Crustal structure of mainland China from deep seismic sounding data

Since 1958, about ninety seismic refraction/wide angle reflection profiles, with a cumulative length of more than sixty thousand kilometers, have been completed in mainland China. We summarize the results in the form of (1) a new contour map of crustal thickness, (2) fourteen representative crustal seismic velocity–depth columns for various tectonic units, and, (3) a Pn velocity map. We found a north–south-trending belt with a strong lateral gradient in crustal thickness in central China. This belt divides China into an eastern region, with a crustal thickness of 30–45 km, and a western region, with a thickness of 45–75 km. The crust in these two regions has experienced different evolutionary processes, and currently lies within distinct tectonic stress fields. Our compilation finds that there is a high-velocity (7.1–7.4 km/s) layer in the lower crust of the stable Tarim basin and Ordos plateau. However, in young orogenic belts, including parts of eastern China, the Tianshan and the Tibetan plateau, this layer is often absent. One exception is southern Tibet, where the presence of a high-velocity layer is related to the northward injection of the cold Indian plate. This high-velocity layer is absent in northern Tibet. In orogenic belts, there usually is a low-velocity layer (LVL) in the crust, but in stable regions this layer seldom exists. The Pn velocities in eastern China generally range from 7.9 to 8.1 km/s and tend to be isotropic. Pn velocities in western China are more variable, ranging from 7.7 to 8.2 km/s, and may display azimuthal anisotropy.     

P-wave velocity structure under the Changbaishan volcanic region, NE China, from wide-angle reflection and refraction data

We present velocity models determined by inverting refracted and reflected arrivals along two active source lines in the Changbaishan volcanic region, NE China. We resolve a prominent low-velocity zone (LVZ) in the crust, with velocities as low as 5.4 km/s. Away from the LVZ, the velocity gradients in the crust are relatively smooth, with average P-wave velocities of about 6.0–6.5 km/s. The Moho is at about 35 km depth, thickening to about 40 km under the Tianchi volcano, and thinning to about 30 km under the LVZ. The LVZ is located about 30–60 km to the north of the summit of the Tianchi volcano (the most recently active volcano in the region), is about 30–75 km in north–south extent, is at most 35 km in east–west extent, and is in the depth range of about 10–25 km below the surface. We use these results to constrain receiver function inversions, and show that the receiver functions in the region are compatible with our findings. With these data alone, the significance of the LVZ in non-unique, although we do not see any evidence to support the presence of partial melt in the crust, and favor the interpretation that the LVZ indicates a residual crustal magma chamber.     

Structure of the crust and uppermost mantle of the Yanshan Belt and adjacent regions at the northeastern boundary of the North China Craton from Rayleigh Wave Dispersion Analysis

We have used Rayleigh wave dispersion analysis and inversion to produce a high resolution S-wave velocity imaging profile of the crust and uppermost mantle structure beneath the northeastern boundary regions of the North China Craton (NCC). Using waveform data from 45 broadband NCISP stations, Rayleigh wave phase velocities were measured at periods from 10 to 48 s and utilized in subsequent inversions to solve for the S-wave velocity structure from 15 km down to 120 km depth. The inverted lower crust and uppermost mantle velocities, about 3.75 km/s and 4.3 km/s on average, are low compared with the global average. The Moho was constrained in the depth range of 30–40 km, indicating a typical crustal thickness along the profile. However, a thin lithosphere of no more than 100 km was imaged under a large part of the profile, decreasing to only ~ 60 km under the Inner Mongolian Axis (IMA) where an abnormally slow anomaly was observed below 60 km depth. The overall structural features of the study region resemble those of typical continental rift zones and are probably associated with the lithospheric reactivation and tectonic extension widespread in the eastern NCC during Mesozoic–Cenozoic time. Distinctly high velocities, up to ~ 4.6 km/s, were found immediately to the south of the IMA beneath the northern Yanshan Belt (YSB), extending down to > 100-km depth. The anomalous velocities are interpreted as the cratonic lithospheric lid of the region, which may have not been affected by the Mesozoic–Cenozoic deformation process as strongly as other regions in the eastern NCC. Based on our S-wave velocity structural image and other geophysical observations, we propose a possible lithosphere–asthenosphere interaction scenario at the northeastern boundary of the NCC. We speculate that significant undulations of the base of the lithosphere, which might have resulted from the uneven Mesozoic–Cenozoic lithospheric thinning, may induce mantle flows concentrating beneath the weak IMA zone. The relatively thick lithospheric lid in the northern YSB may serve as a tectonic barrier separating the on-craton and off-craton regions into different upper mantle convection systems at the present time.     

P-wave tomography and dynamics of the crust and upper mantle beneath western Tibet

The continental collision between the Indian and Asian plates plays a key role in the geologic and tectonic evolution of the Tibetan plateau. In this article we present high-resolution tomographic images of the crust and upper mantle derived from a large number of high-quality seismic data from the ANTILOPE project in western Tibet. Both local and distant earthquakes were used in this study and 35,115 P-wave arrival times were manually picked from the original seismograms. Geological and geochemical results suggested that the subducting Indian plate has reached northward to the Lhasa terrane, whereas our new tomography shows that the Indian plate is currently sub-horizontal and underthrusting to the Jinsha river suture at depths of ~ 100 to ~ 250 km, suggesting that the subduction process has evolved over time. The Asian plate is also imaged clearly from the surface to a depth of ~ 100 km by our tomography, and it is located under the Tarim Basin north of the Altyn Tagh Fault. There is no obvious evidence to show that the Asian plate has subducted beneath western Tibet. The Indian and Asian plates are separated by a prominent low-velocity zone under northern Tibet. We attribute the low-velocity zone to mantle upwelling, which may account for the warm crust and upper mantle beneath that region, and thus explain the different features of magmatism between southern and northern Tibet. But the upwelling may not penetrate through the whole crust. We propose a revised geodynamic model and suggest that the high-velocity zones under Lhasa terrane may reflect a cold crust which has interrupted the crustal flow under the westernmost Tibetan plateau.     

青藏高原东北缘岩石圈-软流圈边界成像

青藏高原东北缘是研究高原隆升和演化的理想场所,其岩石圈结构记录了高原向外扩展的岩石圈变形行为和演化过程,本研究利用一条跨青藏高原东北缘的宽频带观测剖面(红原-景泰剖面)和部分甘肃、青海区域台网的远震体波波形资料,通过S波接收函数方法获得了青藏高原东北缘的岩石圈-软流圈边界(LAB)图像。结果表明:1)松潘-甘孜地体东北部和西秦岭造山带下方的岩石圈较薄,略向北加厚,其LAB深度为110~130 km,昆仑断层下方无明显岩石圈错断,推测松潘-甘孜地块与西秦岭造山带的岩石圈可能具有亲缘性; 2)祁连地块下方的岩石圈厚度为135~150 km,其中祁连造山带东缘的LAB震相不聚焦,反映复杂的造山带型岩石圈属性; 3)阿拉善地块下方岩石圈略向南加厚, LAB深度为130~150 km,呈向祁连造山带下方汇聚的趋势,但尚未通过海原断裂带; 4)鄂尔多斯地块下方的岩石圈较厚, LAB深度为160~170 km,反映其稳定的克拉通型岩石圈属性。     

龙门山断裂带深部构造和物性分布的分段特征

根据龙门山断裂带周边的固定数字地震台网和流动地震观测获得的宽频带地震记录,用多种地震学方法研究该地区的地壳上地幔结构。深部结构研究表明,龙门山断裂带物性分布具有显著的分段特征。用远震接收函数H-k叠加方法计算了各个台站的地壳厚度和波速比。地壳厚度总体变化是,地壳从东向西增厚,最小厚度为37.8 km,最大厚度是68.1 km。从东南向西北横跨龙门山断裂带的地壳急剧增厚,从41.5 km增厚至52.5 km。但是,龙门山断裂带两侧地壳厚度的差异在断裂带的南段和北段是不同的。在南段,地壳厚度急剧变化的分界线在中央断裂附近;在中段,分界线在后山断裂附近;在北段,则断裂带两侧地壳厚度差异很小。泊松比的空间分布是,松潘—甘孜地体北部和西秦岭造山带具有低泊松比(ν<0.26),扬子地台具有低—中泊松比(ν<0.27),松潘—甘孜地体南部、三江褶皱带和四川盆地具有中—高泊松比(0.26<ν<0.29)。除龙门山断裂带南段及其附近,大部分地区均不具有超高的泊松比(ν>0.30)。龙门山断裂带南段地壳具有高泊松比(ν>0.30),而北段地壳则为中—低泊松比。高泊松比可以看成是铁镁质组分增加和/或部分熔融的证据,表明那里的下地壳部分熔融是可能的。松潘—甘孜地体东南部地区的下地壳处于富含流体或温度较高的部分熔融状态,它有助于青藏高原的下地壳物质向东运动。青藏高原东部中、上地壳向东运动受刚性强度较大的扬子地台的阻挡,沿龙门山断裂带产生应变能积累。当应变达到临界值,发生急剧的摩擦滑动,释放积累的应变能,产生汶川Ms8.0地震。汶川地震在龙门山断裂带不同地段,表现出不同的破裂特征和余震分布,可能与断层带的分段深部构造差异有关。     

Lower crustal intrusions beneath the southern Baikal Rift Zone: Evidence from full-waveform modelling of wide-angle seismic data

The Cenozoic Baikal Rift Zone (BRZ) is situated in south-central Siberia in the suture between the Precambrian Siberian Platform and the Amurian plate. This more than 2000-km long rift zone is composed of several individual basement depressions and half-grabens with the deep Lake Baikal at its centre. The BEST (Baikal Explosion Seismic Transect) project acquired a 360-km long, deep seismic, refraction/wide-angle reflection profile in 2002 across southern Lake Baikal. The data from this project is used for identification of large-scale crustal structures and modelling of the seismic velocities of the crust and uppermost mantle. Previous interpretation and velocity modelling of P-wave arrivals in the BEST data has revealed a multi layered crust with smooth variation in Moho depth between the Siberian Platform (41 km) and the Sayan-Baikal fold belt (46 km). The lower crust exhibits normal seismic velocities around the rift structure, except for beneath the rift axis where a distinct 50–80-km wide high-velocity anomaly (7.4–7.6 ± 0.2 km/s) is observed. Reverberant or “ringing” reflections with strong amplitude and low frequency originate from this zone, whereas the lower crust is non-reflective outside the rift zone. Synthetic full-waveform reflectivity modelling of the high-velocity anomaly suggests the presence of a layered sequence with a typical layer thickness of 300–500 m coinciding with the velocity anomaly. The P-wave velocity of the individual layers is modelled to range between 7.4 km/s and 7.9 km/s. We interpret this feature as resulting from mafic to ultra-mafic intrusions in the form of sills. Petrological interpretation of the velocity values suggests that the intrusions are sorted by fractional crystallization into plagioclase-rich low-velocity layers and pyroxene- and olivine-rich high-velocity layers. The mafic intrusions were probably intruded into the ductile lower crust during the main rift phase in the Late Pliocene. As such, the intrusive material has thickened the lower crust during rifting, which may explain the lack of Moho uplift across southern BRZ.     

龙门山中段及邻区地壳密度结构及其地球动力学启示

龙门山是我国东西构造、地貌分界线的重要组成部分。其两侧的岩石圈结构差异,是形成龙门山造山带的主要原因之一,并对龙门山的构造演化起着持续影响。为了解龙门山两侧壳幔结构差异,本文从重力角度探讨跨龙门山地区的地壳密度结构。我们使用EGM2008模型的重力异常数据,以最新的阿坝-遂宁人工源地震剖面速度模型为基础,得到了龙门山造山带中段及其邻区的精细地壳密度结构。密度结构显示松潘-甘孜地区和四川盆地分别具有软弱和坚硬的下地壳。根据本文所得到的地壳密度结构模型,我们认为龙门山的隆升主要受印度洋板块与欧亚大陆板块的陆-陆碰撞作用影响,强烈的挤压作用使青藏高原物质向东运移,东移物质在青藏高原东缘龙门山地区受到坚硬的四川盆地的阻挡转而向上运移,造成了龙门山的隆升。     

A composite geologic and seismic profile beneath the southern Rio Grande rift, New Mexico, based on xenolith mineralogy, temperature, and pressure

A complete understanding of the processes of crustal growth and recycling in the earth remains elusive, in part because data on rock composition at depth is scarce. Seismic velocities can provide additional information about lithospheric composition and structure, however, the relationship between velocity and rock type is not unique. The diverse xenolith suite from the Potrillo volcanic field in the southern Rio Grande rift, together with velocity models derived from reflection and refraction data in the area, offers an opportunity to place constraints on the composition of the crust and upper mantle from the surface to depths of  60 km. In this work, we calculate seismic velocities of crustal and mantle xenoliths using modal mineralogy, mineral compositions, pressure and temperature estimates, and elasticity data. The pressure, temperature, and velocity estimates from xenoliths are then combined with sonic logs and stratigraphy estimated from drill cores and surface geology to produce a geologic and velocity profile through the crust and upper mantle. Lower crustal xenoliths include garnet ± sillimanite granulite, two-pyroxene granulite, charnokite, and anorthosite. Metagabbro and amphibolite account for only a small fraction of the lower crustal xenoliths, suggesting that a basaltic underplate at the crust–mantle boundary is not present beneath the southern Rio Grande rift. Abundant mid-crustal felsic to mafic igneous xenoliths, however, suggest that plutonic rocks are common in the middle crust and were intraplated rather than underplated during the Cenozoic. Calculated velocities for garnet granulite are between  6.9 and 8.0 km/s, depending on garnet content. Granulites are strongly foliated and lineated and should be seismically anisotropic. These results suggest that velocities > 7.0 km/s and a layered structure, which are often attributed to underplated mafic rocks, can also be characteristic of alternating garnet-rich and garnet-poor metasedimentary rocks. Because the lower crust appears to be composed largely of metasedimentary granulite, which requires deep burial of upper crustal materials, we suggest the initial construction of the continental crust beneath the Potrillo volcanic field occurred by thickening of supracrustal material in the absence of large scale magmatic accretion. Mantle xenoliths include spinel lherzolite and harzburgite, dunite, and clinopyroxenite. Calculated P-wave velocities for peridotites range from 7.75 km/s to 7.89 km/s, with an average of 7.82 km/s. This velocity is in good agreement with refraction and reflection studies that report P_n velocities of 7.6–7.8 km/s throughout most of the Rio Grande rift. These calculations suggest that the low P_n velocities compared to average uppermost mantle are the result of relatively high temperatures and low pressures due to thin crust, as well as a fertile, Fe-rich, bulk upper mantle composition. Partial melt or metasomatic hydration of the mantle lithosphere are not needed to produce the observed P_n velocities.     

华北东部地区地壳泊松比异常及其成因

利用地震层析成像方法可以提供地壳上地幔P波和S波速度扰动精细图像,进一步换算还可以得到泊松比的图像.但是,与P波和S波速度扰动图像相比,泊松比成像是否具有独特优点还有待研究.通过对华北东部进行了高分辨率地震层析成像研究,作出了该地区地壳速度结构和泊松比的图像,揭示了该区域存在一个高泊松比异常区,位于恒山-北太行-张家口...     

A new tectonic model for the Laurentia−Avalonia−Baltica sutures in the North Sea: A case study along MONA LISA profile 3

We present a new model for the lithospheric structure of the transitions between Laurentia, Avalonia and Baltica in the North Sea, northwestern Europe based on 2¾D potential field modelling of MONA LISA profile 3 across the Central Graben, with constraints from seismic P-wave velocity models and the crustal normal incidence reflection section along the profile. The model shows evidence for the presence of upper-and lower Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks as well as differences in crustal structure between the palaeo-continents Laurentia, Avalonia and Baltica. Our new model, together with previous results from transformations of the gravity and magnetic fields, demonstrates correlation between crustal magnetic domains along the profile and the terrane affinity of the crust. This integrated interpretation indicates that a 150 km wide zone, characterized by low-grade metamorphosis and oblique thrusting of Avalonia crust over Baltica lower crust, is characteristic for the central North Sea area. The magnetic susceptibility and the density across the Coffee Soil Fault range from almost zero and 2715 kg/m³ in Avalonia crust to 0.05 SI and 2775 kg/m³ in Baltica crust. The model of MONA LISA profile 3 indicates that the transition between Avalonia and Baltica is located beneath the Central Graben with a ramp–flat–ramp geometry. Our results indicate that the initial rifting of the Central Graben and the Viking Graben was controlled by the location of the Caledonian collisional suture, located at the Coffee Soil Fault, and that the deep crustal part of Baltica extends further to the west than hitherto believed.     

How does the elevation changing response to crustal thickening process in the central Tibetan Plateau since 120 Ma?

When and how the Tibetan Plateau formed and maintained its thick crust and high elevation on Earth is continuing debated. Specifically, the coupling relationship between crustal thickening and corresponding paleoelevation changing has not been well studied. The dominant factors in crustal thickness changing are crustal shortening, magmatic input and surface erosion rates. Crustal thickness change and corresponding paleoelevation variation with time were further linked by an isostatic equation in this study. Since 120 Ma crustal shortening, magmatic input and surface erosion rates data from the central Tibetan Plateau are took as input parameters. By using a one-dimensional isostasy model, the authors captured the first-order relationship between crustal thickening and historical elevation responses over the central Tibetan Plateau, including the Qiangtang and Lhasa terranes. Based on the modeling results, the authors primarily concluded that the Qiangtang terrane crust gradually thickened to ca. 63 km at ca. 40 Ma, mainly due to tectonic shortening and minor magmatic input combined with a slow erosion rate. However, the Lhasa terrane crust thickened by a combination of tectonic shortening, extensive magmatic input and probably Indian plate underthrusting, which thickened the Lhasa crust over 75 km since 25 Ma. Moreover, a long-standing elevation >4000 m was strongly coupled with a thickened crust since about 35 Ma in the central Tibetan Plateau.©2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

The crustal structure of the western Arabian platform from the spectral analysis of long-period P-wave amplitude ratios

The crustal structure of the western Arabian platform is derived using the spectral analysis of long-period P-wave amplitude ratios. The ratio of the vertical to the horizontal component is used to obtain the crustal transfer function based on thickness variations, crustal velocities, densities and the angle of emergence at the lower crust and upper mantle interface. Eleven well-defined earthquakes recorded at the long-period RYD station during the period from 1985 to 1994 were selected for analysis based on the following criteria: focal depths with a range between 7 and 89 km, body-wave magnitudes greater than 4.7, epicentral distances with a range from 8.8° to 26.5°, and back azimuthal coverage from 196° to 340°. Spectral analysis calculations were based on the comparison of the observed spectral ratios with those computed from theoretical P-wave motion obtained using the Thomson–Haskell matrix formulation for horizontally layered crustal models. The selection of the most suitable model was based on the identification of the theoretical model which exhibits the highest cross-correlation coefficient with the observed transfer function ratio. By comparing the spectral peak positions of the observed and theoretical values, the thickness and velocity can be resolved within 3 km and 1 km/s, respectively, of the observed values. The spectral analysis of long-period P-waves can detect a thin layer near the surface of about 1.6 km thick and a velocity contrast of about 10% with that of the underlying layer. A strong velocity gradient of about 0.05 km/s per km was found in the upper crust and 0.02 km/s per km in the lower crust. The derived crustal model is not unique due to the theoretical assumptions (horizontal layering, constant densities and velocities in each layer), quality of the data and complexities of the crustal structure. The crustal model suggests that the crust consists of five distinct layers. The upper crustal layer has a P-wave velocity of about 5.6 km/s and is about 1.6 km thick. The second layer has a velocity of about 6.2 km/s and is 10.2 km thick. The third layer shows a velocity of 6.6 km/s and is 6.8 km thick. The fourth layer has a velocity of about 6.8 km/s and is 12.3 km thick. The lower crustal layer has a velocity of about 7.5 km/s and is 9.3 km thick. The Mohorovicic discontinuity beneath the western Arabian platform indicates a velocity of 8.2 km/s of the upper mantle and 42 km depth.     

Seismic structure of the crust and uppermost mantle of South America and surrounding oceanic basins

We present a new set of contour maps of the seismic structure of South America and the surrounding ocean basins. These maps include new data, helping to constrain crustal thickness, whole-crustal average P-wave and S-wave velocity, and the seismic velocity of the uppermost mantle (P_n and S_n). We find that: (1) The weighted average thickness of the crust under South America is 38.17 km (standard deviation, s.d. ±8.7 km), which is ∼1 km thinner than the global average of 39.2 km (s.d. ±8.5 km) for continental crust. (2) Histograms of whole-crustal P-wave velocities for the South American crust are bi-modal, with the lower peak occurring for crust that appears to be missing a high-velocity (6.9–7.3 km/s) lower crustal layer. (3) The average P-wave velocity of the crystalline crust (P_cc) is 6.47 km/s (s.d. ±0.25 km/s). This is essentially identical to the global average of 6.45 km/s. (4) The average P_n velocity beneath South America is 8.00 km/s (s.d. ±0.23 km/s), slightly lower than the global average of 8.07 km/s. (5) A region across northern Chile and northeast Argentina has anomalously low P- and S-wave velocities in the crust. Geographically, this corresponds to the shallowly-subducted portion of the Nazca plate (the Pampean flat slab first described by Isacks et al., 1968), which is also a region of crustal extension. (6) The thick crust of the Brazilian craton appears to extend into Venezuela and Colombia. (7) The crust in the Amazon basin and along the western edge of the Brazilian craton may be thinned by extension. (8) The average crustal P-wave velocity under the eastern Pacific seafloor is higher than under the western Atlantic seafloor, most likely due to the thicker sediment layer on the older Atlantic seafloor.     

Crustal structure in the Changbaishan volcanic area, China, determined by modeling receiver functions

During 1998–1999, we installed a temporary broadband seismic network in the Changbaishan volcanic region, NE China. We estimated crustal structure using teleseismic seismograms collected at the network. We detected a near surface region of strong anisotropy directly under the main volcanic edifice of the volcanic area. We modeled 109 receiver functions from 19 broadband stations using three techniques. First we used a “slant-stacking” method to model the principal crustal P reverberation phases to estimate crustal thickness and the average crustal P to S speed ratio (v_p/v_s), assuming an average P-wave velocity in the crust. We then estimated crustal S-wave velocity (v_s) and v_p/v_s profiles by modeling stacked receiver functions using a direct search. Finally, we inverted several receiver functions recorded at stations closest to the main volcanic edifice using least squares to estimate v_s velocity profiles, assuming a v_p/v_s value. The results from the three estimation techniques were consistent, and generally we found that the receiver functions constrained estimates of changes in wave speeds better than absolute values. We resolved that the crust is 30–39 km thick under the volcanic region and 28–32 km thick away from the volcanic region, with a midcrust velocity transition at about 10–15 km depth. We estimated that the average crust P-wave velocity is about 6.0–6.2 km/s surrounding the main volcanic region, while it is slightly lower in the vicinity of the main volcanic edifice. The estimates of v_p/v_s were more ambiguous, but we inferred that the bulk crustal Poisson's ratio (which is related to v_p/v_s) ranges between 0.20 and 0.30, with a suggestion that the Poisson's ratio is lower under the central volcanic region compared to the surrounding areas. We resolved low S-wave velocities (down to about 3 km/s) in the middle crust in the region of the main volcanic edifice. The low velocity anomaly extends from about 5–10 to 15–25 km below the surface, probably indicating a region of elevated temperatures. We were unable to determine if partial melt is present with the data we considered in this paper.     

龙门山断裂带隆起造山独特性探讨

龙门山断裂带位于四川盆地西缘;青藏高原东部;为四川盆地与松潘—甘孜地块的接触构造边界。龙门山地区海拔从东侧100 km外四川盆地的500 m突升至3 000 m高度;明显地标注了青藏高原的东部边界;其隆升机制也引起了国内外地质工作者的广泛兴趣;并且提出了多种隆升机制模型。在本次研究中;我们利用SinoProbe-02深反射地震剖面数据对龙门山地区的隆升机制进行研究;从而进一步探讨龙门山地区隆起造山的独特性;并讨论其与传统意义中的造山带的区别;认为龙门山断裂造山带为板块内部构造活动引起岩石圈隆起所形成的。本文的研究结果将使我们更深刻地了解龙门山地区的构造活动特点;并且有助于了解青藏高原东缘对印度—欧亚板块碰撞的构造响应。     

A new tomographic image of the Pyrenean lithosphere from teleseismic data

A new tomographic model of the Pyrenean lithosphere is determined down to 200 km depth from teleseismic P and PKP travel times, with a lateral resolution of 0.25°. Compared to previous models, two important improvements are 1) a larger number of stations with a more even distribution, in particular to the west of the range, and 2) the introduction, before inversion, of crustal corrections inferred from previous refraction and reflection experiments. This last point is crucial because a strong Moho jump (up to 20 km) is present at the North Pyrenean Fault, the former boundary between Eurasian and Iberian plates. The comparison of the models obtained with and without crustal corrections reveals the strong contamination of the models by the crust down to 100 km depth. In the uncorrected model, a large strip with negative P-velocity anomalies, previously interpreted as subduction of lower crust, is observed. It disappears in the corrected model. Moreover, the introduction of crustal corrections allows us to reveal short wavelength heterogeneities which were hidden by the crustal signal.An attempt is made to relate the heterogeneities revealed by the tomographic model with the tectonic history of the Pyrenees, in particular with the Alpine orogeny. The Alpine phase includes an extensive episode with generation of the thin continental crust and possibly the opening of an oceanic sea floor, and then a compressive stage. In our model, no signature of an oceanic subducted slab could be detected all along the range, a result which rules out the opening of a large oceanic floor before the compressive stage. A subduction of continental crust is possible but, due to the transformation of lower crust into eclogite at depth, it can not be detected by seismological methods, whereas it was observed from electrical and gravity data. To the East of the range, large heterogeneities with low velocities are ascribable to the Neogene extension related to the rotation of the Corso–Sardo block and the opening of the Gulf of Lion. A prominent high velocity anomaly extending down to 200 km in eastern-central Pyrenees could possibly be interpreted as a detached piece of the Tethys slab. In north of Iberia outside the range, deep (down to 200 km) low velocity structures oriented N130°E are probably related to Hercynian orogeny.     

3D seismic analysis of the Coast Shear Zone in SE Alaska and Western British Columbia: Broadside analysis of ACCRETE wide-angle data

The multidisciplinary ACCRETE project addresses the question of continental assemblage in southeast Alaska and western British Columbia by terrane accretion and magmatic addition. The previous studies of this project yielded important information for understanding the structures across the Coast Shear Zone (CSZ) and the formation of the CSZ and the Coast Mountains Batholith (CMB). The present study extends these interpretations into pseudo-3-D by using two additional wide-angle ACCRETE seismic lines. By analyzing the broadside wide-angle data using a series of laterally homogeneous 2-D models, we derive a lower-resolution 3-D velocity model of the outboard terranes and constrain variations in crustal thickness across and along the CSZ. Models of the broadside data confirms major structural and compositional trends extend along strike to the northwest. The key features are: a) a steep Moho ramp only  15-km wide is coincident with the CSZ and divides thin (25 ± 1 km) crust to the west below the west-vergent thrust belt (WTB) from thicker ( 31 ± 1 km) crust to the east below the CMB, (b) low-velocity mantle (7.7--7.9 km/s) extends beneath the entire study region indicating high crustal and upper-mantle temperatures below the WTB and CMB, and (c) the Alexander terrane is characterized by strong mid-crustal reflectivity and high lower crustal velocities that are consistent with gabbroic composition. This study extends the earlier interpretation and implies that the ramp is indeed likely associated with transpressional tectonics and magmatic crustal addition east of the CSZ.     

Seismically constrained two-dimensional crustal thermal structure of the cambay basin

The temperature field within the crust is closely related to tectonic history as well as many other geological processes inside the earth. Therefore, knowledge of the crustal thermal structure of a region is of great importance for its tectonophysical studies. This work deals with the two-dimensional thermal modelling to delineate the crustal thermal structure along a 230 km long Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) profile in the north Cambay basin. In this work P-wave velocities obtained from the DSS studies have been converted into heat generation values for the computation of temperature distribution. The model result reveals the Curie isotherm at a depth of ≈22 km and Moho temperature at around 900‡C.     

Crustal Poisson’s ratio anomalies in the eastern part of North China and their origins

Seismic tomography can provide both fine P-wave and S-wave velocity structures of the crust and upper mantle.In addition,with proper computation,Poisson’s ratio images from the seismic velocities can be determined.However,it is unknown whether Poisson’s ratio images have any advantages when compared with the P-wave and S-wave velocity images.For the purposes of this study,high-resolution seismic tomography under the eastern part of North China region was used to determine detailed 3-D crustal P- and S-wave seismic velocities structure,as well as Poisson’s ratio images.Results of Poisson’s ratio imaging show high Poisson’s ratio(high-PR) anomalies located in the Hengshan-North Taihang-Zhangjiakou(H-NT-Z) region,demonstrating that Poisson’s ratio imaging can provide new geophysical constraints for regional tectonic evolution.The H-NT-Z region shows a prominent and continuous high-PR anomaly in the upper crust.Based on Poisson’s ratio images at different depths, we find that this high-PR anomaly is extending down to the middle crust with thickness up to about 26 km.According to rock physical property measurements and other geological data,this crustal Poisson’s ratio anomaly can be explained by Mesozoic partial melting of the upper mantle and basaltic magma underplating related to the lithospheric thinning of the North China craton.