Crust and upper mantle electrical structure of Haiyuan-Liupanshan Thrust Belt and its vicinity revealed by magnetotelluric(MT) detection

Abstract:

Under the auspices of SinoProbe Project, an array of 91 broad-band magnetotelluric(MT) sites across the southern segment of the Haiyuan-Liupanshan Thrust Belt (HLTB) was occupied to determine the crust and upper mantle structure of the transition zone between the Ordos Block (OB) and the Qilian Orogenic Belt (QOB).An electrical structure model of the crust and the upper mantle was finally obtained after data processing, qualitative analysis and 2D inversion of the observed data.The model revealed the deep structure of the profile.The upper crust of the HLTB is modelled as resistive while the other two tectonic units are modelled as less resistive.The massive high resistive blocks in the upper crust are seen in the HLTB.On the contrast,the lower crust is revealed as conduvtive on the whole.Middle to lower crustal high conductive layers (HCL) are seen both in the QOB and the OB.A strong lower crust conductor is revealed in the HLTB.Electrical structure of the upper mantle is revealed as resistive,respectively.The wedge structure is seen in the uppermost mantle under the Liupanshan Mountain.According to the electrical structure of the profile,the study region can be divided into three tectonic units:the QOB,the Liupan Transition Zone (LTZ,expansion of the HLTB) and the OB.The tectonic deformation for the QB manifest as thrust nappe in the upper crust and shortening strain in the lower crust.The east-dipping conductor in the west of QOB may represent the accumulated weak material in the form of middle crust flow and the HCL of the QB may be the migration channel.The fluctuation of HCL may indicate interior deformation of the OB.The LTZ is quite different from the adjacent tectonic units that fragment structure exists in the upper crust and deep thrust faults cut through the upper crust.The conductor located in the lower crust is interpreted as partial melt zone as a result of the vertical decompression process.Joint interpretation of the electrical structure and the results of deep seismic sounding profile implies that the upper mantle of the rigid OB has been underthrust beneath the QOB.