REGIONAL FABRIC OF THE DEEP LITHOSPHERE IN CENTRAL-EUROPE FROM SEISMIC ANISOTROPY

The large scale anisotropic structures with plunging symmetry axes in the subcrustal lithosphere of central Europe were derived from indepen dent observations of teleseismic P-residual spheres and polarizations of the split SKS waves. The dipping structures are interpreted as remn ants of palaeo-subduction systems which retain olivine orientations fr om ancient oceanic lithosphere. Values of kp and k(S) estimated from o bserved teleseismic P and SKS data are within the range of anisotropie s found for the upper mantle rocks. The Variscides of central Europe m ay thus be characterized by two palaeo-subduction systems, with symmet ry axes divergent relative to the suture between the Moldanubicum and Saxothuringicum.