Tomographic evidence for localized lithospheric shear along the altyn tagh fault
Seismic tomography across the Altyn Tagh fault, at the north edge of the Tibetan Plateau, reveals a low P-wave velocity anomaly below the fault down to 140 kilometers. This anomaly probably reflects strike-slip shear in the lithosphere. Slip-partitioning may also induce a wedge of crust from the Tarim Basin to plunge into the mantle.
G. Wittlinger, G. Herquel, F. Masson, Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universite Louis Pasteur, 5 rue R. Descartes 67084 Strasbourg, France. P. Tapponnier, Laboratoire de Tectoniq.
G
Wittlinger
P
Tapponnier
G
Poupinet
J
Mei
S
Danian
G
Herquel
F
Masson