Crustal structure from San Francisco, California, to Eureka, Nevada, from seismic-refraction measurements

Crustal Studies Technical Letter 11
In cooperation with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
By:

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Abstract

Seismic-refraction measurements from chemical explosions near San Francisco, California, and Fallon and Eureka, Nevada, were made along a line extending nearly 700 km inland from San Francisco across the Coast Ranges, Great Valley, Sierra Nevada, and Basin and Range Province. The velocity of Pg in the Basin and Range Province was found to be 6.0 km/sec. Between Fallon and Eureka the velocity of Pn is 7.8 km/sec, and just east of the Sierra Nevada it is about 7.9 km/sec. Two prominent phases closely following the first arrival between 50 and 250 km from the source in the Basin and Range Province were interpreted as reflections from an intermediate layer and from the Mohorovicic discontinuity. The velocity of P in the possible intermediate layer, deduced from the reflected phases be cause the refracted wave expected from this layer is nowhere a first arrival, seems to be 6.6 km/sec at the top of the layer and probably increases with depth.
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Unnumbered Series
Title Crustal structure from San Francisco, California, to Eureka, Nevada, from seismic-refraction measurements
Series title Crustal Studies Technical Letter
Series number 11
DOI 10.3133/70039488
Year Published 1963
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Earthquake Science Center
Description 55 p.; ill.; map
First page 1
Last page 55
Country United States
State California;Nevada
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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