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Lithospheric characterization of the Central Pyrenees based on new magnetotelluric data
Author(s) -
Campanyà Joan,
Ledo Juanjo,
Queralt Pilar,
Marcuello Alex,
Liesa Montserrat,
Muñoz Josep A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2011.01001.x
Subject(s) - geology , magnetotellurics , asthenosphere , subduction , lithosphere , crust , orogeny , partial melting , geophysics , seismology , electrical resistivity and conductivity , tectonics , electrical engineering , engineering
Terra Nova, 23, 213–219, 2011 Abstract The Pyrenees resulted from the continent–continent collision between the Iberian and European plates during the Alpine orogeny. Although the subduction of the Iberian lower crust is currently accepted, the physical processes that occur at the boundary between the plates are still a topic of open discussion today, as illustrated by the debate about the presence or absence of partial melting in the Iberian Subducted Lower Crust. Long Period Magnetotelluric data acquired for the first time in the Central Pyrenees constrain the low electrical resistivity structure in the Iberian Subducted Lower Crust better than previous studies, plotting their upper limit 9 km deeper. This new upper limit reinforces the hypothesis of partial melting. Additionally, Long Period Magnetotelluric data constrain the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary at 90 and 130 km deep below the Iberian and European plates, respectively, and are compatible with electrical resistivity values between 10 and 18 ohm·m for the asthenosphere.