The origin of the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL), which is difficult to explain with traditional plate tectonics and mantle convection models because the volcanism does not display clear age progression, remains widely debated. Existing seismic tomography models show anomalously slow structure beneath the CVL, which some have interpreted to reflect upper mantle convective processes, possibly associated with edge‐driven flow related to the neighboring Congo Craton. However, mid‐ and lower mantle depths are generally not well resolved in these models, making it difficult to determine the extent of the anomalous CVL structure. Here, we present a new P‐wave velocity model for the African mantle, developed with the largest collection of travel‐time residuals recorded across the continent to date and an adaptive model parameterization. Our extensive data set and inversion method yield high resolution images of the mantle structure beneath western Africa, particularly at the critical mid‐ and lower mantle depths needed to further evaluate processes associated with the formation of the CVL. Our new model provides strong evidence for a connection between the African Large Low Velocity Province, centered in the lower mantle beneath southern Africa, and the continental portion of the CVL. We suggest that seismically slow material generated near the core‐mantle boundary beneath southern Africa moves northwestward under the Congo Craton. At the northern edge of the craton, the hot, buoyant material rises through the upper mantle, causing the CVL volcanism. Consequently, CVL magmatism can be linked to large‐scale mantle processes rooted in the deep mantle.
Our understanding of the tectonic development of the African continent and the interplay between its geological provinces is hindered by unevenly distributed seismic instrumentation. In order to better understand the continent, we used long‐period ambient noise full‐waveform tomography on data collected from 186 broadband seismic stations throughout Africa and surrounding regions to better image the upper mantle structure. We extracted empirical Green's functions from ambient seismic noise using a frequency‐time normalization method and retrieved coherent signal at periods of 7–340 s. We simulated wave propagation through a heterogeneous Earth using a spherical finite‐difference approach to obtain synthetic waveforms, measured the misfit as phase delay between the data and synthetics, calculated numerical sensitivity kernels using the scattering integral approach, and iteratively inverted for structure. The resulting images of isotropic, shear wave speed for the continent reveal segmented, low‐velocity upper mantle beneath the highly magmatic northern and eastern sections of the East African Rift System (EARS). In the southern and western sections, high‐velocity upper mantle dominates, and distinct, low‐velocity anomalies are restricted to regions of current volcanism. At deeper depths, the southern and western EARS transition to low velocities. In addition to the EARS, several low‐velocity anomalies are scattered through the shallow upper mantle beneath Angola and North Africa, and some of these low‐velocity anomalies may be connected to a deeper feature. Distinct upper mantle high‐velocity anomalies are imaged throughout the continent and suggest multiple cratonic roots within the Congo region and possible cratonic roots within the Sahara Metacraton.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1516680
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10456461
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
- Volume:
- 20
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1525-2027
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 120-147
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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