Province, the upper mantle is formed by a relatively thin lid (the mantle part of the lithosphere) and by metasomatic fertile peridotite, probably connected with the upraise of an asthenospheric mantle wedge above the Apennines subduction zone. Geochemical data indicate that metasomatism, though still related to subduction, had different characteristics and age than in Tuscany. In the eastern sector of the Aeolian arc and in the Neapolitan area, the upper mantle appears to be distinct from the Roman and Tuscany areas and is probably formed by fertile peridotite contaminated by the presently active subduction of the Ionian Sea floor.¶The overall picture is that of a mosaic of various mantle domains that have undergone different evolutionary history in terms of both metasomatism and pre-metasomatic events. The coexistence side by side of these sectors is a key factor that has to be considered by models of the geodynamic evolution of the Central Mediterranean area.     

大洋岩石层拖曳窄条陆壳俯冲的极限尺度分析——以新西兰南岛和大别山超高压变质带为例

超高压变质研究涉及的一个基本力学问题是为什么低密度的大陆地壳岩石能克服浮力俯冲到高密度地幔100多公里的深度.本文的三维有限单元法计算表明:俯冲海洋板块可以拖曳侧面相邻宽度不超过150km的一窄条大陆板块,俯冲到超高压变质深度,形成少见的大规模超高压变质带.十几公里乃至几十公里尺度的陆壳块体,可能被俯冲地幔裹挟至超高压变质深度,在造山带内形成零星出露的超高压变质岩.成熟的陆-陆碰撞带则不可能使陆壳俯冲到超高压变质深度.     

青藏高原东缘地壳运动与深部过程的研究

由于青藏高原东部地区记录了高原约50 Ma演化历史中物质东流的构造史,因此受到地学界的广泛重视. 现代大地测量与地质研究结果给出了该区现代地壳运动的图像,为地球动力学数值模拟提供了重要的边界约束条件. 利用重力异常计算的高原及邻区地幔对流应力场与地表地壳运动格局的明显差异表征了高原东部地壳与地幔物质的运动解耦. 基于随深度变化地壳蠕变率的动力学模拟结果显示,高原东部地壳增厚与高原内部存在很大差异,高原东部地壳增厚主要表现为下地壳的增厚,并且地幔形变过程与地表变化也不一致,同样显示出地壳、地幔运动的解耦. 研究表明,下地壳低强度分布可能是导致这种解耦的重要原因,而了解高原东部地壳及上地幔物理力学性质对我们认识高原物质东流至关重要.