Strange attractors in magmas: evidence from lava flows

Magma mixing structures from three different lava flows (Salina, Vulcano and Lesbos) are studied in order to assess the possible chaotic origin of magma mixing processes. Structures are analysed using a new technique based on image analysis procedures that extract time series that are representative of the relative change in composition through the structures. These time series are then used to reconstruct the attractors underlying the magma mixing process and to calculate the fractal dimension of the attractors. Results show that attractors exist and possess fractional dimensions. This evidence suggests that the mixing of magmas is a chaotic process governed by a low number of degrees of freedom. In addition, fractal dimension analyses allows us to discriminate between different regimes of mixing in the three lava flows. In particular our analyses suggest that the lava flow of Salina underwent more turbulent mixing than the lava flows of Lesbos and Vulcano.     

Palaeomagnetism of Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments and lava flows on Tjörnes and Flatey, North Iceland

Palaeomagnetic measurements have been carried out on lava flows and volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks of Upper Pliocene and Pleistocene age from sections on the Tjömes Peninsula and a core section from the island of Flatey off North Iceland. Earlier palaeomagnetic work in the area is reviewed, and new data on the stratigraphy of the Hoskuldsvik Group on Tjörnes are presented. A revised polarity column based on our resultsisset upfortheoutcropson Tjörnes, including twoadditionalnormalsubchronswithin the Matuyama. Our palaeomagnetic results indicate that the rocks penetrated by the Flatey drillhole accumulated during the Matuyama. Age estimates for the Upper Tjömes sequence are reviewed, and correlation alternatives indicate that the earliest glaciation of Tjörnes took place either at c.2 Ma or near the Gauss/Matuyama boundary at c. 2.5 Ma. Correlation of individual Matuyama subchrons remains uncertain. A comparison of the climatic evidence from the Tjörnes area with data on oxygen isotope and carbonate variations at DSDP site 552A is used to evaluate correlation alternatives.     

New paleomagnetic and paleointensity data from Pliocene lava flows from the Lesser Caucasus

A paleomagnetic, rock-magnetic and paleointensity study has been carried out on 14 basaltic lava flows from two Pliocene (K–Ar age between 3.09 ± 0.10 Ma and 4.00 ± 0.15 Ma) sequences (Apnia and Korxi) from the eastern Djhavakheti Highland in southern Georgia (Caucasus).Measurement of strong-field magnetisation versus temperature curves yielded three types of thermomagnetic curves: (i) Reversible curves with magnetite as only remanence carrier (type H); (ii) irreversible curves with magnetite as only carrier of remanence (type H⁻) and (iii) irreversible curves showing a low Curie-temperature phase and magnetite (type L). Analysis of hysteresis curves showed that samples were characterised by a mixture of single-domain and multi-domain grains.Paleomagnetic experiments allowed determining characteristic components for all flows and normal polarities (6 flows), reversed polarities (7 flows) and intermediate polarities (1 flow) were observed.. Paleomagnetic poles were calculated using only those sites unequivocally showing normal or reversed polarities. The paleomagnetic pole obtained from flows of both combined sequences (latitude λ = 77.9°N, longitude ϕ = 152.1°E, n = 13, A₉₅ = 11.8°, k = 13.4) showed a good agreement with the 5 Ma window of the European synthetic apparent polar wander path of Besse and Courtillot (2002). The paleomagnetic direction of the combined Apnia-Korxi flows agrees well with the expected one, showing no significant tectonic rotation. The latter cannot be however, completely excluded in the Korxi section. In that section, analysis of the angular dispersion of virtual geomagnetic poles yields a much higher value than expected.Paleointensity experiments using the Coe method were performed on 31 specimens from 10 flows. After application of specific selection criteria, 19 samples from 8 flows were observed to provide successful determinations, with mean flow values showing a wide scatter. If only flows with more than one successful paleointensity determination are taken into account, virtual dipole moments (VDMs) vary between 3.5 × 10²² A m² and 8.3 × 10²² A m². In intermediate polarity site AP2 no weak transitional paleostrength values were observed.     

Aquifer chemistry of four high-temperature geothermal systems in Iceland

The deep water feeding wet-steam wells in four high-temperature geothermal areas in Iceland have highly variable salinity as reflected in the chlorine concentrations which vary from 20 to 19000 ppm. Using available values for equilibrium constants, the activities of 26 chemical species involving the major components of the reservoir water have been calculated and quantitative evaluations of solute/ solute, mineral/solute chemical equilibria in these geothermal systems have been made.The unflashed reservoir water is just saturated with calcite. The saline geothermal waters, which represent heated sea-water, are just saturated with anhydrite, but the dilute waters, which are of meteoric origin, are somewhat undersaturated with this mineral. The fluoride mobility is thought to be limited by an ionic exchange reaction where F^? replaces some of the OH^? in the layered silicates. The pH of the unflashed reservoir water is governed by ionic exchange equilibrium in which all the major cations participitate. At a given temperature it seems likely that the activity of one cation fixes the activities of all the other major cations and hydrogen ion. If this is so and we take all the other chemical equilibria which have been demonstrated to exist for granted, it turns out that the major element composition of the unflashed high-temperature geothermal waters is controlled by two independent variables only. These variables are the temperature and the supply to the water of the incompatible element chlorine, incompatible indicating that this element is not incorporated in the geothermal minerals.     

Avalanche risk assessment for mountain roads: a case study from Iceland

This paper presents an assessment of the avalanche hazard potential and the resulting risks on mountain roads for a 38.7-km-long section of road no 76 (Siglufjarearvegur) in northern Iceland following a regional scale approach developed in the Alps. The assessment of the individual avalanche death risk proved applicable to distinguish areas of avalanche hazard with a risk above the accepted level, which should be given priority in following detailed investigations and the planning of possible protective measures, from road sections where the avalanche death risk is low and accepted according to international practice. The cumulative individual and collective avalanche death risks in the investigated road section provide a comparable measure for assessing the avalanche hazard both within the Icelandic public road network and on an international scale. The case study on road no 76 in northern Iceland shows that a standardised regional scale risk-based approach is practical to determine, analyse and assess the avalanche hazard situation on mountain roads in Iceland and guarantees comprehensible, reproducible and comparable results as a basis for a sustainable planning of measures.     

Magmatism in western Cuddapahs: The mafic sills and lava flows of Vempalle and Tadpatri formations

The western part of Cuddapah basin has been considered as a foreland to the fold-thrust belt represented by eastern Nallamalais and Nellore schist belt. The igneous activities, in the form of lava flows and sills, in western Cuddapahs have been a subject of controversy since tectonogenetic models ranging from a mantle plume to lithospheric extension have been suggested. The present work covers a detailed study of the mafic sills and lava flows of Vempalle and Tadpatri formations in western Cuddapahs, which earlier workers have also noted. A detailed field and laboratory work in this study brings out, for the first time, five distinct petrographic and geochemical varieties of sills. Geochemical studies also suggest that the different sill types have originated from varying degrees of partial melting of a metasomatized subcrustal lithospheric mantle, the metasomatism of source being attributed to older Archaean convergent settings/greenstone belts that the basin unconformably overlies. The possible contribution of any small plume is only heating and doming of overlying mantle that induced incipient crustal rifting. Our geochemical studies on the lava flows of Vempalle Formation also suggest that the magma was derived from small degree of partial melting of spinel-garnet peridotite mantle in a rift setting.     

Mineral chemistry of lava flows from Linga area of the Eastern Deccan Volcanic Province,India

Several basaltic lava flows have been identified in the study area in and around Linga, in the Eastern Deccan Volcanic Province (EDVP) on the basis of distinctly developed structural zones defined by primary volcanic structures such as columnar joints and vesicles. These basaltic lava flows are spatially distributed in four different sectors, viz., (i) Bargona–Gadarwara (BG) sector (ii) Shikarpur–Linga (SL) sector (iii) Arjunvari–Survir Hill (AS) sector and (iv) Kukrachiman–Morand Hill (KM) sector. A three-tier classification scheme has been adopted for the characterization and classification of individual lava flows. Each lava flow consists of a Lower Colonnade Zone (LCZ) overlain by the Entablature Zone (EZ) and Upper Colonnade Zone (UCZ). The LCZ and UCZ grade into a distinct/indistinct Lower Vesicular Zone (LVZ) and Upper Vesicular Zone (UVZ), respectively. The LCZ and UCZ of the flows are characterized by columnar joints while the EZ is marked by multi-directional hackly jointing. The geometry of different joint patterns corresponds to different styles of cooling during solidification of lava flows. Detailed petrographic studies of the investigated lava flows reveal inequigranular phenocrystal basalts characterized by development of phenocrystal phases including plagioclase, clinopyroxene and olivine, whereas groundmass composition is marked by tiny plagioclase, clinopyroxene, opaque mineral and glass. Electron microprobe analyses indicate that the olivine has a wide range ∼Fo₂₂ to Fo₆₆ revealing a wide spectrum of compositional variation. Pyroxene compositions are distinctly designated as Quad pyroxenes. Phenocrystal pyroxenes are mostly diopsidic, while the groundmass pyroxenes mainly correspond to augite with a minor pigeonite component. Pyroxene phenocrysts are characterized by a prominent Ti-enrichment. Phenocrystal plagioclase grains are calcic (An_52.7–An_72.9), whereas groundmass plagioclase are relatively sodic (An_39.2–An_61.6). Groundmass opaque minerals are characteristically found to be Ti–magnetite/ilmenite/pyrophanite. Pyroxene thermometry reveals a temperature span of 850°C to 1280°C for the studied lavas while olivine–clinopyroxene thermometry yields a temperature range from 1040°–1160°C. The variation of temperature for the lava flows is ascribed to their normal cooling history after eruption.     

基于钻孔抽水试验和示踪试验的岩溶地区含水层结构研究

岩溶含水层具有强异质性和各向异性特征,其空间结构的调查和认识是地下水流动和污染物迁移研究的重要基础。然而,岩溶含水层特殊的地质结构导致岩溶区水文地质调查非常困难。为了更好地掌握研究区岩溶含水层结构特征,本文在进行抽水试验的同时开展多示踪剂（荧光素钠、罗丹明、荧光增白剂）示踪试验。利用Theis标准曲线对比法分析抽水试验数据,计算试验场地渗透张量,根据示踪试验结果分析含水层结构性质。计算出研究区渗透张量主方向的导水系数分别为:0.297 m2·h-1和0.028 m2·h-1,给水度为1.19E-04,优势方向为东偏南18.47°。抽水条件下示踪试验获得3种示踪剂的回收率分别为:荧光素钠97.98%,罗丹明B47.34%,荧光增白剂39.54%;平均流速分别为:0.378 m·h-1、0.3 m·h-1和0.14 m·h-1,反映研究区岩溶孔隙、裂隙较小,示踪剂运移慢、时间长。荧光素钠和荧光增白剂的BTC曲线表现为单峰型,罗丹明B的BTC曲线表现为多峰型,表明研究区既发育优势流裂隙,又发育相对均匀裂隙。同时,示踪剂最大回收率方向与抽水实验所得渗透张量主方向相符。研究结果为岩溶含水层精细结构的刻画,水文模型物理参数的确定提供了方法和依据。      

Displacement of the Great Divide in north Queensland associated with Neogene lava flows

In north Queensland, Australia, the ‘Great Divide’ forms the border between catchments draining into the Gulf of Carpentaria, including the Mitchell River, and those draining into the Coral Sea, including the Barron River. Until recently, it was commonly proposed that what is now the upper Barron River previously drained into the Mitchell River. However, little evidence was presented, and the assertion has been disputed. Our examination of borehole data, combined with accurate surveying of bedrock in the present Barron River channel, provides definitive evidence that paleochannels of the Mitchell River previously drained what is now the upper Barron River subcatchment. Lava that flowed down these channels at ca 1.79 Ma is evident in some of the boreholes and is exposed in the Barron River channel. The lava flows blocked the river channel, diverting the headwaters of the paleo-Mitchell River east into the Barron River, resulting in the western migration of the Great Divide. The consequent reduction in stream energy available to the truncated headwaters of Mitchell River has led to channel infill and aggradation of more than 40 m since the diversion of the Barron River. Subsurface paleochannels may be directing groundwater across the present drainage divide from the upper Barron River catchment into the Mitchell River catchment.     

Combined morphological and thermal analysis of lava flows: A way to boost understanding of emplacement dynamics

During emplacement, lavas modify the pre‐existing topography and release a large amount of heat. In spite of the relevance of both heat and mass release, combined morphological and thermal analyses have been seldom carried out at a flow‐field scale. Here, we consider a channelised lava flow unit formed at Mt Etna during the 2001 flank eruption, and we show that, by combining a morphological analysis of the pre‐ and post‐emplacement topography with the analysis of the syn‐eruptive thermal signature, critical insights about the processes driving mass and heat dissipation can be derived. Our results suggest that, in the considered lava flow, the pre‐emplacement slope controls heat dissipation and can influence the thickness of the final lava deposit, with possible implications for hazard assessment. The width of the lava channel, instead, appears less sensitive to the pre‐emplacement slope, and tends to regularly increase with increasing distance from the vent.     

Stratigraphy and paleomagnetism of a 3-km-thick Miocene lava pile in the Mjoifjördur area,eastern Iceland

We have carried out stratigraphic mapping in the Upper Miocene basalt lava pile around the fjords Mjoifjördur and Seydisfjördur, eastern Iceland. The mapping is based on conventional methods including the use of interbasaltic clastic horizons and petrographically distinct lava groups. These units are also used to provide correlations with the Nordfjördur area south of Mjoifjördur. We present a 3-km composite stratigraphic column for the area between Mjoifjördur and Seydisfjördur. The geology of this area shows some differences from the classical model of Walker for the structure of eastern Iceland partly due to the fact that most of Mjoifjördur is not in the vicinity of central volcanoes. Detailed laboratory measurements of remanent magnetization were carried out on oriented core samples from 363 lavas in 10 selected profiles. The local paleomagnetic polarity stratigraphy supports correlations made on the basis of other criteria. Over 20 geomagnetic reversals are recorded in the eastern Iceland lava pile in a period approximately 13-10 Ma ago. The geomagnetic field during this period averages to a central axial dipole field, and its overall statistical properties resemble those obtained in earlier surveys in Iceland.     

Chlorine in basalts from Iceland

Chlorine has a higher solubility in basaltic magmas than other volatiles. A theoretical degassing model predicts that less than 10% of the chlorine originally present in the magma is lost to the atmosphere during surface degassing. This prediction is born out by strong correlation between chlorine and nonvolatile elements in samples from recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland. It is concluded that the chlorine content of subaerial basaltic lavas is proportional to the chlorine content of the magmas. Assuming a roughly constant ratio between chlorine and water in the magmatic gas phase and assuming further that this ratio approximates the $\text{Cl}\text{H}{}_2\text{O}$ ratio in sea water and sediments it is possible to assign each basaltic magma a fixed amount of water. The figures thus obtained (0.3–1.2% H₂O) are identical with previously assumed water contents of basaltic magmas.The implied water contents of the melts are discussed in terms of derivation from hydrous mantle phases. It is concluded that such phases can supply only a fraction of the assumed water content, the rest is derived from an additional volatile source in the mantle. The mantle source giving rise to alkali basalts in Iceland has a lower content of volatiles than the tholeiite source.     

Timescales of magma differentiation from basalt to andesite beneath Hekla Volcano, Iceland: Constraints from U-series disequilibria in lavas from the last quarter-millennium flows

Measurements of ²³⁸U-²³⁰Th-²²⁶Ra disequilibria, Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes and major-trace elements have been conducted for lavas erupted in the last quarter-millennium at Hekla volcano, Iceland. The volcanic rocks range from basalt to dacite. Most of the lavas (excluding dacitic samples) display limited compositional variations in radiogenic Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.70319-0.70322; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.51302-0.51305; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 19.04-19.06; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.53-15.54; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.61-38.65; ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf = 0.28311-0.28312). All the samples possess (²³⁰Th/²³⁸U) disequilibrium with ²³⁰Th excesses, and they show systematic variations in (²³⁰Th/²³²Th) and (²³⁸U/²³²Th) ratios. The highest ²²⁶Ra excesses occur in the basalt and most differentiated andesite lavas, while some basaltic-andesite lavas have (²²⁶Ra/²³⁰Th) ratio that are close to equilibrium. The ²³⁸U-²³⁰Th-²²⁶Ra disequilibria variations cannot be produced by simple closed-system fractional crystallization with radioactive decay of ²³⁰Th and ²²⁶Ra in a magma chamber. A closed-system fractional crystallization model and assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) model indicate that the least differentiated basaltic andesites were derived from basalt by fractional crystallization with a differentiation age of ∼24 ± 11 kyr, whereas the andesites were formed by assimilation of crustal material and fractionation of the basaltic-andesites within 2 kyr. Apatite is inferred to play a key role in fractionating the parent-daughter nuclides in ²³⁰Th-²³⁸U and ²²⁶Ra-²³⁰Th to make the observed variations. Our proposed model is that several batches of basaltic-andesite magmas that formed by fractional crystallization of a basaltic melt from a deeper reservoir, were periodically injected into the shallow crust to form individual magma pockets, and subsequently modifying the original magma compositions via simultaneous assimilation and fractional crystallization. The assimilant is the dacitic melt, which formed by partial melting of the crust.     

Fluorine in basalts from Iceland

The fluorine content of Icelandic tholeiitic and alkaline basalts matches values found in similar rocks from other areas. Covariation between fluorine and incompatible minor elements such as potassium or phosphorus is found in evolved tholeiites and alkali basalts. Lack of such covariation in primitive olivine tholeiites indicates that fluorine and other incompatible minor and trace elements are not controlled by minerals such as amphibole, mica or apatite in the mantle residue, and that the covariation between these elements in the evolved basalts cannot be inherited from the mantle. Model calculations on rocks from the Langjökull area show that olivine tholeiite suites are, if derived by simple fractional crystallization, enriched in incompatible elements much in excess of the increase due to crystal removal. These observations are taken to indicate that the well documented covariation between fluorine and other incompatible elements is not established until evolution of the basaltic magma has started in crustal holding chambers. The constancy of element ratios and enrichment in excess of what can be accounted for by crystal fractionation or incremental addition of new batches of primitive magmas does indicate (1) mineral control involving amphibole, mica or apatite and (2) addition of fluorine, potassium and phosphorous from an external source. It is argued that this source is the crustal envelope of the holding chamber.     

Effects of bed longitudinal inflexion and sediment porosity on basal entrainment mechanism: insights from laboratory debris flows

Channel morphology and bed sediment erodibility are two crucial factors that significantly affect debris flow entrainment processes. Current debris flow entrainment models mostly hypothesize the erodible beds are infinite with uniform slopes. In this study, a series of small-scale flume experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of bed longitudinal inflexion and sediment porosity on basal entrainment characteristics. Experimental observations revealed that sediment entrainment is negligible at early stages and accelerates rapidly as several erosion points appear. Continual evolution of flow-bed interfaces changes interactions between debris flows and bed sediments, rendering the interfacial shear action involved into a mixed shear and frontal collisional action. Lower bed sediment porosity will change the spatial arrangement and orientation of particle mixture, strengthen the interlocking and anti-slide forces of adjacent sediment particles, and promote the formation of particle clusters, all of which will increase bed sediment resistance to erosion. By examining the post-experimental bed morphology, the slope-cutting amounts and topographic reliefs are determined to positively correlate with longitudinal transition angles. These high topographic reliefs may indicate the propensity of triangular slab erosion, rather than strip-shaped slab erosion, in non-uniform channels with relatively steep erodible beds. Empirical formulas are obtained that denote the relationships among bed sediment strength, channel curvature radius, and sediment porosity through a multi-parameter regression analysis. This study may aid in clarifying the complex coupling effects of spatial variations in debris flow dynamics as well as sediment erodibility and bed morphology in non-uniform channels with abundant seismic loose material.

     

Evolution and structure of the Upper Rhine Graben: insights from three-dimensional thermomechanical modelling

The evolution and geometry of the Tertiary Upper Rhine Graben were controlled by a continually changing stress field and the reactivation of pre-existing crustal discontinuities. A period of WNW-ESE extension in the late Eocene and Oligocene was followed by lateral translation from the early Miocene onwards. This study utilizes 3D finite element techniques to simulate extension and lateral translation on a lithospheric scale. Brittle and creep behaviour of lithospheric rocks are represented by elastoplasticity and thermally activated power-law viscoplasticity, respectively. Contact elements allocated with cohesion and frictional coefficients are used to describe pre-existing zones of weakness in the elastic-brittle field. Our results suggest that (1) extension is accommodated along listric border faults to midcrustal depth of 15–16 km. Beneath, pure shear stretching occurs without a need for localized shear zones in lower crust and upper mantle. (2) Ductile flow at midcrustal depth across the graben accounts for the pronounced halfgraben morphology. Thereby, the shape of the border faults, their frictional coefficients, and sedimentary loads have profound effects on the rate of ductile flow across the graben. (3) Horizontal extension of 8–8.5 km and sinistral displacement across the rift of 3–4 km are needed to accommodate the observed sediment thickness.     

Tectonothermal history of the western Lachlan Fold Belt, Australia: insights from white mica studies

Detailed b lattice parameter and illite crystallinity (IC) studies of K-white micas in slates from the Stawell and Ballarat-Bendigo Zones (SZ, BBZ) in the western Lachlan Fold Belt of Victoria, Australia, reveal a metamorphic pattern characterized by regional metamorphism associated with crustal thickening and younger contact metamorphism accompanied by deformation. The IC data indicate that rocks regionally metamorphosed prior to the intrusion of the Early and Late Devonian granitoids, vary in grade from epizonal (greenschist facies) to diagenetic (zeolite facies) and that most are of epizonal to anchizonal (prehnite–pumpellyite facies) grade. In the BBZ, a decrease in grade from west to east occurs. Across fault zones, IC values show little change, indicating that limited vertical displacement has occurred. This is in accord with the thin skinned deformation model proposed for the western Lachlan Fold Belt. The b lattice parameters (x=9.022 Å; n=137; σ_n=0.009) indicate baric conditions intermediate between those of New Hampshire (P=Al₂SiO₅ triple point) and Otago (intermediate P ). Thus, a moderately low geothermal gradient existed 450–430 Ma ago, when these rocks were deformed. K_D Fe/Mg (actinolite)/Fe/Mg (chlorite) values (0.52–0.70) obtained from coexisting actinolite and chlorite in metabasites from fault zones support the moderately high-P (c. 4 kbar) metamorphism suggested by the b cell parameter values. The metamorphic conditions indicated by these data are contrary to the low-P/high-T conditions proposed by previous authors, who inferred an intimate association between deformation, granitoid intrusion and gold mineralization. The b lattice parameter of white micas in slates adjacent to Early Devonian (c. 400 Ma) granitoids with schist bearing aureoles in the north-eastern part of the BBZ (x=9.002 Å; n=27; σ_n=0.007), indicate pressures in the order of c. 2.5 kbar which are in accord with those obtained from andalusite–cordierite and zoisite–garnet bearing assemblages observed in the higher grade metapelitic and calcareous rocks. This contrasts with the higher pressure (c. 4 kbar) existing during regional metamorphism and implies that c. 6.5–8 km of metasedimentary rocks in the BBZ were removed before the emplacement of the Early Devonian granitoids. Metamorphic assemblages in hornfelses associated with Late Devonian granitoids indicate a further 5–6 km of metasediment were removed in the next 40 Ma prior to their emplacement. This study shows the value of white mica studies in elucidating the tectonothermal history of a low-grade metamorphic terrane dominated by metapelitic rocks.     

The hydrogeology of the Condamine River Alluvial Aquifer,Australia: a critical assessment

The Condamine plain is an important agricultural zone in Australia with prominent irrigated cotton and grain crops. About one third of the irrigation water is pumped from the shallow alluvial aquifer, causing gross aquifer depletion over time. Over the last few decades, various hydrological, hydrochemical, and geological aspects of this aquifer and the overlying floodplain (including soil properties) have been investigated and used to construct the conceptual understanding and numerical models for management of this resource. Yet, the water balance of the aquifer is still far from resolved, and the geological contact between the alluvial sediments and underlying bedrock is yet to be categorically defined, to mention two major uncertainties. This report collates up-to-date knowledge of different disciplines, critically evaluates the accepted hydrogeological conventions, highlights key knowledge gaps, and suggests strategies for future research. Among recommendations are (1) development of numerical flow and solute transport models for the natural (i.e. pre-developed) period, (2) analysis of groundwater for isotopic composition and presence of pesticides, CFCs and PPCPs, and (3) use of stochastic approaches to characterize the hydraulic properties of the alluvial sediments. These and other proposed measures are relevant also to other alluvial aquifers which suffer from similar fundamental uncertainties.     

Crustal structure in the Carpatho-Pannonian region: insights from three-dimensional gravity modelling and their geodynamic significance

A three-dimensional gravity modelling of the Carpatho-Pannonian region was carried out to get a better image of the Moho boundary and the most prominent intra-crustal density heterogeneities. At first, only the major density boundaries were considered: the bottom of the Tertiary basin fill, the Moho discontinuity and the lithosphere to asthenosphere boundary. Density contrasts were represented by relative densities. The improved density model shows a transitional unit of high density at the base of the crust along the Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone. In the Western Carpathians, an extensive, relatively low-density unit was inferred in mid-crustal levels. The border zone between the Southern Carpathians and the Transylvanian basin is characterized by a sharp, step-like contact of the two crustal units. The Moho configuration reveals important information on the tectonic evolution of the region. Zones of continental collision are represented by thick Moho roots (Eastern Alps, Eastern Carpathians). Transpressional orogenic segments, however, are different: in the Western Carpathians, the Moho is a flat surface; in the Dinarides, a medium Moho root is observed; the Southern Carpathians are characterized by a thick crustal root. The differences are explained with the presence or absence of “subductible” oceanic crust along the Carpathians during the extrusion of Pannonian blocks.     

Sedimentary and upper crustal structure of Australia from receiver functions

The initial coda of teleseismic P‐waves contains considerable information about the crust and upper mantle structure directly beneath a receiver. When this information can be recovered for a dense network of seismographs much can be learned about the structure of the earth. Data from the high quality broadband seismic stations of the SKIPPY and KIMBA projects along with permanent stations are used to investigate the upper crustal structure of Australia. A dataset of 65 shear‐velocity models derived from receiver functions has enabled the sedimentary and upper crustal structure of Australia to be summarised. Regions of thick soft sediment show good agreement with topographical lows. A simple relation between upper‐crustal velocity and magnetisation, as has been suggested by other investigators, has not been observed, but this may be due to the magnetic signal being muted by overlying sediments. A prominent mid‐crustal discontinuity is apparent in the Tasman and New England mega‐elements. This may represent a mid‐crustal décollement that had structural control during accretion.