Three dimensional shear wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath China from ambient noise surface wave tomography

We determine the three-dimensional shear wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle in China using Green＇s functions obtained from seismic ambient noise cross-correlation. The data we use are from the China National Seismic Network, global and regional networks and PASSCAL stations in the region. We first acquire cross-correlation seismograms between all possible station pairs. We then measure the Rayleigh wave group and phase dispersion curves using a frequency-time analysis method from 8 s to 60 s. After that, Rayleigh wave group and phase velocity dispersion maps on 1°by 1°spatial grids are obtained at different periods. Finally, we invert these maps for the 3-D shear wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath China at each grid node. The inversion results show large-scale structures that correlate well with surface geology. Near the surface, velocities in major basins are anomalously slow, consistent with the thick sediments. East-west contrasts are striking in Moho depth. There is also a fast mid-to-lower crust and mantle lithosphere beneath the major basins surrounding the Tibetan plateau （TP） and Tianshan （Junggar, Tarim, Ordos, and Sichuan）. These strong blocks, therefore, appear to play an important role in confining the deformation of the TP and constraining its geometry to form its current triangular shape. In northwest TP in Qiangtang, slow anomalies extend from the crust to the mantle lithosphere. Meanwhile, widespread, a prominent low-velocity zone is observed in the middle crust beneath most of the central, eastern and southeastern Tibetan plateau, consistent with a weak （and perhaps mobile） middle crust.

Surface wave tomography of the crust and upper mantle of Chinese mainland and its neighboring region

The three dimensional S wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle of Chinese mainland and its neighboring region is obtained by genetic algorithm of surface wave tomography, with smoothness constraint, based on 25 wave group velocities for the periods from 10 s to 92 s, measured from long period Rayleigh waves recorded by 11 stations of CDSN and 12 digital seismometers surrounding China. The S wave velocity image is shown on two latitudinal sections along 30°N and 38°N, two longitudinal sections along 90°E and 120°E, and four horizontal slices at the different depths.

Group velocity distribution of Rayleigh waves and crustal and upper mantle velocity structure of the Chinese mainland and its vicinity

Based on the long period digital surface wave data recorded by 11 CDSN stations and 11 IRIS stations, the dispersion curves of the group velocities of fundamental mode Rayleigh waves along 647 paths, with the periods from 10 s to 92 s, were measured by multi-filter. Their distribution at 25 central periods within the region of 18~54N, 70~140E was inverted by Dimtar-Yanovskaya method. Within the period from 10 s to 15.9 s, the group velocity distribution is laterally inhomogeneous and is closely related to geotectonic units, with two low velocity zones located in the Tarim basin and the East China Sea and its north regions, respectively. From 21 s to 33 s, the framework of tectonic blocks is revealed. From 36.6 s to 40 s, the lithospheric subdivision of the Chinese mainland is obviously uncovered, with distinct boundaries among the South-North seismic belt, the Tibetan plateau, the North China, the South China and the Northeast China. Four cross-sections of group velocity distribution with period along 30N, 38N, 90E and 120E, are discussed, respectively, which display the basic features of the crust and upper mantle of the Chinese mainland and its neighboring regions. There are distinguished velocity differences among the different tectonic blocks. There are low-velocity-zones (LVZ) in the middle crust of the eastern Tibetan plateau, high velocity featured as stable platform in the Tarim basin and the Yangtze platform, shallow and thick low-velocity-zone in the upper mantle of the North China. The upper mantle LVZ in the East China Sea and the Japan Sea is related to the frictional heat from the subduction of the Philippine slab and the strong extension since the Himalayan orogenic period.

Rheological Regime of the Upper Mantle beneath the Taiwan Strait and Its Tectonic Significance

This paper deals with deformation textures and fabrics of mantle-derived xenoliths and dislocation microstructures of olivine in the upper mantle in the Penghu Islands, Taiwan. According to the calculation of the chemical composition of xenolith minerals (pyroxene), the equilibrium temperatures and pressures were 986-1116@ and 1.50-2.60 GPa, respectively. Deformation events in the upper mantle may fall into three sequences' (1) uniform steady-state flow deformation with high temperatures and low stresses, (2) shear flow deformation with high temperatures and relatively high stresses on diapiric margins of the upper mantle, and (3) extraction deformation of {110} glide bands with low temperatures and high strain rates. Deformation events and thermal structure of the upper mantle in the study area show that eastern Fujian and the Penghu Islands are characterized by very similar rheological properties of the upper mantle. Volcanism of basalts in the Penghu Islands is related to hot spots of the upper mantle under neath the Taiwan Strait, and diapirism and upwelling of the upper mantle are the dominant factors responsible for rifting of the continental margins in eastern China.

Chemical transformations of n-hexane and cyclohexane under the upper mantle conditions

Alkanes are an important part of petroleum,the stability of alkanes under extreme conditions is of great significance to explore the origin of petroleum and the carbon cycle in the deep Earth.Here,we performed Raman and infrared(IR)spectroscopy studies of n-hexane and cyclohexane under high pressure up to~42 GPa at room temperature(RT)and high temperature(HT).n-Hexane and cyclohexane undergo several phase transitions at RT around 1.8,8.5,18 GPa and 1.1,2.1,4.6,13,30 GPa,respectively,without any chemical reaction.By using resistive heating combined with diamond anvil cell at pressure up to 20 GPa and temperature up to 1000 K,both n-hexane and cyclohexane decompose to hydrogenated graphitic carbon and n-hexane exhibits higher stability than cyclohexane.Our results indicate that hydrocarbons tend to dehydrogenate in the upper mantle,and the extension of carbon chains may lead to the formation of some unsaturated compounds and eventually transfer into graphitic products.

Crust and upper mantle structure beneath Bohai Sea inferred from receiver function study

We analyzed teleseismic waveforms recorded by 36 stations near Bohai Sea region and obtained 2 248 high quality receiver functions.The crustal thickness (H) and average crustal vP/vS ratio (κ) as well as the Poisson's ratios beneath 34 stations were estimated using the H-κ stacking method.The results indicate that crustal thicknesses near the Liaoning province range from 30.0 to 35.5 km,and the corresponding vP/vS ratios vary from 1.72 to 1.89 which corresponds to Poisson's ratio with a range from 0.243 to 0.305.We also apply a common conversion point (CCP) stacking method of receiver function (RF) to image the upper mantle discontinuity structure beneath Bohai Sea region.Both the 410-km and the 660-km discontinuities (hereafter called the 410 and the 660) show clearly in the study region.The transition zone (TZ) thickness shows a different picture from the west to the east of the study region,which is a little bit thicker than that of the global average in the west of longitude 122°E,however,thinner in the east of longitude 122°E.We suggested that the dehydration of sinking slab into the lower mantle or a small-scale mantle plume from the lower mantle generated hot upwelling beneath this region.

The Evolution of Alpine Ultramafic Rocks and Partial Melting of the Upper Mantle

Ultramafic rocks of Tibet and Xinjiang are the products of partial melting of the upper mantle. The evolution of their mineral composition is marked by two parallel evolutionary series: one is the progressive increase of the 100 Mg/(Mg+Fe^(2+) ratio of silicate minerals in order of lherzolite→harzburgite→dunite, i.e. the increase in magnesium; the other is the increase of the 100 Cr/(Cr+Al) ratio of accessory chrome spinel in the same order, i. e. the increase in Chromium. The above-mentioned evolutionary trends are contrary to that of magmatic differentiation. The evolution of fabrics of ultramafic rocks is characterized by progressive variation in order of protogranular texture→melted residual texture, symplectic texture and clastophyritic texture→equigranular mosaic texture and tabular mosaic texture. Experiments of partial melting of lherzolite have convincingly shown that the evolution of Alpine ultramafic rocks resulted from the partial melting of pyrolite. Various subtypes of them represent different degrees of partial melting. The vertical zoning marked by more basic rocks in the upper part and more acid rocks in the lower actually belongs to the fusion zoning of pyrolite.

The Thermal Structure of the Upper Mantle in Eastern China——Inferred from the Petrological Model

Cenozoic basalt in eastern China contains abundant ultramafic xenoliths which are specimens of pyrolitesreleased during basaltic magma eruption. A total of 405 P-T data of pyroxene in the ultramafic rocks have beencollected, which present a more precise pyroxene geotherm. The average geothermal gradient in the upper man-tle represented by the pyroxene geotherm is about 3.3℃ / km, which is much less than that derived from theconductive thermal model (≈14℃ / km), implying the great significance of convective heat transfer. The calcu-lation shows that the contributions of convective and conductive heat transfers are 79% and 21%, respectively.The perturbation in the thermal structure of the upper mantle is an important manifestation of thetectonothermal event of Cenozoic continental rifting and intense basaltic volcanism in eastern China. Based onthe pyroxene geotherm and its comparison with the current geothermal field derived from the measurements ofthe surface heat flows, it is suggested that the Moho may be a secondary thermal boundary. The currentgeothermal field and the thermal structure of the lithosphere in eastern China may mainly reflect the result ofthe tectonothermal disturbance in the Neogene-Quaternary, in other words, the lithosphere has just begun toCool.

Viscoelastic relaxation of the upper mantle and afterslip following the 2014 M_(W)8.1 Iquique earthquake

An improved understanding of postseismic crustal deformation following large subduction earthquakes may help to better understand the rheological properties of upper mantle and the slip behavior of subduction interface.Here we construct a three-dimensional viscoelastic finite element model to study the postseismic deformation of the 2014 M_(W)8.1 Iquique,Chile earthquake.Elastic units in the model include the subducting slab,continental and oceanic lithospheres.Rheological units include the mantle wedge,the oceanic asthenosphere and upper mantle.We use a 2 km thick weak shear zone attached to the subduction fault to simulate the time-dependent stress-driven afterslip.The viscoelastic relaxation in the rheological units is represented by the Burgers rheology.We carry out grid-searches on the shear zone viscosity,thickness and viscosity of the asthenosphere,and they are determined to be 10^(17)Pa s,110 km and 2×10^(18)Pa s,respectively.The stress-driven afterlsip within the first two years is up to~47 cm and becomes negligible after two years(no more than 5 cm/yr).Our results suggest that a thin,low-viscosity oceanic asthenosphere together with a weak shear zone attached to the fault are required to better reproduce the observed postseismic deformation.

Sulphide melt evolution in upper mantle to upper crust magmas,Tongling, China

Sulphide inclusions, which represent melts trapped in the minerals of magmatic rocks and xenoliths, provide important clues to the behaviour of immiscible sulphide liquids during the evolution of magmas and the formation of NieCueFe deposits. We describe sulphide inclusions from unique ultramafic clots within mafic xenoliths, from the mafic xenoliths themselves, and from the three silica-rich host plutons in Tongling, China. For the first time, we are able to propose a general framework model for the evolution of sulphide melts during the evolution of mafic to felsic magmas from the upper mantle to the upper crust. The model improves our understanding of the sulphide melt evolution in upper mantle to upper crust magmas, and provides insight into the formation of stratabound skarn-type FeeCu polymetallic deposits associated with felsic magmatism, thus promising to play an important role during prospecting for such deposits.

Upper Mantle Heterogeneity in Ore-Forming Elements and Its Bearing on Metallogenesis in Qinling Belt and East China

This paper presents the results of our recent studies on the upper mantle composition in the Qinling Belt and East China . It discusses the methods of estimating the upper mantle composition, its selected elements and its constitution characteristics .The results indicate that ore-forming elements on ore types and their distribution in this area are strongly controlled by the upper mantle heterogeneity .

Phase Stability and Reactions of Subducting CaCO_(3)under Upper Mantle Conditions

CaCO_(3)is an important component of marine sediments and one of the major deep-carbon carriers at subduction zones.Some subducted CaCO_(3)can be dissolved in subduction fluids and recycled back to the surface via arc volcanoes degassing.At the same time,there still remain large amounts of CaCO_(3)and its reaction products,which could be further transported into Earth's deep interior.These internal processes link atmosphere,hydrosphere and biosphere with the deep solid Earth,modifying the environments of our planet.In this review,we summarize current understanding from high pressure-temperature experiments and field petrological observations on the physical and chemical properties of CaCO_(3).In particular,the phase stability and reactions of CaCO_(3)largely control the migration and reservation of oxidized carbon in subducting slabs.Finally,we present several critical but unsolved questions on CaCO_(3)subducting in the deep mantle.

Anisotropy of the upper mantle in Chinese mainland and its vicinity

In order to deepen the understanding of the spatial change images of upper mantle media for strain strength and polarization direction, anisotropy and shear wave splitting, anisotropy and strain, strain and the tectonic process, based on the theory on the characteristics of shear wave splitting parameters in the presence of two weak azimuthal anisotropic layers and observations concerned, and using signal identification methods with high precision, the results for 136 earthquakes are obtained. The pictures of anisotropy strength and polarization direction beneath twenty stations are got. Combining the results existed previously, the characteristics and origin of the upper mantle anisotropy are discussed.

3-D velocity structure of P wave in the upper mantle beneath southwestern China and its adjacent areas

3-D velocity structure of P wave in the upper mantle beneath southwestern China and its adjacent areas (10°N [similar to] 36°N, 70°E [similar to] 110°E) down to the depth of 400 km has been studied by using 80 974 P-wave first arrival times recorded at 165 stations from 7 053 events both within the studying areas, selected from the ISC bulletin and the Bulletin of China and NEIC fundamental seismic network. With a resolution of grid spacing of 2°×2°, the velocity heterogeneity on the horizontal profile is obvious though it attenuates with the depth increasing. On the vertical profiles of velocity along the latitude of 16°N and 24°N, the collision and extrusion of India plate to Eurasia plate is displayed, and a remarkable velocity difference between India plate and Eurasia plate is shown. In the vertical profile along the longitude of 90°E, the subducting of India plate northward beneath Eurasia plate (Tibet plateau) is also obvious. On the horizontal profile at the depth of 90 km, a slow velocity stripe from Myitkyina, Myanmar to Donghai, Vietnam seems to be related to Honghe fault belt. An illustration method of describing the resolution more directly and exactly has been proposed and utilized in this paper.

Regarding an Oceanic Crust/Upper Mantle Geochemical Signature at the KT Boundary:If not from Chicxulub Crater,then Where Did it Come from?

Evidence for a mantle and/or basaltic component in KT boundary distal ejecta is apparently inconsistent with ejection from Chicxulub Crater since it is located on;5km thick continental crust（De Paolo et al.,1983;Montanari et al.,1983;Hildebrand and Boynton,1988,1990）.This evidence,along with ejected terrestrial chromites（Olds et al.,2016）suggest the impact sampled terrestrial mafic and/or ultramafic target rocks which are not known to exist in the Chicxulub target area.Possible resolutions to the paradox are:1)the existence of an unmapped/unknown suture in Yucatan Platform basement,2)an additional small unmapped/unknown impact site on oceanic lithosphere,or 3)an additional large impact on oceanic lithosphere or continental margin transitional to oceanic lithosphere.The third hypothesis is elaborated here since:1)Ophiolites nearest to Chicxulub crater are found in Cuba and apparently were obducted in latest Cretaceous/earliest Danian times（García-Casco,2008）,inconsistent with the documented Eocene collision of Cuba with the Bahamas platform;and 2)Cuba hosts the world’s thickest known KT boundary deposits（Iturralde-Vinent,1992;Kiyokawa et al.,2002;Tada et al.,2003）.These and geometric considerations suggest oceanic crust and upper mantle rock,exposed as ophiolite in the Greater Antilles island chain,marks the rim of a roughly 700 km diameter impact basin deformed and dismembered from an originally circular form by at least 50 million years of left-lateral shear displacement along the North American-Caribbeantransform plate boundary.

Peeling linear inversion of upper mantle velocity structure with receiver functions

A peeling linear inversion method is presented to study the upper mantle （from Moho to 800 km depth） velocity structures with receiver functions. The influences of the crustal and upper mantle velocity ratio error on the inversion results are analyzed, and three valid measures are taken for its reduction. This method is tested with the IASP91 and the PREM models, and the upper mantle structures beneath the stations GTA, LZH, and AXX in northwestern China are then inverted. The results indicate that this inversion method is feasible to quantify upper mantle discontinuities, besides the discontinuities between 3hM （hM denotes the depth of Moho） and 5hM due to the interference of multiples from Moho. Smoothing is used to overcome possible false discontinuities from the multiples and ensure the stability of the inversion results, but the detailed information on the depth range between 3hM and 5hM is sacrificed.

Compositions & Melt Evolution of Upper Mantle Peridotites in the Tethyan Ophiolites

The Jurassic–Cretaceous ophiolites in the Alpine–Himalayan orogenic belt represent fragments of oceanic lithosphere,developed in different seaways separated by Gondwana–derived ribbon continents within a broad

The role of fluids in the lower crust and upper mantle:A tribute to Jacques Touret

This special issue of Geoscience Frontiers is a tribute volume honoring the life and career of Jacques Touret. A set of research papers has been assembled, which broadly reflect his research interests over his 50 plus year career. These papers Focus on the role that fluids play during the Formation and evolution of the Earth＇s crust. Below I provide a brief summary of the life of Jacques Touret, along with a select bibliography of his more important papers. This is then followed by a brief introduction to the papers assembled for this special issue.

Thermal Structure and Rheology of the Upper Mantle Derived from Mantle Xenoliths from Gansu Province, Western China

Mantle xenoliths brought up by Cenozoic volcanic rocks onto the earth’s surface may provide direct information about the upper mantle beneath the volcanic region. This paper presents the study on mantle xenoliths collected from Haoti village, Dangchang County, Gansu Province, western China. The main purpose of the study is to gain an insight into the thermal structure and rheology of the upper mantle beneath the region. The results show that the upper mantle of the region is composed mainly of spinel lherzolite at shallower depth (52～75km), and garnet lherzolite at greater depth (greater than 75km), instead of harzburgite and dunite as proposed by some previous studies. The upper mantle geotherm derived from the equilibrium temperatures and pressures of xenoliths from the region is lower than that of North China, and is somewhat closer to the Oceanic geotherm. The crust-mantle boundary is determined from the geotherm to be at about 52km, and the Moho seems to be the transition zone of lower crust material with spinel lherzolite. If we take 1280℃ as the temperature of the top of asthenosphere, then the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary should be at about 120km depth. The differential stress of the upper mantle is determined by using recrystallized grain size piezometry, while the strain rate and equivalent viscosity are determined by using the high temperature flow law of peridotite. The differential stress, strain rate and viscosity profiles constructed on the basis of the obtained values indicate that asthenospheric diapir occurred in this region during the Cenozoic time, resulting in the corresponding thinning of the lithosphere. However, the scale and intensity of the diapir was significantly less than that occurring in the North China region. Moreover, numerous small-scale shear zones with localized deformation might occur in the lithospheric mantle, as evidenced by the extensive occurrence of xenoliths with tabular equigranular texture.

QβstructureofthecrustanduppermantleintheeasternSino┐Koreanparaplatform

Based on the long period surface wave data recorded by the China Digital Seismograph Network (CDSN), the Q R of fundamental mode Rayleigh wave with periods from 10 s to 146 s is determined for the eastern Sino Korean paraplatform in this paper. The Q β models of the crust and upper mantle are respectively obtained for the 4 paths, with the aid of stochastic inverse method. It shows that in the eastern Sino Korean paraplatform, the average crustal Q β is about 200, and that there exists a weak attenuation layer in the middle crust (about 10～20 km deep) which is possibly related to earthquake prone layer. A strong attenuation layer (low Q ) of 70 km thick extensively exists in the uppermost mantle, with the buried depth about 80 km. The average Q R of fundamental mode Rayleigh wave is between the value of stable tectonic region and that of active tectonic region, and much close to the latter.