Studies of the continental crust by near-vertical reflection methods: a review

Abstract

The development of near-vertical reflection methods for investigating the continental crust is strongly related to progress that has been made in seismic prospecting and in wide-angle observation in crustal refraction studies. Owing to the good structural resolution of near-vertical reflection methods, many details concerning first-order interfaces in the upper and lower crust have been established. While reflectors in the upper crust often appear to resemble thrust faults or diffractions from dome-like structures, increased reflectivity of the lower crust often provides indications of strong interactions with the underlying mantle. Differences in reflection density in U.S. and W. German surveys may be attributed mainly to the different tectonic styles, rather than to the use of different techniques. The occurrence of some reflectors with negative polarity within the band of reflections in the lower crust supports the concept of a laminated crust-mantle transition. A negative reflection polarity has also been detected at a low-velocity, gouge-containing thrust fault in the upper crust. The velocity resolution of near-vertical techniques can be improved over that of wide-angle methods by using spread lengths greater than 15 km. Regarding the accretion of the crust, both autochthonous creation from the underlying mantle, and horizontal, allochthonous accretion along thrust faults play a major role. The detection of sediments below such thrust planes and of magma bodies along other fault zones provides an interesting new view for prospecting surveys.