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.
Wittlinger
G
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.
Tapponnier
P
Poupinet
G
Mei
J
Danian
S
Herquel
G
Masson
F