Lithospheric structure of the central Himalaya from 3-D tomographic imaging

Huang, G.; Wu, Francis T.; Roecker, S. W.; Sheehan, A. F.

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2009.06.023

Cited by 22 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Using local and teleseismic P waves, Huang et al [2009] found a high Vp immediately beneath the Moho (76–83 km) in the vicinity of the intermediate‐depth earthquakes (28°N, 88°E), but a low Vp anomaly at depths of 99 and 119 km. The crust and uppermost mantle are presumably constrained primarily by local, high‐frequency P and Pn waves, while the deeper structure is constrained by relatively lower frequency, teleseismic P waves in Huang et al [2009]. So the frequency‐dependent wave speeds of the granunite‐eclogite transformation also offer a possible explanation for the discrepancy between Huang et al [2009] and this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The crust and uppermost mantle are presumably constrained primarily by local, high‐frequency P and Pn waves, while the deeper structure is constrained by relatively lower frequency, teleseismic P waves in Huang et al [2009]. So the frequency‐dependent wave speeds of the granunite‐eclogite transformation also offer a possible explanation for the discrepancy between Huang et al [2009] and this study. The volume‐reducing transformation has little effect on the shear modulus and shear velocity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also inconsistent with a simple, continuous underthrusted Indian mantle lithosphere right beneath the seismic Moho are the north dipping lineations with about a 20° angle in the upper mantle found from seismic reflection data [ Alsdorf et al , 1996], receiver function images along the main profile of the Hi‐CLIMB experiment [ Nabelek et al , 2009] and local and teleseismic joint tomography [ Huang et al , 2009]. These mantle fabrics cannot be explained with simple underthrusting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crustal and mantle velocity models of southern Tibet from finite frequency tomography

Liang¹,

Shen²,

Chen³

et al. 2011

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] Using traveltimes of teleseismic body waves recorded by several temporary local seismic arrays, we carried out finite-frequency tomographic inversions to image the threedimensional velocity structure beneath southern Tibet to examine the roles of the upper mantle in the formation of the Tibetan Plateau. The results reveal a region of relatively high P and S wave velocity anomalies extending from the uppermost mantle to at least 200 km depth beneath the Higher Himalaya. We interpret this high-velocity anomaly as the underthrusting Indian mantle lithosphere. There is a strong low P and S wave velocity anomaly that extends from the lower crust to at least 200 km depth beneath the Yadong-Gulu rift, suggesting that rifting in southern Tibet is probably a process that involves the entire lithosphere. Intermediate-depth earthquakes in southern Tibet are located at the top of an anomalous feature in the mantle with a low Vp, a high Vs, and a low Vp/Vs ratio. One possible explanation for this unusual velocity anomaly is the ongoing granulite-eclogite transformation. Together with the compressional stress from the collision, eclogitization and the associated negative buoyancy force offer a plausible mechanism that causes the subduction of the Indian mantle lithosphere beneath the Higher Himalaya. Our tomographic model and the observation of north-dipping lineations in the upper mantle suggest that the Indian mantle lithosphere has been broken laterally in the direction perpendicular to the convergence beneath the north-south trending rifts and subducted in a progressive, piecewise and subparallel fashion with the current one beneath the Higher Himalaya.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crustal and mantle velocity models of southern Tibet from finite frequency tomography

Liang¹,

Shen²,

Chen³

et al. 2011

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…Fast seismic velocities (~8.4 km/s) were detected at the depth of ~90 km the Tibetan plateau, and are correspondent to eclogite at this depth (Huang et al, 2009;Shokoohi Razi et al, 2014). This fast-velocity material extends to the north of 32º N (to the north of BangongNujiang suture), and such a long extension only exists in the western Tibet (Shokoohi Razi et al, 2014).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Following detachment of the Greater India slab in the Oligo-Miocene, the Indian plate continued to underthrust the Lhasa terrane to the present day Replumaz et al, 2010;Zhao et al, 2010). Seismic tomographic studies indicate that the Indian continental lithosphere (100 to 200 km thick) extends northward below the Tibetan plateau, but the extent of underthrusting decreases from west (reaching ~33º N at ~87° E, to the north of the Bangong-Nujiang suture) to east (reaching ~ 30º N at ~93° E), with a NE-directed convergence vector (Huang et al, 2009;Kind and Yuan, 2010;Kumar et al, 2006;Shokoohi Razi et al, 2014;Zhao et al, 2010). Orogen-parallel (east-west extension) began at ~19-4 Ma in response to plateau collapse or subcontinental mantle lithospheric delamination or Indian plate breakoff led to numerous north-south-trending extensional faults and rift basins, which facilitated the ascent of deeply derived magmas (Fig.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of Indian and Tibetan lithosphere in spatial distribution of Cenozoic magmatism and porphyry Cu–Mo deposits in the Gangdese belt, southern Tibet

Wang

Richards

Zhou

et al. 2015

Earth-Science Reviews

128

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Crustal and uppermost mantle structure beneath western Tibet using seismic traveltime tomography

Razi

Levin

Roecker

et al. 2014

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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We study the elastic wave speed structure of the crust and the uppermost mantle in western Tibet using P wave and S wave arrival times from regional earthquakes recorded by a temporary seismic network. We relocate the earthquakes, and subsequently invert travel time residuals for 3-D distributions of wave speed. Resolution tests with a variety of input structures are used to verify the reliability of our results. The crust beneath western Tibet has low P wave speed (5.9-6.3 km/s) throughout its nearly 80 km thickness, with lower values in this range concentrated within the Lhasa block. Beneath the Himalaya wave speeds are higher. Southern and western limits of the slow material beneath the Tibetan Plateau correlate with the Karakoram fault, and dip beneath the plateau at 40 angle. We find no evidence of a subhorizontal low velocity zone in the crust. In the uppermost mantle, we find a long and narrow region of fast (up to 8.4 km/s) P wave speed extending from the Karakoram fault in NE direction, and crossing the Bangong-Nujiang suture. In a north-south cross section, the distribution of relatively fast P wave speed suggests a ramp-flat geometry consistent with India underthrusting the Tibetan Plateau at least as far as 32.5 N. A plausible interpretation of the upper mantle fast feature is the formation of eclogite from the mafic lower-crustal material of India after it is underthrust beneath Tibet. Notably, in western Tibet this process only takes place in a narrow region.

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Lithospheric structure of the central Himalaya from 3-D tomographic imaging

Cited by 22 publications

References 78 publications

Crustal and mantle velocity models of southern Tibet from finite frequency tomography

Crustal and mantle velocity models of southern Tibet from finite frequency tomography

The role of Indian and Tibetan lithosphere in spatial distribution of Cenozoic magmatism and porphyry Cu–Mo deposits in the Gangdese belt, southern Tibet

Crustal and uppermost mantle structure beneath western Tibet using seismic traveltime tomography

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