Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Main features of the deep structure by local earthquake tomography and active tectonics: case of Rif Mountain (morocco) and Betic Cordillera (Spain)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Seismology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Within the Spain and Moroccan networks, a large volume of seismic data has been collected and used for investigating the lithosphere in the Betic–Rif Cordillera. The present study has two main goals: (1) Use the most actual seismological data from recent earthquakes in the Betic–Rif arc for investigating the lithosphere through the application of seismic local tomography techniques. (2) Define the possible structural blocks and explain the GPS velocities perturbation in this region. The resolution tests results indicate that the calculated images gave a close true structure for the studied regions from 5- to 60-km depth. The resulting tomographic image shows that the presence of two upper crust body (velocity 6.5 km/s) at 3- to 13-km depth between Iberian Betic and Moroccan Rif in the western and in the middle of Alboran Sea also shows the low velocity favoring the presence of melt in the base of these two bodies. The crustal bodies forms tectonic blocks in the Central Rif and in the Central Betic Cordillera.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ansorge J, Banda E, Mueller St, Udias A and Mezcura J (1978) Crustal structure under the Cordillera Betica. Preliminary results In Reunion sobre la geodinamica de la Cordillera Betica y Mar de Alboran Universidad de Granada, 1978, pp. 59–78

  • Bakker HE, de Jong K, Helmers H, Biermann C (1989) The geodynamic evolution of the internal zone of the Betic Cordilleras (south-east Spain): a model based on structural analysis and geothermobarometry. J Metamorph Geol 7:359–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banda E, Ansorge J (1980) Crustal structure under the central and eastern part of Betic Cordilleras. Geophys J Roy Astron Soc 63:515–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banda E, Gallart J, Garcia-Dueñas V, Dañobeitia JJ, Markis J (1993) Lateral variation of the crust in the Iberian Peninsula: new evidence from the Betic Cordillera. Tectonophysics 221:53–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blanco MJ, Spakman W (1993) The P-wave velocity structure of the mantle below the Iberian Peninsula: evidence for subducted lithosphere below southern Spain. Tectonophysiscs 221:13–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buforn E, De Galdeano S, Udias A (1995) Seismotectonics of the Ibero-Maghrebian region. Tectonophysics 248:247–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvert A, Sandoval E, Seber D, Barazangi M, Roecker S, Mourabit T, Vidal F, Alguacil G, Jabour N (2000) Geodynamic evolution of the lithosphere and the upper mantle beneath the Alboran region of the western Mediterranean: Constraints from travel time tomography. J Geophys Res 105(B5):10871–10898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comas MC, Garcia-Duenas V, Jurado MJ (1992) Neogene tectonic evolution of the Alboran Sea from MCS data. Geo-Marine Lett 12:157–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey JF, Helman ML, Turco E, Hutton DHW, Knott SD (1989) Kinematics of the western Mediterranean. In: Coward MP, Dietrich D, Park RG (eds) Alpine tectonics, vol 45, Special Publications. The Geological Society, London, pp 265–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberhart-Phillips D (1990) Three-dimensional P and S velocity structure in the Coalinga region, California. J Geophys Res 95:15343–15363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fadil A, Vernant P, McClusky S, Reilinger R, Gomez F, Ben SD, Mourabit T, Feigl KL, Barazangi M (2006) Active tectonics of the western Mediterranean: GPS evidence for roll back of a delaminated subcontinental lithospheric slab beneath the Rif Mountains, Morocco. Geology 34:529–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Ibáñez F, Soto JI, Zoback MD, Morales J (2007) Present-day stress field in the Gibraltar Arc (western Mediterranean). J Geophys Res 112, B08404. doi:10.1029/2006JB004683

    Google Scholar 

  • Foulger GR, Toomey DR (1989) Structure and evolution of the Hengill–Grensdalur central volcano complex, Iceland: geology, geophysics and seismic tomography. J Geophys Res 94:17511–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goffé B, Michard A, García-Dueñas V, Gozález-Lodeiro F, Monié P, Campos J, Galindo-Zaldívar J, Jabaloy A, Martínez JM, Simancas JF (1989) First evidence of high-pressure, low-temperature metamorphism in the Alpujarride nappes, Betic Cordilleras (SE Spain). Eur J Mineral 1:139–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez F, Barazangi M, Demnati A (2000) Structure and evolution of the Neogene Guercif Basin at the junction of the Middle Atlas mountains and the Rif thrust belt. Morocco: AAPG Bulletin 84:1340–1364

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Pugnaire MT, Fernández-Soler JM (1987) High pressure metamorphism in metabasites from the Betic Cordilleras (SE Spain) and its evolution during the Alpine orogeny. Contr Miner Petrol 95(582):231–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatzfeld D (1976) Etude sismologique et gravimétrique de la structure profonde de la mer d’Alboran: mise en évidence d’un manteau anormal. C R Acad Sci Paris 283:1021–1024

    Google Scholar 

  • Hearn T (1996) Anisotropic Pn tomography in the western United States. Jgeopphys Res 101:8403–8414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jolivet L, Faccenna C (2000) Mediterranean extension and the African-Eurasia collision. Tectonics 19:1095–1106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jolivet L, Faccenna C, Goffé B, Burov E, Agard P (2003) Subduction tectonics and exhumation of high-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Mediterranean orogens. Am J Sci 303:353–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kissling E, Ellsworth WL, Eberhart-Phillips D, Kradolfer U (1994) Initial reference models in local earthquake tomography. J Geophys Res 99:19635–19646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kouali A, Ouazar D, Tahayt A, King RW, Vernant P, Reilinger RE, McClusky S, Mourabit T, Davila JM, Amraoui N (2011) New GPS constrants on active deformation along the Africa- Iberia plate boundary. Earth Planet Sci Lett 308:211–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishna VG, Kalia KL, Khandekar G (1992) Upper mantle velocity structure in the Mediterranean and surrounding regions from seismological data. Tectonophysics 201:277–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lienert BR (1994) A computer Program for locating Earthquakes locally, regionally and globally, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics/SOEST

  • Lonergan L, White N (1997) Origin of the Betic-Rif mountain belt. Tectonics 16:504–522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marillier F, St M (1985) The western Mediterranean region as an upper-mantle transition zone between two lithospheric plates. Tectonophysics 118:113–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mezcua J, Rueda J (1997) Seismological evidence for a delamination process in the lithosphere under the Alboran Sea. Geophysl J Int 129:F1–F8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulssen H, Visser J (1993) The crustal structure in Iberia inferred from P-wave coda. Tectonophysics 221:111–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Platt JP, Vissers RLM (1989) Extensional collapse of thickened continental lithosphere: A working hypothesis for the Alboran Sea and Gibraltar arc. Geology 17:540–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Platt JP, Soto JI, Whitehouse MJ, Hurford AJ, Kelley SP (1998) Thermal evolution, rat of exhumation, and tectonic significance of metamorphic rocks from the floor of the Alboran extensional basin, western Mediterranean. Tectonics 17:671–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plomerova J, Payo G, Babuska V (1993) Teleseismic P-residual study in the Iberian Peninsula. Tectonophysics 221:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polyak BG, Fernàndez M, Khutorskoy MD, Soto JI, Basov IA, Comas MC, Ye Khain V, Alonso B, Agapova GV, Mazurova IS, Negredo A, Tochitsky VO, De la Linde J, Bogdanov NA, Banda E (1996) Heat flow in the Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean. Tectonophysics 263:191–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pous J, Queralt P, Ledo JJ, Roca E, Garcia X, Marcuello A (1995) Electrical conductive structure of the central Betics from magnetotelluric data. Rev Soc Geol España 8(4):513–517

    Google Scholar 

  • Royden LH (1993) Evolution of retreating subduction boundaries formed during continental collision. Tectonics 12:629–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schettino A, Scotese C (2002) Global kinematic constraints to the tectonic history of the Mediterranean region and surrounding areas during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, In: Rosenbaum G, Lister GS (Eds), Reconstruction of the evolution of the Alpine-Himalayan orogen, J Virtual Explorer, 8, pp 149–168

  • Seber D, Barazangi M, Ibenbrahim A, Demnati A (1996) Geophysical evidence for lithospheric delamination beneath the Alboran Sea and Rif-Betic mountains. Nature 379:785–790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spakman WS, der Lee V, der Hilst V (1993) Travel-time tomography of the European-Mediterranean mantle down to 1400 km. Phys Earth Planet Inter 79:3–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stich D, Serpelloni E, Mancilla F, Morales J (2006) Kinematics of the Iberia- Maghreb plate contact from seismic moment tensors and GPS observations. Tectonophysics 426:295–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tahayt A, Mourabit T, Rigo A., Kurl L, Feigl, Fadil A, McClusy S, Reilinger R, Serroukh M, Ouazani-Touhami A, Bensari D, Vernant P (2008) Present-day movements of tectonic blocks in the Western Mediterranean from GPS measurements 1999–2005. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, doi:10.1016/j.crte.2008.02.003 (in French with abridged English Version)

  • Thompson AB, Schlmann K, Jezek J (1997a) Thermal evolution and exhumation in obliquely convergent (transpressive) orogens. Tectonophysics 280:171–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson AB, Schlmann K, Jezek J (1997b) Extrusion tectonics and elevation of lower crustal metamorphic rocks in convergent orogens. Geology 25:491–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thurber CH (1983) Earthquake locations and three-dimensional crustal structure in the Coyote Lake area, central California. J Geophys Res 88:8226–8236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timoulali Y, Meghraoui M (2011) 3-D crustal structure in the Agadir region (SW High Atlas, Morocco). J Seismol 15:625–635

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torné M, Banda E (1992) Crustal thinning from the Betic Cordillera to Alboran Sea. Geo-Mar Lett 12:76–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torres-Roldan RL (1979) The tectonic subdivision of the Betic Zone (Betic Cordilleras, southern Spain): its significance and one possible geotectonic scenario for the westernmost Alpine belt. Amer J Sci 279:19–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torres-Roldan RL, Poli G, Pecerillo A (1986) An early Miocene arc-tholeitic magmatic dyke event from the Alboran Sea. Evidence for precollisional subduction and back-arc crustal extension in the westernmost Mediterranean. Geol Rundschau 751:219–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Um J, Thurber C (1987) A fast algorithm for two-point seismic ray tracing. Bull Seism Soc Am 1987(77):972–986

    Google Scholar 

  • Vernant P, Fadil A, Mourabit T, Ouazar D, Koulali A, Davila JM, Garate J, McClusky S, Reilinger RE (2010) Geodetic constraints on active tectonics of the Western Mediterranean: implications for the kinematics and dynamics of the Nubia-Eurasia plate boundary zone. J Geodyn 49:123–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vissers RLM, Platt JP, van der Wal D (1995) Late orogenic extension of the Betic Cordillera and the Alboran Domain: a lithospheric view. Tectonics 14:786–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts AB, Platt JP, Buhl P (1993) Tectonic evolution of the Alboran Sea basin. Basin Res 5:153–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Working Group for deep seismic sounding in Spain 1974–1975 (1977) Deep seismic sounding in the southern Spain. Pure Appl Geophys 115:721–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Working Group for deep seismic sounding in the Alboran Sea 1974–1975 (1978) Crustal seismic profiles in the Alboran Sea—preliminary results. Pure Appl Geophys 116:167–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeck HP (1996) Betic-Rif orogeny: subduction of Mesozoic Tethys under E-ward Drifting Iberia, slab detachment shortly before 22 Ma and subsequent uplift and extensional tectonics. Tectonophysics 254:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeck HP (1999) Alpine plate kinematics in the western Mediterranean: a westward directed subduction regime followed by slab rollback and slab detachment. In: Durand B (ed) The Mediterranean basins: tertiary extension within the Alpine orogen, vol 156, Special Publication. Geological Society, London, pp 109–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao D, Negishi H (1998) The 1995 Kobe Earthquake: seismic of the source zone and its implication for the rupture nucleation. J Geophys Res 103:9967–9985

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao D, Wang K, Rogers GC, Peacock SM (2001) Tomographic image of low P velocity anomalies above slab in northern Cascadia subduction zone. Earth Planets Space 53:285–293, 2001

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I thank the Instituto Geografico National (IGN, Madrid–Spain) and the Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST, Rabat–Morocco). This study was supported by the CNRST- PROTARS D15/41 project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique, Rabat, Morocco

    Y. Timoulali, Y. Hahou, N. Jabour, R. Merrouch & A. El Kharrim

Authors
  1. Y. Timoulali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. Hahou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Jabour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Merrouch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. El Kharrim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. Timoulali.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Timoulali, Y., Hahou, Y., Jabour, N. et al. Main features of the deep structure by local earthquake tomography and active tectonics: case of Rif Mountain (morocco) and Betic Cordillera (Spain). J Seismol 18, 221–234 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-013-9385-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-013-9385-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation