Table Of ContentEXPLORATION
OF THE
DEEP CONTINENTAL
CRUST
Edited by
H.-J. Behr, G6ttingen
C.B. Raleigh, Hawaii
Advisory Board
R. N. Anderson, Lamont
K. Fuchs, Karlsruhe
W S. Fyfe, London (Canada)
H. Rischmiiller, Hannover
W Schreyer, Bochum
M. D. Zoback, Stanford
Terrestrial
Heat Flow and
the Lithosphere
Structure
Edited by
V. Cermak and L. Rybach
With 218 Figures
Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg New York
London Paris Tokyo
Hong Kong Barcelona
Budapest
Dr. V LADlM1R CERMAK
Czechoslovakian Academy of Sciences
Geophysical Institute
Bocnf II, cpo 1401
14131 Praha
Czechoslovakia
Professor Dr. LADISLAUS RYBACH
Institute of Geophysics
ETH Hoenggerberg
8093 Zurich
Switzerland
ISBN-13: 978-3-642-75584-2 e-ISBN-13: 978-3-642-75582-8
001: 10.1007/978-3-642-75582-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. Terrestrial heat flow and the lithosphere struc
ture / edited by V. Cermak and L. Rybach. p. cm.-(Exploration of the deep continental crust)
Papers presented by scientists at the International Meeting on Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Litho
sphere Structure June 1-6. 1987, in Bechyne. Includes index. ISBN 3-540-52404-5 (U.S.) 1. Terres
trial heat flow-Congresses. 2. Earth-Mantle-Congresses. 3. Earth-Crust-Congresses. I. Cermak,
Vladimir. II. Rybach, L., 1935 - . III. International Meeting on Terrestrial Heat Flow and Litho
sphere Structure (1987 : Bechyne, Czechoslovakia) IV. Series. QE509.T427 1991 551.1'3-
dc20 90-45099
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© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1991
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Preface
Terrestrial heat flow at the earth's surface provides highly valuable infor
mation about the thermal conditions and processes at depth. In particu
lar, the rheological behaviour of lithospheric plates, which are the most
mobile units of active geodynamics, depends strongly on their internal
thermal regime. Thus integrated studies of heat flow and lithospheric
structure are best suited to address some of the basic questions in geology
and geophysics.
Many of the current problems must be solved in various individual set
tings with contrasting geothermal, structural and evolutional character
istics. Therefore, a broad international action scheme is ideal for such an
approach. A concentrated effort of this kind has been initiated and
established in connection with the "International Meeting on Terrestrial
Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure", organized by the Geophysi
cal Institute of the Czechoslovakian Academy of Sciences, sponsored by
the International Heat Flow Commission (IASPEI), and convened at
the castle of Bechyne in southern Bohemia from June 1-6 1987. Scien
tists form 24 countries participated at the meeting.
The contributions which are assembled in this monograph were writ
ten subsequent to the well-received presentations and lively discussions
in the stimulating atmosphere of Bechyne. These monograph-style con
tributions are more extended, in-depth studies than ordinary articles for
journals or represent up-to-date reviews of their particular subjects.
The contributions are arranged in three sections. The contributions of
the section "General Lithosperic Geothermics" address regional varia
tions in lithosphere rheology in terms of the surface heat flow pattern,
the delimitation and characterization of continental heat flow provinces,
the evolution of the geothermal field over the geologic past, and the
depth distribution of radioactive heat sources.
The section "Regional Lithospheric Geothermics" includes 13 papers
which focus on the interrelations between lithospheric structure and the
heat flow field, with special emphasis on variations in lithospheric thick
ness, and on deep-seated geodynamic processes. The regional coverage
extends over Europe, northeast Asia, China (including Tibet), the Asia
Pacific Transition Zone, the northwestern Pacific, and New Zealand.
The section "Worldwide Heat Flow Density Studies" (8 contributions)
deals with the surface heat flow field as the prominent boundary condi
tion in lithospheric studies; its geographic coverage complements the
previous section. The study areas are located in Italy and its surrounding
VI Preface
seas, in the Aegean Sea and the Southern Balkan, in Siberia, Southeast
Asia, Canada, Mexico, and Australia.
The organization of the meeting at Bechyne and the preparation of the
present monograph were projects of the International Heat Flow Com
mission. The editors are indebted to Past-President Professor A. E.
Beck and to President Professor S. Uyeda for their continuous support.
We are also indebted to many of our colleagues (mostly participants of
the Bechyne meeting) for their help in reviewing the contributions.
Their remarks and suggestions were most helpful in improving this volu
me. Special thanks are due to the publisher, and especially to Dr. Wolf
gang Engel, of Springer-Verlag, for his editorial help.
VLADIMiR CERMAK
LADISLAUS RYBACH
Contents
General Lithospheric Geothermics
Regional Variations in Lithosphere Rheology
from Heat Flow Observations
G. Ranalli .................. . 1
Radioactive Heat Production in the Continental Crust
and Its Depth Dependence
V. Cermak, L. Bodri, and L. Rybach ........ . 23
Determination of the Past Heat Flow from Subsidence Data
in Intracontinental Basins and Passive Margins
J.-C. Mareschal ................... . 70
Are Granites Representative of Heat Flow Provinces?
J. L. Vigneresse and M. Cuney ........... . 86
Regional Lithospheric Geothermics
Lithosphere Structure, Heat Flow, Gravity, and Other
Geoparameters in Central Europe
W R. Jacoby, D. Czerwek, and H. Pakirnus ..... . .. 111
Heat Flow, Regional Geophysics and Lithosphere Structure
in Czechoslovakia and Adjacent Part of Central Europe
V. Cermak, M. KraI, M. Kresl, J. Kubik, and J. Safanda . . . 133
Crustal Geothermics of Some Geotraverses of the Former GDR
C.Oelsner ......................... . 166
Regional Geothermal Gradients and Lithosphere Structure
in Spain
M. Banda, J. Albert-Beltran, M.Torne, and M. Fernandez ... 176
Heat Flow and Lithospheric Structure in Romania
C. Demetrescu and S. Veliciu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
VIII Contents
Heat Flow and Analysis of the Thermal Structure of the
Lithosphere in the European Part of the USSR
Y I. Galushkin, R. I. Kutas, and Y B. Smirnov .......... 206
Heat Field of the Lithosphere of Northeast Asia and the
Northwestern Sector of the Asia-Pacific Transition Zone
I. K. Tuezov, V. D. Epaneshnikov, and P. Y U. Gornov · . 238
Heat Flow as an Indicator of the Dynamics of Deep Processes
Occurring in Marginal Seas and Island Arcs of the Northwestern
Pacific
P. M. Sychev, V. V. Soinov, and O. V. Veselov . 264
Heat Flow Pattern and Lithospheric Thickness
of Peninsular India
M. L. Gupta, S. R. Sharma, and A. Sundar . . · . 283
Crust and Upper Mantle Thermal Structure of Xizang (Tibet)
Inferred from the Mechanism of High Heat Flow Observed
in South Tibet
Shen Xian-jie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 293
The Thickness of the Thermal Lithosphere in the Panxi Paleorift
Zone, Southwestern China
Wang Ji-yang and Huang Shao-peng ............... 308
Heat Flow in the Canadian Shield and Its Relation
to Other Geophysical Parameters
M.J. Drury ................... . · . 317
Terrestrial Heat Flow and Lithospheric Geothermal Structure
of New Zealand
O. P. Pandey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Worldwide Heat Flow Density Studies
Geothermal Regime of Italy and Surrounding Seas
F. Mongelli, G. Zito, B. Della Vedova, G. Pellis, P. Squarci,
and L. Taffi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Heat Flow and Thermal Structure of the Aegean Sea and the
Southern Balkans
S. C. Stiros ............................ 395
Trends of Heat Flow Density from West Africa
F. Lucazeau, A. Lesquer, and G. Vasseur ............. 417
Contents IX
Review of Siberian Heat Flow Data
A.D. Duchkov .......... . . .... 426
Compilation of Heat Flow Data in Southeast Asia
and Its Marginal Seas
O. Matsubayashi and T. Nagao .................. 444
Terrestrial Heat Flow in Canada
A. M. Jessop, T. J. Lewis, and M. J. Drury ............ 457
Terrestrial Heat Flow in Mexico
R. M. Prol-Ledesma. . . . . . . . ........ 475
Heat Flow and Regional Geophysics in Australia
J.P. Cull ... 486
Subject Index 501
Geographical and Geological Index . 505
List of Contributors
You will find the addresses at the beginning of the respective contribution.
Albert-Beltran, J. 176 Mongelli, F. 381
Banda, M. 176 Nagao, T. 444
Bodri, L. 23 Oelsner, C. 166
Cermak, V. 23, 133 Pandey, O. P. 338
Cull, J. P. 486 Pakirnus, H. 111
Cuney, M. 86 Pellis, G. 381
Czerwek, D. 111 Prol-Ledesma, R. M. 475
Della V~dova, B. 381 Ranalli, G. 1
Demetrescu, C. 187 Rybach, L. 23
Drury, M.J. 317,457 5afanda, J. 133
Duchkov, A. D. 426 Sharma, S. R. 283
Epaneshnikov, V. D. 238 Shen Xian-jie 293
Fernandez, M. 176 Smirnov, Y. B. 206
Galushkin, Y. 1. 206 Stiros, S. C. 395
Gornov, P. Y U. 238 Sundar, A. 283
Gupta, M. L. 283 Soinov, V. V. 264
Huang Shao-peng 308 Squarci, P. 381
Jacoby, W. R. 111 Sychev, P. M. 264
Jessop, A.M. 457 Taffi, L. 381
Kral, M. 133 Torne, M. 176
Kresl, M. 133 Tuezov, 1. K. 238
Kubik, J. 133 Vasseur, G. 417
Kutas, R. 1. 206 Veliciu, S. 187
Lesquer, A. 417 Veselov, O. V. 264
Lewis, T.J. 457 Vigneresse, J. L. 86
Lucazeau, F. 417 Wang Ji-yang 308
Mareschal, J.-c. 70 Zito, G. 381
Matsubayashi, O. 444
Regional Variations in Lithosphere Rheology
from Heat Flow Observations
G. RANALLI!
Abstract
The rheological properties of the lithosphere are related to its geothermal state,
composition, and structure. Geotherms for differet tectonic provinces are a function
of surface heat flow, while the composition and structure of the lithosphere are
constrained by other geophysical (mainly seismic) data. It is therefore possible to
estimate regional variations in lithosphere rheology from available evidence.
Lithospheric rheological profiles (strength envelopes) are estimated for different
tectonic regions with characteristic geotherms, composition, and crustal thickness.
The profiles yield information on the depth of the brittle/ductile transition, the
rheological thickness of the lithosphere and its total strength, and the occurrence of
soft ductile layers sandwiched between harder brittle layers. Large intraplate lateral
changes in rheological properties are predicted. The response of a plate to tectonic
stresses is affected in a significant way by these inhomogeneities.
The results have interesting geodynamic implications. Variations of total
lithospheric strength generate zones of weakness in the lithosphere, where deforma
tion is concentrated. The evolution of obduction and overthrusting in an orogenic
belt can be studied if conditions at the time of deformation are sufficiently
constrained by observation.
1 Introduction
The rheological properties of the lithosphere determine its response to tectonic
forces. They are a function of lithology, structure, temperature and pressure (depth),
stress, and strain rate.
A useful model ofthe rheology ofthe lithosphere is afforded by rheological profiles
(strength envelopes), in which the strength (brittle and ductile) is estimated as a
function of depth. Rheological profiles are constructed by combining lithologic and
structural information (from geological and geophysical data, mainly seismic
refraction and reflection) with estimated geotherms. The essential prerequisites for
the construction of rheological profiles are an approximate knowledge of the
composition and rheology oflithospheric layers (both in the brittle and in the ductile
domain), and an estimate of temperature as a function of depth. The latter
presupposes knowledge of thermal parameters such as surface heat flow, thermal
1 Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University and Ottawa/Carleton Geoscience Centre, Ottawa,
Ontario KIS 5B6, Canada
