Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Seismic tomography and high surface heat flow models indicate an anomalously thin and hot lithospheric mantle beneath the Canadian Cordillera. To understand the thermal and deformational history of the lithospheric mantle under these conditions, we performed a study of the microstructures, crystal preferred orientations (CPO), and seismic anisotropy of mantle xenoliths collected in the Summit Lake volcano in the southern Canadian Cordillera. The xenoliths vary in composition between spinel lherzolites, cpx-rich lherzolites, and wehrlites. All samples are coarse-grained and show clear evidence for annealing, but deformation microstructures are well-preserved in the spinel lherzolites. Olivine CPO is characterized by a strong point-maximum of [100] and by a girdle distribution of [010[ and [001] axes normal to it; CPO strength is variable, spinel-lherzolites have the strongest CPO. Some samples show a weak orthopyroxene CPO consistent with the olivine one. However most pyroxenes have random CPO, interstitial shapes and undeformed appearance, which suggest a secondary origin by reactive melt percolation under static conditions, leading to crystallization of cpx + sp +/- opx at the expenses of olivine, followed by crystallization of cpx + sp +/- ol at the expenses of opx to produce the wehrlites. The studied xenoliths have typical upper mantle seismic properties patterns with fastest propagation of P-waves and polarization of S-waves parallel to the olivine [100] maxima. Maximum P- and S-waves anisotropy for lherzolites are 8 and 5% respectively. Dispersion of the olivine CPO due to neocrystallization of olivine results in weaker anisotropies (6.5 and 3.5%) in wehrlites. Seismic velocities calculated using a geotherm consistent with the equilibrium temperatures of the Summit Lake xenoliths are 3-4% lower than those expected in a normal, 100 km-thick lithosphere, consistent with seismic tomography models for the region. This high geothermal gradient may be partially explained by considering the anisotropy of thermal conductivity of olivine and subhorizontal foliations in the lithospheric mantle, which result in a decrease by up to 15% of the thermal conductivity in the vertical direction.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00618332
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00618332
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2011.04.014

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union (AGU) AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
To study how an impacting plume modifies the mantle lithosphere, we analyzed the microstructures and crystal preferred orientations (CPO) of 29 peridotites and 37 pyroxenites that sample the mantle root of the Ontong Java Plateau (OJP) from 60 to 120 km depth. The peridotites show a strong compositional variability, but homogeneous coarse granular to tabular microstructures, except for those equilibrated at the shallowest and deepest depths, which are porphyroclastic. All peridotites have clear olivine CPO, with dominant fiber-[010] patterns. Low intragranular misorientations and straight grain boundaries in olivine suggest that, above 100 km depth, annealing often followed deformation. Calculated density and P wave velocities of the peridotites decrease weakly with depth. S wave velocities decrease faster, resulting in increasing Vp/Vs ratio with depth. Calculated densities and seismic velocity profiles are consistent with those estimated for normal mantle compositions under a cold oceanic geotherm. Enrichment in pyroxenites may further increase seismic velocities. The calculated seismic properties cannot therefore explain the low S waves velocities predicted by Rayleigh wave tomography and ScS data in the mantle beneath the OJP. Calculated P and S waves anisotropy is variable (2–12%). It is higher on average in the deeper section of the lithosphere. Because olivine has dominantly [010]-fiber CPO patterns, if foliations are horizontal, vertically propagating S waves and Rayleigh waves will sample very weak anisotropy in the OJP mantle lithosphere. Moreover, if the orientation of the lineation changes with depth, the anisotropy-induced contrast in seismic properties might produce an intralithospheric reflector marking the stratification of the OJP mantle root.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-01116428
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01116428
DOI : 10.1002/2014GC005452

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The southernmost part of the Ryukyu subduction, where the Philippine Sea Plate is subducting under the Eurasian Plate, is known to be a very seismically active region of transition from a north-dipping subduction along the Ryukyu subduction to an ~ SE-NW collision along the Taiwanese orogenic wedge. In this paper, we will focus on the Ryukyu forearc area close to Taiwan where the deformation is paroxysmal. In order to decipher the nature of the seismic deformation in this region, a three month passive experiment, combining 22 Ocean Bottom Seismometers and 51 onland stations, has been led. Starting from an a-priori heterogeneous model, we have obtained 801 well-located earthquake hypocenters, a precise P-wave tomography model and 14 focal mechanisms. The seismicity along the Ryukyu forearc is mainly located not only in the vicinity of the Interplate Seismogenic Zone (ISZ) but also within both the subducting PSP and the overriding plate. Seismicity within the upper-plate is essentially localized east of Nanao basin where NW-SE extension occurs, and northwest of the Hoping basin where strike-slip dominates. As revealed by both the P-wave velocity structure and the newly derived seismicity, we argue that a sub-vertical step offsetting the subducting PSP around 10 km may support the presence of a trench-parallel tear. The PSP also undergoes extension in its upper part that is probably caused by buckling and slab pull. The P-wave velocity structure reveals three other major features: (1) a continuity between the Central Range and the Ryukyu Arc with a shallower Moho (~ 30 km depth) between ~ 122.3°N and ~ 122.5°N along the Ryukyu Arc, (2) high P-wave velocities along the eastern side of the Central Range and, (3) two bodies with similar high crustal velocities (6.5-7.0 km/s) at 12-18 km depths, embedded within the Ryukyu arc basement, just north of Hoping Basin and north of the Nanao Basin.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00795521
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00795521
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.04.011

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Three-dimensional P-wave velocity structure of the mantle beneath the South Pacific Superswell is determined through passive broadband seismic experiments on the ocean floor and islands between 2003 and 2005. We collected approximately 1500 relative times of long-period teleseismic P-waves by using a waveform cross-correlation. We analyzed this data set with relative time tomography to depths of 2000 km. The resultant structure shows lateral heterogeneity of approximately +/- 2%, in which a distinct low velocity region is found beneath the center of the Superswell at a depth of 1600 km. At 1200km depth, an elongated low velocity region is found beneath the Society to Pitcairn hotspots. At 800 km depth, two linear low velocity regions are located beneath Tuamotu and Austral islands. Isolated low velocity regions are identified beneath the Society, Marquesas, and Macdonald hotspots at 400 km depth. Our new tomographic images reveal that the large low velocity region rooted in the deep lower mantle is split into two sheets at 1200 km depth and these terminate at approximately 800 km depth. This feature appears to be consistent with the characteristics of a thermo-chemical pile or dome.
ISSN: 0031-9201

hal-00413036
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00413036
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00413036/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00413036/file/Tanaka_tomo_PLUME_PEPI2009_hal.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.pepi.2008.10.016

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
The Corinth Rift is the most seismically active zone in Europe. Since the year 2000, the Corinth Rift Laboratory (CRL, http://crlab.eu) consisting in a multidisciplinary natural observatory, aims at understanding the mechanics of faulting and earthquake nucleation in the Rift. Recent studies have improved our view about fault geometry and mechanics within CRL but there is still a critical need for a better knowledge of the structure at depth.In this project, we aim to analyze the complete seismological database (13 years of recordings) of CRL by using recently developed methodologies of structural imaging in order to determine, with high resolution, the local 3D structure and the earthquake locations. We perform an iterative joint determination of 3D velocity model and earthquake coordinates. P and S velocity models are estimated through a first arrival traveltime tomography by using the adjoint state method proposed by Taillandier et al. (2009). It consists in the minimization of the cost function between observed and theoretical arrival times,which is achieved by estimating the gradient of the cost function. Earthquake locations are also estimated with a linearized inversion approach by computing the gradient of the misfit function. Iterations are repeated until the cost function no longer decreases. We present preliminary results consisting in: (1) the adjustment of a 1D velocity model that is used as initial model of the 3D tomography and (2) a first attempt of the joint determination of 3D velocity model and earthquake locations.We also perform a preliminary receiver function analysis of teleseismic data recorded by the broadband stations of the CRL network. The multiscale approach (Gesret et. al., 2010) analysis of teleseismic P to S converted waves allows to analyze the signal toward the higher frequencies and thus to characterize the structure at depth with a high resolution. Our multiscale approach should give us reliable depth of interfaces beneath seismometers in the CRL area. In this first attempt, we adjust the 1D velocity model that produces a synthetic RF as similar as possible to the stack of observed RF for a subset of data. The identified interfaces could then be compared with heterogeneities imaged by the tomography.
AGU Fall Meeting
San Fransico, United States

hal-01417184
https://hal-mines-paristech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01417184

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : poster
International audience
Locations for earthquake recorded in the Lesser Antilles subduction zone are processed separately by regional observatories, NEIC and ISC. There is no earthquake location catalog available compiling all available phase arrival data. We propose a new best complete earthquake catalog by merging all available phase arrival data for better constrains on earthquake locations. ISC provides the phase arrival data of 29243 earthquakes (magnitude range from 1.4 to 6.4) recorded by PRSN (Porto Rico), SRC (British West Indies), and from FUNVISIS (Venezuela). We add phases data from IPGP observatories for 68718 earthquakes from magnitudes 0.1 to 7.5 (OVSG, Guadeloupe, recorded 53226 earthquakes since 1981, and OVSM, Martinique, recorded 29931 earthquakes since 1972). IPGP also provides the accelerometer waveform data of the GIS-RAP network. We achieved automatic picking on the GIS-RAP data using the Component Energy Correlation Method. The CECM provides high precision phase detection, a realistic estimation of picking error and realistic weights that can be used with manual pick weights. The CECM add an average of 3 P-waves and 2 S-waves arrivals to 3846 earthquakes recorded by the GIS-RAP network since 2002. The final catalog contains 84979 earthquakes between 1972 and 2013, 24528 of which we compiled additional data. We achieve earthquake location using NonLinLoc, regional P and S waves data and a set of one dimensional velocity models. We produce improved locations for 22974 earthquakes (better residuals, on equal or larger arrival dataset) and improved duration magnitudes for 6258 earthquakes (using duration data and improved locations). A subset of best constrained 15626 hypocenters (with more than 8 phases and an average RMS of 0.48_0.77s) could be used for structural analysis and earthquake local tomography. Relative locations are to be applied in order to image active faulting. We aim to understand coupling in the seismogenic zone as well as triggering mechanisms of intermediate depth seismicity like fluid migration beneath the volcanic arc.
Geophysical Research Abstracts
Vienne, Austria

hal-01059207
https://hal-brgm.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01059207

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
We image the lithospheric and upper asthenospheric structure of western continental Yemen with 24 broadband stations to evaluate the role of the Afar plume on the evolution of the continental margin and its extent eastwards along the Gulf of Aden. We use teleseismic tomography to compute relative P-wave velocity variations in southwestern Yemen down to 300 km depth. Published receiver function analysis suggest a dramatic and localized thinning of the crust in the vicinity of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, consistent with the velocity structure that we retrieve in our model. The mantle part of the model is dominated by the presence of a low velocity anomaly in which we infer partial melting just below thick Oligocene flood basalts and recent off-axis volcanic events (from 15 Ma to present). This low velocity anomaly could correspond to an abnormally hot mantle and could be responsible for dynamic topography and recent magmatism in western Yemen. Our new P-wave velocity model beneath western Yemen suggests the young rift flank volcanoes beneath margins and on the flanks of the Red Sea rift are caused by focused small-scale diapiric upwelling from a broad region of hot mantle beneath the area. Our work shows that relatively hot mantle, along with partial melting of the mantle, can persist beneath rifted margins after breakup has occurred.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-01015496
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01015496
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01015496/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01015496/file/Korostelev_etal_GGG_2014.pdf
DOI : 10.1002/2014GC005316

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
The Eastern Rift System (ERS) of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, where a cratonic lithosphere is in the early stages of rifting, offers an ideal venue for investigating the roles of magma and other fluids in such an environment. To illuminate these roles, we jointly invert arrival times of locally recorded P and S body waves, phase delays of ambient noise generated Rayleigh waves and Bouguer anomalies from gravity observations to generate a 3-D image of P and S wave speeds in the upper 25 km of the crust. While joint inversion of gravity and arrival times requires a relationship between density and wave speeds, the improvement in resolution obtained by the combination of these disparate data sets serves to further constrain models, and reduce uncertainties. The most significant features in the 3-D model are (1) P and S wave speeds that are 10–15 per cent lower beneath the rift zone than in the surrounding regions, (2) a relatively high wave speed tabular feature located along the western edge of the Natron and Manyara rifts, and (3) low (∼1.71) values of Vp/Vs throughout the upper crust, with the lowest ratios along the boundaries of the rift zones. The low P and S wave speeds at mid-crustal levels beneath the rift valley are an expected consequence of active volcanism, and the tabular, high-wave speed feature is interpreted to be an uplifted footwall at the western edge of the rift. Given the high levels of CO2 outgassing observed at the surface along border fault zones, and the sensitivity of Vp/Vs to pore-fluid compressibility, we infer that the low Vp/Vs values in and around the rift zone are caused by the volcanic plumbing in the upper crust being suffused by a gaseous CO2 froth on top of a deeper, crystalline mush. The repository for molten rock is likely located in the lower crust and upper mantle, where the Vp/Vs ratios are significantly higher.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-01622055
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622055
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622055/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622055/file/roeckerGJI2017.pdf
DOI : 10.1093/gji/ggx220

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : Gravity data and P-wave teleseismic traveltime residuals from 29 temporary broad-band stations spread over the northern margin of the Gulf of Aden (Dhofar region, Oman) were used to image lithospheric structure. We apply a linear relationship between density and velocity to provide consistent density and velocity models from mid-crust down to about 250 km depth. The accuracy of the resulting models is investigated through a series of synthetic tests. The analysis of our resulting models shows: (1) crustal heterogeneities that match the main geological features at the surface; (2) the gravity edge effect and disparity in anomaly depth locations for layers at 20 and 50 km; (3) two low-velocity anomalies along the continuation of Socotra-Hadbeen and Alula-Fartak fracture zones between 60 and 200 km depth; and (4) evidence for partial melting (3-6 per cent) within these two negative anomalies. We discuss the presence of partial melting in terms of interaction between the Sheba ridge melts and its along-axis segmentation.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-00456048
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00456048
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04438.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Joint inversions are now commonly used in the earth sciences. They have been developed to better understand the structure of the earth, since they provide more constraints on the inverted parameters. We propose a new process to simultaneously invert several data sets in order to better image 3D crustal and upper mantle structures. Our inversion uses three kinds of data that present good complementarity: (1) P-wave receiver functions to provide Moho depth variations, (2) teleseismic delay times of P-waves to retrieve velocity anomalies in the crust and the upper mantle, and (3) gravity anomalies to image density variations at the lithospheric scale. We use a stochastic scheme, where receiver functions are first inverted. The interpolated resulting Moho depths are incorporated as a priori information into the joint inversion of teleseismic delay times and gravity anomalies process. Moreover, velocity and density can be linked by empirical relationships, which justifies the joint inversion of those parameters. In our stochastic approach, we perform a model space search for Moho variations, P-velocity, and density structure to find an acceptable fit to the three data sets. In order to preferentially sample the good data fit regions, we chose the neighborhood algorithm of Sambridge to optimistically survey the model space. We model the delay times with 3D raytracing using evenly spaced velocity-density nodes. We present here the first results given by this method on synthetic tests. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISSN: 0098-3004

hal-00643158
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00643158
DOI : 10.1016/j.cageo.2010.11.017

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The Gibraltar arc, spans a complex portion of the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary marked by slow oblique convergence and intermediate and deep focus seismicity. The seemingly contradictory observations of a young extensional marine basin surrounded by an arcuate fold-and-thrust belt, have led to competing geodynamic models (delamination and subduction). Geophysical data acquired in the past decade provide a test for these models and support a narrow east-dipping, subduction zone. Seismic refraction studies indicate oceanic crust below the western Gulf of Cadiz. Tomography of the upper mantle reveals a steep, east-dipping high P-wave velocity body, beneath Gibraltar. The anisotropic mantle fabric from SKS splitting shows arc-parallel "fast directions", consistent with toroidal flow around a narrow, westward retreating subducting slab. The accompanying WSW advance of the Rif-Betic mountain belt has constructed a thick pile of deformed sediments, an accretionary wedge, characterized by west-vergent thrust anticlines. Bathymetric swath‐mapping images an asymmetric embayment at the deformation front where a 2 km high basement ridge has collided. Subduction has slowed significantly since 5 Ma, but deformation of recent sediments and abundant mud volcanoes suggest ongoing activity in the accretionary wedge. Three possible origins for this deformation are discussed; gravitational spreading, overall NW-SE convergence between Africa and Iberia and finally a WSW tectonic push from slow, but ongoing roll-back subduction. In the absence of arc volcanism and shallow dipping thrust type earthquakes, evidence in favor of present-day subduction can only be indirect and remains the object of debate. Continued activity of the subduction offers a possible explanation for great (M > 8.5) earthquakes known to affect the area, like the famous 1755 Great Lisbon earthquake. Recent GPS studies show SW motion of stations in N Morocco at velocities of 3-6 mm/yr indicating the presence of an independent block, a "Rif-Betic-Alboran" microplate, situated between Iberia and Africa.
ISSN: 0040-1951

insu-00769762
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00769762
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.08.038