Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

“This study investigates crustal thickness and properties within the north central Africa region. Results obtained from 15 seismic stations belonging to the Libyan Center for Remote Sensing and Space Science are reported, in addition to 3 seismic stations publically available, using receiver functions, the first P-to-S receiver function investigation of the 410 km and 660 km depth discontinuities bounding the mantle transition zone (MTZ), and P wave tomography methods. The results from the first method show crustal thicknesses ranging from 24 km to 36 km (with uncertainties ranging between ±0.10 km and ±0.90 km). More specifically, crustal thickness ranges from 32 km to 36 km in the southern portion of the Libyan territory then becomes thinner, between 24 km and 30 km, in the coastal areas of Libya and thinnest, between 24 km and 28 km, in the Sirt Basin.

The observed high Vp∕Vs value of 1.91 at one station located at the AS Sawda Volcanic Province in central Libya indicates the presence of either partial melt or an abnormally warm area. The results from the second method show thinning of the MTZ was observed beneath the Miocene – Holocene volcanic provinces in central Libya, and the thickness of the MTZ increases from 249 km to 270 km. The third methods results show that Low-velocity anomalies probably representing deep and hot materials are visible extending to depths of ~350-350 km under the volcanic provinces in North Central Africa.

These results indicate that the source materials beneath the volcanic provinces are deeper than previously believed and are mostly attributable to a mantle plume”--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Sherizadeh, Taghi
Aouad, Nassib

Committee Member(s)

Alagha, Lana Z.
Smith, Ryan G.
Imqam, Abdulmohsin

Department(s)

Mining Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Mining Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2020

Pagination

x, 108 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographic references (pages 92-107).

Geographic Coverage

Libya

Rights

© 2020 Awad Abdussalam Henish Lemnifi, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 11880

Electronic OCLC #

1313117367

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