The Sorgenfrei–Tornquist Zone as the mantle edge of Baltica lithosphere: new evidence from three‐dimensional seismic anisotropy

Abstract

AbstractJoint analysis of shear‐wave splitting parameters and directional dependence of teleseismic P residuals based on data from the seismic experiment TOR across the Trans‐European Suture Zone suggest that the Sorgenfrei–Tornquist Zone (STZ) in northern Denmark forms the south‐western margin of Baltica in the upper mantle. Different lithosphere thickness and different orientation of seismic anisotropy in the mantle lithosphere identify three domains separated by the STZ between Denmark and southern Sweden and the Thor Suture between northern Germany and Denmark. We suggest that the anisotropy reflects frozen‐in olivine fabrics, most probably created during early stages of the evolution of the European continent. The middle Danish block might represent a microplate caught in between Avalonia and Baltica before the Caledonian orogeny.