Seismic and gravity constraints on the crustal architecture of the Intermontane terranes, central Yukon

In 2004, two seismic reflection lines were shot across the Mesozoic Whitehorse trough and adjacent terranes. Three-dimensional first-arrival tomographic inversion is used to constrain lithology to 800–1200 m depth, and surface structures are extrapolated into the middle crust using the coincident reflection data. In the Yukon–Tanana terrane, the metasedimentary Snowcap assemblage is characterized by velocities of 4.5–5.5 km/s, while in Quesnellia, velocities of 5.0–6.0 km/s occur at 500 m depth, and probably represent igneous rocks of the Tatchun batholith. Across the Whitehorse trough, velocities >4.0 km/s correspond to clastic rocks of the Jurassic Laberge and Triassic Lewes River groups; velocities <4.0 km/s probably present the clastic Jurassic to Cretaceous Tantalus Formation. Several near-surface units with velocities of 2.0–3.0 km/s are identified; some correlate well with volcanic rocks of the Upper Cretaceous Carmacks Group, but others could be attributable to alluvial deposits or faulting. The B...