Lithospheric cross sections of the European Cenozoic rift system

Abstract

The lithospheric structure of the European Cenozoic rift system ( ecris) is presented in transects through the southern Rhine Graben and the Rhenish Massif/Hessen depression, emphasizing the geophysical structure of the lithosphere based on seismic refraction/reflection investigations, teleseismic tomography, electromagnetic depth-sounding models, and gravity, aeromagnetic, earthquake, uplift/subsidence and heat flow data. The rift is clearly expressed in the Rhine Graben, but is not evident at the surface in the area of the Rhenish Massif where its existence is indicated by seismicity. It is characterized by abnormal crustal and upper-mantle structures which vary considerably in horizontal direction. For example, under the Rhine Graben the crust is thinned to 25 km, but at 40 km depth anomalously high velocities are observed. In contrast, beneath the Rhenish Massif the crust is thickened to 35–37 km and under its eastern part a high-velocity thin upper-mantle slice is seen at 30 km depth within the lower crust which, towards the Hessen depression, is gradually replaced by normal Variscan mantle with the Moho near 30 km depth. Under the western part of the Rhenish Massif P- and S-wave velocities are reduced below 50 km depth which is not seen east of the Rhine river. Under the Rhine Graben the existence of a low-velocity upper mantle above 100 km cannot be generalized, but is restricted to confined regions.