Crustal structure of the Mid-Atlantic Margin from the MAGIC seismic array

Abstract:

The eastern United States continental margin has undergone two full supercontinental cycles over the last billion years. While the scars of the repeated episodes of rifting, subduction, and collision are evident in the surficial geology of the eastern United States, the deeper crust and mantle lithospheric structure of the region also was altered during this tectonism. In general, the bulk crustal structure of the eastern US has largely remained uncharacterized before the arrival of the EarthScope, other than through analysis of a handful of regional seismic arrays. We present results of receiver function stacking of seismic data recorded from the MAGIC EarthScope Flex Array, composed of 27 STS-2 broadband stations located in a linear array that spans roughly SE-NE from Richmond,VA to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The array traverses several physiographic provinces, including the Atlantic Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Appalachian Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau. Preliminary results suggest that the crustal thickness varies significantly over short lateral distances in Virginia, and that the crust within the Appalachian Valley and Ridge contains significant layering. Characterization of the crustal thickness can help address long-standing questions regarding the relative contribution of isostasy in sustaining Appalachian topography.