New insights into the tectonics and geodynamics of Botswana from intra-crustal structures revealed by receiver function analysis

SUMMARY Recent improvements in seismic coverage allow for an increasingly detailed knowledge of the crustal structure beneath Botswana to be obtained. For first time, shear wave velocity–depth models throughout are obtained from genetic algorithm inversion receiver functions. In this approach, averaging important structural variations is minimized by separating function waveforms into backazimuth and slowness bins. Division layers sediment, upper, middle lower crust reveals features that enhance our tectonics geodynamics Botswana. west, Ghanzi-Chobe belt, as well at border region Zimbabwe craton with Magondi has been thickened through a thickening crust, most likely collisional during Damara Orogeny. A significant difference observed between western central-to-eastern Kaapvaal craton. Western thin mafic (<10 km) survived extensive melting Ventersdorp tectonomagmatic event 2.7 Ga, contrary previous reports lack crust. Meanwhile craton, average ${{{}{V}}}_{{}{s}}$ (∼3.3 km s−1) upper suggests presence suture zone separates two blocks different ages thicknesses. relatively low Okavango rift central SE reactivation Palaeoproterozoic zones along weak intraplate relative motion enabled fluid infiltration mantle which causes seismicity region. Furthermore, NW–SE trending high Vs related Karoo flood magmatism formed dyke swarm. There also indication dedicated study required further investigate shallow converted phases mobile belts sedimentary basins Botswana, however, results can provide good starting point such study.