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.

Crust and upper mantle velocity structure of the Intermontane belt, southern Canadian Cordillera

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1530-1548 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Zelt ◽  
R. M. Ellis ◽  
R. M. Clowes ◽  
E. R. Kanasewich ◽  
I. Asudeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Lower Crust ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Seismic Reflection Profile ◽  
Wide Angle ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Middle Crust ◽  
Refraction Data

As part of the Lithoprobe Southern Cordillera transect, seismic refraction data were recorded along a 330 km long strike profile in the Intermontane belt. An iterative combination of two-dimensional traveltime inversion and amplitude forward modelling was used to interpret crust and upper mantle P-wave velocity structure. This region is characterized by (i) a thin near-surface layer with large variations in velocity between 2.8 and 5.4 km/s, and low-velocity regions that correlate well with surface expressions of Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks; (ii) an upper and middle crust with low average velocity gradient, possibly a weak low-velocity zone, and lateral velocity variations between 6.0 and 6.4 km/s; (iii) a distinctive lower crust characterized by significantly higher average velocities relative to midcrustal values beginning at 23 km depth, approximately 8 km thick with average velocities of 6.5 and 6.7 km/s at top and base; (iv) a depth to Moho, as defined by wide-angle reflections, that averages 33 km with variations up to 2 km; and (v) a Moho transition zone of depth extent 1–3 km, below which lies the upper mantle with velocities decreasing from 7.9 km/s in the south to 7.7 km/s in the north. Where the refraction line obliquely crosses a Lithoprobe deep seismic-reflection profile, good agreement is obtained between the interpreted reflection section and the derived velocity structure model. In particular, depths to wide-angle reflectors in the upper crust agree with depths to prominent reflection events, and Moho depths agree within 1 km. From this comparison, the upper and middle crust probably comprise the upper part of the Quesnellia terrane. The lower crust from the refraction interpretation does not show the division into two components, parautochthonous and cratonic North America, that is inferred from the reflection data, indicating that their physical properties are not significantly different within the resolution of the refraction data. Based on these interpretations, the lower lithosphere of Quesnellia is absent and presumably was recycled in the mantle. At a depth of ~ 16 km below the Moho, an upper mantle reflector may represent the base of the present lithosphere.

An improved velocity model for the crust and upper mantle along the central mobile belt of the Newfoundland Appalachian orogen and its offshore extension

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 1238-1251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deping Chian ◽  
François Marillier ◽  
Jeremy Hall ◽  
Garry Quinlan
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Lower Crust ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Sedimentary Basins ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Mobile Belt ◽  
Wide Angle ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Angle Data ◽  
Appalachian Orogen

New modelling of wide-angle reflection-refraction data of the Canadian Lithoprobe East profile 91-1 along the central mobile belt of the Newfoundland Appalachian orogen reveals new features of the upper mantle, and establishes links in the crust and upper mantle between existing land and marine wide-angle data sets by combining onshore-offshore recordings. The revised model provides detailed velocity structure in the 30-34 km thick crust and the top 30 km of upper mantle. The lower crust is characterized by a velocity of 6.6-6.8 km/s onshore, increasing by 0.2 km/s to the northeast offshore beneath the sedimentary basins. This seaward increase in velocity may be caused by intrusion of about 4 km of basic rocks into the lower crust during the extension that formed the overlying Carboniferous basins. The Moho is found at 34 km depth onshore, rising to 30 km offshore to the northeast with a local minimum of 27 km. The data confirm the absence of deep crustal roots under the central mobile belt of Newfoundland. Our long-range (up to 450 km offset) wide-angle data define a bulk velocity of 8.1-8.3 km/s within the upper 20 km of mantle. The data also contain strong reflective phases that can be correlated with two prominent mantle reflectors. The upper reflector is found at 50 km depth under central Newfoundland, rising abruptly towards the northeast where it reaches a minimum depth of 36 km. This reflector is associated with a thin layer (1-2 km) unlikely to coincide with a discontinuity with a large cross-boundary change in velocity. The lower reflector at 55-65 km depths is much stronger, and may have similar origins to reflections observed below the Appalachians in the Canadian Maritimes which are associated with a velocity increase to 8.5 km/s. Our data are insufficient for discriminating among various interpretations for the origins of these mantle reflectors.

Interpretation of three-dimensional seismic refraction data from western Hecate Strait, British Columbia: structure of the crust

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1440-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Hole ◽  
R. M. Clowes ◽  
R. M. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Wide Angle ◽  
Lateral Velocity ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Velocity Anomaly ◽  
Air Gun ◽  
Refraction Data

As part of a multidisciplinary investigation of the structure and tectonics of the Queen Charlotte Basin and underlying crust, deep multichannel seismic reflection and coincident crustal refraction data were collected in 1988. Energy from the reflection air-gun array source was recorded at land sites at offsets appropriate to record crustal refraction and wide-angle reflection data. Refraction data recorded in a broadside geometry provide good three-dimensional coverage of western Hecate Strait. These data are modelled using tomographic inversion techniques to determine the three-dimensional velocity structure of the crust in this region. The one-dimensional average velocity increases rapidly with depth to 6.5 km/s at 7 km depth. Velocities from 7 to at least 12 km depth remain approximately constant and are associated with rocks of the Wrangellia terrane. Significant lateral velocity variations, including large differences in near-surface velocities attributable to surface features, relatively low velocities representing interbedded Tertiary sediments and volcanics, and a deep high-velocity anomaly that may represent the root of an igneous intrusion, are mapped. Wide-angle reflections from the Moho are used to determine the thickness of the crust. The Moho is at 29 km depth beneath the east coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands. This is deeper than the Moho observed below Queen Charlotte Sound and as deep as, or deeper than, that below Hecate Strait. Crustal thinning during Tertiary extension was thus greatest beneath the surface expression of the Queen Charlotte Basin, leaving the crust under the islands considerably thicker than under the basin. In an alternate or additional explanation, compression at the continental margin during the last 4 Ma may have been taken up by thickening or underplating of the continental crust beneath the islands. If the Pacific plate is subducting beneath the islands, the Moho observations constrain the slab to dip greater than 20–26°.

Crust and upper mantle Q from seismic refraction data: Peace River region

1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 1040-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Zelt ◽  
R. M. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Spectral Ratio ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Spectral Ratios ◽  
P Waves ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Peace River ◽  
River Region ◽  
Refraction Data

Crustal refraction data from the Peace River region of Alberta, Canada, have been analyzed using the spectral ratio method to obtain Q. A total of 1205 first and later arrivals corresponding to turning and reflected P-waves within the crust and upper mantle were studied. Source spectra were estimated from near-offset traces assuming typical sedimentary Q values. The large scatter of measured spectral ratios restricted the resolution to a three-layer model of the crust and upper mantle with Q constant in each layer. This model was obtained using a linear inverse method since the measured spectral ratios and known traveltimes in each layer are linearly related through the attentuation (Q−1) in each layer. A weighted L1 norm was minimized using linear programming, the weights being a measure of the certainty of each spectral ratio. The inversion was performed using the 25% most certain spectral ratios, regardless of magnitude or sign. Model bounds taking account of the scattered data were estimated. The results suggest that Q is between 200 and 500 in the upper crust and greater than 600 in the lower crust and upper mantle. This model is generally consistent with Q obtained from studies on nearby crust.

scholarly journals Seismic velocity structure of the Queen Charlotte terrace off western Canada in the region of the 2012 Haida Gwaii Mw 7.8 thrust earthquake

Geosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Riedel ◽  
S. Yelisetti ◽  
C. Papenberg ◽  
K.M.M. Rohr ◽  
M.M. Côté ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Velocity ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Crustal Material ◽  
Haida Gwaii ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Refraction Data

A well-recorded Mw 7.8 megathrust earthquake occurred on 27 October 2012 under the Queen Charlotte terrace off the west coast of Haida Gwaii, western Canada. In this study, we supplement limited earlier seismic refraction work on the offshore velocity structure off Haida Gwaii with data from ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) operating between 6 December 2012 and 5 January 2013. The OBS recorded a portion of the aftershock sequence, and an active-source seismic survey was conducted in January 2013 to acquire seismic refraction data in the region of the Haida Gwaii earthquake across the Queen Charlotte terrace. P-wave velocity analyses using first-arrival tomography showed relatively shallow (2.0–3.0 km below seafloor) high-velocity material with values up to 4.0 km/s beneath the terrace. At the one OBS station seaward of the deformation front on the abyssal plain, refraction velocities of ~4.5 km/s indicated the top of the oceanic plate at ~1–2 km below the seafloor. At sev­eral OBS stations, converted shear-wave velocities were determined within the sediment cover using reflected arrivals. The S-wave velocities ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 km/s, and the corresponding P/S velocity ratio was between 3.0 and 4.2. The new refraction data confirm earlier interpretations of high-velocity material in the shallow terrace that may indicate fractured oceanic crustal material lies significantly above the location where a sub­ducted slab is thought to occur under the terrace. Transpressive deformation of the Pacific plate may explain these observations.

Deep velocity image of the north Zagros collision zone (Iran) from regional and teleseismic tomography

2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 1729-1740 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Rahmani ◽  
K Motaghi ◽  
A Ghods ◽  
F Sobouti ◽  
M Talebian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
High Velocity ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Central Iran ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Arabian Plate ◽  
Zagros Mountains ◽  
Teleseismic Tomography ◽  
The North ◽  
Collision Zone

SUMMARY We inverted 3555 regional and teleseismic P-wave relative time residuals to resolve deep velocity structure beneath the NW part of the Zagros collision zone. The data were gathered by 46 seismic stations installed along a ∼520-km-long seismic profile crossing the Zagros Mountains, Central Iran and the western Alborz Mountains. The obtained tomogram reveals a high velocity lithospheric root beneath the Zagros Mountains and a low velocity wedge in the frontal edge of the Arabian Plate beneath the suture that might be interpreted as beginning of delamination of lower part of the Arabian mantle lithosphere from its upper part. A significant deep (depth >350 km) high velocity feature is observed in the lower part of the upper mantle to the north of the Zagros suture and beneath Central Iran. We interpret this feature as the remains of oceanic slab of the Neotethys lying in the lower portion of the upper mantle and the transition zone.

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.

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