S-wave velocities and anisotropy of typical rocks from Yunkai metamorphic complex and constraints on the composition of the crust beneath Southern China

- Calibration of Vp/Vs ratios and seismic anisotropy of crustal rocks for Southern China
- Bimodal distribution of felsic and gabbroic rocks within Southern China crust
- Tectonic process indicated by correlation between crustal thickness and Vp/Vs

In order to constrain the interpretation of seismic data from receiver functions and deep profiles of the crust beneath southern China (Cathaysia and Yangtze blocks), we have measured S-wave velocities (Vs) and splitting as a function of hydrostatic confining pressure up to 650 MPa for 22 representative samples (i.e., granite, diorite, felsic gneiss and mylonite, amphibolite, schist, and marble) from the Yunkai metamorphic complex (China) that represent the crystalline basement beneath the region. The experimental data were combined with electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis of rock-forming minerals to constrain variations of Vp/Vs ratios and understand the origin of seismic anisotropy. The crusts beneath the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks have different average thicknesses (H = 35.4 ± 6.3 km and 29.8 ± 1.8 km, respectively) but display almost the same Vp/Vs values (1.73 ± 0.08 and 1.74 ± 0.04, respectively). These ratios correspond to an average of bimodally distributed granitic and gabbroic lithologies which are dominant, respectively, in the upper and lower crusts, instead a homogeneous andesitic composition of the overall crust. Positive and negative correlations between H and Vp/Vs occur in west and east parts of southern China, respectively. The negative correlation indicates basaltic underplating from a partially molten mantle wedge above the subducting Pacific plate into the southern China crust, whereas the positive correlation implies that much larger thinning strain has taken place in the high temperature mafic lower crust (high temperature) than in the low temperature felsic upper crust during Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic extension.