中蒙边界区中生代推覆构造与伸展垮塌作用的运动学和动力学分析

中蒙边界的亚干地区经历古生代造山作用之后, 中生代经历两次重大的构造事件: 造山期(晚三叠-早侏罗世)为地壳的缩短导致总体向南的特大型推覆构造; 晚造山期(晚侏罗-早白垩 世)近南北的地壳伸展, 形成变质核杂岩. 经构造的运动学和动力学分析查明, 造山期形成的推覆构造上盘总体运动方向约180°, 运动学涡度约为−0.10, 属缩短-增厚型剪切作用, 最大主压应力轴方向近水平. 晚造山期伸展作用形成拆离断层, 上盘总体运动方向约165°: 早期运动学涡度平均为0.74, 属简单剪切为主减薄型剪切作用, 最大主压应力轴倾角66°; 晚期伸展作用的运动学涡度为平均0.55, 属纯剪切为主减薄型剪切作用, 最大主压应力轴方向近直立. 表明推覆构造导致地壳的增厚, 原处于地壳上层的岩石下沉进入韧脆性转化带以下的下地壳, 增温的下盘岩石和其下部分重熔的物质因其体积的增大和比重的减小而上浮, 而上盘岩石则因构造增厚负荷加大. 在上方负荷和下部热隆的联合作用下, 夹持其间的韧性剪切带中的垂向纯剪切组分增大. 当垂向纯剪切组分超过简单剪切组分时, 韧性剪切带转化为伸展-减薄型剪切带. 这一递进转化过程体现了推覆构造和伸展构造时空关系和其间运动学和动力学内在的本质联系: 推覆构造引起地壳增厚的过程中孕育了伸展的因素, 伸展组分的递增最终导致晚造山的伸展垮塌.     

额尔古纳断裂特征、形成时代及构造属性

额尔古纳断裂是沿额尔古纳河东岸分布的由花岗质糜棱岩所组成的大型韧性剪切带.本文报道了韧性剪切带几何学、运动学特征以及花岗质糜棱岩中黑云母40Ar/39Ar定年结果,以便揭示断裂特征、形成时代、构造属性及大地构造背景.大型韧性剪切带呈NE向展布,具有上盘向NW倾向滑动特征.糜棱岩中糜棱面理和矿物拉伸线理十分发育,属于S-L构造岩.求得对数付林参数在1.18~2.35之间,显示糜棱岩的应变类型为接近平面应变的拉长应变.用极摩尔圆法和石英斜交面理法测得的运动学涡度值分别为0.42~0.92和0.48~0.94,表明剪切带是简单剪切和纯剪切共同作用的一般剪切带.应变和运动学涡度综合分析显示剪切带为伸展作用下的加长-减薄型剪切带.矿物的变形行为指示了额尔古纳糜棱岩经历了中深地壳高温剪切阶段、高温环境下应力撤消后静态恢复重结晶阶段和低温隆升冷却阶段.花岗质糜棱岩中黑云母40Ar/39Ar坪年龄分别是(106.16±0.79)和(111.55±0.67)Ma,是额尔古纳韧性剪切带低温隆升冷却阶段的产物,明显年轻于外贝加尔-蒙古东北部地区变质核杂岩隆升冷却时代.基于实测地质剖面、显微构造、有限应变测量、运动学涡度分析、年代学研究以及区域对比,认为额尔古纳断裂的构造属性属于早白垩世NNE向展布的大型低角度伸展型韧性剪切带.额尔古纳断裂与俄罗斯外贝加尔-蒙古东北部-中国大兴安岭西坡的早白垩世变质核杂岩、火山断陷盆地和超大型-大型火山-热液矿床具有相同的大地构造背景,它们是中-俄-蒙3国交界地区板块碰撞后加厚的地壳在早白垩世发生伸展减薄和重力坍塌背景下的产物.     

辽东半岛大营子拆离断层系及其区域构造意义

华北克拉通晚中生代发生了大规模岩石圈减薄并伴随着地壳层次区域性伸展作用的发生.在此伸展背景下,华北克拉通区发育有一系列的伸展构造,大营子拆离断层系即为一个典型实例、大营子拆离断层系位于华北克拉通东部（辽东半岛东南部）,主要由上盘火山-沉积盆地,大营子-黄花甸拆离断层带以及下盘古元古代变质岩系和侵入岩体三部分组成.依据拆离断层带中构造岩组合、构造岩变形显微构造和石英EBSD组构分析揭示出下盘岩石主要经历了从高绿片岩相到低绿片岩相的变形变质过程.基于火山-沉积盆地中火山岩的SHRIMP和LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年结果,推断伸展构造开始活动于（135±1.2）Ma之前,结束于（127±1）Ma.通过与辽南变质核杂岩及辽东半岛其他伸展构造的对比,以及这些伸展构造的分布及影响深度,可充分说明辽东半岛岩石圈破坏和减薄的不均一性,从而显示出其破坏程度的差异,并藉此探讨了华北克拉通破坏和伸展减薄的不均匀性.     

滇西澜沧江左旋走滑挤压带应变分解的应变和运动学涡度证据

集中于青藏高原东南缘澜沧江走滑挤压带应变路径与应变分解关系的探讨, 该剪切带出露各类型韧性变形岩石, 为有限应变、运动学涡度值和单剪-纯剪组分比率的定量化分析提供地质条件. 平均运动学涡度值的估算基于3种传统方法, 即Rs-q法、碎斑双曲线分布法和极摩尔圆法; 计算结果表明低级片岩带内的糜棱岩化变质沉积岩平均运动学涡度为0.19~0.54, 高级片麻岩带的初糜棱岩、糜棱岩和超糜棱岩的运动学涡度值分别为0.19~0.73, 0.11~0.8和0.84~0.95 (甚至高达0.99). 利用经典应变分析方法和运动学涡度值估算结果一致暗示澜沧江剪切带总体为单斜对称应变. 结合运动学路径, 该剪切带可以被厘定为典型的走滑挤压应变带、且发生了应变分解. 根据区域构造背景, 青藏高原东南缘展布的这些新生代陡立而狭窄的大型韧性剪切带是调节陆内变形过程中简单剪切组分的重要地质载体, 而纯剪切组分则分解在构造带外侧更宽阔的地体上.     

内蒙赤峰南部楼子店韧性剪切带应变与剪切作用类型

赤峰南部楼子店韧性剪切带北东-南西向, 低-中角度倾向南东. 韧性剪切带主要为花岗质糜棱岩, 向上依次逐渐变为绿泥石化糜棱岩带、微角砾岩带、脆性断层面及断层泥带, 这些带具有相似的面理产状, 但相关线状构造产状及运动学标志存在明显差异. 基于长石碎斑进行的Fry法有限应变测量得出, 初糜棱岩对数付林参数、罗德参数和应变强度系数分别为1.25~3.30, -0.535~-0.112和0.41~0.75, 付林图解及霍赛克图解上处于视收缩应变区; 糜棱岩对应的参数分别为0.99~1.43, -0.176~-0.004和0.63~0.82, 付林图解及霍赛克图解上处于靠近平面应变的视收缩应变区. 极莫尔圆法、双曲线法、斜交面理法三种方法求得初糜棱岩和糜棱岩的运动学涡度在0.67~0.95之间, 变形为单剪为主的一般剪切变形. 有限应变和运动学涡度综合分析表明在韧性变形的初始阶段, 变形为加长剪切, 产生了L构造岩; 随着剪切带的抬升和应变的积累, 变形逐渐变为加长-减薄剪切, 形成L-S构造岩. 这些剪切作用类型只能形成a(平行剪切)线理/ab(平行剪切)面理的应变相, 递进变形过程中线理不会发生90°转向.     

河源伸展剥离断层(博罗-龙川段)及其第四纪活动特征

在实地调查测量和资料分析的基础上,对河源断裂带主体(博罗长宁-龙川段)伸展剥离构造及其第四纪活动特征进行讨论。该断裂带自燕山晚期以来主要表现为缓倾角的伸展剥离正断层,下盘形成了最大厚度约200m的糜棱岩和糜棱岩化带,上盘下滑并控制着K2-E裂陷盆地的形成和发展。博罗-龙川一带的河源伸展剥离断层,南段和北段滑距较大,上盘脆性域K2-E红层以剥离断层为界与下盘前寒武纪变质核杂岩或燕山期花岗岩相接触;中段滑距较小,K2-E红层多与由J1构成的中间韧性层相接触,之间为脆性剥离断层,下剥离盘为糜棱岩化花岗岩,但变质核杂岩未出露。河源断裂带下盘顶部的糜棱岩在后期活动中曾发生强烈的硅化,形成宽度4～30m的硅化岩带。K2-E红层形成之后,断裂带在新生代晚期再次发生错动,其结果是在硅化岩带的顶部或在K2-E红层与中间韧性层J1浅变质粉砂岩之间产生新的脆性断层面,并往往形成20～80cm厚的断层泥。地质、地貌、形变测量、地震以及断层物质测年等资料表明,博罗-龙川段河源断裂带在第四纪直至现今仍有活动,但自晚更新世以来的近地表活动减弱;其第四纪活动在空间上还表现出分段特征:(1)东源黄田以北段活动性较弱;(2)博罗石坝至东源黄田段活动性较强;(3)博罗石坝以南现代活动性也较弱。     

洪镇变质核杂岩的形成机制及其大地构造意义

位于大别造山带东侧扬子板块上的洪镇变质核杂岩, 其下拆离盘韧性剪切带叠加在元古代董岭群变质杂岩之上. 该韧性剪切带现今剖面上分别呈背形或反“S”形, 但具有一致向南西缓倾的矿物拉伸线理. 露头构造、显微构造及石英C轴组构皆指示该韧性剪切带具有上盘向南西的运动方向. 糜棱岩中石英与长石的动态重结晶型式指示其为角闪岩相韧性剪切带, 原先形成于中地壳环境. 该变质核杂岩形成于早白垩世(白云母⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar坪年龄为(124.8±1.2) Ma), 在区域北东-南西向拉伸中沿向南西缓倾的韧性剪切带发生拆离运动. 随后洪镇花岗岩体的侵位(黑云母⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar坪年龄为121.7 Ma)使该韧性剪切带弯曲、抬升, 形成变质核杂岩. 洪镇变质核杂岩揭示, 区内早白垩世岩浆活动是发生在区域伸展背景下, 扬子板块东部在晚中生代也经历过岩石圈减薄.     

组构对花岗质岩石流变影响的实验研究

正华北克拉通减薄是近年来地学界的热点问题,拆离断层形成与地壳伸展减薄是华北克拉通岩石圈减薄的浅部响应,而拆离断层内岩石的流动及变形机制直接受控于岩石流变学状态。对于华北克拉通地壳流变研究,流变实验和天然样品流变分析多数集中在下地壳,对于与拆离断层对应的中上地壳流变实验研究比较少。目前为止,有关于地壳伸展和拆离断层形     

相继断层作用解释共轭边缘的非对称性和伸展差异

早期伸展期间,冷的大陆岩石层变薄并发生沉降,形成裂谷盆地。如果继续拉伸并最终导致破裂,裂开的、大大减薄的板块便沉降至海平面以下深处,形成一对共轭的裂离边缘。尽管盆地和边缘是普遍存在的结构,但是从中等程度伸展的盆地到明显拉伸边缘的变形过程还不清楚,就像目前研究一致报道的那样,地壳减薄比由脆性断层作用引起的伸展要强烈1-4。该伸展差异可能起因于脆性地壳层和塑性地壳层的差异拉伸2,但是这不足以解释共轭边缘的典型非对称结构5,6——在剖面上,一侧边缘显示逐渐变薄,伴随着大断裂发育,而共轭的另一侧显示突然变薄,却伴随着小断裂发育5。裂陷早期开始活动的全地壳拆离,在理论上可以引起减薄和非对称1,但在机制上是有疑问的。此外,伸展差异在共轭边缘的两侧均有发生,导致外部形态的矛盾——两侧边缘均像拆离断层的上盘7,8。不同的模型认为,由于地震成像的限制,许多脆性伸展未被探测到,其原因或是地震分辨率难以识别的断裂9、基底顶部100km级别拆离面上不可见的变形8,或者是剖面上断裂组合的构造复杂性3。这里我们利用深度偏移地震成像准确地测量断层伸展,并将其与地壳减薄进行比较。利用观测资料建立了一种裂陷期运动学平衡模型,通过由裂陷盆地到非对称结构过程中断层控制的地壳减薄,和共轭裂离边缘的超级减薄解决了伸展差异。与现有的认识相比,观测资料支持这种观点:在地震资料上地壳减薄首先可由清晰可见的简单安德森断裂解释。     

珠江口盆地开平凹陷边界断层三维几何学与运动学

神开断层位于开平凹陷北部,是发育在南海被动大陆边缘洋陆过渡带的大型伸展拆离边界断层.本文以高精度2/3D地震资料和测井资料为基础,首次对神开断层的三维几何学和运动学特征进行剖析.根据断距变化,结合走向、倾向、倾角特征,将神开断层分为西南、中、东北三段;空间上认为神开断层断面是由多个等倾角区组成的复杂曲面,重建其几何学形态模型,通过5个垂向轴面和3个横向轴面将神开断层断面分为20个区.以正断层相关褶皱理论为指导,对神开断层运动学特征进行深入研究;根据平衡剖面对比,认为断层西南段、东北段在始新世早期开始发育,中段在始新世中晚期发育并与西南段和东北段连锁形成一条断层;断层旋转程度自西南向东北变弱;断层西南段反转强度最大,中段次之,东北段无反转.神开断层西南段为"反犁式"形态;中段为"座椅式"形态,与大洋核杂岩伴生;东北段为"犁式"形态.断层下盘的波瓦状构造为古老的拆离断层面,与神开断层一起构成拆离断层系.     

On the theory of the axially-symmetric,time-average,state of the atmosphere

Summary A possible formal approach to a closed steady-state theory of the mean axially-symmetric variables is outlined. The approach involves alternating iterative solutions of the energy and momentum equations. In these equations the effects of transient eddy phenomena of all frequencies are assumed to be parameterized in terms of the mean symmetric variables.     

Erosional unloading,hillslope geometry,and the height of the Cascade Range,Washington State,USA

Peaks in the Cascade Range in northern Washington State are on average ～800 m higher than in southern Washington. The influences of differential valley excavation and variations in hillslope length and average slope on these altitudinal trends were tested using a 3‐dimensional model for isostatic rock uplift and calculations of hillslope length and slope respectively. The magnitude of isostatic peak uplift calculated by the model is highly dependent on the flexural rigidity (D) and the related effective elastic thickness (T_e) of the crust of this region. Crustal rigidity was constrained using published estimates and by estimating the depth of the seismogenic zone in the area (D > 1 × 10²³ Nm and T_e > 24 km). With these constraints, isostatic compensation due to differential erosion added < 700 m and 300 m, or < 25% overall, of height to peaks in the northern and southern Cascades, respectively. Deeper valley incision in the northern Cascades accounts for < 300 m of the 800 m difference in peak altitudes between north and south. Similarly, variation in valley spacing and slope account for < 350 m of the difference in mean altitude between northern and southern regions. Hence, at least several hundred m difference in altitude between the northern and southern regions of the Cascades in Washington must be due to tectonic, geologic, or geophysical factors rather than surficial and geomorphic effects like isostatic response to valley incision and hillslope geometry. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Petrology of the dyke rocks of the western portions of Rajpipla hills,Broach district,Gujarat, India

The paper embodies the field, petrographic and petrochemical studies of the dykes occuring within the Deccan basalts, in the Western portions of Rajpipla hills. Major and minor dykes with different trends occur in the area varying in thickness from 2′ to 75′ and traceable lengthwise from few to several miles. The density of the dyke distribution is two per mile. The composition of the minor dykes ranges from teschenite to trachyte with dominant basaltic types and they seem to be coeval with the flows of the area. The major dolerite dykes are found to be post-lava. Both alkali-olivine basalt and tholeiitic types occur. The former phase preceeds the latter and includes the minor alkaline dykes. A differentiation trend based on new chemical analyses is proposed.     

Rupture process of the Miyagi-Oki,Japan, earthquake of June 12, 1978

The faulting mechanism and multiple rupture process of the M = 7.4 Miyagi-Oki earthquake are studied using surface and body wave data from local and worldwide stations. The main results are as follows. (1) P-wave first motion data and radiation patterns of long-period surface waves indicate a predominantly thrust mechanism with strike N10° E, dip 20°W, and slip angle 76°. The seismic moment is 3.1 × 10²⁷ dyne-cm. (2) Farfield SH waveforms and local seismograms suggest that the rupture occurred in two stages, being concordant with the two zones of aftershock activity revealed by the microearthquake network of Tohoku University. The upper and lower zones, located along the westward-dipping plate interface, are separated by a gap at a depth of 35 km and have dimensions of 37 × 34 and 24 × 34 km², respectively. Rupture initiated at the southern end of the upper aftershock zone and propagated at N20°W subparallel to the trench axis. About 11 s later, the second shock, which was located 30 km landward (westward) of the first, initiated at the upper corner of the lower aftershock zone and propagated down-dip N80°W. Using Haskell modelling for this rupture process, synthetic seismograms were computed for teleseismic SH waves and nearfield body waves. Other parameters determined are: seismic moment $\text{M}{}_0\text{= 1.7 × 10}{}^{27}\text{dyne-cm, slip dislocation}\text{u}\text{= 1.9}\text{m}\text{, Δσ = 95}\text{bar, rupture velocity}\text{ν = 3.2}\text{km s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{,}\text{rise time}\text{τ = 2}\text{s}$, for the first event; $\text{M}{}_0\text{= 1.4 × 10}{}^{27}\text{dyne-cm}\text{,}\text{u}\text{= 2.4}\text{m}\text{, Δσ = 145}\text{bar}$, for the second event; and time separation between the two shocks ΔT = 11 s. The above two-segment model does not explain well the sharp onsets of the body waves at near-source stations. An initial break of a small subsegment on the upper zone, which propagated down-dip, was hypothesized to explain the observed near-source seismograms. (3) The multiple rupture of the event and the absence of aftershocks between the two fault zones suggests that the frictional and/or sliding characteristics along the plate interface are not uniform. The rupture of the first event was arrested, presumably by a region of high fracture strength between the two zones. The fracture energy of the barrier was estimated to be 10¹⁰ erg cm^?2. (4) The possible occurrence of a large earthquake has been noted for the region adjacent to and seaward of the area that ruptured during the 1978 event. The 1978 event does not appear to reduce the likelihood of occurrence of this expected earthquake.     

A quantitative study of the energy release in the aftershocks of the Bhuj earthquake, 2001, India, using Lg phase

The devastating earthquake on 26 January 2001 at Bhuj, India, resulted in large-scale death and destruction of properties of several million US dollars. The moment magnitude of the earthquake was 7.7 and its maximum focal intensity exceeded X in MM scale. The rate of aftershocks of this earthquake, recorded at Gauribidanur seismic array station (GBA), shows a monotonic decay with time superposed with oscillations. For the Indian continent the Lg phase is a prominent arrival at regional distances. The estimate of Lg amplitude is obtained by optimally fitting the Lg wave train to a exponential decay curve. The logarithm of these amplitudes and logarithm of root mean square (rms) value of actual amplitudes of the Lg are calibrated with USGS m_b to create a local m_bLg magnitude scale. The energy released from these aftershocks is calculated from the rms value of Lg phase. The plot of cumulative energy release with time follows the power law of the form t^p, superposed with oscillations. The exponent of the power law, p, is estimated both by a time-window scanning method and by an interpolation method. The value of p is 0.434 for time-window scanning method and 0.432 for the interpolation method. The predominant periods found in the oscillatory part of the cumulative energy, obtained by differencing the observed from the power law fit, are 10.6, 7.9, 5.4, 4.6 and 3.5 h for time-window scanning method. The corresponding periods for interpolation method are 13.4, 11.5, 7.4, 4.2, 3.5, 2.6 and 2.4 h.     

Water contents, temperatures and diversity of the magmas of the catastrophic eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia, November 13, 1985

The petrology of the highly phyric two-pyroxene andesitic to dacitic pyroclastic rocks of the November 13, 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia, reveals evidence of: (1) increasingly fractionated bulk compositions with time; (2) tapping of a small magma chamber marginally zoned in regard to H₂O contents (1 to 4%), temperature (960–1090°C), and amount of residual melt (35 to 65%); (3) partial melting and assimilation of degassed zones in the hotter less dense interior of the magma chamber; (4) probable heating, thermal disruption and mineralogic and compositional contamination of the magma body by basaltic magma “underplating”; and (5) crustal contamination of the magmas during ascent and within the magma chamber. Near-crater fall-back or “spill-over” emitted in the middle of the eruptive sequence produced a small pyroclastic flow that became welded in its central and basal portions because of ponding and thus heat conservation on the flat glaciated summit near the Arenas crater. The heterogeneity of Ruiz magmas may be related to the comparatively small volume (0.03 km³) of the eruption, nearly ten times less than the 0.2 km³ of the Plinian phase of Mount St. Helens, and probable steep thermal and P_H2O gradients of a small source magma chamber, estimated at 300 m long and 100 m wide for an assumed ellipsoidal shape.     

Composition,temperature, and thickness of the lithosphere of the Archean Kaapvaal craton

A new model is proposed for the structure of the Kaapvaal craton lithosphere. Based on chemical thermodynamics methods, profiles of the chemical composition, temperature, density, and S wave velocities are constructed for depths of 100–300 km. A solid-state zone of lower velocities is discovered on the S velocity profile in the depth interval 150–260 km. The temperature profiles are obtained from absolute values of P and S velocities, taking into account phase transformations, anharmonicity, and anelastic effects. The examination of the sensitivity of seismic models to the chemical composition showed that relatively small variations in the composition of South African xenoliths result in lateral temperature variations of ～200°C. Inversion of some seismic profiles (including IASP91) with a fixed bulk composition of garnet peridotites (the primitive mantle material) leads to a temperature inversion at depths of 200–250 km, which is physically meaningless. It is supposed that the temperature inversion can be removed by gradual fertilization of the mantle with depth. In this case, the craton lithosphere should be stratified in chemical composition. The depleted lithosphere composed by garnet peridotites exists to depths of 175–200 km. The lithospheric material at depths of 200–250 km is enriched in basaltoid components (FeO, Al₂O₃, and CaO) as compared with the material of garnet peridotites but is depleted in the same components as compared with the fertile substance of the underlying primitive mantle. The material composing the craton root at a depth of ～275 km does not differ in its physical and chemical characteristics from the composition of the normal mantle, and this allows one to estimate the thickness of the lithosphere at 275 km. The results of this work are compared with data of seismology, thermal investigations, and thermobarometry.     

Petrology of the rajmahal traps of the Northwestern Rajmahal Hills,Bihar, India

Nine basaltic lava-flows, which vary in thickness between 60 feet and 300 feet, were established in the NW Rajmahals. The flows were, at places, laid down one above the other and, at others, were found to contain intervening intertrappean horizons. All the flows are essentially of basaltic composition and are made up of labradoritie plagioclase, pigeonitic and augitic pyroxene, opaque ore, primary glass and secondary minerals (palagonite, secondary silica, calcite and zeolite). The phenocrystic plagioclase ranges in composition between An₇₂ and An₆₂, while the constituents of the groundmass range between An₅₀ and An₁₇. The microphenocrysts of pyroxene are mainly augitic and occasionally pigeonitic while the constituents of the groundmass are essentially pigeonitic. The opaque minerals are magnetite and ilmenite. Petrographically, the lava-flows are more or less similar to one another. The first three flows are, however, more remarkably porphyritic and a little coarser in grain size than the six overlying flows. The eighth flow is devoid of palagonite. Calcite occurs only in certain portions of the second flow. There is a gradual increase in the percentage of primary glass from the first to the ninth flow with a corresponding fall in the total percentage of plagioclase and pyroxene. Statistical analysis of the grain size variation in the plagioclases was carried out and the results were found to be directly related to the prevailing rates of cooling in the different flows and also in the different horizons of the same flow. Modal analysis of the nine flows (in all, 98 samples) was carried out and this brought out some interesting results. Samples from three of the flows were analysed chemically and the corresponding norms were calculated. The order of crystallisation of the primary constituents was established from petrographic and petrological studies. The basaltic magma, which gave rise to the lava-flows of this region, does not appear to have undergone any significant differentiation during the course of its cooling and consolidation. The only discernible effect of crystallisati on differentiation was an enrichment of silica (and, perhaps, alkalis) in the residual liquids and no noteworthy enrichment of iron appears to have occurred at any stage.     

Growth rhythms,evolution of the Earth's interior,and origin of the Metazoa

Growth patterns preserved in the accretionary skeletons of fossils provide the only known method of directly measuring the rate of the Earth's rotation in the distant past. From seasonal and tidal growth patterns of fossils, one can determine the number of days per year and per month, respectively, in the distant past. Together, these values can be used to distinguish the effects of moment of inertia changes on the length of day from those of tidal friction. When the Metazoan accretionary skeleton originated in the Late Precambrian-Cambrian, the length of day determined from fossils was approximately 19 hr. This value requires that density differentiation of the Earth was essentially complete well the end of the Precambrian. The growing length of day, as well as prior differentiation of oxygenated outer layers (atmosphere, hydrosphere, and crust) from the Earth's dense layers within, were prerequisites for the origin of the Metazoa. Circadia (=approximatelly 24 hr) rhythms in living Metazoa do not readily adapt to environemtal cycles less than about 19hr. Prokaryotes generally lack circadian rhythms because their generation times are less than a day; prokaryotes were well-adapted to Precambrian days less than 19 hr duration, as well as to oxygen-poor environments. As the length of day increased to 19 hr or more during the Late Precambrian, eukaryotes with life spans substantially longer than a day (and consequently with an ability to postpone energyusage beyond a day) evolved. During the Phanerozoic, moment of inertia changes were relatively small, so that lunar tidal friction became the most important cause of changing length of day. However, some researchers believe that even the former may have left an imprint on fossil growth patterns. This conclusion is difficult to confirm, given the uncertainties of growth pattern analyses. But facies-by-facies comparisons of growth patterns can help reduce this uncertainty: presumed tidal growth patterns should change systematically with depth of habitat, for example. Preliminary analyses for Late Ordovician brachiopods from Indiana suggest that this approach will be productive, and may help evaluate the suggestion that the Late Ordovician-Silurian was a time of unusual evolution of the Earth's moment of inertia during the Phanerozoic.