Two Unconnected Low-Velocity Zones in the Eastern Boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan Block Revealed with High-Resolution Ambient Noise Tomography

The Anninghe-Zemuhe-Xiaojiang fault zone (AZXFZ) is an important boundary fault zone on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, with frequent strong earthquakes. Previous studies have imaged widespread low-velocity zones in this area. However, there are still many disputes on the connectivity and genesis of the low-velocity zones. In this study, we obtain the Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves at 4-25-s periods using observations from 378 broadband stations located near the AZXFZ. The new 3D S-wave velocity model has a lateral resolution of about 30 km in 0-35-km depth and is obtained by direct inversion of surface wave dispersion data. The new results clearly image two low-velocity zones and a high-velocity zone in the middle crust of the study region. The low-velocity zone on the western side of the Lijiang-Xiaojinhe fault is related to the eastward flow of crustal material and the movement of the left lateral strike-slip faults in the Tibetan Plateau, while the low-velocity anomaly distributed along the Daliangshan fault and Xiaojiang fault is the superimposition effect of shear heating of the faults and upwelling of mantle material. The uplift of Gongga Shan is a combination of the continuous accumulation of crustal material in the middle and lower crust of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau as well as the bending and compression of the Sichuan-Yunnan Block and the Xianshuihe-Anninghe fault zone.

Automated summary

This study presents a 3D S-wave velocity model around three major fault zones based on Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves obtained from 378 broadband stations. The results clearly reveal two low-velocity zones and one high-velocity zone. The low-velocity zone on the western side is related to the eastward flow of crustal material and left lateral strike-slip faults, while the low-velocity anomaly along the Daliangshan fault and Xiaojiang fault is caused by the shear heating of the faults and upwelling of mantle material. This research is important for understanding the uplift of Gongga Shan and the accumulation of crustal material in the study region.