Geophysical-Geochemical Modeling of Deep Crustal Compositions: Examples
of Continental Crust in Typical Tectonic Settings and North China Craton
Abstract
The chemical composition of the deep continental crust is key to
understanding the formation and evolution of the continental crust.
However, constraining the chemical composition of deep continental crust
is limited by indirect accessibility. Here we present a modeling method
to constrain deep crustal chemical structures from observed crustal
seismic structures. We first compile a set of published composition
models for the continental crust. Phase equilibria and compressional
wave speeds (VP) are calculated for each composition model at a range of
pressure and temperature (278–2223 MPa, 50–1200°C). Functional
relationships are obtained between calculated wave speeds and crustal
compositions at pressure and temperature conditions within the
alpha(α)-quartz stability field. These relationships can invert observed
seismic wave speeds of the deep crust to chemical compositions in
regions with given geotherms (MATLAB code is provided). We apply these
relationships to wave speed constraints of typical tectonic settings of
the global continental crust and the North China Craton. Our method
predicts that the lower crust in regions with thin- (e.g., rifted
margins, rifts, extensional settings, and forearcs) or thick-crust
(e.g., contractional orogens) is more mafic than previously estimated.
The difference is largest in extensional settings (52.47 ± 1.18 and
51.11 ± 1.61 vs. 59.37 wt. % SiO2). The obtained 2-D chemical structure
of the North China Craton further shows features consistent with the
regional tectonic evolution history and xenoliths. The obtained chemical
structure can serve as a reference model from which chemical features in
the deep crust can be recognized.