Density structure of the cratonic mantle in southern Africa: 1. Implications for dynamic topography

TY - JOUR

T1 - Density structure of the cratonic mantle in southern Africa

T2 - 1. Implications for dynamic topography

AU - Artemieva, Irina

AU - Vinnik, Lev P.

PY - 2016/11/1

Y1 - 2016/11/1

N2 - The origin of high topography in southern Africa is enigmatic. By comparing topography in different cratons, we demonstrate that in southern Africa both the Archean and Proterozoic blocks have surface elevation 500-700. m higher than in any other craton worldwide, except for the Tanzanian Craton. An unusually high topography may be caused by a low density (high depletion) of the cratonic lithospheric mantle and/or by the dynamic support of the mantle with origin below the depth of isostatic compensation (assumed here to be at the lithosphere base). We use free-board constraints to examine the relative contributions of the both factors to surface topography in the cratons of southern Africa. Our analysis takes advantage of the SASE seismic experiment which provided high resolution regional models of the crustal thickness.We calculate the model of density structure of the lithospheric mantle in southern Africa and show that it has an overall agreement with xenolith-based data for lithospheric terranes of different ages. Density of lithospheric mantle has significant short-wavelength variations in all tectonic blocks of southern Africa and has typical SPT values of ca. 3.37-3.41g/cm3 in the Cape Fold and Namaqua-Natal fold belts, ca. 3.34-3.35g/cm3 in the Proterozoic Okwa block and the Bushveld Intrusion Complex, ca. 3.34-3.37g/cm3 in the Limpopo Belt, and ca. 3.32-3.33g/cm3 in the Kaapvaal and southern Zimbabwe cratons.The results indicate that 0.5-1.0. km of surface topography, with the most likely value of ca. 0.5. km, cannot be explained by the lithosphere structure within the petrologically permitted range of mantle densities and requires the dynamic (or static) contribution from the sublithospheric mantle. Given a low amplitude of regional free air gravity anomalies (ca + 20. mGal on average), we propose that mantle residual (dynamic) topography may be associated with the low-density region below the depth of isostatic compensation. A possible candidate is the low velocity layer between the lithospheric base and the mantle transition zone, where a temperature anomaly of 100-200. °C in a ca. 100-150. km thick layer may explain the observed reduction in Vs velocity and may produce ca. 0.5-1.0. km to the regional topographic uplift.

AB - The origin of high topography in southern Africa is enigmatic. By comparing topography in different cratons, we demonstrate that in southern Africa both the Archean and Proterozoic blocks have surface elevation 500-700. m higher than in any other craton worldwide, except for the Tanzanian Craton. An unusually high topography may be caused by a low density (high depletion) of the cratonic lithospheric mantle and/or by the dynamic support of the mantle with origin below the depth of isostatic compensation (assumed here to be at the lithosphere base). We use free-board constraints to examine the relative contributions of the both factors to surface topography in the cratons of southern Africa. Our analysis takes advantage of the SASE seismic experiment which provided high resolution regional models of the crustal thickness.We calculate the model of density structure of the lithospheric mantle in southern Africa and show that it has an overall agreement with xenolith-based data for lithospheric terranes of different ages. Density of lithospheric mantle has significant short-wavelength variations in all tectonic blocks of southern Africa and has typical SPT values of ca. 3.37-3.41g/cm3 in the Cape Fold and Namaqua-Natal fold belts, ca. 3.34-3.35g/cm3 in the Proterozoic Okwa block and the Bushveld Intrusion Complex, ca. 3.34-3.37g/cm3 in the Limpopo Belt, and ca. 3.32-3.33g/cm3 in the Kaapvaal and southern Zimbabwe cratons.The results indicate that 0.5-1.0. km of surface topography, with the most likely value of ca. 0.5. km, cannot be explained by the lithosphere structure within the petrologically permitted range of mantle densities and requires the dynamic (or static) contribution from the sublithospheric mantle. Given a low amplitude of regional free air gravity anomalies (ca + 20. mGal on average), we propose that mantle residual (dynamic) topography may be associated with the low-density region below the depth of isostatic compensation. A possible candidate is the low velocity layer between the lithospheric base and the mantle transition zone, where a temperature anomaly of 100-200. °C in a ca. 100-150. km thick layer may explain the observed reduction in Vs velocity and may produce ca. 0.5-1.0. km to the regional topographic uplift.

KW - Cratonic lithosphere

KW - Dynamic topography

KW - Kaapvaal and Zimbabwe cratons

KW - Mantle density

KW - Upper mantle temperature

U2 - 10.1016/j.gr.2016.03.002

DO - 10.1016/j.gr.2016.03.002

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84961279525

SN - 1342-937X

VL - 39

SP - 204

EP - 216

JO - Gondwana Research

JF - Gondwana Research

ER -