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Article

Fine Crustal Velocity Structure and Deep Mineralization in South China from Joint Inversion of Gravity and Seismic Data

1
Key Laboratory of Intraplate Volcanoes and Earthquakes (China University of Geosciences, Beijing), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
2
School of Geophysics and Information Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
3
Department of Geophysics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(7), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070668
Submission received: 25 May 2025 / Revised: 12 June 2025 / Accepted: 19 June 2025 / Published: 20 June 2025

Abstract

The South China block (SCB) is characterized by complex tectonics, large-scale lithospheric deformation, and extensive mineralization in its southeastern region. However, the geodynamic processes and mechanisms driving mineralization remain controversial, partly due to the lack of information on its fine crustal structure. The resolution of crustal seismic tomography is relatively low due to the uneven distribution of local earthquakes in South China. In this study, we conduct a joint inversion of Bouguer gravity and seismic travel-time data to investigate the detailed 3-D P-wave velocity (Vp) structure of the crust beneath the SCB. Our results show the following: (1) strong lateral heterogeneities exist in the crust, which reflect the surface geology and tectonics well; (2) the Vp patterns at different depths beneath the Yangtze block are almost consistent, but those beneath the Cathaysia block vary significantly, which might be related to the lithosphere thinning in the Mesozoic; (3) decoupling between the upper crust and the lower crust occurs at ~20 km depth beneath the eastern SCB; (4) the Vp patterns vary beneath different metallogenic belts; and (5) distinct low-Vp anomalies exist in the lower crust beneath mineral deposits. These results suggest that the deep mineralization is closely associated with the lithospheric thinning and upwelling thermal flow in the Mesozoic beneath the eastern SCB. Our Vp tomographic result also strongly supports the viewpoint that the mineralization mechanism varies for different metallogenic belts.
Keywords: South China block; joint inversion; gravity; seismic tomography; crustal structure; metallogenic mechanism South China block; joint inversion; gravity; seismic tomography; crustal structure; metallogenic mechanism

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MDPI and ACS Style

Li, A.; Jia, Z.; Jiang, G.; Zhao, D.; Zhang, G. Fine Crustal Velocity Structure and Deep Mineralization in South China from Joint Inversion of Gravity and Seismic Data. Minerals 2025, 15, 668. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070668

AMA Style

Li A, Jia Z, Jiang G, Zhao D, Zhang G. Fine Crustal Velocity Structure and Deep Mineralization in South China from Joint Inversion of Gravity and Seismic Data. Minerals. 2025; 15(7):668. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070668

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Ao, Zhengyuan Jia, Guoming Jiang, Dapeng Zhao, and Guibin Zhang. 2025. "Fine Crustal Velocity Structure and Deep Mineralization in South China from Joint Inversion of Gravity and Seismic Data" Minerals 15, no. 7: 668. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070668

APA Style

Li, A., Jia, Z., Jiang, G., Zhao, D., & Zhang, G. (2025). Fine Crustal Velocity Structure and Deep Mineralization in South China from Joint Inversion of Gravity and Seismic Data. Minerals, 15(7), 668. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070668

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