SEISMIC STUDIES ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD OF CANADA: THE APPALACHIAN SYSTEM. I

1966 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Ewing ◽  
A. M. Dainty ◽  
J. E. Blanchard ◽  
M. J. Keen
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Intermediate Layer ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Compressional Wave Velocity ◽  
The West ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Anticosti Island ◽  
Eastern Seaboard

The results of seismic refraction profiles in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the northwest and northeast coasts of Newfoundland are presented. The thickness of the crust is about 45 km in the region of the Gulf of St. Lawrence southwest of the Cabot Strait Trough, and off the northeast coast of Newfoundland east of the Long Range Mountains. One interpretation of the data suggests that the compressional wave velocities through the underlying mantle are 8.50 and 8.69 km s−1 respectively. An "intermediate" layer about 20 km thick is identified with compressional wave velocities of 7.35 and 7.52 km s−1 beneath these areas. A thinner crust, 33 km thick approximately, underlies the west coast of Newfoundland, and a crustal thickness of 35 km is postulated near Anticosti Island. The compressional wave velocity in the upper part of the mantle beneath this thinner crust is close to 8 km s−1. The intermediate layer thins and, possibly, pinches out in the vicinity of Anticosti Island and northwest Newfoundland. The results lead to the suggestion that we see within the crust and upper mantle the subsurface expression of the two-sided nature of the Appalachian system. The system shows no sign of quietly dying away beneath the northeastern coast of Newfoundland.

SEISMIC STUDIES ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD OF CANADA: THE ATLANTIC COAST OF NOVA SCOTIA

1964 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Barrett ◽  
M. Berry ◽  
J. E. Blanchard ◽  
M. J. Keen ◽  
R. E. McAllister
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Shear Wave Velocities ◽  
Eastern Seaboard

The results of seismic refraction profiles on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia and on the continental shelf off Nova Scotia are presented. Compressional and shear waves have been observed in the crust and mantle and suggest that the thickness of the crust is about 34 km. The compressional wave velocities recorded in the main crust and upper mantle are 6.10 and 8.11 km s−1 respectively. No compressional waves with values of velocity between these values can be identified, and this suggests that any "intermediate" layer is thin or absent. The corresponding shear wave velocities are 3.68 and 4.53 km s−1. Values of Poisson's ratio in the crust and mantle are 0.22 and 0.28. Alternative models of the crust which, on the evidence of travel times, might fit the observed results are discussed.

Seismic study of crustal structure in Pennsylvania and New York*

1955 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Katz
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Elastic Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Compressional Wave Velocity ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Shear Wave Velocities ◽  
Central Pennsylvania ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mohorovičić Discontinuity

Abstract Blasts at two quarries in northern New York and central Pennsylvania have been recorded to a distance of 309 km. The data indicate an essentially homogeneous, unlayered crust, with elastic wave velocities possibly increasing with depth. An average crustal thickness for the region is 34.4 km., with no indication of significant difference in thickness between the two areas. Observed compressional wave velocities for the crust are 6.39 and 6.31 km/sec. for New York, and 6.04 km/sec. for Pennsylvania. The corresponding shear wave velocities are 3.62 and 3.60 km/sec., and 3.61 km/sec. Average upper mantle velocities are 8.14 km/sec. for Pn and 4.69 km/sec. for Sn. The compressional wave velocity of anorthosite near Tahawus, N.Y., is 6.63 km/sec. No near-vertical reflections from the Mohorovičić discontinuity were observed.

scholarly journals A Seismic Refraction Study of the Crust and Upper Mantle in the Vicinity of Bass Strait

1969 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Underwood
Keyword(s):  
Crustal Structure ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Travel Times ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Australian Institute ◽  
First Arrival Travel Times ◽  
First Arrival ◽  
Future Work

A reconnaissance seismic refraction study of the crust and upper mantle of Bass Strait and adjacent land was undertaken in 1966 under the sponsorship of the Geophysics Group of the Australian Institute of Physics. The shot locations and times, the station locations, distances, and first arrival travel times are presented. Analysis of these data is described; they indicate a P n velocity below 8 km sec-I. Time terms are less than expected and do not agree with previous work. Crustal thicknesses cannot be computed until studies of upper crustal structure are made. These, and several mantle refraction studies, are suggested for future work.

Crust and upper mantle structure along the flank of Kōko Seamount

1980 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1161-1169
Author(s):  
K. Furukawa ◽  
J. F. Gettrust ◽  
L. W. Kroenke ◽  
J. F. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Crustal Thickness ◽  
Mantle Structure ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Velocity Gradients ◽  
Upper Mantle Structure ◽  
Hawaiian Ridge ◽  
Seamount Chain ◽  
Emperor Seamount Chain

abstract Inversion of an 80-km-long reversed seismic refraction profile near the northwestern flank of Kōko Seamount indicates that the crust adjacent to the southern end of the Emperor Seamount chain is approximately 9-km thick with no dip in the refracting horizons. These data require positive P-velocity gradients in the crust and upper mantle to fit the observed amplitudes. The crustal refractor P velocities and crustal thickness found are in general agreement with those found previously for the Emperor chain and near the Hawaiian Ridge. It is inferred from our data that the tectonic mechanism which created the Emperor and Hawaiian chains was highly localized.

Seismic refraction shooting in an area of the Eastern Atlantic

1952 ◽  
Vol 244 (890) ◽  
pp. 561-594 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Crystalline Rock ◽  
Compressional Wave Velocity ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
A Value ◽  
Sedimentary Layer

For the experiments described in this paper a new method of seismic refraction shooting was developed. With this method hydrophones suspended at a depth of about 100 ft. below the surface of the sea acted as receivers for the compressional waves developed by depth charges exploding at a depth of approximately 900 ft. The hydrophones were connected with sono-radio buoys which radio-transmitted the electrical signals to a recording system in the ship from which the charges were dropped. Four buoys were in use simultaneously, distributed at differing ranges from the ship. The experiments were carried out at three positions in an area of the eastern Atlantic around the point 53° 50' N, 18° 40' W, where the water depth is approximately 1300 fm. (2400 m). The results showed that the uncrystalline sedimentary layer in this area varied in thickness from 6200 ft. to 9700 ft. (1900 to 3000 m), and that the velocity of compressional waves in it increased from the value for sea water, 4900 ft./s (1.5 km/s), at the surface with an approximately constant gradient of 2.5/s to a limiting value of 8200 ft./s (2.5 km/s). Below the sedimentary layer there was a crystalline rock with compressional wave velocity of approximately 16500 ft./s (5.0 km/s) and of thickness varying between 8800 ft. (2700 m) and 11100 ft. (3400 m). The base of this layer was in both determinations at approximately 25500 ft. (7800 m) below sea-level. The lowest layer concerning which information was obtained gave a value for the compressional wave velocity of about 20500 ft./s (6.3 km/s), but was of undetermined thickness. The characteristics of the sedimentary layer were such as might be expected for a continuous succession of deep-sea sediments, the thickness on this basis being such as to indicate the long existence of the ocean in this area. On the other hand, it is possible that it represents a downwarped continental shelf. The layer below the sedimentary layer has a compressional wave velocity which is low for an igneous rock at this depth, and it is probable that it represents a crystalline sedimentary rock. From the evidence it is not possible to determine whether this rock is of continental or deep-sea origin. The lowest layer of these experiments is unlikely to have a constitution similar to that of the European granitic layer, since the compressional wave velocity in it would, on this hypothesis, be exceptionally high. The value is, however, close to that calculated by Jeffreys for the intermediate layer.

VELOCITY OF COMPRESSIONAL WAVES IN POROUS MEDIA AT PERMAFROST TEMPERATURES

Geophysics ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 584-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Timur
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Freezing Process ◽  
Rock Matrix ◽  
Compressional Wave Velocity ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
Average Equation ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Time Average

Measurements of velocity of compressional waves in consolidated porous media, conducted within a temperature range of 26 °C to −36 °C, indicate that: (1) compressional wave velocity in water‐saturated rocks increases with decreasing temperature whereas it is nearly independent of temperature in dry rocks; (2) the shapes of the velocity versus temperature curves are functions of lithology, pore structure, and the nature of the interstitial fluids. As a saturated rock sample is cooled below 0 °C, the liquid in pore spaces with smaller surface‐to‐volume ratios (larger pores) begins to freeze and the liquid salinity controls the freezing process. As the temperature is decreased further, a point is reached where the surface‐to‐volume ratio in the remaining pore spaces is large enough to affect the freezing process, which is completed at the cryohydric temperature of the salts‐water system. In the ice‐liquid‐rock matrix system, present during freezing, a three‐phase, time‐average equation may be used to estimate the compressional wave velocities. Below the cryohydric temperature, elastic wave propagation takes place in a solid‐solid system consisting of ice and rock matrix. In this frozen state, the compressional wave velocity remains constant, has its maximum value, and may be estimated through use of the two‐phase time average equation. Limited field data for compressional wave velocities in permafrost indicate that pore spaces in permafrost contain not only liquid and ice, but also gas. Therefore, before attempting to make velocity estimates through the time‐average equations, the natures and percentages of pore saturants should be investigated.

Measured and calculated elastic wave velocities for xenoliths from the lower crust and upper mantle

1990 ◽  
Vol 173 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 207-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Jackson ◽  
Roberta L. Rudnick ◽  
S.Y. O'Reilly ◽  
C. Bezant
Keyword(s):  
Elastic Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Lower Crust ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Wave Velocities

Crustal velocity structure in the southern Coast Belt, British Columbia

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 2389-2403 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. O'Leary ◽  
R. M. Clowes ◽  
R. M. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Collision Zone ◽  
Refraction Data

We applied an iterative combination of two-dimensional traveltime inversion and amplitude forward modelling to seismic refraction data along a 350 km along-strike profile in the Coast Belt of the southern Canadian Cordillera to determine crust and upper mantle P-wave velocity structure. The crustal model features a thin (0.5–3.0 km) near-surface layer with an average velocity of 4.4 km/s, and upper-, middle-, and lower-crustal strata which are each approximately 10 km thick and have velocities ranging from 6.2 to 6.7 km/s. The Moho appears as a 2 km thick transitional layer with an average depth of 35 km and overlies an upper mantle with a poorly constrained velocity of over 8 km/s. Other interpretations indicate that this profile lies within a collision zone between the Insular superterrane and the ancient North American margin and propose two collision-zone models: (i) crustal delamination, whereby the Insular superterrane was displaced along east-vergent faults over the terranes below; and (ii) crustal wedging, in which interfingering of Insular rocks occurs throughout the crust. The latter model involves thick layers of Insular material beneath the Coast Belt profile, but crustal velocities indicate predominantly non-Insular material, thereby favoring the crustal delamination model. Comparisons of the velocity model with data from the proximate reflection lines show that the top of the Moho transition zone corresponds with the reflection Moho. Comparisons with other studies suggest that likely sources for intracrustal wide-angle reflections observed in the refraction data are structural features, lithological contrasts, and transition zones surrounding a region of layered porosity in the crust.

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