Skip to main content
Log in

Shear wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle in Southeastern Tibet and its geodynamic implications

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Southeastern Tibet, which has complex topography and strong tectonic activity, is an important area for studying the subsurface deformation of the Tibetan Plateau. Through the two-station method on 10-year teleseismic Rayleigh wave data from 132 permanent stations in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, which incorporates ambient noise data, we obtain the interstation phase velocity dispersion data in the period range of 5–150 s. Then, we invert for the shear wave velocity of the crust and upper mantle through the direct 3-D inversion method. We find two low-velocity belts in the mid-lower crust. One belt is mainly in the SongPan-GangZi block and northwestern part of the Chuan-Dian diamond block, whereas the other belt is mainly in the Xiaojiang fault zone and its eastern part, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The low-velocity belt in the Xiaojiang fault zone is likely caused by plastic deformation or partial melting of felsic rocks due to crustal thickening. Moreover, the significant positive radial anisotropy (VSH>VSV) around the Xiaojiang fault zone further enhances the amplitude of low velocity anomaly in our VSV model. This crustal low-velocity zone also extends southward across the Red River fault and farther to northern Vietnam, which may be closely related to heat sources in the upper mantle. The two low-velocity belts are separated by a high-velocity zone near the Anninghe-Zemuhe fault system, which is exactly in the inner and intermediate zones of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP). We find an obvious high-velocity body situated in the crust of the inner zone of the ELIP, which may represent maficultramafic material that remained in the crust when the ELIP formed. In the upper mantle, there is a large-scale low-velocity anomaly in the Indochina and South China blocks south of the Red River fault. The low-velocity anomaly gradually extends northward along the Xiaojiang fault zone into the Yangtze Craton as depth increases. Through our velocity model, we think that southeastern Tibet is undergoing three different tectonic modes at the same time: (1) the upper crust is rigid, and as a result, the tectonic mode is mainly rigid block extrusion controlled by large strike-slip faults; (2) the viscoplastic materials in the middle-lower crust, separated by rigid materials related to the ELIP, migrate plastically southward under the control of the regional stress field and fault systems; and (3) the upper mantle south of the Red River fault is mainly controlled by large-scale asthenospheric upwelling and may be closely related to lithospheric delamination and the eastward subduction and retreat of the Indian plate beneath Burma.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ali J R, Thompson G M, Zhou M F, Song X. 2005. Emeishan large igneous province, SW China. Lithos, 79: 475–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Bai D H, Unsworth M J, Meju M A, Ma X, Teng J, Kong X, Sun Y, Sun J, Wang L, Jiang C. 2010. Crustal deformation of the eastern Tibetan plateau revealed by magnetotelluric imaging. Nat Geosci, 3: 358–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Bao X W, Sun X, Xu M, Eaton D W, Song X, Wang L, Ding Z, Mi N, Li H, Yu D, Huang Z, Wang P. 2015. Two crustal low-velocity channels beneath SE Tibet revealed by joint inversion of Rayleigh wave dispersion and receiver functions. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 415: 16–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont C, Jamieson R A, Nguyen M H, Lee B. 2001. Himalayan tectonics explained by extrusion of a low-viscosity crustal channel coupled to focused surface denudation. Nature, 414: 738–742

    Google Scholar 

  • Brocher T M. 2005. Empirical relations between elastic wavespeeds and density in the Earth’s crust. Bull Seismol Soc Am, 95: 2081–2092

    Google Scholar 

  • Burchfiel B C, Chen Z. 2012. Tectonics of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent foreland. Geol Soc Am, 210, doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/2012.1210(01)

  • Chen H P, Li Z W, Chu R S, Chong J J, Ye Q D. 2018. 3D S-wave velocity and radial anisotropy structure of the crust and uppermost mantle in Yunnan, SE Tibet (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 61: 3219–3236

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Zhu L, Su Y. 2016. Low velocity crustal flow and crust-mantle coupling mechanism in Yunnan, SE Tibet, revealed by 3D S-wave velocity and azimuthal anisotropy. Tectonophysics, 685: 8–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Yang X, Xiao L, He Q. 2010. Coupling of basaltic magma evolution and lithospheric seismic structure in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province: MELTS modeling constraints. Lithos, 119: 61–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Xu Y, Xu T, Si S, Liang X, Tian X, Deng Y, Chen L, Wang P, Xu Y, Lan H, Xiao F, Li W, Zhang X, Yuan X, Badal J, Teng J. 2015. Magmatic underplating and crustal growth in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China, revealed by a passive seismic experiment. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 432: 103–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z, Burchfiel B C, Liu Y, King R W, Royden L H, Tang W, Wang E, Zhao J, Zhang X. 2000. Global Positioning System measurements from eastern Tibet and their implications for India/Eurasia intercontinental deformation. J Geophys Res, 105: 16215–16227

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung S L, Lee T Y, Lo C H, Wang P L, Chen C Y, Yem N T, Hoa T T, Genyao W. 1997. Intraplate extension prior to continental extrusion along the Ailao Shan-Red River shear zone. Geology, 25: 311–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark M K, Royden L H. 2000. Topographic ooze: Building the eastern margin of Tibet by lower crustal flow. Geology, 28: 703–706

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng Y, Chen Y, Wang P, Essa K S, Xu T, Liang X, Badal J. 2016. Magmatic underplating beneath the Emeishan large igneous province (South China) revealed by the COMGRA-ELIP experiment. Tectonophysics, 672–673: 16–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng Y, Zhang Z, Mooney W, Badal J, Fan W, Zhong Q. 2014. Mantle origin of the Emeishan large igneous province (South China) from the analysis of residual gravity anomalies. Lithos, 204: 4–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang H J, Yao H J, Zhang H, Huang Y C, van H R D. 2015. Direct inversion of surface wave dispersion for three-dimensional shallow crustal structure based on ray tracing: Methodology and application. Geophys J Int, 201: 1251–1263

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu Y V, Gao Y, Li A, Li L, Chen A. 2017. Lithospheric structure of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau from Rayleigh wave tomography. J Geophys Res-Solid Earth, 122: 4631–4644

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu Y V, Jia R, Han F, Chen A. 2018. SH wave structure of the crust and upper mantle in southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau from tele-seismic Love wave tomography. Phys Earth Planet Inter, 279: 15–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Han F, Jia R, Fu Y V. 2017. Love wave phase velocity models of the southeastern margin of Tibetan Plateau from a dense seismic array. Tectonophysics, 712–713: 125–131

    Google Scholar 

  • He R, Shang X, Yu C, Zhang H, Van der Hilst R D. 2014. A unified map of Moho depth and Vp/Vs ratio of continental China by receiver function analysis. Geophys J Int, 199: 1910–1918

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu J, Badal J, Yang H, Li G, Peng H. 2018. Comprehensive crustal structure and seismological evidence for lower crustal flow in the southeastern margin of Tibet revealed by receiver functions. Gondwana Res, 55: 42–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu J, Xu X, Yang H, Wen L, Li G. 2011. S receiver function analysis of the crustal and lithospheric structures beneath eastern Tibet. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 306: 77–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu J, Yang H, Xu X, Wen L, Li G. 2012. Lithospheric structure and crust-mantle decoupling in the southeast edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Gondwana Res, 22: 1060–1067

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang H, Yao H J, van der Hilst R D. 2010. Radial anisotropy in the crust of SE Tibet and SW China from ambient noise interferometry. Geophys Res Lett, 37: L21310

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang H H, Xu Z J, Wu Y M, Song X, Huang B S, Nguyen L M. 2013. First local seismic tomography for Red River shear zone, northern Vietnam: Stepwise inversion employing crustal P and Pn waves. Tectonophysics, 584: 230–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Z, Wang P, Xu M, Wang L, Ding Z, Wu Y, Xu M, Mi N, Yu D, Li H. 2015. Mantle structure and dynamics beneath SE Tibet revealed by new seismic images. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 411: 100–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Z L, Chen J, Liu C Q, Han R S, Li W B, Zhao D S, Gao D R, Feng Z H. 2001. A preliminary discussion on the genetic relationship between Emeishan basalts and Pb-Zn deposits as exemplified by the Huize Pb-Zn deposit, Yunnan province (in Chinese). Acta Mineral Sin, 21: 681–688

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang X J, Wang Z Q, Li C, Guo Z L, Chai J H, Qiu W L, Wang J S. 2018. Re-Os isotope characteristics of the Huize ultra-large lead-zinc deposit, northeastern Yunnan province: Constraints on the Himalayan metallogenic dynamic background (in Chinese). Rock Miner Anal, 37: 448–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong Z G, Wu Y, Zhang F, Zhang C Q, Meng X Y. 2018. Sources of ore-forming material of typical Pb-Zn deposits in the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou metallogenic province: Constraints from the S-Pb isotopic compositions (in Chinese). Earth Sci Front, 25: 125–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Kan R J, Zhang S L, Yan F T. 1977. Study on the current tectonic stress field and the characteristics of current tectonics activity in southwest China. Chin J Geophys, 20: 96–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennett B L N, Engdahl E R, Buland R. 1995. Constraints on seismic velocities in the Earth from traveltimes. Geophys J Int, 122: 108–124

    Google Scholar 

  • King R W, Shen F, Clark Burchfiel B, Royden L H, Wang E, Chen Z, Liu Y, Zhang X Y, Zhao J X, Li Y. 1997. Geodetic measurement of crustal motion in southwest China. Geology, 25: 179–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei J, Zhao D, Xu X, Xu Y G, Du M. 2019. Is there a big mantle wedge under eastern Tibet? Phys Earth Planet Inter, 292: 100–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei J, Zhao D, Su Y. 2009. Insight into the origin of the Tengchong intraplate volcano and seismotectonics in southwest China from local and teleseismic data. J Geophys Res, 114: B05302

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei J, Li Y, Xie F, Teng J, Zhang G, Sun C, Zha X. 2014. Pn anisotropic tomography and dynamics under eastern Tibetan plateau. J Geophys Res-Solid Earth, 119: 2174–2198

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei J, Zhao D. 2016. Teleseismic P-wave tomography and mantle dynamics beneath Eastern Tibet. Geochem Geophys Geosyst, 17: 1861–1884

    Google Scholar 

  • Li C, van der Hilst R D, Meltzer A S, Engdahl E R. 2008. Subduction of the Indian lithosphere beneath the Tibetan Plateau and Burma. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 274: 157–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Bai D, Ma X, Chen Y, Varentsov I M, Xue G, Xue S, Lozovsky I. 2019. Electrical resistivity structure of the Xiaojiang strike-slip fault system (SW China) and its tectonic implications. J Asian Earth Sci, 176: 57–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu C M, Yao H J, Yang H Y, Shen W, Fang H, Hu S, Qiao L. 2019. Direct inversion for three-dimensional shear wave speed azimuthal anisotropy based on surface wave ray tracing: Methodology and application to Yunnan, Southwest China. J Geophys Res-Solid Earth, 124: 11394–11413

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Liu F, He J, Chen H, You Q. 2001. Study of seismic tomography in Panxi paleorft area of southwestern China. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 44: 277–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Molnar P, Tapponnier P. 1975. Cenozoic tectonics of Asia: Effects of a continental collision: Features of recent continental tectonics in Asia can be interpreted as results of the India-Eurasia collision. Science, 189: 419–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney W D, Ritsema J, Hwang Y K. 2012. Crustal seismicity and the earthquake catalog maximum moment magnitude (Mcmax) in stable continental regions (SCRs): Correlation with the seismic velocity of the lithosphere. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 357–358: 78–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng H, Yang H, Hu J, Badal J. 2017. Three-dimensional S-velocity structure of the crust in the southeast margin of the Tibetan plateau and geodynamic implications. J Asian Earth Sci, 148: 210–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao L, Yao H, Lai Y C, Huang B S, Zhang P. 2018. Crustal structure of southwest China and northern Vietnam from ambient noise tomography: Implication for the large-scale material transport model in SE Tibet. Tectonics, 37: 1492–1506

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawlinson N, Sambridge M. 2005. The fast marching method: An effective tool for tomographic imaging and tracking multiple phases in complex layered media. Exploration Geophys, 36: 341–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowley D B. 1996. Age of initiation of collision between India and Asia: A review of stratigraphic data. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 145: 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Royden L H, Burchfiel B C, King R W, Wang E, Chen Z, Shen F, Liu Y. 1997. Surface deformation and lower crustal flow in eastern Tibet. Science, 276: 788–790

    Google Scholar 

  • Royden L H, Burchfiel B C, van der Hilst R D. 2008. The geological evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Science, 321: 1054–1058

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi Z, Wang G. 2017. Evaluation of the permeability properties of the Xiaojiang Fault Zone using hot springs and water wells. Geophys J Int, 209: 1526–1533

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun X, Bao X, Xu M, Eaton D W, Song X, Wang L, Ding Z, Mi N, Yu D, Li H. 2014. Crustal structure beneath SE Tibet from joint analysis of receiver functions and Rayleigh wave dispersion. Geophys Res Lett, 41: 1479–1484

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun J, Jin W G, Bai D H, Wang L F. 2003. Electrical structure of the crust and uppermost mantle of eastern Tibetan plateau and its tectonic implications (in Chinese). Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 33: 173–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Tapponnier P, Peltzer G, Le Dain A Y, Armijo R, Cobbold P. 1982. Propagating extrusion tectonics in Asia: New insights from simple experiments with plasticine. Geology, 10: 611–616

    Google Scholar 

  • Tapponnier P, Xu Z Q, Roger F, Meyer B, Arnaud N, Wittlinger G, Yang J S. 2001. Oblique stepwise rise and growth of the Tibet Plateau. Science, 294: 1671–1677

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang E, Burchfiel B C, Royden L H, Chen L. Chen J, Li W, Chen Z. 1998. Late Cenozoic Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang Red River and Dali fault systems of southwestern Sichuan and central Yunnan, China. Geol Soc Amer, 327: 1–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Zhang J, Zhong W B, Yang Q, Li F K, Zhun Z K. 2018. Source of ore-forming fluids from Tianbaoshan and Huize Pb-Zn deposits in Yunnan-Sichuan-Guizhou region, southwest China: Evidence from fluid inclusions and He-Ar isotopes (in Chinese). Earth Sci, 43: 2076–2099

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Wu J, Fang L, Lai G, Cai Y. 2017. Crustal thickness and Poisson’s ratio in southwest China based on data from dense seismic arrays. J Geophys Res-Solid Earth, 122: 7219–7235

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Gao Y, Shi Y T. 2015. Rayleigh wave azimuthal anisotropy on the southeastern front of the Tibetan Plateau from seismic ambient noise (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 58: 4068–4078

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Zhao C P, Liu F, Chen K H, Ran H. 2014. Research on relationship between geochemical characteristics of thermal springs and seismic activity in Xiaojiang fault zone and its adjacent area (in Chinese). J Seismol Res, 37: 228–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei W, Zhao D, Xu J. 2013. P-wave anisotropic tomography in Southeast Tibet: New insight into the lower crustal flow and seismotectonics. Phys Earth Planet Inter, 222: 47–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Zhang Z. 2012. Spatial distribution of seismic layer, crustal thickness, and Vp/Vs ratio in the Permian Emeishan Mantle Plume region. Gondwana Res, 22: 127–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu T, Zhang Z J, Liu B F, Chen Y, Zhang M H, Tian X B, Xu Y G, Teng J W. 2015. Crustal velocity structure in the Emeishan large igneous province and evidence of the Permian mantle plume activity. Sci China Earth Sci, 58: 1133–1147

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Wen X, Zheng R, Ma W, Song F, Yu G. 2003. Pattern of latest tectonic motion and its dynamics for active blocks in Sichuan-Yunnan region, China. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 46: 210–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y G, He B. 2007. Thick and high velocity crust in Emeishan large igneous province, SW China: Evidence for crustal growth by magmatic underplating/intraplating. In: Foulger G R, Jurdy D M, eds. Plates, plumes, and planetary processes. Geol Soc Amer, 430: 841–858

  • Xu Y G, He B, Chung S L, Menzies M A, Frey F A. 2004. Geologic, geochemical, and geophysical consequences of plume involvement in the Emeishan flood-basalt province. Geology, 32: 917–920

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y G, Chung S L. 2001. The Emeishan large igneous province: Evidence for mantle plume activity and melting conditions (in Chinese). Geochimica, 30: 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Peng H, Hu J. 2017. The lithospheric structure beneath southeast Tibet revealed by P and S receiver functions. J Asian Earth Sci, 138: 62–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Yao H J, Wu H, Zhang P, Wang M. 2020. A new crustal shearvelocity model in Southwest China from joint seismological inversion and its implications for regional crustal dynamics. Geophys J Int, 220: 1379–1393

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao H J. 2012. Lithospheric structure and deformation in SE Tibet revealed by ambient noise and earthquake surface wave tomography: Recent advances and perspectives. Earthq Sci, 25: 371–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao H J, Beghein C, van der Hilst R D. 2008. Surface wave array tomography in SE Tibet from ambient seismic noise and two-station analysis—II. Crustal and upper-mantle structure. Geophys J Int, 173: 205–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao H J, van der Hilst R D, de Hoop M V. 2006. Surface-wave array tomography in SE Tibet from ambient seismic noise and two-station analysis—I. Phase velocity maps. Geophys J Int, 166: 732–744

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao H J, van der Hilst R D, Montagner J P. 2010. Heterogeneity and anisotropy of the lithosphere of SE Tibet from surface wave array tomography. J Geophys Res, 115: B12307

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao H J, Xu G M, Xiao X, Zhu L B. 2004. A quick tracing method based on image analysis technique for the determination of dual stations phase velocities dispersion curve of surface wave (in Chinese). Seismol Geomagn Obs Res, 25: 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang P Z, Shen Z, Wang M, Gan W, Bürgmann R, Molnar P, Wang Q, Niu Z, Sun J, Wu J, Sun H, You X. 2004. Continuous deformation of the Tibetan Plateau from global positioning system data. Geology, 32: 809–812

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Yao H, Yang H Y, Cai H T, Fang H, Xu J, Jin X, Kuo-Chen H, Liang W T, Chen K X. 2018. 3-D crustal shear-wave velocity structure of the Taiwan Strait and Fujian, SE China, revealed by ambient noise tomography. J Geophys Res-Solid Earth, 123: 8016–8031

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y Y, Chen L, Ai Y S, Jiang M M, Xu W W, Shen Z Y. 2018. Lithospheric structure of the South China Block from S-receiver function (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 61: 138–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng C, Ding Z F, Song X D. 2016. Joint inversion of surface wave dispersion and receiver functions for crustal and uppermost mantle structure in Southeast Tibetan Plateau (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 59: 3223–3236

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng X F, Yao Z X, Liang J H, Zheng J. 2010. The role played and opportunities provided by IGP DMC of China National Seismic Network in Wenchuan earthquake disaster relief and researches. Bull Seismol Soc Am, 100: 2866–2872

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng X F, Ouyang B, Zhang D N, Yao Z X, Liang J H, Zheng J. 2009. Technical system construction of Data Backup Centre for China Seismograph Network and the data support to research on the Wenchuan earthquake (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 52: 1412–1417

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou M F, Malpas J, Song X Y, Robinson P T, Sun M, Kennedy A K, Lesher C M, Keays R R. 2002. A temporal link between the Emeishan large igneous province (SW China) and the end-Guadalupian mass extinction. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 196: 113–122

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We appreciate two anonymous reviewers and editors for their constructive comments and suggestions. We acknowledge Data Management Centre of China National Seismic Network at Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration for providing continuous waveform data (doi: https://doi.org/10.11998/SeisDmc/SN, http://www.seisdmc.ac.cn). This work was supported by Key Research and Development Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No. 2018YFC1503400) and China Earthquake Science Experiment Project, China Earthquake Administration (Grant No. 2018CSES0101). The 3-D velocity model obtained in this study can be found as the supplementary file SWChinaVs_CUM_2020.txt (https://link.springer.com). The VP and density models are obtained from the VS model based on the empirical formulas (Brocher, 2005).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huajian Yao.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, Z., Yao, H. & Yang, Y. Shear wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle in Southeastern Tibet and its geodynamic implications. Sci. China Earth Sci. 63, 1278–1293 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-020-9625-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-020-9625-3

Keywords

Navigation