SEISMOLOGICAL EVIDENCES FOR THE MULTIPLE INCOMPLETE CRUSTAL SUBDUCTIONS IN HIMALAYA AND SOUTHERN TIBET

Geological evidences have indicated large\|scale crustal shortening by thrust faultings in Himalaya , such as MCT and MBT. The thrust faulting near Yarlungzampbo suture was also observed. However, it is still unknown to what depth those thrust faultings have been going down into the crust or upper mantle . Seismological evidences indicate that the thrust faultings in Himalaya and southern Tibet have extended to a depth of 80 to 100km , and stopped there. The thrust faultings underneath MCT MBT and Yarlungzampbo suture are closely related to the multiple crustal subductions in Himalaya and southern Tibet. It provides important constraints for the collision process between India and Eurasia. The incomplete crustal subductions in this region suggest that the impinging Indian crust is too light to prevent it going further down, and retreat of crustal subduction is required for the continuing northward movement of the Indian plate. The multiple crustal subductions are compatible to the multiple episodes of the geological activities in Himalaya and southern Tibet. At first, the crustal subduction was produced at Yarlungzampbo suture , and stopped at a depth of 80～100km. Then, it migrated to the south, other new crustal subductions would start successively at MCT and MBT respectively. They stopped at a depth of 80 to 100km also. Beside the north\|dipping seismic zones in Himalaya and Yarlungzamp bo suture, another gentle south\|dipping seismic zone,extending from Tangula Shan at the surface to the Moho at Yarlungzampbo suture was also observed. It can be interpreted to be an obduction at Tangula Shan. The multiple incomplete crustal subductions in Himalaya and Yarlungzampbo suture highly imply that the impinging Indian crust has been splitted apart from its upper\|most mantle, which may b e subducted deeper into the Eurasian mantle.