Crustal and upper-mantle structure of the Eastern Caribbean and Northern Venezuela from passive Rayleigh wave tomography

• Published in: Tectonophysics 2021-04, Vol.804, p.228711, Article 228711
• Main Authors: Arnaiz-Rodríguez, Mariano S., Zhao, Yang, Sánchez-Gamboa, Ana K., Audemard, Franck
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ambient noise; Ambient noise tomography; Anomalies; Asthenosphere; Continuity (mathematics); Correlation analysis; Cross correlation; Dispersion curve analysis; Eastern Caribbean; Geological faults; Large igneous province; Markov chains; Monte Carlo inversion; Phase velocity; Plates; Plates (tectonics); Rayleigh waves; Seismograms; Shear; Statistical methods; Strike-slip faults; Subduction; Subduction (geology); Three dimensional models; Tomography; Upper mantle; Velocity; Velocity distribution; Velocity profiles; Volcanic activity; Volcanism
• ISSN: 0040-1951; 1879-3266
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tecto.2020.228711

We explore the shear-wave lithospheric velocity structure of the Eastern Caribbean and Northern Venezuela using ambient noise tomography with stations deployed around the study area. We construct cross-correlation functions from continuous seismic records, and measure phase velocities of fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves. These velocities are further projected onto 0.6°x0.6° phase velocity grids for each period between 5 s and 50 s. The pseudo-dispersion curve at each grid point is inverted for 1D shear velocity profiles by using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo scheme. The interpolated 3D velocity model shows that the mean shear velocity of the Eastern Caribbean lithospheric mantle is lower than the global average, which is in agreement with values reported in other large igneous provinces. We interpret that low velocities in the lithospheric keel are associated with an anomalous composition and/or an elevated thermal state; this gives the Caribbean plate a high buoyancy that determines the subduction polarities in the region. The results also indicate that: (a) the mantle beneath Northern Venezuela retains compositional anomalies related to extension processes of different ages; (b) the overriding of the Caribbean plate by the Great Antilles arc seems to be much slower than previously suggested; and (c) the localized volcanism in the center of the Lesser Antilles arc is related to asthenospheric flow through the tear induced on the subducted slab by major strike-slip faults. •We image the Eastern Caribbean lithosphere with ambient seismic tomography and produce a high resolution model of the region.•The Caribbean lithosphere is particularly buoyant (chemically light and/or thermally hot) explaining the subduction polarities in the region.•There is seismic evidence of lithospheric scale processes in the Venezuelan crust.•The Aves Ridge-Grenada Basin System is different in the North and the South, a similar dichotomy to the Lesser Antilles Arc.