Landform effect on rockfall and hazard mapping in Cappadocia (Turkey)

The Cappadocia region has unique geomorphological features resulting from differential erosional processes which make it very attractive to tourists. Besides the fairy chimneys for which the area is best known, there are also impressive buttes and mesas. Buttes and mesas are formed in regions having flat-lying strata in which the uppermost levels are composed of well-cemented limestones and granular ignimbrites, whereas the lower parts and slopes consist of low-durability tuff and ignimbrites. This durability difference results in serious rockfall events. This study involves two-dimensional rockfall analyses in and near the Avanos, Zelve, and Çavusini areas, where volcano-sedimentary units of Neogene age outcrop, to provide a rockfall hazard map in which areas of tourism activity are also considered.     

Field-based experimental determination of the weathering rates of the Cappadocian tuffs

Since the last eruption in the Cappadocia region that resulted in the formation of irregular, hard, thick lava layers on top of the Cappadocian tuffs, atmospheric processes have preferentially sculptured the tuffs. The erosion processes have resulted in some beautiful topographical landscape features, the so-called “fairy chimneys”. However, erosion, which is an important factor in the formation of fairy chimneys in the early stages, has a negative effect on their future. Over time, the number of visitors to this region has also increased and, therefore, in addition to natural erosion, the effects of localized erosion resulting from tourism at the site have increased in the last few decades. The physical, mineralogical and mechanical properties of the Cappadocian tuffs have been widely investigated in previous studies, but, their weathering characteristics, particularly weathering rate, were not determined in these studies. Determination of the weathering rate of these rocks is mandatory, especially for conservation projects, which should be urgently applied in order to protect this heritage. In this study, a comprehensive research program was carried out on the weathering properties of the Cappadocian tuffs and the weathering rate was determined in field and laboratory investigations. To this purpose, a detailed field investigation was performed. Besides field observations, the mineralogical, physical and mechanical properties of tuffs were also determined. In addition to durability evaluation by the slake durability index test, wetting–drying and freezing–thawing tests were also performed for weathering rate assessment of the Cappadocian tuffs. In order to account for overburden load on some specific parts of pillars, these wetting–drying and freezing–thawing tests were performed under loads. The results obtained from field observations of old man-made structures and from laboratory studies show that the weathering rate varies between 0.03 and 0.59 mm/year for the Esbelli tuff, and 0.4 and 2.5 mm/year for softer part of the Kavak member.     

塔里木溢流玄武岩的喷发特征

通过对柯坪地区二叠系野外火山岩露头剖面和英买力、哈拉哈塘井区二叠系火山岩钻井剖面的对比,将塔里木早二叠世溢流玄武岩划分为三个旋回,从老到新依次是:库普库兹满溢流玄武岩旋回(KP),长英质火山碎屑岩旋回(FP)和开派兹雷克溢流玄武岩旋回(KZ)。KP旋回以巨厚溢流玄武岩夹凝灰岩为特征,在柯坪露头区和英买力井区均可划分出三层巨厚玄武质熔岩流,至哈拉哈塘井区减少为一层玄武岩流,但长英质火山碎屑岩和熔岩厚度增加。FP旋回在柯坪露头区自下而上包括空落相凝灰岩,熔结凝灰岩,再沉积火山碎屑岩和正常碎屑岩夹火山灰层,该层可与英买力及哈拉哈塘井区的凝灰岩层对比,表明在塔北存在一期面积广泛的长英质火山喷发。KZ旋回以溢流玄武岩为主,在开派兹雷克剖面识别出四期喷发共8层溢流玄武岩和一期安山质玄武岩,每期喷发之间夹少量碎屑岩,但未见长英质火山碎屑岩夹层,该特征与英买力和哈拉哈塘井区的火山层序组合不同,而与塔中溢流玄武岩类似。三个火山旋回的划分表明塔里木大火成岩省经历了"基性溢流玄武岩-酸性火山碎屑岩-基性溢流玄武岩"的演变过程,与Afro-Arabian溢流玄武岩省相似,可进行对比研究。     

Engineering geologic factors in the design of a large underground structure in a tuff sequence in Cappadocia

The Cappadocia region of Inner Anatolia has produced very distinct cultures since the Bronze Age (6500 BC). The settlers were accustomed to hew their house in massive to thickly-bedded tuffs. A thick succession of lapillistone, welded tuff, silicified tuff, clayey tuff, agglomerate, and lava flows constitutes the majority of the Late Tertiary-Quaternary-aged volcanic units of this region. Most of the historical structures hewn into the thick to massive layers have preserved their original integrity; whereas most of the structures carved into a medium- to thinly-bedded sequence have failed. Bedding planes are the primary discontinuity type in the region, and must be accommodated in geotechnical designs. Joints and normal faults present the second prominent discontinuity types, which are very widely spaced. Bedding planes beyond the structural influence of major fault zones dip around 10°, due to syndepositional deformation during regional uplift. In addition to the thickness of layers, the engineering characteristics of the persistent discontinuities have a great influence on the orientation and dimension of au underground cavern in Cappadocia.

Construction of this cavern, the International Underground Congress Hall, commenced in January 1993 in Cappadocia, south of the town Avanos. The initially proposed location and orientation of the structure were completely changed and readjusted according to the geotechnical model prepared in September 1993. The geotechnical re-design of the structure was then accomplished through a series of numerical analyses carried out using a Boundary Element technique. The structure in the former proposal was found susceptible to kinematic collapse of joint-bounded rock blocks, possible breakup of thinly bedded and very weakly cemented tuff layers, and quick erosion by groundwater flowing along persistent discontinuities. Moreover, groundwater percolating along discontinuities requires sophisticated engineering measures to maintain stability wherever cleft-water pressure builds up.     

Analyses of deterioration of the Cappadocian tuff, Turkey

 The Cappadocian tuff contains unique erosional features, the so-called fairy chimneys, some of which in the past were dwelled in and contain valuable wall paintings. These historical heritages, however, are undergoing chemical and physical deterioration due to atmospheric effects. For the conservation studies, understanding of the deterioration phenomenon of the tuff is essential. In this study, engineering geological and physicochemical characteristics of the tuff were determined. The durability of the tuff was assessed through wetting-drying, freezing-thawing, and salt crystallization. The test results suggest that chemical weathering may be traced to a depth of 2 cm below lichen-covered surfaces and 20 cm adjacent to discolored joint walls. Based on durability assessment methods, the tuff may be classified as having poor to very poor durability. Received: 16 December 1996 · Accepted: 3 April 1997     

The Ilchulbong tuff cone, Cheju Island, South Korea

The Ilchulbong mount of Cheju Island, South Korea, is an emergent tuff cone of middle Pleistocene age formed by eruption of a vesiculating basaltic magma into shallow seawater. A sedimentological study reveals that the cone sequence can be represented by nine sedimentary facies that are grouped into four facies associations. Facies association I represents steep strata near the crater rim composed mostly of crudely and evenly bedded lapilli tuff and minor inversely graded lapilli tuff. These facies suggest fall-out from tephra finger jets and occasional grain flows, respectively. Facies association II represents flank or base-of-slope deposits composed of lenticular and hummocky beds of massive or backset-stacked deposits intercalated between crudely to thinly stratified lapilli tuffs. They suggest occasional resedimentation of tephra by debris flows and slides during the eruption. Facies association III comprises thin, gently dipping marginal strata, composed of thinly stratified lapilli tuff and tuff. This association results from pyroclastic surges and cosurge falls associated with occasional large-scale jets. Facies association IV comprises a reworked sequence of massive, inversely graded and cross-bedded (gravelly) sandstones. These facies represent post-eruptive reworking of tephra by debris and stream flows. The facies associations suggest that the Ilchulbong tuff cone grew by an alternation of vertical and lateral accumulation. The vertical buildup was accomplished by plastering of wet tephra finger jets. This resulted in oversteepening and periodic failure of the deposits, in which resedimentation contributed to the lateral growth. After the eruption ceased, the cone underwent subaerial erosion and faulting of intracrater deposits. A volcaniclastic apron accumulated with erosion of the original tuff cone; the faulting was caused by subsidence of the subvolcanic basement within the crater.     

The future of the past at Göreme in Turkey

The structural conservation project at the Göreme circus, with its rock-hewn churches, is a program for safeguarding this area in Cappadocia. The aim of this paper is to inquire into the causes of observed degradation and define a general plan of intervention which associates processes controlling the development of the phenomena with appropriate repair technologies facilitating treatment of the most urgent cases of damage. The first problem noted is clearly erosion. To natural erosion must be added the effects of localized erosion resulting from increasing tourism on the site. The second difficulty is to be seen in fissuring and fracturing in the soft rock, a volcanic tuff. Treatment of fissures in domes involves complete covering of the rock. Also, it must be noted that low-pressure injection grouting with a product suitable for the fissures would assure water-tightness of the monument and restore to the massif its monolithic stability.     

Preliminary investigation of underground settlements of Nevşehir Castle region using 2.5-D electrical resistivity tomography: Cappadocia,Turkey

The Nev?ehir Castle region located in the middle of Cappadocia with approximately cone shape is investigated for the existence of an underground city using the geophysical method of electrical resistivity tomography. Underground cities are commonly known to exist in Cappadocia. The current study has obtained important clues that there may be another one under the Nev?ehir Castle region. Several 2.5-D resistivity profiles totaling approximately 4 km in length surrounding the Nev?ehir Castle are measured to determine the distribution of electrical resistivities under the study area. Several high resistivity anomalies with a depth range 8–20 m are discovered to associate with a systematic void structure beneath the Nev?ehir Castle. Because of the high-resolution resistivity measurement system currently employed, we were able to isolate the void anomalies from the embedding structure. Using 3-D visualization techniques, we show the extension of the void structure under the measured profiles.     

Geochemical constraints on the evolution of mafic and felsic rocks in the Bathani volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequence of Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex

The Bathani volcanic and volcano-sedimentary (BVS) sequence is a volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequence, best exposed near Bathani village in Gaya district of Bihar. It is located in the northern fringe of the Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC). The volcano-sedimentary unit comprises of garnet-mica schist, rhyolite, tuff, banded iron formation (BIF) and chert bands with carbonate rocks as enclaves within the rhyolite and the differentiated volcanic sequence comprises of rhyolite, andesite, pillow basalt, massive basalt, tuff and mafic pyroclasts. Emplacement of diverse felsic and mafic rocks together testifies for a multi-stage and multi-source magmatism for the area. The presence of pillow basalt marks the eruption of these rocks in a subaqueous environment. Intermittent eruption of mafic and felsic magmas resulted in the formation of rhyolite, mafic pyroclasts, and tuff. Mixing and mingling of the felsic and mafic magmas resulted in the hybrid rock andesite. Granites are emplaced later, cross-cutting the volcanic sequence and are probably products of fractional crystallization of basaltic magma. The present work characterizes the geochemical characteristics of the magmatic rocks comprising of basalt, andesite, rhyolite, tuff, and granite of the area. Tholeiitic trend for basalt and calc-alkaline affinities of andesite, rhyolite and granite is consistent with their generation in an island arc, subduction related setting. The rocks of the BVS sequence probably mark the collision of the northern and southern Indian blocks during Proterozoic period. The explosive submarine volcanism may be related to culmination of the collision of the aforementioned blocks during the Neoproterozoic (1.0 Ga) as the Grenvillian metamorphism is well established in various parts of CGGC.     

滇东北宣威一带铌矿床地质特征

随着贵州威宁玉龙、黑石头等地铌矿床（点）的发现,结合该区域同类型铌矿床研究成果,以及本次在宣威倘塘一带所开展的矿产地质调查工作中发现的铌矿体（点）,总结了滇东北宣威一带铌矿床地质特征,认为主要赋矿层位为峨眉山玄武岩顶部的铁质凝灰岩地层,受峨眉山玄武岩喷发后期剥蚀沉积成矿。含矿层具有明显的高铌低钽,并伴(共)生稀土及钪、钛等元素之特征。成矿类型初步定为玄武岩喷发后期剥蚀沉积型铌矿床。     

The Udo tuff cone, Cheju Island, South Korea: transformation of pyroclastic fall into debris fall and grain flow on a steep volcanic cone slope

The Udo tuff cone of Cheju Island, South Korea, is a middle Pleistocene basalt tuff cone that has formed by early Surtseyan-type eruptions and later drier hydroclastic eruptions. The tuff cone comprises steep (20–30°) and planar beds of lapillistone, lapilli tuff and tuff that can be grouped into seven sedimentary facies (A-G). Facies A and B comprise continuous to lenticular layers of grain-supported and openwork lapillistone that are inversely graded and coarsen downslope. They suggest emplacement by grain flows that are maintained by gravity-induced stress and grain collisions. Facies C includes poorly sorted, crudely bedded and locally inversely graded lapilli tuff, also suggestive of rapid deposition from highly concentrated grain flows. Facies D includes thinly stratified and mantle-bedded tuff that was probably deposited by fallout of wind-borne ash. Other facies include massive lapilli tuff (Facies E), chaotic lapilli tuff (Facies F) and cross-bedded tuffaceous sandstone (Facies G) that were deposited by resedimentation processes such as debris flow, slide/slump and stream flow, respectively. The grain flows that produced Facies A, B and C are interpreted to have originated from falling pyroclasts, which initially generated highly dispersed, saltating avalanches, in which momentum was transferred by the particles themselves. This transport mechanism is similar to that of debris fall. As the slope gradient was too low to maintain a highly dispersed flow, the debris fall decelerated and contracted due to a decrease in dispersive pressure. The mode of momentum transfer changed to one of collision because contraction of the debris fall resulted in an increase in particle concentration. This transport mechanism is similar to that of common grain flows. Grain segregation occurred in several ways. Initial segregation of ash from lapilli occurred due to their differing terminal fall velocities, and their contrasting degrees of sliding friction with the bed. Percolation of ash into interstices of lapilli during flow (kinematic sieving) augmented further segregation of ash from lapilli. The latter process, along with a dispersive pressure effect, gave rise to vertical inverse size grading. Downdip inverse grading was produced by particle overpassing.     

长白山天池老虎洞期火山活动地质特征及成因意义

长白山天池火山老虎洞期火山活动发生在更新世晚期白头山组碱性粗面岩喷发之后,火山活动的产物主要为玄武岩质火山碎屑岩和少量玄武岩质或粗面岩质熔岩;老虎洞组火山岩的稀土元素地球化学特征介于早期玄武岩和气象站组碱流岩两者之间,将二者有机地联系在一起,使整个天池火山岩的演化趋势更加清晰。老虎洞组火山岩的存在充分证明了天池火山的粗面岩类与该区早期的大量玄武岩具有成因联系。长白山天池火山活动的成因并非简单地用西太平洋板块的俯冲作用所能解释的。     

准噶尔盆地春晖油田石炭系火山岩储层控制因素分析

春晖油田石炭系火山岩地层中,油气富集程度与储层发育程度呈正相关关系。研究认为,储层的发育与分布主要受岩相、岩性和构造运动的控制。岩相控制岩性,岩性控制储集空间组合类型,溢流相和火山沉积相围绕爆发相具有环带状分布特点,从火山角砾岩→玄武岩、安山岩→凝灰岩,储集性能逐渐变差;构造运动则控制裂缝的发育及溶蚀作用,断层周边微裂缝发育,沿着微裂缝则溶蚀作用增强,次生孔隙发育。     

Thermal aspects of sea-floor spreading and the nature of the oceanic crust

By means of a plate-tectonics model we have computed radial temperature profiles for various spreading velocities for the region bounded by the bottom of oceanic layer two, the top of the lowvelocity zone, the centre of the ridge, and a vertical plane at 1000 km away from the ridge centre. The model we have used differs from previous models in that certain petrological aspects of basalt formation, partial melting, and latent heat effects have been taken into account. Oceanic heat flow was calculated from the ridge crest to 1000 km away. The thermal relationships in this region seem to rule out a gabbroic or amphibolitic third layer in the oceanic crust.     

峨眉山大火成岩省东区普安玄武岩系年代学、地球化学及成因研究

广泛分布于中国西南川、滇、黔三省的峨眉山玄武岩是我国最早被国际认可的大火成岩省,受到了国内外学者的广泛关注.前人对大火成岩省西区玄武岩已达成多项共识,而对东区玄武岩的岩石组合、火山活动时限、岩石成因等方面还存在诸多争议.本文以峨眉山大火成岩省东区贵州普安玄武岩系为研究对象,通过解析典型剖面,明确该区玄武岩系岩石类型从底...     

四川省峨眉山市王山-抓口寺滑坡成因机理研究

2015年6月14日,受连续强降雨影响,峨眉山市九里镇兴阳村王山-抓口寺不稳定斜坡发生滑动,威胁27户52人的安全,由于当地政府提前组织人员紧急撤离,滑坡未造成人员伤亡,直接经济损失约为500万元,间接经济损失3000余万元。通过现场调查和模拟计算,结果表明:(1)滑坡稳定性受凝灰岩夹层控制,受早期采矿开挖和512汶川地震影响,岩体结构破碎,其稳定性处于临界状态,属于滑移-拉裂型; (2)降雨是导致滑坡形成的直接因素,降雨入渗后并转化为地下水,沿凝灰岩夹层上层面流动,滑坡稳定性系数逐渐降低,在重力作用下发生失稳破坏; (3)通过现场调查和分析,总结了滑坡应急避险成功经验及措施。     

The formation mechanism of mud diapirs and gas chimneys and their relationship with natural gas hydrates: insights from the deep-water area of Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

ABSTRACT

Mud diapirs and gas chimneys are widely developed in continental slope areas, which can provide sufficient gas for hydrate formation, and they are important for finding natural gas hydrates. Based on the interpretation and analysis of high-resolution 2D and 3D seismic data covering the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB), northern South China Sea, we studied the formation mechanism of mud diapirs and gas chimneys and their relationship with natural gas hydrates. Mud diapirs and gas chimneys are columnar and domelike in shape and the internal regions of these bodies have abnormal reflections characterized by fuzzy, chaotic, and blanking zones. The reflection events terminate at the rims of mud diapirs and gas chimneys with pull-up reflections and pull-down reflections, respectively. In addition, ‘bright spots’ and diapiric-associated faults occur adjacent to mud diapirs and gas chimneys. The rapidly deposited and deeply buried fine sediments filling in the Tertiary in deep-water areas of the QDNB and overpressure potential derived from undercompacted mudstones, as well as from the pressurization of organic matter and hydrocarbon generation, provide abundant materials and intensive driving forces for the formation of mud diapirs and gas chimneys. Bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) with strong amplitude and high or poor continuity were recognized atop the mud diapirs and gas chimneys and in the structural highs within the same region, indicating that they have a close relationship with each other. The mud diapirs and gas chimneys and associated high-angle faults provide favourable vertical pathways for the hydrocarbons migrating from deep strata to shallow natural gas hydrate stability zones where natural gas hydrates accumulate; however, some BSRs are characterized by weak amplitude and poor continuity, which can be affected by high temperature and overpressure in the process of the mud diapir and gas chimney activities. This mutually restricting relationship must be taken into consideration in the process of gas hydrate exploration in QDNB.     

The Hianana Volcanics: Remnants of a Late Permian tuff ring and lava flow,Coombadjha Volcanic Complex,northeastern New South Wales

The Hianana Volcanics consist of bedded tuff and dacitic lava that form a locally mappable unit within the extensive, Late Permian silicic volcanic sequence of northeastern New South Wales. Principal components of the bedded tuff are crystal and volcanic lithic fragments ranging from coarse ash to lapilli, accompanied by variable amounts of fine ash matrix. Well denned plane parallel thin bedding is characteristic. Sandwave bed forms, including low‐angle cross‐beds and wavy beds, are confined to an area of 2–3 km² coinciding with the thickest sections (70 m) of bedded tuff. A high‐aspect ratio flow of porphyritic dacitic lava overlies the bedded tuff in the same area. The setting, lithofacies, extent and geometry of the bedded tuffs of the Hianana Volcanics are comparable with modern tuff rings which are composed of the deposits from base surges generated by explosive phreatomagmatic eruptions at primary volcanic vents. Many of these have also discharged lava late in their activity. Proximal parts of the Hianana tuff ring were buried by the porphyritic lava after the phreatomagmatic eruptions had ceased. In more distal sections, the bedded tuff is less than 10 m thick and dominantly comprises fine grained, plane parallel, very thin beds and laminae; these features suggest an origin by fallout from ash clouds that accompanied the phreatomagmatic eruptions. The distal ash was covered and preserved from erosion by a layer of welded ignimbrite, the source of which is unknown.     

Assessment of environmental and engineering geological problems for the possible re-use of an abandoned rock-hewn settlement in Urgüp (Cappadocia), Turkey

The Cappadocia Region of Central Anatolia having a very distinct culture is one of the attractive touristic sites of Turkey due to its spectacular and unique landforms and historical heritages. In this region, the structures carved into thick to massive tuffs survived and kept their original integrity for a number of centuries. Environmental and anthropological factors at the Cappadocia Region have been the main reasons for extensive subsurface and multi-purpose use in the past and present. In addition, thermal insulation properties of the tuffs make these rocks suitable for use in underground openings. The Kayakapi Neighborhood, located in the town of Urgüp, is one of the famous historical sites. This site is situated within the “Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia” which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1985. In order to develop the tourism potential of this abandoned site while preserving its cultural and natural values, a natural environmental conservation and revitalization project was initiated. As an integral part of this project, in this study, environmental and engineering geological problems, including rock fall potential and stability of about 1,200 rock-hewn structures, were investigated and an inventory was prepared for the possible re-use of the underground openings and other structures at the site, and remedial measures were recommended. The assessments based on observations and experimental studies indicated that the tuffs do not show significant changes both perpendicular and parallel to layering, and discontinuities and rock weathering seem to be more important factors controlling the stability of rock-hewn structures. The major stability problems threatening the re-use of the openings are structurally-controlled block instabilities, overbreaks, and erosion and shearing of the pillars made of tuff. On the other hand, the area at the entrance of the site requires some protection measures such as the construction of a retaining wall, systematic bolting of rock slabs and removal of some blocks having rock fall potential. The inventory for the openings suggests that there are a number of openings that can be re-used after necessary remedial measures.     

大兴安岭中段晚更新世炭质层的发现及地质意义

大兴安岭中段莫克河地区发现一层位于玄武岩下部烘烤成因的炭质层,经加速器质谱测年技术(AMS)14C测定,该炭质层的年龄为(41 925±340)a BP,表明其形成时代为晚更新世。由此可以确定此期火山喷发为晚更新世,而非前人认为的渐新世;依据炭质层所在地质剖面,反演莫克河地区晚更新世后的火山活动过程,将大兴安岭地区新生代火山活动分为新近纪中期和第四纪晚期2期。该炭质层年龄的确定为大兴安岭中段晚更新世以来气候、环境变迁、大兴安岭隆升史等科学研究提供了直接证据。