Upper Mantle deformation patterns beneath norteast India from Shear-wave splitting analysis

Abstract

<p>Telesesimic earthquake data recorded at eight seismograph stations across the northeast India are analysed for shear-wave splitting from core-refracted XKS phases (collectively PKS, SKS and SKKS). Shear-wave splitting parameters, derived from the analysis provide information about seismic anisotropy and deformation of the crust and upper mantle beneath each seismograph stations site. The results point towards the presence of complex and highly anisotropic crust and upper mantle beneath northeast India. Being surrounded by two seismically active plate boundaries, to the north by India-Eurasia collision plate boundary and to the east by Indo-Burman subduction plate boundary, the crust and upper mantle beneath the northeast India has been assumed to have complex deformation pattern. This present study provides an evidence for this assumption. According to station locations, we have one station BONG situated near the Main boundary thrust (at India-Eurasia collision zone), one station NAMS and eastern syntexis Himalaya, five station AZWL, SILS, DIPH and NKCR at Indo-Burman subduction plate boundary, one station SHLS and Shillong plateau bounded by Oldham Fault, Dauki Fault and Kopli fault, and one station AGAR at the boundary of Bengal basin. The direction of anisotropy is nearly E-W at BONG, NE-SW in the Indo-Burman subduction zone, nearly N-S on Shillong plateau and NW-SE at eastern syntexis of Himalaya. Source of anisotropy in the Himalaya collision boundary is result of lithospheric deformation due to finite strain induced by collision. In Shillong plateau and Indo-burman subduction boundary, source of anisotropy seems to be the asthenospheric flow-related strain which is also in harmony with the absolute plate motion (APM) of the Indian plate in a no net reference frame.</p>