Probing the structure of the deep continental crust

Area of Science:

• Geology
• Geophysics
• Earth Science

Background:

• The continental crust, approximately 40 km thick, is largely composed of ancient, deformed crystalline rocks.
• This deep crustal section remains poorly explored, representing a significant frontier in modern earth science.
• Industry-developed techniques offer potential for scientific exploration of the deep continental crust.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of exploring the deep continental crust.
• To introduce seismic reflection profiling and deep drilling as key exploration methods.
• To discuss the potential of these methods in advancing basic geological understanding.

Main Methods:

• Seismic reflection profiling, utilized by the Consortium for Continental Reflection Profiling (COCORP).
• Deep drilling into crystalline rocks of the continental crust.
• Leveraging industry-developed technologies for scientific geological research.

Main Results:

• Seismic profiling has provided evidence of extensive thin-skinned thrusting in the deep crust.
• This thrusting is associated with the closure of ocean basins and continental margin dynamics.
• Deep drilling, while less exploited in the US, is ongoing elsewhere for scientific purposes.

Conclusions:

• Exploration of the deep continental crust is essential for advancing earth science.
• Seismic reflection and deep drilling are vital techniques for this exploration.
• Large-scale scientific endeavors ('big science') will be increasingly important in basic geology.