The depth of Moho in the mainland of China

In the last decade, deep seismic sounding (DSS) of profiles several ten thousand kilometers in length has beenconducted in the mainland of China. A lot of results published in Chinese were compiled and a map of Mohodepth was presented in this paper. Coverage of DSS profile is not uniform,and is lacking in some areas, especiaLly in the western part of China. In this case,the results from dispersions of seismic surface waves and other materials were considered. According to the Moho depth, the mainland of China can be divided into eight crustalblocks.The Moho depth is uniform and varies little inside the same block, while it changes abruptly from oneblock to another. The Tibetan Plateau is characterized by a thickest crust in the world. It may be due to thepenetration of indian crustal materials into the Tibetan crust or upper mantle. Deeper Moho in the neighbouringareas of Tibet may also be effected by the complicated collision processes between the two continents.Thin crusto f the North China Plain is considered to be related to the magmatic activities in the lower crust and uppermantle. While the crust of the eastern part of SOuth China may be due to the accretion of terrain from the oceanislands.

Depth Distribution of Moho Discontinuity Beneath Beijing and Its Adjacent Area

Based on the method of "two-dimensional depth structure of the crust" proposed by Horiuchi et al., about 5000 arrival times of 303 local shallow earthquakes recorded by the Beijing Seismographic Network from 1990 ~ 1993 are used to investigate the depth distribution of Moho discontinuity beneath Beijing and its adjacent area. We simultaneously determined the hypocenter parameters and P- and S-wave station corrections. The data of the North China Network were also investigated. The results are as follows: (1) The depth distribution of Moho discontinuity becomes shallower from the northwest to the southeast, i.e., in Zhangjiakou area, the Moho discontinuity is located at a depth range from 40~42 km. In the Beijing area, it is 36~39 km. However, at the eastern and southeastern part of this area, it is only 28-30 km and 30~32 km, respectively. (2) Beneath the Tangshan area, there is another elliptic interface shallower than the Moho discontinuity. Separately, its major and minor axis is approximately

Deep Background of Wenchuan Earthquake and the Upper Crust Structure beneath the Longmen Shan and Adjacent Areas

By analyzing the deep seismic sounding profiles across the Longmen Shan, this paper focuses on the study of the relationship between the upper crust structure of the Longmen Shan area and the Wenchuan earthquake. The Longmen Shan thrust belt marks not only the topographical change, but also the lateral velocity variation between the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin. A low-velocity layer has consistently been found in the crust beneath the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and ends beneath the western Sichuan Basin. The low-velocity layer at a depth of -20 km beneath the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau has been considered as the deep condition for favoring energy accumulation that formed the great Wenchuan earthquake.

Crustal Structure of the Jurassic Quiet Zone in the West Pacific Ocean:Insights from 2D Multichannel Seismic Reflection Profiles

The Jurassic oceanic crust is the oldest existing oceanic crust on earth,and although distributed sparsely,carries essential information about the earth's evolution.The area around the Pigafetta Basin in the west Pacific Ocean(also known as the Jurassic Quiet Zone,JQZ)is one of a few areas where the Jurassic oceanic crust is present.This study takes full advantage of high-resolution multichannel seismic reflection profiles in combination with bathymetry,magnetic,and gravity data from the JQZ to examine the structure,deformation,and morphology of the Jurassic oceanic crust.Our results show the following insights:1)The Moho lies at 2–3 s in two-way travel time beneath the seafloor with the segmented feature.The gaps between the Moho segments well correspond to the seamounts on the seafloor,suggesting the upward migration of magma from the mantle has interrupted the pre-existing Moho.2)The oceanic crust is predominantly deformed by crustal-scale thrust faults,normal faults cutting through the top of basement,and vertical seismic disturbance zones in association with migration of thermal fluids.The thrust faults are locally found and interpreted as the results of tectonic inversion.3)Seafloor morphology in the JQZ is characterized by fault scarps,fold scarps,seamounts,and small hills,indicating the occurrence of active faults.4)The oceanic crust in the JQZ and East Pacific Rise has many structural and geometrical variations,such as the thickness of sediments,seafloor topography,basement morphology,fault size and type.

Exploration and Research of Deep Crustal Structures in the Zhangzhou Basin and Its Vicinity

The Zhangzhou basin is located at the middle section of the southeast coast seismic zone of the mainland of China. Using high-resolution refraction and wide-angle reflection/refraction seismic profiling of Zhangzhou basin and its vicinity, we have obtained the crustal geometric structure and velocity structure as well as the geometric configuration and structural relationship between the deep and shallow fractures.The results show that the crust in the region is divided into the upper crust and lower crust. The thickness of the upper crust is 16.5km～18.8km, and that of the lower crust is 12.0km～13.0km. The upper crust is further divided into an upper and lower section. In the lower section of the upper crust, there is a low-velocity layer with a velocity of about 6.00km/s; the depth of the top surface of the low-velocity layer is about 12.0km, and the thickness is about 5.0km. The lower crust is also divided into an upper and lower section. The depth of Moho is 29.0km～31.8km. There are 6 normal faults in the shallow crust in this region, and most of them extend downwards to a depth of less than 4km, the maximum depth is about 5km.Below the shallow normal faults, there is a conjectural high-dip angle deep fault zone. The fault zone extends downwards till the Moho and upwards into the low-velocity layer in lower section of the upper crust. The deep and shallow faults are not tectonically connected. The combination character of deep and shallow structures in the Zhangzhou basin indicates that the Jiulongjiang fault zone is a deep fault zone with distinct characteristics and a complex deep and shallow structure background. The acquisition of deep seismic exploration results obviously enhanced the reliability of explanation of deep-structural data and the exploration precision of the region. The combination of deep and shallow structures resulted in uniform explanation results. The delamination of the crust and the characteristic of the structures are more precise and explicit. We discovered for the first time the combination characteristics of extensional structures and listric faults in the upper crust. This is not only helpful to the integrative judgment of earthquake risk in Zhangzhou and its vicinity, but also of importance for deepening the knowledge of deep dynamic processes in the southeast coast seismic zone.

Upper crust structure of eastern A’nyemaqên suture zone: Results of Barkam-Luqu-Gulang deep seismic sounding profile

Barkam-Luqu-Gulang deep seismic sounding profile runs from north of Sichuan Province to south of Gansu Province. It is located at the northeastern edge of Tibetan Plateau and crosses eastern A＇nyemaqên suture zone. The upper crust structures around eastern A＇nyemaqên suture zone and its adjacent area are reconstructed based on the arrival times of refracted Pg and Sg waves by using finite difference method, ray tracing inversion, time-term method and travel-time curve analysis. The results show that the depth variation of basement along profile is very strong as indicated by Pg and Sg waves. The basement rose in Zoigê basin and depressed in eastern A＇nyemaqên suture zone, and it gradually rose again northward and then depressed. The results also indicate that eastern A＇nyemaqên suture zone behaves as inhomogeneous low velocity structures in the upper crust and is inclined to- ward the south. Hoh Sai Hu-Maqên fault, Wudu-Diebu fault and Zhouqu-Liangdang fault are characterized by low velocity distributions with various scales. The distinct variation in basement depth occurred near Hoh Sai Hu-Maqên fault and Zhouqu-Liangdang fault, which are main tectonic boundaries of A＇nyemaqên suture zone. Wudu-Diebu fault, located at the depth variation zone of the basement, possibly has the same deep tectonic background with Zhouqu-Liangdang fault. The strongly depressed basement characterized by low velocity distribution and lateral inhomogeneity in A＇nyemaqên suture zone implies crushed zone features under pinching action.

Exploration and Study of Deep Crustal Structure in the Quanzhou Basin and Its Adjacent Area

The Quanzhou basin and its adjacent areas locate in the middle of the southeastern coast seismic belt on the Chinese mainland. The very fine geometry structure of this area from near ground to Moho interface and the relationship between the deep and shallow faults are obtained based on deep seismic reflection profiling. This profile is the first deep seismic reflection profile in this area and it indicates that the crust can be divided into the upper crust and the lower crust and the thickness of crust is from 29.5 km to 31 km in this area. The upper crust and the lower crust can be also divided into two layers. There are shallow normal faults developed in the upper crust and extending to the depth from 6 km to 12 km. The angle of those listric faults decreases with depth and the faults joint into the C1 interface （detachment surface）. There is a high angle fault under the Yong’an-Jinjiang fault belt which cuts off the interface of the upper crust and the lower crust and the Moho interface. Although there is no connection between the shallow and the deep faults, it offers deep structural environment for moderate and strong earthquake because of the deep high angle fault. This exploration result improves the reliability and precision of explanation of deep crustal structure in this area. The pull-apart and listric normal fault model indicates that the upper crust structure accords to the dynamic process of Taiwan Straits. This is helpful for seismicity estimation of Quanzhou and its adjacent area and important for obtaining more of the dynamic process of the southeast coast seismic belt.

Study on crust-mantle tectonics and its velocity structure along the Beijing-Huailai-Fengzhen profile

In order to investigate the interrelations of crust and upper mantle tectonics and its velocity distribution as well as seismicity in the Yanhuai basin and its surrounding area, a nearly EW trending Beijing Huailai Fengzhen wide angle reflection/refraction profile, which obliquely passes through seismic zone of Zhangjiakou Bohai Sea and coincides with a deep reflection profile in the Yanhuai basin, was completed recently. The results show: The crust presents layered structures and its thickness gradually increases from 35.0 km in Shunyi to 42.0 km in the west end of the profile; the interior crustal interfaces appear approximately horizontal or slowly sloping down from east to west; In the Yanhuai basin, the crust presents the characteristics of higher velocities alternating with the lower ones and the low velocity bodies obviously exist in the lower part of upper crust. Moreover, there are two deep crustal fault zones which stretch to the Moho discontinuity, are closely related with the seismicity in the Yanhuai area.

Study on the crust-mantle structure in the central and southern parts of Shanxi

Another comparative interpretation was conducted with respect to the data from 5 DSS profiles in the central and southern parts of Shanxi, leading to the conclusion that in Linxian, Linfen and Xingtai earthquake regions, through which the five profiles pass, there exist anomalous crust mantle structure and abyssal crustal faults extending to Moho, all being regarded as the deep indications for earthquake occurrence.

An Investigation of Deep Electrical Structure of Qiangtang Basin,Xizang(Tibet),China

In order to study the deep geoelectrical structure and the regional geological structure and detect potential oil and gas areas in Qiangtang basin in northern Xizang (Tibet ), 222 MT soundings were conducted along three N - S MT profiles across the basin .The MT results indicate that the south and north parts of the Qiangtang basin have a good contrast in the deep electri cal structure . In the south Qiangtang , there are generally two high conductivity layers in the crust . The first is at a depth of about 10 - 25 km and possesses a resistivity of about 10 - 80 Ωm .The second ,the high conductivity layer in the lower crust ,is at a depth of about 40 - 70 km with 3 - 50 Ωm .In the north Qiangtang .there is generally one high conductivity layer .It is at a depth of about 10 - 30 km and the resistivity is about 1-60 Ωm . The thickness of the second high conductivity layer in both the south Qiangtang and the Bangong-Nujiang suture is much greater than that of the first .The thickness of the lithosphere is about 110-120 km for the Bangong-Nujiang suture ,115 km for the south Qiangtang and 100-130 km for the north Qiangtang . On the difference of the deep electrical structures of the crust between the south and the north Qiangtang , we believe that it is related to the eastward flow of the crustal substance .

Study and review on crust-mantle velocity structure in Bohai Bay and its vicinity

Observational data from some of the 10-odd deep seismic sounding profiles in Bohai Bay and its adjacent areas were processed with the methods of two-dimensional ray tracing, travel-time fitting and synthetic seismogram. The crust and upper-mantle velocity structure model in this area was built. The results show that the crust and upper mantle structures present obvious lateral and vertical inhomogeneity. The upper mantle uplifts near Yongqing of northeast Jizhong depression, in Bohai Bay of Huanghua depression and near Kenli of Jiyang depression, where crustal depths are about 31 km, 28 km and 29 km, respectively. According to the dynamic and kinetic characteristics of seismic waves as well as the seismic interfaces and velocity contour undulation in the 2-D velocity structure model, three deep crustal fault zones are inferred in the area. Low velocity (5.90~6.10 km/s) layers (bodies) exist on one or two sides of these deep crustal fault zones.

Three-Dimensional P-Wave Velocity Structure of the Crust of North China

Since the Xingtai （邢台） earthquake in 1966, China Earthquake Administration has carried out a survey campaign along more than thirty deep seismic sounding （DSS） profiles altogether about twenty thousand kilometers long in North China to study the velocity structure of the crust and the upper mantle in this region, and has obtained a great number of research findings. However, these researches have not provided a 3D velocity structure model of the crust of North China and cannot provide seismic evidence for the study of the deep tectonic characteristics of the crust of the whole region. Hence, based on the information from the published data of the DSS profiles, we have chosen 14 profiles to obtain a 3D velocity structure model of North China using the vectorization function of the GIS software （Arc/Info） and the Kriging data gridding method. With this velocity structure model, we have drawn the following conclusions： （1） The P-wave velocity of the uppermost crust of North China changes dramatically, exhibiting a complicated velocity structure in plane view. It can be divided into three velocity zones mainly trending towards north-west. In the research area, the lowest-velocity zones lie in the Haihe （海河） plain and Bohai （渤海） Bay. Although the geological structure of the sedimentary overburden in the study area is somewhat inherited by the upper crust, there are still several differences between them. （2） Generally, the P-wave velocity of the crust increases with depth in the study area, but there still exists local velocity reversion. In the east, low-velocity anomalies of the Haihe plain gradually disappear with increasing depth, and the Shanxi （山西） graben in the west is mainly characterized by relatively low velocity anomalies. Bounded by the Taihang （太行） Mountains, the eastern and western parts differ in structural trend of stratum above the crystalline basement. The structural trend of the Huanghuaihai （黄淮海） block in the east is mainly north-east, while that of the Shanxi block and the eastern edge of the Ordos block is mainly north-west. （3） According to the morphological features of Moho, the crust of the study area can be divided into six blocks. In the Shanxi block, Moho apppears like a nearly south-north trending depression belt with a large crustal thickness. In the southern edge of the Inner Mongolia block and the south of the Yanshan （燕山） block,the Moho exhibits a feature of fold belt, trending nearly towards east-west. In the eastern edge of the Ordos block, the structure of Moho is relatively complex, presenting a pattern of fold trending nearly towards north-west with alternating convexes and concaves. Beneath the Huanghuaihai block, the middle and northern parts of the North China rift zone, the Moho is the shallowest in the entire region, with alternating uplifts and depressions in its shape. For the anteclise zone in the west of Shandong （山东） Province, the Moho is discontinuous for the fault depression extending in the north-west direction along Zaozhuang （枣庄） -Qufu （曲阜）.

The Crust-Mantle Structure in Zhangbei-Shangyi Earthquake Area

The seismic data obtained from the wide angle reflection and refraction profiles that pass through Zhangjiakou area of Hebei Province were interpreted. Some conclusions drawn from the result are as follows: (1) The nearly EW-trending Zhangbei-Chongli crustal fault zone and WNW-trending Zhangjiakou-Bohai Sea deep crustal fault zone meet in the Zhangbei earthquake (Ms = 6.2) area; (2) At the intersection, the two deep crustal fault zones that stretch to the Moho and the discontinuities of interfaces within the crust form the path for large area basalt eruption in Hannuoba; (3) In the earthquake area, the local velocity reversal in the middle-upper crust and abnormal low velocity zone in the lower crust imply that the magmatic activity there is still fairly violent; and (4) The recent activity of Zhangjiakou-Bohai Sea deep crustal fault zone may be the main cause of the Zhangbei earthquake.

三门峡断陷盆地及邻区深部结构及成因——来自深地震反射与大地电磁测深的证据

近年来,围绕三门峡断陷盆地中的油气、地热资源做了大量的工作,成因机制研究较少,严重制约了矿产资源的勘探开发。本文在前人研究工作基础上,结合野外地质调查并利用高精度深反射地震剖面、大地电磁(MT)、重磁等地球物理探测技术,对三门峡盆地进行综合研究。发现三门峡盆地主要由东、西2个负花状构造构成,西花状构造体大于东花状构造体;盆地东部边缘以观音堂隆起与洛阳凹陷相邻,观音堂隆起发育有壳内透镜状低速体,其东、西两侧均发育有规模较大的隐伏逆断层。研究区内莫霍面为大约5 km厚度滑脱层,在深反射地震剖面上表现为蚯蚓状反射特征,指示滑脱层为西向运动。莫霍面滑脱层上部与下部新发现多条弧形断层。地质与地球物理资料综合研究表明,莫霍面滑脱层的解耦作用是三门峡断陷盆地花状构造形成的主因;在不同时空构造力系作用下,形成研究区新生代全地壳旋转花状构造盆地。

北京及邻近地区Moho面的深度分布及其构造意义

利用北京台网３８个台站记录的北京及其附近地区１９９０～１９９３年３０３个２０级（唐山地区３０级）以上地震，共３０１４条Ｐ波到时、６６６条Ｐｎ波到时及１１３５条Ｓ波到时资料，采用Ｈｏｒｉｕｃｈｉ等（１９８２ａ；１９８２ｂ）提出的“地壳二维深度结构”方法，研究了这一地区Ｍｏｈｏ面的深度分布特征，同时联合测定震源位置及Ｐ，Ｓ波台站校正值。另外，用华北台网（１９９３，１９９４年）的资料也进行了试算。结果表明：（１）Ｍｏｈｏ面的深度分布明显由西北向东及东南方向递减，即北部山区张家口附近最深，可达４０～４２ｋｍ左右，北京地区为３６～３９ｋｍ，而位于东部的秦皇岛、北戴河一带则约为２８～３０ｋｍ，东南部约为３０～３２ｋｍ；（２）在唐山附近有一以唐山为中心、东西向为长轴、南北向为短轴的近似椭圆形分布的界面（约１°×２°），该界面边界模糊，中心深度约为１３～１５ｋｍ；（３）山区部分基岩裸露，凹陷区沉积岩层相对较厚，最厚约为６２ｋｍ。

中亚造山带东段深地震反射剖面大炮揭露下地壳与Moho结构--数据处理与初步解释

深地震反射大炮数据能够准确地获得下地壳和Moho的精细结构及其横向变化信息,揭露岩石圈尺度的构造样式与深部过程。中亚造山带东段位于古亚洲洋、蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋和古太平洋三大构造域的叠合区域,其岩石圈结构记录了大洋,特别是古亚洲洋消亡方式和大陆增生的深部过程。本文选用横过中亚造山带东段(奈曼旗—东乌珠穆沁旗,长约400 km)深地震反射剖面中的24个大炮数据和2个中炮数据,通过数据处理获得了近垂直反射的大炮单次剖面,揭露出中亚造山带东段下地壳及Moho的精细结构,刻画出古亚洲洋消亡极性与中亚造山带增生造山的深部过程:西拉木伦缝合带与贺根山缝合带构成古亚洲洋消亡的双缝合带,西拉木伦缝合带下方古亚洲洋板块以向南消亡为主,贺根山缝合带下方古亚洲洋板块以向北消亡为主,后者规模大于前者。在两个缝合带之间下地壳呈现出几个大规模的块状弧状反射体,推测是大洋中的残余微地块,在古亚洲洋消亡过程中拼接在一起,成为中亚造山带增生造山的一部分,并遭受了碰撞挤压和后造山伸展作用。Moho位于双程走时12 s附近(厚度约36 km),近于水平展布,沿整条剖面起伏不大。平缓的Moho成因与造山后的地壳伸展作用相关。

A DEEP SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILE ACROSS ALTUN FAULT BELT

Altun fault is regarded as a large\|scale sinistral strike\|slip fault, it is composed of several faults with the different character, and there is a special geological structure in the fault belt, and they constitute the northwestern margin fault belt of the Qinghai\|Tibetan plateau. In order to investigate the deep crust structure in the Altun region, layers which Tarim lithosphere subducted beneath the Qinghai\|Tibetan plateau, the forward structure of the subduction plate and the scale of the plate subduction, a deep seismic reflection profile was designed. Data collection work of the deep seismic reflection profile across Altun fault was completed during 24/8/1999 to 25/9/1999. The profile locates in Qiemo county, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the southern end of the profile stretches into Altun Mountains, the northern end locates in the Tarim desert margin. The profile is nearly SN trending and crosses the main Altun fault. The profile totally is 145km long, time record is 30 seconds, the smallest explosive amount is 72～100kg, the biggest explosive amount reaches 200～300kg, the explosive distance is 800m, and detectors are laid at a 50m distance.

Study on the characteristics of crust－mantle transition zone in Western Yunnan Province

In this paper the fine structure of crust mantle transition zone in Western Yunnan Province is analysed and discussed based on the reflection phases from Moho discontinuity in Project Western Yunnan 86～87. It shows that in two points: in the north 27.64 km from shot point Jinggu and south 58.74 km from shot point Zhiti, there are transition zones of group of thin layers with inverse velocity.These two reflection points are both situated in the lower velocity anomaly zone in the top of upper mantle. The crust of this region is more seismicity. Maybe the unusual structure of this transition zone is related with the characteristics of this region. This paper discusses the possible geological interpretation model for this transition zone, and also makes suggestion about its application in earthquake prediction.

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN DEEP DYNAMIC PROCESS AND THE FORMATION OF OIL-GAS POOLS IN THE SONGLIAO BASIN,CHINA

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN DEEPDYNAMIC PROCESS AND THEFORMATION OF OIL-GAS POOLS INTHE SONGLIAO BASIN, CHINALi Zhi’an(Changsha Institute of Geotectonics, Academia Sinica, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China)Songliao basin, crust structure, deep dynamics, the formation of oil-gas poolsThis essay deals in detail with the inhomogeneity of the crust structure and the variation of the Moho, the process of deep dynamics and also relations of deep dynamic process to the formation of oil-gas pools in Songliao Basin.

Review on Deep Geophysical Exploration and Research in China

The status of deep geophysical exploration and research in China is summarized in this paper. New achievements in the study of the velocity structure, seismotectonics and geodynamics of the crust and upper mantle are also briefly described.