Velocities of southern Basin and Range xenoliths: Insights on the nature of lower crustal reflectivity and composition
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Abstract
To reconcile differences between the assessments of crustal composition in the southern Basin and Range province on the basis of seismic refraction and reflection data and lower-crustal xenoliths, we measured velocities of xenoliths from the Cima volcanic field in southern California. Lower-crustal samples studied included gabbro, microgabbro, and pyroxenite. We find that the mafic xenolith velocities are compatible with regional in situ measurements from seismic refraction studies, provided that a mixture of gabbro and pyroxenite is present in the lower crust. Supporting this model are observations that many of the lower-crustal xenoliths from the Cima volcanic field are composites of these rock types, with igneous contacts. Vertical incidence synthetic seismograms show that a gabbroic lower crust with occasional pyroxenite layering can produce a reflective lower crust that is similar in texture to that shown by seismic reflection data recorded nearby.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Velocities of southern Basin and Range xenoliths: Insights on the nature of lower crustal reflectivity and composition |
| Series title | Geology |
| DOI | 10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0129:VOSBAR>2.3.CO;2 |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 1995 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Geological Society of America |
| Contributing office(s) | Coastal and Marine Geology Program |
| Description | 4 p. |
| First page | 129 |
| Last page | 132 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |