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Structural interpretation of the Chuan-Dian block and surrounding regions using discrete wavelet transform

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Abstract

The Chuan-Dian tectonic block is a transitional zone between the Tibetan Plateau and the South China block. The crustal structure in this region has been studied in several ways, and in this work we present Bouguer gravity anomaly data with which to investigate the Chuan-Dian block and surrounding regions. Regional and local anomalies are decomposed using a method of discrete wavelet transform (DWT), and furthermore, the relief of the Moho is inverted based on the regional anomalies. Results of the transform show that there is a distinct belt of regional anomalies on the east and southeast margins of the Tibetan Plateau. In addition, there are two distinct gradient belts evident in the maps of the local gravity anomalies. The first of these, in the western Indo-China block, has a north–south strike with high anomalies around this belt, and the second is along the Longmenshan fault zone in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The Chuan-Dian block can be divided into two discrete parts, separated by a broad and indistinct boundary observed from the fifth-order DWT detail and Moho relief. The DWT details reveal that parallel anomalies existing in the Indo-China block region were induced by subduction of the Burmese block. We conclude that the clockwise rotation of the Chuan-Dian block was synthetically affected by the extrusion of the Tibetan lithosphere and subduction of the Burmese block.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Bureau Gravimétrique International (BGI) for supplying the Bouguer gravity anomaly data. This work was financially supported by the Foundation of Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration (Grant No. IS201326122) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41304060) and the National key Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2013CB733305).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Earthquake Geodesy, Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Songbai Xuan, Chongyang Shen, Hui Li & Hongbo Tan

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  1. Songbai Xuan
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  2. Chongyang Shen
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  3. Hui Li
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  4. Hongbo Tan
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Correspondence to Songbai Xuan.

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Xuan, S., Shen, C., Li, H. et al. Structural interpretation of the Chuan-Dian block and surrounding regions using discrete wavelet transform. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 105, 1591–1602 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-015-1272-1

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