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Tectonic evolution of an early Precambrian high-pressure granulite belt in the North China Craton
(2000)
Subduction and collision processes in the Central Andes constrained by converted seismic phases
(2000)
Climatic changes are of major importance in landslide generation in the Argentine Andes. Increased humidity as a potential influential factor was inferred from the temporal clustering of landslide deposits during a period of significantly wetter climate, 30,000 years ago. A change in seasonality was tested by comparing past (inferred from annual-layered lake deposits, 30,000 years old) and modern (present-day observations) precipitation changes. Quantitative analysis of cross recurrence plots were developed to compare the influence of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on present and past rainfall variations. This analysis has shown the stronger influence of NE trades in the location of landslide deposits in the intra-andean basin and valleys, what caused a higher contrast between summer and winter rainfall and an increasing of precipitation in La Nina years. This is believed to reduce thresholds for landslide generation in the arid to semiarid intra-andean basins and valleys.
Digital seismology tutor
(2001)
Determination of the iron oxidation state in Earth materials using XANES pre-edge information
(2001)
Volcano seismology
(2001)
The granulites of the Saxon Granulite Massif equilibrated at high pressure and ultrahigh temperature and were exhumed in large part under near-isothermal decompression. This raises the question of whether P-T-t data on the peak metamorphism may still be retrieved with confidence. Felsic and mafic granulites with geochronologically useful major and accessory phases have provided a basis to relate P-T estimates with isotopic ages presented in a companion paper. The assemblage garnet + clinopyroxene in mafic granulite records peak temperatures of 1010-1060 ° C, consistent with minimum estimates of around 967 ° C and 22.3 kbar obtained from the assemblage garnet + kyanite + ternary feldspar + quartz in felsic granulite. Multiple partial overprint of these assemblages reflects a clockwise P-T evolution. Garnet and kyanite in the felsic granulite were successively overgrown by plagioclase, spinel + plagioclase, sapphirine + plagioclase, and biotite + plagioclase. Most of this overprinting occurred within the stability field of sillimanite. Garnet + clinopyroxene in the mafic granulite were replaced by clinopyroxene + amphibole + plagioclase + magnetite. The high P-T conditions and the absence of thermal relaxation features in these granulites require a short-lived metamorphism with rapid exhumation. The ages of peak metamorphism (342 Ma) and shallow-level granitoid intrusions (333 Ma) constrain the time span for the exhumation of the Saxon granulites to about 9 Ma.
Hydrological modelling of a Pleistocene landslide-dammed lake in the Santa Maria Basin, NW Argentina
(2001)
SHRIMP U-Pb ages have been obtained for zircon in granitic gneisses from the aureole of the Rogaland anorthosite-norite intrusive complex, both from the ultrahigh temperature (UHT; >900 °C pigeonite-in) zone and from outside the hypersthene-in isograd. Magmatic and metamorphic segments of composite zircon were characterised on the basis of electron backscattered electron and cathodoluminescence images plus trace element analysis. A sample from outside the UHT zone has magmatic cores with an age of 1034 ± 7 Ma (2{sigma}, n = 8) and 1052 ± 5 Ma (1{sigma}, n = 1) overgrown by M1 metamorphic rims giving ages between 1020 ± 7 and 1007 ± 5 Ma.In contrast, samples from the UHT zone exhibit four major age groups:(1) magmatic cores yielding ages over 1500 Ma(2) magmatic cores giving ages of 1034 ± 13 Ma (2{sigma}, n = 4) and 1056 ± 10 Ma (1{sigma}, n = 1)(3) metamorphic overgrowths ranging in age between 1017 ± 6 Ma and 992 ± 7 Ma (1{sigma}) corresponding to the regional M1 Sveconorwegian granulite facies metamorphism, and(4) overgrowths corresponding to M2 UHT contact metamorphism giving values of 922 ± 14 Ma (2{sigma}, n = 6). Recrystallized areas in zircon from both areas define a further age group at 974 ± 13 Ma (2{sigma}, n = 4).This study presents the first evidence from Rogaland for new growth of zircon resulting from UHT contact metamorphism. More importantly, it shows the survival of magmatic and regional metamorphic zircon relics in rocks that experienced a thermal overprint of c. 950 °C for at least 1 Myr. Magmatic and different metamorphic zones in the same zircon are sharply bounded and preserve original crystallization age information, a result inconsistent with some experimental data on Pb diffusion in zircon which predict measurable Pb diffusion under such conditions. The implication is that resetting of zircon ages by diffusion during M2 was negligible in these dry granulite facies rocks. Imaging and Th/U-Y systematics indicate that the main processes affecting zircon were dissolution-reprecipitation in a closed system and solid-state recrystallization during and soon after M1.
In order to monitor the seismic activity of Mt. Merapi (Indonesia) over a long period of time, we installed a permanent array of both broadband and short-period seismometers during the summer of 1997. Considering the requirements of an automatic classification and localization system for seismic monitoring and surveillance at active volcanoes, we split this network into three small aperture arrays distributed around the volcano. We introduce here a newly developed method to determine the hypocenters in an automatic, non-linear manner using the coherence of seismic waves observed at the different arrays. To test this method, we analyze a swarm of VT-B events recorded by the network. The first step in this algorithm is based on a modified smoothed coherence transform. In the second step we perform a semblance analysis applied to the 3D problem, evaluating the quality of the estimated relative onset-times. After more than one year of dormancy, Mt. Merapi renewed its activity at the end of June 1998. This gave us the opportunity to analyze all stages of dome growth, collapse and new intrusion of magma using the associated seismicity in a post-processing sense. This also allowed us to calibrate and test our newly developed automatic monitoring system using the more pronounced waveforms of VT-B events. By detecting and classifying different event types automatically, we are able to localize a large number of VT-B events which occurred just before the initial eruption. We are also able to resolve some properties of the wavefield at Mt Merapi which are essential for further interpretations. Finally, the results show that the source region of the VT-B type seismicity just before the 1998 eruption is closely related to the region of subsequent high volcanic activity and therefore may represent a promising tool to forecast future eruptions.
Nd whole-rock data from the Windmill Islands area yield early Proterozoic to middle Archaean Nd model ages. These crustal residence times are consistent with regional correlations with other parts of Antarctica (Bunger Hills, Denman Glacier area) and the Albany-Fraser Orogen of south-western Australia during the Mid-Proterozoic and thus support reconstructions with a continuous Mid-Proterozoic orogen in these areas. The new Nd isotope data provide strong evidence that no age boundary exists between the higher- and lower-grade parts of the Windmill Islands area, and that the metamorphic complex represents a single terrane with a common crustal history. The data support the notion of a time- link between the occurrence of intrusive charnockites (C-type magmas) and high-grade metamorphism. The magmatic rocks and orthogneisses in the area are interpreted to have a mixed source consisting of older crustal components, i.e. older sediments (ca. 3.2-2.6 Ga) and a younger mafic component (ca. 1.9 Ga). Two garnet Sm-Nd isochrons yield ages of 1156±17 Ma and 1137±2.5 Ma and are identical to SHRIMP U-Pb results on monazite from these samples. A garnet Sm-Nd age of 1123±13 Ma for the Ford granite is significantly younger than the SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age for this sample. The difference relates to the different closure temperature of each isotopic system and is thus interpreted as initial cooling after granulite facies metamorphism. Keywords. East Antarctica - Granulites - Garnet-whole rock isochrons - Intrusive charnockite - Nd model ages
The age of Proterozoic granulite facies metamorphism and deformation in the Strangways Metamorphic Complex (SMC) of central Australia is determined on zircon grown in syn-metamorphic and syn-deformational orthopyroxene-bearing, enderbitic, veins. SHRIMP zircon studies suggest that M1-M2 and the correlated periods of intense deformation (D1-D2) are part of a single tectonothermal event between 1,717-2 and 1,732-7 Ma. It is considered unlikely that the two metamorphic phases (M1, M2) suggested by earlier work represent separate events occurring within 10-25 Ma of each other. Previous higher estimates for the age of M1 granulite metamorphism in the SMC (Early Strangways event at ca. 1,770 Ma) based on U-Pb zircon dating of granitic, intrusive rocks, are not believed to relate to the metamorphism, but to represent pre-metamorphic intrusion ages. Conventional multi-grain U-Pb monazite analyses on high-grade metasediments from three widely spaced localities in the western SMC yield 207Pb/235U ages between 1,728-11 and 1,712-2 Ma. The age range of the monazites corresponds to the SHRIMP zircon ages in the granulitic veins and is interpreted to record monazite growth (prograde in the metasedimentary rocks). The data imply a maximum time-span of 30 Ma for high-grade metamorphism and deformation in the SMC. There is, thus, no evidence for an extremely long period of continuous high- temperature conditions from 1,770 to ca. 1,720 Ma as previously proposed. The results firmly establish that the SMC has a very different high-grade metamorphic history than the neighbouring Harts Range, where upper amphibolite facies metamorphism in the Palaeozoic caused widespread growth or recrystallization of monazite.
Reassessment of local earthquake data from the ANCORP seismological network allowed the calculation of 3D attenuation (Q(p)) tomographic images of crust and upper mantle beneath the southern Bolivian Altiplano around 21degrees S. The images reveal a low-Q(p) middle and lower crust and a moderate-Q(p) upper mantle beneath the southern Altiplano. Beneath the recent magmatic arc, Q(p) is not significantly decreased at this latitude. The distribution of crustal Q(p) coincides with the variation of electrical resistivity, thus limiting the possible mechanisms causing the anomalies. Our findings support the hypothesis that partial melts in middle and lower crust beneath the Altiplano are present on a large scale. We see no evidence for a shallow asthenosphere beneath the southern Altiplano
It has been often debated whether all granitic gneisses associated with coesite-bearing eclogites in southern Dabieshan, China, have also been subjected to ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism. We show here that a metagranitoid adjacent to the Bixiling eclogite-ultramafic complex has preserved primary granitic textures and an igneous mineral assemblage of biotite + plagioclase + microcline + quartz + allanite +/- amphibole. The absence of UPH recrystallization for the metagranitoid is particularly manifested by the conservation of euhedral-zoned plagioclase phenocrysts, the lack of corona garnets around igneous biotite, and the presence of an igneous mineral assemblage in zircons. The only metamorphic overprint was the epidote-amphibolite facies metamorphism characterized by the assemblage of biotite + phengiticmica + epidote + albite + K-feldspar + quartz +/- amphibole Metamorphic conditions are estimated at ca. 550degrees-680degreesC and 6-13 kbar for the metagranitoid and its amphibolitic enclave. Geochemically, the metagranitoid is similar to its country gneiss and shows an affinity to volcanic arc granitoid. Zircon U-Pb dating suggests that the Bixiling metagranitoid was emplaced during the Neoproterozoic (729+/-4 Ma), when most other granitic rocks and the protoliths of eclogite were also formed in Dabieshan. Taking into account the discovery of non-UHP granitic gneisses in other places, we argue that part of Neoproterozoic granitic rocks in the Dabieshan and Sulu terranes have escaped UHP metamorphism during the Triassic deep subduction of the continental crust as a consequence of a lack of penetrative deformation and fluid-rock interaction
Schlemaite, with the simplified formula (Cu,rectangle)(6)(Pb,Bi)Se-4, is a new mineral species from the Niederschlema-Alberoda vein-type uranium deposit at Hartenstein, Erzgebirge, Germany. It occurs as anhedral to subhedral grains with no obvious forms or twinning, in aggregates of up to several hundred mum across, with berzelianite, eucairite and clausthalite in a dolomite-ankerite matrix. Schlemaite is black with a black streak and opaque with a metallic luster. It is brittle with an uneven fracture and no observable cleavage. It has a mean VHN (25 g load) of 106 kg/mm(2), which roughly equates to a Mobs hardness of 3. In plane-polarized reflected light, schlemaite is grey, non- pleochroic with a very weak bireflectance. It has very weak anisotropy, with rotation tints in shades of very pale metallic orange and blue, and shows no internal reflections. Electron-microprobe analyses yielded a mean composition Cu 38.86, Ag 2.57, An 0.07, Hg 0.09, Pb 13.75, Bi 9.12, Se 35.11, total 99.57 wt.%. The empirical formula (based on 4 Se apfu) is (Cu5.50Ag0.21)(Sigma5.71)(Pb0.60Bi0.39)(Sigma0.99)Se-4. The calculated density is 7.54 g/cm(3) (based on the empirical formula and unit-cell parameters refined from single-crystal data). Schlemaite is monoclinic, P2(1)/m, a 9.5341(8), b 4.1004(3), c 10.2546(8) Angstrom, beta 100.066(2)degrees, V 394.72(9) Angstrom(3), a:b:c 2.3252:1:2.5009, Z = 2. The crystal structure of schlemaite was solved by direct methods and refined to an R index of 4.8% using 1303 unique reflections collected on a four-circle diffractometer equipped with a CCD detector. The structure consists of intercalated ordered and disordered layers. The ordered layer consists of ladders of Ph2+ + Bi3+ coordinated by Se, the former showing strong lone-pair-stereoactive effects, and a network of Cu+ coordinated by Se anions. The disordered layer consists of an array of sites partly occupied by Cu+ and Ag+ in a variety of coordinations, and is characterized by strong short-range order. The strongest seven lines of the X-ray powder-diffraction pattern [d in Angstrom(I)(hkl)] are: 3.189(100)(012), 3.132(100)(112), 2.601(70)(113), 2.505(50)(311), 2.151(60)(014), 2.058(80)(020) and 1.909(50)(314). Although schlemaite is chemically similar to furutobeite, (Cu,Ag)(6)PbS4, it is not isostructural with it. The mineral is named after the Schlema-Alberoda uranium ore field near Schneeberg in the ancient mining region of Saxony, Germany
High-Pressure Granulites : Formation, Recovery of Peak Conditions, and Implications for Tectonics
(2003)
We modeled the two most extreme highstands of Lake Naivasha during the last 175 k.y. to estimate potential precipitation/ evaporation changes in this basin. In a first step, the bathymetry of the paleolakes at f135 and 9 k.y. BP was reconstructed from sediment cores and surface outcrops. Second, we modeled the paleohydrologic budget during the highstands using a simplified coupled energy mass-balance model. Our results show that the hydrologic and hence the climate conditions at f135 and 9 k.y. BP were similar, but significantly different from today. The main difference is a f15% higher value in precipitation compared to the present. An adaptation and migration of vegetation in the cause of climate changes would result in a f30% increase in precipitation. The most likely cause for such a wetter climate at f135 and 9 k.y. BP is a more intense intertropical convergence and increased precipitation in East Africa.
Variations in the temporal and spatial distribution of solar radiation caused by orbital changes provide a partial explanation for the observed long-term fluctuations in African lake levels. The understanding of such relationships is essential for designing climate-prediction models for the tropics. Our assessment of the nature and timing of East African climate change is based on lake-level fluctuations of Lake Naivasha in the Central Kenya Rift (0°55'S 36°20'E), inferred from sediment characteristics, diatoms, authigenic mineral assemblages and 17 single-crystal 40Ar/39Ar age determinations. Assuming that these fluctuations reflect climate changes, the Lake Naivasha record demonstrates that periods of increased humidity in East Africa mainly followed maximum equatorial solar radiation in March or September. Interestingly, the most dramatic change in the Naivasha Basin occurred as early as 146 kyr BP and the highest lake level was recorded at about 139 to 133 kyr BP. This is consistent with other well-dated low-latitude climate records, but does not correspond to peaks in Northern Hemisphere summer insolation as the trigger for the ice- age cycles. The Naivasha record therefore provides evidence for low-latitude forcing of the ice-age climate cycles.
Present erosion and sediment flux in the semi-arid intramontane Santa Maria Basin, NW Argentina are compared with conditions during a period of wetter and more variable climate at about 30,000 14C yrs ago. The results suggest that the influence of climate change on the overall erosional sediment budget is significant, mainly because of a change in the erosion regime coupled with an increase in mass movements. The most effective mechanism to increase landslide activity in this environment is a highly variable climate on inter-annual timescales. In contrast, Quaternary changes in erosional budgets due to variations in moisture regimes is small in the Santa Maria Basin. Since the magnitude of a potential increase in background erosion as well as enhanced landsliding is smaller than typical levels of uncertainty of erosional budgets for such large basins, it is not likely that climate-driven erosional unloading can influence tectonic style and rates in this semi-arid environment on time scales of several 103 to 104 years.
Multiple landslide clusters record quaternary climate changes in the northwestern Argentine andes
(2003)
The chronology of multiple landslide deposits and related lake sediments in the semi-arid eastern Argentine Cordillera suggests that major mass movements cluster in two time periods during the Quaternary, i.e. between 40 and 25 and after 5 14C kyr BP. These clusters may correspond to the Minchin (maximum at around 28-27 14C kyr BP) and Titicaca wet periods (after 3.9 14C kyr BP). The more humid conditions apparently caused enhanced landsliding in this environment. In contrast, no landslide-related damming and associated lake sediments occurred during the Coipasa (11.5- 10 14C yr BP) and Tauca wet periods (14.5-11 14C yr BP). The two clusters at 40-25 and after 5 14C kyr BP may correspond to periods where the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Tropical Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature Variability (TAV) were active. This, however, was not the case during the Coipasa and Tauca wet periods. Lake-balance modelling of a landslide-dammed lake suggests a 10-15% increase in precipitation and a 3-4 ° C decrease in temperature at ~30 14C kyr BP as compared to the present. In addition, time-series analysis reveals a strong ENSO and TAV during that time. The landslide clusters in northwestern Argentina are therefore best explained by periods of more humid and more variable climates.
Three diatomite beds exposed in the Ol Njorowa Gorge south of Lake Naivasha, Central Kenya Rift, document three major lake-level highstands between 175 and 60 kyr BP. Diatom transfer-function estimates of hydrological and hydrochemical parameters suggest that a deep and large freshwater lake existed during the highstands at 135 and 80 kyr BP. In contrast, a shallower but more expanded freshwater lake existed at 110 kyr BP. The best analog for the most extreme highstand at 135 kyr BP is the highstand during the Early Holocene humid period from 10 to 6 kyr BP. The environmental conditions as reconstructed from diatom assemblages suggest long-lasting episodes of increased humidity during the high lake periods. This contrasts to the modern situation with a relatively shallow Lake Naivasha characterized by rapid water level fluctuations within a few decades. The most likely cause for the variable hydrological conditions since 175 kyr BP is orbitally driven insolation changes on the equator and increased lateral moisture transport from the ocean.
We present a wavelet coherence method that is capable of displaying local coherence information between two seismic stations in the sense of a spectrogram. We have analyzed the vertical components of a 20-min-long time series from four stations that were situated in the seismic near field of Stromboli volcano. Typical volcanic seismic signals recorded in the near field of Stromboli volcano consist of continuous volcanic tremor superimposed on frequent Strombolian explosion signals. The tremor exhibits a banded and frequency-stable structure, whereas the broadband explosion signals span two or three frequency decades. We demonstrate that signals related to explosion earthquakes are strongly correlated within the network over 1.5 frequency decades. Using synthetic data, we show how coherent signal portions can be extracted out of noisy data using a coherence-filtering method. A time delay analysis using coherence information results in a coarse source location estimation that lies within the crater region. With the exception of randomly fluctuating coherence peaks, low correlations have been observed in the characteristic bands that are assumed to be generated by continuous tremor. In the low-frequency band that is related to the ocean microseisms (period approximate to 4-8 sec), we observe mostly high correlation that breaks down during the appearance of explosion earthquake signals. Based on further analysis using the inverse wavelet transformation, we propose a model that describes the breakdown phenomenon as a superposition of two independent events
The Tien Shan is a most active intracontinental mountain-building range with abundant Quaternary fault-related folding. In order to improve our understanding of Quaternary intermontane basin deformation, we investigated the intermontane Issyk-Kul Lake area, an anticline that was up-warped through the piedmont cover, causing partitioning of the alluvial fan veneer. To follow the morphological scenario during the warping process, we relied on surface-exposed and trenched structures and on alluvial fans and bajadas as reference surfaces. We used air photos and satellite images to analyze the spatial -temporal morphological record and determined the age of near surface sediments by luminescence dating. We demonstrate that the up-warped Ak-Teke hills are a thrust-generated subdued anticline with strong morphological asymmetry which results from the coupling of the competing processes of up-warp and erosional feedback. The active creeks across the up-warped anticline indicate that the antecedent drainage system kept pace with the rate of uplift. The rivers which once sourced the piedmont, like the Toru-Aygyr, Kultor and the Dyuresu, became deeply entrenched and gradually transformed the study area into an abandoned morphological surface. The up-warp caused local lateral drainage diversion in front of the northern backlimb and triggered the formation of a dendritic drainage pattern upfan. Luminescence dating suggest that the period of up-warp and antecedent entrenchment started after 157 ka. The morphologically mature study area demonstrates the response of fluvial systems to growing folds on piedmont areas, induced by a propagating frontal fold at a thrust belt edge, following shortening. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved
This study presents results of ambient noise measurements from temporary single station and small-scale array deployments in the northeast of Basle. H/V spectral ratios were determined along various profiles crossing the eastern masterfault of the Rhine Rift Valley and the adjacent sedimentary rift fills. The fundamental H/V peak frequencies are decreasing along the profile towards the eastern direction being consistent with the dip of the tertiary sediments within the rift. Using existing empirical relationships between H/V frequency peaks and the depth of the dominant seismic contrast, derived on basis of the lambda/4-resonance hypothesis and a power law depth dependence of the S-wave velocity, we obtain thicknesses of the rift fill from about 155 m in the west to 280 in in the east. This is in agreement with previous studies. The array analysis of the ambient noise wavefield yielded a stable dispersion relation consistent with Rayleigh wave propagation velocities. We conclude that a significant amount of surface waves is contained in the observed wavefield. The computed ellipticity for fundamental mode Rayleigh waves for the velocity depth models used for the estimation of the sediment thicknesses is in agreement with the observed H/V spectra over a large frequency band
Geologic context of geodetic data across a Basin and Range normal fault, Crescent Valley, Nevada
(2004)
[1] Geodetic strain and late Quaternary faulting in the Basin and Range province is distributed over a region much wider than historic seismicity, which is localized near the margins of the province. In the relatively aseismic interior, both the magnitude and direction of geodetic strain may be inconsistent with the Holocene faulting record. We document the best example of such a disagreement across the NE striking, similar to55degrees NW dipping Crescent normal fault, where a NW oriented, 70 km geodetic baseline records contemporary shortening of similar to2 mm/yr orthogonal to the fault trace. In contrast, our geomorphic, paleoseismic, and geochronologic analyses of the Crescent fault suggest that a large extensional rupture occurred during the late Holocene epoch. An excavation across the fault at Fourmile Canyon reveals that the most recent event occurred at 2.8 +/- 0.1 ka, with net vertical tectonic displacement of 4.6 +/- 0.4 m at this location, corresponding to the release of similar to3 m of accumulated NW-SE extension. Measured alluvial scarp profiles suggest a minimum rupture length of 30 km along the range front for the event, implying a moment magnitude M-w of at least 6.6. No prior event occurred between similar to2.8 ka and similar to6.4 +/- 0.1 ka, the C-14 calender age of strata near the base of the exposed section. Assuming typical slip rates for Basin and Range faults (similar to0.3 mm/yr), these results imply that up to one third, or similar to1 m, of the extensional strain released in the previous earthquake could have reaccumulated across the fault since similar to2.8 ka. However, the contemporary shortening implies that the fault is unloading due to a transient process, whose duration is limited to between 6 years ( geodetic recording time) and 2.8 ka ( the age of the most recent event). These results emphasize the importance of providing accurate geologic data on the timescale of the earthquake cycle in order to evaluate geodetic measurements
In the earliest emplaced granite subintrusion of the multiphase peraluminous Satzung pluton, Erzgebirge, Germany, a mineral aggregate was observed consisting of sekaninaite (X-Fe = 0.74-0.94), Zn-rich hercynite (X-Zn = 0.03- 0.11), tri- and dioctahedral layer silicates of different composition and color, and minor quartz. Geological, textural, and compositional criteria argue that the sekaninaite, hercynite, quartz, and the brown biotite are not primary or secondary granite minerals, but are of metamorphic origin representing a xenolith uptaken from the granite melt near its level of emplacement. The metamorphic origin is supported by the occurrence of this mineral assemblage in metamorphic rocks exposed locally in the Erzgebirge basement. Reaction of the polymineralic metamorphic aggregate with the surrounding melt and subsequent interaction with alkali-, F- and LILE-rich residual fluids account for the widespread decomposition of the sekaninaite and formation of several layer silicates including green biotite, muscovite, berthierine/Fe chlorite, and sericite. The observed enrichment of the relic sekaninaite and its replacement products in elements such as Na, Li, Be, Rb, Cs, and F is result of interaction of the metamorphic fragment with the surrounding melt/fluid, in accordance with the evolved nature of the Satzung magmatic-hydrothermal system
The displacement histories of the San Jacinto and southernmost San Andreas fault zones are constrained by offset data with ages in the range of 5 Ma to 5 ka. Apparent discrepancies between long- and short-term average displacement rates can be reconciled with a time-variable rate model. In this model, the displacement rate on the San Andreas decelerated from similar to35 mm/yr at 1.5 Ma to as low as 9 +/- 4 mm/yr by 90 ka. Over this same time period, the rate on the San Jacinto fault zone accelerated from an initial value of zero to a rate of 26 +/- 4 mm/yr. The data also imply that the rate of the San Andreas fault accelerated since ca. 90 ka, from similar to9 mm/yr to the modern rate of 27 +/- 4 mm/yr, whereas the San Jacinto decelerated from 26 +/- 4 mm/yr to the modern rate of 8 +/- 4 mm/yr. The time scale of these changes is significantly longer than the earthquake cycle, but shorter than time scales characteristic of lithospheric-scalle dynamics. The emergence of the San Jacinto fault zone ca. 1.5 Ma coincided with the development of a major restraining bend in the San Andreas fault zone, suggesting that the formation of new subparallell faults could be driven by conditions that inhibit displacement on preexisting faults
We present two case studies that demonstrate how a common evaluation methodology can be used to assess the reliability of regional climate model simulations from different fields of research. In Case I, we focused on the agricultural yield loss risk for maize in Northeastern Brazil during a drought linked to an El-Nino event. In Case II, the present-day regional climatic conditions in Europe for a 10-year period are simulated. To comprehensively evaluate the model results for both kinds of investigations, we developed a general methodology. On its basis, we elaborated and implemented modules to assess the quality of model results using both advanced visualization techniques and statistical algorithms. Besides univariate approaches for individual near-surface parameters, we used multivariate statistics to investigate multiple near-surface parameters of interest together. For the latter case, we defined generalized quality measures to quantify the model's accuracy. Furthermore, we elaborated a diagnosis tool applicable for atmospheric variables to assess the model's accuracy in representing the physical processes above the surface under various aspects. By means of this evaluation approach, it could be demonstrated in Case Study I that the accuracy of the applied regional climate model resides at the same level as that we found for another regional model and a global model. Excessive precipitation during the rainy season in coastal regions could be identified as a major contribution leading to this result. In Case Study II, we also identified the accuracy of the investigated mean characteristics for near- surface temperature and precipitation to be comparable to another regional model. In this case, an artificial modulation of the used initial and boundary data during preprocessing could be identified as the major source of error in the simulation. Altogether, the achieved results for the presented investigations indicate the potential of our methodology to be applied as a common test bed to different fields of research in regional climate modeling
The Niederschlema-Alberoda uranium deposit, in the Erzgebirge region of Germany, contains an uncommon assemblage of metallic minerals, in particular selenides, sulfides, arsenides, tellurides, and native elements, in addition to uraninite and coffinite. The complex mineralogy resulted from the superposition of several mineralizing events over the time interval from the Permian to the Cretaceous; these events introduced and redeposited a great variety of metallic elements within the hydrothermal uranium deposit (Pb, Ag, Cu, Hg, Tl, Bi, Co, Ni, As, Sb, Se, S, Te). One of the exotic minerals is jolliffeite, an arsenoselenide with end-member composition NiAsSe, so far only known from Lake Athabasca, Saskatchewan, Canada. A single, small, anhedral grain of jolliffeite from Niederschlema-Alberoda is included and partly replaced by sulfurian eskebornite. Associated minerals comprise hematite, Ni-Co-Se-bearing lollingite, clausthalite, tiemannite, mercurian hakite-giraudite solid solutions, sulfurian berzelianite, sulfurian umangite, hessite, Ni-Co-As-bearing pyrite, and Se-rich chalcopyrite. The sulfurian jolliffeite has the empirical formula (Ni0.85Cu0.09Co0.05Fe0.02Ag0.01)Sigma(1.02)As(0.98)(Se0.77S0.23)(Sigma1. 00) and differs from type jolliffeite mainly by substantial substitution of Cu (2.6-3.3 wt.%) for Ni and S (3.2-4.1 wt.%) for Se. Substantial S-for-Se substitution in jolliffeite implies extensive and probably complete miscibility between NiAsSe and its S-dominant analogue, gersdorffite-Pa3 (NiAsS). We suggest that a localized accumulation of Ni and As in the Se-(S)-bearing hydrothermal fluid gave rise to the crystallization of jolliffeite at some rare locations at a late stage of formation of the Jurassic selenide assemblage
The aim of the study is to record the occurrence of sediment deformation structures in one of the tectonically most active areas on the globe, the Tien Shan range in Central Asia and to examine the significance of the deformations as indicators of palaeoseismicity. Soft-sediment deformation structures in form of balls and pseudo-nodules are exposed in the Issyk-Kul basin, within interfingering beds of shallow lacustrine, beach and fluviatile origin. Additional deformation structures that were encountered are: a complex and chaotic folded structure, giant balls and a "pillar" structure which has not been previously reported, where marl intrudes down into coarse pebbley sand and forms pillar morphology. Liquefaction features and bedforms related to storm and breaking waves were not encountered. Neither was there evidence of turbidites. Seven field criteria for relating soft-sediment deformation to palaeoseismic triggering provide strong evidence for a seismic origin of the deformation structures. Empirical relationships between magnitude and the maximum distance from an epicenter to liquefaction sites make the active epicentral zone north of Lake Issyk- Kul, with its frequent high magnitude events, the most favorable source for the deformation structures. Luminescence dating of the sediments gives a time window of 26 +/- 2.1 to 10.5 +/- 0.7 ka BP, indicating latest Pleistocene seismic activity.(C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Hessite, Ag2Te, and native tellurium (?) constitute two, previously unknown tellurium species within the complex mineral assemblage at Niederschlema-Alberoda, Erzgebirge, Germany. Hessite is always intimately associated with clausthalite and has a composition close to ideal stoichiometry. The mean empirical formula is (Ag1.98Sb0.01)(1.99)(Te0.96Se0.05)(1.01). Paragenetic relations and thermodynamic data suggest that hessite crystallized in equilibrium with clausthalite, berzelianite, and tiemannite under conditions of almost identical, high fugacitities of Se-2 and Te-2, which very locally were approached in the main selenide stage of Jurassic age. Native tellurium (?) formed as replacement product of hessite. Niederschlema-Alberoda provides the first record of hessite from an uranium deposit worldwide. Hessite and native Te are the first tellurium minerals reported from the Erzgebirge metallogenic province
The results of this study clearly identify four key parameters controlling the estimation of probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) in France in the framework of the Cornell-McGuire method. Results in terms of peak ground acceleration demonstrate the equally high impact, at all return periods, of the choice of truncation of the predicted ground-motion distribution (at + 2sigma) and of the choice between two different magnitude-intensity correlations. The choice of minimum magnitude (3.5/4.5) on hazard estimates can have an important impact at small return periods (<1000 years), whereas the maximum magnitude (6.5/7.0), on the other hand, is not a key parameter even at large return periods (10,000 years). This hierarchy of impacts is maintained at lower frequencies down to 5 Hz. Below 5 Hz, the choice of the maximum magnitude has a much greater impact, whereas the impact due to the choice of the minimum magnitude disappears. Moreover, variability due to catalog uncertainties is also quantified; these uncertainties that underly all hazard results can engender as high a variability as the controlling parameters. Parameter impacts, calculated at the centers of each source zone, show a linear trend with the seismicity models of the zone, demonstrating the lack of contributions coming from neighboring zones. Indeed, the region of influence that contributes to the PSHA estimate at a given site decreases with increasing return periods. The resulting overall variability in hazard estimates due to input uncertainties is quantified through a logic tree, obtained coefficients of variation vary between 10% and 20%. Until better physical models are obtained, the uncertainty on hazard estimates may be reduced by working on an appropriate magnitude-intensity correlation
The upper Eocene-lower Oligocene sediments deposited in the eastern part of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin in northern Italy provide a complete record of the unroofing of the Alpine orogenic prism during the early stages of exhumation in the Ligurian sector. From late Priabonian till late Rupelian time, the sediments in the study area were derived from two different sources, one characterised by white micas with Si<6.5 pfu and Permian Ar-40/Ar-39 ages (270 Ma), and the other characterised by white micas with S>7 pfu and Eocene-Oligocene Ar-40/Ar-39 ages (32-50 Ma). The first source is considered to be indicative of low-pressure metamorphic rocks that covered the HP rocks of the Ligurian Alps, and were completely eroded by Chattian time. From this time on, the study area started to record the first input from western Alpine sources characterised by a larger span of ages with a more frequent Eoalpine signal. Thus, sediments deposited in the eastern part of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin contain the only available evidence of rocks belonging to high crustal levels in the Alpine orogenic prism that were not affected by the Alpine overprint. These data also provide time constraints to the poorly dated first conglomerates deposited in this area. Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology reveals a minimum age of 33 +/- 1.4 Ma for the Pianfolco Conglomerates in the type locality, and of 31.4 +/- 3.5 Ma for the Borbera Conglomerates. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Earthquake swarms are often assumed to result from an intrusion of fluids into the seismogenic zone, causing seismicity patterns which significantly differ from aftershock sequences. But neither the temporal evolution nor the energy release of earthquake swarms is generally well understood. Because of the lack of descriptive empirical laws, the comparison with model simulations is typically restricted to aspects of the overall behaviour such as the frequency- magnitude distribution. However, previous investigations into a large earthquake swarm which occurred in the year 2000 in Vogtland/northwest Bohemia, Central Europe, revealed some well-defined characteristics which allow a rigorous test of model assumptions. In this study, simulations are performed of a discretized fault plane embedded in a 3-D elastic half- space. Earthquakes are triggered by fluid intrusion as well as by co-seismic and post-seismic stress changes. The model is able to reproduce the main observations, such as the fractal temporal occurrence of earthquakes, embedded aftershock sequences, and a power-law increase of the average seismic moment release. All these characteristics are found to result from stress triggering, whereas fluid diffusion is manifested in the spatiotemporal spreading of the hypocentres
Seismic hazard evaluation is proposed by a methodological approach that allows the study of the influence of different modelling assumptions relative to the spatial and temporal distribution of earthquakes on the maximum values of expected intensities. In particular, we show that the estimated hazard at a fixed point is very sensitive to the assumed spatial distribution of epicentres and their estimators. As we will see, the usual approach, based on uniformly distributing the epicentres inside each seismogenic zone is likely to be biased towards lower expected intensity values. This will be made more precise later. Recall that the term "bias" means, that the expectation of the estimated quantity ( taken as a random variable on the space of statistics) is different from the expectation of the quantity itself. Instead, our approach, based on an estimator that takes into account the observed clustering of events is essentially unbiased, as shown by a Monte-Carlo simulation, and is configured on a 11011-isotropic macroseismic attenuation model which is independently estimated for each zone
The recent discovery of HP-LT parageneses in the basal unit of the Lycian nappes and in the Mesozoic cover of the Menderes massif leads us to reconsider and discuss the correlation of this region with the nearby collapsed Hellenides in the Aegean domain. Although similarities have long been pointed Out by various authors, a clear correlation has not yet been proposed and most authors insist more on differences than similarities. The Menderes massif is the eastern extension of the Aegean region but it has been less severely affected by the Aegean extension during the Oligo-Miocene. It would thus be useful to use the structure of the Menderes massif as an image of the Aegean region before a significant extension has considerably reduced its crustal thickness. But the lack of correlation between the two regions has so far hampered Such comparisons. We describe the main tectonic units and metamorphic events in the two regions and propose a correlation. We then show possible sections of the two regions before the Aegean extension and discuss the involvement of continental basement in the Hellenic accretionary complex. In our interpretation the Hellenic- Tauric accretionary complex was composed of stacked basement and cover units which underwent variable P-T histories. Those which were not exhumed early enough later followed a high-T evolution which led to partial melting in the Cyclades during post-orogenic extension. Although the Menderes massif contains a larger volume of basement units it does not show significant evidence for the Oligo-Miocene migmatites observed in the center of the Cyclades suggesting that crustal partial melting is strictly related to post-orogenic extension in this case
We studied the oxidation and migration processes of inorganic compounds in iron gall inks with a combination of micro X-ray fluorescence analysis (micro-XRF) and micro X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (micro-XANES). With elemental mapping by micro-XRF, the correlation of the minor elements in the ink to the major element Fe was investigated. Along concentration profiles of Fe, micro-XANES measurements were carried out in order to determine the oxidation state and the local environment. With the help of model inks, we could show that Cu is a further important element in the paper degradation process due to iron gall ink corrosion. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
VLT on-axis optical spectroscopy of the z = 0.144 radio-loud quasar HE 1434-1600 is presented. The spatially resolved spectra of the host galaxy are deconvolved and separated from those of the central quasar in order to study the dynamics of the stars and gas as well as the physical conditions of the ISM. We find that the host of HE 1434-1600 is an elliptical galaxy that resides in a group of at least 5 member galaxies, and that most likely experienced a recent collision with its nearest companion. Compared with other quasar host galaxies, HE 1434-1600 has a highly ionized ISM. The ionization state corresponds to that of typical Seyferts, but the ionized regions are not distributed in a homogeneous way around the QSO, and are located preferentially several kiloparsecs away from it. While the stellar absorption lines do not show any significant velocity field, the gas emission lines do. The observed gas velocity field is hard to reconcile with dynamical models involving rotating disk. modified Hubble laws or power laws, that all require extreme central masses (M > 10(9) M-circle dot) to provide only poor fit to the data. Power law models, which best fit the data, provide a total mass of M(<10 kpc) = 9.2 x 10(10) M-&ODOT;. We conclude that the recent interaction between HE 1434-1600 and its closest companion has strongly affected the gas velocity and ionization state, from the center of the galaxy to its most external parts
The combined passive and active seismic TRANSALP experiment produced an unprecedented high-resolution crustal image of the Eastern Alps between Munich and Venice. The European and Adriatic Mohos (EM and AM, respectively) are clearly imaged with different seismic techniques: near-vertical incidence reflections and receiver functions (RFs). The European Moho dips gently southward from 35 km beneath the northern foreland to a maximum depth of 55 km beneath the central part of the Eastern Alps, whereas the Adriatic Moho is imaged primarily by receiver functions at a relatively constant depth of about 40 km. In both data sets, we have also detected first-order Alpine shear zones, such as the Helvetic detachment, Inntal fault and SubTauern ramp in the north. Apart from the Valsugana thrust, receiver functions in the southern part of the Eastern Alps have also observed a north dipping interface, which may penetrate the entire Adriatic crust [Adriatic Crust Interface (ACI)]. Deep crustal seismicity may be related to the ACI. We interpret the ACI as the currently active retroshear zone in the doubly vergent Alpine collisional belt. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Field observations, digital elevation model (DEM) data, and longitudinal profile analysis reveal a perched low- relief upland landscape in the Red River region, Yunnan Province, China, which correlates to an uplifted, regional low- relief landscape preserved over the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. As with other major rivers of the plateau margin, the Red River has deeply incised the low-relief upland landscape, which we interpret to be the remnants of a pre- uplift or relict landscape. We examine longitudinal river profiles for 97 tributaries of the Red River. Most profiles consist of three segments separated by sharp knickpoints: an upper, low-gradient channel segment, a steeper middle channel segment, and a very steep lower channel segment. Upper channel segments correspond to the relict landscape and have not yet experienced river incision. Steeper middle and lower segments indicate onset of rapid, two-phase river incision, on the basis of which changes in external forcings, such as climate or uplift, can be inferred. In terms of two end-member scenarios, two-phase incision could be the result of pulsed plateau growth, in which relatively slow uplift during the first phase is followed by rapid uplift during the second phase, or it could reflect adjustments of the main channel to changing climate conditions against the backdrop of steady plateau growth. Reconstruction of the paleo-Red River indicates 1400 m river incision, 1400-1500 m surface uplift, and a maximum of 750 m vertical displacement across the northern Red River fault, elevating the northern Ailao Shan range above the surrounding relict landscape. On the basis of stratigraphic constraints, incision along the Red River likely began in Pliocene time
In recent years, H/V measurements have been increasingly used to map the thickness of sediment fill in sedimentary basins in the context of seismic hazard assessment. This parameter is believed to be an important proxy for the site effects in sedimentary basins (e.g. in the Los Angeles basin). Here we present the results of a test using this approach across an active normal fault in a structurally well known situation. Measurements on a 50 km long profile with 1 km station spacing clearly show a change in the frequency of the fundamental peak of H/V ratios with increasing thickness of the sediment layer in the eastern part of the Lower Rhine Embayment. Subsequently, a section of 10 km length across the Erft-Sprung system, a normal fault with ca. 750 m vertical offset, was measured with a station distance of 100 m. Frequencies of the first and second peaks and the first trough in the H/V spectra are used in a simple resonance model to estimate depths of the bedrock. While the frequency of the first peak shows a large scatter for sediment depths larger than ca. 500 m, the frequency of the first trough follows the changing thickness of the sediments across the fault. The lateral resolution is in the range of the station distance of 100 m. A power law for the depth dependence of the S-wave velocity derived from down hole measurements in an earlier study [Budny, 1984] and power laws inverted from dispersion analysis of micro array measurements [Scherbaum et al., 2002] agree with the results from the H/V ratios of this study