Preliminary report on seismic-reflection studies of crustal structure in the western, central, and southern United States
Crustal Studies Technical Letter
14
In cooperation with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
By: J.C. Roller, O.P. Strozier, W. H. Jackson, and J. H. Healy
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Abstract
During 1963 the U.S. Geological Survey, with the assistance of United ElectroDynamics, Inc., recorded five separate reversed seismic profiles. In addition to these profiles, the U.S. Geological Survey participated in a seismic-calibration program for the DRIBBLE experiment at Tatum Dome, Mississippi, a 20,000-pound shot near Dexter, Missouri, and in a cooperative seismic experiment in the Lake Superior region. This work is a continuation of the program started in 1961; however, the emphasis has shifted from a detailed study of the earth's crust in the western United States to a study of crustal structure in various geologic environments including the Wyoming thrust belt, Colorado Plateau, Central Lowlands, the Gulf Coastal Plain, and the southern part of the Canadian Shield. The U.S. Geological Survey has now completed reversed seismic-refraction profiles in nine different geologic provinces. These data present a promising indication that it may be possible to predict the crustal structure in unexplored areas by considering the regional geologic and physiographic environment. The following Pn velocities have been determined: 8.2 km/sec in the Wyoming thrust belt, 7.9 km/sec in the Colorado Plateau, 8.1 km/sec in the Central Lowlands, and about 8.2 km/sec in the Gulf Coastal Plain. The data from the Lake Superior region have not yet been interpreted.
Suggested Citation
Roller, J., Strozier, O., Jackson, W.H., Healy, J.H., 1963, Preliminary report on seismic-reflection studies of crustal structure in the western, central, and southern United States: Crustal Studies Technical Letter 14, x, 55 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/70039537.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Unnumbered Series |
| Title | Preliminary report on seismic-reflection studies of crustal structure in the western, central, and southern United States |
| Series title | Crustal Studies Technical Letter |
| Series number | 14 |
| DOI | 10.3133/70039537 |
| Year Published | 1963 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Denver, CO |
| Contributing office(s) | Earthquake Science Center |
| Description | x, 55 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona;Idaho;Mississippi;Missouri;Utah |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |