Vp/Vs & Poisson’s ratio Analysis

The composition of the mid to lower-crust of the Earth is poorly defined mainly because

direct sampling of the lower-crustal rocks is not possible. Deep-crustal rock samples are obtained

either from xenoliths or in high-grade metamorphic terrains, which provide invaluable insight of the

crustal compositions. Only in-situ measurement can provide some information regarding the

composition of deep-crustal rocks. Interpretation of the lithology of the Earth’s crust from seismic

data is non-unique. Hence, inferences regarding the crustal rock compositions cannot be made

precisely using the P-wave seismic data only. 3-C seismic data plays pivotal role in providing

additional information on the sub-surface geology using both 𝑉𝑃, 𝑉𝑆, 𝑉𝑃𝑉𝑆⁄, 𝜎 and Anisotropy. The

parameters can be suitably incorporated for the geological model to constrain lithology, mineral

compositions, presence of fluid within the crust and differentiate the geological terrains based on the

subsurface rock. Analyzing 3-C seismic data using both the P- and S-waves helps to discriminate the

subsurface geological features based on their velocities, which helps to distinguish different rock

types and their compositions. Since the rigidity modulus (𝜇) of liquid is zero, S-waves cannot travel

through the fluid medium. Hence, the S-wave data analysis will provide the presence of fluids within

the subsurface rocks. This 3-C seismic data analysis also helps to find important mineralized zones

such as mylonites with fluid inclusion within the rocks.

The crustal velocity models (𝑉𝑃 and 𝑉𝑆) obtained using P and S refraction (𝑃𝑔, 𝑆𝑔) and

corresponding crustal reflection data of the proposed area will provide a very good constrain to

derive both the 𝑉𝑃𝑉𝑆⁄ and 𝜎 which will provide an excellent opportunity to understand lithology and

composition of different crustal rocks. The crustal 𝑉𝑃/𝑉𝑆 and 𝜎 ratio computed will show both

vertical and lateral variation, which will indicate crustal heterogeneity. The 𝑉𝑃/𝑉𝑆 and 𝜎 range will

indicate whether the rocks are volcanic-sediment sequences having very low values can be attributed
to sedimentary intrusions such as cherty quartzites and pelites within the volcanic and metavolcanic

assemblages. The 𝑉𝑃𝑉𝑆⁄ ratio is susceptible to the content of quartz, which aids in distinguishing the

felsic and mafic crystalline basement. The rocks with 𝑉𝑃𝑉𝑆⁄ ratio of 1.70-1.73 are considered as

felsic-to-intermediate in compositions and 1.74-1.80 are considered as mafic in compositions with a

relatively high average value of 1.78 corresponds to the highly sheared zone with the formation of

high-strain orthogneisses and mylonites within it indicating exemption of mid-to-lower crustal-rocks

and deposition due to intense shearing and transpression forming mafic to ultramafic rocks at shallow

depths of the upper-crust. During the process of exhumation and transpression of mid-to-lower

crustal rocks, due to high temperature and pressure, the LVL (low 𝑉𝑃 and 𝑉𝑆) is formed and mainly

composed of meta-conglomerates and quartzites with corresponding 𝑉𝑃/𝑉𝑆 and 𝜎 of 1.66-1.68 and

0.22-0.23 respectively.

The variations of 𝑉𝑃𝑉𝑆⁄ and 𝜎 as 1.73-1.75 and 0.25-0.26, respectively, which indicate the rocks

are mainly of intermediate-to-mafic in compositions. Mafic-to-ultramafic in composition has a

variation of 𝑉𝑃𝑉𝑆⁄ and 𝜎 of 1.74-1.75 and 0.25-0.26 along with corresponding values of 1.76 and

0.262. The average 𝜎 values of different rocks also increase with the crustal age and decrease

with the high silica-content in the rocks. The increased silica-content significantly lowers 𝜎 in

rocks due to its extremely low-value (0.09) for the quartz.