Teleseismic P-Wave Coda Autocorrelation Imaging of Crustal and Basin Structure, Bighorn Mountains Region, Wyoming, U.S.A.

Abstract

ABSTRACT We demonstrate successful crustal imaging via teleseismic P-wave coda autocorrelation, using data recorded on a 261 station array of vertical-component high-frequency geophones in the area of the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming, U.S.A. We autocorrelate the P-wave coda of 30 teleseismic events and use phase-weighted stacking to yield seismic profiles comparable to low-passed versions of those produced via controlled-source vertical seismic reflection. Our process recovers reflections from the bottoms of the Bighorn and Powder River basins that flank the Bighorn Mountains. We also identify a mid-crustal reflector that aligns with a region of increased reflectivity, previously interpreted as a Precambrian province boundary. Our results demonstrate the utility of crustal imaging with teleseismic P-wave coda energy using modern large-array seismic data, and they corroborate previous interpretations of crustal structures in the study area.