Crustal Structure, Seismic Anisotropy and Deformations of the Ediacaran/Cambrian of the Małopolska Block in SE Poland Based on Data from Two Seismic Wide-Angle Experiments

The area of SE Poland represents a complex contact of tectonic units of different consolidation age—from the Precambrian East European Craton, through Palaeozoic West European Platform (including Małopolska Block) to Cenozoic Carpathians and Carpathian Foredeep. In order to investigate the anisotropic properties of the upper crust of the Małopolska Block and their relation to tectonic evolution of the area, two seismic datasets were used: seismic wide-angle off-line recordings from POLCRUST-01 deep seismic reflection profile and recordings from active deep seismic experiment CELEBRATION 2000. During acquisition of deep reflection seismic profile POLCRUST-01 in 2010, a 35-km-long line of 14 recorders (PA-14), oriented perpendicularly to the profile, was deployed to record the refractions from the upper crust (Pg) at wide range of azimuths. These data were used for an analysis of the azimuthal anisotropy of the MB with the modified delay-time inversion method. The results of modelling of the off-line refractions from the MB suggest ~6% HTI anisotropy of the Cambrian/Ediacaran basement, with ~130º azimuth of the fast velocity axis and mean Vp of 4.9 km/s. To compare this result with previous, independent information about anisotropy at larger depth, a subset of previously modelled data from CELEBRATION 2000 experiment, recorded in the MB area, was also analysed by inversion. The recordings of Pg phase at up to 120 km offsets were analysed using anisotropic delay-time inversion, providing information down to ~12 km depth. The CELEBRATION 2000 model shows ~9% HTI anisotropy with ~126º orientation of the fast axis. Thus, local-scale anisotropy of this part of MB confirms the large-scale anisotropy suggested by previous studies based on data from a broader area and larger depth interval. The azimuthal anisotropy (i.e. HTI symmetry of the medium) is interpreted as a result of strong compressional deformation during the accretion of terranes to the EEC margin, leading to tight (sub-vertical) folding and fracturing of intrinsically anisotropic metasediments forming the MB basement. Obtained anisotropy models are compared with data about stratal dips of the MB sequences and implications of assuming more realistic TTI model are discussed. Wide-angle recordings from off-line measurements along a reflection profile provided new information about seismic velocity and anisotropy, not available from standard near-vertical profiling, and contributed to more complete image of the upper crustal structure of Małopolska Block.