Lithospheric structure in the southern Canadian Cordillera from a network of seismic refraction lines

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1485-1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron M. Clowes ◽  
Colin A. Zelt ◽  
John R. Amor ◽  
Robert M. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Driving Mechanism ◽  
Canadian Cordillera ◽  
Seismic Velocities ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
Simultaneous Inversion

Lithospheric velocity structure and its relationship to regional tectonics and development of the southern Canadian Cordillera are derived from a synthesis of interpretations from nine in-line seismic refraction–wide-angle reflection profiles and broadside data recorded during the Lithoprobe Southern Cordillera Refraction Experiment (SCoRE) and other refraction experiments across southern British Columbia, and one profile in northwestern Washington. Consistency of the SCoRE two-dimensional models at their intersection positions is achieved through application of a simultaneous inversion of all relevant traveltime data. The cross-sectional and map presentations demonstrate the strong degree of three-dimensional heterogeneity within the crust and upper mantle. A first-order characteristic is the continuous increase in crustal velocities westward from the Foreland belt to the Insular belt. The variations do not correlate with the morphogeological belts; they do correspond with large-scale geological and (or) tectonic features and seismic reflection results. Crustal thickness varies from 30 to 48 km; a lack of comparable variation in Bouguer gravity anomalies requires significant density changes in the crust. Variations in the seismic parameters do not correlate well with variations in crustal resistivity or heat flow, suggesting that generalizations relating low resistivities, high temperatures, and low seismic velocities must be treated with caution. Seismic heterogeneities are due primarily to lithological and (or) structural variations and are superimposed on the generally low velocities attributed to the thermal regime. An upper mantle reflector beneath the mainland Cordillera is inferred to be the top of a shallow asthenosphere. Westward flow in the warm asthenosphere interacts with the cold lithosphere of the subducting Juan de Fuca plate below the central Coast belt, forming a "sink" that could provide a driving mechanism for the flow.

Quaternary sodic and potassic intraplate volcanism in northeast China controlled by the underlying heterogeneous lithospheric structures

Geology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingli Fan ◽  
Qi-Fu Chen ◽  
Yinshuang Ai ◽  
Ling Chen ◽  
Mingming Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Lithospheric Mantle ◽  
Northeast China ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Subcontinental Lithospheric Mantle ◽  
Seismic Velocities ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Potassic Volcanism

The origin and mantle dynamics of the Quaternary intraplate sodic and potassic volcanism in northeast China have long been intensely debated. We present a high-resolution, three-dimensional (3-D) crust and upper-mantle S-wave velocity (Vs) model of northeast China by combining ambient noise and earthquake two-plane wave tomography based on unprecedented regional dense seismic arrays. Our seismic images highlight a strong correlation between the basalt geochemistry and upper-mantle seismic velocity structure: Sodic volcanoes are all characterized by prominent low seismic velocities in the uppermost mantle, while potassic volcanoes still possess a normal but thin upper-mantle “lid” depicted by high seismic velocities. Combined with previous petrological and geochemical research findings, we propose that the rarely erupted Quaternary potassic volcanism in northeast China results from the interaction between asthenospheric low-degree melts and the overlying subcontinental lithospheric mantle. In contrast, the more widespread Quaternary sodic volcanism in this region is predominantly sourced from the upwelling asthenosphere without significant overprinting from the subcontinental lithospheric mantle.

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.

Crustal seismic velocity and density structure of the Intermontane and Coast belts, southwestern Cordillera

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 1362-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
George D Spence ◽  
Nancy A McLean
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Lower Crust ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
High Density ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
Seismic Velocities ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Reflection Data

Seismic refraction - wide-angle reflection data were recorded along a 450 km profile across the Intermontane, Coast, and Insular belts of the Canadian Cordillera. Crust and upper mantle structure was interpreted from traveltime inversion and forward-amplitude modelling, and the resultant seismic velocities were used to constrain modelling of the Bouguer gravity data along the profile. A high-velocity, high-density block in the upper 8 km of crust was interpreted as the subsurface extension of Harrison terrane; the Harrison fault at its eastern boundary may extend to at least 8 km depth and perhaps 20 km. Throughout the crust, both seismic velocities and densities are in general high beneath the Insular belt, low beneath the Coast and western Intermontane belts, and intermediate beneath the eastern Intermontane belt. However, densities are unusually low in the lower crust beneath the Coast belt (2800 kg/m3), relative to velocities (6.6-6.8 km/s). This indicates that Coast belt plutonic material is present throughout the crust; strong upper mantle reflectivity, previously interpreted on a Lithoprobe reflection line beneath the western Coast belt, may be high-density residue associated with the unusually low density plutonic material. Based on gravity data, Wrangellia must terminate sharply against the western edge of the Coast belt. In the lower crust, the lowest seismic velocities are found vertically beneath the surface trace of the Fraser fault, where velocities just above the Moho only reach 6.5 km/s, in contrast with 6.8 km/s beneath the western Coast belt and eastern Intermontane belt. This provides support for a subvertical geometry for the Fraser fault, perhaps with a broad zone of diffuse shearing in the lower crust. At this location, the Fraser fault does not appear to vertically offset the Moho, which is well-constrained at a uniform depth of km east of the Harrison fault.

scholarly journals Large-scale variation in seismic anisotropy in the crust and upper mantle beneath Anatolia, Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cédric P. Legendre ◽  
Li Zhao ◽  
Tai-Lin Tseng
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Wave Splitting ◽  
Mantle Processes ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Subduction System ◽  
Anisotropic Phase ◽  
Regional Tectonics

AbstractThe average anisotropy beneath Anatolia is very strong and is well constrained by shear-wave splitting measurements. However, the vertical layering of anisotropy and the contribution of each layer to the overall pattern is still an open question. Here, we construct anisotropic phase-velocity maps of fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves for the Anatolia region using ambient noise seismology and records from several regional seismic stations. We find that the anisotropy patterns in the crust, lithosphere and asthenosphere beneath Anatolia have limited amplitudes and are generally consistent with regional tectonics and mantle processes dominated by the collision between Eurasia and Arabia and the Aegean/Anatolian subduction system. The anisotropy of these layers in the crust and upper mantle are, however, not consistent with the strong average anisotropy measured in this area. We therefore suggest that the main contribution to overall anisotropy likely originates from a deep and highly anisotropic region round the mantle transition zone.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document