Intraplate depth-dependent lithospheric stretching imaged by seismic reflection data

Abstract Geological and geophysical data coupled with numerical simulations have shown that lithospheric extension at passive margins may be classified into three end-member scenarios of pure shear, simple shear, and depth-dependent deformation. However, how lithospheric extension evolves in an intraplate setting remains enigmatic due to lack of reliable constraints on the deep lithospheric architecture. Here we use a seismic reflection profile across the ~800-km-wide Cretaceous intraplate extensional system of South China to illustrate depth-dependent kinematic decoupling of extension in a mechanically stratified lithosphere. The extension was initially distributed in magma-poor conditions as expressed by normal faulting in the upper crust and lower-crustal flow toward the rift axis. Necking of the crust and Moho uplift led to mantle shear-zone formation, lower-crustal flow toward the rift flanks, and deep mantle flow. We demonstrate that the extensional modes vary with decreasing mantle strength from magma-poor to magma-rich domains, as reflected in decreasing crust-mantle decoupling with increased Moho temperatures (TM), and the replacement of a two-layer (brittle vs ductile) mantle by a fully ductile mantle. These findings reveal a first-order lithospheric configuration of intraplate depth-dependent extension driven by far-field stresses attributable to slab retreat.

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Crustal structure and surface zonation of the Canadian Appalachians: implications of deep seismic reflection data

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e89-025 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 305-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

François Marillier ◽

Charlotte E. Keen ◽

Glen S. Stockmal ◽

Garry Quinlan ◽

Harold Williams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seismic Reflection ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Surface Expression ◽

Seismic Profiles ◽

Crust And Upper Mantle ◽

Seismic Reflection Data ◽

Central Block ◽

Reflection Data ◽

Lower Crustal ◽

Canadian Appalachians

In 1986, 1181 km of marine seismic reflection data was collected to 18–20 s of two-way traveltime in the Gulf of St. Lawrence area. The seismic profiles sample all major surface tectono-stratigraphic zones of the Canadian Appalachians. They complement the 1984 deep reflection survey northeast of Newfoundland. Together, the seismic profiles reveal the regional three-dimensional geometry of the orogen.Three lower crustal blocks are distinguished on the seismic data. They are referred to as the Grenville, Central, and Avalon blocks, from west to east. The Grenville block is wedge shaped in section, and its subsurface edge follows the form of the Appalachian structural front. The Grenville block abuts the Central block at mid-crustal to mantle depths. The Avalon block meets the Central block at a steep junction that penetrates the entire crust.Consistent differences in the seismic character of the Moho help identify boundaries of the deep crustal blocks. The Moho signature varies from uniform over extended distances to irregular with abrupt depth changes. In places the Moho is offset by steep reflections that cut the lower crust and upper mantle. In other places, the change in Moho elevation is gradual, with lower crustal reflections following its form. In all three blocks the crust is generally highly reflective, with no distinction between a transparent upper crust and reflective lower crust.In general, Carboniferous and Mesozoic basins crossed by the seismic profiles overlie thinner crust. However, a deep Moho is found at some places beneath the Carboniferous Magdalen Basin.The Grenville block belongs to the Grenville Craton; the Humber Zone is thrust over its dipping southwestern edge. The Dunnage Zone is allochthonous above the opposing Grenville and Central blocks. The Gander Zone may be the surface expression of the Central block or may be allochthonous itself. There is a spatial analogy between the Avalon block and the Avalon Zone. Our profile across the Meguma Zone is too short to seismically distinguish this zone from the Avalon Zone.

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Lower crustal heterogeneity beneath Britain from deep seismic reflection data

Journal of the Geological Society ◽

10.1144/gsjgs.146.4.0617 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 146 (4) ◽

pp. 617-630 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

R. A. CHADWICK ◽

T. C. PHARAOH ◽

N. J. P. SMITH

Keyword(s):

Seismic Reflection ◽

Seismic Reflection Data ◽

Deep Seismic Reflection ◽

Reflection Data ◽

Crustal Heterogeneity ◽

Lower Crustal

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Harmonic distortion on a seismic reflection profile across the Quebec Appalachians: relation to Bouguer gravity and implications for crustal structure

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e84-036 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 346-353 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Frederick A. Cook

Keyword(s):

Seismic Reflection ◽

Far East ◽

Harmonic Distortion ◽

High Amplitude ◽

Seismic Reflection Profile ◽

Bouguer Gravity ◽

Seismic Reflection Data ◽

Arrival Times ◽

Amplitude Noise ◽

Reflection Data

Seismic reflection data obtained across the Quebec Appalachians using the VIBROSEIS (trademark Conoco) technique were recorded with parameters that allowed harmonic distortion arrivals to interfere with layered reflections. The data exhibit reflections from layered miogeoclinal rocks dipping eastward beneath the allochthonous rocks of the orogen; the layering appears to terminate beneath the Notre Dame Anticlinorium. However, as the apparent termination of the layers also occurs at the arrival times of high-amplitude noise harmonics, it may have no geological significance. Precambrian Grenville crust, which probably underlies the layered sediments, extends at least as far east as the apparent termination, and may extend much farther. Examination of the Bouguer gravity field in relation to the seismic reflection data shows that a major gravity change is due to density differences that occur considerably west of the eastern limit of Precambrian Grenville crust. The gravity thus shows no correlation with surface structures proposed as suture zones. An actualistic model incorporates subduction of a passive (Atlantic-type) margin beneath an arc terrain during the Ordovician.

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The southern Omineca Belt, British Columbia: new perspectives from the Lithoprobe Geoscience Program

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e95-135 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 32 (10) ◽

pp. 1720-1739 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Sharon D. Carr

Keyword(s):

Late Cretaceous ◽

Seismic Reflection ◽

Shear Zones ◽

Crustal Thickening ◽

Seismic Reflection Data ◽

Reflection Data ◽

Basement Rocks ◽

Peraluminous Granites ◽

Surface Geology ◽

Lower Crustal

Geological, isotopic, and geochronology studies carried out by university and government researchers, concurrently with the Lithoprobe program, have greatly refined our understanding of the regional geology, crustal structure, and tectonics of the Omineca Belt. Sound correlations have been established between surface geology and seismic reflection data. Cretaceous–Eocene thrust faults that are imaged in the subsurface in the Shuswap complex may be part of a break-forward thrust system that feeds into the Purcell Anticlinorium and the Foreland Belt. The Monashee décollement is the western continuation of the sole thrust beneath the Foreland Belt and provides a means of linking shortening across the entire orogen. The thermal peak of metamorphism in the central and southern Shuswap complex is now known to have occurred in the Late Cretaceous–Paleogene in contrast with earlier held views. North American basement rocks are now known to extend beneath the eastern half of the Canadian Cordillera. Geochronology studies have revealed Early Proterozoic and Late Cretaceous–Eocene metamorphism in basement rocks of the Monashee complex, and suggest that these rocks were located to the east of the metamorphic front throughout the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Anatectic peraluminous granites were produced in the Shuswap complex between 135 and 52 Ma in response to pulses of crustal thickening and heating, and in some cases served to localize Eocene extensional shear zones and to transfer extensional displacement from one shear zone to another. A flat Moho and other seismic reflection data are consistent with interpretations of lower crustal flow to balance early Tertiary extension in the upper crust. Crustal-scale extension and the Slocan Lake fault zone provided the source and setting for Ag–Pb–Zn–Au mineralization in the Nelson–Silverton area.

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Crustal geometry of the Abitibi Subprovince, in light of three-dimensional seismic reflector orientations

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e97-129 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 569-582 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

G Bellefleur ◽

A J Calvert ◽

M C Chouteau

Keyword(s):

Seismic Reflection ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Seismic Reflection Data ◽

Volcanic Arc ◽

The North ◽

Reflection Data ◽

Abitibi Subprovince ◽

Seismic Reflection Profiles ◽

Lower Crustal ◽

Seismic Reflector

We provide precise estimates of reflector orientations beneath the Archean Abitibi Subprovince, using two distinct approaches based on Lithoprobe seismic reflection data. In the first, we use the dip of reflections observed on intersecting profiles to establish the three-dimensional orientation of reflective structures. In the second, the strikes and dips of reflectors are estimated in the crooked parts of seismic reflection profiles by calculating a measure of coherency along the traveltime trajectories defined by a particular azimuth, dip, depth, and medium velocity. Mid-crustal reflectors define two areas with distinctive geometry: reflectors beneath the southern Abitibi belt are oppositely dipping, and convergent at depth, providing a V-shape aspect to the greenstone rocks; other reflectors beneath the northern Abitibi belt are, in general, subparallel, dipping at an average of 30° toward the north. These north-dipping reflectors are partly disrupted by a low-reflectivity zone, which is attributed to rocks of the Opatica Subprovince, located underneath the northern Abitibi belt. Lower-crustal reflectors have a similar, shallowly north-dipping orientation throughout the Abitibi Subprovince. The geometry of the reflectors recovered is consistent with the different tectonic histories proposed for the southern and northern Abitibi assemblages, until common deformation during a north-south shortening event. Attitudes recovered in the northern Abitibi belt are consistent with tectonic scenarios involving underthrusting of Abitibi middle and lower crustal terranes beneath the Opatica belt, whereas the oppositely dipping reflectors recovered in the middle crust beneath the southern Abitibi belt could be representative of a rifted volcanic arc environment.

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Paleo-Proterozoic thick-skinned tectonics: Lithoprobe seismic reflection results from the eastern Trans-Hudson Orogen

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e94-042 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 458-469 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

D. J. White ◽

S. B. Lucas ◽

Z. Hajnal ◽

A. G. Green ◽

J. F. Lewry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seismic Reflection ◽

Apparent Contradiction ◽

Seismic Reflection Data ◽

Crustal Rocks ◽

Reflection Data ◽

Granulite Belt ◽

Northwestern Margin ◽

Flin Flon ◽

Lower Crustal ◽

Superior Craton

New seismic reflection data collected by Lithoprobe across the Trans-Hudson Orogen (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) provide striking images of juvenile paleo-Proterozoic arc rocks (Flin Flon and Kisseynew belts) juxtaposed against the deformed northwestern margin of the Archean Superior craton. Crustal imbrication on a scale imaged in few other orogens is observed within the Flin Flon Belt where a package of shallowly east-dipping reflections extends from the surface to 14 s. These reflections are attributed to middle to lower crustal arc rocks that appear to have been stacked below a major detachment that underlies the upper crustal rocks of the Flin Flon Belt. Surprisingly, the seismic images show the juvenile arc rocks dipping moderately eastward beneath the craton in apparent contradiction to existing tectonic models. Geological and geochronological evidence suggest that the observed crustal imbrication probably reflects late-collisional or postcollisional convergence rather than earlier oceanic subduction polarity. The east-dipping reflection fabric, marking a Hudsonian tectonic overprint, extends across the Superior Boundary Zone up to the Pikwitonei Granulite Belt where upper crustal reflections are west dipping. An east-dipping seismic boundary between these domains, which soles into the mid-crust, may represent a west-verging thrust fault along which the crust of the Archean Superior craton was uplifted.

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An interpretation of the gravity anomaly at Warlingham, Surrey

Geological Magazine ◽

10.1017/s0016756800007895 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 133 (5) ◽

pp. 619-624

Author(s):

P. Kearey ◽

A. M. Rabae

Keyword(s):

Gravity Anomaly ◽

Seismic Reflection ◽

The Body ◽

Seismic Reflection Profile ◽

Seismic Reflection Data ◽

Shaped Body ◽

The North ◽

Reflection Data ◽

Platform Comparison ◽

Upper Boundary

AbstractAn interpretation of the negative gravity anomaly at Warlingham, Surrey, controlled by a seismic reflection profile and several boreholes, suggest that it may be caused by a wedge-shaped body of lowdensity Upper Palaeozoic rocks. The seismic reflection data suggest that the upper boundary of the body may be thrust-controlled and originated during Variscan compression. The location of the thrusting appears to be controlled by the southern margin of the stable London Platform. Comparison with similar structures of this type elsewhere suggests that the Variscan Front in this area lies just to the north of Warlingham.

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