Geological atlas of western and central Europe

This paper presents a synthetic view of the geodynamic evolution of the Zagros orogen within the frame of the Arabia-Eurasia collision. The Zagros orogen and the Iranian plateau preserve a record of the long-standing convergence history between Eurasia and Arabia across the Neo-Tethys, from subduction/obduction processes to present-day collision (from ~ 150 to 0 Ma). We herein combine the results obtained on several geodynamic issues, namely the location of the oceanic suture zone, the age of oceanic closure and collision, the magmatic and geochemical evolution of the Eurasian upper plate during convergence (as testified by the successive Sanandaj-Sirjan, Kermanshah and Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arcs), the P-T-t history of the few Zagros blueschists, the convergence characteristics across the Neo-Tethys (kinematic velocities, tomographic constraints, subduction zones and obduction processes), together with a survey of recent results gathered by others. We provide lithospheric-scale reconstructions of the Zagros orogen from ~ 150 to 0 Ma across two SW-NE transects. The evolution of the Zagros orogen is also compared to those of the nearby Turkish and Himalayan orogens. In our geotectonic scenario for the Zagros convergence, we outline three main periods/regimes: (1) the Mid to Late Cretaceous (115-85 Ma) corresponds to a distinctive period of perturbation of subduction processes and interplate mechanical coupling marked by blueschist exhumation and upper-plate fragmentation, (2) the Paleocene-Eocene (60-40 Ma) witnesses slab break-off, major shifts in arc magmatism and distributed extension within the upper plate, and (3) from the Oligocene onwards (~ 30-0 Ma), collision develops with a progressive SW migration of deformation and topographic build-up (Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone: 20-15 Ma, High Zagros: ~12-8 Ma; Simply Folded Belt: 5-0 Ma) and with partial slab tear at depths (~10 Ma to present). Our reconstructions underline the key role played by subduction throughout the whole convergence history. We finally stress that such a long-lasting subduction system with changing boundary conditions also makes the Zagros orogen an ideal natural laboratory for subduction processes.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/66E4243B7AFD642333291037F213B38E/S001675681100046Xa.pdf/div-class-title-zagros-orogeny-a-subduction-dominated-process-div.pdf

Zagros orogeny: a subduction-dominated process

We have created a digital age grid of the ocean floor with a grid node interval of 6 arc min using a self-consistent set of global isochrons and associated plate reconstruction poles. The age at each grid node was determined by linear interpolation between adjacent isochrons in the direction of spreading. Ages for ocean floor between the oldest identified magnetic anomalies and continental crust were interpolated by estimating the ages of passive continental margin segments from geological data and published plate models. We have constructed an age grid with error estimates for each grid cell as a function of (1) the error of ocean floor ages identified from magnetic anomalies along ship tracks and the age of the corresponding grid cells in our age grid, (2) the distance of a given grid cell to the nearest magnetic anomaly identification, and (3) the gradient of the age grid: i.e., larger errors are associated with high age gradients at fracture zones or other age discontinuities. Future applications of this digital grid include studies of the thermal and elastic structure of the lithosphere, the heat loss of the Earth, ridge-push forces through time, asymmetry of spreading, and providing constraints for seismic tomography and mantle convection models.

Digital isochrons of the world's ocean floor

Volcanoes are an expression of their underlying magmatic systems. Over the past three decades, the classical focus on upper crustal magma chambers has expanded to consider magmatic processes throughout the crust. A transcrustal perspective must balance slow (plate tectonic) rates of melt generation and segregation in the lower crust with new evidence for rapid melt accumulation in the upper crust before many volcanic eruptions. Reconciling these observations is engendering active debate about the physical state, spatial distribution, and longevity of melt in the crust. Here we review evidence for transcrustal magmatic systems and highlight physical processes that might affect the growth and stability of melt-rich layers, focusing particularly on conditions that cause them to destabilize, ascend, and accumulate in voluminous but ephemeral shallow magma chambers.

/pdf/vertically-extensive-and-unstable-magmatic-systems-a-unified-i071ecn7vp.pdf

Vertically extensive and unstable magmatic systems: A unified view of igneous processes

• Stability of steady frictional sliding, inertia and the quasi-static limit • work on ps 4; see course web site

The Mechanics Of Earthquakes And Faulting

We present a new tomographic model for P- and S-velocity anomalies beneath Europe (30°N-55°N, 5°W-40°E), extending in depth up to 700 km and constrained by inversion of data from the International Seismological Center (ISC) catalogue. The algorithm uses the traveltimes from events located in the study area recorded by all available worldwide stations, as well as times from teleseismic events recorded by European stations. The events from the ISC catalogue have been relocated and combined into composite events. All the traveltimes were corrected for crustal structure using the reference model EuCRUST-07. The resulting velocity anomalies show similar large-scale patterns as observed in previous studies, but have a higher resolution, which allows detection of some features in more detail. For example, it is now possible to assess the depth extension of the small slow velocity body beneath the Eifel region and Eger graben. The P and the S model show a good consistency in the uppermost 200 km below most of the European area and in some parts even in the deeper layers (e.g. beneath the Apennines and the Hellenic arc). The new model provides clear images of some principal features, which were previously detected in a limited number of studies, while the comparison between P- and S-velocity anomalies provides novel constraints to address on their nature (e.g. the gap in the Adriatic plate subducted below the central-southern Apennines). In this paper, we pay special attention to testing the reliability of the results. The random noise effect is evaluated using a test with independent inversion of two data subsets (with odd/even events). The spatial resolution is estimated using different checkerboard tests. Furthermore, we present a synthetic model with realistic patterns, which reproduces after performing forward and inverse modelling the same shape and amplitudes of the anomalies as in the case of the real data inversion. In this case, the parameters of the model can be used to assess the amplitudes of P and S anomalies that is critical for evaluation of other petrophysical parameters (temperature, density, composition, etc.) in the upper mantle. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 RAS.

/pdf/p-and-s-velocity-anomalies-in-the-upper-mantle-beneath-52gjjc8zsj.pdf

P‐ and S‐velocity anomalies in the upper mantle beneath Europe from tomographic inversion of ISC data

An understanding of the formation of large magmatic reservoirs is a key issue for the evaluation of possible strong volcanic eruptions in the future. We estimated the size and level of maturity of one of the largest volcanic reservoirs, based on radial seismic anisotropy. We used ambient-noise seismic tomography below the Toba caldera (in northern Sumatra) to observe the anisotropy that we interpret as the expression of a fine-scale layering caused by the presence of many partially molten sills in the crust below 7 kilometers. This result demonstrates that the magmatic reservoirs of present (non-eroded) supervolcanoes can be formed as large sill complexes and supports the concept of the long-term incremental evolution of magma bodies that lead to the largest volcanic eruptions.

A large magmatic sill complex beneath the Toba caldera

We present the LOTOS-07 code for performing local earthquake tomographic inversion, which is freely available (see the [Data and Resources][1] section for the Web site). The initial data for the code are the arrival times from local seismicity and coordinates of the stations. It does not require any information about the sources. The calculations start from absolute location of sources and estimates of an optimal 1D-velocity model. Then the sources are relocated simultaneously with the 3D-velocity distribution during iterative coupled tomographic inversions. The code allows results to be compared based on node or cell parameterizations. The synthetic dataset used for testing the code is based on source–receiver configurations from a real experiment in Costa Rica. The travel times for this dataset are computed by 3D tracing through a rather complicated synthetic model and are perturbed with realistic noise. We also present a series of synthetic datasets with unknown sources and velocity models (see the [Data and Resources][1] section for the Web site) that can be used as blind benchmarks for testing different tomographic algorithms. We encourage other users of tomography algorithms to join the program on creating benchmarks that can be used to check existing codes.

 [1]: #sec-15

/pdf/lotos-code-for-local-earthquake-tomographic-inversion-1gcwcxgag0.pdf

LOTOS Code for Local Earthquake Tomographic Inversion: Benchmarks for Testing Tomographic Algorithms

SUMMARY The P and S seismic anomalies in the upper mantle beneath the Pamir‐Hindukush collision zone and surrounding areas are investigated using more than 4 × 10 5 traveltimes from 5775 events located in the study region, recorded by the stations of the worldwide seismic network and reported in the ISC catalogue. All available epicentral distance ranges of seismic rays are considered. All sources are relocated using an algorithm, which includes the double-difference method. In addition, source parameters are corrected in the main inversion step, simultaneously with the velocity models. The high reliability of the resulting P-velocity images is confirmed by various tests. The S model provides much smoother patterns, which are, however, generally consistent with P anomalies. Our model shows a complex image of lithospheric plate under the study region. Under SW Hindukush, the northwards subducting Indian plate is imaged throughout the upper mantle and transition zone. Further to the NE, within a 300-km-wide zone the upper part of the plate overturns and then the slab breaks off after it narrows at ∼250 km depth. The tomographic model also provides evidence for the southward subduction of the lithosphere beneath the southern Tien Shan down to at least 250 km depth. To the north of Tarim, we observe a northward-dipping of the Tarim plate down to ∼500 km depth. At the crustal depth our model shows alternating belts of high and low velocities parallel to the main thrusting faults, which indicate complex crustal structure in this region.

/pdf/a-tomographic-image-of-indian-lithosphere-break-off-beneath-2dk7ko1i6v.pdf

A tomographic image of Indian lithosphere break‐off beneath the Pamir–Hindukush region

[1] A model of seismic P and S anomalies in the upper mantle beneath Asia (in limits of 35°E–140°E, 12°N–57°N) was constructed based on the tomographic inversion of traveltime data from the revised ISC catalog for the years 1964–2004. The inversions were performed independently in 32 overlapping circular windows that cover the entire study area. The free inversion parameters in each window were defined individually depending on the available data based on synthetic modeling. Such adaptive tuning of parameters enables more optimal usage of the input data in areas with inhomogeneous ray coverage compared to global inversions. This approach resolves high-frequency patterns but is less sensitive to large anomalies with sizes comparable to the window diameter. Thus, this approach is somewhat similar to high-frequency filtration of the velocity distribution. The resolution capacity of the model was tested using checkerboard tests with various pattern sizes. To assess the role of random noise, independent test inversions of two data subsets (with odd and even numbers of events) were performed. Clear reconstructions of known structures, such as subducting plates beneath the Japan and Ryukyu arcs whose locations and shapes have been constrained by other studies, further indicate the reliability of the model. The 3-D models of P and S anomalies presented in horizontal and vertical sections show complex interactions of the lithospheric segments beneath the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belts. Particular attention is focused on the collisional areas of Iran, Pamir-Hindukush, Tien-Shan, and Burma. The digital version of the 3-D P and S models is available at http://www.ivan-art.com/science/REGIONAL.

Ivan Koulakov

Papers

P‐ and S‐velocity anomalies in the upper mantle beneath Europe from tomographic inversion of ISC data

A large magmatic sill complex beneath the Toba caldera

LOTOS Code for Local Earthquake Tomographic Inversion: Benchmarks for Testing Tomographic Algorithms

A tomographic image of Indian lithosphere break‐off beneath the Pamir–Hindukush region

High-frequency P and S velocity anomalies in the upper mantle beneath Asia from inversion of worldwide traveltime data