Journal
GEOLOGY
Volume 34, Issue 1, Pages 53-56Publisher
GEOLOGICAL SOC AMERICA, INC
DOI: 10.1130/G21951.1
Keywords
Cascadia subduction zone; magnetotelluric surveys; fluids; electrical conductivity; asthenosphere
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Long-period magnetotelluric data have been used to image the deep electrical structure of the Cascadia subduction zone in British Columbia, Canada. Zones of elevated electrical conductivity were found in both the forearc and backarc regions and are interpreted as a consequence of the fluid release from subducting slab. A shallow zone of high conductivity beneath Vancouver Island is likely due to fluids that are trapped above the subducting plate. East of this structure is a conductive (similar to 0.03 S/m) forearc mantle wedge that also exhibits low seismic velocities and may be serpentinized. A free fluid phase is required to account for this enhanced conductivity. Elevated conductivities are observed in the upper mantle throughout the backarc (similar to 0.01 S/m) and strongly support the hypothesis of a shallow, convecting asthenosphere. This enhanced upper mantle conductivity can be explained by either hydrogen ion diffusion in olivine minerals, or by a few percent partial melting (<4%).
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available