The deep structure of the lithosphere along the Caucasus-South Caspian Basin-Apsheron Threshold-Middle-Caspian Basin-Turan plate seismic profile

On the basis of reflected wave hodographs interpreted by the method of homogeneous functions, the section of the lithosphere across the Caucasus, Caspian Sea and Turan Plate was obtained without the use of any preliminary section model. In a section of more than 1000 km, mantle and crustal structures and junction patterns between them are seen down to 60 km within the limits of the Kura Basin and the South and Middle Caspian basins and the Turan Plate. The section of the South Caspian Basin is generally consistent with the ideas of E.V. Artyushkov concerning its structure. A sedimentary layer of up to 30 km thick is underlain by a thinned crust about 10 km thick and by high-velocity mantle. The Turan Plate consists of three layers, which are typical for cratons that are about 50 km thick.