Open AccessCrust and upper mantle structure of the central Iberian Meseta (Spain)
Author(s) -
Banda E.,
Suriñach E.,
Aparicio A.,
Sierra J.,
De La Parte E. Ruiz
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1981.tb06954.x
Subject(s) - geology , crust , mantle (geology) , seismology , transition zone , upper crust , geophysics
Summary. Quarry blasts recorded along three lines on the central Iberian Meseta are used in an attempt to interpret the crustal structure. The results of the interpretation of the data, together with published surface wave and earthquake data, suggest a layered structure of the crust having the following features: the basement, in some areas covered by up to 4 km of sediments, has a P ‐velocity of 6.1 km s −1 ; a low‐velocity layer, between 7 and 11 km depth, seems to exist on the basis of both P and S interpretation of seismic data; a thick middle crust of 12 km has a P ‐velocity of 6.4 km s −1 and overlies a lower crust with a mean P ‐velocity of 6.9 km s −1 and a possible slight negative gradient; the mean v p / v s ratio for the crust is about 1.75; the Moho is reached at about 31 km depth and consists of a transition zone at least 1.5 km thick. The P ‐velocity of the upper mantle is close to 8.1 km s −1 and the S ‐velocity about 4.5 km s −1 , which gives a v p /v s ratio of 1.8 for the uppermost mantle. A tentative petrological interpretation of the velocities and composition of the layers is given.