Crustal structure of the Trans-European Suture Zone in Central Poland - reinterpretation of the LT-2, LT-4 and LT-5 deep seismic sounding profiles

The paper gives a reinterpretation of data from three deep seismic sounding profiles-LT-2, LT-4 and LT-5 - acquired in 1974-1979 between the Precambrian East European Craton (EEC) and the Palaeozoic Platform (PP) in Central Poland. Good quality seismic records in the distance interval from 50-90 to 200-280 km were the input data for the modelling of the crustal and uppermost mantle structure. Clear first arrivals and later phases of waves reflected/refracted from the crustal and the Moho boundaries were interpreted using a two-dimensional (2-D) ray tracing technique. In general, the crustal thickness along the three profiles varies from 30-35 km in the Palaeozoic platform area, to 42-44 km in the Polish part of the EEC, being 35-40 km in the transition zone between the PP and the EEC. In the transition area, the P-wave velocity is very low (Vp < 6.0 km/s) down to depths of 15-18 km, indicating that a very thick succession of sedimentary, metamorphosed or volcanic origin rocks is present there. All three 2-D models of the crust are discussed together with results obtained 20-30 years ago, particularly taking into account the difference in interpretation methods and new computation possibilities. Jointly with recent seismic studies along the profiles LT-7 and TTZ, as well as the POLONAISE'97 profiles P1-P4, the reinterpreted old profiles provide a collection of crustal models of the TESZ in Poland.