Description: The southern part of the Baltic Shield hosts a series of mafic dykes and sills of Mesoproterozoic ages, including a ca. 1.53–1.46 Ga sheet-like gabbro-dolerite sills and the Salmi plateau-basalts from the Lake Ladoga region. Based on chiefly geochemical data, the region is conventionally interpreted as an intracratonic Ladoga rift (graben). We question the validity of this geodynamic interpretation by analyzing regional geophysical data (crustal structure, heat flow, Bouguer gravity anomalies, magnetic anomalies, and mantle Vs velocities). We provide a complete list of tectonic, magmatic, and geophysical characteristics typical of continental rifts in general and demonstrate that, except for magmatic and, perhaps, some gravity signature, the Lake Ladoga region lacks any other rift features. We also compare the geophysical data from the Lake Ladoga region with similar in age Midcontinent and Valday rifts, and provide alternative explanations for Mesoproterozoic geodynamic evolution of the southern Baltic Shield. We propose that Mesoproterozoic mafic intrusions in southern Fennoscandia may be associated with a complex deformation pattern during reconfiguration of (a part of) Nuna (Columbia) supercontinent, which led to magma intrusions as a series of mafic dykes along lithosphere weakness zones and ponding of small magma pockets within the cratonic lithosphere. Consequent magma cooling and its partial transition to eclogite facies could have led to the formation of a series of basement depressions, similar to intracratonic basins of North America, while spatially heterogeneous thermo-chemical subsidence, with phase transitions locally speeded by the presence of (subduction-related) fluids, could have produced a series of faults bounding graben-like structures.

Description: The Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ) is the transition zone from the Precambrian East European Craton in the north and east to the younger Phanerozoic mobile belts to the south and west. It is the most prominent lithospheric tectonic feature of Europe. The term Trans-European Suture Zone was only adapted around year 2000 during the Pan-European EUROPROBE program of the European Science Foundation. Until then, parts of the zone were termed Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone, Sorgenfrei-Tornquist Zone, Trans-European Fault, and Tornquist Fan.

Description: Antarctica has traditionally been considered continental inside the coastline of ice and bedrock since Press and Dewart (1959). Sixty years later, we reconsider the conventional extent of this sixth continent. Geochemical observations show that subduction was active along the whole western coast of West Antarctica until the mid-Cretaceous after which it gradually ceased towards the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. We propose that the entire West Antarctica formed as a back-arc basin system flanked by a volcanic arc, similar to e.g. the Japan Sea, instead of a continental rift system as conventionally interpreted. Globally, the fundamental difference between oceanic and continental lithosphere is reflected in hypsometry, largely controlled by lithosphere buoyancy. The equivalent hypsometry in West Antarctica (−580 ± 335 m on average, extending down to −1.6 km) is much deeper than in any continent, but corresponds to back-arc basins and oceans proper. This first order observation questions the conventional interpretation of West Antarctica as continental, since even continental shelves do not extend deeper than −200 m in equivalent hypsometry. We present a suite of geophysical observations that supports our geodynamic interpretation: a linear belt of seismicity sub-parallel to the volcanic arc along the Pacific margin of West Antarctica; a pattern of free air gravity anomalies typical of subduction systems; and extremely thin crystalline crust typical of back-arc basins. We calculate residual mantle gravity anomalies and demonstrate that they require the presence of (1) a thick sedimentary sequence of up to ca. 50% of the total crustal thickness or (2) extremely low density mantle below the deep basins of West Antarctica and, possibly, the Wilkes Basin in East Antarctica. Case (2) requires the presence of anomalously hot mantle below the entire West Antarctica with a size much larger than around continental rifts. We propose, by analogy with back-arc basins in the Western Pacific, the existence of rotated back-arc basins caused by differential slab roll-back during subduction of the Phoenix plate under the West Antarctica margin. Our finding reduces the continental lithosphere in Antarctica to 2/3 of its traditional area. It has significant implications for global models of lithosphere-mantle dynamics and models of the ice sheet evolution.

Description: Highlights • The Radially averaged power spectrum method is applied to calculate average magnetic susceptibility in Iran. • The results demonstrate that known occurrences of Magmatic-Ophiolite Arcs (MOA) correlate with high average susceptibility areas. • We interpret two parallel, hitherto unknown, MOAs in eastern Iran which developed in a steeply dipping (〉60° dip) subduction zone. • Neo-Tethys subduction angle was shallow (〈20° dip) of in NW Iran and steep (〉60° dip) in SE Iran which indicates slab tearing. • We define a new outline of the economically important Tabas sedimentary basin. Abstract The Iranian plateau is one of the most complex geodynamic settings within the Alpine-Himalayan belt. The Paleo-Tethys and Neo-Tethys ocean subduction is responsible for the formation of several magmatic arcs and sedimentary basins within the plateau. These zones mostly are separated by thrust faults related to paleo-suture zones, which are highlighted by ophiolites. Sediment cover and overprint of a different magmatic phase from late Triassic to the Quaternary impede identification of some magmatic arcs and ophiolite belts. We track the known magmatic arcs, such as the Urmia-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc (UDMA), and unknown, sediment covered magmatic arcs by aeromagnetic data. We present a new map of average susceptibility calculated by the radially averaged power spectrum method. High average susceptibility values indicate the presence of a number of lineaments that correlate with known occurrences of Magmatic-Ophiolite Arcs (MOA), and low average susceptibility coincides with known sedimentary basins like Zagros, Makran, Kopeh-Dagh, and Tabas. In analogy to Zagros, low average susceptibility values indicate sedimentary basins to the south of the Darouneh fault and in the northern part of the Lut, Tabas and Yazd blocks. We interpret the Tabas basin as a pull-apart or back-arc basin. We identify hitherto unknown parallel MOAs in eastern Iran and the SE part of UDMA which both indicate steeply dipping (〉60° dip) paleo-subduction zones. In contrast, we interpret shallow subduction (〈20° dip) of Neo-Tethys in the NW part of UDMA as well as in the Sabzevar-Kavir MOA.

Description: All models of the magmatic and plate tectonic processes that create continental crust predict the presence of a mafic lower crust. Earlier proposed crustal doubling in Tibet and the Himalayas by underthrusting of the Indian plate requires the presence of a mafic layer with high seismic P-wave velocity (Vp 〉 7.0 km/s) above the Moho. Our new seismic data demonstrates that some of the thickest crust on Earth in the middle Lhasa Terrane has exceptionally low velocity (Vp 〈 6.7 km/s) throughout the whole 80 km thick crust. Observed deep crustal earthquakes throughout the crustal column and thick lithosphere from seismic tomography imply low temperature crust. Therefore, the whole crust must consist of felsic rocks as any mafic layer would have high velocity unless the temperature of the crust were high. Our results form basis for alternative models for the formation of extremely thick juvenile crust with predominantly felsic composition in continental collision zones.

Description: Antarctica is losing ice mass by basal melting associated with processes in deep Earth and reflected in geothermal heat flux. The latter is poorly known and existing models based on disputed assumptions are controversial. Here I present a new geophysical model for lithospheric thickness and mantle heat flux for the entire Antarctica and demonstrate that significant parts of the East Antarctica craton have lost the cratonic lithosphere signature and the entire West Antarctica has a highly extended lithosphere, consistent with its origin as a system of back-arc basins. I conclude that the rate of Antarctica ice basal melting is significantly underestimated: (i) the area with high heat flux is double in size and (ii) the amplitude of the high heat flux anomalies is 20–30% higher than in previous results. Extremely high heat flux (〉100 mW/m2) in almost all of West Antarctica, continuing to the South Pole region, and beneath the Lake Vostok region in East Antarctica requires a thin (〈70 km) lithosphere and shallow mantle melting, caused by recent geodynamic activity. This high heat flux may promote sliding lubrication and result in dramatic reduction of ice mass, such as in Heinrich events. The results form basis for re-evaluation of the Antarctica ice-sheet dynamics models with consequences for global environmental changes.

Description: The Ordos Block in the western part of the North China Craton is enigmatic in having contrasting topographic structure in the northern and southern parts, while previous geophysical studies show little difference in crustal and upper mantle structure across the region. Here we present a new model of upper mantle structure in the Ordos Block region in order to test the importance of mantle heterogeneity for topographic differences. Our model is based on P- and S-wave seismic receiver functions calculated for data from 171 stations. It documents the presence of an uppermost mantle low-velocity zone between the Mid Lithospheric Discontinuity (MLD) and the Lehmann discontinuity. Clear converters at the 410 and 660 km discontinuities show constant Mantle Transition Zone (MTZ) thickness within the Ordos Block region, which indicates that no deep mantle thermal anomaly affects its present dynamics. However, the amplitude of the MTZ-converters is higher in the southern than the northern Ordos Block. In contrast, the conversions from MLD and the Lehmann discontinuity are strongest in Northern Ordos, which we interpret as a block with essentially preserved cratonic lithospheric mantle. We speculate that smaller amplitudes of the MLD and Lehmann converters in Southern than Northern Ordos may be related to either rheological weakening of cratonic lithosphere during the Mesozoic convergence between the North and South (Yangtze) China Cratons, or northeast extrusion of Tibetan lower crust and upper mantle in the Cenozoic caused by the India-Asia collision.

Description: The ScanArray international collaborative program acquired broadband seismological data at 192 locations in the Baltic Shield during the period between 2012 and 2017. The main objective of the program is to provide seismological constraints on the structure of the lithospheric crust and mantle as well as the sublithospheric upper mantle. The new information will be applied to studies of how the lithospheric and deep structure affect observed fast topographic change and geological-tectonic evolution of the region. The program also provides new information on local seismicity, focal mechanisms, and seismic noise. The recordings are generally of very high quality and are used for analysis by various seismological methods, including P- and S-wave receiver functions for the crust and upper mantle, surface wave and ambient noise inversion for seismic velocity, body-wave P- and S-wave tomography for upper mantle velocity structure using ray and finite frequency methods, and shear-wave splitting measurements for obtaining bulk anisotropy of the upper and lowermost mantle. Here, we provide a short overview of the data acquisition and initial analysis of the new data, together with an example of integrated seismological results obtained by the project group along a representative ∼1800-km-long profile across most of the tectonic provinces in the Baltic Shield between Denmark and the North Cape. The first models support a subdivision of the Paleoproterozoic Svecofennian province into three domains, where the highest topography of the Scandes mountain range in Norway along the Atlantic Coast has developed solely in the southern and northern domains, whereas the topography is more subdued in the central domain.

Description: The nature of the lower crust and the crust-mantle transition is fundamental to Earth sciences. Transformation of lower crustal rocks into eclogite facies is usually expected to result in lower crustal delamination. Here we provide compelling evidence for long-lasting presence of lower crustal eclogite below the seismic Moho. Our new wide-angle seismic data from the Paleoproterozoic Fennoscandian Shield identify a 6–8 km thick body with extremely high velocity (Vp ~ 8.5–8.6 km/s) and high density (〉3.4 g/cm 3 ) immediately beneath equally thinned high-velocity (Vp ~ 7.3–7.4 km/s) lowermost crust, which extends over 〉350 km distance. We relate this observed structure to partial (50–70%) transformation of part of the mafic lowermost crustal layer into eclogite facies during Paleoproterozoic orogeny without later delamination. Our findings challenge conventional models for the role of lower crustal eclogitization and delamination in lithosphere evolution and for the long-term stability of cratonic crust.