EarthScope targets in the central Appalachians
• Eastern US continental
margin preserves the
signature of several
cycles of supercontinent
assembly and breakup
in the surface geology.
• To what extent have
deep structures in the
crust and mantle
lithosphere persisted
over this timeframe?
• Why has Appalachian
topography persisted
over long time period?
EarthScope targets in the central Appalachians
• Central Appalachian swath:
• Sharp gradients in Moho depths,
perhaps corresponding with
surface geologic structures
(Benoit et al., in prep.). Possible
magmatic underplating in lower
crust?
• Lateral transition in shear wave
splitting behavior
• Encompasses C. VA Seismic Zone
(2011 Mineral, VA earthquake)
• Encompasses youngest known
volcanic rocks in the eastern US
(Eocene basalts in and around
Harrisonburg, VA)
EarthScope targets in the central Appalachians
Mid-Atlantic Geophysical Integrative Collaboration (MAGIC): FlexArray
deployment + geomorphology/geodynamics component