Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Implications for continental structure and evolution from seismic anisotropy

Nature volume 335, pages 34–39 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

Evidence is presented for azimuthal anisotropy in the subcontinental upper mantle from nine stations in North America and Europe. For the stations in the Canadian Shield, this is due to 2.5–2.7 Gyr-old 'fossil' anisotropy localized in the top 200km of the upper mantle and produced by the preferred orientation of mantle minerals. This mantle fabric, apparently caused by a series of large-scale deformational episodes at the end of the Archean, has moved coherently with the surface ever since.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hess, H. H. Nature 203, 629–631 (1964).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Raitt, R. W., Shor, G. G., Francis, T. J. G. & Morris, G. B. J. geophys. Res. 74, 3095–3109 (1969).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Shearer, P. M. & Orcutt, J. A. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 87, 967–1003 (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Forsyth, D. W. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 43, 103–162 (1975).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Tanimoto, T. & Anderson, D. L. J. geophys. Res. 90, 1842–1858 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bamford, D. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 49, 29–48 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bamford, D., Jentsch, M. & Prodehl, C. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 57, 397–429 (1979).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vetter, U. & Minster, J-B. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 71, 1511–1530 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Crampin, S. & Booth, D. C. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 83, 75–92 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Booth, D. C., Crampin, S., Evans, R. & Roberts, G. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 83, 61–73 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Crampin, S., Peacock, S. & Chen, T.-C. Trans. Am. geophys. Un. 67, 1117 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Dziewonski, A. M. & Anderson, D. L. J. geophys. Res. 88, 3295–3314 (1983).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Keith, C. M. & Crampin, S. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 49, 225–243 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bowman, J. R. & Ando, M. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 88, 25–41 (1987).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ando, M. & Ishikawa, Y. J. phys. Earth 30, 191–199 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ando, M., Ishikawa, Y. & Yamazaki, F. J. geophys. Res. 88, 5850–5864 (1983).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ando, M. J. phys. Earth 32, 179–196 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Fukao, Y. Nature 309, 695–698 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Vinnik, L. P., Kosarev, G. L. & Makeyeva, L. I. Dokl Akad. Nauk USSR 278, 1335–1339 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kind, R., Kosarev, G. L., Makeyeva, L. I. & Vinnik, L. P. Nature 318, 358–361 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kaneshima, S., Ando, M. & Kimura, S. Nature submitted.

  22. Owens, T. J., Taylor, S. R. & Zandt, G. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 77, 631–662 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Grand, S. & Helmberger, D. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 76, 399–438 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Verma, R. K. J. geophys. Res. 65, 757–766 (1960).

    CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kumazawa, M. & Anderson, O. L. J. geophys. Res. 74, 5961–5972 (1969).

    CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Christensen, N. I. & Lundquist, S. M. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 93, 279–288 (1982).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Nicolas, A. & Christensen, N. I. in Composition, Structure and Dynamics of the Lithosphere-Asthenosphere System Vol. 16 (eds Fuchs, K. & Froidevaux, C.) (Am. Geophys. Un., Washington D.C., 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Adams, J. Earth Physics Open File 85–31 (1986).

  29. Zoback, M. L. & Zoback, M. D. in Geophysical Framework of the Continental United States (eds Pakiser, L. & Mooney, W.) (Geol. Soc. Am., Boulder, Colorado) (in the press).

  30. Brune, J. & Dorman, J. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 53, 167–210 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Woodhouse, J. H. & Dziewonski, A. M. J. geophys. Res. 89, 5953–5986 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Wickens, A. J. & Buchbinder, G. G. R. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 70, 809–822 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Grand, S. P. J. geophys. Res. 92, 14065–14090 (1987).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Henderson, J. B. Geol. Surv. Can. 414, 63–68 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Dewitt, E., Redden, J. A., Wilson, A. B. & Buscher, D. US Geol. Sur. Bull. 1580, 135 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Jones, D. L., Silberling, N. J., Gilbert, W. & Coney, P. J. geophys. Res. 87, 3709–3717 (1982).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Vinnik, L. P., Makeyeva, L. I., Kosarev, G. L. & Kind, R. Proc. IUGG Gen. Assem. 19th IASPEI Symp., 1:330 (1987).

  38. Banda, E., Suriñach, E., Aparicio, A., Sierra, J. & Ruiz de la Parte, E. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 67, 779–789 (1981).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Gaál, G., Mikkola, A. & Söderholm, B. Precambr. Res. 6, 199–215 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Goetze, C. & Kohlstedt, D. L. J. geophys. Res. 78, 5961–5971 (1973).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Sclater, J. G., Jaupart, C. & Galson, D. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 18, 269–311 (1980).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Jordan, T. H. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 301, 359–373 (1981).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Nicolas, A. & Poirier, J. P. Crystalline Plasticity and Solid State Flow in Metamorphic Rocks (Wiley, New York, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Franklin, J. M. & Thorpe, R. J. in H. S. Robinson Memorial Volume (eds Hutchinson, R. W., Spence, C. D. & Franklin, J. M.) (Geol. Ass. Can. special paper 25, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Beakhouse, G. P. in Evolution of Archean Supracrustal Sequences (eds Ayres, L. D.,Thurston, P. C., Card, K. D. & Weber, W.) 169–178 (Geol. Ass. Can. special paper 28, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Fyson, W. K. Can. J. Earth Sci. 19, 878–893 (1982).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. W. Winston Chan: Teledyne Geotech Alexandria Laboratories, 314 Montgomery Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5241 Broad Branch Road, NW, Washington DC, 20015, USA

    Paul G. Silver & W. Winston Chan

Authors
  1. Paul G. Silver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Winston Chan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silver, P., Chan, W. Implications for continental structure and evolution from seismic anisotropy. Nature 335, 34–39 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/335034a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/335034a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing