Seismic and magnetic susceptibility anisotropy of middle-lower continental crust: Insights for their potential relationship from a study of intrusive rocks from the Serre Massif (Calabria, southern Italy)

•Direct laboratory measurements on exposed crustal section from the Serre Massif•Petrofabric variations at various crustal levels relate to petrophysical properties.•Biotite and amphibole CPOs control both seismic and magnetic anisotropies of granitoids.•Seismic and magnetic anisotropies are positively correlated in middle continental crust.•In lower crust the strongest contribution to AMS is from the ferromagnetic minerals.

We investigated the relationships between fabric, seismic and magnetic anisotropy on lithotypes representative of a continental crust exposed in the Serre Massif (Southern Italy). In particular, from five granitoids and one metagabbro, cubes were cut according to the fabric elements and seismic properties up to 400 MPa confining pressure were measured with a triaxial multi-anvil apparatus; we also calculated the elastic properties based on the mineral content and composition. In granitoids, measured average compressional wave velocity (Vp) of the fracture-free aggregate at 400 MPa is 6.2 km/s, whereas average shear wave velocity (Vs) is 3.6 km/s, with Poisson's ratio ranging from 0.240 to 0.257, related to the modal proportions of quartz. In metagabbro, average Vp and Vs at 400 MPa are 6.9 km/s and 3.7 km/s, respectively. Results showed that intrinsic velocity distribution, after microcracks closure, depends on progressive alignment of anisotropic minerals such as biotite, amphibole and pyroxene, with maxima velocities localized within the foliation plane. Mean magnetic susceptibility, Km, of the granitic rocks is < 300 × 10− 6 SI units, indicating that paramagnetic minerals such as biotite and amphibole control the intensity of magnetic anisotropy. Comparison of seismic and magnetic anisotropies highlighted the different role of constituting minerals over the petrophysical properties. Moreover, a positive correlation between seismic and magnetic anisotropy has been recognized, indicating that biotite and amphibole contribute to the petrophysical and textural anisotropy in the middle crust. Conversely, in metagabbro, the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) is controlled by magnetite and pyrrhotite although these form < 10% of the rock, which dominantly comprises paramagnetic minerals such as biotite and orthopyroxene. Unlike granitoids, in metagabbro the petrophysical properties are controlled by the paramagnetic minerals, while the magnetic anisotropy is controlled by the ferromagnetic minerals. Results yielded useful constraints for the comprehension of the petrophysical behavior of the continental crust.

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