Possibility of a major earthquake in the tokai district, Japan and its pre-estimated seismotectonic effects

Crustal deformations, tsunamis and seismic intensity are pre-estimated for a large hypothetical earthquake, which it is feared may occur in the Tokai district along the Nankai trough. The long-term seismic quiescence since 1854, as well as the high rate of the present crustal movements in the district, form the principal evidence for the risk of the approaching catastrophe. The location and the mode of faulting in this earthquake are hypothesized in reference to the source mechanisms of the recent and historical earthquakes there. The fault parameters thus assumed are as follows: dip direction: N30°W; dip angle: 25°; fault dimension : 100 km × 70 km; dislocation: 4 m (reverse dip-slip: 3.8 m; right-lateral strike-slip: 1.3 m). The following are the principal conclusions: (a) the eastern part of the epicentral region including the Point Omaezaki will rise up about 100 cm, whereas the western part covering Ise and Mikawa bays will subside about 10–30 cm; (b) the coast extending from Omaezaki to the Shima peninsula will receive tsunami waves as high as 3 m in maximum, which may be locally amplified by the factor 2 or more on the rias coast along the Shima peninsula; (c) the Tokai coastal region with thick alluvium layers may suffer seismic damages as severe as those experienced in the 1854 Ansei I earthquake.     

Rates of Deglaciation during the Last Glaciation and Holocene in the Cordillera Vilcanota-Quelccaya Ice Cap Region, Southeastern Perú

Moraine chronology is combined with digital topography to model deglacial rates of paleoglacier volumes in both the Huancané Valley on the west side of the Quelccaya Ice Cap and the Upismayo Valley on the northwest side of the Cordillera Vilcanota. The fastest rates of deglaciation (39×10⁻⁵ to 114×10⁻⁵ km³ yr⁻¹ and 112×10⁻⁵ to 247×10⁻⁵ km³ yr⁻¹ for each valley, respectively) were calculated for the most recent paleoglaciers, corresponding to the last few centuries. These results are consistent with observations in the Venezuelan Andes showing high rates of deglaciation since the Little Ice Age. These rates also fall within the range of 20th century rates of deglaciation measured on the Quelccaya Ice Cap (29×10⁻⁵ to 220×10⁻⁵ km³ yr⁻¹, Brecher and Thompson, 1993; Thompson, 2000). These results imply that rates of deglaciation may fluctuate significantly over time and that high rates of deglaciation may not be exclusive to the late 20th century. Equilibrium line altitude (ELA) depressions for the ice volumes of the last glaciation modeled here were computed as 230 m for the Quelccaya Ice Cap and 170 m for the Cordillera Vilcanota. Maximum ELA depressions are lower than previously published: <500 m for the Cordillera Vilcanota and <400 m for the Quelccaya Ice Cap. These lower values could imply a topographic control over paleoglacier extent.     

Strain measurements and tectonics of New Zealand

Measurements of shear strain from triangulation data have been made at 30 locations in New Zealand. The standard error of measurement in terms of strain rate is about ±1 · 10⁻⁷ y⁻¹ and values of up to 7 · 10⁻⁷ y⁻¹ are observed. Together with 22 fault-plane solutions for crustal earthquakes the measurements indicate broad-scale patterns of deformation. Between the Hikurangi and Flordland active margins is a 100-km-wide belt, the axial tectonic belt, with shear strain rate averaging 5 ± 1 · 10⁻⁷y⁻¹ and an azimuth of the principal axis of compression of 114 ± 8°. The rate of movement (45 mm y⁻¹) and direction (085°) between the Pacific and Indian plates from the Minster et al. pole can be accounted for by the measured strain in the axial tectonic belt through simple shear parallel to, and compression normal to, the belt. The similarity in the rates determined from triangulation data averaged over 20–100 years and from plate movement averaged over 5 m.y. indicates plate movement to be uniform in time. West of the axial tectonic belt in Nelson and Fiordland are two zones in which movement is highly oblique to plate movement, and can be explained by slip line deformation analogous to the deformation of Asia. The azimuth of the principal axis of compression in the Taupo rift and East Cape region is NE—SW, perpendicular to its direction in the axial tectonic belt, suggesting extension in the rift and East Cape region normal to the subduction zone.     

The sources and evolution of mineralising fluids in iron oxide–copper–gold systems, Norrbotten, Sweden: Constraints from Br/Cl ratios and stable Cl isotopes of fluid inclusion leachates

We have analysed the halogen concentrations and chlorine stable isotope composition of fluid inclusion leachates from three spatially associated Fe-oxide ± Cu ± Au mineralising systems in Norrbotten, Sweden. Fluid inclusions in late-stage veins in Fe-oxide–apatite deposits contain saline brines and have a wide range of Br/Cl molar ratios, from 0.2 to 1.1 × 10⁻³ and δ³⁷Cl values from −3.1‰ to −1.0‰. Leachates from saline fluid inclusions from the Greenstone and Porphyry hosted Cu–Au prospects have Br/Cl ratios that range from 0.2 to 0.5 × 10⁻³ and δ³⁷Cl values from −5.6‰ to −1.3‰. Finally, the Cu–Au deposits hosted by the Nautanen Deformation Zone (NDZ) have Br/Cl molar ratios from 0.4 to 1.1 × 10⁻³ and δ³⁷Cl values that range from −2.4‰ to +0.5‰, although the bulk of the data fall within 0‰ ± 0.5‰.The Br/Cl ratios of leachates are consistent with the derivation of salinity from magmatic sources or from the dissolution of halite. Most of the isotopic data from the Fe-oxide–apatite and Greenstone deposits are consistent with a mantle derived source of the chlorine, with the exception of the four samples with the most negative values. The origin of the low δ³⁷Cl values in these samples is unknown but we suggest that there may have been some modification of the Cl-isotope signature due to fractionation between the mineralising fluids and Cl-rich silicate assemblages found in the alteration haloes around the deposits. If such a process has occurred then a modified crustal source of the chlorine for all the samples cannot be ruled out although the amount of fractionation necessary to generate the low δ³⁷Cl values would be significantly larger.The source of Cl in the NDZ deposits has a crustal signature, which suggests the Cl in this system may be derived from (meta-) evaporites or from input from crustal melts such as granitic pegmatites of the Lina Suite.     

On radon emanation as a possible indicator of crustal deformation

Radon emanation has been monitored in shallow capped holes by a Tracketch method along several active faults and in the vicinity of some volcanoes and underground nuclear explosions. The measured emanation shows large temporal variations that appear to be partly related to crustal strain changes. This paper proposes a model that may explain the observed tectonic variations in radon emanation, and explores the possibility of using radon emanation as an indicator of crustal deformation. In this model the emanation variation is assumed to be due to the perturbation of near-surface profile of radon concentration in the soil gas caused by a change in the vertical flow rate of the soil gas which, in turn, is caused by the crustal deformation. It is shown that, for a typical soil, a small change in the flow rate (3 · 10⁻⁴ cm sec⁻¹) can effect a significant change (a factor of 2) in radon emanation detected at a fixed shallow depth (0.7 m). The radon concentration profile has been monitored at several depths at a selected site to test the model. The results appear to be in satisfactory agreement.     

Lithosphere structure of European sedimentary basins from regional three-dimensional gravity modelling

A three-dimensional (3D) density model, approximated by two regional layers—the sedimentary cover and the crystalline crust (offshore, a sea-water layer was added), has been constructed in 1° averaging for the whole European continent. The crustal model is based on simplified velocity model represented by structure maps for main seismic horizons—the “seismic” basement and the Moho boundary. Laterally varying average density is assumed inside the model layers. Residual gravity anomalies, obtained by subtraction of the crustal gravity effect from the observed field, characterize the density heterogeneities in the upper mantle. Mantle anomalies are shown to correlate with the upper mantle velocity inhomogeneities revealed from seismic tomography data and geothermal data. Considering the type of mantle anomaly, specific features of the evolution and type of isostatic compensation, the sedimentary basins in Europe may be related into some groups: deep sedimentary basins located in the East European Platform and its northern and eastern margins (Peri-Caspian, Dnieper–Donets, Barents Sea Basins, Fore–Ural Trough) with no significant mantle anomalies; basins located on the activated thin crust of Variscan Western Europe and Mediterranean area with negative mantle anomalies of −150 to −200×10⁻⁵ ms⁻² amplitude and the basins associated with suture zones at the western and southern margins of the East European Platform (Polish Trough, South Caspian Basin) characterized by positive mantle anomalies of 50–150×10⁻⁵ ms⁻² magnitude. An analysis of the main features of the lithosphere structure of the basins in Europe and type of the compensation has been carried out.     

Secular change of permeability in the fracture zone near the Nojima fault estimated using strain changes due to water injection experiments

Water injection experiments were performed in 1997, 2000 and 2003 at the 1800 m borehole near the fracture zone of the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake. During these experiments, a contraction of about 10^− 8–10^− 7 was observed with three-component strainmeters at a bottom of the 800 m borehole, 70 m southwest of the 1800 m borehole. We estimated hydraulic properties of the fracture zone near the Nojima fault by using the strain data to investigate a healing of the fault during the postseismic stage. We calculated pore pressure changes due to the water injection using Darcy's equation and obtained strain changes due to the pore pressure changes as elastic deformations of the crust. The calculated strain changes have a nearly agreement with the observed strain changes. Hydraulic conductivity in 1997, 2000 and 2003 was determined to be 0.9 ± 0.2 × 10^− 6, 0.8 ± 0.2 × 10^− 6 and 0.4 ± 0.1 × 10^− 6 m/s, respectively. The reduced hydraulic conductivities in 2000 and 2003 suggest that the fractures had been healing.     

Thermal and mechanical structure of the central Iberian Peninsula lithosphere

The central Iberian Peninsula (Spain) is made up of three main tectonic units: a mountain range, the Spanish Central System and two Tertiary basins (those of the rivers Duero and Tajo). These units are the result of widespread foreland deformation of the Iberian plate interior in response to Alpine convergence of European and African plates. The present study was designed to investigate thermal structure and rheological stratification in this region of central Spain. Surface heat flow has been described to range from 80 to 60 mW m⁻². Highest surface heat flow values correspond to the Central System and northern part of the Tajo Basin. The relationship between elevation and thermal state was used to construct a one-dimensional thermal model. Mantle heat flow drops from 34 mW m⁻² (Duero Basin) to 27 mW m⁻² (Tajo Basin), and increases with diminishing surface heat flow. Strength predictions made by extrapolating experimental data indicate varying rheological stratification throughout the area. In general, in compression, ductile fields predominate in the middle and lower crusts and lithospheric mantle. Brittle behaviour is restricted to the first 8 km of the upper crust and to a thin layer at the top of the middle crust. In tension, brittle layers are slightly more extended, while the lower crust and lithospheric mantle remain ductile in the case of a wet peridotite composition. Discontinuities in brittle and ductile layer thickness determine lateral rheological anisotropy. Tectonic units roughly correspond to rheological domains. Brittle layers reach their maximum thickness beneath the Duero Basin and are of least thickness under the Tajo Basin, especially its northern area. Estimated total lithospheric strength shows a range from 2.5×10¹² to 8×10¹² N m⁻¹ in compression, and from 1.3×10¹² to 1.6×10¹² N m⁻¹ in tension. Highest values were estimated for the Duero Basin.Depth versus frequency of earthquakes correlates well with strength predictions. Earthquake foci concentrate mainly in the upper crust, showing a peak close to maximum strength depth. Most earthquakes occur in the southern margin of the Central System and southeast Tajo Basin. Seismicity is related to major faults, some bounding rheological domains. The Duero Basin is a relative quiescence zone characterised by higher total lithospheric strength than the remaining units.     

Oxygen and carbon isotope zonations of wall rocks around the Kamioka Pb---Zn skarn deposits, central Japan: application to prospecting

Mapping of the oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of hydrothermally altered wall rocks was conducted during blind ore prospecting for Pb---Zn skarn deposits in the Kamioka mining district, central Japan. The wall rocks consist of heterogeneous rock units. Oxygen and carbon isotope ratios were determined for 35 limestones and 33 silicate rocks from the area around the Mozumi deposit (3 km × 3 km) in the Kamioka mining district. The results (δ¹⁸O_spsmow of − 1.1 to + 17.3% and δ¹³C_sppdb of − 5.0 to +4.8% for limestones, and δ¹⁸O_spsmow of −0.8 to + 12.5% for silicate rocks) show isotope zonations of the wall rocks, with lighter isotopic compositions toward the center of mineralization. The isotope zonations likely formed by interaction of thermal waters with the wall rocks during skarn mineralization. The isotopically light zone indicates a higher paleotemperature or higher water-to-rock ratios, and occurs in the footwall of the 7Gohi fault. This structure is spatially related to the distribution of orebodies, indicating that the fault was the main conduit of the ore-forming fluids. The oxygen and carbon isotopic compositions of limestones vary regularly across limestone bodies hosted by the silicate wall rocks, suggesting that the thermal waters were pervasive throughout the wall rocks at the time of mineralization.An isotopically light zone was also found in the southeastern corner of the study area, where significant mineralization had yet to be identified. This suggested an extension of the extinct hydrothermal system to this area, and the possibility of hidden orebodies underneath. Recent drilling in this area has intercepted a zone 45 m thick with a grade of 13.4% Zn, 0.03% Pb and 8 g per metric ton at about 380 m depth.     

Correlation between dissolved He concentration and Cl in groundwater at Äspö, Sweden

Tunnel excavation at Äspö Island, Sweden, has caused severe groundwater disturbance, gradually extending deeper into the tunnel as present-day Baltic seawater intrudes through fractures connecting to the surface. However, the paleo-hydrogeochemical conditions have remained in the deep highly saline waters that have avoided mixing. A correlation has been observed between dissolved ⁴He concentration and Cl⁻ ion concentration, measured every two years from 1995 to 2001 at Äspö. Groundwater mixing conditions can be examined by the correlations between 1/Cl, ³⁶Cl/Cl, and ³H concentrations. Subsurface production is responsible for the majority of the ³⁶Cl and excess dissolved ⁴He of interstitial groundwater in fractures. The secular equilibrium ratio of ³⁶Cl/Cl in rock was theoretically estimated to be (5.05 ± 0.82) × 10⁻¹⁴ based on the neutron flux intensity, a value comparable to the measured ³⁶Cl/Cl ratio in rock and groundwater. The degassing crustal ⁴He flux was estimated to be 2.9 × 10⁻⁸  1.3 × 10⁻⁶ (ccSTP/cm²a) using the HTO diffusion coefficient for the Äspö diorite. The ⁴He accumulation rate ranges from 6.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ (for the in situ accumulation rate) to 7.0 × 10⁻⁹ (ccSTP/(g_water · a) considering both ⁴He in situ production and the degassing flux, assuming ⁴He is accumulated constantly in groundwater. By comparing the subsurface ³⁶Cl increase with ⁴He concentrations in groundwater, the ⁴He accumulation rate was determined from data for groundwater arriving at the secular equilibrium of ³⁶Cl/Cl. The ⁴He accumulation rate was found to be (1.83 ± 0.72) × 10⁻⁸ ccSTP/(g_water · a) without determining the magnitude of degassing ⁴He flux.     

Comparison of methods for the estimation of pyrite oxidation rate in a waste rock pile at Mine Doyon site, Quebec, Canada

Several methods were evaluated and compared for the estimation of pyrite oxidation rates (POR) in waste rock at Mine Doyon, Quebec, Canada. Methods based on data collected in situ, such as the interpretation of temperature and oxygen concentration profiles (TOP) measured in the waste rock pile and pyrite mass balance (PMB) on solid phase samples were compared with the oxygen consumption measurements (OCM) in closed chamber in the laboratory. A 1-D analytical solution to a gas and heat transport equation used temperature and oxygen profiles (TOP) measured in the pile for the preliminary POR estimates at a site close to the slope of the pile (Site 6) and in the core of the pile (Site 7). Resulting POR values were 1.1 × 10^− 9 mol(O₂) kg^− 1 s^− 1 and 1.0 × 10^− 10 mol(O₂) kg^− 1 s^− 1 for the slope site and the core site, respectively. Oxidation rates based on pyrite mass balance (PMB) calculations for solid samples were 2.21 × 10^− 9 mol(O₂) kg^− 1 s^− 1 and 2.03 × 10^− 9 mol(O₂) kg^− 1 s^− 1, respectively, for the same slope and core sites, but the difference between sites was within the error margin. The OCM measurements in the laboratory on fresh waste rock samples yielded higher POR values than field methods, with average oxidation rate of 6.7 × 10^− 8 mol(O₂) kg^− 1 s^− 1. However, the OCM results on weathered and decomposed material from the rock stockpile (average oxidation rate 3.4 × 10^− 9 mol(O₂) kg^− 1 s^− 1) were consistent with results from the field-based estimates. When POR values based on fresh material are excluded, the remaining POR values for all methods range from 1.0 × 10^− 10 to 3.4 × 10^− 9 mol(O₂) kg^− 1 s^− 1. The lowest estimated value (1.0 × 10^− 10 mol(O₂) kg^− 1 s^− 1) was based on TOP estimates in the interior of the pile where oxygen transport was limited by diffusion from the surface. These results suggest that small-scale OCM laboratory experiments may provide relatively representative values of POR in the zones of waste rock piles in which oxygen transport is not dominated by diffusion.     

Oxidation of As-bearing gold ore—a comparison of batch and column experiments

This study deals with the experimental determination of the rate of weathering and As release from Au-bearing sulfide ores of the Mokrsko-West deposit (Czech Republic). The elevated As contents in the ore and the possible As mobilisation must be taken into account due to the close proximity of the deposit to the Vltava River, a source of drinking water for Prague. Crushed and homogenized ore material was divided into four grain-size fractions showing uniform chemical and mineralogical composition and subjected to batch and column leaching experiments. The most important reactions controlling metal leaching include (i) oxidation of sulfides, (ii) carbonate equilibrium and (iii) precipitation of hydrated ferric oxides (HFO). Hydrated ferric oxides were found to be important sorbents of mobilized As. The highest concentration of As in the leachates was obtained from the 64–1000 μm fraction. The oxidation rate in the agitated batch experiment calculated on the basis of sulfate concentrations is an order of magnitude higher (3.8×10⁻⁹ to 4.4×10⁻⁸ mol SO₄²⁻ h⁻¹ g⁻¹) than in the static column experiment (9.6×10⁻¹⁰ to 7.4×10⁻⁹ mol SO₄²⁻ h⁻¹ g⁻¹). The higher oxidation rate of batch experiments is explained by abrasion of oxidation products (mainly HFO) and by further exposition of reaction surfaces of the sulfide grains.     

Source and flux of POC in two subtropical karstic tributaries with contrasting land use practice in the Yangtze River Basin

Elemental (C/N ratio) and C isotope composition (δ¹³C) of particulate organic C (POC) and organic C content (OC) of total suspended solids (TSS) were determined for two subtropical karstic tributaries of the Yangtze River, the Wujiang (the eighth largest tributary) and Yuanjiang (the third largest tributary). For the latter, two headwaters, the karstic Wuyanghe and non-karstic Qingshuijiang were studied. The Wujiang catchment is subject to intensive land use, has low forest coverage and high soil erosion rate. The δ¹³C of POC covered a range from −30.6‰ to −24.9‰, from −27.6‰ to −24.7‰, and from −26.2‰ to −23.3‰ at the low-water stage, while at the high-water stage varied in a span between −28.6‰ and −24.4‰, between −27.7‰ and −24.5‰, and between −27.6‰ and −24.2‰ for the Wujiang, Wuyanghe, and Qingshuijiang, respectively. The combined application of C isotopes, C/N ratio, OC, and TSS analyses indicated that catchment soil was the predominant source of POC for the Wujiang while for the Wuyanghe and Qingshuijiang, in-stream processes supplied the main part of POC in winter and summer. A significant increase in δ¹³C value (1.4‰) of POC was found in the Wujiang during summer, and was attributed to the enhanced soil erosion of the dry arable uplands close to the riverbanks of the main channel. Based on a conservative estimate, POC fluxes were 3.123 × 10¹⁰, 0.084 × 10¹⁰, and 0.372 × 10¹⁰ g a⁻¹ while export rates of POC were 466, 129, and 218 mg m⁻² a⁻¹ for the Wujiang, Wuyanghe, and Qingshuijiang, respectively. The POC export rate for the karstic Wujiang, with intensive land use, was 2–3 higher than that of the karstic Wuyanghe or of the non-karstic Qingshuijiang where soil erosion was minor. Such high values imply rapid degradation of related karstic ecosystems impacted by intensive land use activities, and pose a potential threat to the health of the Three Gorges Reservoir.     

Heat flow and heat generation in the Churchill Province of the Canadian Shield, and their palaeotectonic significance

Six new heat flow determinations are presented for Proterozoic mobile belts of the Churchill Province of the Canadian Shield, an area that was affected by several stages of the Hudsonian orogenic sequence (1.9-1.6 Ga ago). With other, previously published, values the mean of eight determinations considered reliable and representative and corrected for the effects of Pleistocene glaciation is 44 ± 7 mW m⁻². Heat generation measurements have also been made; values range from 0.1–1.04 μW m⁻³.A linear relation between heat flow and heat production is apparent. The heat flow axis intercept is 37 mW m⁻², and the scale depth is 11 km, compared with 28 mW m⁻² and 13.6 km for the Archaean Superior Province. Approximately 20% of the Churchill heat flow appears to be derived from radioactive decay in the upper crust, compared with 30% for the Superior Province and shields as a whole. The observations imply that the heat flow-heat production relation for the Churchill Province should be written as Q = Q_c + Q_e + A₀b where Q_c is equivalent to the reduced heat flow for the Archaean terrain, b is similar for the two, and Q_e is an additional component of heat flow in the Proterozoic mobile belts of the Churchill Province.A speculative tectonic model is presented. It is suggested that rifting along two axes of an original craton, which had lateral variations in near surface radiogenic element concentration, followed by erosion of the radiogenic layer and subsequent reconvergence of the cratonic segments, led to widespread redistribution of radioactive elements into the reactivated inter-rift crustal block. One result would be that crustal temperatures are higher in that part of the Churchill Province than in the Superior.     

Dynamic recrystallization of wet synthetic polycrystalline halite: dependence of grain size distribution on flow stress, temperature and strain

It is often observed that dynamic recrystallization results in a recrystallized grain size distribution with a mean grain size that is inversely related to the flow stress. However, it is still open to discussion if theoretical models that underpin recrystallized grain size–stress relations offer a satisfactorily microphysical basis. The temperature dependence of recrystallized grain size, predicted by most of these models, is rarely observed, possibly because it is usually not systematically investigated. In this study, samples of wet halite containing >10 ppm water (by weight) were deformed in axial compression at 50 MPa confining pressure. The evolution of the recrystallized grain size distribution with strain was investigated using experiments achieving natural strains of 0.07, 0.12 and 0.25 at a strain rate of 5×10⁻⁷ s⁻¹ and a temperature of 125 °C. The stress and temperature dependence of recrystallized grain size was systematically investigated using experiments achieving fixed strains of 0.29–0.46 (and one to a strain of 0.68) at constant strain rates of 5×10⁻⁷–1×10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ and temperatures of 75–240 °C, yielding stresses of 7–22 MPa. The microstructures and full grain size distributions of all samples were analyzed. The results showed that deformation occurred by a combination of dislocation creep and solution-precipitation creep. Dynamic recrystallization occurred in all samples and was dominated by fluid assisted grain boundary migration. During deformation, grain boundary migration results in a competition between grain growth due to the removal of grains with high internal strain energy and grain size reduction due to grain dissection (i.e. moving boundaries that crosscut or consume parts of neighbouring grains). At steady state, grain growth and grain size reduction processes balance, yielding constant flow stress and recrystallized grain size that is inversely related to stress and temperature. Evaluation of the recrystallized grain size data against the different models for the development of mean steady state recrystallized grain size revealed that the data are best described by a model based on the hypothesis that recrystallized grain size organizes itself in the boundary between the (grain size sensitive) solution-precipitation and (grain size insensitive) dislocation creep fields. Application of a piezometer, calibrated using the recrystallized grain size data, to natural halite rock revealed that paleostresses can vary significantly with temperature (up to a factor of 2.5 for T=50–200 °C) and that the existing temperature independent recrystallized grain size–stress piezometer may significantly underestimate flow stresses in natural halite rock.     

Strain analysis of a Northern Apennine shear zone using deformed marble breccias

The Alpi Apuane region of the Northern Apennines appears to have been deformed within a large-scale, low-angle shear zone with an overthrust sense of movement. The presence of mineral stretching lineations, folds progressively rotated into the X strain direction, and schistosities which intersect the nappe boundaries at small angles suggest that a component of shear strain occurred during the deformation. The strain ratios and orientations on two-dimensional sections have been determined from deformed marble breccias, reduction spots, and oncalites. Data from three or more non-perpendicular, non-principal sections have been combined to determine the finite strain ellipsoids at 33 sites within the shear zone.The finite strains have been separated into components of simple shear (γ), longitudinal strain (λ), and volume change (Δ). Algebraic expressions have been derived and graphs constructed which enable components of γ, γ and Δ, and γ and λ to be determined directly from a knowledge of strain ratio (R) within the shear zone and the angle (θ) between the principal strain direction and the shear zone boundary. The Alpi Apuane data indicate that neither simple shear alone, nor simple shear with volume change can satisfactorily explain the observed strains. Consideration of simple shear plus longitudinal strain leads to a general relationship in which the value of shear increases, and the values of longitudinal strain change along a SW-NE profile across the zone. Integration of the resulting shear strain-distance curves gives a minimum displacement of 4 km within the shear zone. Combination of the finite strains with the total time of deformation known from K/Ar studies leads to average strain rates from 1.4 to 9.6 × 10⁻¹⁵ sec⁻¹.A characteristic flat-ramp-flat geometry initially formed the boundaries of what was later to develop into the overthrust shear zone, and deformation of the underlying crystalline basement is believed to have occurred by ductile shearing. Estimates of 21% crustal shortening for the region suggest that the crustal thickness prior to deformation was approximately 20 km in this part of the Northern Apennines.     

Depositional chronology and fabric of Siwalik group sediments in Central Nepal from magnetostratigraphy and magnetic anisotropy

Magnetostratigraphic research, undertaken within the past 15 years in the Siwaliks distributed along 400 km of the Sub-Himalaya in central Nepal, has proved that the sediments possess highly reliable hematite-based primary detrital remanent magnetization suitable to determine depositional chronology. In order to bring out the polarity sequences in a common chronological frame, all available data are newly correlated to the latest global magnetic polarity time scale of Cande and Kent (S.C. Cande, D.V. Kent (1995) Revised calibration of the geomagnetic polarity timescale for the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Journal of Geophysical Research 100, 6093–6095). Chronological data presented are referred, in relation to the diverse lithological nomenclature, to the formations whose ages are not constrained by isotopic or paleontologic ages. The age of the sections dated by magnetostratigraphy ranges between 14 and <2 Ma. Sediment accumulation rates average to 32–50 cm kyr⁻¹. Rock-magnetic parameters, e.g. initial susceptibility and isothermal remanent magnetization ratios, allow correlation with an accuracy of up to a few hundred meters among several kilometers thick adjacent sections. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data reveal a well-defined fabric contributed to by paramagnetic (k=10⁻⁵ to 3×10⁻⁴ SI) as well as ferromagnetic minerals (k=3×10⁻⁴ to 10⁻² SI). AMS ellipsoids are mainly oblate along with some prolate ones and the degree of anisotropy is mostly low (P′<1.2). The magnetic fabric is of pre-folding origin with tilt-corrected sub-vertical magnetic foliation poles. The magnetic lineations do not show parallelism to the expected paleocurrent directions. Rather, sub-parallelism between the clusters of magnetic lineation and the fold axes/bedding strikes/thrust fronts is observed. A superimposed fabric consisting of a sedimentary-compactional and an overprint induced by a mild deformation process is suggested. The latter process was active during, and subsequent to, the deposition in the compressive tectonic setting of the foreland basin. The magnetic lineations for Tinau Khola and Surai Khola sections cluster around N80°W and N88°W respectively, whereas N27°W trend characterizes the Amiliya-Tui area south of Dang. The peak clusters in lineations are probably orthogonal to the true shortening axes. Their variation along the Sub-Himalaya, together with the fold axes or thrust front trends, may be used for accurate tectonic reconstruction. It is especially important when the orthogonality of the latter to the shortening axes may not hold true in the sectors with imbricate fold-and-thrust structures.     

New constraints on the release of noble gases during in vacuo crushing and application to scapolite Br–Cl–I and Ar/Ar age determinations

The release of irradiation-produced noble gas isotopes (³⁸Ar_Cl, ⁸⁰Kr_Br, ¹²⁸Xe_I and ³⁹Ar_K) during in vacuo crushing scapolite has been investigated and is compared to quartz. Three thousand crushing strokes released 98% of fluid inclusion-hosted noble gas from quartz. In comparison, 3000 crushing strokes released only 4% of the lattice-hosted ³⁸Ar_Cl from a scapolite gem. In vacuo crushing released lattice Ar preferentially relative to lattice Kr or Xe and prolonged crushing released 88% of the lattice-hosted noble gas in 96,000 crushing strokes. We suggest fast diffusion pathways generated by crushing are an important noble gas release mechanism and we demonstrate two applications of prolonged in vacuo crushing on irradiated scapolite.Firstly, scapolite molar Br/Cl and I/Cl values are shown to vary over a similar range as crustal fluids. The Cl-rich scapolite gem from Hunza, Pakistan has Br/Cl of 0.5–0.6 × 10⁻³ and I/Cl values of 0.3–2 × 10⁻⁶, that are similar to fluids that have dissolved evaporites. In contrast, three out of four skarn-related scapolites from the Canadian Grenville Province have molar Br/Cl values of 1.5–2.4 × 10⁻³, and I/Cl values of 11–24 × 10⁻⁶, that are broadly consistent with skarn formation by magmatic fluids. The fourth Grenvillian scapolite, with only 0.02 wt% Cl, has an exceptionally elevated molar Br/Cl value of up to 54 × 10⁻³ and I/Cl of 284 × 10⁻⁶. It is unclear if these values reflect the composition of fluids formed during metamorphism or preferential incorporation of Br and I in Cl-poor meionitic scapolite.Secondly, the Grenvillian scapolites give plateau ages of between 830 Ma and 400 Ma. The oldest ages post-date regional skarn formation by 200 Myr, but are similar to feldspar cooling ages in the Province. The age variation in these samples is attributed to a combination of factors including variable thermal history and the presence of mineral sub-grains in some of the samples. These sub-grains control the release of ³⁹Ar_K, ³⁸Ar_Cl and ⁴⁰Ar* during in vacuo crushing as well as the samples ⁴⁰Ar* retentivity in nature. Scapolite is suggested as a possible analogue for K-feldspar in thermochronologic studies.     

High-field cantilever magnetometry as a tool for the determination of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of single crystals

Cantilever torque magnetometry is utilized widely in physics and material science for the determination of magnetic properties of thin films and semiconductors. Here, we report on its first application in rock magnetism, namely the determination of K₁ and K₂ of single crystal octahedra of natural magnetite. The design of cantilever magnetometers allows optimization for the specific research question at hand. For the present study, a cantilever magnetometer was used that enables measurement of samples with a volume up to 64 mm³. It can be inserted into an electromagnet with a maximum field of 2 T. The cantilever spring is suitable for torque values ranging from 7.5 × 10^− 7 N·m to 5 × 10^− 6 N·m. The torque is detected capacitively; the measured capacitance is converted into torque by using a calibrated feedback coil. The magnetometer allows in-situ rotation of the sample in both directions and is, therefore, also suitable to analyze rotational hysteresis effects.The evaluation of the magnetite anisotropy constants involved Fourier analysis of the torque signal on the magnetite crystals' (001) and (110) planes. The absolute anisotropy constant has been computed using the extrapolation-to-infinite-field method. The value of K₁ at room temperature is determined at − 1.28 × 10⁴ [J m^− 3] (± 0.13, i.e. 10%) and that of K₂ at − 2.8 × 10³ [J m^− 3] (± 0.1, i.e. 2%). These values concur with earlier determinations that could not provide an instrumental error, in contrast with this work.The cantilever magnetometer performs four times faster than other torque magnetometers used for rock magnetic studies. This makes the instrument also suitable for magnetic fabric analysis.     

Single-layer folding in marble and limestone: An experimental study

Folding experiments have been carried out on single-layers of Carrara marble and Solnhofen limestone at a confining pressure of 275 bars, temperature of 400°C, and strain rates of 5.5×10⁻⁷ to 8.2×10⁻⁷. The marble and limestone layers were embedded in a rock-salt matrix and in a matrix of a mixture of 60% fine-grained halite and 40% fine-grained calcite, respectively, and deformed to different percentages of bulk shortening. Aspect ratios of the layers varied between 11.25 and 15. The stress-strain relationship reveals that strain increased with a very small increment in compressive stresses, once folding was initiated.With progressive deformation the bulk strain is compensated by folding along one fold hinge. The resulting folds are concentric and a combination of class 1a, 1b and 3 type. The changes in the arc length, layer thickness, limb dip and wavelength with progressive folding in marble layers, are discussed.The microstructure and texture of the folded marble and limestone layers have been investigated optically and by means of an X-ray texture goniometer. The inner fold arc exhibits a strong preferred orientation, whereas in the outer fold are the preferred orientation is poorly developed. Differences in the fabric in medium-grained marble and fine-grained limestone layers have been attributed to the difference in mechanism of deformation.