A study on 3-D velocity structure of crust and upper mantle in Sichuan -Yunnan region, China

Based on the first arrival P and S data of 4 625 regional earthquakes recorded at 174 stations dispersed in the Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, the 3-D velocity structure of crust and upper mantle in the region is determined, incorporating with previous deep geophysical data. In the upper crust, a positive anomaly velocity zone exists in the Sichuan basin, whereas a negative anomaly velocity zone exists in the western Sichuan plateau. The boundary between the positive and negative anomaly zones is the Longmenshan fault zone. The images of lower crust and upper mantle in the Longmenshan fault, Xianshuihe fault, Honghe fault and others show the characteristic of tectonic boundary, indicating that the faults likely penetrate the Moho discontinuity. The negative velocity anomalies at the depth of 50 km in the Tengchong volcanic area and the Panxi tectonic zone appear to be associated with the temperature and composition variations in the upper mantle. The overall features of the crustal and the upper mantle structures in the SichuanYunnan region are the lower average velocity in both crust and uppermost mantle, the large crustal thickness variations, and the existence of high conductivity layer in the crust or/and upper mantle, and higher geothermal value. All these features are closely related to the collision between the India and the Asia plates. The crustal velocity in the SichuanYunnan rhombic block generally shows normal value or positive anomaly, while the negative anomaly exists in the area along the large strike-slip faults as the block boundary. It is conducive to the crustal block side-pressing out along the faults. In the major seismic zones, the seismicity is relative to the negative anomaly velocity. Most strong earthquakes occurred in the upper-mid crust with positive anomaly or normal velocity, where the negative anomaly zone generally exists below.

Imaging 3-D crustal P-wave velocity structure of western Yunnan with bulletin data

Western Yunnan is a region with intensive tectonic activity and serious earthquake risk. It is of significant importance to study three dimensional crustal structure of this region to understand the tectonic setting and disaster mechanism. Densification and digitalization of seismic networks in this region provides an opportunity to study the velocity structure with bulletin data. In this study, we collect P-wave data of 10 403 regional earthquakes recorded by 79 seismic stations from January 2008 to December 2010. In addition to first arrivals data （Pg with epieentral distance less than 200 km and Pn）, the Pg （or P） data with epicentral distance more than 200 km are also considered as later direct arrivals in the tomographic inversion. We also compare the quantity and the quality of the seismic data before 2010 and after 2010. The test results show that adding the follow-up Pg phase can effectively improve the inversion ability of crustal imaging, and quantity and the data quality are significantly improved since 2010. The tomographie results show that： （1） The Honghe fault zone, which is the major fault systems in this region, may cut through the entire crust, and the velocity contrasts between two sides at lower crust beneath the Honghe fault are estimated at higher than 10%, while the velocity difference below Nujiang fault zone extends only in the upper crust; （2） Most of the earthquakes in the region occurred at the interface of high-velocity media and low-velocity media, i.e., the areas with high velocity gradient, which has been validated in other areas.

3-D velocity structure in the central-eastern part of Qilianshan

The 3-D velocity tomography image of the central-eastern part of Qilianshan is obtained by the joint inversion of 3-D velocity structure and focal parameters based on the S-P data of micro-earthquakes recorded by the digital seismic network set up for a Sino-French cooperation program since 1996. The inversed velocity structure does primarily reflect some important features of the deep structure in the region and provide the scientific background for the further study of active tectonic structure and the calculation of earthquake parameters.

Joint Inversion of the 3D P Wave Velocity Structure of the Crust and Upper Mantle under the Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau Using Regional Earthquake and Teleseismic Data

The special seismic tectonic environment and frequent seismicity in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau show that this area is an ideal location to study the present tectonic movement and background of strong earthquakes in China's Mainland and to predict future strong earthquake risk zones. Studies of the structural environment and physical characteristics of the deep structure in this area are helpful to explore deep dynamic effects and deformation field characteristics, to strengthen our understanding of the roles of anisotropy and tectonic deformation and to study the deep tectonic background of the seismic origin of the block＇s interior. In this paper, the three-dimensional （3D） P-wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle under the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is obtained via observational data from 224 permanent seismic stations in the regional digital seismic network of Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces and from 356 mobile China seismic arrays in the southern section of the north-south seismic belt using a joint inversion method of the regional earthquake and teleseismic data. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of the P-wave velocity anomalies in the shallow upper crust is closely related to the surface geological structure, terrain and lithology. Baoxing and Kangding, with their basic volcanic rocks and volcanic clastic rocks, present obvious high-velocity anomalies. The Chengdu Basin shows low-velocity anomalies associated with the Quaternary sediments. The Xichang Mesozoic Basin and the Butuo Basin are characterised by low- velocity anomalies related to very thick sedimentary layers. The upper and middle crust beneath the Chuan-Dian and Songpan-Ganzi Blocks has apparent lateral heterogeneities, including low-velocity zones of different sizes. There is a large range of low-velocity layers in the Songpan-Ganzi Block and the sub-block northwest of Sichuan Province, showing that the middle and lower crust is relatively weak. The Sichuan Basin, which is located in the western margin of the Yangtze platform, shows high-velocity characteristics. The results also reveal that there are continuous low-velocity layer distributions in the middle and lower crust of the Daliangshan Block and that the distribution direction of the low-velocity anomaly is nearly SN, which is consistent with the trend of the Daliangshan fault. The existence of the low-velocity layer in the crust also provides a deep source for the deep dynamic deformation and seismic activity of the Daliangshan Block and its boundary faults. The results of the 3D P-wave velocity structure show that an anomalous distribution of high-density, strong-magnetic and high-wave velocity exists inside the crust in the Panxi region. This is likely related to late Paleozoic mantle plume activity that led to a large number of mafic and ultra-mafic intrusions into the crust. In the crustal doming process, the massive intrusion of mantle-derived material enhanced the mechanical strength of the crustal medium. The P-wave velocity structure also revealed that the upper mantle contains a low-velocity layer at a depth of 80-120 km in the Panxi region. The existence of deep faults in the Panxi region, which provide conditions for transporting mantle thermal material into the crust, is the deep tectonic background for the area＇s strong earthquake activity.

Earthquake relocation and 3-dimensional crustal structure of P-wave velocity in central-western China

A simultaneous inversion of earthquake relocation and three-dimensional crustal structure of P-wave velocity in central-western China (21癗~36癗, 98癊~112癊) were performed in this paper. The crustal P-wave velocity model and earthquake relocation for this region are obtained using Pg and Sg phase readings of 9 988 earthquakes from 1992 to 1999 recorded at 193 seismic stations within central-western China by SPHYPIT90 and SPHREL3D90 programs. A lateral inhomogeneous structure of P-wave velocity in this region was obtained. Ob-vious contrast of P-wave velocities was revealed on both sides of active fault zones. Relocated epicenters of 6 459 events show clear lineation along active faults, which indicated a close correlation between seismicity and the active faults in this region. Focal depths of 82% relocated events ranged from 0 to 20 km, which is in good agreement with that from double-difference earthquake location algorithm.

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.

Three-dimensional P-wave Velocity Structure Modelling of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt: Crustal Architecture and Metallogenic Implications

In this study,we compiled and analyzed 69310 P-wave travel-time data from 6639 earthquake events.These events(M≥2.0)occurred from 1980 s to June 2019 and were recorded at 319 seismic stations(Chinese Earthquake Networks Center)in the study area.We adopted the double-difference seismic tomographic method(tomo DD)to invert the 3-D P-wave velocity structure and constrain the crust-upper mantle architecture of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(MLYB).A 1-D initial model extracted from wide-angle seismic profiles was used in the seismic tomography,which greatly reduced the inversion residual.Our results indicate that reliable velocity structure of th e uppermost mantle can be obtained when Pn is involved in the tomography.Our results show that:(1)the pattern of the uppermost mantle velocity structure corresponds well with the geological partitioning:a nearly E-W-trending low-velocity zone is present beneath the Dabie Orogen,in contrast to the mainly NE-trending low-velocity anomalies beneath the Jiangnan Orogen.They suggest the presence of thickened lower crust beneath the orogens in the study area.In contrast,the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks are characterized by relatively high-velocity anomalies;(2)both the ultra-high-pressure(UHP)metamorphic rocks in the Dabie Orogen and the low-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Zhangbaling dome are characterized by high-velocity anomalies.The upper crust in the Dabie Orogen is characterized by a low-velocity belt,sandwiched between two high velocity zones in a horizontal direction,with discontinuous low-velocity layers in the middle crust.The keel of the Dabie Orogen is mainly preserved beneath its northern section.We infer that the lower crustal delamination may have mainly occurred in the southern Dabie Orogen,which caused the mantle upwelling responsible for the formation of the granitic magmas emplaced in the middle crust as the low-velocity layers observed there.Continuous deep-level compression likely squeezed the granitic magma upward to intrude the upper crustal UHP metamorphic rocks,forming the'sandwich'velocity structure there;(3)high-velocity updoming is widespread in the crust-mantle transition zone beneath the MLYB.From the Anqing-Guichi ore field northeastward to the Luzong,Tongling,Ningwu and Ningzhen orefields,high-velocity anomalies in the crust-mantle transition zone increase rapidly in size and are widely distributed.The updoming also exists in the crust-mantle transition zone beneath the Jiurui and Edongnan orefields,but the high-velocity anomalies are mainly stellate distributed.The updoming high-velocity zone beneath the MLYB generally extends from the crust-mantle transition zone to the middle crust,different from the velocity structure in the upper crust.The upper crust beneath the Early Cretaceous extension-related Luzong and Ningwu volcanic basins is characterized by high velocity zones,in contrast to the low velocity anomalies beneath the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous compression-related Tongling ore field.The MLYB may have undergone a compressive-to-extensional transition during the Yanshanian(Jurassic-Cretaceous)period,during which extensive magmatism occurred.The near mantle-crustal boundary updoming was likely caused by asthenospheric underplating at the base of the lower crust.The magmas may have ascended through major crustal faults,undergoing AFC(assimilation and fractional crystallization)processes,became emplaced in the fault-bounded basins or Paleozoic sequences,eventually forming the many Cu-Fe polymetallic deposits there.

Research on the 3-D Seismic Structures in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

Based on the recording data from the analogue and broadband digital seismic stations in and around Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, the three dimensional (3-D) seismic velocity structures in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau were obtained by using the regional body wave tomography and surface wave tomography. The results from these two tomography methods have similar characteristics for P- and S-wave velocity structures in crust and upper mantle. They show that there are remarkable low velocity zones in the upper crust of Lhasa block in the southern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and the lower crust and upper mantle of Qiangtang block in the northern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. These phenomena may be related to the different steps of collision process in southern and northern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Three-dimensional crustal velocity structure and activity characteristics of the Madoi Ms7.4 earthquake in 2021

In this paper,using natural earthquake P-wave arrival time data recorded by the seismic network in the surrounding area of Madoi,the three-dimensional fine P-wave crustal velocity structure at depths above 60 km in the epicenter of the Madoi Ms7.4 earthquake was inverted using the double-difference seismic tomography method.On the basis of the relocation of the source of the aftershock sequence,we summarized the strip-shaped distribution characteristics along the strike of the Jiangcuo fault,revealing the significant heterogeneity of the crustal velocity structure in the source area.Research has found that most of the Madoi Ms7.4 aftershocks were located in the weak area of the high-speed anomaly in the upper crust.The focal depth changed with the velocity structure,showing obvious fluctuation and segmentation characteristics.There was a good correspondence between the spatial distribution and the velocity structure.The high-velocity bodies of the upper crust in the hypocenter area provided a medium environment for earthquake rupture,the low-velocity bodies of the middle crust formed the deep material,and the migration channel and the undulating shape of the high-speed body in the lower crust corroborated the strong pushing action in the region.The results confirmed that under the continuous promotion of tectonic stress in the Madoi area,the high-speed body of the Jiangcuo fault blocked the migration of weak materials in the middle crust.When the stress accumulation exceeded the limit,the Madoi Ms7.4 earthquake occurred.Meanwhile,the nonuniform velocity structure near the fault plane determined the location of the main shock and the spatiotemporal distribution of the aftershock sequence.

2-D crustal structure of Changbaishan-Tianchi volcanic region determined by seismic traveltime inversion

2-D velocity structure and tectonics of the crust and upper mantle is revealed by inversion of seismic refraction and wide-angle reflection traveltimes acquired along the profile L1 in the Changbaishan-Tianchi volcanic region. It is used in this study that seismic traveltime inversion for simultaneous determination of 2-D velocity and interface structure of the crust and upper mantle. The result shows that, under Changbaishan-Tianchi crater, there exists a low-velocity body in the shape of an inverted triangle, and the crustal reflecting boundaries and Moho all become lower by a varying margin of 2-6 km, forming a crustal root which is assumed to be the Changbaishan-Tianchi volcanic system. Finally, we make a comparison between our 2-D velocity model and the result from the studies by using trial-and-error forward modeling with SEIS83.

3-D seismic interpretation of stratigraphic and structural features in the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous sequence of the Gullfaks Field,Norwegian North Sea:A case study of reservoir development

The 3-D seismic dataset is a key tool to analyze and understand the mechanism of structural and stratigraphic hydrocarbon(HC)trapping in the subsurface.Conventionally used subsurface seismic characterization methods for fractures are based on the theory of effective anisotropy medium.The aim of this work is to improve the structural images with dense sampling of 3-D survey to evaluate structural and stratigraphic models for reservoir development to predict reservoir quality.The present study of the Gullfaks Field,located in the Norwegian North Sea Gullfaks sector,identifies the shallowest structural elements.The steepness of westward structural dip decreases eastward during the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous deposition.Reservoir sands consist of the Middle Jurassic deltaic deposits and Lower Jurassic fluvial channel and delta plain deposits.Sediment supply steadily prevails on sea-level rise and the succession displays a regressive trend indicated by a good continuous stacking pattern.The key factor for the development of reservoirs in the Gullfaks Field is fault transmissibility with spatially distributed pressure.The majority of mapped faults with sand-to-sand contacts are non-sealing,which provide restriction for the HC flow between the fault blocks.The traps for HC accumulation occur between the post-rift and syn-rift strata,i.e.antiform set by extensional system,unconformity trap at the top of syndeposition,and structural trap due to normal faults.Overall reservoir quality in the studied area is generally excellent with average 35%porosity and permeability in the Darcy range.Our findings are useful to better understand the development of siliciclastic reservoirs in similar geological settings worldwide.

Determination of 3-D Velocity Anomalies of the Nanbei Tectonic Zone of China Based on Local Earthquakes

: In this paper, 3-D velocity images of the crust and upper mantle beneath the Nanbei tectonic zone of China are constructed using P-wave travel time residuals of earthquakes, with the data supplied by China's seismic networks and the International Seismic Centre.

Crustal structure in Dabieshan UHP metamorphic belt and its tectonic implication

The model of Dabieshan crustal structure has been obtained on the basis of the deep seismic sounding data in thisarea. The 2-D crustal structure shows the feature of the collision orogens and provides some deep geophysicalevidences of the ultra-high pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt. The 3-D upper-crustal velocity struCture reveals thatthe velocity distribution at 2 km deep obviously relates to the surface geological setting and the UHP metarnorphicbelt has the higher velocity at 5~10 km deep. The observed data of Bouguer gravity anomalies reveal a largerrange of negative anomalies in Dabieshan area while the positive anomalies in the UHP metamorphic belt is calculated from the 3-D upper-crustal velocity structure. The 2-D crustal model along the seismic profile shows thatthe 'root' beneath the orogen is only 4-5 km thick and the velocity in the uppermost mantle changes a little in thelateral direction. The inconsistency between the observed and calculated Bouguer gravity anomalies mainly resultsfrom the crust, and at least the middle-upper crust should yield the negative anomalies. The material density of thecrust in the UHP metamorphic belt should be lower than that in the surrounding areas. This material with lowerdensity relates to the collision processes in which Yangtze crust subducted nor'thward to 100 km deep and thenreturned to the crust.

Tomographic determination of the upper crustal structure in the Jiashi strong earthquake swarm region

A three-dimensional temporary seismic transmission array was arranged in a 50x60 km2 region around Jiashi strong earthquake swarm to receive seismic waves generated by 8 fires from different azimuths. With the inversion method without model blocks and using P and S reflections from Moho at critical distances, the 3-D images of P, S velocity perturbation and ratio vP/vS perturbation of the upper crust under the seismic array were reconstructed. Meanwhile, the seismicity of the Jiashi earthquake swarm was taken into consideration in the analysis of the seismogenesis. The results indicate that the upper crustal structure under the Jiashi strong earthquake swarm region is characterized by significant inhomogeneity both laterally and vertically. From 12 km depth, it is clear that there is an NNW-oriented high P-wave velocity anomalous body corresponding to the epicenter of the swarm with low-velocity anomaly around it, which is the direct cause of the strong earthquakes. High vP/vS is distributed in the same location, which may indicate the decline of shear strength of the source region owing to relative softness of the medium, this can be accounted as an explanation for the seismicity feature of the Jiashi strong earthquake swarm.

Tectonic characteristics and structural styles of a continental rifted basin:Revelation from deep seismic reflection profiles

The Fushan Depression is a half-graben rifted sub-basin located in the southeast of the Beibuwan Basin, South China Sea. The Paleogene Liushagang sequence is the main hydrocarbon-bearing stratigraphic unit in the sub-basin. Using three-dimensional（3-D）seismic data and logging data over the sub-basin, we analyzed structural styles and sedimentary characteristics of the Liushagang sequence. Five types of structural styles were defined： ancient horst, traditional slope, flexure slope-break, faulted slope-break and multiple-stage faults slope, and interpretations for positions, background and development formations of each structural style were discussed. Structural framework across the sub-basin reveals that the most remarkable tectonic setting is represented by the central transfer zone（CTZ） which divides the sub-basin into two independent depressions, and two kinds of sequence architectures are summarized：（i） the western multi-stage faults slope;（ii） the eastern flexure slope break belt. Combined with regional stress field of the Fushan Depression, we got plane combinations of the faults, and finally built up plan distribution maps of structural system for main sequence. Also, we discussed the controlling factors mainly focused on subsidence history and background tectonic activities such as volcanic activity and earthquakes. The analysis of structural styles and tectonic evolution provides strong theoretical support for future prospecting in the Fushan subbasin and other similar rifted basins of the Beibuwan Basin in South China Sea.

Crustal and uppermost mantle structure of Caucasus and surrounding regions

A 3-D P-wave velocity model is developed for the crust and uppermost mantle of Caucasus and the surrounding area by applying the tomographic method of Zhao et al. using 300 000 high-quality P-wave first arrivals from 43 000 events between 1964 and 2005. This tomographic method can accommodate velocity discontinuities such as the Moho in addition to smooth velocity variations. The spatial resolution is 1°× 1° in the horizontal direction and 10 km in depth. The velocity images of the upper crust correspond well with the surface geology. Beneath the southern Caucasus high velocity anomalies are found in the middle crust and low velocity anomalies are found in the uppermost mantle. Relatively low Pn velocities are located under the Lesser Caucasus, eastern Turkey, and northern Iran. Higher Pn velocities occur under the eastern portion of the Black Sea and the southern Caspian Sea, and also extend into the eastern edge of Azerbaijan. Tomographic model significantly reduces the travel-time residuals.

3-D isotropic and anisotropic tomography of P-wave travel times from the Anhui airgun experiment in the Yangtze River

The Middle-Lower Yangtze River is a typical transition region between the nearly NW-oriented Tethys and NE-trending Pacific tectonic regimes.Structures of different periods and directions overlap strongly during these processes.The NE-trending Yangtze River compound structural belt and NW-trending Tongling-Hangzhou structural belt both control the magmatic activities and distributions of the metallogenic belts in the area.Here,we obtain 3-D high-resolution isotropic and azimuthally anisotropic velocity structures at depths of 1–10 km using the first arrivals from airgun sources.The velocity maps correspond well with the tectonic structures,with high-velocity anomalies distributed in ore-concentrated districts and low-velocity anomalies distributed along the Yangtze River.The fast directions are generally consistent with the fault strike,indicating that the azimuthal anisotropy is mainly dominated by the fault and fracture trends in the upper crust.The complicated fast directions near the Luzong and Tongling ore deposits reveal complex deformations in the upper crust,which are mainly caused by the intersection of the Yangtze River compound and Tongling-Hangzhou structural belts.The magma intrusion beneath the two ore deposits(Luzong and Tongling)are connected at depths of 5–10 km.

Three-dimensional crustal velocity structure model of the middle-eastern north China Craton (HBCrust1.0)

Lithosphere thinning and destruction in the middle-eastern North China Craton(NCC), a region susceptible to strong earthquakes, is one of the research hotspots in solid earth science. All 42 seismic wide-angle reflection/refraction profiles have been completed in the middle-eastern NCC. We collect all the 2-D profiling results and perform gridding of the velocity and interface depth data, building a 3-D crustal velocity structure model for the middle-eastern NCC, named HBCrust1.0, by using the Kriging interpolation method. Our result shows that the first-arrival times calculated by HBCust1.0 fit well with the observations. The result demonstrates that the upper crust is the main seismogenic layer, and the brittle-ductile transition occurs at depths near interface C(the interface between upper and lower crust). The depth of interface Moho varies beneath the source area of the Tangshan earthquake, and a low-velocity structure is found to extend from the source area to the lower crust. Based on these observations, it can be inferred that stress accumulation responsible for the Tangshan earthquake may have been closely related to the migration and deformation of the mantle materials. Comparisons of the average velocities of the whole crust, the upper and the lower crust show that the average velocity of the lower crust under the central part of the North China Basin(NCB) in the east of the craton is obviously higher than the regional average. This high-velocity probably results from long-term underplating of the mantle magma.

Fine three-dimensional P-wave velocity structure beneath the capital region and deep environment for the nucleation of strong earthquakes

A detailed 3-D P-wave velocity model of the crust and uppermost mantle under the capital region is de- termined with a spatial resolution of 25 km in the horizontal direction and 4—17 km in depth. We used 48750 precise P-wave arrival time data from 2973 events of local crustal earthquakes, controlled seismic explosions and quarry blasts. These events were recorded by 123 seismic stations. The data are analyzed by using a 3-D seismic tomography method. Our tomographic model provides new information on the geological structure and complex seismotectonics of this re- gion. Different patterns of velocity structures show up in the North China Basin, the Taihangshan and the Yanshan Mountainous areas. The velocity images of the upper crust reflect well the surface geological, topographic and lithologi- cal features. In the North China Basin, the depression and uplift areas are imaged as slow and fast velocity belts, re- spectively, which are oriented in NE-SW direction. The trend of velocity anomalies is the same as that of major structure and tectonics. Paleozoic strata and Pre-Cambrian basement rocks outcrop widely in the Taihangshan and Yanshan uplift areas, which exhibit strong and broad high-velocity anoma- lies in our tomographic images, while the Quaternary inter- mountain basins show up as small low-velocity anomalies. Most of large earthquakes, such as the 1976 Tangshan earthquake (M 7.8) and the 1679 Sanhe earthquake (M 8.0), generally occurred in high-velocity areas in the upper to middle crust. However, in the lower crust to the uppermost mantle under the source zones of the large earthquakes, low-velocity and high-conductivity anomalies exist, which are considered to be associated with fluids, just like the 1995 Kobe earthquake (M 7.2) and the 2001 Indian Bhuj earth- quake (M 7.8). The fluids in the lower crust may cause the weakening of the seismogenic layer in the upper and middle crust and thus contribute to the initiation of the large crustal earthquakes.

The 3-D structure of shear wave in South China and the southward extension of Tanlu fault

By processing the CSND Rayleigh wave data with the matched filter FTAN technique, Rayleigh wave dispersion for southeast China is obtained. The 4°×4°S wave dispersion of the pure path is calculated using random inversion scheme, and 3-D S wave velocity structure is set up. Incorporating the above-mentioned results with wide angle seismic sounding data, we studied structure framework and the extending of faults in this area, which demonstrates that the depth of Moho in South China varies from 30 to 40 km, shallower from west to east. The depth of Moho varies from 25 to 28 km for the offshore. The depth of the asthenosphere in upper mantle varies from 60 to 100 km. The depth difference of layers at the two sides of Tanlu fault is more than 10 km at the south part of the Yangtze River, and the fault extends downward more than 170 km. The fault exceeds the main land at Hainan Island and slips into the southern China Sea. Both Tanlu fault and the huge bend of gravity gradient anomaly are influenced by