Insights into the origin and deformation style of the continental Moho:
a case-study from the Western Alps (Italy)
Abstract
Several hypotheses about origin of the continental Moho are still
debated, suggesting its multi-genetic origin. Here, we present
quantitative estimation of the seismic properties and anisotropy of the
crust-mantle transition in the Western Alps where newly formed
(proto)-continental Moho is unusually shallow. We make use of
teleseismic P-to-S converted-waves recorded by 12 stations deployed on
top of the Ivrea body (IB), a volume of possibly serpentinised mantle
peridotite below exhumed (U)HP crustal rocks. The IB has been mapped by
gravity, magnetic, active and passive seismic surveys suggesting an
extremely shallow Moho. We demonstrate that the P-to-S converted waves
propagating through this region display coupled features: (a) they
record expected presence of strong seismic velocity contrast at shallow
depth due to the proto-continental Moho; (b) they are decomposed out of
the radial plane due to anisotropic properties of rocks involved. The
proto-continental Moho is recognized as a sharp increase in S-wave
velocity (~0.6 to 1.1 km/s) at shallow depth of 5 to 15
km. The presence of anisotropy within the IB and overlying crustal rocks
is testified by back-azimuthal dependence of the amplitude of P-to-S
phases. The strength of anisotropy is large (12 ± 2 %) pointing out the
presence of metamorphosed/hydrated material (e.g. serpentinite) below
the Moho. Anisotropic directions are consistent across Moho in both
crust and upper mantle, with a dip of 30° increasing eastward the main
profile. The similarity of the anisotropy parameters between crust and
upper mantle suggests they have been shaped by same deformation event.