3-D velocity images of the crust and upper mantle of the tianshan area

Abstract

3-D velocity images of the crust and upper mantle in the Tianshan are established by means of seismic tomograghy. From the results, some understanding can be achieved as follows: (1) The northern and central parts of the Tianshan are the uplifted areas with high velocities. The low velocity areas in front of the northern and southern flanks of the Tianshan are formed by the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, Turpan Basin, Kuqa depression, Kalpin fault block and Kaxgar depression. The Ili Basin and the western Kunlun appear as intracrustal stable high velocity blocks, while the Bachu uplift extends down to the crustal bottom. Along the main peaks of the Tianshan and Mt. Kongur of the western Kunlun, the Moho depresses on a great scale to form five large low velocity areas. (2) In the northern Tianshan and western Junggar Basin, the lithosphere is thicker and features a high velocity probably with an asthenolith layer existing on the top of the upper mantle. In the southern Tianshan, the feature of the lithosphere is not very clear, and the existence of a comic low velocity block between 120–280 km depth in the Kaxgar area is presumably related with the upwelling of astenolith from the upper mantle. (3) Some relation does exist between velocity structures and seismic activities, especially those gradient belts between the low velocity zone in the upper crust and the low velocity zone in the lower crust may be the tectonic positions for the preparation of moderate-strong earthquakes. (4) Seismically active areas on the northern and southern flanks of the Tianshan are locations with most inhomogeneous crustal media and well-developed deep faults. Fractures or interlayer-gliding are very likely to occur under the action of tectonic forces and thus to induce earthquakes in these areas.