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Abstract: We present a new crustal cross section of the northeastern Tibetan plateau based on active-source seismic data recorded along a 1600-km-long profile crossing the southern Tarim basin, the western flank of the South-Qilian Shan, the northeastern margin of Qaidam basin, East-Kunlun Shan, Songpan-Ganzi terrane, and Sichuan basin. The crustal P- and S-wave velocity structure and Poisson''s ratio outline the seismic characteristics of the crust and provide constraints on the crustal composition. The derived crustal cross section shows several significant features. (1) The crustal thickness varies considerably along this profile, from 48km to 70km. (2) North of the Kunlun fault variations in total crustal thickness are mainly caused by variations in lower crustal thickness, whereas south of the Kunlun fault they are caused by thickness variations throughout the crust. (3) North of the Kunlun fault we detect a mid-crustal low-velocity zone that is not apparent south of the fault. (4) The Kunlun fault seems to act as a compositional boundary for the lower crust, with a Poisson''s ratio of 0.29 north of the fault (Kunlun-Qaidam terrane) and 0.26 south of the fault (Songpan-Ganzi terrane). Measured Poisson''s ratio and P-wave velocity values suggest that the lower crust throughout the Tibetan plateau (South-Qilian Shan, margins of the Qaidam Basin, East-Kunlun Shan, Songpan-Ganzi terrane) is of intermediate composition. Thus the NE Tibetan plateau along our profile is missing a mafic lower crustal layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The shallow seismic velocity structure of the Kunlun fault zone (KLFZ) was jointly deduced from seismic refraction profiling and the records of trapped waves that were excited by five explosions. The data were collected after the 2001 Kunlun Ms8.1 earthquake in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Seismic phases for the in-line record sections (26 records up to a distance of 15 km) along the fault zone were analysed, and 1-D P- and S-wave velocity models of shallow crust within the fault zone were determined by using the seismic refraction method. Sixteen seismic stations were deployed along the off-line profile perpendicular to the fault zone. Fault-zone trapped waves appear clearly on the record sections, which were simulated with a 3-D finite difference algorithm. Quantitative analysis of the correlation coefficients of the synthetic and observed trapped waveforms indicates that the Kunlun fault-zone width is 300 m, and S-wave quality factor Q within the fault zone is 15. Significantly, S-wave velocities within the fault zone are reduced by 30–45 per cent from surrounding rocks to a depth of at least 1–2 km, while P-wave velocities are reduced by 7–20 per cent. A fault-zone with such P- and S-low velocities is an indication of high fluid pressure because Vs is affected more than Vp. The low-velocity and low- Q zone in the KLFZ model is the effect of multiple ruptures along the fault trace of the 2001 Ms8.1 Kunlun earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The 1000-km-long Darlag–Lanzhou–Jingbian seismic refraction profile is located in the NE margin of the Tibetan plateau. This profile crosses the northern Songpan-Ganzi terrane, the Qinling-Qilian fold system, the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region, and the stable Ordos basin. The P-wave and S-wave velocity structure and Poisson''s ratios reveal many significant characteristics in the profile. The crustal thickness increases from northeast to southwest. The average crustal thickness observed increases from 42 km in the Ordos basin to 63 km in the Songpan-Ganzi terrane. The crust becomes obviously thicker south of the Haiyuan fault and beneath the West-Qinlin Shan. The crustal velocities have significant variations along the profile. The average P-wave velocities for the crystalline crust vary between 6.3 and 6.4 km/s. Beneath the Songpan-Ganzi terrane, West-Qinling Shan, and Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region P-wave velocities of 6.3 km/s are 0.15 km/s lower than the worldwide average of 6.45 km/s. North of the Kunlun fault, with exclusion of the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region, the average P-wave velocity is 6.4 km/s and only 0.5 km/s lower than the worldwide average. A combination of the P-wave velocity and Poisson''s ratio suggests that the crust is dominantly felsic in composition with an intermediate composition at the base. A mafic lower crust is absent in the NE margin of the Tibetan plateau from the Songpan-Ganzi terrane to the Ordos basin. There are low velocity zones in the West-Qinling Shan and the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region. The low velocity zones have low S-wave velocities and high Poisson''s ratios, so it is possible these zones are due to partial melting. The crust is divided into two layers, the upper and the lower crust, with crustal thickening mainly in the lower crust as the NE Tibetan plateau is approached. The results in the study show that the thickness of the lower crust increases from 22 to 38 km as the crustal thickness increases from 42 km in the Ordos basin to 63 km in the Songpan-Ganzi terrane south of the Kunlun fault. Both the Conrad discontinuity and Moho in the West-Qinling Shan and in the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region are laminated interfaces, implying intense tectonic activity. The arcuate faults and large earthquakes in the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region are the result of interaction between the Tibetan plateau and the Sino–Korean and Gobi Ala Shan platforms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present the results of a seismic wide-angle reflection/refraction profile across the central Qaidam basin, the largest basin within the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The 350-km‐long profile extends from the northern margin of the East-Kunlun Shan to the southern margin of the Qilian Shan. The P- and S-wave velocity structure and Poisson''s ratio data provide constraints on composition. The crust here consists of a near-surface sedimentary layer and a four-layered crystalline crust having several significant features. (1) The sedimentary fill of the Qaidam basin reaches a maximum thickness of 8km, and the basin shape mirrors the uplifted Moho. (2) Within the four layers of the crystalline crust, P- (S-) wave velocities increase with depth and fall within the following velocity ranges: 5.9–6.3km/s (3.45–3.65km/s), 6.45–6.55km/s (3.7km/s), 6.65km/s (3.8km/s), and 6.7–6.9km/s (3.8–3.9km/s), respectively; (3) low-velocity zones with a 3–5% reduction in seismic velocity are detected in the lower half of the crust beneath the Qaidam basin and its transition to the Qilian Shan. (4) The crystalline crust is thickest beneath the northern margin of the basin towards the Qilian Shan (58–62km) and thinnest beneath the center of the basin (52km). Variations in crustal thickness are caused most pronouncedly by thickness variations in the lowermost layer of the crust. (5) Poisson''s ratio and P-wave velocity values suggest that the Qaidam crust has an essentially felsic composition with an intermediate layer at its base. Based on the crustal structure reported here, we suggest that late Cenozoic convergence is accommodated by thick-skinned tectonic deformation with thickening involving the entire crust across the Kunlun–Qaidam–Qilian system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]