Mantle Flow Pattern Associated With the Patagonian Slab Window Determined From Azimuthal Anisotropy

Abstract

Geological processes in Southern Patagonia are affected by the Patagonian slab window, formed by the subduction of the Chile Ridge and subsequent northward migration of the Chile Triple Junction. Using shear wave splitting analysis, we observe strong splitting of up to 2.5 s with an E-W fast direction just south of the triple junction and the edge of the subducting Nazca slab. This region of strong anisotropy is coincident with low uppermost mantle shear velocities and an absence of mantle lithosphere, indicating that the mantle flow occurs in a warm, low-viscosity, 200–300 km wide shallow mantle channel just to the south of the Nazca slab. The region of flow corresponds to a volcanic gap caused by depleted mantle compositions and absence of slab-derived water. In most of Patagonia to the south of this channel, splitting fast directions trend NE-SW consistent with large-scale asthenospheric flow.