Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Crustal Structure of the Tengchong Intra-plate Volcanic Area

  • Published:
Surveys in Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We here provide an overview of our current understanding of the crustal structure of Tengchong in southwest China, a key intra-plate volcanic area along the Himalayan geothermal belt. Given that there is hitherto a lack of information about the near-surface structure of intra-plate volcanic areas, we present the first seismic reflection and velocity constraints on the shallow crust between intra-plate volcanoes. Our near-surface seismic images reveal the existence of dome-shaped seismic reflectors (DSRs) in the shallow crust between intra-plate volcanic clusters in Tengchong. The two DSRs are both ~2 km wide, and the shallowest parts of the DSRs are found at the depth of 200–300 m. The velocity model shows that the shallow low-velocity layer (<4 km/s) is anomalously thick (~1 km) in the region where the DSRs are observed. The presence of DSRs indicates significant levels of intra-plate magmatism beneath the along-axis gap separating two volcano clusters. Along-axis gaps between volcano clusters are therefore not necessarily an indicator of lower levels of magmatism. The seismic images obtained in this technically challenging area for controlled-source seismology allow us to conclude that shallow crustal structures are crucial for understanding the along-axis variations of magmatism and hydrothermal activities in intra-plate volcanic areas.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Argus DF, Gordon RG, DeMets C (2011) Geologically current motion of 56 plates relative to the no-net-rotation reference frame. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 12:Q11001. doi:10.1029/2011GC003751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai DB, Meju MA, Liao Z (2001) Magnetotelluric images of deep structure of the Rehai geothermal field near Tengchong, southern China. Geophys J Int 147:677–687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai D, Unsworth MJ, Meju MA, Ma X, Teng J, Kong X, Sun Y, Sun J, Wang L, Jiang C, Zhao C, Xiao P, Liu M (2010) Crustal deformation of the eastern Tibetan plateau revealed by magnetotelluric imaging. Nat Geosci 3:358–362. doi:10.1038/ngeo830

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batiza R (1996) Magmatic segmentation of mid-ocean ridges: a review. In: Macleod CJ, Tyler PA, Walker CL (eds) Tectonic, Magmatic, Hydrothermal and Biological segmentation of Mid-Ocean Ridges, vol 118. Geological Society Special Publication, London, pp 103–130

  • Brenguier F, Shapiro NM, Campillo M, Ferrazzini V, Duputel Z, Coutant O, Nercessian A (2008) Towards forecasting volcanic eruptions using seismic noise. Nat Geosci 1:126–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvès G, Schwab AM, Huuse M, Clift PD, Gaina C, Holley D, Tabrez AR, Inam A (2011) Seismic volcanostratigraphy of the western Indian rifted margin, the pre-Deccan igneous province. J Geophys Res 116:B01101. doi:10.1029/2010JB000862

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen JH, Moore JG (1979) Late Jurassic Independence dike swarm in eastern California. Geology 7:129–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan C, Cheng Y (1992) The crustal structure of western Yunnan. Geophysical Studies of Yunnan Province (in Chinese). Yunnan Univ. Press, Kunming, pp 102–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Su Y, Wang W, Pei S, Guo Z (2009) Lower-crust S-wave velocity beneath western Yunnan Province from waveform inversion of dense seismic observation. Terra Nova 21:105–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison T, Chen W, Lelooup P, Ryerson F (1992) An early Miocene transition in deformation regime within the Red River fault zone, Yunnan, and its significance for the Indo-Asian tectonics. J Geophys Res 97:7159–7182. doi:10.1029/92JB00109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He C, Wang C, Wu J (2004) S-wave velocity structure inferred from receiver function inversion in Tengchong volcanic area. Acta Seismol Sin 17:12–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Zhao D (2006) High-resolution mantle tomography of China and surrounding regions. J Geophys Res 111:B09305. doi:10.1029/2005JB004066

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Zhao D, Zheng S (2002) Lithospheric structure and its relationship to seismic and volcanic activity in southwest China. J Geophys Res 107(B10):2255. doi:10.1029/2000JB000137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia X (2005) Map showing the distribution of volcanoes and thermal springs in Tengchong, Yunnan (in Chinese): Yunnan Bureau of Engineering Geology, scale 1:100 000, 1 sheet

  • Jiang M, Tan H, Zhang Y, Peng M, Li Q, Zhang L, Xu L, Wang W (2012) Geophysical mode of Mazhan-Gudong magma chamber in Tengchong volcano-tectonic area (in Chinese). Acta Geoscientica Sinica 33:731–739

    Google Scholar 

  • Jolly AD, Moran SC, McNutt SR, Stone DB (2007) Three-dimensional P-wave velocity structure derived from local earthquakes at the Katmai group of volcanoes, Alaska. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 159:326–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kan R, Lin Z (1986) A preliminary study on the crustal and upper mantle structure in Yunnan (in Chinese). Earthq Res China 2(4):50–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Kent GM, Singh SC, Harding AJ, Sinha MC, Orcutt JA, Barton PJ, White RS, Bazin S, Hobbs RW, Tong CH, Pye JW (2000) Evidence for three-dimensional seismic reflectivity images for enhanced melt supply beneath mid-ocean ridge discontinuities. Nature 406:614–619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lei J, Zhao D, Su Y (2009) Insight into the origin of the Tengchong intra-plate volcano and seismotectonics in southwest China from local and teleseismic data. J Geophys Res 114:B05302. doi:10.1029/2008JB005881

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald KC, Scheirer DS, Carbotte SM (1991) Mid-ocean ridges: discontinuities, segments and giant cracks. Science 253:986–994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin J, Huangfu G, Zhang J (1998) Characteristics of Q values around Tengchong volcano and adjacent areas. J Seis Res 21:348–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Shangguan Z, Bai C, Song M (2000) Mantle-derived magmatic gas releasing features at Rehai area, Tengchong county, Yunnan province, China. Sci China Ser D 43:132–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SC, Kent GM, Collier JS, Harding AJ, Orcutt JA (1998) Melt to mush variations in crustal magma properties along the ridge crest at the southern East Pacific Rise. Nature 394:874–878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn, RA, Webb SC, Hildebrand JA, Cornuelle BD (1997) Three-dimensional tomographic velocity structure of upper crust, CoAxial segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge: Implications for on-axis evolution and hydrothermal circulation. J Geophys Res 102: doi: 10.1029/97JB00592. issn: 0148-0227

  • Tan H-D, Jiang M, Lin C-H, Peng M, Wu L-S, Ma H, Wang Z-K, Li J-J, Tan J-Y (2013) Characteristics of electrical structure of Tengchong volcano-tectonic belt in Yunnan Province. Geol China 40:800–806

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolstoy M, Waldhauser F, Bohnenstiehl DR, Weekly RT, Kim W-Y (2008) Seismic identification of along-axis hydrothermal flow on the East Pacific Rise. Nature 451:181–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong CH, Pye JW, Barton PJ, White RS, Sinha MC, Singh SC, Hobbs RW, Bazin S, Harding AJ, Kent GM, Orcutt JA (2002) Asymmetric melt sills and upper-crustal construction beneath overlapping ridge segments: implications for the development of melt sills and ridge crests. Geology 30:83–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong CH, Barton PJ, White RS, Sinha MC, Singh SC, Pye JW, Hobbs RW, Bazin S, Harding AJ, Kent GM, Orcutt JA (2003) Influence of enhanced melt supply on upper crustal structure at a mid-ocean ridge discontinuity: a three-dimensional study of the 9 degrees N East Pacific Rise. J Geophys Res 108(B10):2464. doi:10.1029/2002JB002163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong CH, White RS, Warner MR, ARAD Working Group (2004) Effects of tectonism and magmatism on crack structure in oceanic crust: a seismic anisotropy study. Geology 32:25–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Yin A, Harrison T, Grove M, Zhang Y, Xie G (2001) A tectonic model for Cenozoic igneous activities in the eastern Indo-Asian collision zone. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 188:123–133. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(01)00315-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang CY, Lou H, Wu JP, Bai ZM, Huangfu G, Qin JZ (2002) Seismological study on the crustal structure of Tengchong volcanic-geothermal area. Acta Seismol Sin 15:247–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Peng Z, Zhu R, He H, Yang L (2006) Petrogenesis and magma residence time of lavas from Tengchong volcanic field (China): evidence from U series disequilibria and 40Ar/39Ar dating. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 7:Q01002. doi:10.1029/2005GC001023

  • Wang Y, Zhang X, Jiang C, Wei H, Wan J (2007) Tectonic controls on the late Miocene-Holocene volcanic eruptions of the Tengchong volcanic field along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. J Asian Earth Sci 30:375–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong S, Zheng H, Yin Z (1993) Two-dimensional crustal structure and its tectonic implications under the Lijiang-Panzhihua-Zhehai region (in Chinese). Acta Geophys. Sin 36:434–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y, Yang X, Li Z, Liu J (2012) Seismic structure of the Tengchong volcanic area southwest China from local earthquake tomography. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 239–240:83–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin A (2000) Mode of Cenozoic east-west extension in Tibet suggesting a common origin of rifts in Asia during the Indo-Asian collision. J Geophys Res 105:21745–21759. doi:10.1029/2000JB900168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu H, Xu J, Lin C, Shi L, Chen X (2012) Magmatic processes inferred from chemical composition, texture and crystal size distribution of the Heikongshan lavas in the Tengchong volcanic field, SW China. J Asian Earth Sci 58:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao CP, Ran H, Chen KH (2006) Present-day magma chambers in Tengchong volcano area inferred from relative geothermal gradient. Acta Petrol Sin 22:1517–1528

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu B, Mao C, Lugmair G, Macdougall J (1983) Isotopic and geochemical evidence for the origin of Plio-Pleistocene volcanic rocks near the Indo-Eurasian collisional margin at Tengchong, China. Earth Planet Sci Lett 65:263–275. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(83)90165-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zou H, Fan Q, Schmitt AK, Sui J (2010) U-Th dating of zircons from Holocene potassic andesites (Maanshan volcano, Tengchong, SE Tibetan Plateau) by depth profiling: time scales and nature of magma storage. Lithos 118:202–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank S. Li, C. Qian, X. Tang and L. Fan for their scientific contributions to the study, and L. Cobden for help with the Generic Mapping Tools. Funding from SinoProbe-05-07 is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Vincent C. H. Tong

    Present address: Department of Earth Sciences and UCL Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geophysics and Information Technology, China University of Geoscience, 29 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100083, China

    Rongyi Qian

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK

    Vincent C. H. Tong

Authors
  1. Rongyi Qian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vincent C. H. Tong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincent C. H. Tong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Qian, R., Tong, V.C.H. Crustal Structure of the Tengchong Intra-plate Volcanic Area. Surv Geophys 36, 683–691 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-015-9329-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-015-9329-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation