Deep structure of the Earth's crust in the contact zone of the Palaeozoic and Precambrian Platforms in Poland (Tornquist-Teisseyre zone)

One of the major tectonic problems in Europe concerns the southwest margin of the East European Platform in the region of the so-called Polish-Danish trough. In general, this margin is assumed to be the Tornquist-Teisseyre (T-T) Line, running approximately from northwest to southeast in this part of Europe. Determination of deep crustal structure of the contact zone between the Precambrian Platform and the Palaeozoic Platform was the main aim of the deep seismic sounding (DSS) programme in Poland in 1965–1982.Deep seismic soundings of the Earth's crust have been made in the T-T Line zone along nine profiles with a total length of about 2600 km. The results of deep seismic soundings have shown that the crust in the marginal zone of the East European Platform has highly anomalous properties. The width of this zone ranges from 50 km in northwest Poland to about 90 km in southeast Poland. The crustal thickness of the Palaeozoic Platform in Poland is 30–35 km, and of the Precambrian Platform 42–47 km, while in the T-T tectonic zone it varies from 50 to 55 km. Above the Moho boundary, in the T-T zone, at a depth of 40–45 km, there is a seismic discontinuity with P-wave velocities of 7.5–7.7 km/s. Boundary velocities, mean velocities and stratification of the Earth's crust vary distinctly along the T-T zone. There are also observed high gravimetric and magnetic anomalies in the T-T zone. The T-T tectonic zone determined in this manner is a deep tectonic trough with rift properties.The deep fractures delineating the T-T tectonic zone are of fundamental importance for the localization of the plate edge of the Precambrian Platform of eastern Europe. In the light of DSS results, the northeastern margin of the T-T tectonic zone is a former plate boundary of the East European Platform.     

Deep CMP seismic surveying along the Tatseis-2003 geotraverse across the Volga-Ural petroliferous province

The objective, methods, and main results of deep CMP seismic surveying along the Tatseis-2003 geotraverse are discussed. This geotraverse crosses the Volga-Ural petroliferous province from the northwest to the southeast for more than 1000 km and is linked with the well-known Uralseis-95 geotraverse by an additional profile. The main objective of this surveying was to study the structure of sedimentary cover and the Earth’s crust as a whole in the North Tatar Arch, Kazan-Kazhim Trough, Kotel’nich Arch, and the southeastern Moscow Syneclise in comparison with the petroliferous South Tatar Arch. The applied technology (telemetric stations, powerful vibrators, a 12-km spread, a common midpoint fold of 60, and a recording time of 20 s), the planning of seismic exploration with consideration of the available geological and geophysical information, and special processing of the data—all this provided the high-quality time sections that allowed solution of the geologic problems. The main scientific and applied results of the investigations are establishment of the links between petroleum resource potential of the sedimentary cover and the structure of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. These data are of basic importance and testify to the considerable role of deep factors in the formation of hydrocarbon fields. After these factors are tested in other regions, the revealed indications may be used in petroleum exploration. The tectonic nature of inclined reflectors in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle is substantiated. It is shown that the near-vertical dynamic anomalies are caused by real geologic bodies. A complex of investigations is proposed for their further interpretation. The deep seismic surveying along the geotraverse fulfilled its task completely. At the same time, the results obtained allow recommending lines of further research and their methods. It would be expedient to perform generalizing scientific research aimed at coordinating the Uralseis-95 and Tatseis-2003 geotraverses in order to develop a common profile from the Urals to the Moscow Syneclise, provide complex interpretation of these data, and integrate the results of the previously performed deep CMP seismic surveying.     

Tectonics and petroleum potential of the Kazan–Kazhim aulacogen,East European Platform

The paper presents a new interpretation of the surface structure of the crystal basement of the Kazan–Kazhim aulacogen based on geological–geophysical data and reprocessed regional seismic profiles. It is shown that the formation of the Vyatka uplift is related to deep reverse thrusts and that tangential stresses were a major factor in the formation of the aulacogen. The presence of a large left-lateral strike-slip fault is established, which cuts the Kazan–Kazhim aulacogen from west to east. Our data confirm wide-spread horizontal movements occurred in the crust in the eastern part of the East European Platform and help to optimize hydrocarbon exploration in the region.     

New D.S.S.-data on the crustal structure of the baltic and Ukrainian Shields

Recently completed investigations of the crustal structure on ancient shields of the East European platform carried out with the method of “deep seismic sounding” (D.S.S.) have drastically changed the previous notions about the deep structure of shields in general. In the upper crust, in the so-called “granitic” layer, complex anticlinal and synclinal structures as well as numerous faults, thrusts, etc., have been identified. A flattening of steeply dipping seismic interfaces with depth is observed. The crustal thickness in different tectonic zones ranges from 30 to 60 km. It is shown that the M-structure correlates with the sub-surface tectonics in the Ukrainian Shield.     

Resistivity pattern of crust and upper mantle in Southern Urals

A resistivity model of the southern Urals to depths of 120 km was obtained by numerical simulation of natural- and controlled-source EM soundings at 160 kHz to 4⋅10⁻⁴ Hz. The structure of crust and upper mantle was imaged along a transect running ∼800 km across the East European Platform, the Ural foredeep, and the Ural mountains. The new data on geology and tectonics of the southern Urals enlarge the knowledge gained through URSEIS-95 reflection profiling along one of best representative cross-orogen profiles. We discovered a large conductor traceable to depths at least 100–120 km at the junction between the East European Platform and the Ural foredeep. It indicates that the Ural foredeep originated in a weak tectonic zone at the platform edge. The Ural orogen is imaged as a nearly bivergent structure to depths of 70–80 km producing a mosaic pattern of conductors rooted deep beneath the Magnitogorsk greenstone province and the granitic belt of the central East Ural uplift where it is 150 km wide at a depth of ∼120 km. We interpret the discovered deep roots in the context of the geological history of the Urals.     

The junction of the eastern Central Asian Fold Belt and the Siberian Platform: deep structure and Mesozoic tectonics and geodynamics

The tectonic structure of the junction of the eastern Central Asian Fold Belt and the Siberian Platform, along with the deep structure of the Earth's crust and lithosphere in this region, has been described on the basis of new geological and geophysical data (seismic, geoelectric, and space-structural studies as well as new-generation geological maps), combined with new interpretation techniques (processing of the previous data by special software). The data suggest the existence of oblique collision during the convergence of the tectonic plates and, correspondingly, tectonic units composing these plates, when the Mongol–Okhotsk paleobasin closed. Such a scenario within the Aldan–Stanovoi Shield is evidenced by areas of syn- and postcollisional magmatism, with their deep-level and geochemical characteristics, and by the presence of a Late Mesozoic fold–thrust zone. Deep “traces” of these tectonomagmatic events, detected in the course of geological and geophysical modeling, are manifested in inclined deep boundaries between the crustal and lithospheric blocks. On the Earth's surface, they correspond to large fault systems: the Dzheltulak, North and South Tukuringra, Gulyui, and Stanovoi. It has been found that the influence of collision decreases northward with distance from the junction of the eastern Central Asian Fold Belt and the Siberian Platform (Dzheltulak and North Tukuringra transcrustal faults).     

西沙海域盆地构造格局及其差异演化过程分析

西沙海域夹持于南海西北次海盆和西南次海盆之间,构造演化过程与南海的扩张和南海西部的走滑作用关系密切.基于覆盖西沙海域的区域地震资料开展了构造—地层解释、盆地结构特征分析和区域构造演化制图,整体上将西沙海域划分出3种类型盆地,即高角度断层控制的盆地、低角度拆离断层控制的盆地和走滑盆地.结合地壳厚度变化和伸展薄化程度,突出断层的构造样式,将西沙海域划分为北部拆离断层构造发育区、东南部拆离断层构造发育区、西部走滑断层发育区和中部高角度断层发育区,进而明确了西沙海域盆地的基本构造格局.同时,以关键构造界面为主线,强调了不同类型断层在岩石圈地壳减薄过程中的作用,阐明了西沙海域盆地的差异构造演化过程.      

3D model of deep structure of the Early Precambrian crust in the East European Craton and paleogeodynamic implications

The integral 3D model of the deep structure of the Early Precambrian crust in the East European Craton is based on interpretation of the 1-EU, 4B, and TATSEIS seismic CDP profiles in Russia and the adjacent territory of Finland (FIRE project). The geological interpretation of seismic images of the crust is carried out in combination with consideration of geological and geophysical data on the structure of the Fennoscandian Shield and the basement of the East European platform. The model displays tectonically delaminated crust with a predominance of low-angle boundaries between the main tectonic units and the complex structure of the crust-mantle interface, allowing correlation of the deep structure of the Archean Kola, Karelian, and Kursk granite-greenstone terrane with the Volgo-Uralia granulite-gneiss terrane, as well as the Paleoproterozoic intracontinental collision orogens (the Lapland-Mid-Russia-South Baltia orogen and the East Voronezh and Ryazan-Saratov orogens) with the Svecofennian accretionary orogen. The lower crustal “layer” at the base of the Paleoproterozoic orogens and Archean cratons was formed in the Early Paleoproterozoic as a result of underplating and intraplating by mantle-plume mafic magmas and granulite-facies metamorphism. The increase in the thickness of this “layer” was related to hummocking of the lower crustal sheets along with reverse and thrust faulting in the upper crust. The middle crust was distinguished by lower rigidity and affected by ductile deformation. The crust of the Svecofennian Orogen is composed of tectonic sheets plunging to the northeast and consisting of island-arc, backarc, and other types of rocks. These sheets are traced in seismic sections to the crust-mantle interface.     

Joint Inversion of the 3D P Wave Velocity Structure of the Crust and Upper Mantle under the Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau Using Regional Earthquake and Teleseismic Data

The special seismic tectonic environment and frequent seismicity in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau show that this area is an ideal location to study the present tectonic movement and background of strong earthquakes in mainland China and to predict future strong earthquake risk zones. Studies of the structural environment and physical characteristics of the deep structure in this area are helpful to explore deep dynamic effects and deformation field characteristics, to strengthen our understanding of the roles of anisotropy and tectonic deformation and to study the deep tectonic background of the seismic origin of the block's interior. In this paper, the three-dimensional(3D) P-wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle under the southeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is obtained via observational data from 224 permanent seismic stations in the regional digital seismic network of Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces and from 356 mobile China seismic arrays in the southern section of the north–south seismic belt using a joint inversion method of the regional earthquake and teleseismic data. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of the P-wave velocity anomalies in the shallow upper crust is closely related to the surface geological structure, terrain and lithology. Baoxing and Kangding, with their basic volcanic rocks and volcanic clastic rocks, present obvious high-velocity anomalies. The Chengdu Basin shows low-velocity anomalies associated with the Quaternary sediments. The Xichang Mesozoic Basin and the Butuo Basin are characterised by lowvelocity anomalies related to very thick sedimentary layers. The upper and middle crust beneath the Chuan–Dian and Songpan–Ganzi Blocks has apparent lateral heterogeneities, including low-velocity zones of different sizes. There is a large range of low-velocity layers in the Songpan–Ganzi Block and the sub–block northwest of Sichuan Province, showing that the middle and lower crust is relatively weak. The Sichuan Basin, which is located in the western margin of the Yangtze platform, shows high-velocity characteristics. The results also reveal that there are continuous low-velocity layer distributions in the middle and lower crust of the Daliangshan Block and that the distribution direction of the low-velocity anomaly is nearly SN, which is consistent with the trend of the Daliangshan fault. The existence of the low-velocity layer in the crust also provides a deep source for the deep dynamic deformation and seismic activity of the Daliangshan Block and its boundary faults. The results of the 3D P-wave velocity structure show that an anomalous distribution of high-density, strong-magnetic and high-wave velocity exists inside the crust in the Panxi region. This is likely related to late Paleozoic mantle plume activity that led to a large number of mafic and ultra-mafic intrusions into the crust. In the crustal doming process, the massive intrusion of mantle-derived material enhanced the mechanical strength of the crustal medium. The P-wave velocity structure also revealed that the upper mantle contains a low-velocity layer at a depth of 80–120 km in the Panxi region. The existence of deep faults in the Panxi region, which provide conditions for transporting mantle thermal material into the crust, is the deep tectonic background forthe area's strong earthquake activity.     

南海北部新生代盆地断裂系统及构造动力学影响因素

利用地震资料、油气勘探资料分析了南海北部大陆边缘珠江口-琼东南新生代盆地断裂系统的时空差异及动力学成因机制.珠江口-琼东南盆地古近系裂陷构造层以NE向、近EW向基底正断层构成的伸展断裂系统的几何学、运动学沿着盆地走向有明显变化,盆地内部隐伏的区域性和局部的NW向断裂及相关构造变形带构成伸展断裂系统之间的构造变换带.在空间上,区域性的云开、松涛-松南等NW向构造变换带以西为NE-NEE向正断层构成的"非拆离"伸展断层系,以东为NE向正断层、近EW向正断层(走滑正断层)复合而成的拆离伸展断层系.在时间上,古近纪裂陷作用可划分为早(文昌组沉积期)、中(恩平组/崖城组沉积期)、晚(珠海组/陵水组沉积期)3个有明显差异的裂陷期.裂陷早期,盆地西部以平面式正断层控制的简单地堑、半地堑为主,伸展量相对较小,东部则以铲式正断层控制的复式地堑、半地堑为主,伸展量相对大,断层向深部收敛在中地壳韧性层构成拆离的伸展断层系统.裂陷中期,琼东南盆地、珠江口盆地西部断裂具有继承性活动特点,珠江口盆地东部发育NWW-EW向伸展断层,并向深层切割早期浅层拆离断层,形成深层拆离伸展断层系统,而沿着云开构造变换带发育反转构造.裂陷晚期,琼东南盆地、珠江口盆地西部断裂具有活动性减弱特点,琼东南盆地东部发育NWW-EW向伸展断层,形成深层拆离伸展断层系统,而沿着琼中央构造变换带发育反转、走滑构造.珠江口-琼东南盆地不同区段断裂系统及其构造演化的差异性受盆地基底先存构造、地壳及岩石圈结构及伸展量等多方面因素的影响,拆离伸展断层系统与发育NWW向"贯穿"断裂的基底构造薄弱带、现今地壳局部减薄带相关,南海扩展由东而西的迁移诱导北部大陆边缘块体沿着先存NW向深大断裂发生走滑旋转是导致变换构造带两侧差异伸展的动力学原因,应力场及岩石圈热结构变化是引起拆离断层深度变化的重要因素.     

Structure of the Middle Urals,east of the main Uralian Fault

In the Middle Urals, volcanic-arc and back-arc basin rocks of Ordovician to Devonian age occur in the Tagil Synform. These outboard terranes were thrust westwards in the late Carboniferous onto continental margin associations of late Proterozoic and Palaeozoic age, now exposed in the Central Uralian Uplift. The Main Uralian Fault coincides approximately with the suture separating the outboard terranes from the East European Platform margin. New fieldwork in the hinterland of the Middle Urals in the area east of the Tagil Synform has found structural evidence favouring E-directed thrusting of accreted terranes and eugeoclinal allochthons in the late Palaeozoic. The upper tectonic units are composed of ophiolite mélange and volcano-sedimentary rocks of Ordovician to Devonian age; they are thrust onto high-grade gneisses, some of possible microcontinental affinities, extensively intruded by mid-Palaeozoic granitic plutons. The nappes in the hinterland are refolded by major upright antiforms and synforms that fold the entire tectonostratigraphy. After thrust assembly, all tectonic units east of the Main Uralian Fault were intruded by late Carboniferous to early Permian granites. Reflection seismic profiles (recorded to 8 s TWT), recently reprocessed at Cornell University, image the major fold structures and demonstrate that they are restricted to the upper crust, being underlain by an extensive zone of flat-lying middle crustal reflectivity. At 10–15 km depth the latter appears to truncate all structures, including the late- to post-tectonic granitoids and extensional faults, east of the Main Uralian Fault. Previous studies (potential-field, refraction- and wide-angle-reflection seismics) have identified an anomalously deep crust under the Tagil Synform and have concluded that the root zone of the orogen is located beneath this belt. The new evidence presented here supports this interpretation, with back-thrusting of the oceanic rocks eastwards over Palaeozoic accreted terranes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

大陆构造变形与地震活动——以青藏高原为例

大陆内部构造变形和地震活动往往突显出复杂的、区域性的特征,很难用板块构造理论来解释。青藏高原是大陆构造变形的典型实例,具有不同构造变形的分区特征,不仅表现在物质组成、地形地貌和断裂组合等方面的不同,而且还表现出不同的地震活动特征。东昆仑断裂带以北的青藏高原北部地块,主要发育一系列挤压环境下的盆岭构造,表现为以连续变形为特征的上地壳挤压缩短变形;高原中北部巴颜喀拉地块,具有整体向东运动的特点,变形主要集中在其边缘,表现为刚性块体运动特征。在东部,由于稳定的四川盆地(扬子地块)的阻挡,位于龙日坝和龙门山断裂带之间相对坚硬的龙门山地区受到东西向强烈挤压,西部边界为伸展变形;在高原中央腹地羌塘地块西部,由于上地壳物质在向东挤出的驱动下不断变形,沿一系列小型正断层和走滑断层以伸展变形为主,表现为弥散型变形特征。相比之下,羌塘地块的东部向东-南东方向挤出,在大型走滑断层之间形成一个刚性块体;高原南部地块以东西向伸展的南北向裂谷系为主要变形特征,高原南缘以南北向挤压的大型逆冲断裂系为特征。历史地震和仪器记录的大地震(M≥8)只发生在高原东北和东南部的大型走滑带,以及东部和南部边缘的大型逆冲断裂上,沿...     

闽南区域地壳稳定性分区及其特征

通过一系列区域地壳稳定性背景资料的分析，以地壳结构、深断裂、活动断裂、第四纪升降速率、大地热流值、布格异常梯度、地壳应变能量、地震最大震级、基本烈度等综合指标，将闽南区域的地壳稳定性，自西而东划分为稳定区、基本稳定区和次稳定区。     

Analysis of geomagnetic field along seismic profile P4 of the International Project POLONAISE'97

This paper presents relative secular variations of the total intensity of the geomagnetic field against a background of results of magnetic anomaly interpretation along seismic profile P4. Profile P4 crosses a Variscan folding zone in the Paleozoic Platform (PLZ), the Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ), and the Polish part of the East European Craton (EEC). Secular geomagnetic field variations measured in 1966–2000 along a line adjacent to seismic profile P4 were analysed. The study of secular variations, reduced to the base recordings at the Belsk Magnetic Observatory, showed that the growth of geomagnetic field at the East European Craton was slower than in the Trans-European Suture Zone and the Paleozoic Platform.A 2D crustal magnetic model was interpreted as a result of magnetic modelling, in which seismic, geological and geothermal data were also used. The modelling showed that there were significant differences in the magnetic model for geotectonic units, which had been earlier determined based on deep seismic survey data. It should be noted that a fundamental change of trend of the relative secular variations was observed at the slope of the Precambrian Platform. After analysing the geomagnetic field observed along profile P4, the hypothesis that the contact between Phanerozoic and Precambrian Europe lies in Poland's territory can be proven.     

Structural and tectonic interpretation of geophysical data along the Eastern Continental Margin of India with special reference to the deep water petroliferous basins

The study area encompasses the Eastern Continental Margin of India (ECMI) and the adjoining deep water areas of Bay of Bengal. The region has evolved through multiple phases of tectonic activity and fed by abundant supply of sediments brought by prominent river systems of the Indian shield. Detailed analysis of total field magnetic and satellite-derived gravity data along with multi channel seismic reflection sections is carried out to decipher major tectonic features, basement structure, and the results have been interpreted in terms of basin configuration and play types for different deep water basins along the ECMI. Interpretation of various image enhanced gravity and magnetic anomaly maps suggest that in general, the ENE–WSW trending faults dominate the structural configuration at the margin. These maps also exhibit a clear density transition from the region of attenuated continental crust/proto oceanic crust to oceanic crust based on which the Continent Ocean Boundary (COB) has been demarcated along the margin. Basement depths estimated from magnetic data indicate that the values range from 1 to 12 km below sea level and deepen towards the Bengal Fan in the north and reveal horst–graben features related to rifting. A comparison of basement depths derived from seismic data indicates that in general, the basement trends and depths are comparable in Cauvery and Krishna–Godavari basins, whereas, in the Mahanadi basin, basement structure over the 85°E ridge is clearly revealed in seismic data. Further, eight multichannel seismic sections across different basins of the margin presented here reveal fault pattern, rift geometries and depositional trends related to canyon fills and channel–levee systems and provide a basic framework for future petroleum in this under explored frontier.     

Upper lithospheric seismic velocity structure across the Pripyat Trough and the Ukrainian Shield along the EUROBRIDGE'97 profile

We present new results on the structure resulting from Palaeoproterozoic terrane accretion and later formation of one of the aulacogens in the East European Platform. Seismic data has been acquired along the 530-km-long, N–S-striking EUROBRIDGE'97 traverse across Sarmatia, a major crustal segment of the East European Craton. The profile extends across the Ukrainian Shield from the Devonian Pripyat Trough, across the Palaeoproterozoic Volyn Block and the Korosten Pluton, into the Archaean Podolian Block. Seismic waves from chemical explosions at 18 shot points at approximately 30-km intervals were recorded in two deployments by 120 mobile three-component seismographs at 3–4 km nominal station spacing. The data has been interpreted by use of two-dimensional tomographic travel time inversion and ray trace modelling. The high data quality allows modelling of the P- and S-wave velocity structure along the profile. There are pronounced differences in seismic velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle between the three main tectonic provinces traversed by the profile: (i) the Pripyat Trough is a ca. 4-km-deep sedimentary basin, fully located in the Osnitsk–Mikashevichi Igneous Belt in the northern part of the profile. The velocity structure is typical for a Precambrian craton, but is underlain by a ca. 5-km-thick lowest crustal layer of high velocity. The development of the Pripyat Trough appears to have only affected the upper crust without noticeable thinning of the whole crust; this may be explained by a rheologically strong lithosphere at the time of formation of the trough. (ii) Very high seismic velocity and Vp/Vs ratio characterise the Volyn Block and Korosten Pluton to a depth of 15 km and probably also the lowest crust. The values are consistent with an intrusive body of mafic composition in the upper crust that formed from bimodal melts derived from the mantle and the lower crust. (iii) The Podolian Block is close to a typical cratonic velocity structure, although it is characterised by relatively low seismic velocity and Vp/Vs ratio. A pronounced SW-dipping mantle reflector from Moho to at least 70 km depth may represent the Proterozoic suture between Sarmatia and Volgo–Uralia, the structure from terrane accretion, or a later shear zone in the upper mantle. The sub-Moho P-wave seismic velocity is high everywhere along the profile, with the exception of the area above the dipping reflector. This velocity change further supports a plate tectonic origin of the dipping mantle reflector. The profile demonstrates that structure from Palaeoproterozoic plate tectonic processes are still identifiable in the lithosphere, even where younger metamorphic equilibration of the crust has taken place.     

New data on the structure of the Kas Block in the basement of the West Siberian Plate

A new concept concerning the structure and stages of evolution of the Kas Block of the West Siberian Plate is stated in this paper. The Kas Block is traditionally considered to be a subsided western margin of the Siberian Platform. The new concept is based on the results of the interpretation of the geophysical data recently obtained along the reference and regional profiles in this territory. The geological interpretation of the deep dynamic sections obtained by reprocessing of the CDP seismic reflection records has been performed for the first time. The structural features of the Kas Block, as well as the character of its junction with the Siberian Platform and the Paleozoic framework, are discussed. The tectonic scheme of the territory and the scheme of the pre-Late Devonian surface of the Kas Block have been compiled. The Baikalian age of the basement of the Kas Block is substantiated. The Salairian allochthonous ophiolite-basalt tectonic nappe is localized for the first time within the sedimentary cover of the Kas Block. The available information allowed us to reconstruct the development of the western margin of the Siberian continent in the Riphean and Early Paleozoic before and after the Baikalian Orogeny, respectively. The informational background of the geological and geophysical interpretation involves the results of the CDP seismic reflection profiling, including the deep dynamic seismic sections and parameters of the P-wave velocities along the reference 1-SB seismic line and the regional Vostok 10, 12, 15, and 16 seismic lines; the results of the deep seismic and magnetotelluric soundings; the gravity measurements; the magnetic exploration; and the new coherent physical geological models.     

Mendeleev rise (arctic ocean) as a geological continuation of the continental margin of Eastern Siberia

The implemented deep seismic soundings have provided records of refracted and reflected P-waves up to offsets of 200–250 km, whereas the modern technique of ray-tracing and synthetic modelling enabled the wave fields to be decoded and the direct seismic problem about selection of velocity models of the crust to be solved correctly. The data acquired through the multichannel seismic reflection method have allowed us to identify the Late Paleozoic sedimentary unit on the shelf and trace it to the Mendeleev Rise as an intermediate complex. It has been shown that the principal structural elements of the consolidated crust and sedimentary cover of the East Siberian shelf are continued to the Mendeleev Rise, which has obvious tectonic features of an extended continental crust.     

Seismic model of the lithosphere of the East European Platform beneath the Baltic Sea-Black Sea profile

This paper presents the results of seismic measurements along the Baltic Sea-Black Sea profile. The basic wave groups recorded up to distances of 900 km are characterized. The main elements of a lithospheric model of the southwestern part of the Precambrian East European Platform are given. The thickness of the Earth's crust is about 45 km and the mean velocity of the crust is about 6.3 km/s. At a depth of 65 km, the velocity increases from 8.2 to 8.5 km/s. In the depth interval 110 to 135 km, there is a series of layers with low and high velocities. The lower boundary of the lithosphere is probably defined by the boundary at a depth of 110 km.     

Deep seismic reflection profiling across the Ou Backbone range, northern Honshu Island, Japan

Knowledge of the crustal structure, especially the geometry of seismogenic faults, is key to understanding active tectonic processes and assessing the size and frequency of future earthquakes. To reveal the relationship between crustal structure and earthquake activity in northern Honshu Island, common midpoint (CMP) deep reflection profiling and earthquake observations by densely deployed seismic stations were carried out across the active reverse faults that bound the Ou Backbone range. The 40-km-long CMP profiles portray a relatively simple fault geometry within the seismogenic layer. The reverse faults merge at a midcrustal detachment just below the base of the seismogenic layer, producing a pop-up structure that forms the Ou Backbone range. The top of the reflective middle to lower crust (4.5 s in travel time (TWT)) nearly coincides with the bottom of seismogenic layer. The P-wave velocity structure and surface geology suggest that the bounding faults are Miocene normal faults that have been reactivated as reverse faults.