HR: 0800h
AN: T41A-1270 [Abstracts]
TI: A Seismological and Geodynamic Study of the Seismic Zones Surrounding the Ordos Plateau,
China
AU: Wang, L
EM: lswang@nju.edu.cn
AF: Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093
China
AU: * Sandvol, E
EM: sandvole@missouri.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, 101 Geology Building
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
United States
AU: Liu, M
EM: lium@missouri.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, 101 Geology Building
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
United States
AU: Chen, J
EM: johnyc@pku.edu.cn
AF: Department of Geophysics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871
China
AU: Mi, N
EM: lswang@nju.edu.cn
AF: Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093
China
AU: Li, H
EM: lswang@nju.edu.cn
AF: Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093
China
AU: Yu, D
EM: yudy@nju.edu.cn
AF: Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093
China
AU: Weiwei, T
EM: lswang@nju.edu.cn
AF: Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093
China
AU: Zhou, S
EM: zsy@pku.edu.cn
AF: Department of Geophysics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871
China
AB:
The fault zones surrounding the Ordos Plateau in China are marked by intense seismicity; the lithospheric structure of these
active fault zones are also critical for understanding diffuse plate boundary deformation. On the west side of the plateau is
the Liupan Shan thrust belt, which is structurally connected to the Altyn Tagh-Qilian-Haiyuan fault system bounding the
northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and marks the change from shortening and uplift in the Tibetan Plateau to widespread
extension in the North China block. The Weihe graben on the south side of the Ordos Plateau is connected to the Qinling-Dabie
strike-slip fault that plays an important role in accommodating the eastward escape of the South China block driven by the
Indo-Asian collision.
During summer 2004, a team from Nanjing University and the University of Missouri deployed 15 stations across the Liupan Shan
fold and thrust belt. We have calculated receiver functions that are consistent with a rapid increase in the crustal
thickness 20 km to the east of the Lupen Shan mountains. This suggests that the Ordos crust is substantially thicker than
the surrounding crust, implying that the topography in the plateau may be overcompensated unless the lower crust consists
primarily of dense mafic material. These results have important implications for the interaction of the stable Ordos block
and the surrounding lithosphere. We have also observed preliminary evidence of changes in the seismic anisotropy across the
Lupen Shan mountains.
With additional instruments from Beijing University, we are currently in the process of installing another 30 seismometers
across the Weihe graben that should further constrain the seismic structure in this important region.
DE: 7205 Continental crust (1219)
DE: 7208 Mantle (1212, 1213, 8124)
DE: 7218 Lithosphere (1236)
DE: 7230 Seismicity and tectonics (1207, 1217, 1240, 1242)
SC: Tectonophysics [T]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005