Seismic studies of the crustal structure in West Antarctica 1979–1980—Preliminary results

The Polish Geophysical Expedition to West Antarctica in the summer of 1979–1980 was organized by the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The purpose of the expedition was to carry out studies of deep structures of the Earth's crust by reflection, refraction and deep seismic sounding methods. Special attention was paid to tectonically active zones and to the contact zones between the blocks of the Earth's crust and the lithospheric plates. Geophysical measurements were carried out in the area extending between 61° and 65°S and between 56° and 66°W. The measurements covered the southern Shetlands, the Antarctic Peninsula, the Bransfield Strait, the Drake Passage, the Palmer Archipelago, the Gerlache Strait and the Bismarck Strait towards the southern Pacific.Deep seismic soundings were made along profiles with a total length of about 2000 km. Seismic reflection measurements were made along profiles about 1100 km long. A detailed analysis of the seismic wave field shows that the structure of the Earth's crust in this part of West Antarctica is very complex. Numerous deep fractures divide the Earth's crust into blocks of different physical properties. The thickness of the Earth's crust changes from 32 km in the region of the South Shetland Islands to 40–45 km in the region of the Antarctic Peninsula. A preliminary geodynamical model of this part of West Antarctica is presented.     

Exploration for scheelite in East Greenland — A case study

An intensive scheelite exploration program was carried out in Precambrian crystalline and sedimentary rocks intruded by granites of Precambrian and Caledonian ages in East Greenland (70–74°30′N). Previous heavy-mineral panning (2100 samples within an area of 100,000 km²) formed the basis for selection of scheelite-anomalous subregions (1550 km²)In the subregions, pan-concentrate samples were taken from first- and second-order rivers and from mid and side moraines of active glaciers. All samples were studied in the field under UV light, and scheelite grains were counted. A consideration of the distribution of scheelite in the samples together with the river and glacial drainage systems, led to definition of the potential source areas of the scheelite within localities of 2–5 km².Within the localities, panning of scree fines (samples every 100–200 m along talus slopes) and UV-light traverses at night led to the finding of outcropping or sub-outcropping scheelite mineralisation. Scheelite was observed associated with granite-carbonate contact zones, quartz vein stockworks, and fault zones in limestones, at nine localities within the 300-km-long zone of investigation.The heavy-mineral panning method with the counting of scheelite grains in the field and the subsequent definition of potential scheelite-bearing areas has the advantage that it is possible to execute a program from the subregional to the outcropping mineralisation stage in one field season. The investigation in this case was performed by five geologists during the 1979 2.5-month field season.     

Structure of the lithosphere along the deep seismic sounding profile: Tien Shan—Pamirs—Karakorum—Himalayas

During 1973–1977, as part of the International Geodynamic Project, some seismic investigations of the Earth's crust have been carried out by geotraverses of the Tien Shan—Pamirs—Karakorum—Himalayas. The seismic data obtained together with other geophysical information, allow the construction and interpretation of the lithospheric section through the Pamirs-Himalayas structure. This section includes thick crust with complex layering, supra-asthenospheric and asthenospheric layers of the upper mantle. The thickness of the Earth's crust increases from 50–55 km in the north, in the Ferghana depression (Tien Shan), to 70–75 km in the south, near the Karakul Lake (Northern Pamir). It varies within 60–65 km for the Central and Southern Pamir, Karakorum and the Inner Himalayas. Its thickness is least (35–37 km) in the south, under the outer margin of the Himalayan foredeep. Extreme gravity minima and depressions on the geoid surface correspond to the regions with maximum thickness of the Earth's crust. The centers of the disturbing masses on the geoid surface are located in the vicinity of the asthenosphere's upper layer; this determines the effect of the whole lithospheric layer, including its asthenospheric layer, at intense changes of gravity anomalies. The asthenospheric upper layer is recorded at a depth of about 120 km, its base at a depth of 200 km, in the northern and southern regions, and 300 km in its central part (Southern Pamir, Karakorum). In the middle asthenospheric layer, wave velocities decrease to 7.5 km/sec, under the base they increase to 8.4 km/sec and reach 9.4 km/sec at a depth of about 400 km. In the supra-asthenospheric layer of the upper mantle, longitudinal and shear wave-velocities slightly increase (by less than 0.1 km/sec) towards its base.     

Norwegian research into the properties of quick clay—a review

The ultra-sensitive type of clay called quick clay has caused severe landslides in Scandinavia and on the east and west coast of Canada. Slides of this type were the mentioned in literature in the fourteenth century. Quick-clay properties were described in 1901. Later geologists at the Norwegian Geological Survey, the Norwegian Highway Laboratory and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute carried out research on this material. The present opinion is that the peculiar properties are based upon colloidal-chemical phenomena. According to this the clays deposited and consolidated in a flocculated state. Later chemical changes increased the double layer potential, either by leaching of electrolyte or by addition of suitable anions. The flocculated structure remains, unstable though, until mechanical disturbances cause a breakdown. Thus the clay is transformed into a dispersed state.     

Influence of total charge in a blast on the intensity of ground vibrations—field experiment and computer simulation

A number of factors influence the generation, propagation and intensity of ground vibrations. However, there are conflicting opinions with regard to the influence of the blast size on the intensity of ground vibrations. This paper discusses the experiments conducted in an opencast coal mine in India and a simulation study carried out to establish the influence of total charge in a blast on the intensity of ground vibrations. Studies clearly indicate that the total explosive charge in a blast has insignificant influence on the intensity of ground vibrations for distances between 100 m and 3000 m.     

Zonal winds and temperature structure at the upper levels during poor and good monsoon

Global analyses of zonal wind field and thermal field structure at standard pressure levels of 200,150 and 100 mb have been carried out in India during July 1979—a poor monsoon year and July 1975—a good monsoon year. More than 250 stations in the belt 60°N and 60°S were selected. Contrasting features of the zonal wind field structure and thermal field are brought out, and it is shown that monsoon activity is reflected in the upper level and is controlled by planetary scale.     

湖南石门杨家坪下寒武统杷榔组三段混合沉积研究

湖南石门杨家坪下寒武统杷榔组三段发育陆源碎屑与海相碳酸盐的混合沉积。综合前人研究成果,通过对研究区野外露头资料的详细观测和室内样品分析及数据统计等工作,对研究区杷榔组三段混合沉积进行了详细的研究。研究区混合沉积特征宏观上表现为由陆源碎屑与混积物交互沉积、碳酸盐与混积物交互沉积和不同类型混积物本身的交互沉积构成的混积层系,微观上表现为陆源碎屑组分与碳酸盐组分混合沉积所形成混积岩;混合沉积类型主要为内潮汐沉积作用和浊流沉积作用形成的复合式混合沉积Ⅱ,次为深水原地沉积作用形成的渐变式混合沉积,但是不同成因的沉积作用形成的混合沉积类型往往叠加在一起,形成复合式混合沉积Ⅱ+渐变式混合沉积的混合沉积复合体;混合沉积环境为深水斜坡,发育内波、内潮汐混合沉积微相、深水原地混合沉积微相和远源浊流混合沉积微相等类型;在沉积环境分析的基础上,根据内波、内潮汐沉积特征,剖析了混合沉积的沉积机理;结合混合沉积的成因、沉积机理、产出部位及沉积环境等因素,以沉积学原理为指导,建立了研究区杷榔组三段的混合沉积模式。     

Site investigation on heavy metals contaminated ground in Estarreja — Portugal

Owing to its five decades in the chemical industry, Estarreja is one of the most important industrial areas in Portugal. Intensive industrial activity along with both direct discharge of the effluents into natural water streams and uncontrolled waste disposal on the ground has, throughout the years, had strong impact on health and welfare. Recently an association between industry and local authorities was created — ERASE. The main goal for this association is to find, in co-operation with the Portuguese Environmental Ministry, a cost-effective solution to deal with the soil/sediments contamination and solid waste problem.

The ERASE association planned to build a landfill for both solid waste and contaminated soil/sediments disposal. In order to determine more accurately the volume of material to be disposed of in the landfill, a site investigation was carried out during September/November 1998. The site investigation consisted mainly of systematic soil sampling at shallow depths, both within the industrial area and along the natural water streams.

The site investigation results revealed high concentrations of toxic pollutants, mainly heavy metals (namely As, Hg, Pb and Zn), in the soil of the industrial area. Much higher concentrations were found in the sediments of the water streams, several kilometres away from the industrial complex (the pollution source area).

In most cases, concentration increases with depth, reaching groundwater. Therefore the site investigation programme carried out could not determine the full extent of the contamination. Consequently, further studies were strongly recommended, which should include a wider and deeper investigation area and groundwater sampling.     

A microearthquake survey of Bouvet Island, South Atlantic

A microearthquake survey carried out during the 1978–1979 Norwegian Antarctic Research Expedition indicates that only minor seismic activity is associated with the Bouvet volcano.     

Quality ranking of twelve columnar basalt occurrences in the northern portion of the Paraná Basin—Brazil

This paper presents results obtained from a study of basal degrading conducted on samples of basaltic rocks found in the northern part of the Paraná Basin in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. To meet the objectives of the study, natural and accelerated alteration tests were carried out followed by a comparison of the quantitative analysis of the two alteration processes. The combined analysis of the information proved to be very useful tool for rock qualification and the quantification of alterability, thus providing a basis for comparative analysis of massive and columnar jointed basalt relative to their use as aggregate for civil construction purposes.     

Study of ductile shear zones (Galicia, Spain) using texture goniometry and magnetic fabric methods

A joint magnetic and mica fabric study has been carried out on rocks from recognised shear zones in Galicia (Spain). The two main aims of the study are to determine strain gradients in a foliated material without any significant strain markers and to obtain a quantitative relationship between the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy ellipsoid and the mica fabric axes. The intensity parameters of the fabric on profiles intersecting the studied areas indicate the dominant influence of two major shear zones on the fabric development. The regional fabric shows less significant variations across minor (less developed) shear zones.The empirical relationship between magnetic fabric and strain reported by Rathore (1979, 1980) and Rathore and Henry (1982) is found to hold in the magnetic and mica fabrics comparison. The relationship found in this study is:     

Strain localization in soft rock—a typical rate‐dependent solid: experimental and numerical studies

Strain localization developing inside soft rock specimens is examined through experimental observation and numerical simulation. In the experimental study, soft rock specimens are sheared at different strain rates under plane strain conditions and deformation and strain localization characteristics are analysed. Transition of localization mode from highly localized mode for higher strain rate to distributed and diffused mode of strain localization for lower strain rates was observed. In the numerical study, simulations of plane strain compression tests are carried out at different strain rates by using an overstressed‐type elasto‐viscoplastic model in finite element computations. The role of strain rates on setting gradients of strain fields across shear band is clarified. The probable mechanism for transition of localization mode is discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

TRANSALP—deep crustal Vibroseis and explosive seismic profiling in the Eastern Alps

The TRANSALP consortium, comprising institutions from Italy, Austria and Germany, carried out deep seismic reflection measurements in the Eastern Alps between Munich and Venice in 1998, 1999 and 2001. In order to complement each other in resolution and depth range, the Vibroseis technique was combined with simultaneous explosive source measurements. Additionally, passive cross-line recording provided three-dimensional control and alternative north–south sections. Profits were obtained by the combination of the three methods in sectors or depths where one method alone was less successful.The TRANSALP sections clearly image a thin-skinned wedge of tectonic nappes at the northern Alpine front zone, unexpected graben or half-graben structures within the European basement, and, thick-skinned back-thrusting in the southern frontal zone beneath the Dolomite Mountains. A bi-vergent structure at crustal scale is directed from the Alpine axis to the external parts. The Tauern Window obviously forms the hanging wall ramp anticline above a southward dipping, deep reaching reflection pattern interpreted as a tectonic ramp along which the Penninic units of the Tauern Window have been up-thrusted.The upper crystalline crust appears generally transparent. The lower crust in the European domain is characterized by a 6–7 km thick laminated structure. On the Adriatic side the lower crust displays a much thicker or twofold reflective pattern. The crustal root at about 55 km depth is shifted around 50 km to the south with respect to the main Alpine crest.     

The Environment Significance of Aerinite — First Discovered in the UBC Cliffs

To analyze the composition and structure of the pale blue outcrop from the UBC Cliffs and research the environmental significance of aerinite recorded in the sediments, mineral composition, bulk chemical composition and structural analyses were carried out by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) and X-ray fluorescence spectra (XRF). Quartz, feldspar, mica, chlorite and aerinite as well as a small amount of amphibole, calcite, clinopyroxene, rutile, perovskite and apatite are recorded in the sediments. It is reported for the first time that the aerinite occurs in a high latitude area and in sediments paragenetic with mica and chlorite. The large span in grain size shows a typical characteristic of fluvioglacial sediments. Geochemistry characteristics (CIA, CIW, PIA, WIP and ICV) verify that there is virtually no chemical weathering. Mineralogy and geochemistry features of the UBC Cliffs sediments indicate that aerinite is accommodate to the high latitude and cold, dry climate. As the sediments show high similarity to those of their provenance, they have great significance in the identification of the forming condition and origin of the aerinite.     

Prediction of elastic settlement of rectangular raft foundation — a coupled FE–BE approach

A numerical method of analysis is proposed for computation of the elastic settlement of raft foundations using a FEM–BEM coupling technique. The structural model adopted for the raft is based on an isoparametric plate bending finite element and the raft–soil interface is idealized by boundary elements. Mindlin's half-space solution is used as a fundamental solution to find the soil flexibility matrix and consequently the soil stiffness matrix. Transformation of boundary element matrices are carried out to make it compatible for coupling with plate stiffness matrix obtained from the finite element method. This method is very efficient and attractive in the sense that it can be used for rafts of any geometry in terms of thickness as well as shape and loading. Depth of embedment of the raft can also be considered in the analysis. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Directional response of a reconstituted fine‐grained soil—Part I: experimental investigation

This paper discusses the results of a large experimental program designed to investigate in a systematic manner the main features of the incremental response of fine‐grained soils. The results are obtained from triaxial stress probing experiments carried out on a French silty clay (Beaucaire Marl). All the tests have been performed on reconstituted specimens, normally consolidated to an initial state which is either isotropic or anisotropic. In the interpretation of the experimental results, extensive use is made of the concept of strain response envelope. The response envelopes obtained for different stress increment magnitudes are remarkably consistent with each other and indicate an inelastic and irreversible material response, i.e. a strong dependence on the stress increment direction, also at relatively small strain levels. A companion paper (Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech., this issue, 2006) assesses the performance of some advanced constitutive models in reproducing the behaviour of reconstituted Beaucaire Marl as observed in this experimental program. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A nutritional survey in Moshaneng,Ngwaketse, Botswana: Preliminary findings and observations

This paper is a preliminary overview of research carried out in Botswana in 1979–80. Selective data are analysed and the interpretation of results and commentary are therfore only tentative. The methodology and findings of a small investigation into the visible evidence of malnutrition in a rural community indicate some of the factors likely to contribute to its prevalence. These include aspects of child care, dietary intake and health as well as economic, cultural and social dimensions of relevance in the ecology of malnutrition.Research has been funded by a Postgraduate Studentship, Social Science Research Council, UK     

Modelled and observed anomalies of tidal gravity factors

Direct modelling of the tidal δ-factors anomalies has been carried out for M₂ and O₁ waves using the approach of S.Molodenski (1979). Resulting lateral anomalies of δ-factors are less than 0.1 % and are similar to the anomalies of high quality tidal gravity data selected from ICET Data Bank, although the latter ones are one order larger in magnitude. The correlation of tide gravity anomalies with heat flow (Melchior hypothesis) is considered for best continental stations and no correlation is found.     

A comparison between heavy metals released from soil and its efficient speciation extracted by sequential extraction procedure

A simulating experiment was carried out on the interaction between natural precipitation and soil. The results demonstrated that the contents of heavy metals （V, Co, Cr, and Ni） released from soil into the solution under Earth＇s surface conditions are higher than the contents of those metals bonded to exchangeable species, which were extracted by sequential extraction procedure recommended by Tessier and others in 1979. It is demonstrated that the metals bonded to other 3 species （carbonate, Fe-Mn oxide, and organic matter） except those bonded to the exchangeable species in efficient speciation can be released under the Earth＇s surface conditions, when pH=4 in the reaction system, and the higher correlation coefficient indicated that the concentrations of heavy metals released from soil into the solution vary approximately with reaction time in terms of index regulations.     

Maceration of calcareous skeletons

In the December issue of Sedimentology (1979, 26 ) two papers on the disintegration of calcareous skeletons appeared. In both articles the authors (Alexandersson, 1979; Fitzgerald, Parmenter & Milliman, 1979) describe skeletal degradation, producing fragments and even single calcium carbonate crystallites in the present marine environment. At least part of this maceration (Alexandersson, 1978) is attributed to the breakdown of the skeletal organic matrix on the sea bottom. Both studies were carried out on samples from the sediment surface of marine cold-water regions. There, another destructive process is active: etching and dissolution of the calcareous particles by the ambient carbonate-under-saturated water (e.g. Alexandersson, 1975, 1978). The possible coexistence of these biological and physicochemical destructive processes and the lack of information from cores have left open questions in the above-mentioned two studies. Some of these questions were discussed by me (Lewy, 1975). My observations and conclusions may now have a wider significance.