Teleseismic delay-time tomography of the upper mantle beneath southeastern India: imprint of Indo–Antarctica rifting

A 3-D P -velocity map of the crust and upper mantle beneath the southeastern part of India has been reconstructed through the inversion of teleseismic traveltimes. Salient geological features in the study region include the Archean Dharwar Craton and Eastern Ghat metamorphic belt (EGMB), and the Proterozoic Cuddapah and Godavari basins. The Krishna–Godavari basin, on the eastern coastal margin, evolved in response to the Indo–Antarctica breakup. A 24-station temporary network provided 1161 traveltimes, which were used to model 3-D P -velocity variation. The velocity model accounts of 80 per cent of the observed data variance. The velocity picture to a depth of 120 km shows two patterns: a high velocity beneath the interior domain (Dharwar craton and Cuddapah basin), and a lower velocity beneath the eastern margin region (EGMB and coastal basin). Across the array velocity variations of 7–10 per cent in the crust (0–40 km) and 3–5 per cent in the uppermost mantle (40–120 km) are observed. At deeper levels (120–210 km) the upper-mantle velocity differences are insignificant among different geological units. The presence of such a low velocity along the eastern margin suggests significantly thin lithosphere (<100 km) beneath it compared to a thick lithosphere (>200 km) beneath the eastern Dharwar craton. Such lithospheric thinning could be a consequence of Indo–Antarctica break-up.     

The origin of bore-core remanences: mechanical-shock-imposed irreversible magnetizations

Repeated laboratory-induced weak mechanical shocking ( c .  0.57  kg  m  s⁻¹ ) of marine sandstone samples showing drilling-induced remanence, from commercial bore cores from the North Sea and Prudhoe Bay, causes increases in their low-field susceptibility ( χ ) and their ability to acquire an isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM). These enhancements are reduced by some 20 per cent by AF demagnetization in 100  mT. Doubling the intensity of the shock doubles the susceptibilities and IRMs acquired. The susceptibility increase ceases after 300 to 400 shocks for the North Sea samples and 20 to 30 shocks for those from Prudhoe Bay, while the IRM saturates after 800–1000 and 30–50 shocks respectively. Continental, haematite-bearing sandstones from commercial bore cores with no drilling-induced remanence subjected to the same shocks do not show these effects. Differences in the magnetic mineralogy of shocked and unshocked marine samples suggest that the magnetic enhancement is predominantly due to the creation of pyrrhotite by shock-induced irreversible crystallographic changes in iron-bearing sulphides. When shocked during commercial drilling, these new ferromagnetic minerals acquire strong chemical (crystalline) remanences, associated with a wide spectrum of grain sizes, in the magnetic field of the drill string, and these are resistant to both thermal and AF demagnetization. Similar processes are likely in any situation involving the shock of physically metastable iron-bearing minerals, particularly anoxic sediments. A 5  cm non-magnetic collar between the drill stem and crown should drastically reduce the magnetic intensity of this effect under commercial conditions, but would not prevent its occurrence.     

Effects of weathering on single-domain magnetite in Early Pliocene marine marls

Rock magnetic parameters are often used to recognize variations in the original magnetic mineralogy and for normalizing purposes in palaeointensity studies. Incipient weathering, however, is shown to have a profound but partly reversible influence on the rock magnetic properties of the marls of the Early Pliocene Trubi formation in southern Sicily (Italy). The remanence in the marls resides in single-domain (SD) magnetite grains, but the remanent coercive force (H_cr) shows a strong variation and most values observed are anomalously high ( H_cr) range 36–188 mT).
The enhanced coercivities are attributed to stress in the magnetite grains induced by surface oxidation at low temperature. Upon heating to 150 °C a reduction of coercivities occurs that can be explained by a stress reduction as a result of a reduction of Fe^2- gradient due to a higher diffusion rate at elevated temperature. After heating to 150 °C, coercivities are quite uniform throughout the outcrop and the values are characteristic of SD magnetite (H_cr range 30–38 mT). The bulk susceptibility increases by 4–24 per cent, and the isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) decreases by 5–11 per cent. The increase in anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) is large: 20–242 per cent. The magnitude of the changes is related to the degree of weathering.
Another effect of heating the marl samples to 150 °C is a substantial reduction of the coercivities of the secondary overprint in the natural remanent magnetization. After heating. separation of the secondary and primary components by alternating-field demagnetization is more efficient. The usual difficulties of thermal demagnetization above 300 °C may thus be avoided by a combination of moderate heating to 150 °C and subsequent alternating-field demagnetization.     

Magnetic properties of hydrothermally synthesized greigite (Fe3 S4 )—II. High- and low-temperature characteristics

The magnetic behaviour of hydrothermally synthesized greigite was analysed in the temperature range from 4 K to 700 °C. Below room temperature, hysteresis parameters were determined as a function of temperature, with emphasis on the temperature range below 50 K. Saturation magnetization and initial susceptibility were studied above room temperature, along with X-ray diffraction analysis of material heated to various temperatures. The magnetic behaviour of synthetic greigite on heating is determined by chemical alteration rather than by magnetic unblocking. Heating in air yields more discriminative behaviour than heating in argon. When heated in air, the amount of oxygen available for reaction with greigite determines the products and magnetic behaviour. In systems open to contact with air, haematite is the final reaction product. When the contact with air is restricted, magnetite is the final reaction product. When air is excluded, pyrrhotite and magnetite are the final reaction products; the amount of magnetite formed is determined by the purity of the starting greigite and the degree of its surficial oxidation. The saturation magnetization of synthetic greigite is virtually independent of temperature from room temperature down to 4 K. The saturation remanent magnetization increases slowly by 20–30 per cent on cooling from room temperature to 4 K. A broad maximum is observed at ~10 K which may be diagnostic of greigite. The coercive and remanent coercive force both increase smoothly with decreasing temperature to 4 K. The coercive force increases from ~50 mT at room temperature to approximately 100–120 mT at 4 K, and the remanent coercive force increases from approximately 50–80 mT at room temperature to approximately 110–180 mT at 4 K.     

Temporal and three-dimensional spatial analyses of the frequency–magnitude distribution near Long Valley Caldera, California

The 3-D distribution of the b value of the frequency–magnitude distribution is analysed in the seismically active parts of the crust near Long Valley Caldera, California. The seismicity is sampled in spherical volumes, containing N =150 earthquakes and centred at nodes of a grid separated by 0.3  km. Significant variations in the b value are detected, with b ranging from b ≈0.6 to b ≈2.0. High b -value volumes are located near the resurgent dome, and at depths below 5  km at Mammoth Mountain. b values are found to be much lower south of the Long Valley Caldera. We interpret this to indicate that an active magma body has advanced from depths below 8  km to depths of 4 to 5  km beneath Mammoth Mountain in 1989, and that anomalous crust, either highly fractured or containing unusually high pore pressure, such as is the case in the vicinity of active magma bodies, exists north of the seismically active area beneath the resurgent dome at all depths. We also investigate the spatial distribution of temporal variations of the frequency–magnitude distribution by introducing differential b -value maps. b values increased from b ≈0.8 to b ≈1.5 underneath Mammoth Mountain at the onset of the 1989 earthquake swarm and remained high thereafter. This suggests that an intrusion permanently altered the average distribution of cracks at 5–10  km depth, or that the pore pressure permanently increased. We propose that high b values are a necessary (but not sufficient) condition near a magmatic body, and therefore spatial b -value mapping can be used to aid in the identification of active magma bodies.     

Two geomagnetic excursions during the Brunhes chron recorded in Chinese loess-palaeosol sediments

Detailed palaeomagnetic integrated with rock magnetic studies have been carried out on a loess-palaeosol sequence in Baoji, Shaanxi province, southern Chinese Loess Plateau. For most samples stepwise thermal demagnetization revealed two well-defined magnetization components. A low-temperature component (LTC), which was isolated between 100 and 200 °C, is consistent with the present geomagnetic field direction. A high-temperature component (HTC), which was isolated between 250 and 620–680 °C, shows normal, reversed or transitional polarities. Our new magnetostatigraphy revealed two distinct geomagnetic excursions recorded in loess unit of L5 and palaeosol unit of S7, respectively, and the Matuyama-Brunhes (M-B) polarity boundary in loess unit of L8. Rock magnetic experiments demonstrated that the specimens from the excursion zones have the same magnetic properties as those from the Brunhes normal or Matuyama reversed polarity zones. Measurements of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) showed that the sediments have primary sedimentary fabrics. Based on the palaeoclimatological and magnetostratigraphic age models, the middle Brunhes excursion in loess L5 is dated at 413–433 ka, and the early Brunhes excursion is estimated to occur 23–33 ka after the M-B reversal. Comparing with previously reported geomagnetic excursions in the Brunhes chron, the middle Brunhes excursion (L5) is likely global. For the early Brunhes excursion (S7), we need further studies to examine its global occurrence.     

Three-dimensional seismic structure of the upper mantle beneath the central part of the Eurasian continent

This work is a study of the upper-mantle seismic structure beneath the central part of the Eurasian continent, including the northern Mongolia, Altai and Sayan orogenic areas and the Baikal rift zone. Seismic velocity models are reconstructed using the inverse teleseismic scheme. This scheme uses information from earthquakes located within the study area recorded by the Worldwide Network. The seismic anomaly structure is obtained for different volumes in the study area that partially overlap one another. Special attention has been paid to the reliability of the results: several noise and resolution comparisons are made.
The main results are as follows. (1) A cell structure of anomalies is observed beneath the Altai–Sayan region: positive, cold anomalies correspond to regions of recent orogenesis, negative anomalies are located beneath the depression of the Great Lakes in Mongolia and Hubsugul Lake. (2) A large negative anomaly is observed beneath the Hangai dome in Mongolia. (3) Strong velocity variations are obtained in a zone around Baikal Lake. A large negative anomaly is traced beneath the southern margin of the Siberian craton down to a depth of 700 km. Contrasting positive anomalies (4–5 per cent) are observed at a depth of 100–300 km beneath the Baikal rift. Our geodynamical interpretation of the velocity structure obtained beneath central Asia involves the existence of two processes in the mantle: thermal convection with regular cells, and a narrow plume beneath the southern border of the Siberian plate.     

Palaeointensity studies of a late Permian lava succession from Guizhou Province, South China: implications for post-Kiaman dipole field behaviour

Palaeomagnetic results are presented from a volcanic sequence in Zhijin County, Guizhou Province, Southern China. The lavas and associated volcanic breccias comprising the sequence represent a southern extension of the Emeishan volcanic province. Biostratigraphic dating of interbedded limestone units and stratigraphic constraints indicate that the section formed during the late Permian (∼263–255  Ma), and is thus somewhat older than the Emei stratotype section in Sichuan Province, and close in age to reported estimates of the termination of the Permo-Carboniferous (Kiaman) reverse superchron. Rock magnetic analyses and reflected light microscopy indicate that the magnetic mineralogy of the lava units is dominated by fresh, primary magnetites containing a significant fraction of single-domain grains. Thermal demagnetization behaviour of the breccia units is poor, but most lava samples have one or two components of remanence above 250 °C. The normal polarity characteristic remanence held by the lavas implies a post-Kiaman age for this succession and suggests that the termination of the Kiaman occurred prior to 263  Ma, supporting recently published estimates. According to standard criteria, Thellier palaeointensity results from the lavas are of good quality and reveal that the dipole field strength was comparatively low shortly after the termination of the superchron. 80 per cent of samples record relative VDM values in the range 42–52 per cent of the present-day value, supporting recent studies of mid-Kiaman field intensity. This suggests that a low-energy dipole existed at least between 300 and 255  Ma and does not appear to have been confined to the stable reverse polarity interval.     

Regional variability in relationships between climate and dengue/DHF in Indonesia

Since 1970, the worldwide distribution, frequency and intensity of epidemics of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) have increased dramatically. In Indonesia, as elsewhere, the geographic distribution and behaviour of the two main vectors – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – and the consequent transmission dynamics of the disease are strongly influenced by climate. Monthly incidence data were examined in relation to monthly data for temperature, rainfall, rainfall anomalies, humidity and the Southern Oscillation Index for 1992–2001. Focusing on eight provinces, significant Pearson correlations were observed between dengue/DHF incidence and at least one climate variable ( r  = ±0.2 to ±0.43; P  < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that 12.9–24.5 per cent of variance in incidence was explained by two or three climate variables in each province ( P  < 0.1–0.01). Rainfall appears to be the principal climatic agent affecting the geographic distribution and temporal pattern of incidence while temperature appears to play a critical role in outbreak intensity. Wide regional and temporal variations in the strength and nature of the observed associations led to the identification of three groups of provinces where increases in dengue/DHF incidence were variously associated with increased rainfall, decreased rainfall and/or high susceptibility to climate variability. Although climatic factors play an important role in explaining the timing and intensity of dengue/DHF outbreaks, a wide range of other factors specific to local environments also appear to be involved – information that may assist in the prediction and mitigation of regional dengue/DHF outbreaks.     

Small-scale heterogeneities below the Gräfenberg array, Germany from seismic wavefield fluctuations of Hindu Kush events

Small-scale elastic heterogeneities (<5  km) are found in the upper lithosphere underneath the Gräfenberg array, southeast Germany. The results are based on the analysis of broadband recordings of 17 intermediate-depth (201–272  km) events from the Hindu Kush region. The wavefront of the first P arrival and the following 40  s coda are separated into coherent and incoherent (scattered) parts in the frequency range from 0.05 to 5  Hz. The frequency-dependent intensities of the mean and fluctuation wavefields are used to describe the scattering characteristics of the lithosphere underneath the receivers. It is possible to discriminate a weak-fluctuation regime of the wavefield in the frequency range below approximately 1.5–2.5  Hz and a strong-fluctuation regime starting at 2.0–2.5  Hz and continuing to higher frequencies. In order to explain the observed wavefield fluctuations, an approach with seismic scattering at random media-type structures is proposed. The preferred model contains heterogeneities with 3–7 per cent perturbations in seismic velocity and correlation lengths of 0.6–4.8  km in the crust. This is compatible with models from active seismic experiments. Scattering in the lithospheric mantle is not required, but cannot be excluded at weak velocity contrasts (<3 per cent).     

镇江下蜀黄土-古土壤序列磁化率特征与环境记录

将北方黄土研究中广泛应用的磁化率参数引入长江中下游下蜀黄土的研究,对镇江下蜀黄土古土壤序列进行了系统的质量磁化率采样测试。磁化率变化记录了中更世以来长江中下游地区经历了7~8次大的气候旋回变迁,与邻区风尘堆积及北方黄土高原具有一致性和相似性;下蜀黄土S₂以来磁化率记录可与深海氧同位素记录进行细节上的详细对比,首次在下蜀黄土记录中发现了对应于MIS中5a、5b、5c、5d和5e亚阶段的波动特征;对比揭示,近20多万年以来,下蜀黄土堆积区对全球古气候变化有着积极的响应。     

Scattering parameters of the lithosphere below the Massif Central, France, from teleseismic wavefield records

Teleseismic P -wave recordings are analysed in the frequency range 0.3–6  Hz to derive structural (statistical) parameters of the lithosphere underneath the French Massif Central. For this we analyse differences in frequency-dependent intensities of the mean wavefield and the fluctuation wavefield. It is possible to discriminate a weak fluctuation regime of the wavefield in the frequency range below 1  Hz and a strong fluctuation regime starting above 1  Hz and continuing to higher frequencies. The observed wavefield fluctuations in the frequency range 0.3–3  Hz can be explained by scattering of the teleseismic P wave front at elastic inhomogeneities in the lithosphere. A statistical distribution of the inhomogeneities is assumed and the concept of random media is applied. The lithospheric structure under the Massif Central can be described as a 70  km thick heterogeneous layer with velocity fluctuations of 3–7 per cent and correlation lengths of the heterogeneities of 1–16  km.     

青藏高原东缘山地古冰川沉积物磁化率特点及其影响因素分析

湖泊、黄土与古土壤、深海沉积物等连续沉积体的磁化率变化作为环境变化的替代性指标被广泛应用,然而对于非连续、能够反映特定时段气候变化的沉积体,如冰川沉积物的磁化率却较少涉及.本文通过对青藏高原东缘8 个典型冰川发育山地冰碛物磁化率进行研究,并与黄土、湖泊、深海沉积物以及不同区域的表土磁化率进行对比,采用质量磁化率和频率磁化率探讨冰碛物的磁化率特点及其影响因素.结果表明：青藏高原东缘山地的冰碛物质量磁化率呈宽幅波动,介于(3.01~1808.80)×10^-8 m³·kg^-1,平均值147.84×10^-8 m³·kg^-1;频率磁化率值较低、且波动幅度小,介于0~6.89%,平均值为1.37%.不同时空条件下冰碛物的磁化率特点不同,即不同地点同一冰期磁化率的差异显著;同一地点不同冰期冰碛物的磁化率变化不明显.影响冰碛物磁化率的主导因素是母岩的岩性条件,气候因素起次要作用.     

Anisotropy of heterogeneity scale lengths in the lower mantle from PKIKP precursors

The anisotropy of heterogeneity scale lengths in the lower mantle is investigated by modelling its effect on the high-frequency precursors of PKIKP scattered by the heterogeneities. Although models having either an isotropic or an anisotropic distribution of scale lengths can fit the observed coda shapes of short-period precursors, the frequency content of broad-band PKIKP precursors favours a dominantly isotropic distribution of scale lengths. Precursor coda shapes are consistent with 1 per cent fluctuations in P velocity in the wavenumber band 0.05–0.5  km⁻¹ extending to 1000  km above the core–mantle boundary, and with a D" region open to circulation throughout the lower mantle. The level of excitation of PKIKP precursors observed in the frequency band 0.02–2  Hz requires a power spectrum of heterogeneity that is nearly white or slowly increasing with wavenumber. Anisotropy of scale lengths may exist in a D" layer having larger horizontal than vertical scale lengths and produce little or no detectable effects on PKIKP precursors for P -velocity perturbations as high as 3 per cent when averaged over a vertical scale of several kilometres, and much higher when averaged over scales of hundreds of metres or less.     

西安地区第三层古土壤研究

野外观察发现,陕西西安地区的第三层古土壤是由3层构成的复合古土壤。通过对长安双竹村剖面及蓝田段家坡剖面的地层结构、磁化率、颗粒成分以及有机质含量的分析,可以把形成第三层古土壤的中更新世时段(330~272 ka B.P.)分为6个温湿、冷干阶段,构成为3个气候变化旋回。     

Seismic and electromagnetic evidence of dehydration as a free water source in the reactivated crust

According to recent estimates, the continental mid-crust contains 35–40 per cent amphibolites. Heating of the crust by an underlying mantle plume, for example beneath continental rifts, high plateaus, and areas of intraplate volcanic activity, releases water. Dehydration of amphibole-bearing rocks at depths of 20–40  km occurs mainly in the temperature range 650–700 °C, and this releases about 0.4  wt per cent of water.
  Seismic tomography studies of the crust in the Kirgyz Tien Shan Range, where the age of the tectonic activity is less than 30  Ma, revealed a low-velocity zone in the mid-crust. The velocity of P waves was 0.4  km  s⁻¹ lower than in normal crust. MT sounding data in the region show the existence of a low-resistivity layer with an average resistivity of about 25  Ω  m at the depth of the low-velocity layer. The spatial correlation of the observed anomalous layers and calculated effect of fluid phase on seismic and electric parameters of rocks suggests the presence of aqueous fluids released by the heating of the mid-crust.     

红黏土磁化率增强机制

对于黄土-古土壤序列,磁化率增强机制已经被大家认可,并且磁化率被广泛作为古夏季风强弱变化的代用指标。红黏土伏于第四纪黄土之下,同为风成沉积物,对红黏土磁化率增强机制的研究程度不高,且对强发育红黏土获得比较低的磁化率值的原因不清楚。本文通过对佳县红黏土进行系统岩石磁学分析得出：(1) 红黏土磁性矿物种类以磁铁矿为主,同时含有一定量磁赤铁矿、赤铁矿;磁性矿物平均粒径为PSD颗粒;强发育层含有较多的软磁性矿物,弱发育层含有较多的硬磁性矿物。(2) χ、χfd和χARM两两之间表现出很好线性正相关关系,说明红黏土中含有大量SP和SD颗粒亚铁磁性矿物,这些细小磁颗粒是在成壤过程中产生,成壤作用导致古土壤层磁化率升高。(3) 红黏土χfd、χfd%值较高,说明经历较强的成壤过程,成壤环境与黄土高原黄土-古土壤序列类似,与阿拉斯加、西伯利亚黄土-古土壤明显不同。     

On the superparamagnetic—stable single domain transition for magnetite, and frequency dependence of susceptibility

Sediments and soils often contain superparamagnetic (SP) magnetite or maghemite grains that cause a frequency dependence of low-field susceptibility X _fd which does not exceed 15 per cent/decade of frequency. Present models predict very different volume distributions for samples with the largest observed frequency dependence of susceptibility. While Stephensons' (1971) power-law model predicts most grains to be smaller than the stable single domain (SSD) threshold, the phenomenological model of >Dearing et al . (1996) suggests that most grains are between 10 and 25 nm in diameter. Finally, the recent calculations of Eyre (1997) indicate very broad volume distributions. This study reviews the nature of the superparamagnetic–stable single domain (SP–SSD) transition. The change of AC susceptibilities with grain size (or temperature) at the SP–SSD boundary is more gradual than commonly assumed. When distributions of particle coercivities and volumes are also considered, X _fd values are much smaller than those calculated by Eyre (1997). Nonetheless, X _fd can be larger than 15 per cent, and a larger frequency dependence has indeed been measured for some samples. The question whether the observed limited X _fd of soils and sediments is a result of a broad distribution or of a bimodal distribution, where SP and SSD grains are restricted to a certain relative abundance, can potentially be answered by susceptibility determinations at more than two frequencies and by measurements of the temperature dependence of susceptibility.     

西峰与段家坡黄土剖面中有机质的特征及古环境信息

对甘肃西峰（X）黄土剖面L1－L6共163个样品进行总有机碳（TOC）和R ock-Eval热解分析，对比分析了西峰和陕西段家坡（D)剖面L5－S5－1层段及其中趋磁细菌的正烷烃与脂肪酸组成，结果显示西峰剖面的TOC与磁化率呈良好的对数关系，两个剖面L5－S5－1层段正烷烃和脂肪酸的分布表明，黄土地区当时古气候偏干冷，黄土高原由西北而东南，古气候呈变暖趋势，西峰剖面从S5－1形成到L5堆积，其古湿度可能有一个突变，即古气候由较湿润突然转变为极干燥，而段家坡地区当时的气候变化则可能较为缓和。     

15万年以来中国黄土与南极冰芯环境演化记录的对比

中国黄土和南极冰芯各自记载了15万年以来环境演化的信息,通过两者的对比研究,可以揭示全球性环境变化的普遍特征和区域特点。对比表明:15万年以来,中国甘肃临夏北塬黄土剖面中磁化率反映的气候变化与南极Vostok站冰芯中δD反映的温度变化趋势非常相似,在以万年计的时间尺度内,所反映的气候变化趋势是一致的,但相同时段两者的变化幅度,特别是在距今14～8万年的末次间冰期期间,差别较大。