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1.
A compilation of new and existing gravity data, as well as geophysical and geological data, is used to assess the cumulative effects of multiple rifting episodes on crustal and upper mantle density structures beneath the Uganda-Kenya-Ethiopia-Sudan border region. This compilation includes new gravity and geological data collected in 1990 in south-western Ethiopia. Variations in the trends and amplitudes of Bouguer gravity anomalies reveal three overlapping rift systems: Mesozoic, Paleogene and Miocene-Recent. Each of these rift systems is a number of 40–100 km long sedimentary basins, and each system is approximately 1000 km long. The Bouguer anomaly patterns indicate that the Ethiopian and East African plateaux and corresponding gravity anomalies are discrete tectonic features. Models of structural and gravity profiles of two basins (Omo and Chew Bahir basins) suggest that pre-Oligocene (Cretaceous?) strata underlie 3 km or more of Neogene-Recent strata within the northern Kenya rift, and that more than 2 km of Neogene-Recent strata underlie parts of the southern Main Ethiopian rift. The superposition of perhaps three rifting episodes in the Lake Turkana (Omo) region has led to 90% crustal thinning (β ≈ 2).  相似文献   

2.
Giacomo Corti   《Earth》2009,96(1-2):1-53
The Main Ethiopian Rift is a key sector of the East African Rift System that connects the Afar depression, at Red Sea–Gulf of Aden junction, with the Turkana depression and Kenya Rift to the South. It is a magmatic rift that records all the different stages of rift evolution from rift initiation to break-up and incipient oceanic spreading: it is thus an ideal place to analyse the evolution of continental extension, the rupture of lithospheric plates and the dynamics by which distributed continental deformation is progressively focused at oceanic spreading centres.The first tectono-magmatic event related to the Tertiary rifting was the eruption of voluminous flood basalts that apparently occurred in a rather short time interval at around 30 Ma; strong plateau uplift, which resulted in the development of the Ethiopian and Somalian plateaus now surrounding the rift valley, has been suggested to have initiated contemporaneously or shortly after the extensive flood-basalt volcanism, although its exact timing remains controversial. Voluminous volcanism and uplift started prior to the main rifting phases, suggesting a mantle plume influence on the Tertiary deformation in East Africa. Different plume hypothesis have been suggested, with recent models indicating the existence of deep superplume originating at the core-mantle boundary beneath southern Africa, rising in a north–northeastward direction toward eastern Africa, and feeding multiple plume stems in the upper mantle. However, the existence of this whole-mantle feature and its possible connection with Tertiary rifting are highly debated.The main rifting phases started diachronously along the MER in the Mio-Pliocene; rift propagation was not a smooth process but rather a process with punctuated episodes of extension and relative quiescence. Rift location was most probably controlled by the reactivation of a lithospheric-scale pre-Cambrian weakness; the orientation of this weakness (roughly NE–SW) and the Late Pliocene (post 3.2 Ma)-recent extensional stress field generated by relative motion between Nubia and Somalia plates (roughly ESE–WNW) suggest that oblique rifting conditions have controlled rift evolution. However, it is still unclear if these kinematical boundary conditions have remained steady since the initial stages of rifting or the kinematics has changed during the Late Pliocene or at the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary.Analysis of geological–geophysical data suggests that continental rifting in the MER evolved in two different phases. An early (Mio-Pliocene) continental rifting stage was characterised by displacement along large boundary faults, subsidence of rift depression with local development of deep (up to 5 km) asymmetric basins and diffuse magmatic activity. In this initial phase, magmatism encompassed the whole rift, with volcanic activity affecting the rift depression, the major boundary faults and limited portions of the rift shoulders (off-axis volcanism). Progressive extension led to the second (Pleistocene) rifting stage, characterised by a riftward narrowing of the volcano-tectonic activity. In this phase, the main boundary faults were deactivated and extensional deformation was accommodated by dense swarms of faults (Wonji segments) in the thinned rift depression. The progressive thinning of the continental lithosphere under constant, prolonged oblique rifting conditions controlled this migration of deformation, possibly in tandem with the weakening related to magmatic processes and/or a change in rift kinematics. Owing to the oblique rifting conditions, the fault swarms obliquely cut the rift floor and were characterised by a typical right-stepping arrangement. Ascending magmas were focused by the Wonji segments, with eruption of magmas at surface preferentially occurring along the oblique faults. As soon as the volcano-tectonic activity was localised within Wonji segments, a strong feedback between deformation and magmatism developed: the thinned lithosphere was strongly modified by the extensive magma intrusion and extension was facilitated and accommodated by a combination of magmatic intrusion, dyking and faulting. In these conditions, focused melt intrusion allows the rupture of the thick continental lithosphere and the magmatic segments act as incipient slow-spreading mid-ocean spreading centres sandwiched by continental lithosphere.Overall the above-described evolution of the MER (at least in its northernmost sector) documents a transition from fault-dominated rift morphology in the early stages of extension toward magma-assisted rifting during the final stages of continental break-up. A strong increase in coupling between deformation and magmatism with extension is documented, with magma intrusion and dyking playing a larger role than faulting in strain accommodation as rifting progresses to seafloor spreading.  相似文献   

3.
This article outlines geomorphological and tectonic elements of the Afar Depression, and discusses its evolution. A combination of far-field stress, due to the convergence of the Eurasian and Arabian plates along the Zagros Orogenic Front, and uplift of the Afar Dome due to a rising mantle plume reinforced each other to break the lithosphere of the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Thermal anomalies beneath the Arabian–Nubian Shield in the range of 150 °C–200 °C, induced by a rising plume that mechanically and thermally eroded the base of the mantle lithosphere and generated pulses of prodigious flood basalt since ∼30 Ma. Subsequent to the stretching and thinning the Afar Dome subsided to form the Afar Depression. The fragmentation of the Arabian–Nubian Shield led to the separation of the Nubian, Arabian and Somalian Plates along the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Main Ethiopian Rift. The rotation of the intervening Danakil, East-Central, and Ali-Sabieh Blocks defined major structural trends in the Afar Depression. The Danakil Block severed from the Nubian plate at ∼20 Ma, rotated anti-clockwise, translated from lower latitude and successively moved north, left-laterally with respect to Nubia. The westward propagating Gulf of Aden rift breached the Danakil Block from the Ali-Sabieh Block at ∼2 Ma and proceeded along the Gulf of Tajura into the Afar Depression. The propagation and overlap of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden along the Manda Hararo–Gobaad and Asal–Manda Inakir rifts caused clockwise rotation of the East-Central Block. Faulting and rifting in the southern Red Sea, western Gulf of Aden and northern Main Ethiopian Rift superimposed on Afar. The Afar Depression initiated as diffused extension due to far-field stress and area increase over a dome elevated by a rising plume. With time, the lithospheric extension intensified, nucleated in weak zones, and developed into incipient spreading centers.  相似文献   

4.
Petit 《地学学报》1998,10(3):160-169
To better understand how active deformation localizes within a continental plate in response to extensional and transtensional tectonics, a combined analysis of high-quality gravity (Bouguer anomaly) and seismicity data is presented consisting of about 35000 earthquakes recorded in the Baikal Rift Zone. This approach allows imaging of deformation patterns from the surface down to the Moho. A comparison is made with heat flow variations in order to assess the importance of lithospheric rheology in the style of extensional deformation. Three different rift sectors can be identified. The southwestern rift sector is characterized by strong gravity and topography contrasts marked by two major crustal faults and diffuse seismicity. Heat flow shows locally elevated values, correlated with recent volcanism and negative seismic P-velocity anomalies. Based on earthquake fault plane solutions and on previous stress field inversions, it is proposed that strain decoupling may occur in this area in response to wrench-compressional stress regime imposed by the India–Asia collision. The central sector is characterized by two major seismic belts; the southernmost one corresponds to a single, steeply dipping fault accommodating oblique extension; in the centre of lake Baikal, a second seismic belt is associated with several dip-slip faults and subcrustal thinning at the rift axis in response to orthogonal extension. The northern rift sector is characterized by a wide, low Bouguer anomaly which corresponds to a broad, high topographic dome and seismic belts and swarms. This topography can be explained by lithospheric buoyancy forces possibly linked to anomalous upper mantle. At a more detailed scale, no clear correlation appears between the surficial fault pattern and the gravity signal. As in other continental rifts, it appears that the lithospheric rheology influences extensional basins morphology. However, in the Baikal rift, the inherited structural fabric combined with stress field variations results in oblique rifting tectonics which seem to control the geometry of southern and northeastern rift basins.  相似文献   

5.
A three-dimensional interpretation of the newly compiled Bouguer anomaly map of the Main Ethiopian Rift is discussed. Then, the crustal thickness distribution beneath the Main Ethiopian Rift is confirmed using a — dimensional inverse approach to gravity data interpretation. The depths to the crust-upper mantle interface form the inversion parameters. Both approaches are constrained with the results of the seismic refraction experiments of the region. The degree of ambiguity of the final model parameters is then quantified.The Bouguer anomalies along the axial portion of the rift floor, as deduced from the results of the regional and residual separation, are mainly caused by deep-seated structures. The high resolution 3-D forward modeling reveals a possible crustal thickness and density distribution beneath the graben.The results of the inversion confirm a strong crustal attenuation zone (≤ 31 km) closely associated with the rifting of the graben and an abrupt fall of the Moho interface on either side of the rift (up to 51 km) related to the formation of the western and southeastern plateaus. However, no indication of crustal separation is observed.The ambiguity analysis reveals that greater ambiguity of the model parameters exists in the southeastern plateau. There, these model parameters represent the depths to the Moho interface where the seismic control is relatively less.  相似文献   

6.
We challenge some of the long-standing beliefs related to the Permian Oslo Rift structure, often referred to as a case example/type locality for continental rifting. The crustal structure of the Oslo Rift was long presumed to be thinned Proterozoic crust overlying a Permian high-density layer, interpreted as magmatic underplating. New data support an alternative view of the crustal structure in the Oslo Rift region. The Bouguer gravity high in the region shows a strong asymmetry: a steep, westward-facing gradient to the west of the rift, and a much gentler eastern gradient. We present a 3D density model based on petrophysical and seismic information, which accounts for the Bouguer gravity high using an eastward extension of old Precambrian structures, without invoking a prominent magmatic underplated structure. Reactivation of old pre-rift structures appears to be an important feature, affecting the evolution and location of the Permo-Carboniferous Oslo Rift.  相似文献   

7.
Y. Folkman 《Tectonophysics》1981,80(1-4):135-146
The results of a combined analysis of aeromagnetic and gravity data covering the rift and adjacent areas show two different deep structural models: (a) Across the northern and central portions of the rift zone the crustal thickness and the character of the upper mantle remain unchanged. On the other hand, the lithology of the upper crust varies laterally so that the mafic composition of the rock type probably increases from east to west. (b) The southern portion of the rift may be underlain by an anomalous, low-density upper mantle.

Local negative gravity anomalies within the rift zone delineate deep depressions, separated by structural highs. The Dead Sea depression is interpreted to be filled by 7.5 km of young, low-density sediments.

Local magnetic anomalies which cover the northern portion only are interpreted as basalt flows. This approach enables delineation of fault patterns which support the classic view of sinistral strike slip movement along a complicated fault system.  相似文献   


8.
Over 35,000 onshore and offshore gravity stations have been compiled in order to test isostatic models against geologic structures over a part of the Afro–Arabian shield. The area of Ethiopia covers an important part of this system because it contains the major section of the ≈5000 km Afro–Arabian rift and includes the transition between the Arabo-Nubian-Shield (ANS) and the Mozambique Belt (MB).Isostatic residual anomalies have been calculated using both Airy and Vening-Meinesz (flexural rigidity D = 1022 Nm) models. The isostatic residual anomalies outline the major Precambrian belts, the Cenozoic rifts and associated major structures. Positive residual anomalies associated with the main Ethiopian Rift (MER) and Kenyan rift systems could be the expressions of an axial intrusive body and swarms of local faults and fractures. The residual anomalies indicate relative stability in the MER and increased tectonic activity in the areas of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Afar. Near-zero isostatic residuals flank the MER and Kenya rifts and are found within the Danakil Alps and some plateau regions.The small mean isostatic residual anomaly (about 8 mGal) and the isostatic analysis show a slight positive bias indicating under compensation. The undercompensation may imply that there are upper crustal features that are not compensated regionally (probably supported by the rigidity of the lithosphere) and isostatic disequilibrium in the region. Therefore, the high topography of Ethiopia and East African plateau is partly compensated by thicker crust (broad negative isostatic regional anomaly) and partly by dynamic forces.The results of the qualitative interpretation form the basis of continuing three-dimensional gravity modelling and quantitative analysis that also integrates data from eastern Sudan.  相似文献   

9.
The largest ultra-high pressure metamorphic (UHPM) belt in the world is located along the Dabie–Sulu region, which tectonically belongs to the east part of the central orogenic belt of China. Integrated geophysical investigations of using deep seismic reflection, MT, and geothermal observations have been carried out in the Sulu area since 1997. The results of integrated interpretation suggest the existence of three features: (1) a rift beneath the Lianshui basin by the Jiashan–Xionshui fault; (2) a special crustal pattern, called the magmatic multi-arch structure occurs beneath the northern Sulu UHPM zone; and (3) a northwest-dipping regional thrust crosses the Sulu crust, representing the intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Sulu metamorphic belts after collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons. A magmatic multi-arch structure consists of some arched reflectors that occur in both the lower and the upper crust where arched reflectors coincide with granitoid plutons. The multi-arch structures are common in eastern China where many Mesozoic granitoid plutons of different scales occur. The crustal structures in the Sulu metamorphic belts resulted from intensive dynamic processes following the Triassic collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons. The formation and exhumation of UHPM rocks followed the collision, and then intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Dabie–Sulu terranes took place in the early and middle Jurassic. In the late Jurassic, the Sulu lithosphere turned to an extensional regime, large-scale granitic intrusions occurred in eastern China; these likely resulted from lithospheric thinning and asthenospheric uplifting. The granitic intrusions came to a climax during the Cretaceous and were followed by rifting along existing faults in the early Eogene, resulting in many petroleum basins. The granitoid emplacement that generated the magmatic multi-arch structure and the rift were consequences of the lithospheric thinning process, and deep intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Sulu metamorphic belt might partially contribute to the lithospheric thinning.  相似文献   

10.
Based on multiyear measurements of present-day motions in the central area of the Baikal rift system, new data on the kinematics of horizontal motions, relative horizontal deformation rates, and rotation velocities in the area of junction of the South Baikal, North Baikal, and Barguzin rift basins have been obtained. This area is an intricate structure with two transfer zones: Ol’khon–Svyatoi Nos and Ust’-Barguzin.It is shown that crustal blocks are moving southeastward, normally to the structures of transfer zones and at an acute angle to the Baikal Rift strike, which corresponds to the right-lateral strike-slip extensional faulting along the major structure. The average horizontal velocities increase from 3.0 mm yr–1 in the northern South Baikal basin to 6.5 mm yr–1 in the Barguzin basin. The elongation axes prevailing in the study region are mainly of NW–SE direction. The areas of intense deformations are confined to structures with high seismic activity in the South Baikal and, partly, Barguzin basins. This confirms the existence of a present-day zone of the Earth’s crust destruction in the Baikal rift system, which is the most likely source of strong earthquakes in the future. Two zones with rotations in opposite directions are recognized in the rotation velocity field. Clockwise rotation is typical of structures of N–NE strike (Maloe More basin, southern North Baikal basin, Barguzin Ridge rise). Counterclockwise rotation is determined for NE-striking structures (northern South Baikal basin, southern Barguzin basin). In general, the obtained data show an intricate pattern of present-day horizontal dislocations and deformations in the area of junction of NE- and N–NE-striking rift structures. This suggests left- and right-lateral strike-slip faults, respectively, within them.  相似文献   

11.
《Tectonophysics》1999,301(1-2):61-74
In 1994, the ACRUP (Antarctic Crustal Profile) project recorded a 670-km-long geophysical transect across the southern Ross Sea to study the velocity and density structure of the crust and uppermost mantle of the West Antarctic rift system. Ray-trace modeling of P- and S-waves recorded on 47 ocean bottom seismograph (OBS) records, with strong seismic arrivals from airgun shots to distances of up to 120 km, show that crustal velocities and geometries vary significantly along the transect. The three major sedimentary basins (early-rift grabens), the Victoria Land Basin, the Central Trough and the Eastern Basin are underlain by highly extended crust and shallow mantle (minimum depth of about 16 km). Beneath the adjacent basement highs, Coulman High and Central High, Moho deepens, and lies at a depth of 21 and 24 km, respectively. Crustal layers have P-wave velocities that range from 5.8 to 7.0 km/s and S-wave velocities from 3.6 to 4.2 km/s. A distinct reflection (PiP) is observed on numerous OBS from an intra-crustal boundary between the upper and lower crust at a depth of about 10 to 12 km. Local zones of high velocities and inferred high densities are observed and modeled in the crust under the axes of the three major sedimentary basins. These zones, which are also marked by positive gravity anomalies, may be places where mafic dikes and sills pervade the crust. We postulate that there has been differential crustal extension across the West Antarctic rift system, with greatest extension beneath the early-rift grabens. The large amount of crustal stretching below the major rift basins may reflect the existence of deep crustal suture zones which initiated in an early stage of the rifting, defined areas of crustal weakness and thereby enhanced stress focussing followed by intense crustal thinning in these areas. The ACRUP data are consistent with the prior concept that most extension and basin down-faulting occurred in the Ross Sea during late Mesozoic time, with relatively small extension, concentrated in the western half of the Ross Sea, during Cenozoic time.  相似文献   

12.
A system of intracontinental grabens extends over Western Europe, the Levant and East Africa. Small crustal segments framed by elevated shoulders are sunken along parallel escarpments and disintegrated by antithetic normal faults. The shoulders are risen up as outward tilted blocks and thought to form a closed vault at the base of the crust, corresponding to the wedge block of the graben. Underneath the Rhinegraben exists, as detected by seismic refraction measurements, a pillow-shaped body of material with P-wave velocities of 7.4 to 7.9 km/sec, intercalated between crust and mantle. The taphrogenesis of all larger grabens is assumed to be induced by the formation and growth of subcrustal swells of this type. Also the specific graben volcanism is thought to be connected with the intruded laccolithic body of mantle-derived material. The tensional breakup and the faulting of the warped crustal masses was favoured by the gravity slide of the crust which was uncoupled from the substratum by the intercalated magmatic layer. Along the Red Sea Rift the crust tore completely releasing the basaltic substratum in the inner graben. The pattern of its magnetic anomalies leads to the assumption that the pillow body is recruited by simatic dike injections according to the principle of sea-floor spreading. Therefore, there is a great conformity between the intercontinental and the mid-oceanic rift systems. The supplies of mantle material along the Mid-Atlantic and the Carlsberg Rift are related to the drift of the continental frames. The mid-oceanic rift systems in their medial position to the framing continental margins correspond to the intracontinental graben swarm, equidistant from both fronts of circum-Pacific tectonics. A reciprocating action is presumed between the ascending masses along the rift zones and the suction of masses along the deep-sea trenches and geosynclines. The observed crustal movements imply an equilibrant plastic flow within the upper mantle, probably impelled by mechanical convection currents. The continental unbalance between the Pacific and the anti-Pacific hemisphere is discussed as causing mantle currents. Within this interplay between crust and mantle and between continents and ocean floors, the oceanic crust had obtained harmonical features moulded directly by the deduced mobility. The continental crust, however, is passively stressed, its rocks are affected by heterogeneous deformations from which the continents got its polygenetic multiform fabric.  相似文献   

13.
《Gondwana Research》2014,25(3-4):886-901
The Late Mesoproterozoic (1085–1040 Ma) Ngaanyatjarra Rift, previously referred to as the Giles Event, is the dominant component of the Warakurna Large Igneous Province (LIP) that affected much of central and western Australia. This rift is well preserved and provides excellent examples of rift structure at a variety of crustal levels and times in the rift's evolution. Geological knowledge is integrated with geophysical interpretations and models to understand the crustal structure and evolution of this rift. Two phases are identified: an early rift stage (1085–1074 Ma) that is characterised by voluminous magmatism within the upper crust and relatively little tectonic deformation; and a late rift stage that is characterised by tectonic deformation, synchronous with the deposition of a thick pile of volcanic and sedimentary rocks (1074–1040 Ma). Compared to modern rift examples, this rift is unusual in that the crust was thickened by ~ 15 km and overall extension was very limited. However, its structure and evolution are very similar to the near-contemporaneous Midcontinent Rift, which shows the addition of a similar quantity of magmatic material as well as crustal thickening and limited extension. For these Mesoproterozoic rifts, we suggest that magmatism was the dominant process, and that the extension observed was a response to magmatism-induced crustal thickening and the gravitational collapse of the crustal column. Other Proterozoic rifts show similar characteristics (e.g. Transvaal Rift), whereas most Phanerozoic rifts are dissimilar, showing instead a dominance of extension, with magmatism largely a result of this extension. This change in the style of rifting from the Precambrian to the Phanerozoic may relate to the influence of a typically cooler and stronger lithosphere, which has caused stronger strain localisation and a greater role for extension as the controlling factor in rift evolution.  相似文献   

14.
B. Sundvoll  B.T. Larsen   《Tectonophysics》1994,240(1-4):173-189
A revised assessment of architecture and pre-rift fabric connections of the Oslo Rift has been undertaken and linked to a new appraisal of observations and data related to the initial phase of the rift evolution. In addition to half-graben segmentation, accommodation zones and transfer faults are readily identified in the linking sectors between the two main grabens and between graben segments. Axial flexures are proposed between facing half-grabens. The accommodation zones were generally sites of volcanism during rifting. Pre-rift tectonic structures played an influential role in the rift location and development. The deviant N-S axis of the Vestfold graben segment is viewed as related to pre-rift structural control through faults and shear zones. This area was probably a site of Proterozoic/Palaeozoic crustal and lithospheric attenuation.

Field evidence suggests that the rift started as a crustal sag with no apparent surface faulting in a flat and low-lying land at a time about 305–310 Ma. Volcanism, sub-surface sill intrusion and faulting started about simultaneously some time after the initial sag (300–305 Ma). Faulting and basaltic volcanism were initially localized to transfer faults along accommodation zones and a NNW-SSE transtensional zone along the eastern margin of the incipient Vestfold graben segment. This transtensional zone was probably created by right-lateral simple shear tracing pre-rift structures in response to a regional stress field with the tensional axis normal and the maximum compressional axis parallel to the NNE-SSW-trending rift axis.  相似文献   


15.
New deep reflection seismic, bathymetry, gravity and magnetic data have been acquired in a marine geophysical survey of the southern South China Sea, including the Dangerous Grounds, Northwest Borneo Trough and the Central Luconia Platform. The seismic and bathymetry data map the topography of shallow density interfaces, allowing the application of gravity modeling to delineate the thickness and composition of the deeper crustal layers. Many of the strongest gravity anomalies across the area are accounted for by the basement topography mapped in the seismic data, with substantial basement relief associated with major rift development. The total crustal thickness is however quite constant, with variations only between 25 and 30 km across the Central Luconia Platform and Dangerous Grounds. The Northwest Borneo Trough is underlain by thinned crust (25–20 km total crustal thickness) consistent with the substantial water depths. There is no evidence of any crustal suture associated with the trough, nor any evidence of relict oceanic crust beneath the trough. The crustal thinning also does not extend along the complete length of the trough, with crustal thicknesses of 25 km and more modeled on the most easterly lines to cross the trough. Modeled magnetic field variations are also consistent with the study area being underlain by continental crust, with the magnetic field variations well explained by irregular magnetisations consistent with inhomogeneous continental crust, terminating at the basement unconformity as mapped from the seismic data.  相似文献   

16.
Crustal shear wave velocity structure beneath the Malawi and Luangwa Rift Zones (MRZ and LRZ, respectively) and adjacent regions in southern Africa is imaged using fundamental mode Rayleigh waves recorded by 31 SAFARI (Seismic Arrays for African Rift Initiation) stations. Dispersion measurements estimated from empirical Green's functions are used to construct 2-D phase velocity maps for periods between 5 and 28 s. The resulting Rayleigh wave phase velocities demonstrate significant lateral variations and are in general agreement with known geological features and tectonic units within the study area. Subsequently, we invert Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves to construct a 3-D shear wave velocity model. Beneath the MRZ and LRZ, low velocity anomalies are found in the upper-most crust, probably reflecting the sedimentary cover. The mid-crust of the MRZ is characterized by an ~3.7% low velocity anomaly, which cannot be adequately explained by higher than normal temperatures alone. Instead, other factors such as magmatic intrusion, partial melting, and fluid-filled deep crustal faults might also play a role. Thinning of the crust of a few kilometers beneath the rifts is revealed by the inversion. A compilation of crustal thicknesses and velocities beneath the world's major continental rifts suggests that both the MRZ and LRZ are in the category of rifts beneath which the crust has not been sufficiently thinned to produce widespread syn-rifting volcanisms.  相似文献   

17.
Claus Prodehl 《Tectonophysics》1981,80(1-4):255-269
The crustal structure of the central European rift system has been investigated by seismic methods with varying success. Only a few investigations deal with the upper-mantle structure. Beneath the Rhinegraben the Moho is elevated, with a minimum depth of 25 km. Below the flanks it is a first-order discontinuity, while within the graben it is replaced by a transition zone with the strongest velocity gradient at 20–22 km depth. An anomalously high velocity of up to 8.6 km/s seems to exist within the underlying upper mantle at 40–50 km depth. A similar structure is also found beneath the Limagnegraben and the young volcanic zones within the Massif Central of France, but the velocity within the upper mantle at 40–50 km depth seems to be slightly lower. Here, the total crustal thickness reaches only 25 km. The crystalline crust becomes extremely thin beneath the southern Rhônegraben, where the sediments reach a thickness of about 10 km while the Moho is found at 24 km depth. The pronounced crustal thinning does not continue along the entire graben system. North of the Rhinegraben in particular the typical graben structure is interrupted by the Rhenohercynian zone with a “normal” West-European crust of 30 km thickness evident beneath the north-trending Hessische Senke. A single-ended profile again indicates a graben-like crustal structure west of the Leinegraben north of the Rhenohercynian zone. No details are available for the North German Plain where the central European rift system disappears beneath a sedimentary sequence of more than 10 km thickness.  相似文献   

18.
喜马拉雅造山带由印度与欧亚大陆板块的陆陆碰撞而形成。为何在挤压造山的碰撞前缘形成代表垮塌的藏南裂谷系存在巨大的争议。回答这个问题需要对裂谷的地壳结构有一个全面的认识。各裂谷带的起始活动年代自西向东逐渐年轻。本研究选取喜马拉雅东部较为年轻的错那裂谷,利用密集台阵接收的远震数据,通过P波接收函数方法,揭示错那裂谷的精细地壳结构,进而通过地壳结构分析裂谷的形成。结果显示错那裂谷为全地壳尺度结构,裂谷下方莫霍面发生明显错断,且壳内结构侧向不连续发育显著。本研究表明裂谷的形成可能关联更大尺度的区域构造运动,单一的重力垮塌是否能形成地壳尺度的裂谷需要进一步研究。综合前人对藏南裂谷系区域的超钾岩和埃达克岩研究以及深部地球物理观测结果,推断因俯冲的印度板片撕裂导致软流圈物质上涌弱化了错那裂谷区域下地壳,并且结合研究区内喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩研究显示中上地壳也存在弱化现象。因此,结合本研究结果推测全地壳尺度裂谷的形成需要不同深度的地壳弱化。  相似文献   

19.
A review of seismological data on the crustal structure of the East African Rift zone is presented. The only refraction line is that along the Gregory Rift, which indicates a 7.5 km/sec refractor which is presumed to be the Moho. The bulk of data is provided by surface-wave dispersion studies. Some preliminary measurements of crustal and sub-Moho velocities using the University of Durham array at Kaptagat in Kenya are included.

There is now a growing body of evidence that the crust is generally of shield type over the whole rift zone. The exception is along the axis of the Gregory Rift, where a low-velocity Moho and some crustal modification is apparent. This is presumably the result of magma intrusions and suggests some crustal separation along this section of the rift. Sub-Moho velocities are probably normal outside the rifts themselves, though anomalously low upper-mantle velocities are to be associated with rifting. There is firm evidence for thinning of the lithosphere along the eastern branch of the rift. A cross-section of the Gregory Rift which is consistent with the current data is presented.  相似文献   


20.
The Rwenzori mountains in western Uganda, with a maximum elevation of more than 5,000 m, are located within the Albertine rift valley. We have deployed a temporary seismic network on the Ugandan side of the mountain range to study the seismic velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath this section of the rift. We present results from a receiver-function study revealing a simple crustal structure along the eastern rift flank with a more or less uniform crustal thickness of about 30 km. The complexity of inner-crustal structures increases drastically within the Rwenzori block. We apply different inversion techniques to obtain reliable results for the thickness of the crust. The observations expose a significantly thinner crust beneath the Rwenzori range with thickness values ranging from about 20–28 km beneath northern and central parts of the mountains. Our study therefore indicates the absence of a crustal root beneath the Rwenzori block. Beneath the Lake Edward and Lake George basins we detect the top of a layer of significantly reduced S-wave velocity at 15 km depth. This low-velocity layer may be attributed to the presence of partial melt beneath a region of recent volcanic activity.  相似文献   

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