Plagioclase and spinel lherzolite thermometry and barometry are applied to an extensive geochemical dataset of young (<10.5Ma) primitive basaltic lavas from across Oregon's High Lava Plains, California's Modoc Plateau, and the central-southern Cascades volcanic arc to calculate the depths and temperatures of mantle melting. This study focuses on basalts with low pre-eruptive H2O contents that are little fractionated near-primary melts of mantle peridotite (i.e., basalts thought to be products of anhydrous decompression mantle melting). Calculated minimum depths of nominally anhydrous melt extraction are 4058km below Oregon's High Lava Plains, 4151km below the Modoc Plateau, and 3760km below the central and southern Cascades arc. The calculated depths are very close to Moho depths as determined from a number of regional geophysical studies and suggest that the geophysical Moho and lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary in this region are located in very close proximity to one another (within 510km). The basalts originated at 11851383 degrees C and point to a generally warm mantle beneath this area but not one hot enough to obviously require a plume contribution. Our results, combined with a range of other geologic, geophysical, and geochemical constraints, are consistent with a regional model whereby anhydrous mantle melting over the last 10.5Ma in a modern convergent margin and back arc was driven by subduction-induced corner flow in the mantle wedge, and to a lesser extent, toroidal flow around the southern edge of the subducting Juan de Fuca and Gorda plates, and crustal extension-related upwelling of the shallow mantle.

Plagioclase and spinel lherzolite thermometry and barometry are applied to an extensive geochemical dataset of young (<10.5Ma) primitive basaltic lavas from across Oregon's High Lava Plains, California's Modoc Plateau, and the central-southern Cascades volcanic arc to calculate the depths and temperatures of mantle melting. This study focuses on basalts with low pre-eruptive H2O contents that are little fractionated near-primary melts of mantle peridotite (i.e., basalts thought to be products of anhydrous decompression mantle melting). Calculated minimum depths of nominally anhydrous melt extraction are 4058km below Oregon's High Lava Plains, 4151km below the Modoc Plateau, and 3760km below the central and southern Cascades arc. The calculated depths are very close to Moho depths as determined from a number of regional geophysical studies and suggest that the geophysical Moho and lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary in this region are located in very close proximity to one another (within 510km). The basalts originated at 11851383 degrees C and point to a generally warm mantle beneath this area but not one hot enough to obviously require a plume contribution. Our results, combined with a range of other geologic, geophysical, and geochemical constraints, are consistent with a regional model whereby anhydrous mantle melting over the last 10.5Ma in a modern convergent margin and back arc was driven by subduction-induced corner flow in the mantle wedge, and to a lesser extent, toroidal flow around the southern edge of the subducting Juan de Fuca and Gorda plates, and crustal extension-related upwelling of the shallow mantle.

We compute high-resolution seismic images from scattered wavefield to detect discontinuities beneath the High Lava Plains (HLP), using data recorded at a dense broadband array. Our images of the HLP and surrounding regions reveal (1) a prominent Moho discontinuity with varying depth, with thinnest crust of 35 km beneath the volcanic track, and thickened crust of similar to 45 km beneath the Owyhee Plateau (OP); (2) distinct intracrustal velocity reversals beneath regions of pre-2.0 Ma volcanism and within the OP; and (3) intermittent negative velocity discontinuities in the uppermost mantle beneath regions of Holocene volcanism and volcanic centers near Steens Mountain and Newberry volcano. These features exhibit remarkable similarity with those seen in the surface wave tomography and Ps receiver functions. We fail to find evidence for a ubiquitous regional lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB). In concert with petrological constraints on the equilibration depths of primitive basaltic melts, our results suggest that the present-day HLP mantle lithosphere is thin or absent, perhaps a consequence of episodes of extensive mantle inflow, lithospheric extension, and possibly melting induced by rapid slab rollback and trench retreat. It remains possible, however, that strong E-W seismic anisotropy reported across this region may reduce the effective S-wave velocity contrast to render the LAB less detectable. In contrast, the Owyhee Plateau exhibits a clear LAB, consistent with it being a block of older preexisting lithosphere. Our images demonstrate the complexity of mantle dynamics in the Cascadian back-arc and the close casual link between subduction-related processes and the origin of HLP volcanism.

We compute high-resolution seismic images from scattered wavefield to detect discontinuities beneath the High Lava Plains (HLP), using data recorded at a dense broadband array. Our images of the HLP and surrounding regions reveal (1) a prominent Moho discontinuity with varying depth, with thinnest crust of 35 km beneath the volcanic track, and thickened crust of similar to 45 km beneath the Owyhee Plateau (OP); (2) distinct intracrustal velocity reversals beneath regions of pre-2.0 Ma volcanism and within the OP; and (3) intermittent negative velocity discontinuities in the uppermost mantle beneath regions of Holocene volcanism and volcanic centers near Steens Mountain and Newberry volcano. These features exhibit remarkable similarity with those seen in the surface wave tomography and Ps receiver functions. We fail to find evidence for a ubiquitous regional lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB). In concert with petrological constraints on the equilibration depths of primitive basaltic melts, our results suggest that the present-day HLP mantle lithosphere is thin or absent, perhaps a consequence of episodes of extensive mantle inflow, lithospheric extension, and possibly melting induced by rapid slab rollback and trench retreat. It remains possible, however, that strong E-W seismic anisotropy reported across this region may reduce the effective S-wave velocity contrast to render the LAB less detectable. In contrast, the Owyhee Plateau exhibits a clear LAB, consistent with it being a block of older preexisting lithosphere. Our images demonstrate the complexity of mantle dynamics in the Cascadian back-arc and the close casual link between subduction-related processes and the origin of HLP volcanism.

The cause of seismic anisotropy exhibiting trench parallel fast directions in subduction systems has been the subject of significant recent research. We provide new constraints on the contributions of hydrous phases to seismic anisotropy from an unusually well-localized region of trench parallel fast directions in Rayleigh wave phase velocities near the Cascade arc at 45 to 66 s periods. We constrain the location of the anisotropic material to within or directly above the oceanic plate, using the depth sensitivity of Rayleigh waves as a function of frequency and the accurate slab imaging available for Cascadia from scattered wave studies. We infer that the likely source of trench-parallel anisotropy is either a thin layer of sheared hydrous material directly above the slab or hydrated outer rise faults in the upper part of the subducting plate. Similar contributions to trench parallel anisotropy from hydrous phases are likely stronger in other subduction zones.

The cause of seismic anisotropy exhibiting trench parallel fast directions in subduction systems has been the subject of significant recent research. We provide new constraints on the contributions of hydrous phases to seismic anisotropy from an unusually well-localized region of trench parallel fast directions in Rayleigh wave phase velocities near the Cascade arc at 45 to 66 s periods. We constrain the location of the anisotropic material to within or directly above the oceanic plate, using the depth sensitivity of Rayleigh waves as a function of frequency and the accurate slab imaging available for Cascadia from scattered wave studies. We infer that the likely source of trench-parallel anisotropy is either a thin layer of sheared hydrous material directly above the slab or hydrated outer rise faults in the upper part of the subducting plate. Similar contributions to trench parallel anisotropy from hydrous phases are likely stronger in other subduction zones.

To constrain mantle structure that might contribute to the topography of the southern Appalachian Mountains, Pn phases from regional earthquakes recorded in northern Georgia by EarthScope Southeastern Suture of the Appalachian Margin Experiment and Transportable Array stations were used to solve for shallow mantle P wave velocities. Mantle velocities vary laterally, with values of 7.6-7.8km/s beneath the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge terrane and northwestern flank of the Inner Piedmont terranes and values of 8.3-8.5km/s farther south where elevation is lower. The zone of low-velocity mantle could represent a source of buoyancy that helps to support the higher elevations, in addition to the root of thickened crust that also exists beneath the mountains.

To constrain mantle structure that might contribute to the topography of the southern Appalachian Mountains, Pn phases from regional earthquakes recorded in northern Georgia by EarthScope Southeastern Suture of the Appalachian Margin Experiment and Transportable Array stations were used to solve for shallow mantle P wave velocities. Mantle velocities vary laterally, with values of 7.6-7.8km/s beneath the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge terrane and northwestern flank of the Inner Piedmont terranes and values of 8.3-8.5km/s farther south where elevation is lower. The zone of low-velocity mantle could represent a source of buoyancy that helps to support the higher elevations, in addition to the root of thickened crust that also exists beneath the mountains.