Pn velocity and partial melting—discussion

The seismologically observed P_n velocity anomalies in the conterminous United States are restricted to the lithosphere, but the observed teleseismic delay-time variations are due principally to the regional variations in the physical state (i.e., thickness of lowvelocity zone and/or percent melt, etc.) of the asthenosphere. The observed low P_n velocity has been attributed to partial melting in the upper mantle, but it is shown that the partial-melting model alone cannot explain the seismologically observed Pn velocities in such an anomalous region as the Basin and Range Province. The present structure of the Basin and Range Province is possibly a result of rifting in the western conterminous United States; under it there may lie a mixed structure of old crust and mantle materials. The low-velocity zone under the Basin and Range Province would then be caused by downward chemical transition from the sub-Moho pyrolitic mantle material into a plagioclase-rich ophiolitic (old oceanic crust and upper mantle) composition and associated meltingand then into a peridotitic composition at the bottom of the lowvelocity zone. This mixed material model, with partial melting, would explain the low P_n velocity and low seismic Q in the region, as well as other geophysical observations.