The Significance of Crust Structure and Continental Dynamics Inferred from Receiver Functions in West Yunnan

In our study we collected the teleseismic record of 31 broadband stations and 9 PASSCAL stations in West Yunnan, as well as extracted more than a million receiver functions. Using the waveform model and stacking techniques, we calculated the earth crust thicknesses and Vp/Vs ratios below the stations and obtained 35 valid data points. At the same time, we evenly stacked the receiver functions at the same station and superimposed the two profiles＇ cross sections of the main tectonic units. The results show a clear difference between the crust thicknesses of different tectonic units. Because of the magma underplatting and delimanition of the lower crust in the role of deep process, the West Yunnan＇s crust can be divided two kinds-mafic-ultramafic and feldspathic crusts. The research also shows that the mafic-ultramafic crust corresponds to a good background of mineralization. The delamination of the lower crust is one of the leading causes for moderate to strong earthquake prone in central Yunnan. The thinner crust and high velocity ratio as well as the multimodal structure of Ps in the Tengchong volcanic area confirms existence of a deep process of the strong magma underplating. Due to the basic crust structure and nature, it is believed that the Honghe fault is a main suture of the Gondwana and Eurasia continents.

Poisson's ratio of eclogite: Implications for lower crustal delamination of orogens

Laboratory measurements of combined P- and S-wave-velocities of eclogite from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt and from literature data show a significant increase of Poisson抯 ratio of eclogite with its intrinsic water content H2O+ and thus the degree of hydration. Unaltered eclogites with H2O+<1.0% have an average Poisson抯 ratio between 0.24 and 0.25, which is identical to that calculated from single crystal elastic properties but lower than the averages (0.270.02) of measurements compiled by previous studies. Thus, the Poisson抯 ratio of unaltered eclogites is considerably lower than that of lower crustal mafic granulite and upper mantle peridotite. The lower crust and upper mantle of the Dabie ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt, the northern and southern parts of the Tibetan Plateau as well as the central Andes, where eclogite may have formed during Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonism, are characterized by the Poisson抯 ratio >0.26. This, together with their normal upper mantle P-wave velocities, implies that eclogites are no longer an important component of the present-day lower crust and upper mantle of these subduction-collision belts. Combined with age constraints on eclogite-facies metamor- phism and subsequent exhumation, this in turn suggests that the interval from formation to delamination of eclogites is confined to a very short period of <15 Ma.