Seismic Evidence for A Steeply Dipping Reflector—Stagnant Slab in the Mantle Transition Zone

mcleod, raymond, jr.;

Studies of seismic tomography have been highly successful at imaging the deep structure of subduction zones. In a study complementary to these tomographic studies, we use array seismology and reflected waves to image as tagnant slab in the mantle transition zone. Using P and S (SH) waves we find a steeply dipping reflector centred at ca. 400km depth and ca. 550km west of the present Mariana subduction zone (at 20N, 140E). The discovery of this anomaly in tomography and independently in array seismology (this paper) helps in understanding the evolution of the Mariana margin. The reflector/stagnant slab may be the remains of the hypothetical North New Guinea Plate, which was theorized to have subducted ca. 50 Ma.