Exhumation during oblique transpression: The Feiran–Solaf region, Egypt

The Feiran–Solaf metamorphic complex of Sinai, Egypt, is one of the highest grade metamorphic complexes of a series of basement domes that crop out throughout the Arabian-Nubian Shield. In the Eastern Desert of Egypt these basement domes have been interpreted as metamorphic core complexes exhumed in extensional settings. For the Feiran–Solaf complex an interpretation of the exhumation mechanism is difficult to obtain with structural arguments as all of its margins are obliterated by post-tectonic granites. Here, metamorphic methods are used to investigate its tectonic history and show that the complex was characterized by a single metamorphic cycle experiencing peak metamorphism at ∼700–750 °C and 7–8 kbar and subsequent isothermal decompression to ∼4–5 kbar, followed by near isobaric cooling to 450 °C. Correlation of this metamorphic evolution with the deformation history shows that peak metamorphism occurred prior to the compressive deformation phase D ₂, while the compressive D ₂ and D ₃ deformation occurred during the near isothermal decompression phase of the P–T loop. We interpret the concurrence of decompression of the P–T path and compression by structural shortening as evidence for the Najd fault system exhuming the complex in an oblique transpressive regime. However, final exhumation from ∼15 km depth must have occurred due to an unrelated mechanism.     

High-pressure isosymmetrical phase transition in calaverite

Using density functional theory, we perform ab initio calculations of the behaviour of calaverite, AuTe₂, at high pressures. Calaverite has a distorted CdI₂ structure, that presents a pronounced two-dimensional character and a rather anisotropic response to pressure. Increasing the pressure, we predict an isosymmetrical phase transition between 55 and 60 GPa, that is accompanied by an important distortion of the structure, observed in all its geometrical parameters, especially the c lattice parameter. Relaxing the pressure, the reverse phase transition is observed between 30 and 25 GPa.     

Converted phases analysis of the Campi Flegrei caldera using active seismic data

We applied a type of depth migration for converted seismic phases to active and passive seismic data sets from the Campi Flegrei volcanic region in southern Italy. The migration method is based on the diffraction summation migration technique. Travel times to grid points in a volume were calculated in smooth P and S-velocity models and trace energy near the calculated converted phase time was stacked over multiple sources at one receiver. Weighting factors based on Snell's Law at an arbitrarily oriented local interface were applied to better focus trace energy. PP reflection images from the active data set provide increased detail to images of the caldera rim from other studies. The migrated images also show features near 2–3 km in depth beneath Pozzuoli City, which may be associated with an over-pressured gas volume, as suggested by other geophysical investigations. Possible deeper features near 4 km depth may be related to the presence of the carbonate basement or may image a previously undetected feature, such as a small body of strongly thermometamorphosed volcanic rock. The current passive earthquake data set from the 1984 ground uplift episode was not well suited to the converted phases analysis due to narrow P–S windows and high noise levels in the traces. However, two stations provide confirmation and extension of imaged features in the active data.     

Numerical modeling of three‐phase dissolution of underground cavities using a diffuse interface model

Natural evaporite dissolution in the subsurface can lead to cavities having critical dimensions in the sense of mechanical stability. Geomechanical effects may be significant for people and infrastructures because the underground dissolution may lead to subsidence or collapse (sinkholes). The knowledge of the cavity evolution in space and time is thus crucial in many cases. In this paper, we describe the use of a local nonequilibrium diffuse interface model for solving dissolution problems involving multimoving interfaces within three phases, that is, solid–liquid–gas as found in superficial aquifers and karsts. This paper generalizes developments achieved in the fluid–solid case, that is, the saturated case [1]. On one hand, a local nonequilibrium dissolution porous medium theory allows to describe the solid–liquid interface as a diffuse layer characterized by the evolution of a phase indicator (e.g., porosity). On the other hand, the liquid–gas interface evolution is computed using a classical porous medium two‐phase flow model involving a phase saturation, that is, generalized Darcy's laws. Such a diffuse interface model formulation is suitable for the implementation of a finite element or finite volume numerical model on a fixed grid without an explicit treatment of the interface movement. A numerical model has been implemented using a finite volume formulation with adaptive meshing (e.g., adaptive mesh refinement), which improves significantly the computational efficiency and accuracy because fine gridding may be attached to the dissolution front. Finally, some examples of three‐phase dissolution problems including density effects are also provided to illustrate the interest of the proposed theoretical and numerical framework. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Study on the Distribution of Wave Phases

Probability distributions of wave phases in association with distributions of surface elevations arestudied with wave records.Wave records of different nature are used for comparison.These are surface fluc-tuations acquired during wind wave flume experiments,representing wave generation under strong wind:andwave records measured in the northern part of Taiwan for waves in natural environments.Three probabilitymodels,the unifrom distribution,the beta distribution,and a model from Tayfun and Lo(1989)are adoptedto study the possible distributions of wave phases.It is found that when surface elevations become skewed,wave phases deviate from the usually assumed uniform distribution and a better model would be the beta dis-tribution.     

高台测震新旧台基记录地震及震相特征差异性对比分析

使用相同带宽、同类型地震计BBVS-120观测记录数据,对高台地震台新旧观测山洞的台基环境噪声、地震监测能力及震相记录特征进行对比分析,结果表明,高台测震新山洞的地震监测水平优于旧山洞,部分地区新山洞对于核面反射波的记录更加清晰。     

准噶尔盆地南缘古牧地背斜多期构造变形特征

古牧地背斜位于博格达山前阜康断裂带的北缘。为探讨博格达山隆升在沉积盆地内的构造响应特征,作者结合野外地表露头观测、地震反射特征和磷灰石裂变径迹分析,认为古牧地背斜垂向上可划分为深浅两大构造层:深层侏罗系西山窑组(J_2x)以下地层具有双重构造的特征,活动时间为150~130和100~80 Ma;浅层侏罗系西山窑组及以上地层具有断层突破型断层传播褶皱的特征,活动时间约为30 Ma。以上研究成果一方面反映出博格达山晚侏罗世以来多期构造活动的特点,另一方面反映古牧地背斜深层双重构造具有形成时间早、埋深相对浅的特点,是准噶尔盆地南缘有利的油气勘探领域。     

高频GNSS形变波的震相识别：模拟实验与实例分析

高频GNSS震时形变波震相及识别是GNSS地震学的重要内容.在实时数据处理基础上,本文利用振动台的高频GNSS观测实验,并结合近期部分大震的高频GNSS形变波震相特征进行研究.数据处理结果表明,实时处理与事后处理的精度在同一量级,且与采样率无关.通过与同址观测强震仪和地震计记录的对比及特定震相的频谱分析,发现高频GNSS可完整记录P波、S波、Love波及Rayleigh波震相,影响震相记录的主要因素是GNSS定位精度与震级,而仅当震中距很小时,采样率将产生一定影响.研究结果得出：基于地震波传播规律,利用高频GNSS台阵记录的形变波空间分段特征,结合震相运动轨迹及其他地震波记录,可实现实时高频GNSS形变波的震相识别.