Thinning Of Continental Crust Research Articles

Earthquake Detectability and Depth Resolution with Dense Arrays in Long Beach, California: Further Evidence for Upper-Mantle Seismicity within a Continental Setting

Abstract The Newport–Inglewood fault (NIF) is a slowly deforming fault cutting through a thin continental crust with a normal geothermal; yet it hosts some of the deepest earthquakes in southern California. The nucleation of deep earthquakes in such a continental setting is not well understood. Moreover, the deep seismogenic zone implies that the maximum NIF earthquake magnitude may be larger than expected. Here, we quantify the resolution of the Long Beach (LB) and the Extended Long Beach (ELB) dense arrays used to study deep NIF seismicity. Previous study of the regional catalog and of downward-continued LB array data found NIF seismicity extending into the upper mantle beneath LB. Later studies, which analyzed the ELB raw data, found little evidence for such deep events. To resolve this inconsistency, we quantify the array’s microearthquake detectability and resolution power via analysis of pre- and postdownward migrated LB seismograms and benchmark tests. Downward migration focuses energy onto the source region and deamplifies the surface noise, thus significantly improving detectability and resolution. The detectability is also improved with the increase in the array aperture-to-source-depth ratio. The LB array maximum aperture is only 20% larger than the ELB aperture, yet its resolution for deep (>20 km) events is improved by about a factor of two, suggesting that small changes to the array geometry may yield significant improvement to the resolution power. Assuming a constant aperture, we find the LB array maintain resolution with 1% of its sensors used for backprojection. However, the high-sensor density is essential for improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Analysis of the regional and array-derived NIF catalogs together with newly acquired Moho depths beneath the NIF suggests that mantle seismicity beneath LB may be a long-lived feature of this fault.

Middle Triassic basaltic pyroclastic rocks from the Mt. Medvednica ophiolitic mélange (NW Croatia): petrology, geochemistry and tectono-magmatic setting

Hectometric blocks of Middle Triassic mafic pyroclastic rocks, represented by volcanic agglomerates/breccias and lapilli tuffs, form part of the ophiolitic mélange of Mt. Medvednica, situated in the southwestern segment of the Zagorje-Mid-Transdanubian Zone. These rocks share petrochemical characteristics with pyroclastic derivatives of alkali, within-plate basaltic lavas of Mts. Medvednica, Samoborska Gora, and Kalnik, indicating the occurrence of explosive events preceding the dominant effusive submarine volcanism during the Middle Triassic (Illyrian-Fassanian?) stages. The formation of these pre-ophiolitic pyroclastics is associated with an intracontinental rift setting and reflects melts derived from an OIB-type enriched mantle plume source. These pyroclastics represent uncontaminated melts that erupted through a highly thinned continental crust. In geodynamic terms, the formation of pyroclastites occurred during the Late Anisian-Early Ladinian along the continental margin of Palaeotethys through the proto back-arc rifting of continental lithosphere (Adria Plate), leading to the formation of the Maliak/Balkan Neotethys Rift, in the emerging northwestern segment of Neotethys. The investigated pyroclastic rocks of Mt. Medvednica document the extension in an evolved intracontinental rift basin, which immediately preceded the generation of the initial Neotethyan oceanic lithosphere during the Upper Triassic.

Tectono-metamorphic interaction of upper mantle peridotites and lower crustal units during continental rifting in the western Betic Cordillera

Recent geological mapping conducted in the Ronda Peridotites (Betic Cordillera, S Spain) has revealed a systematic field correlation between lower crustal metamorphic units and different tectono-metamorphic domains of the ultramafic massif. Mylonitic and highly tectonized Spl ± Grt peridotites (i.e., Grt-Spl mylonite and Spl tectonite domains), which are considered to be derived from a thick continental lithosphere, are in contact with garnet-bearing gneisses (i.e., kinzigites) of the Jubrique unit along a narrow but continuous mylonitic shear zone. Phase equilibrium calculations indicate that the metamorphic rocks of the Jubrique unit are consistent with an initial continental setting characterized by normal crustal thicknesses, which underwent two melting events. The first melting occurred at 0.9–1.0 GPa / 770–800 °C and resulted in 13 %melt, while the second one took place at shallower crustal conditions (0.4–0.5 GPa and 710–765 °C) and led to more restricted melt production (2–3 %melt). In contrast, the Spl ± Pl peridotites (Pl-tectonite domain), which are stable only at shallowest mantle levels within a highly extended continental lithosphere, are consistently found exposed in contact with heterogeneous granites and migmatites of the Guadaiza unit. According to new thermodynamic modeling, the Guadaiza metamorphic rocks record a single melting event characterized by a theoretical melt production of 6 to 11 % at the base of a very thin continental crust (ca. 0.3 GPa and 675–710 °C). This process was likely facilitated by influx of external water, necessary to generate high melt fractions observed in the diatexites. The systematic correlation observed between crustal metamorphic units, consistently overlaying the mantle rocks, and specific ultramafic domains of the Ronda massif, suggests that their juxtaposition primarily resulted from the severe extension of the continental lithosphere.U-Pb radiometric dating of zircons from gneisses, migmatites, and heterogeneous granites in the middle crustal rocks of the Guadaiza unit indicates that extensional processes, crustal anatexis, and melt stagnation occurred at around 280 Ma. Comparison of these new radiometric ages with previous results from the Jubrique unit suggests that a Permian high-temperature / low- to medium-pressure event uniformly affected the crustal units over the Ronda Peridotites. This event coincided with the formation of characteristic ultramafic mineral assemblages within the Ronda massif and provides evidence for the interaction between upper mantle rocks and lower- to mid-crustal metamorphic rocks during this period.

O–Hf isotope ratios of Alvand S-type granite, western Iran, reveal crustal melting in an extensional regime

There are a few intrusive bodies in the central Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (C-SaSZ), which is parallel to the Zagros suture zone, in western Iran. The Alvand batholith in the Hamedan area is one of these bodies and consists of rock types with large variation, in particular, two-mica garnet-bearing granite with an S-type signature. Zircon UPb dating gives crystallization ages of 170–163 Ma for the S-type granite. The 176Hf/177Hf ratios in the zircon grains vary from 0.282001 to 0.282780 (rim), with low 176Lu/177Hf ratios (0.002 to 0.018). The εHf(t) values (rim) are clustered into two main groups: a negative εHf(t) group (−6.9 to 0.0, n = 39), with some highly negative εHf(t) values (−25.8 to −21.9, n = 3), and slightly positive εHf(t) values (+0.3 to +2.9, n = 14) of inherited grains. The δ18O values for the zircon grains are positive and range from +10.4‰ to +11.8‰. The high δ18O (positive) and mostly negative εHf(t) values are more consistent with continental crustal sources for these rocks, and the Hf model ages (TDM2) show a wide range from 2.7 to 0.8 Ga, suggesting the heterogeneity of the crustal components. The long incubation time (2089 to 544 Ma) indicates a long history of crustal residence and crustal reworking. The incubation age of the zircon grains, >300 Ma, confirms the recycling of crustal material by partial melting. The simultaneous occurrence of S-type granites with mafic bodies, such as gabbro and diorite members with tholeiitic signatures, suggests that the injection of mafic magma increased the geothermal gradient from the bottom and sides along the major faults, which was the trajectory for the injection of hot mafic melts to shallow depths. These processes abnormally increased the geothermal gradients locally, and the partial melting of crustal and supracrustal materials produced S-type granites and migmatization among the hot blade-shaped mafic bodies. Therefore, the partial melting of crustal material in an extensional tectonic regime and/or in a thin continental crust occurred in a continental rift and/or in the Neo-Tethys passive margin. The present work concludes that the passive margin can be suggested as the tectonic setting for the generation of S-type granites, without the collisional regime that has been widely considered for the sources of this type of granite in the world.

New Insights Into the Rift‐To‐Drift Process of the Northern South China Sea Margin Constrained by a Three‐Dimensional Wide‐Angle Seismic Velocity Model

AbstractA three‐dimensional (3D) P‐wave seismic velocity (Vp) model of the crust in the northern South China Sea margin drilled by IODP Expeditions 367/368/368X has been obtained with first‐arrival travel‐time tomography using wide‐angle seismic data from a network of 49 OBSs and 11 air‐gun shot lines. The 3D Vp distribution constrains the extent, structure and nature of the continental, continent to ocean transition (COT), and oceanic domains. Continental crust laterally ranges in thickness from ∼8 to 20 km, a ∼20 km‐width COT contains no evidence of exhumed mantle, and crust with clear oceanic seismic structure ranges in thickness from ∼4.5 to 9 km. A high‐velocity (7.0–7.5 km/s) lower crust (HVLC) ranges in thickness from ∼1 to 9 km across the continental and COT domains, which is interpreted as a proxy of syn‐rift and syn‐breakup magma associated to underplating and/or intrusions. Continental crust thinning style is abrupter in the NE segment and gradual in the SW segment. Abrupter continental thinning exhibits thicker HVLC at stretching factor (β) < ∼3, whereas gentler thinning associates to thinner HVLC at β > ∼4. Opening of the NE segment thus occurred by comparatively increased magmatism, whereas tectonic extension was more important in the SW segment. The Vp distribution shows the changes in deformation and magmatism are abrupt along the strike of the margin, with the segments possibly bounded by a transfer fault system. No conventional model explains the structure and segmentation of tectonic and magmatic processes. Local inherited lithospheric heterogeneities during rifting may have modulated the contrasting opening styles.

The Importance of Rift Inheritance in Understanding the Early Collisional Evolution of the Western Alps

We reassess the architecture and tectonic history of the Western Alps based on recent knowledge developed at rifted margins. First, we replace the main Alpine units of our study area into a synthetic rifted margin template based on diagnostic petrologic, stratigraphic, and structural criteria. We find that some units previously attributed to the internal part of the thick-crusted Briançonnais domain may rather derive from the thin-crusted Prepiemonte hyperextended domain. We assert that the Briançonnais and Prepiemonte domains were separated by a mega-fault scarp. Second, we revisit the Paleogeography of the Alpine Tethys, suggesting that the Briançonnais was a ribbon of little thinned continental crust between two overstepping en-échelon rift basins, namely the Valais domain to the northwest and the Piemonte domain to the southeast. We affirm that this uneven-margin architecture can explain most of the Western Alps’ complexity. In our kinematic model, convergence between Adria and Europe was mainly accommodated by strike-slip movements in the Western Alps until the late Eocene. Orogeny began with the reactivation of the mega-fault scarp between the Briançonnais and Prepiemonte domains, which we name Prepiemonte Basal Thrust. Once hard collision started, the main shortening stepped inboard into the Valais/Subbriançonnais domain along the Penninic Basal Thrust.

Crustal structure of the northern Manila subduction zone: Is thinned continental crust or oceanic crust subducting beneath the Luzon arc and forearc?

Forward and inverse P-wave velocity models along an E-W 280-km-long wide-angle reflection/refraction profile at 21°N across the northeastern South China Sea margin and Manila subduction zone reveal a 10–12 km thick thinned continental crust (TCC) located west of the Manila transcurrent fault (MTF) and Manila slab. The TCC is divided in two parts separated by the intra-continental velocity difference boundary (VDB). West of the VDB, the TCC is located above a high velocity layer (HVL). East of the VDB, the TCC consists of three layers: an undefined body with a velocity inversion at its base above the upper and lower crusts. The VDB and MTF merge east of the Hengchun peninsula showing that the TCC located east of the VDB decreases in size and disappears to the north. The distribution of earthquakes (EQs) shows that ∼80 km of crust have subducted east of the MTF since the onset of Luzon arc collision with Eurasia at ∼7 Ma. All published tomographies suggest the subduction of oceanic crust (OC). However, due to crustal corrections, up to a maximum width of 40 km of TCC might eventually exist in the upper part of the Manila slab instead of OC. Two end-members with 40 km of TCC or not in the upper part of the Manila slab were restored at ∼7 Ma. Since that time, the north Luzon island moved ∼600 km in the northwest while part of this motion was absorbed near the Hengchun peninsula by shrinking of Eurasia TCC, resulting in a ∼ 20° clockwise rotation of the Manila slab and MTF. Small Luzon arc blocks started to rotate 10°-30° clockwise at ∼7 Ma below northern Taiwan, 3–4 Ma in the Coastal range and 1 Ma in Lutao and Lanyu islands and not south of the Hengchun peninsula. Thus, both the clockwise rotation of the individual Luzon arc blocks and of the Manila slab and MTF might explain the collision process of the Luzon arc with the Eurasia continent.

The crustal structure inferred from gravity data and seismic profiles beneath the Okinawa Trough in the western Pacific

• The partitioned inversion is employed to calculate the depth of the Moho interface. • The depth of the Moho interface varies from 16 km to 26 km. • The stretching factor ranges from 1.4 to 2.5, increasing along the direction from north to south. • The inversion results indicate the crustal thinning in the Okinawa Trough. The Okinawa Trough is an active back-arc basin of the Ryukyu Island arc-trench system caused by the subduction of the Philippine Sea plate. The different controlling effects of plate subduction result in the unique characteristic of the crustal structure, fault development and magmatic activities. Studies on the crustal structure and properties are better to understand the origin and evolution of back-arc basins. To overcome the non-uniqueness of the gravity interface inversion and spatial limitation of seismic profiles, 19 published seismic results are selected for the soft constrained strategy. Furthermore, the partitioned interface inversion with the exponential density contrast model is utilized to obtain more detailed undulations of the Moho interface. The crustal thickness and the stretching factors of the Okinawa Trough are obtained as well. The results are reliable after the evaluation of the fitting degree of observed data, and the evaluation of recovered data and selected constraint points respectively. The results show that the overall variation trend of the crustal thickness in the study area gradually decreases from the west to east. The crustal thickness of the Okinawa Trough is larger than that of the East China Sea shelf basin, ranging from 12 to 22 km. The Okinawa Trough is a transitional crust formed during the transformation from continental crust to oceanic crust, with the overall characteristics of extensional and thinning continental crust. However, a new oceanic crust may have accreted in the central graben of the southern sections of the trough.

Petrogenesis of Jurassic granitic plutons in Liaodong Peninsula, NE China: Insights into the subduction of Paleo − Pacific plate

• Jurassic granites in Liaodong Peninsula formed at 184–179 and 162–151 Ma. • Granite geochemistry reveals the thinning of continental crust from Early to Late Jurassic . • The granites constrain the subduction history of the Paleo–Pacific plate. There is a debate about the subduction of Paleo − Pacific plate in the Jurassic tectonic evolution of the northeastern North China Craton. Here we present new geochronological and geochemical investigations for Early and Late Jurassic granites on Liaodong Peninsula. The Early Jurassic granites (184–179 Ma) show high SiO 2 and low MgO contents, and are classified as I − type granites, with enrichment in large − ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and light rare earth elements (LREEs) and depletion in high − field − strength elements (HFSEs) and heavy REEs (HREEs), and enriched Sr − Nd − Hf − O isotopic compositions. Combined with their typical adakitic properties as high Sr, low Y and Yb contents, and high Sr/Y ratios, we conclude that they originated from thickened lower crust. The spatio − temporal distribution of Early Jurassic intrusive and volcanic rocks and large scale of compressive deformation suggest the onset of flat subduction of Paleo − Pacific plate. In contrast, the Late Jurassic granites (162–151 Ma) are classified as I − type granites, with enrichment in LILEs and LREEs and depletion in HFSEs and HREEs and more enriched Sr − Nd − Hf − O isotopic compositions. Based on Sr and Y contents and Sr/Y ratios, we divided them into two groups. Group 1 show high SiO 2 and low MgO contents and typical adakitic properties, indicating an origin of thickened lower crust. In contrast, group 2 show relatively higher SiO 2 and lower MgO contents, with low Sr and high Y contents and high Nb/U ratios, suggesting an origin of lower crust in normal thickness. The spatio − temporal distribution of Late Jurassic bimodal igneous rocks and continuous volcanic and sedimentary deposition as well as the shifted accretionary complexes, indicate the oblique subduction of Paleo − Pacific plate.

The transition from continental to lithospheric breakup recorded in proto-oceanic crust: Insights from the NW South China Sea

AbstractThe formation of a new plate boundary and creation of the first oceanic crust, two of the most important processes of plate tectonics, still remains little understood. While older studies used to assumed a sharp ocean-continent boundary between continent and ocean, recent studies suggest a progressive oceancontinent transition (OCT) between unequivocal continental and oceanic crusts. In the latter view, breakup is not instantaneous but a lasting phase, which raises questions about the nature of the OCT basement and the processes operating between continental and lithospheric breakup. Based on detailed observations of high-quality and yet unpublished reflection seismic data, we describe and interpret the characteristic structures of the NW-South China Sea OCT and their relationship with overlying syn-breakup phase sediments. We show that the OCT displays a transition from fault-dominated rifting to magma-dominated seafloor spreading. On its continent-ward side, the OCT is made of hybrid crust where tectonic thinning of continental crust is compensated by syn-extensional magmatic thickening. Oceanward, the hybrid crust evolves into a fully magmatic but fault-dominated proto-oceanic crust, and finally turns into a mature Penrose-type oceanic crust. Relying on the growth structures observed in the syn-breakup sedimentary sequences and magmatic additions, we propose a kinematic restoration of the breakup phase. We suggest out-of-sequence flip-flop faulting to explain the switch from asymmetrical, fault-dominated-extension, to fully magmatic and largely symmetrical syn-extension accretion recorded in the syn-breakup sedimentary sequences overlying the OCT.

The crustal configuration of the West and Central African Rift System from gravity and seismic data analysis

SUMMARYThe West and Central African Rift System (WCARS) is the only stable continental geological structure on Earth that is formed by large-scale topographic massifs (swells). However, knowledge of the origin and evolution of the WCARS remains limited mainly due to the scarcity of high-resolution geophysical observations. To better understand the crustal structure beneath the entire WCARS, we use the XGM2016 global gravitational model and the ETOPO1 global topographic-bathymetric model to determine a gravimetric Moho (crust-mantle boundary) model constrained by seismic Moho depth estimates at 41 seismological stations distributed irregularly within the study area. The result reveals a regional Moho deepening to ∼40 km beneath the Hoggar, Aïr and Tibesti Massifs. The largest Moho deepening to ∼46 km is detected beneath the Archean Congo Craton, while the Moho depth under the Adamawa Plateau reaches 42 km. The Moho geometry beneath the Chad Basin, the Chad Lineament and the Termit Basin is relatively even with the Moho depth mostly within 24–26 km. A significant Moho deepening as well as large Moho depth variations within 32–45 km beneath the Saharan Metacraton and the Congo Craton (especially under its northern margin) reflect the metacratonization processes that occurred during the Neoproterozoic. The Niger Delta and the Benue Trough are characterized by a very thin continental crust with the Moho depth varying from ∼20 km in the south along the Atlantic coastline to ∼24 km in the northeastern branch of the Cretaceous Benue Trough around the Garoua-Yola Rift.

A new perspective on the continent–ocean boundary of Palawan continental block identified with geophysical data

The location of the Continent–ocean boundary (COB) between the Palawan continent block (PCB) and the central oceanic basin remains controversial. There are more than 100 km difference among the scholars' view about the specific positions of the COB. To obtain a more reasonable location of the COB in the PCB, a comprehensive interpretation was conducted based on new shipborne geophysical data, including bathymetry, gravity, magnetic and reflection seismic data. In particular, upward continuation was applied to the new stern-towing magnetic data, and analytical signal analysis (ASA) processing was adopted for the total field magnetic anomalies, including both the public and stern-towing magnetic data. The most reasonable COB of PCB is just identified with the geophysical data based on the comprehensive structures' anomalies, such as the foot of massif slope and the magmatic volcanoes in topographic data, and the gentle gradient of the free-air and Bouguer gravity anomalies, and the clear dividing boundary in magnetic ASA sharp anomaly, and the seismic profiles structure's display in the Continent–ocean transition (COT). Meanwhile, structural modeling along the seismic profiles are used to constrained the identification. The refined convex–concave's COB is distributed at the seaward limit of the continental crust along the foot of northwest Palawan slope with a hyper-extended thinner crust, seaward-dipping listric faults, and is reasonably located between the extensive thinned continental crust and expansive subducting oceanic crust.

Timing of Eocene compressional plate failure during subduction initiation, northern Zealandia, southwestern Pacific

SUMMARY Rapid onset of subduction tectonics across the western Pacific convergent margins in the early Eocene was followed by a slower phase of margin growth of the proto Tonga-Kermadec subduction system north of Zealandia during a middle Eocene phase to tectonic adjustment. We present new age constraints from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 371 borehole data on deformation events in northern Zealandian sediments that document the formation of the convergent margin boundary northwest of New Zealand. The deformation shows a shortening event that lasted up to 20 myr and acted over distances of ∼1000 km inboard of the evolving plate margin, just northwest of New Zealand. Multichannel seismic profiles tied to our new borehole sites show shortening occurred predominantly between 45 Ma and 35 Ma with some deformation related to slope failure continuing into the Oligocene. The termination of shortening is linked to opening of the backarc basins of the southwest Pacific and the migration of the Tonga-Kermadec Trench to the east which may have removed the structural evidence of the Eocene plate margin. Paleogene deformation observed inboard of the evolving proto Tonga-Kermadec subduction system indicates that the lithosphere of northern Zealandia, a region of thin continental crust, was strong enough to act as a stress guide. Compressive stresses that caused intra plate folding and faulting developed behind the initiating subduction system with the finite period of deformation indicating the time frame over which an active convergent margin lay along the northern margin of Zealandia.

Petrogenesis of two types of gabbro from Neoproterozoic Fuchuan ophiolite complex, Jiangnan Orogen: Implication for a Japan Sea‐like back‐arc basin

AbstractThe Neoproterozoic Fuchuan ophiolite complex (FCO) represents the lithospheric remnant of the back‐arc basin in the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton. However, the nature and development of this back‐arc system are still confusing. This study focuses on the tholeiitic gabbros in the FCO, which can be divided into enriched and depleted types according to their geochemical characteristics. Enriched gabbros (843 ± 5 Ma) in the FCO are characterized by left‐sloping rare earth element (REE) patterns and relatively low εHf(t) (mostly in the range of 4.6–7.8). In contrast, depleted gabbros are slightly younger (838 ± 5 Ma) and isotopically more depleted (εHf(t) mostly in 7.7–11.8) than enriched gabbros, exhibiting flat REE patterns. Based on geochemical variations and numerical modeling, the primary magmas of enriched gabbros were generated by a low degree (~14 %) partial melting of the melt‐modified depleted mantle. In contrast, the more depleted isotopic composition and variable Ba/Th and V/Yb ratios of depleted gabbros suggest that their magmas have originated from a higher degree (~14–26 %) partial melting of the fluid‐modified residual depleted mantle. Considering that the most ~860–830 Ma magmatism in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen is calc‐alkaline, the Neoproterozoic back‐arc basin where the FCO formed could be sialic and built on the thinning continental crust, resembling the Japan Sea. The occurrences of tholeiitic gabbros in the FCO thus provide crucial insights into the opening of the back‐arc basin in the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton. The changes of mantle source nature and metasomatic agent reflect the upwelling of the depleted asthenosphere and oceanward retreading of the continental arc during the back‐arc opening. Consequently, the early continental arc in the southeastern Yangtze Craton may have been transformed into a new island arc, resembling the formation of the northeast Honshu arc during the Miocene.

Formation, segmentation and deep crustal structure variations along the Algerian margin from the SPIRAL seismic experiment

The Algerian continental margin in the western Mediterranean formed as a back-arc basin and is today reactivated by the convergence between the African and Eurasian plates. It is one of the very rare examples of passive margins undergoing inversion expressed in a moderate seismicity of the margin and is possibly giving way for future subduction. With the objective to better know the deep structure of the margin and its associated basin, the origin of its seismicity and to study the mechanism of reactivation, five existing wide-angle seismic profiles along the margin are revisited. They were located offshore Mostaganem, Tipasa, Greater Kabylia, Jijel and Annaba. These profiles show that the basin is underlain by a 5 km thick crust of oceanic magmatic origin, possibly created at non-continuous small accretionary ridge segments. The continent-ocean transition zone is narrow, except at the easternmost profile, possibly due to an opening including a shear movement. No high velocity zone in the lower crust corresponding to mantle rocks has been imaged at the Algerian margin. The continental crust is thinned in a narrow and strongly segmented manner. It is widest (70 km) in the central segment offshore Greater Kabylia where there is a wider zone of distal thinned continental crust than on the other margin segments. The thickest crust detected during this survey corresponds to the African continental crust and the Kabylides blocks and is about 22–25 km thick. This reduced thickness in comparison with unthinned continental crust might be due to the influence of earlier subduction at the margin, in form of erosion by the subducting slab.

Basin inversion: reactivated rift structures in the central Ligurian Sea revealed using ocean bottom seismometers

Abstract. The northern margin of the Ligurian Basin shows notable seismicity at the Alpine front, including frequent magnitude 4 events. Seismicity decreases offshore towards the Basin centre and Corsica, revealing a diffuse distribution of low-magnitude earthquakes. We analyse data of the amphibious AlpArray seismic network with focus on the offshore component, the AlpArray ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) network, consisting of 24 broadband OBSs deployed for 8 months, to reveal the seismicity and depth distribution of micro-earthquakes beneath the Ligurian Sea. Two clusters occurred between ∼ 10 km to ∼ 16 km depth below the sea surface, within the lower crust and uppermost mantle. Thrust faulting focal mechanisms indicate compression and an inversion of the Ligurian Basin, which is an abandoned Oligocene–Miocene rift basin. The basin inversion is suggested to be related to the Africa–Europe plate convergence. The locations and focal mechanisms of seismicity suggest reactivation of pre-existing rift-related structures. Slightly different striking directions of presumed rift-related faults in the basin centre compared to faults further east and hence away from the rift basin may reflect the counter-clockwise rotation of the Corsica–Sardinia block. High mantle S-wave velocities and a low Vp/Vs ratio support the hypothesis of strengthening of crust and uppermost mantle during the Oligocene–Miocene rifting-related extension and thinning of continental crust.

The Rift and Continent‐Ocean Transition Structure Under the Tagus Abyssal Plain West of the Iberia

AbstractThe West Iberia margin is the focus of intense research since the 1980s, with some of the most exemplary geophysical cross‐sections and drilling expeditions. Those data sets have been used to create conceptual models of rifting used as a template to interpret margins worldwide. We present two collocated ∼350 km long lines of multi‐channel seismic (MCS) streamer data and wide‐angle seismic (WAS) data collected across the Tagus Abyssal Plain (TAP). We use travel‐times of first arrivals identified at WAS and reflected seismic phases identified at both WAS and MCS records to jointly invert for the P wave velocity (Vp) distribution and the geometry of a sediment unconformity, the top of the basement, and the Moho boundary. The Vp model shows that the TAP basement is more complex than previously inferred, presenting abrupt boundaries between five domains. Domain I under the foot of the slope and Domain III under the abyssal plain display Vp values and gradients of thin continental crust. In between, Domain II displays a steep Vp gradient and high Vp values at shallow depth that support that basement is made of exhumed partly serpentinized mantle. Domain IV and Domain V, further oceanward, have oceanic crust Vp structure. The new results support an unanticipated complex rift history during the initial separation of Iberia and America. We propose a geodynamic scenario characterized by two phases of extension separated by a jump of the locus of extension, caused by the northward propagation of the oceanic spreading center during the J‐anomaly formation, which terminated continental rifting.

The challenge in restoring magma-rich rifted margins: The example of the Mozambique-Antarctica conjugate margins

Using the example of the conjugate Mozambique-Antarctica rifted margins, we investigate how mantle plume magmatism interacts with extensional processes during lithospheric rifting and breakup. The presence of extensive plume related magmatic additions formed during rifting masks the edges of the continental margins, making it difficult to determine a tight conjugate margin restoration and hindering the evaluation of their pre-breakup evolution. Based on rift domain mapping from seismic reflection interpretation, crustal thickness mapping using gravity inversion, lithosphere thinning from subsidence analysis, and the testing of different plate kinematic scenario, we develop a tight initial fit of the conjugate Mozambique-Antarctica margins and describe their evolution by a three stage model. These three stages consist of: i) during early rifting, the filling of accommodation space created by continental crust thinning with Karoo related magmatism resulting in a hybrid crust that maintains bulk crustal thickness producing shallow bathymetry or emergence and allowing SDR formation; ii) the decrease of magmatic budget relative to extension rates leading to bulk crustal thinning and increased bathymetries; and iii) the transition to seafloor spreading with a steady state magmatic budget resulting in normal thickness (6,5 ± 1 km) oceanic crust. This study not only adds new constraints on the regional breakup of Gondwana but also presents a new multidisciplinary methodology for restoring magma rich rifted margins formed in the presence of mantle plumes and for improving the understanding of the nature of such hybrid magma-rich crust.

Early Miocene Post-collision Andesite in the Takab Area, NW Iran

Abstract Miocene magmatic rocks are exposed as lava flows (OKV group), subvolcanic rocks (SRG group), and as lavas interbedded with shallow-basin sedimentary layers (TVN group) in the Takab area, NW Iran. Zircon U–Pb dating yields ages of 18 to 15 Ma. Whole-rock chemistry shows that most of the Early Miocene magmatic rocks are andesite with subordinate dacite. The magmatic rocks have low contents of MgO, Ni, Cr, Ti, Nb and Ta, and high concentrations of Li, large ion lithophile elements such as Rb, K and Ba, and light rare earth elements. The OKV and SRG groups have similar initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0·70557–0·70768) and εNd(t) values (+1·0 to +2·2). The TVN group show larger variations of 87Sr/86Sr(i) ratios from 0·70628 to 0·71033 and εNd(t) values from –3·8 to +1·6. This implies a greater role of involvement of supra-crustal domains in the evolution of the TVN group relative to the SRG and OKV groups. Early Miocene magmatic rocks in the Takab area are situated between the Sanandaj–Saqqez Cretaceous calc-alkaline andesite in the SW and the Late Eocene–Oligocene (35–27 Ma) ocean island basalt-like Mianeh–Hashtrood magmatic belt of possible back-arc affinity in the NE. In addition, Late Eocene (40–37 Ma) syn-collision granites in the Baneh–Marivan area along the Zagros suture zone along the west side of the Sanandaj–Saqqez Cretaceous calc-alkaline andesite body indicate that collision of the Arabian Plate and the NW Iran Block occurred in the Late Eocene. These observations support the idea that Early Miocene andesites (18–15 Ma) in the Takab area were generated after collision, which was also associated with doubling of the thickness of the continental crust in the Zagros suture zone, thinning of continental crust far from the Zagros suture zone, and development of shallow-basin sedimentary rocks in NW Iran. Partial melting of mafic calc-alkaline bodies at depth or highly metasomatized fossil mantle owing to thinning of continental crust and asthenospheric upwelling may represent possible sources for the Late Miocene andesite. We conclude that andesitic rocks, even with typical arc signatures, are not always generated in an active margin and that some were probably generated in a post-collision tectonic regime. Misinterpretation of the arc signature can result in erroneous assumptions as to the geodynamic regime, and in the particular case of NW Iran, the timing of collision of the Arabian and Iranian plates.

Imaging the Crustal Interfaces Along the Ryukyu Arc‐Trough System Using Precursors to Teleseismic sP and pP

AbstractThe Ryukyu arc (RA)‐trough system, which is uniquely characterized by the Okinawa trough (OT) experiencing an early stage of continental disintegration, provides an ideal location to study continental rifting processes. However, the crustal structure beneath this region is not well resolved due to limited seismic surveys and station coverage. Here, by taking advantage of the well‐distributed intermediate‐depth earthquakes beneath the RA, we invert for the crustal structures beneath the RA‐trough system from the depth phases pP and sP and their precursors, underside reflected from the Moho and intracrustal interface. Along the RA, the Moho depth varies from 22 to 27 km indicating a thinner continental crust. Beneath the OT, the crustal thickness gradually decreases from 26 km to 15 km toward the south, which correlates with the trough rifting rates. At the south continental shelf, a thick crust with Moho depth of 29 km presents. In the transition region from the middle OT to the continental shelf, we observe multipathed precursors, which can be modeled with a 10 km Moho offset. The offset occurs in a gentle slope with angle of 27° dipping to the northwest, which supports a slow spreading process across the boundary between the middle OT and the continental shelf.