Europrobe seismic reflection profiling across the eastern Middle Urals and West Siberian Basin

Abstract

New deep seismic reflection data provide images of the crust and uppermost mantle underlying the eastern Middle Urals and adjacent West Siberian Basin. Distinct truncations of reflections delineate the late‐orogenic strike‐slip Sisert Fault extending vertically to ∼28 km depth, and two gently E‐dipping reflection zones, traceable to 15–18 km depth, probably represent normal faults associated with the opening of the West Siberian Basin. A possible remnant Palaeozoic subduction zone in the lower crust under the West Siberian Basin is visible as a gently SW‐dipping zone of pronounced reflectivity truncated by the Moho. Continuity of shallow to intermediate‐depth reflections suggest that Palaeozoic accreted island‐arc terranes and overlying molasse sequences exposed in the hinterland of the Urals form the basement for Triassic and younger deposits in the West Siberian Basin. A highly reflective lower crust overlies a transparent mantle at about 43 km depth along the entire 100 km long seismic reflection section, suggesting that the lower crust and Moho below the eastern Middle Urals and West Siberian Basin have the same origin.