Wave velocities and anisotropy of rocks: Implication for origin of low velocity zone of the Qinling Orogenic Belt, China

• V P and V S of the schist and gneiss well match the velocity of crust of the QOB. • All the schist and gneiss samples exhibit obvious seismic anisotropy. • Origin of seismic anisotropy and the low velocity zone in the QOB are proposed. • Orientation-arranged rock is important origin of low velocity zone in Earth’s interior. Structure and composition of Earth are fundamental importance in exploring the dynamic evolution of the crust and mantle. The Qinling Orogenic Belt (QOB) is located between the North China plate and the South China Plate, and is one of the main orogenic belts in China. To explore the composition and origin of anisotropy and the low wave velocity zone of the QOB, ten rock samples (gneiss and schist) were collected from the five sites of the QOB and the P - and S -wave velocities of these samples were measured under 0.6 to 2.0 GPa and 100 to 550 °C. The wave velocities increase with increasing pressure and decreasing temperature. The V P and V S of the schist and gneiss match the velocity of the middle and lower crust of the QOB, indicating that schist and gneiss are important component of the QOB. All the schist and gneiss samples exhibit obvious seismic anisotropy with 1.64%–17.42% for V S and 2.93%–14.78% for V P under conditions of crust and upper mantle. The CPO/LPO and layering distribution of mica in rock samples are the main reasons for this anisotropy. The V S structures below the five sampled sites from seismic ambient noise tomography were built to explore the effect of schist and gneiss on the composition and structure of the QOB. The results indicate that orientation-arranged gneiss and schist driven by the tectonic stresses might be a new origin of the character of V P / V S , seismic anisotropy, and the low velocity zone in the QOB.