*Hirokazu Takahashi1, Masahiro Ishikawa1
(1.Yokohama National Univercity)
Keywords:Elastic wave velocity, xenoliths, high pressure experiment
Imaging the lithology of the deep crust of Japan arc provides a critical constraint for understanding its crustal evolution. Oki-Dogo Island is one of the most important xenolith localities because it is located in the most inner zone of the South-west Japan arc. Ultramafic (e.g. pyroxenite and dunite) and mafic (e.g. granulite and gabbro) xenoliths are abundant in the Oki-Dogo alkaline basalts whereas spinel lherzolite is a minor component (e.g. Abe et al., 2003). Takahashi (1978) proposed a deep crustal-mantle lithological model beneath the Oki-Dogo Island on the basis of petrologic studies on the mafic and ultramafic xenoliths. These xenoliths thus provide an excellent opportunity to investigate the deep crustal and mantle lithology beneath the most inner zone of the South-west Japan arc. In this study, P-wave velocity (Vp), S-wave velocity (Vs) and Vp/Vs have been measured in the laboratory for pyroxenitic xenoliths from Oki-Dogo Islnad, southwest Japan. Most of pyroxenitic xenoliths comprise orthopyroxene-abundant websterite, and olivine websterite. Simultaneous measurements of Vp, Vs and Vp/Vs were carried out at pressures up to 1.0 GPa and temperatures up to 600°C. Vp of websteritic rocks vary from 7.2-7.4 km/s at 1.0 GPa which corresponds to representative depth for lowermost crust or the uppermost mantle in Japan arc. In the light of rock velocity data, we discuss seismic structure and lithological imaging of the Japan arc. Sub-Moho Vp is intermediate (7.3–7.7 km/s) in places beneath Japan arc, and this study suggests that some intermediate Vp of Sub-Moho can be explained by websteritic pyroxenites.