The continental lithosphere

The main focuses of my current research include the following themes:

1. Global studies:

Secular evolution of the continental lithosphere:
A 1 deg x 1 deg global database of tectono-thermal ages of the continental lithosphere TC1.
A global 1 deg x 1 deg thermal model for the continental lithosphere TC1 constrained from the statistical relationships
between continental geotherms and tectono-thermal ages.
These two global models for the continental lithosphere have been used to calculate:

lithospheric volume through time from Archean till present;
growth and preservation rate for the lithosphere from Archean till present;
correlation between lithospheric growth rate and growth rate of juvenile crust;
correlation between lithospheric growth rate and global tectonic events;
correlation between lithospheric structure and anorogenic magmatism (anorthosites and rapakivi).

Thermal structure of the continental lithosphere – a global study:

A global, consistent thermal model for stable continental lithosphere calculated from the data on the surface heat flow
(temperature distribution in the lithosphere, lithospheric thickness, mantle heat flow);
A global 1 deg x 1 deg thermal model for the continental lithosphere TC1 constrained from the statistical relationships

between continental geotherms and tectono-thermal ages.

Distinct stages of lithosphere formation have been linked to secular changes in mantle dynamics,
Correlation of thermal regime of the continental lithosphere with xenolith geotherms, electrical conductivity of the upper mantle,
and elastic thickness.

Lithosphere formation and basal erosion:

Correlations between cratonic size, plate velocities, ridge push, slab pull and lithospheric thickness,
Variations in lithospheric thickness of the Archean cratons: do they result from different mechanisms of lithosphere formation or
from a selective destruction of lithospheric keels?
The role of mantle processes on lithosphere erosion.

Compositional variations in the continental lithosphere as constrained by seismic and thermal data:

A correlational analysis of global maps of the thermal structure of the continental lithosphere with global elastic and anelastic
seismic tomography models as determined from Rayleigh waves for the upper 200 km of the mantle;
Calculation of seismic elastic and anelastic anomalies that cannot be explained by temperature variations alone.

Gravity constraints on lateral compositional variations in continental lithosphere:

Mantle residual gravity anomalies are used to examine the effects of temperature and chemical depletion on lithospheric
density.
Density variations in the cratonic roots caused by non-thermal (compositional) variations.

2. Regional studies:

Free-board constraints on compositional variations in the lithosphere of the East European craton and a
mechanism of platform subsidence:

Possible mechanisms of Meso-Cenozoic subsidence of the East European craton.
Crustal and lithospheric structures as constrained by seismic and thermla data.
Lithospheric density anomalies beneath the East European Craton calculated from the free-board constrains;
The nature of a reduced-velocity zone at 100-150 km depth within the cratonic lithosphere;
The role of Proterozoic and Paleozoic rifting in modification of the composition of the East European lithosphere
A new mechanism for Phanerozoic subsidence of the East European Platform has been proposed as a result of rifting-related
metasomatism.

Geophysical synthesis of the upper mantle structure in Europe and lithospheric processes:

A joint analysis of different geophysical data sets (seismic tomography from surface and body waves, upper mantle reflectivity,
gravity and thermal data) and the role of major tectonic processes in formation of lithospheric structure of Europe: from
Proterozoic terrain accretion and subduction, to Phanerozoic rifting, volcanism, subduction and continent-continent collision;
An integrated model of physical properties of the European subcrustal lithosphere.

Upper mantle rheology and creep in young orogens:

The relation of rheology to thermal regime of the lithosphere; mantle creep in young orogens of the continents;
The origin of seismic anisotropy at various depths as related to tectonic stress, geotherms, and rheology, with a focus on young
continental orogens;
The concept of crustal “escape tectonics” as extended to the uppermost mantle: examples for different continental orogens.

Lithosphere thinning during tectonic rejuvenation:

Thermal thinning of the lithosphere caused by an ascent of anomalous mantle to the base of the lithosphere, partial melting of
lithospheric material, its consecutive replacement by material from the anomalous mantle, lithosphere thinning, and isostatic
uplift of lithospheric blocks.
The effect of fluid phase on the dynamics of lithosphere thinning. Lamination of fusible and refractory layers in the upper mantle
caused by a presence of H2O and CO2 may lead to a sharp change in lithosphere-thinning velocities and, hence, to a discrete
character of surface vertical motions.

Evolution of the thermal regime of the lithosphere of regions of Cenozoic tectonism and magmatism:

Petrologic data on temporal changes of magma composition in intracontinental regions of Cenozoic magmatism is used to
quantify lithosphere thinning in terms of P-T-t characteristics;
Secular variations in mantle heat flow required to produce observed evolution of lithospheric thickness in time;

Thermal constraints on the mechanisms of the Cenozoic uplift of the Tien-Shan:

Cenozoic tectonic uplift of the Tien Shan interpreted in terms of a non-developed continental rift as supported by geophysical
data;
Data on the uplift history for the past 25 Ma is used to estimate thermal regime of the mantle and to calculate the isostatic
response of the lithosphere to active processes in the mantle.

3. Reviews

Continental crust: Structure, composition and evolution

Methods of Continental Crust Studies
Average Seismic Structure of Continental Crust
Crustal thickness and seismic velocities
Crustal reflectivity
The Moho discontinuity
Types of Continental Crust
Seismic velocities in typical crustal rocks
Seismic anisotropy in continental crust
Poisson’s ratio
Crustal density
Crustal rheology, brittle-ductile crust
Composition of Continental Crust

Processes of lithosphere evolution:

Structure of the continental lithosphere, its physical properties, and the mechanisms that formed and modified it since the early
Archean.
The role of different tectonic processes in the lithospheric evolution since Archean to present. These include, but are not limited
to, cratonization, terrain accretion and collision, continental rifting (both passive and active), subduction, and lithospheric basal
erosion due to a relative motion of cratonic keels and the convective mantle.

4. Rock properties:

In situ rock permeability and thermal conductivity:

Effect of a crack shape on effective thermal conductivity of cracked rocks;
The effect of temperature and fluid composition (water, oil, brine) on crack distribution in fractured rocks under lithospheric
stresses (EMT approach);
The effective in situ permeability and thermal conductivity of fluid-saturated rocks with non-intersecting and non-interacting
elliptical pores of different geometry and different orientation.