Abstract

Thinning of the crust of more than 10 km is a major feature of typical continental rifts such as the East African (EAR) and Rio Grande (RGR) rifts. However, numerous previous studies across the Baikal rift zone (BRZ), which has similar surface expressions and tectonic history, and more active seismicity relative to EAR and RGR, have resulted in contradicting amount of thinning, ranging from almost none to more than 10 km. We measure crustal thickness by stacking teleseismic receiver functions beneath 51 sites on the southern and central parts of the BRZ and adjacent Siberian Platform and Sayan-Baikal-Mongolian Foldbelt. Our measurements reveal that beneath the southern part of the Platform, the average crustal thickness is about 38 km, which is about 7 km thinner than that beneath the Foldbelt and the un-rifted part of the BRZ. The thinnest crust, 35 km, is found beneath the central part of the rift, and represents a significant thinning of about 10 km relative to the un-rifted parts of the BRZ.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

7200 Seismology; 7203 Seismology: Body wave propagation; 7205 Seismology: Continental crust (1242); Seismology; Tectonics; Baikal rift zones (BRZ); Crustal thinning; East African (EAR); Rio Grande (RGR); Teleseismic receivers; Geophysics; crustal structure; crustal thinning; rift zone; seismic wave; wave propagation; Baikal Rift Zone; Eastern Hemisphere; Eurasia; Russian FederationWorld

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0094-8276

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2004 American Geophysical Union (AGU), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Oct 2004

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