Lithostructure of the oceanic crust based on the Seismic velocities of rocks in the Oman ophiolite

Abstract

We calculated the seismic velocities of rocks in the Oman ophiolite and compared with those of Oceanic crust. The calculated P-wave velocities of pillow lavas and dolerites are comparable to those of the layer-2 to layer-3 of oceanic crust. The calculated P-wave velocities of gabbros are comparable to those of layer-3 of oceanic crust. The velocity structure of layer-2 likely reflects the distribution of porosity in the upper oceanic crust. On the other hand, the velocity structure of layer-3 likely reflects the modal proportion of main mineral constituents in the rocks of lower oceanic crust.