A parametric study of borehole influence in resolving seismic velocity in well-to-well tomograms

The data collected in a well-to-well tomography experiment is inherently incomplete even when augmented by VSP data. The nature of the experiment suggests a geometric limitation to the resolution of any central structure.A parametric model has now been developed which examines the effect on reconstructed velocity due to the borehole size, transducer standoff, altered annulus, and the degree of velocity attenuation of the altered annulus, using a range of host velocities and hole separations.It was found that there are significant velocity variations caused by perturbations in borehole size. These errors are particularly significant for boreholes with large diameters and small transducer offsets. For an altered annulus, errors in both the dimensions and the degree of velocity alteration gave significant velocity variation in reconstructed velocity, particularly with large boreholes. In all cases it is observed that the variation and alteration in reconstructed velocities increased as hole separation is decreased.     

Crustal evolution of Archaean granitoids in the Murchison Province, Western Australia

Four suites of granitoids intruded the supracrustal greenstone sequence in the Murchison Province of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton during a 300 million year period. The earliest granitoid suite intruded the base of the developing greenstone sequence as a series of thin subhorizontal tabular plutons of monzogranite and granodiorite at 2.9Ga. This suite has been deformed and metamorphosed, and is now a pegmatite-banded gneiss. At about 2.7 Ga, thick, subhorizontal, tabular plutons of monzogranite intruded the base of the greenstone sequence. This suite, which now forms much of the regions between greenstone belts, was folded and recrystallized during regional deformation and metamorphism. Two distinct but contemporaneous suites of post-folding granitoids intruded the greenstone belts at 2.6 Ga, largely post-dating regional metamorphism. One suite of post-folding granitoids comprises tonalite, trondhjemite, granodiorite and monzogranite plutons, confined mainly to the north of the Province. The other suite comprises quartz-rich monzogranite and syenogranite plutons, confined mainly to the south of the Province.Pegmatite-banded gneiss, recrystallized monzogranite, and the northern suite of post-folding granitoids were all derived by partial-melting of mafic crustal rocks. Most post-folding granitoids from the southern suite were derived by partial-melting of siliceous crustal material at least as old as basal greenstones. The modes and sites of intrusion of all granitoid plutons were controlled by active tectonic processes or by structural features of the crust. Widespread 2.6 Ga Rb---Sr ages of pegmatite-banded gneiss and recrystallized monzogranite reflect post-metamorphic cooling which was contemporaneous with intrusion of post-folding granitoids.     

Magnetic studies of basalt fragments recovered by deep drilling in Iceland,and the “magnetic layer” concept

The magnetic susceptibility of 1300 samples of igneous rock drill cuttings obtained from eight deep drill holes in Iceland has been measured, in order to directly provide limits on the thickness of the layer which is the source of the magnetic anomalies over Iceland. The remanent magnetism of some of the material has also been studied, and the variation of magnetic susceptibility in 740 lava flows from eastern Iceland has been analysed as a function of depth of burial.All the results indicate no systematic change of susceptibility with depth up to 2.0 km. The Curie point of all deeply buried basalts in Iceland appears to be close to that of magnetite, so that the magnetic layer may be 5 km or more in thickness when susceptibility contrasts are considered; lateral contrasts in primary remanence may reach to 3 km depth. Derivation of a magnetic layer thickness in Iceland from analyses of magnetic anomalies, using methods which have been conventionally applied to marine magnetic anomalies could, on the other hand, yield much lower apparent thickness values (less than 1 km).We therefore argue that estimates of the magnetic layer thickness in oceanic regions should be based on considerations of magnetite Curie point isotherm behaviour, rather than on anomaly analysis.     

Paleomagnetism of the type Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary section at Santa Maria de Catanzaro,Italy, and the problem of post-depositional precipitation of magnetic minerals

In order to assist in global correlation of the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary, a paleomagnetic survey has been made of the world type section for the boundary, in Calabria, Italy. A total of 116 specimens from 36 sites were collected from the section, which as sampled is about 30 m thick. All sites possess stable remanent magnetism and northern hemisphere virtual geomagnetic poles, consistent with deposition during a period of normal polarity. If this period was during the Gilsa event, a minimum sedimentation rate of 17 cm per 1000 years would be required. Since a normal polarity chemical overprint, acquired during the last 0.69 m.y. could also explain the data, thermomagnetic analyses were made of selected samples. The results show the presence of highly unstable superparamagnetic material, which is most likely a product of post-depositional chemical precipitation. This observation enhances the possibility that any longer-duration precipitation could have created coarse and thus magnetically more stable components, the effects of which could not be readily distinguished from the original remanent magnetism.The difficulties of distinguishing between original depositional remanent magnetism and post-depositional chemical remanent magnetism, in outcropping marine sediments, as well as the large range of possible natural causes of the latter, is summarized in the form of a discussion of feasible Eh and pH changes occurring between original deposition at upper bathyal dephts and final sampling above sea level. It is considered that, in the absence of experimental means to distinguish the roles of original and chemically overprinted paleomagnetic signals, similarity of magnetic polarity stratigraphy between sections of sediments representing different paleoenvironments and sedimentation rates is a necessary if insufficient requirement for diagnosis of real geomagnetic behavior during deposition, as opposed to posidepositional effects.     

Primary oxidation variation and petrogenesis in a single lava

Oxidation variation between the cooling faces of a single lava has been studied by polished section examination, and Fe₂O₃: FeO chemical analysis. The oxidation state, which is at a maximum toward the center of the lava, developed during the initial cooling, and has very marked magnetic expression. The Th: U ratio varies in harmony with the oxidation state emphasizing the problem of resentative sampling of the body. Examination of thirteen additional bodies suggests that in lavas there exists at least a partial dependence of the oxidation variation development on the lava thickness or interior cooling rate.     

Cultural policy and place promotion: Swansea and Dylan Thomas

As former industrial cities have experienced radical changes to the bases of their economies, the imperatives of finding new roles and functions has often led to the adoption of cultural policies. These are diverse and partial but have become part of place promotion policies designed to attract visitors and investors. The connection with a literary figure offers one exploitable quality and this paper explores the adoption of Dylan Thomas, poet and writer, as an icon for Swansea. What emerges is the existence of a diversity of interested individuals and groups, who start from different positions but work towards a common goal. The tensions about the life and works of the poet, evident over the 50 years since his death are still there but the key players, including the City and County of Swansea, are finding ways of reconciling their differences in the ‘production’ of Dylan Thomas. This use of a writer and his local connections forms part of the more general process of making a cultural policy for the city.     

Vineyard site suitability in Eastern California

An analysis of the physical characteristics of an established wine region in eastern California, USA was undertaken to discern if a unique combination of environmental parameters in Zinfandel vineyards could be quantitatively identified. Development of a geographic information system (GIS) method to assess land suitability for current and potential viticultural regions in a Mediterranean-type climate is the primary focus. The assessment is based on spatial frequency distributions of measurable environmental criteria derived from characteristics of existing vineyards. In fact, statistically significant differences were found at the 95% confidence interval for 6 variables, and at the 85% confidence interval for an additional 3 variables. Thus 9 of the 15 variables analyzed (53%) were discriminated statistically between the vineyard and non-vineyard areas. The findings of this study illustrate the potential of GIS techniques for viticultural land suitability analysis, while supporting and contributing to the literature on the significance of soil and topographic characteristics in viticulture.     

Assessing agricultural drought management strategies in the Northern Murray–Darling Basin

Natural Hazards - The Northern Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) is a key Australian agricultural region requiring efficient Agricultural Drought Management (ADM), focused on resilience. Although a...