Static Corrections Methods in the Processing of Deep Reflection Seismic Data

Statics are big challenges for the processing of deep reflection seismic data. In this paper several different statics solutions have been implemented in the processing of deep reflection seismic data in South China and their corresponding results have been compared in order to find proper statics solutions. Either statics solutions based on tomographic principle or combining the low-frequency components of field statics with the high-frequency ones of refraction statics can provide reasonable statics solutions for deep reflection seismic data in South China with very rugged surface topography, and the two statics solutions can correct the statics anomalies of both long spatial wavelengths and short ones. The surface-consistent residual static corrections can serve as the good compensations to the several kinds of the first statics solutions. Proper statics solutions can improve both qualities and reso- lutions of seismic sections, especially for the reflections of Moho in the upmost mantle.

High-resolution crustal structure of the Yinchuan basin revealed by deep seismic reflection profiling:implications for deep processes of basin

The Yinchuan basin, located on the western margin of the Ordos block, has the characteristics of an active continental rift. A NW-striking deep seismic reflection profile across the center of Yinchuan basin precisely revealed the fine structure of the crust. The images showed that the crust in the Yinchuan basin was characterized by vertical stratifications along a detachment located at a two-way travel time（TWT） of 8.0 s.The most outstanding feature of this seismic profile was the almost flat Mohorovicˇic′ discontinuity（Moho） and a high-reflection zone in the lower crust. This sub-horizontal Moho conflicts with the general assumption of an uplifted Moho under sedimentary basins and continental rifts, and may indicate the action of different processes at depth during the evolution of sedimentary basins or rifts.We present a possible interpretation of these deep processes and the sub-horizontal Moho. The high-reflection zone, which consists of sheets of high-density, mantlederived materials, may have compensated for crustal thinning in the Yinchuan basin, leading to the formation of a sub-horizontal Moho. These high-density materials may have been emplaced by underplating with mantlesourced magma.

Using large dynamite shots to image the structure of the Moho from deep seismic reflection experiment between the Sichuan basin and Qinling orogen

The Qinling orogen was formed as a result of the collision between the North and South China blocks. The Qinling orogen represents the location at which the southern and northern parts of the Chinese mainland col- lided, and it＇s also the intersection of the Central China orogen and the north-south tectonic belt. There is evidence of strong deformation in this orogen, and it has had a long and complex geological history. We investigated the structure of the Moho in the southern Qinling orogen using large dynamite shot imaging techniques. By integrating the analysis of the single-shot and the move-out corrections profile, we determined the structure of the Moho beneath the northern Dabashan thrust belt and the southern Qinling orogen, including the mantle suture beneath Fenghuang mountain. The Moho is divided into two parts by the mantle suture zone beneath Fenghuang mountain： （1） from Ziyang to Hanyin, the north-dipping Moho is at about 45-55 km depth and the depth increases rapidly; and （2） from Hanyin to Ningshan, the south-dipping Moho is at about 40-45 km depth and shallows slowly. The mantle suture is located beneath Fenghuang mountain, and the Moho overlaps at this location： the shallower Moho is connected to the northern part of China, and the deeper Moho is connected to the southern part. This may indicate that the lithosphere in the Sichuan basin subducts to the Qinling block and that the subduction frontier reaches at least as far as Fenghuang mountain.

Frozen subduction in the Yangtze block:insights from the deep seismic profiling and gravity anomaly in east Sichuan fold belt

The Sichuan basin is the main part of the middle-upper Yangtze block, which has been experienced a long-term tectonic evolution since Archean. The Yangtze block was regarded as a stable block until the collision with the Cathaysia block in late Neoproterozoic. A new deep seismic reflection profile conducted in the eastern Sichuan fold belt（ESFB） discovered a serials of south-dipping reflectors shown from lower crust to the mantle imply a frozen subduction zone within the Yangtze block. In order to prove the speculation, we also obtain the middle-lower crustal gravity anomalies by removing the gravity anomalies induced by the sedimentary rocks and the mantle beneath the Moho, which shows the mid-lower crustal structure of the Sichuan basin can be divided into eastern and western parts. Combined with the geochronology and Aeromagnetic anomalies, we speculated the Yangtze block was amalgamated by the West Sichuan and East Sichuan blocks separated by the Huayin-Chongqing line. The frozen subduction zone subsequently shifted to a shear zone accommodated the lower crustal shortening when the decollement at the base of the Nanhua system functioned in the upper plate.

Test of Deep Seismic Reflection Profiling across Central Uplift of Qiangtang Terrane in Tibetan Plateau

A test of deep seismic reflection profiling across the central uplift or metamorphic belt of the Qiangtang （羌塘） terrane, Tibet plateau, provides a first image of the crustal structure. Complex reflection patterns in the upper crust are interpreted as a series of folds and thrusts, and bivergent reflections in the lower crust may represent a convergence between the Indian and the Eurasian plates.

200-kg large explosive detonation facing 50-km thick crust beneath west Qinling,northeastern Tibetan plateau

It is difficult to acquire deep seismic reflection profiles on land using the standard oil-industry acquisition parameters. This is especially true over much of Tibetan plateau not only because of severe topography and rapid variation of both velocity and thickness of near-surface layer, but also strong attenuation of seismic wave through the thickest crust of the Earth. Large explosive sources had been successfully detonated in US, but its application in Tibetan plateau rarely has an example of good quality. Presented herein is the data of a 200-kg single shot we recorded in west Qinling, northeastern Tibetan plateau. The shot gather data with phenomenal signal-to-noise ratios illustrate the energy of the Prop phase. Although the observations are only limited to the northeastern Tibetan plateau and thus cannot comprise an exhaustive study, they nevertheless suggest that large explosions may be a useful exploration tool in Tibetan Plateau where standard seismic sources and profiling methods fail to produce adequate data of low crust.

Characteristic of crustal structure in the Shulu fault basin and its vicinity

The deep seismic reflection profiling carried out in Xingtai earthquake area provides a new knowledge of the crustal structure of the Shulu fault basin and its vicinity. In the Ningjin-Xinhe and Lincheng-Julu deep seismic reflection profiles trending in NWW, CDP stack profiles respectively show a one-side fault basin (i. e. Shulu fault basin) within TWT 4. 0s. The width of the basin is about 15 km (Eogene system boundary), and Xinhe fault extends to below TWT 4. 0s (i. e. 8 km deep) with listric shape as a main boundary fault. These profiles also display distinctly a detachment in mid-crust. The Xinhe fault extends downward and converges to the detachment. The results of deep seismic sounding and magnetotelluric sounding indicate the low-velocity and highconductive zone beneath the detachment, which is beneficial to the detach between upper and lower plates. The Renxian-Ningjin deep seismic reflection profile trending in NNE lies within the fault basin, which shows the complicated structure of the basin. The shallow part of the profile is divided into three sub-basins by three lateral uplifts. In the mid-lower crust from Gengzhuangqiao to Xiaohezhuang of the profile, there are a lot of strong reflection events with laminae structure, which have been deformed strongly. Two NWW-trending profiles also have similar reflection feature. This may indicate that there is a relative large region where the magma upwell into mid-lower crust. The abnormal low velocity zone in lower crust indicates that the magmatism is still strong at present. The magmatism may be an important factor of the tectonic active region.

地震反射剖面揭示阿尔泰山陆内逆冲造山机制

The Altai orogen is a typical intracontinental orogen in Central Asia that experienced far-field deformation associated with Indian-Eurasian plate convergence. This region is characterized by uplift comparable to that of the Tianshan Mountains but has a distinct strain rate. Half of the Indo-Asia strain is accommodated by the Tianshan Mountains, whereas the Altai Mountains accommodates only 10%. To elucidate how the Altai Mountains produced such a large amount of uplift with only one-fifth of the strain rate of the Tianshan Mountains, we constructed a detailed crustal image of the Altai Mountains based on a new 166.8-km deep seismic reflection profile. The prestack migration images reveal an antiform within the Erqis crust, an ~10 km Moho offset between the Altai arc and the East Junggar area, and a major south-dipping(30° dip) thrust in the lower crust beneath the Altai Mountains, which is connected to the Moho offset. The south-dipping thrust not only records the southward subduction of the Ob-Zaisan Ocean in the Paleozoic but also controlled the Altai deformation pattern in the Cenozoic with the Erqis antiform. The Erqis antiform prevented the extension of deformation to the Junggar crust. The southdipping thrust in the lower crust of the Altai area caused extrusion of the lower crust, generating uplift at the surface, thickening of the crust, and steep(~10 km) Moho deepening in the Altai Mountains. This process significantly widened the deformation zone of the Altai Mountains. These findings provide a new geodynamic model for describing how inherited crustal structure controls intraplate deformation without strong horizontal stress.

Underplating in the middle-lower Yangtze Valley and model of geodynamic evolution:Constraints from geophysical data

The lower crust and Moho are the most active boundary layers in the process of continental evolution, in which marks left by tectonic and magmatic activities during the process are preserved. The evolutionary process of the continental lithosphere may be reconstructed by exploring the structures of the lower crust and Moho. According to a study of the deep seismic reflection data obtained from the middle-lower Yangtze Valley, the authors find bright layered reflections ubiquitous in the lower crust and think that the bright reflections are caused by un-derplating of basic or ultrabasic magmas, which might be related to delamination of the lithosphere. On the basis of an integrated analysis of the geophysical and geological data of the region, the authors propose a model for geodynamic evolution of the middle-lower Yangtze Valley. This model suggests that the middle-lower Yangtze Valley had undergone such geodynamic processes as collision-compression, delamination-extension and underplating-melting since the end of the Permian, finally forming the gigantic middle-lower Yangtze Valley metallogenic belt.

Potential of South African road technology for application in China

One of the main problems with roads and highways in China is the reflection cracking caused by the cement stabilized subbase layers passing through the overlying asphaltic layers. The cracks permit the ingress of moisture which softens the layers below the subbase resulting in loss of support and accelerated breakdown of the subbase layer and reduction in the tiding quality. The aim of this paper is to present the use of South African pavement design approach of deep structure and thin surfacing to overcome the existing problems. The deep pavement structure provides good long-term support and avoids the influence of moisture ingress, which means that only surfacing damage needs to be repaired. An unbound crushed stone base layer which is an integral component of the pavement structure limits reflection cracking. The paper first deals with the South African pavement design procedure and contrast this with the Chinese pavement design method. The inherent weaknesses of these methods are discussed and flowing from this discussion proposals for adapting the South African approach to China is presented. The resultant proposals have a high likelihood of success and will counteract the influences of extreme climate and rampant overloading that occurs on the Chinese roads.