Microscopic observation and contact stress analysis of granite under compression

To study the damage process of microscale to macroscale in coarse-grained granite specimen under uniaxial compressive stress, we have observed micro-damage localization and propagation by using a newly developed experimental system that allows us to observe the damaging process continuously.

The results showed that pre-existing microcracks lead to macroscopic shear fracture through the damage development process. The mechanism of micro-damage initiation in a granite specimen under uniaxial compressive stress may be considered for two cases. One is that two grains such as quartz and feldspar contact each other in the same direction as the axial stress, and the other is that a biotite grain inclined to the axial stress direction is surrounded by feldspar grains. The homogenization theory was applied to verify numerically the micromechanics of stress-induced damage in the mineral contacts. Local stress distribution in the periodic-micro structure was also calculated by the homogenization theory. It is shown that this analysis, which takes into account the initial state of the specimen, is well adapted to the behavior of two grains for which microcracking is the fundamental mechanism of damage.     

A mechanism of shape-transformation of quartz inclusions in albite of regional metamorphic rocks

The process of shape-transformation of quartz inclusions from polyhedral to spherical grains in albite single crystals during metamorphism is mainly controlled by the grain boundary diffusion of oxygen along the quartz/albite interface to reduce the interfacial free energy. The rate of the process, which is represented by the growth rate of the curvature of the edge surface of the grain, depends significantly on temperature and on the grain size of the quartz inclusion. The relations between temperature, T, the time, t_r, and the critical radius, R_c, which is equal to the radius of maximum spherical grains, are given by log R_c = −0.11E_b/RT + 0.25log t_r + C, in which E_b is the activation energy of the grain boundary diffusion of oxygen along the quartz/albite interface and C is a material constant.

The mean critical radius of spherical quartz inclusions in albite is 5 μm for the upper chlorite zone and garnet zone, 10 μm for the lower biotite zone, and 20 μm for the upper biotite zone in the Sambagawa metamorphic terrain. The mean values of the critical radii of spherical quartz inclusions in oligoclase of the Ryoke metamorphic rocks is about 5 μm for the chlorite zone and about 10–20 μm for the sillimanite zone.

Assuming temperatures of about 350°C for the upper chlorite and garnet zones, 400°C for the lower biotite zone, 550°C for the upper biotite zone, and 700°C for the sillimanite zone, the activation energy for the grain boundary diffusion of oxygen along the quartz/plagioclase interfase is estimated to be about 30 kcal/mol.     

Permeability of the rocks from the Kola superdeep borehole at high temperature and pressure: implication to fluid dynamics in the continental crust

Permeability of the samples collected from the surface and from the depths of 8–11 km in the Kola SG-3 and from the depth of 3.8 in the KTB boreholes was studied at temperatures up to 600 °C and pressures up to 150 MPa. These PT correspond to in situ conditions of the deep parts of the superdeep boreholes and to the conditions of progressive and regressive metamorphism of the Kola series rocks. The experiments were carried out with fluid filtration parallel and normal to rock foliation and parallel to core axis. The temperature–permeability trend behavior depends on effective pressure and depth of sample collection. At low effective pressure, a temperature increase leads first to a permeability decrease and then to its increase. At higher effective pressure, inversions appear on all the temperature trends of the samples collected from great depths. In contrast, permeability of the samples selected at shallow depth (3.8 km) and on the surface decreases within the entire temperature range. As a rule, with flow parallel to foliation, the values of permeability are higher than with flow normal to foliation. The results of microstructure studies allow to conclude that microcrack initiation and closure, due to a competitive influence of temperature and pressure cause such permeability behavior. In the samples, there are two families of microcracks: with low aspect ratio and those with high aspect ratio. Their effect on rock permeability changes with temperature. On sample heating, the low aspect ratio microcracks close and, on the contrary, high aspect ratio ones open. The total effect is expressed by minima in the temperature–permeability trends. Permeability anisotropy increases with temperature, reaches a maximum at 200 °C and then decreases. Sample permeability decreases with different gradients at simultaneous increase of temperature and pressure, simulating in situ depth increase. Hence, the deep seat rocks can vary greatly in permeability and against the common background of permeability decrease with depth, local deep aquifers may occur. At PT of progressive metamorphism the permeability values were high enough to permit the fluid flow to penetrate the whole volume of rock massif. At PT of regressive metamorphism, the permeability values were a few decimal orders lower, so fluid flow could be concentrated in large disjunctive zones only.     

Recent horizontal stress directions in basement rocks of southern Sweden deduced from open microcracks

The strike direction of open intragranular microcracks in quartz and feldspar host grains was determined using optical transmission and reflection microscopy on eight oriented samples taken in two study areas in Precambrian basement rocks of southern and south-central Sweden.For an area of about 160 km² (SW of Västervik) and two sample locations (W of Uppsala), the vast majority of open microcracks displays a strong preferred NW–SE strike direction. According to the common assumptions that natural cracks in crystalline rocks are predominantly extensional (mode I), and that open cracks belong to the latest microcrack generation, these strike directions should reflect the (sub-) recent main horizontal stress direction (σH) of the recent tectonic stress field.This conclusion is supported by corresponding directions known from in situ stress measurements and focal plane solutions in the vicinity of the study areas. It is remarkable that even in samples taken close (i.e. a few hundred metres) to recently active large scale faults the orientation of microcracks does not deviate from this common direction. This may point to slip on already softened faults, very local stress reorientations (e.g. m-scale) or that local stress relief was accomplished by other processes at micro-scale, e.g. mechanical twinning in favourably oriented feldspar crystals, or slip on grain boundaries.     

Tracing the protolith, UHP metamorphism, and exhumation ages of orthogneiss from the SW Sulu terrane (eastern China): SHRIMP U–Pb dating of mineral inclusion-bearing zircons

Orthogneisses are the major country rocks hosting eclogites in the Sulu UHP terrane, eastern China. All of the analyzed orthogneiss cores from the main drilling hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD-MH) have similar major and trace element compositions and a granite protolith. These rocks have relatively high LREE/HREE ratios, strong negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.20–0.39), and negative Ba anomalies (Ba/Ba*=0.25–0.64). Coesite and coesite-bearing UHP mineral assemblages are common inclusions in zircons separated from orthogneiss, paragneiss, amphibolite, and (retrograded) eclogite of the CCSD-MH. This suggests that the eclogite, together with its country rocks, experienced in situ ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism. Laser Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) images show that zircons from the orthogneisses are zoned and that they have distinct mineral inclusions in the different zones. Most zircons retain early magmatic cores with abundant low-pressure mineral inclusions, which are mantled with metamorphic zircon-containing inclusions of coesite and other UHP minerals. The outermost rims on these grains contain low-pressure mineral inclusions, such as quartz and albite. SHRIMP U–Pb dating of the zoned zircons gives three discrete and meaningful groups of ages: Proterozoic ages for the protolith, 227±2 Ma for the coesite-bearing mantles, and 209±3 Ma for the amphibolite facies retrograde rims. The widespread occurrence of UHP mineral inclusions in zircons from the Sulu metamorphic belt dated at about 227 Ma suggests that voluminous continental crust experienced late Triassic subduction to depths of at least 120 km and perhaps more than 200 km. Eighteen million years later, the terrane was rapidly exhumed to midcrustal levels, and the UHP rocks were overprinted by amphibolite facies metamorphism. The exhumation rate deduced from the zircon age data and previously obtained metamorphic P–T data is estimated to be 5.6–11.0 km/Ma. Such rapid exhumation of the Sulu UHP terrane may be due to the buoyancy forces produced by subduction of low-density continental material into the deep mantle.     

Petrology and mineralogy of granulite-facies mafic xenoliths (Sardinia, Italy): Evidence for KCl metasomatism in the lower crust

Here new mineralogical data is presented on the occurrence of K-feldspar in granulite-facies metagabbronorite xenoliths found in recent alkaline lavas from Western Sardinia, Italy. The xenoliths originated from the underplating of variably evolved subduction-related basaltic liquids, which underwent cooling and recrystallisation in the deep crust (T = 850–900 °C, P = 0.8–1.0 GPa). They consist of orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + plagioclase porphyroclasts (An = 50–66 mol%) in a granoblastic, recrystallised, quartz-free matrix composed of pyroxene + plagioclase (An = 56–72 mol%) + Fe–Ti oxides ± K-feldspar ± biotite ± fluorapatite ± Ti-biotite. Texturally, the K-feldspar occurs in a variety of different modes. These include: (1) rods, blebs, and irregular patches in a random scattering of plagioclase grains in the form of antiperthite; (2) micro-veins along plagioclase–plagioclase and plagioclase–pyroxene grain rims; (3) myrmekite-like intergrowths with Ca-rich plagioclase along plagioclase–plagioclase grain boundaries; and (4) discrete anhedral grains (sometimes microperthitic). The composition of each type of K-feldspar is characterized by relatively high albite contents (16–33 mol%). An increasing anorthite content in the plagioclase towards the contact with the K-feldspar micro-vein and myrmekite-like intergrowths into the K-feldspar along the plagioclase–K-feldspar grain boundary are also observed. Small amounts of biotite (TiO₂ = 4.7–6.5 wt.%; F = 0.24–1.19 wt.%; Cl = 0.04–0.20 wt.%) in textural equilibrium with the granulite-facies assemblage is present in both K-feldspar-bearing and K-feldspar-free xenoliths. These K-feldspar textures suggest a likely metasomatic origin due to solid-state infiltration of KCl-rich fluids/melts. The presence of such fluids is supported by the fluorapatite in these xenoliths, which is enriched in Cl (Cl = 6–50% of the total F + Cl + OH). These lines of evidence suggest that formation of K-feldspar in the mafic xenoliths reflects metasomatic processes, requiring an external K-rich fluid source, which operated in the lower crust during and after in-situ high-T recrystallisation of relatively dry rocks.     

Engineering geological characterization of low strength anisotropic rocks in the Himalayan region for assessment of tunnel support

A detailed engineering geological assessment of low strength (6–35 MPa) anisotropic rocks at an ongoing Hydroelectric Project in the Himalayan Region has been carried out. The project (the Nathpa Jhakri Hydroelectric Project) will have one of the world's largest and longest water conducting systems, consisting of a 10.15 m diameter and 27.3 km long head race tunnel, a 942 000 m³ underground desilting complex and a 20 × 49 × 216 m powerhouse cavern in the area. Because these constructions are made in low strength metamorphosed anisotropic rocks like quartz mica schists, biotite schists and muscovite schists, it seemed necessary and worthwhile to undertake a comprehensive study of such rocks. The studies include petrographic and petrofabric analyses of the rocks, geo-mechanical properties, rock stress measurements, rock mass classification using the Q-System and data concerning joint geometry, joint roughness and joint strength. The use of mapped geological and geotechnical data along with the experimental and modelling studies have helped to better understand the behaviour of these rocks in underground openings.     

Seismic crustal structure between the Transylvanian Basin and the Black Sea, Romania

In order to study the lithospheric structure in Romania a 450 km long WNW–ESE trending seismic refraction project was carried out in August/September 2001. It runs from the Transylvanian Basin across the East Carpathian Orogen and the Vrancea seismic region to the foreland areas with the very deep Neogene Focsani Basin and the North Dobrogea Orogen on the Black Sea. A total of ten shots with charge sizes 300–1500 kg were recorded by over 700 geophones. The data quality of the experiment was variable, depending primarily on charge size but also on local geological conditions. The data interpretation indicates a multi-layered structure with variable thicknesses and velocities. The sedimentary stack comprises up to 7 layers with seismic velocities of 2.0–5.9 km/s. It reaches a maximum thickness of about 22 km within the Focsani Basin area. The sedimentary succession is composed of (1) the Carpathian nappe pile, (2) the post-collisional Neogene Transylvanian Basin, which covers the local Late Cretaceous to Paleogene Tarnava Basin, (3) the Neogene Focsani Basin in the foredeep area, which covers autochthonous Mesozoic and Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks as well as a probably Permo-Triassic graben structure of the Moesian Platform, and (4) the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic rocks of the North Dobrogea Orogen. The underlying crystalline crust shows considerable thickness variations in total as well as in its individual subdivisions, which correlate well with the Tisza-Dacia, Moesian and North Dobrogea crustal blocks. The lateral velocity structure of these blocks along the seismic line remains constant with about 6.0 km/s along the basement top and 7.0 km/s above the Moho. The Tisza-Dacia block is about 33 to 37 km thick and shows low velocity zones in its uppermost 15 km, which are presumably due to basement thrusts imbricated with sedimentary successions related to the Carpathian Orogen. The crystalline crust of Moesia does not exceed 25 km and is covered by up to 22 km of sedimentary rocks. The North Dobrogea crust reaches a thickness of about 44 km and is probably composed of thick Eastern European crust overthrusted by a thin 1–2 km thick wedge of the North Dobrogea Orogen.     

2.5D seismic velocity modelling in the south-eastern Romanian Carpathians Orogen and its foreland

The DACIA-PLAN (Danube and Carpathian Integrated Action on Processes in the Lithosphere and Neotectonics) deep seismic reflection survey was performed in August–September 2001, with the objective of obtaining new information on the deep structure of the external Carpathians nappe system and the architecture of the Tertiary/Quaternary basins developed within and adjacent to the Vrancea zone, including the rapidly subsiding Focsani Basin. The DACIA-PLAN profile is about 140 km long, having a roughly WNW–ESE direction, from near the southeast Transylvanian Basin, across the mountainous south-eastern Carpathians and their foreland to near the Danube River. A high resolution 2.5D velocity model of the upper crust along the seismic profile has been determined from a tomographic inversion of the DACIA-PLAN first arrival data. The results show that the data fairly accurately resolve the transition from sediment to crystalline basement beneath the Focsani Basin, where industry seismic data are available for correlation, at depths up to about 10 km. Beneath the external Carpathians nappes, apparent basement (material with velocities above 5.8 km/s) lies at depths as shallow as 3–4 km, which is less than previously surmised on the basis of geological observations. The first arrival travel-time data suggest that there is significant lateral structural heterogeneity on the apparent basement surface in this area, suggesting that the high velocity material may be involved in Carpathian thrusting.     

Variation in element release rate from different mineral size fractions from the B horizon of a granitic podzol

Far-from-equilibrium batch dissolution experiments were carried out on the 2000–500, 500–250, 250–53 and 53–2 μm size fractions of the mineral component of the B horizon of a granitic iron humus podzol after removal of organic matter and secondary precipitates. The different size fractions were mineralogically and chemically similar, the main minerals present being quartz, alkali and plagioclase feldspar, biotite and chlorite. Specific surface area increased with decreasing grain size. The measured element release rates decreased in the order 53–2>>>2000–500>500–250>250–53 μm. Surface area normalised element release rates from the 2000–500, 500–250 and 250–53 μm size fractions (0.6–77×10⁻¹⁴ mol/m²/s) were intermediate between literature reported surface area normalised dissolution rates for monomineralic powders of feldspar (0.1–0.01×10⁻¹⁴ mol/m²/s) and sheet silicates (100×10⁻¹⁴ mol/m²/s) dissolving under similar conditions. Element release rates from the 53–2 μm fraction (400–3000×10⁻¹⁴ mol/m²/s) were a factor of 4–30 larger than literature reported values for sheet silicates. The large element release rate of the 53–2 μm fraction means that, despite the small mass fraction of 53–2 μm sized particles present in the soil, dissolution of this fraction is the most important for element release into the soil. A theoretical model predicted similar (within a factor of <2) bulk element release rates for all the mineral powders if observed thicknesses of sheet silicate grains were used as input parameters. Decreasing element release rates with decreasing grain size were only predicted if the thickness of sheet silicates in the powders was held constant. A significantly larger release rate for the 53–2 μm fraction relative to the other size fractions was only predicted if either surface roughness was set several orders of magnitude higher for sheet silicates and several orders of magnitude lower for quartz and feldspars in the 53–2 μm fraction compared to the other size fractions or if the sheet silicate thickness input in the 53–2 μm fraction was set unrealistically low. It is therefore hypothesised that the reason for the unpredicted large release rate from the 52–3 μm size fraction is due to one or more of the following reasons: (1) the greater reactivity of the smaller particles due to surface free energy effects, (2) the lack of proportionality between the BET surface area used to normalise the release rates and the actual reactive surface area of the grains and, (3) the presence of traces quantities of reactive minerals which were undetected in the 53–2 μm fraction but were entirely absent in the coarser fractions.     

Permeabilities and Chemical Properties of Water in Crystalline Rocks of the Black Forest, Germany

Investigations were carried out to determine the hydraulic and hydrochemical properties of crystalline rocks in the Black Forest of Germany and neighbouring regions. Rock permeabilities (K) were determined to a depth of 3500 m. These parameters range from K = 3.5 × 10-10 ms-1 to K = 8.7 × 10-5 ms-1; and can increase up to an order of magnitude which is typical for porous aquifers. It is shown that on an average, granites are more pervious than gneisses and only the permeabilities of gneisses decrease with depth. The geochemistry of natural waters in crystalline rocks is not constant, but varies with depth and location. The concentration increases with depth and the water-type changes from a Ca–-Na–-HCO 3-type (or Na–-Ca–-HCO3–-) at shallow depths to a Na–-Cl-type at greater depths. Thermal springs are found only in granitic rocks with on average higher permeabilities than in gneisses. Thermal waters are welling up in valleys at the bottom of steep mountains. The chemical composition of thermal spring water is identical to that of water found at greater depths. Using geothermometers it is found, that the depth of the deposits of thermal spring water in the crystalline basement rocks of the Black Forest is some 1000 m below the surface. The topographic relief in the mountains induces a deep circulation of infiltrating rain-water with an upwelling as thermal springs in the valleys.     

Reaction progress related to indentation structures at glaucophane/glaucophane contacts in an impure marble from Syros, Greece

Microstructures of brittle mineral grains embedded in a ductile matrix provide information on the influence of stress concentration on reaction progress during metamorphism. Under non-hydrostatic conditions, contrasts of mechanical properties between minerals possibly cause stress concentrations at specific grain boundaries, which may result in a localization of subsequent reactions. In an impure marble from Syros, Greece, glaucophane grains occurring in a calcite matrix commonly impinge on other glaucophane grains to form concavo-convex boundary contacts. The geometrical relationship between grain boundary and growth zoning within glaucophane grains indicates that indentation and dissolution occurred preferentially at the glaucophane/glaucophane contacts in response to compression normal to the foliation. In contrast, idioblastic surfaces of glaucophane were preserved at glaucophane/calcite boundaries, indicating that stress concentrated at glaucophane/glaucophane contacts. The retrograde minerals (winchite, albite and biotite) that were formed by consuming glaucophane are observed not only at the extensive site, but also at the 'compressive' site where indentation occurred. The precipitation of retrograde minerals at the extensive sites was accompanied by glaucophane dissolution at the indentation stage. In contrast, the formation of retrograde minerals at the 'compressive' site indicates that retrograde replacement preferentially proceeded at the indented sites even after stress relaxation. Such a localization of the replacement suggests that the formation of damaged zones around glaucophane/glaucophane contacts induced by stress concentration would have provided the preferential sites for glaucophane breakdown at the later stage.     

Application of Image Analysis to Observe Microstructure in Sandstone and Granite

Abstract: Advanced techniques are examined to observe microstructure of rocks using image analysis combined with methods such as the fluorescent approach and the application of optical characteristics of minerals. Analyzed are discrimination of grains in rocks, distribution patterns of grain orientation in sandstone, changes of grain shape as weathering advances and distribution patterns of microcracks in granite. In Shirahama sandstone, relatively large and flat grains are orientated parallel to the bedding on the plane perpendicular to the bedding, while grains on the plane parallel to the bedding show random patterns. In weathered granite, it is clarified that the grain surface becomes complex as weathering advances and differences among three major mineral species are identified. In Inada granite, intracrystalline cracks predominate over intercrystalline cracks and grain boundary cracks both in total length and number. Furthermore, three types of microcracks show different orientations; the intercrystalline cracks show a dominant orientation which coincides with the orientation of the rift plane, the easiest plane to split, while the intracrystalline cracks and grain boundary cracks show no preferred orientation.     

Ages of Detrital Zircon from Siliciclastic Successions South of the São Francisco Craton, Brazil: Implications for the Evolution of Proterozoic Basins

In this work we report ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb LA-ICPMS ages of 152 detrital zircons from lower greenschist facies quartzites from Proterozoic basin successions of the southern border of the São Francisco Craton, southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. These are the intracratonic São João del Rei basin, the intraplate continental margin Andrelândia basin, and the Serra do Ouro Grosso sequence, developed on a crystalline basement older than 1.8 Ga, and deformed and metamorphosed during the Brasiliano Orogeny, ca. 0.59–0.50 Ga. The data constrain both the ages of the sources and the interval of sedimentation. The detrital zircons of the Serra do Ouro Grosso sequence were derived predominantly from the erosion of a Neoarchean crust, 2.5–2.8 Ga old, with only one grain showing a Paleoproterozoic age (2, 245±83 Ma) older than the Transamazonian event. Zircons extracted from a shelf quartzite of the lowermost sequence of the São João del Rei basin indicate derivation from the 1.8–2.2 Ga Transamazonian crust, with subordinate contribution from the 2.5–2.9 Ga Archean crust. The 1, 809±41 Ma age is interpreted as the maximum limit for sedimentation in this basin. The results confirm the regional correlation with the Espinhaço Rift successions. The zircons extracted from an autochthonous quartzite of the Andrelândia sequence yielded ages in the 1.0–2.2 Ga range, with a modal class at 1.2–1.3 Ga. Only two of the forty analyzed zircons yield Archean ages. The youngest zircon yields 1, 086±85 Ma. The zircons from the allochthonous quartzite yield ages between 1.0–2.7 Ga, with a modal class at 2.1–2.2 Ga. Only five of 45 analyzed grains yield Archean ages. The youngest zircon has an age of 1, 047±77 Ma. The results indicate that the detrital sediments deposited during the second marine flooding event of the Andrelândia sedimentation were mainly derived from the erosion of Mesoproterozoic and Paleoproterozic rocks. The 1, 047±77 Ma age is interpreted as the maximum depositional age for the described association.     

Quartz and feldspar zoning in the eastern Erzgebirge volcano-plutonic complex (Germany, Czech Republic): evidence of multiple magma mixing

Zoned quartz and feldspar phenocrysts of the Upper Carboniferous eastern Erzgebirge volcano-plutonic complex were studied by cathodoluminescence and minor and trace element profiling. The results verify the suitability of quartz and feldspar phenocrysts as recorders of differentiation trends, magma mixing and recharge events, and suggest that much heterogeneity in plutonic systems may be overlooked on a whole-rock scale. Multiple resorption surfaces and zones, element concentration steps in zoned quartz (Ti) and feldspar phenocrysts (anorthite content, Ba, Sr), and plagioclase-mantled K-feldspars etc. indicate mixing of silicic magma with a more mafic magma for several magmatic phases of the eastern Erzgebirge volcano-plutonic complex. Generally, feldspar appears to be sensitive to the physicochemical changes of the melt, whereas quartz phenocrysts are more stable and can survive a longer period of evolution and final effusion of silicic magmas. The regional distribution of mixing-compatible textures suggests that magma mingling and mixing was a major process in the evolution of these late-Variscan granites and associated volcanic rocks.

Quartz phenocrysts from 14 magmatic phases of the eastern Erzgebirge volcano-plutonic complex provide information on the relative timing of different mixing processes, storage and recharge, allowing a model for the distribution of magma reservoirs in space and time. At least two levels of magma storage are envisioned: deep reservoirs between 24 and 17 km (the crystallisation level of quartz phenocrysts) and subvolcanic reservoirs between 13 and 6 km. Deflation of the shallow reservoirs during the extrusion of the Teplice rhyolites triggered the formation of the Altenberg-Teplice caldera above the eastern Erzgebirge volcano-plutonic complex. The deep magma reservoir of the Teplice rhyolite also has a genetic relationship to the younger mineralised A-type granites, as indicated by quartz phenocryst populations. The pre-caldera biotite granites and the rhyodacitic Schönfeld volcanic rocks represent temporally and spatially separate magma sources. However, the deep magma reservoir of both is assumed to have been at a depth of 24–17 km. The drastic chemical contrast between the pre-caldera Schönfeld (Westfalian B–C) and the syn-caldera Teplice (Westfalian C–D) volcanic rocks is related to the change from late-orogenic geotectonic environment to post-orogenic faulting, and is considered an important chronostratigraphic marker.     

Transposed high-pressure granulite fabrics (Cabo Ortegal, NW Spain): Implications on the scales of deformation localization

High-pressure granulite facies rocks of the Bacariza Formation (Cabo Ortegal, NW Spain) were syn-metamorphically deformed at the contacts with the bounding units (peridotite and eclogite massifs). This enabled the formation of meter-thick, spectacular shear zones with reworked and transposed foliations and lineations. The texturally stable mineral assemblage of the new fabrics records an intense, ductile deformation of the mineral aggregate at temperatures of 700–800 °C associated with amalgamation of eclogite, high-pressure granulitic rocks and ultramafic sheets in deep portions of a subduction channel. The lattice preferred orientation of the main constituent minerals (garnet, augite, amphibole, plagioclase, quartz and biotite) discloses the active deformation mechanisms at the scale of the mineral grains and the relationships with the deformation at larger scales. Overprinting relationships of the metamorphic assemblages demonstrates that partitioning and deformation localization occurred at different scales under similar high-grade conditions. Complete macroscopic transposition in the shear zones was complementary to meso and microscopic partitioning of deformation intensity and mechanisms between different lithological layers and mineral species.     

Damage due to the Mw 7.7 Kutch, India earthquake of 2001

This paper presents a study of the damage due to the M_w 7.6–7.7 intraplate Kutch earthquake of 26 January 2001. It was a powerful earthquake with a high stress drop of about 20 MPa. Aftershocks (up to M 4) have continued for 2.5 years. The distribution of early aftershocks indicates a rupture plane of 20–25 km radius at depths of 10–45 km along an E–W-trending and south-dipping hidden fault situated approximately 25 km north of the Kutch Mainland Fault. The moment tensor solution determined from regional broadband data indicates reverse motion along a south-dipping (by 47°) fault. The earthquake is the largest event in India in the last 50 years and the most destructive in the recorded history in terms of socioeconomic losses with 13,819 deaths (including 14 in Pakistan), collapse/severe damage of over a million houses and US$10 billion economic loss. Surface faulting was not observed. However, intense land deformations have been observed in a 40×20-km meizoseismal area. These include lateral spreading, ground uplifts (about a meter), ground slumping and deep cracks. Liquefaction with ejection of sand and copious water was widespread in the Banni grassland, Rann areas (salt plains), along rivers and also in the coastal areas up to 200 km distance from the epicenter in areas of intensity VII to X+. Stray incidences of liquefaction have occurred up to distances of at least 300 km. For the first time in India, multistory buildings have been destroyed/damaged by an earthquake. The maximum acceleration is inferred to be 700 cm/s² and intensities are 1–3 units higher in soil-covered areas than expected from the decay rate of acceleration for hard rock.     

Lower lithospheric structure beneath the Trans-European Suture Zone from POLONAISE''97 seismic profiles

The large-scale POLONAISE'97 seismic experiment investigated the velocity structure of the lithosphere in the Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ) region between the Precambrian East European Craton (EEC) and Palaeozoic Platform (PP). In the area of the Polish Basin, the P-wave velocity is very low (Vp <6.1 km/s) down to depths of 15–20 km, and the consolidated basement (Vp5.7–5.8 km/s) is 5–12 km deep. The thickness of the crust is 30 km beneath the Palaeozoic Platform, 40–45 km beneath the TESZ, and 40–50 km beneath the EEC. The compressional wave velocity of the sub-Moho mantle is >8.25 km/s in the Palaeozoic Platform and 8.1 km/s in the Precambrian Platform. Good quality record sections were obtained to the longest offsets of about 600 km from the shot points, with clear first arrivals and later phases of waves reflected/refracted in the lower lithosphere. Two-dimensional interpretation of the reversed system of travel times constrains a series of reflectors in the depth range of 50–90 km. A seismic reflector appears as a general feature at around 10 km depth below Moho in the area, independent of the actual depth to the Moho and sub-Moho seismic velocity. “Ringing reflections” are explained by relatively small-scale heterogeneities beneath the depth interval from 90 to 110 km. Qualitative interpretation of the observed wave field shows a differentiation of the reflectivity in the lower lithosphere. The seismic reflectivity of the uppermost mantle is stronger beneath the Palaeozoic Platform and TESZ than the East European Platform. The deepest interpreted seismic reflector with zone of high reflectivity may mark a change in upper mantle structure from an upper zone characterised by seismic scatterers of small vertical dimension to a lower zone with vertically larger seismic scatterers, possible caused by inclusions of partial melt.     

Mechanism of frictional fusion in fault zones

Spherulitic pseudotachylytes from the Arunta Block formed by frictional fusion of mylonitic parent rocks during high-level reactivation of a previously ductile fault zone. Fusion occurred preferentially in mica-rich domains due to release of water through disruption of the mica lattice by frictional sliding. This generated selective localised melting of mica during frictional heating, with the production of initial pseudotachylyte melts enriched in water and ferromagnesian components. Subsequent fusion of adjacent salic phases, promoted by the high water content of the existing melt, would tend to shift the trend of later melts towards a total melt composition. Therefore, under conditions of frictional sliding, fusion appears to be favoured in crystalline quartzofeldspathic rocks possessing both a high shear strength, and a significant water content locked up in the lattices of hydrous minerals, principally biotite.The presence or pre-existence of glass in many pseudotachylytes demands that they cooled in a near-surface environment, i.e. at depths of less than about 5 km. Thus glassy pseudotachylytes must postdate associated mylonite series rocks, generally forming subsequent to exhumation of the mylonites to a higher level in the crust. Some non-glassy pseudotachylytes, however, may possibly form towards the end of movements in a ductile regime, as strain hardening sets in.     

Formation of the superdeep South Caspian basin: subsidence driven by phase change in continental crust

The large hydrocarbon basin of South Caspian is filled with sediments reaching a thickness of 20–25 km. The sediments overlie a 10–18 km thick high-velocity basement which is often interpreted as oceanic crust. This interpretation is, however, inconsistent with rapid major subsidence in Pliocene-Pleistocene time and deposition of 10 km of sediments because the subsidence of crust produced in spreading ridges normally occurs at decreasing rates. Furthermore, filling a basin upon a 10–18 km thick oceanic crust would require twice less sediments. Subsidence as in the South Caspian, of ≥20 km, can be provided by phase change of gabbro to dense eclogite in a 25–30 km thick lower crust. Eclogites which are denser than the mantle and have nearly mantle P velocities but a chemistry of continental crust may occur beneath the Moho in the South Caspian where consolidated crust totals a thickness of 40–50 km. The high subsidence rates in the Pliocene-Pleistocene may be attributed to the effect of active fluids infiltrated from the asthenosphere to catalyze the gabbro-eclogite transition. Subsidence of this kind is typical of large petroleum provinces. According to some interpretations, historic seismicity with 30–70 km focal depths in a 100 km wide zone (beneath the Apsheron-Balkhan sill and north of it) has been associated with the initiation of subduction under the Middle Caspian. The consolidated lithosphere of deep continental sedimentary basins being denser than the asthenosphere, can, in principle, subduct into the latter, while the overlying sediments can be delaminated and folded. Yet, subduction in the South Caspian basin is incompatible with the only 5–10 km shortening of sediments in the Apsheron-Balkhan sill and south of it and with the patterns of earthquake foci that show no alignment like in a Benioff zone and have mostly extension mechanisms.