loading page

Imprint on the upper mantle discontinuities of a subducted Paleo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere and the formation of the Emeishan large igneous province
  • Chuansong He
Chuansong He
Institute of Geophysics China Earthquake Adminstration, Institute of Geophysics China Earthquake Adminstration

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

Generally, it is suggested that mantle plume upwelling led to the formation of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP). However, this notion has been challenged by recent geological and seismic studies. In this study, 3 profiles of velocity perturbation crossing the ELIP were drawn following previous tomography, and common conversion point (CCP) stacking of receiver functions is carried out in the ELIP. The slab-like high-velocity structure with northeastward subduction is revealed, which may be associated with an oceanic lithosphere of the Paleo-Tethys (OLPT). CCP stacking of receiver functions shows that the OLPT generated an imprint on the 410 and 660 km discontinuities, respectively. Finally, it is suggested that the OLPT may induce large-scale return flow or upwelling of the mantle, which contributed to the formation of the ELIP.
Key words: CCP stacking of receiver function; upper mantle discontinuity; tomography; Oceanic lithosphere of the Paleo-Tethys; mantle upwelling; Emeishan large igneous province