Differences in lithospheric structures between two sides of Taihang Mountain obtained from the Zhucheng-Yichuan deep seismic sounding profile

Abstract

A 2-D model of lithospheric velocity structures in the southern part of the North China Craton was obtained using data from the Zhucheng-Yichuan deep seismic sounding profile. Results show that there are great differences in lithospheric structures between two sides of Taihang Mountain. In the eastern region, the lithosphere is thinner, with a thickness of about 70–80 km, while in the western region, the thickness is 85–120 km. There is a jump of the lithospheric thickness across Taihang Mountain gravity anomaly belt with a magnitude of about 30 km. P wave velocities of the lithospheric mantle and lower crust are lower in the eastern region and higher in the western region. In the eastern region, there are low velocity bodies in the middle and lower crust, while none were found in the western region. These differences indicate that the Taihang Mountain gravity anomaly belt is a belt with a abrupt change of lithospheric thickness and lithological composition. According to the Pm waveform, it can be deduced that the Moho in the eastern region is not a sharp discontinuity, but a complex transitional zone. From a preliminary analysis, it is found that the geothermal mechanical-chemical erosion could be the main mechanism causing the thinning and destruction of the lithosphere beneath the eastern side of Taihang Mountain. In addition, subduction of the Pacific Plate is an important factor which changes the properties of the lithospheric mantle of the North China Craton.