Planar and line defects in the sapphirine polytypes

Transmission electron microscopy of various natural and synthetic sapphirines shows the existence of extensive polytypic variation in some samples. In addition to the previously described 1Tc and 2M polytypes, 3Tc, 4M and 5Tc structures are observed. The structural principles underlying the polytypism and the associated diffraction behaviour are reviewed, and the correlation between the nature of the observed stacking faults and their origin during crystal growth, in deformation or as a result of solid-state transformation is discussed. Pairs of c/2 partial dislocations observed in synthetic material provide a likely solid-state transformation mechanism, although the evidence suggests that most observed stacking variation arises during growth.A new type of non-conservative planar defect has been found in sapphirine from Finero, Italy, suggestive of unit-cell scale intergrowth with a surinamite- or pyroxene-like structure. A polysomatic model of the sapphirine and surinamite structures as stackings of pyroxene P and spinel S modules is proposed.     

The dislocation structure of experimentally deformed marble

Five specimens deformed at differential stresses between 220 and 980 bar were selected for a transmission electron microscopy study from the suite of Yule Marble specimens of Heard and Raleigh (1972). The electron micrographs show twinning, curved free dislocations, sessile dislocation loops, and small angle boundaries. Both free dislocations and dislocation boundaries contain dislocation reactions which most likely involve the Burgers vectors 1/61¯102 and 1/121¯210 reacting to form 1/1210¯14. The dislocation densities of specimens deformed at the higher stresses were greater than the starting density and fit the relation . However, the dislocation densities of specimens deformed at the lower stresses decreased only partially with respect to the starting density during the deformation experiments and thus are larger than predicted by this relation.     

Mechanical re-equilibration of fluid inclusions in San Carlos olivine by power-law creep

Fluid inclusions in San Carlos olivine stretch via plastic mechanisms when heat-treated at 1400° C and 0.1 MPa in controlled atmospheres for several days. Measurable changes in both inclusion dimensions and fluid densities occur; densities decrease from 1.0 to 0.7 g/cc. Stretching is fastest along 100, and slower along 001 and 010. The dislocation microstructure around the inclusions suggests that creep mechanisms operate. Uncertainties in the experimental determinations of stretching rates result from optical resolution limits, errors inherent in measuring homogenization temperatures, uncertainties in the fluid equation of state, and changes in fluid chemistry during the heat-treatment. Inclusion stretching by dislocation creep can be treated using a model developed for hot isostatic pressing. In this model, we assume spherical symmetry of plastic flow, that the material yields by steady-state power-law creep, and that the parameters for the constitutive law and fluid equation of state are known. Stretching rates are predicted to depend on the difference between the fluid pressure and the external pressure, the temperature, the constitutive law governing power-law creep, and geometry. Predicted stretching rates show fair, but not exact, agreement with experimentally measured rates. The amount of stretching predicted by the model is in rough agreement with estimates based on dislocation microstructures around natural inclusions, if xenolith ascent rates are of the order of 1 cm/s or faster.Now at: L-201, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, P.O. Box 808 Livermore, CA 94550, USA     

The α-β phase transition in cristobalite,SiO2

Cristobalite, a high temperature phase of silica, SiO₂, undergoes a (metastable) first-order phase transition from a cubic, , to a tetragonal, P4₃2₁2 (or P4₁2₁2), structure at around 220° C. The cubic C9-type structure for -cristobalite (Wyckoff 1925) is improbable because of two stereochemically unfavorable features: a 180° Si-O-Si angle and an Si-O bond length of 1.54 Å, whereas the corresponding values in tetragonal -cristobalite are 146° and 1.609 Å respectively. The structure of the -phase is still controversial. To resolve this problem, a symmetry analysis of the (or P4₁2₁2) transition in cristobalite has been carried out based on the Landau formalism and projection operator methods. The starting point is the ideal cubic ( ) C9-type structure with the unit cell dimension a (7.432 Å) slightly larger than the known a dimension (7.195 Å at 205° C) of -cristobalite, such that the Si-O-Si angle is still 180°, but the Si-O bond length is 1.609 Å. The six-component order parameter driving the phase transition transforms according to the X₄ representation. The transition mechanism essentially involves a simultaneous translation and rotation of the silicate tetrahedra coupled along 110. A Landau free-energy expression is given as well as a listing of the three types of domains expected in -cristobalite from the transition. These domains are: (i) transformation twins from a loss of 3-fold axes, (ii) enantiomorphous twins from a loss of the inversion center, and (iii) antiphase domains from a loss of translation vectors 1/2 110 (FP). These domains are macroscopic and static in -cristobalite, and microscopic and dynamic in -cristobalite. The order parameter , couples with the strain components as ², which initiates the structural fluctuations, thereby causing the domain configurations to dynamically interchange in the -phase. Hence, the - cristobalite transition is a fluctuation-induced first-order transition and the -phase is a dynamic average of -type domains.     

Evaluation of seismic hazard at Roermond, The Netherlands: A comparison of results after the 13 April 1992 earthquake

Mean return periods, RP, for the site of Roermond, The Netherlands, as calculated by different methods, are compared, and its quality evaluated by a simple two-tail test of hypothesis. Results show that RP values by the EGO-method are statistically more likely. They can be considered, despite their broad 90% probability intervals, and for the site and data used, more reliable, since the Roermond earthquake was not an unusual or surprising event for the Lower Rhine Embayment area, where earthquakes of comparable size have occurred since the 18th century.     

Titania precipitation in sapphire containing iron and titanium

Titania, TiO₂, precipitation in natural blue sapphire (Fe, Ti: -Al₂O₃) has been investigated using high resolution and analytical transmission electron microscopy. The structure and habit of the TiO₂ precipitate depends on both the Ti⁴⁺ concentration and the temperature at which the precipitate formed. Tetragonal TiO₂ (Rutile) grows at 1350° C but at 1150° C an orthorhombic non-equilibrium TiO₂ polymorph precipitates. Both TiO₂ polymorphs nucleate in the (0001)s plane as lens shaped discs twinned along their diameter. The crystallographic alignment of each type of TiO₂ precipitate with respect to the -Al₂O₃ host matrix provides a high degree of structural coherency with minimal lattice mismatch. Electron diffraction analysis established the following precipitate/host orientation relationships: tetragonal TiO₂: {011}r {11 07B;100}r(0001)s and 01 r10 0s twinned along the (011)r planeand orthorhombic TiO₂: {021}{11 0}s, {100}(0001)s and 0 2 10 0s twinned along the (021) plane.     

Heterogeneous deformation resulting from stress gradients in calcite single crystals

The stress gradient calculated from an isotropic elastic approximation does not directly reflect the distribution of permanent deformation in a crystal of the same shape under the same conditions. However, with additional crystallographic constraints, it serves to predict locations where twinning and slip are first activated in a stressed crystal. In this study, thick-walled hollow cylinders were cored from single calcite crystals parallel to 0001 and . One cylinder of each orientation was loaded at room temperature under one of two conditions: internal pressure (P _p )=60 MPa, external pressure (P _c )=100 MPa, or P _p = 20 MPa, P _c = 50 MPa. These conditions would produce a radial stress gradient in an isotropic elastic cylinder. Mechanical twins in the deformed calcite samples had a hexagonal distribution in the 0001 oriented cylinder and an orthorhombic distribution in the oriented cylinder.Zones of dense r-slip dislocations were observed in the cylinder. Calculated resolved shear stresses for r-slip in either cylinder remained far below the published critical resolved shear stress (c.r.s.s.) value. Calculated contributions from twinning back stress and anisotropy do not account for the difference between the resolved shear stress and the c.r.s.s. These results underscore the necessity of considering dislocation activiation stresses rather than c.r.s.s. in quantitative analyses of heterogeneous of deformation in single crystals.     

Crystal-chemistry of clinopyroxene from Sunda volcanic arc

Summary The crystal-chemistry of clinopyroxene from a suite of Sunda arc volcanic rocks was investigated by X-ray structure refinement and microprobe analysis. Relationships with clinopyroxene from volcanic rocks of the intraplate environment were highlighted.Sunda clinopyroxenes were distinguished into two groups. The first consists of clinopyroxene from SiO₂-saturated rock types and crystal rim from SiO₂-undersaturated rock types, the second of crystal core from SiO₂-undersaturated rock types. The crystal chemical behaviour of the two groups differs significantly, mainly in the geometrical relationships between M2 and T sites. While in the first group M2-O3 and T-O3 bond lengths shorten and lengthen respectively due to Ca and Al^IV increase, in the second group in which M2 site is almost fully coordinated by Ca, -O3 bond lengths are forced to lengthen in spite of low Al^IV content, in order to mantain the local charge balance around the O3 oxygens.It is noteworthy that Sunda clinopyroxene shows strong analogies with that from basaltic rocks from the Ethiopian plateau and K-rich lavas from the Roman Province respectively, reflecting similarities between the composition and mineralogical assemblages of the host rocks, although they all came from different tectonic environments. A relationship between intracrystalline Mg-Fe 2+ disorder and the explosive character of the volcanism is demonstrated.

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Kristallchemie von Klinopyroxenen aus Gesteinen des Vulkanbogens der Sunda-Inseln

Zusammenfassung Die Kristallchemie von Klinopyroxenen aus einer Serie von vulkanischen Gesteinen des Sunda-Bogens wurde mit Röntgen-Strukturverfeinerungen und Mikrosonden-analysen untersucht. Beziehungen zu Klinopyroxenen vulkanischer Gesteine aus intra-Plattenpositionen werden beleuchtet. Die Sunda-Klinopyroxene wurden in zwei Gruppen eingeteilt. Die erste umfaßt Klinopyroxene SiO₂-gesättigter Gesteinstypen und Kristallsäume SiO₂-untersättigter Gesteinstypen, die zweite Kristallkerne SiO₂-untersättigter Gesteinstypen. Das kristallchemische Verhalten der beiden Gruppen unterscheidet sich beträchtlich, hauptsächlich in den geometrischen Beziehungen zwischen den M2 und T Positionen. Während in der ersten Gruppe die M2-O3 und T-O3 Bindungsldngen durch Zunahme von Ca und Al^IV kleiner bzw. größer werden, sind in der zweiten Gruppe die T-O3 Bindungslängen trotz niedrigen Al^IV Gehaltes zu einer Vergrößerung gezwungen, damit um die O3 Atome der lokale Ladungsausgleich erhalten bleibt.Es ist bemerkenswert, daß die Sunda-Klinopyroxene große Analogien zu denen aus basaltischen Gesteinen des Abessinischen Plateaus und aus K-reichen Laven sowohl der Römischen Provinz als auch des Westafrikanischen Grabens zeigen. Dies spiegelt Ähnlichkeiten zwischen Zusammensetzung und Mineralbestand der Muttergesteine wider, obwohl sie all aus tektonisch unterschiedlichen Positionen kommen.Eine Beziehung zwischen intrakristalliner Mg-Fe²⁺ Unordnung und dem explosiven Charakter des Vulkanismus wird aufgezeigt.

     

Hydration-induced climb dissociation of dislocations in naturally deformed mantle olivine

Widely dissociated dislocations have been observed in mantle olivine from the Erro-Tobbio peridotite in N.W. Italy. Analysis of diffraction contrast in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicates that the dissociation reaction involves the climb dissociation on (001) and {021} planes of b=[001] unit dislocations into partial dislocations with Burgers vectors approximately equal to 1/x 011. In the most extreme case a unit dislocation dissociates into four partials which bound three planar defects. The unusually wide dissociation and the greater extent of dissociation in olivine from amphibole-bearing rocks suggests that the dissociation is related to hydration. The occurrence of fluid inclusions along the dislocations confirms that the partials and planar defects are saturated with volatiles. Analysis of possible planar defect structures in Fo₉₀ shows that; (i) the most likely partial Burgers vectors are b=0 3/11 1/4; (ii) two of the planar defects are cation-deficient and can be stabilised by segregation of H⁺ to produce (Mg, Fe) (OH)₂ layers which are iso-structural with the OH-rich interlayer of the humite group minerals; (iii) the central planar defect is formed by removing a stoichiometric olivine (002) layer so does not produce any local chemical changes. The climb dissociation provides a possible mechanism for the transformation of olivine to a humite group mineral. OH-rich interlayers may nucleate on dislocations and extend into the crystal by climb resulting in a gradual increase of (Mg, Fe) (OH)₂ content. The only addition of material required is hydrogen which can rapidly diffuse into olivine. If the dissociation is stable and occurs at high temperatures and pressures it may significantly influence the nature and kinetics of deformation mechanisms and the olivine — spinel shear transformation mechanism in hydrated olivine.     

Phase transitions in leucite: X-ray diffraction studies

Lattice parameters, and intensities of selected X-ray reflexions, have been measured as a function of temperature for natural leucite, to characterise the phase transformation behaviour. At low temperatures leucite has a large ferroelastic distortion, but the temperature evolution of lattice parameters cannot be explained in terms of a purely ferroelastic phase transition; in particular, the considerable change in volume with temperature implies an additional transition mechanism, which we correlate with off-centring of K-ions in the low-temperature phase, and a collapse of the 111 structural channels. The transition behavior can therefore be rationalised in terms of two competing mechanisms: (I) Ferroelastic (consistent with the change m3m 4/mmm); (II) Volume-changing (consistent with m3m 4/m). Coupling of the two order parameters Q_I, and Q_II gives rise to the intermediate 4/mmm tetragonal phase.Our results confirm the existence of an I4 ₁/aI4 ₁/acd transition, but the non-disappearance of the 200 reflexion at high temperatures implies that the expected transition from I4₁/acd to Ia3d (cubic) symmetry does not occur. We attribute this to a residual strain field conjugated to the order parameter, due to defects (with possible Al/Si order). Nevertheless, within our experimental resolution, the lattice becomes metrically cubic at 665° C.     

The elasticity of the upper mantle orthosilicates olivine and garnet to 3 GPa

The elastic moduli of single crystals of pyrope-rich garnet and San Carlos olivine have been measured over a 3 GPa pressure range at room temperature. The combination of improved ultrasonic techniques and this large pressure range provide for more reliable characterization of the pressure dependence of acoustic wave velocities than has previously been possible. First and second pressure derivatives of the velocities have been determined within 1 percent and 10 percent respectively. The Hashin-Shtrikman bounds for the pressure dependences of the bulk and shear moduli of the garnet used in this study are; K = 173.6 GPa, K = 4.93, K = –0.28 GPa^–1, G= 94.9 GPa, G = 1.56, G = –0.08 GPa^–1 and the Hashin-Shtrikman least-upper bounds and greatestlower bounds for the pressure dependences of the bulk and shear moduli of the San Carlos olivine are K=129.8 GPa, K = 4.66, K= –0.15 GPa^–1, G = 77.8 GPa, G = 1.93, G = –0.11 GPa^–1 and K = 129.2 GPa, K = 4.63, K= –0.15 GPa^–1 G = 77.3 GPa, G=1.96, G = –0.11 GPa^–1 respectively. The determination of the room-pressure elastic moduli of this pyrope-almandine garnet removes the previously observed anomaly in the predictions of systematic treatments of variations of the elastic moduli of garnets with composition. The determination of the second pressure derivatives of the moduli of garnet and olivine illustrates the importance of these terms in extrapolations to higher pressures — with K/P for these crystals being reduced by 17 percent and 9 percent respectively over the 3 GPa pressure range.     

A case of ore deposition associated with paleogeothermal activity: The polymetallic ore veins of Aïn Barbar (NE Constantinois,Algeria)

The Aïn Barbar area was at Langhian times the site of a terrestrleial high energy geothermal field related to acid Langhian magmatic activity. A granite body probably occurs at depth, as evidenced by microgranite and rhyolite dikes. The reservoir is made up of Upper Cretaceous Massylian flyschs, overlain by an impermeable cover of Oligo-Miocene Numidian flysch. Due to erosional unroofing, its thickness, initially on the order of one kilometer, was probably halved towards the termination of activity of the liquid-dominated geothermal field.Geothermal activity, which lasted about 1 Ma, developed in two stages:     

Formulation of the thermodynamic functions for mantle minerals: MgO as an example

The formulas for thermodynamic functions for minerals are presented, couched in terms of the important thermodynamic variable K_T= (P/T)_v, where is the volume thermal expansivity and K_T is the isothermal bulk modulus. Presenting the formulas in this way leads to simplification since K_T as a product varies only slightly with volume, and is close to being independent of temperature at high temperature. Using our equations, we present as examples some computed data in the form of graphs on the entropy, internal energy, Helmholtz free energy, and Gibbs free energy in the high temperature regime (up to 2000 K) and for high compression (up to 0.7), for MgO. For entropy, knowledge of the V, T dependence of K_T is sufficient. For enthalpy and internal energy, the equation of state is needed in addition.     

Mean and turbulent velocity measurements of supersonic mixing layers

The behavior of supersonic mixing layers under three conditions has been examined by schlieren photography and laser Doppler velocimetry. In the schlieren photographs, some largescale, repetitive patterns were observed within the mixing layer; however, these structures do not appear to dominate the mixing layer character under the present flow conditions. It was found that higher levels of secondary freestream turbulence did not increase the peak turbulence intensity observed within the mixing layer, but slightly increased the growth rate. Higher levels of freestream turbulence also reduced the axial distance required for development of the mean velocity. At higher convective Mach numbers, the mixing layer growth rate was found to be smaller than that of an incompressible mixing layer at the same velocity and freestream density ratio. The increase in convective Mach number also caused a decrease in the turbulence intensity ( _u /U).List of Symbols a speed of sound - b total mixing layer thickness betweenU ₁ – 0.1U andU ₂ + 0.1U - f normalized third moment ofu-velocity,f u ³/(U)³ - g normalized triple product ofu ² v,g u ² v/(U)³ - h normalized triple product ofu v ², h uv' ²/(U)³ - l _u axial distance for similarity in the mean velocity - l _u axial distance for similarity in the turbulence intensity - M Mach number - M _c convective Mach number (for ₁=₂),M _c (U ₁–U ₂)/(a ₁+a ₂) - P static pressure - r freestream velocity ratio,rU ₂/U ₁ - Re unit Reynolds number,Re U/ - s freestream density ratio,s ₂/ ₁ - T _t total temperature - u instantaneous streamwise velocity - u deviation ofu-velocity,u u–U - U local mean streamwise velocity - U ₁ primary freestream velocity - U ₂ secondary freestream velocity - U average of freestream velocities, ¯U (U ₁ +U ₂)/2 - U freestream velocity difference,U U ₁ –U ₂ - v instantaneous transverse velocity - v deviation ofv-velocity,v v – V - V local mean transverse velocity - x streamwise coordinate - y transverse coordinate - y ₀ transverse location of the mixing layer centerline - ensemble average - ratio of specific heats - boundary layer thickness (y-location at 99.5% of free-stream velocity) - similarity coordinate, (y –y ₀)/b - compressible boundary layer momentum thickness - viscosity - density - standard deviation - dimensionless velocity, (U –U ₂)/U - 1 primary stream - 2 secondary stream A version of this paper was presented at the 11th Symposium on Turbulence, October 17–19, 1988, University of Missouri-Rolla     

Mechanisms of the transformations between the α, β and γ polymorphs of Mg2SiO4 at 15 GPa

Data on the mechanisms of mantle phase transformations have come primarily from studies of analogue systems reacted experimentally at low pressures. In order to study transformation mechanisms in Mg₂SiO₄ at mantle pressures, forsterite () has been reacted in the stability field of -phase, at 15 GPa and temperatures up to 900° C, using a multianvil split-sphere apparatus. Transmission electron microscope studies of samples reacted for times ranging from 0.25–5.0 h show that forsterite transforms to -phase by an incoherent nucleation and growth mechanism involving nucleation on olivine grain boundaries. This mechanism and the resultant microstructures are very similar to those observed at much lower pressures in analogue systems (Mg₂GeO₄ and Ni₂SiO₄) as the result of the olivine to spinel () transformation. Metastable spinel () also forms from Mg₂SiO₄ olivine at 15 GPa, in addition to -phase, by the incoherent nucleation and growth mechanism. With time, the spinel progressively transforms to the stable -phase. After 1 h, spinels exhibit a highly striated microstructure along {110} and electron diffraction patterns show streaking parallel to [110] which indicates a high degree of structural disorder. High resolution imaging shows that the streaking results from thin lamellae of -phase intergrown with the spinel. The two phases have the orientation relationship [001]//[001] and [010]//[110] so that the quasi cubic-close-packed oxygen sublattices are continuous between both phases. These microstructures are similar to those observed in shocked meteorites and show that spinel transforms to -phase by a martensitic (shear) mechanism. There is also evidence that the mechanism changes to one involving diffusion-controlled growth at conditions close to equilibrium.     

Thermal expansion,heat capacity,and entropy of MgO at mantle pressures

The pressure dependence of the Raman spectrum of forsterite was measured over its entire frequency range to over 200 kbar. The shifts of the Raman modes were used to calculate the pressure dependence of the heat capacity, C _v, and entropy, S, by using statistical thermodynamics of the lattice vibrations. Using the pressure dependence of C _v and other previously measured thermodynamic parameters, the thermal expansion coefficient, , at room temperature was calculated from = K _S (T/P) _S C _V/TVK _T, which yields a constant value of ( ln / ln V)_T= 6.1(5) for forsterite to 10% compression. This value is in agreement with ( ln / ln V)_T for a large variety of materials.At 91 kbar, the compression mechanism of the forsterite lattice abruptly changes causing a strong decrease of the pressure derivative of 6 Raman modes accompanied by large reductions in the intensities of all of the modes. This observation is in agreement with single crystal x-ray diffraction studies to 150 kbar and is interpreted as a second order phase transition.     

Rigid unit modes in the molecular dynamics simulation of quartz and the incommensurate phase transition

A molecular dynamics simulation of quartz at different temperatures both in the a and in the phase has been conducted. The - phase transition could be observed. A phonon analysis of the -phase confirms and rounds out in a quantitative way the origin of the incommensurate (ic) modulated phase. In particular it traces the optic soft mode at becoming (to a good approximation) a so-called rigid unit mode (RUM) at q0, and elucidates its coupling to the transverse acoustic mode which precipitates the incommensurate transition. This success underpins and illuminates the concept of RUMs and their role in structural phase transitions.     

A model for tectonic activity in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea during the last 90 m. y. based on membrane tectonics

Tectonic activity in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea during the last 90 m. y. can be closely related to the palaeocontinental position of Africa. Prior to 90 m. y., during the break up of Gondwanaland and the spreading of the West African rifts, the palaeocontinental position of Africa hardly changed at all. During the last 90 m. y. Africa has moved steadily northwards and rotated slightly in an anticlockwise direction. From 90 m. y. to 40 m. y. tectonic activity in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea was compressional and from 40 m. y. to present day tectonic activity has been extensional. The change, in West Africa, from peripheral compression of the continental part of the African plate to peripheral extension occurred at approximately the same time as the effective mechanical centre of Africa (localted near Jebel Marra) crossed the equator.Membrane stresses are generated by rigid plates moving on a non-spherical earth. When a plate moves towards the equator it is subjected to peripheral compression and when it moves away it is subjected to peripheral extension. Thus the concept of membrane tectonics provides a possible explanation for the tectonic activity observed in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea during the last 90 m. y.

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Zusammenfassung Die tektonischen Ereignisse in Westafrika und dem Golf von Guinea können währendder letzten 90 Millionen Jahre mit der paläokontinentalen Position von Afrika in Zusammenhang gebracht werden. Vor diesen 90 Millionen Jahren, während des Zerreißens von Gondwanaland und der Dehnung des westafrikanischen Grabenbruchs, veränderte sich die paläokontinentale Position von Afrika kaum. Während der vergangenen 90 Millionen Jahre hat sich Afrika stetig nach Norden bewegt und drehte sich leicht entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn. Zwischen 90 Millionen Jahren und 40 Millionen Jahren wurde Westafrika und der Golf von Guinea tektonisch eingeengt und von 40 Millionen Jahren bis heute herrscht Dehnung. In Westafrika fand der Wechsel von peripherer Pressung des kontinentalen Teiles der Afrikanischen Platte zu peripherer Dehnung etwa zur selben Zeit statt als der mechanische Mittelpunkt von Afrika (in der Nähe von Jebel Marra) den Äuator überquerte.Membrandruck (Turcotte, 1974) wird durch die Bewegung von festen Platten auf einer nicht ganz sphärischen Erde ausgelöst. Wenn sich eine Platte auf den Äquator zubewegt, wird ein peripherer Druck auf sie ausgeübt, und wenn sie sich vom Äquator wegbewegt, wird sie von einer peripheren Dehnung betroffen. Das Konzept der membrane tectonics (Turcotte, 1974) bietet daher eine mögliche Erklärung für die tektonischen Erscheinungen in Westafrika und dem Golf von Guinea während der vergangenen 90 Millionen Jahre.

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Résumé Les événements tectoniques en Afrique occidentale et dans le Golfe de Guinée au cours de ces 90 derniers m. a. peuvent être mis en relation étroite avec la position paléocontinentale de l'Afrique. Avant cette période, pendant la fragmentation du Gondwana et pendant l'ouverture du fossé africain occidental, la position de l'Afrique n'a guère changé. Pendant les derniers 90 m. a., l'Afrique s'est continuellement avancée vers le nord avec une légère rotation sinistrogyre. Entre 90 m. a. et 40 m. a., un état de compression tectonique a existé en Afrique occidentale et dans le Golfe de Guinée, et, depuis ce moment jusqu'à présent, règne un état de distension. Le changement, dans la partie continentale de la plaque africaine, d'une compression périphérique en une distension périphérique s'est produit sensiblement au moment du passage à l'équateur du centre mécanique effectif de l'Afrique (lequel se trouve à proximité du Jebel Marra).Des contraintes de membrane (Turcotte, 1974) se produisent par suite du mouvement de plaques rigides sur une Terre qui n'est pas exactement sphérique. Lorsqu'une plaque se rapproche de l'équateur, elle subit une compression périphérique, et, lorsqu'elle s'en éloigne, une distension périphérique. Donc le concept de «membrane tectonics» (Turcotte, 1974) fournit une explication plausible de l'activité tectonique en Afrique occidentale et dans le Golfe de Guinée au cours de ces 90 derniers m. a.

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90 . , - , , . 90 , . 90 40 , 40 . , , Jebel Marra . — (Turcotte, 1974). , ; — . « » (Turcotte, 1974) , 90 .

     

Growth of cordierite in the Archean metasediments near Yellowknife,district of Mackenzie,Canada

The widespread occurrence of cordierite in the Archean metasediments near Yellowknife was attributed by earlier workers to the contact metamorphism associated with the granite. However, detailed field and textural studies on the cordierite-bearing rocks near Sparrow Lake indicate that the growth of cordierite is not restricted to the aureole around the Sparrow Lake granite. Fabric relations demonstrate that cordierite grew under regional metamorphic conditions existing before and after the intrusion of the granite. Emplacement of the Sparrow Lake pluton is considered to represent the culmination stage of regional tectonism that manifested itself as deformation, metamorphism and granite intrusion in the Sparrow Lake area.

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Zusammenfassung Die Verbreitung von Cordierit in den archaischen Metasedimenten bei Yellowknife führten frühere Autoren auf die mit dem Granit verbundene Kontaktmetamorphose zurück. Genaue Gelände- und Strukturuntersuchungen an den cordieritführenden Gesteinen aus dem Gebiet von Sparrow Lake zeigen jedoch, daß das Wachsen von Cordierit nicht auf die Aureole um den Sparrow Lake-Granit beschränkt ist. Gefüge-Beziehungen beweisen, daß Cordierit unter regionalen metamorphen Bedingungen gebildet wurde, die vor und nach der Intrusion des Granits herrschten. Die Bildung des Sparrow Lake-Plutons wird als Höhepunkt regionaler tektonischer Vorgänge angesehen, die im Sparrow Lake-Gebiet als Deformation, Metamorphose und Granitintrusion in Erscheinung traten.

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Résumé L'extension de la cordiérite dans les métasédiments archéens de la région de Yellowknife fut longtemps attribuée au métamorphisme de contact associé au granite. Cependant des études précises sur le terrain et l'examen de la texture des roches à cordiérite indiquent que la croissance de la cordiérite n'est pas restreinte à l'auréole du granite du lac Sparrow. Les relations vectorielles démontrent que la croissance de la cordiérite s'est effectuée dans des conditions métamorphiques régionales existant avant et après l'intrusion du granite. La mise en place du pluton du lac Sparrow réprésenterait donc l'étape culminante de la tectonique régionale qui dans la région du lac Sparrow s'est manifestée par la déformation, le métamorphisme et l'intrusion granitique.

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, . Yellowknife , Sparrow-Lake. , , . Sparrow-Lake , , , .

     

Mächtigkeit und Alter der erodierten Sedimente im Saar-Nahe-Becken (SW-Deutschland)

Zusammenfassung Eine umfassende Analyse und Modellierung der Entwicklungsgeschichte des Saar-Nahe-Beckens in SW-Deutschland wird bislang dadurch erschwert, daß erhebliche Teile der ursprünglichen permokarbonen Beckenfüllung bereits erodiert sind. Zur Quantifizierung der maximalen Überlagerung des heutigen Aufschlußniveaus wurde der Kompaktionsgrad von Tonsteinen mit Hilfe geophysikalischer Bohrlochmessungen untersucht. Es kann eine maximale Überlagerung bestimmt werden, die im SW des Saar-Nahe-Beckens 1950 m und im NE 2400 m beträgt (bezogen auf heutiges Meeresspiegelniveau). Aufgrund paläogeographischer Argumente lassen sich diese Überlagerungswerte nur durch eine Sedimentabfolge mit permokarbonem bzw. permischem Alter erklären. Eine maximale Versenkung im Mesozoikum oder Tertiär kann ausgeschlossen werden. Durch die Quantifizierung und zeitliche Einstufung der maximalen Versenkungstiefe kann die Subsidenz- und Hebungsgeschichte des Saar-Nahe-Bekkens seit dem Karbon lückenlos rekonstruiert werden.

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Any detailed analysis and quantitative modelling of the formation of the Saar-Nahe-Becken in SW-Germany is hampered by a number of erosive events which removed major parts of the initial Permo-Carboniferous basin fill. The maximum overburden of the present outcrop level was reconstructed using shale-compaction data derived from sonic logs. The amount of erosion is estimated at 1950 m in the southwestern part of the Saar-Nahe-Basin, and 2400 m in the NE (relative to present sealevel). By comparison with paleogeographic and isopach data these values can only be explained by Permo-Carboniferous and Permian strata. A maximum burial during the Mesocoic or Tertiary can be ruled out. Knowing the amount and age of the maximum overburden, a continuous reconstruction of the burial history of the Saar-Nahe-Basin since the Carboniferous is possible.

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Résumé Une analyse approfondie et une modélisation de l'histoire de la formation du bassin de la Sarre et de la Nahe (Allemagne du sud-ouest) ont été rendues difficiles jusqu'ici par le fait qu'une part considérable du remplissage permocarbonifére primitif du bassin a déjà été érodée. L'épaisseur maximale de la charge qui a surmonté le niveau actuellement en affleurement a été déduite du degré de compaction des argilites, analysé à l'aide de la diagraphie géophysique. Ces estimations ont fourni des valeurs maximales de 1.950 m dans le sud-ouest du bassin et de 2.400 m dans sa partie nord-est (relativement au niveau de la mer). Pour des raisons paléogéographiques il n'est possible de voir dans cette surcharge que des sédiments d'âge permo-carbonifère et permien: on peut montrer, en effet, que la subsidence maximale n'a pas eu lieu au Mésozoïque ou au Tertiaire. Connaissant ainsi l'importancce et l'âge de la surcharge actuellement disparue par érosion, on peut reconstituer l'histoire complète des mouvrements verticaux du bassin de la Sarre et de la Nahe depuis le Carbonifère.

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