Intraplate tectonics in stable Europe as related to plate tectonics in the Alpine system

Western Europe is traversed by the Rhinegraben rift system. The stages of graben formation evolved coincidentally with the culminations of compressional folding in the Alps. Rhinegraben rifting has been controlled by mantle diapirism, but the Alpine orogeny by subduction of lithosphere. Presumably, Alpine subduction forced compensating mantle uplift in the foreland. The Middle Eocene to Oligocene crustal spreading of the Rhinegraben implies a state of stress with a maximum horizontal component parallel to the graben axis (about 20?). In the same area, the Recent average direction of maximum compressive stress is of about 320? (NW), as calculated by in-situ stress measurements, fault-plane solutions of earthquakes and Recent crustal movements. The rotation of the stress components relative to the crust of stable Europe evolved subsequent to counterclockwise rotations of microplates in the Mediterranean. A model is proposed which ascribes these rotations to alterating shear motions of the Afro-Arabian macroplates relative to stable Europe exerting a ball-bearing effect to the intervenient microplates. The postulated motions are in accord with the patterns of inhomogeneous ocean floor spreading east and west of the African plate. The stages of Alpine plate collision had induced a significant readjustment of intraplate stress conditions, and deformation in the cratonic foreland of stable Europe.     

Die großen Gräben: Harmonische Strukturen in einer disharmonisch struierten Erdkruste

A system of intracontinental grabens extends over Western Europe, the Levant and East Africa. Small crustal segments framed by elevated shoulders are sunken along parallel escarpments and disintegrated by antithetic normal faults. The shoulders are risen up as outward tilted blocks and thought to form a closed vault at the base of the crust, corresponding to the wedge block of the graben. Underneath the Rhinegraben exists, as detected by seismic refraction measurements, a pillow-shaped body of material with P-wave velocities of 7.4 to 7.9 km/sec, intercalated between crust and mantle. The taphrogenesis of all larger grabens is assumed to be induced by the formation and growth of subcrustal swells of this type. Also the specific graben volcanism is thought to be connected with the intruded laccolithic body of mantle-derived material. The tensional breakup and the faulting of the warped crustal masses was favoured by the gravity slide of the crust which was uncoupled from the substratum by the intercalated magmatic layer. Along the Red Sea Rift the crust tore completely releasing the basaltic substratum in the inner graben. The pattern of its magnetic anomalies leads to the assumption that the pillow body is recruited by simatic dike injections according to the principle of sea-floor spreading. Therefore, there is a great conformity between the intercontinental and the mid-oceanic rift systems. The supplies of mantle material along the Mid-Atlantic and the Carlsberg Rift are related to the drift of the continental frames. The mid-oceanic rift systems in their medial position to the framing continental margins correspond to the intracontinental graben swarm, equidistant from both fronts of circum-Pacific tectonics. A reciprocating action is presumed between the ascending masses along the rift zones and the suction of masses along the deep-sea trenches and geosynclines. The observed crustal movements imply an equilibrant plastic flow within the upper mantle, probably impelled by mechanical convection currents. The continental unbalance between the Pacific and the anti-Pacific hemisphere is discussed as causing mantle currents. Within this interplay between crust and mantle and between continents and ocean floors, the oceanic crust had obtained harmonical features moulded directly by the deduced mobility. The continental crust, however, is passively stressed, its rocks are affected by heterogeneous deformations from which the continents got its polygenetic multiform fabric.     

Conductivity Structure along the Gediz Graben,West Anatolia,Turkey: Tectonic Implications

Groups of grabens in west Anatolia have contrasting E-W and NE-SW orientations and are the subject of debate as to their relative ages and relationships. We investigated the E-W-trending Gediz graben and its neighboring NE-SW-trending Gördes, Demirci, and Selendi grabens, which form an important graben system representative of the region. We studied gravity data from one profile and magnetotelluric (MT) data from two profiles, 73 km and 93 km long. The data supports the hypothesis that the Gediz graben was superimposed onto the (older) NE-SW grabens. 2D gravity and MT modelling revealed an undulating graben floor, varying in depth between 500 and 3000-4000 m (gravity-MT); within the graben two apparent basins 3–4 and 1.5-2.5 km deep (gravity-MT) are separated by a subsurface horst. The residual gravity map appears to indicate the continuation of NE-SW grabens from north of Gediz graben to beyond its southern border.

The MT model revealed three main zones of varying thickness within the crust. The britde upper crust comprises two zones: sedimentary fill (apparent resistivity 15-50 ohm.m) and Menderes massif basement (200 ohm.m). The third zone is highly conductive lower crust (10 ohm.m), identified by our MT modeling at an average depth of 10 km. This conductive layer was considered in conjunction with two other regional features, high heat flow values and shallow earthquake focal depths. A heat flow map shows a very high average value of 108 mWm^?2 for west Anatolia and 120-300 mWm^?2 for the Gediz graben area specifically, compared with the world average of 80 mWm^?2. Seismological records showing shallow earthquake focal depths together with the high conductivity zone were taken to indicate a partially melted, viscoelastic lower crust.     

Structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath the central european rift system

The crustal structure of the central European rift system has been investigated by seismic methods with varying success. Only a few investigations deal with the upper-mantle structure. Beneath the Rhinegraben the Moho is elevated, with a minimum depth of 25 km. Below the flanks it is a first-order discontinuity, while within the graben it is replaced by a transition zone with the strongest velocity gradient at 20–22 km depth. An anomalously high velocity of up to 8.6 km/s seems to exist within the underlying upper mantle at 40–50 km depth. A similar structure is also found beneath the Limagnegraben and the young volcanic zones within the Massif Central of France, but the velocity within the upper mantle at 40–50 km depth seems to be slightly lower. Here, the total crustal thickness reaches only 25 km. The crystalline crust becomes extremely thin beneath the southern Rhônegraben, where the sediments reach a thickness of about 10 km while the Moho is found at 24 km depth. The pronounced crustal thinning does not continue along the entire graben system. North of the Rhinegraben in particular the typical graben structure is interrupted by the Rhenohercynian zone with a “normal” West-European crust of 30 km thickness evident beneath the north-trending Hessische Senke. A single-ended profile again indicates a graben-like crustal structure west of the Leinegraben north of the Rhenohercynian zone. No details are available for the North German Plain where the central European rift system disappears beneath a sedimentary sequence of more than 10 km thickness.     

Ground deformation and gravimetric monitoring at Somma-Vesuvius and in the Campanian volcanic area (Italy)

This paper describes an integrated ground deformation and gravity network aimed at monitoring volcano-tectonic movements in the Campanian area (Southern Italy). It covers an area of more than 3000 km², including the volcanic centres of Somma-Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei caldera and Ischia island. Levelling, EDM and gravity networks, as well as periodic and continuous GPS measurements are carried out. The aim of the network is twofold: monitoring ground deformations in the above mentioned volcanic areas, and studying the complex tectonics of the Campania Plain, a graben-like structure in which the Neapolitan volcanism is concentrated, in relation to the tectonics of the Southern Apennines and of the Tyrrhenian Basin. The monitoring network consists of larger-scale levelling, EDM and GPS networks covering the whole Campania Plain, connected to the relatively stable areas of Apennines, together with smaller scale networks aimed at accurately monitoring the Somma-Vesuvius volcano, one of the most dangerous over the World due to the high degree of urban development. The Somma-Vesuvius is monitored by levelling network, over 200 km long, by periodic EDM and GPS measurements and by a small network of continuously recording GPS receivers. Moreover, high precision gravimetry is also employed to deep the knowledge of the dynamic framework of the area. The main results indicate that Mt. Vesuvius and the island of Ischia are currently quiescent, while Campi Flegrei are subject to significant slow vertical ground movements, known as “bradyseism”. Recently, two large uplifts, both of about 1.8 m, affected the area respectively in 1970–72 and 1982–84.     

Gravimetry for monitoring vertical crustal movements: Potential and problems

Through recent developments in absolute and relative techniques, gravimetry has reached an accuracy of a few hundredths to a few tenths of μm s^{−2 *}in small or large-scale networks, respectively. Consequently, gravimetric techniques can now be employed as one efficient tool for detecting vertical crustal movements. Gravity data are necessary for converting the results of geometric levelling to heights defined in the gravity field, and—by repeated surveys—to control time variations of the height-reference surface. More important is the use of repeated gravity surveys for strengthening and partly replacing levelling, being a time-consuming procedure with unfavourable error propagation over larger distances. The successful application of observed gravity variations with time in the detection of vertical crustal movements depends on the reliability of the conversion factor between gravity and height changes, and on the accuracy of the gravity measurements. The conversion factor should be determined through simultaneous levelling and gravimetry, in representative parts of the survey region. Strategies for establishing gravimetric control are changing now with the availability of transportable absolute gravity meters, and the possibility of accurately calibrating relative instruments and observing small gravity differences with feed-back-systems. Consequently, more attention has to be given now to disturbing effects of environmental character, such as microseismics, atmospheric pressure and groundwater table variations, and to periodic effects such as gravimetric earth tides and polar motion.     

资源三号数据在重力中区地形改正中的应用

针对我国资源三号卫星立体影像数据,利用GPS控制点,结合前视、下视、后视区域网平差精化有理函数模型,探讨了资源三号卫星立体影像数据用于重力中区地形改正的高精度DEM生成方法。通过1：1万高精度DEM数据进行地改实验验证表明：资源三号卫星立体影像数据提取的DEM可以满足1：20万区域重力测量中区地改精度要求,为我国重力测量中区地形改正提供了一条有效途径,拓展了资源三号数据在区域重力测量中的应用。     

Studies of compaction and subsidence in the Orinoco Oil Belt

To control vertical movements in the Orinoco Oil Belt, a high-precision levelling network was installed in an area of about 100 km². Links to the National Geodetic Network were established.

A total of 190 BMs with deep pile foundations is already installed and the first measurement campaign was concluded. The accuracies obtained are those of first-order levelling works.     

高精度重磁测量在河南崤山金矿区调查评价中的应用

通过对河南崤山金矿区重磁资料数据的处理,分离了深源与浅源场,并结合物性特征解释重磁异常。研究区高精度重力异常主要反映断裂构造、隐伏岩体和崤山古地块分布特征,高精度磁力异常反映中酸性隐伏岩体分布特征。结合地质资料,综合分析和研究重磁异常特征,推测了与金矿有关的断裂及隐伏岩体的平面和三维空间分布位置。依据重磁异常特征和已知金矿床赋存规律,对成矿远景区段进行预测与评价,预测金矿远景区2处。对今后在研究区中深部和外围同类矿床的勘查中缩小目标靶区、合理选择勘探方法等具有一定的实际意义。     

Insight into the structure of the Upper Rhine Graben and its basement from a new compilation of Bouguer Gravity

A compilation of gravity data from the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) is presented that includes all the main data sources from its German and French parts. This data is used to show that the URG consists of, at least, two arc-shaped and asymmetric rift units that tectonically are the basic building blocks of the graben. In this sense the URG does not differ from other continental rifts, such as the African rifts. This division should replace the now classical geomorphologic division of the URG into three segments, based on their different trends. Moreover, the gravity suggests that the faults in the central and southern segments are continuous and have the same trend, appearing to respond as a single kinematic unit. Changes in the gravity field in the graben are shown to reflect not only the structure of the graben, but also the highly variable composition of the basement. In this respect, the URG is quite different from some other Tertiary continental rifts, where possible changes in the composition of the basement are mostly masked in the gravity field by the effect of the overlying low-density sediments. This characteristic is used to study the extent of some of the main basement units that underlie the graben.     

100 years Jura décollement hypothesis: how it affects Steinmann’s (1892) “Schwarzwaldlinie”

Steinmann, then professor of geology at Freiburg (Germany), more than a 100 years ago wondered about the southern end of the extensional Rhinegraben and proposed that elements of the graben penetrated the contractional Jura. In particular, he recognized the "Schwarzwaldlinie” in the southern prolongation of the eastern border of the southern Rhinegraben, a line-up of topographic as well as structural irregularities. He conjectured that it was caused by normal faults of the Rhinegraben system. Subsequently—100 years ago—Buxtorf (1907) proposed the hypothesis, that the Jura was a thin-skinned nappe sheared off on Triassic evaporites. In the autochthonous basement underneath the wrinkled skin, the ``Schwarzwald line” is difficult to define. It probably consists of a gentle flexure punctuated by faults that approximately coincides with Steinmann’s original projection, although he sought to identify its constituent faults in the badly deformed allochthonous skin. Current data place the thin-skin elements of the Schwarzwald line in a more westerly, allochthonous position where most of them were reactivated into sinistrally transpressional structures.     

Geological Conditions and Petroleum Exploration Potential of the Albertine Graben of Uganda

The Albertine Graben in western Uganda is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic rift basin with petroleum exploration potential. A fundamental evaluation of petroleum potential of the graben is given based on field research, data processing of gravity and magnetism, analysis of graben structure, geochemistry, reservoir and composition research. The basin has a double-layered framework and a large thickness of sediments. Gravity highs shown in a residual anomaly map might indicate central uplift zones. There exist at least two sets of mature or low-maturity source rocks corresponding to a certain source rock in the Cretaceous or Paleogene and Neogene strata. The graben has basement rock with potential reservoirs and Tertiary sandstone reservoirs and thus has petroleum exploration potential.     

高精度重力测量在抚顺煤矿采空区探测中的应用

为查明抚顺煤矿采空区的位置、深度和分布范围,综合考虑城市中影响物探方法的因素,首次在该地区采用高精度重力测量方法进行采空区探测。先通过分析采空区的物性差异,建立理论模型进行正演计算,预研究重力方法的适用性。然后在研究区布设大比例尺面积性高精度重力测量工作,通过对布格重力异常进行位场分离、三维视密度反演和边界识别计算,推断了煤矿采空区的位置、深度、边界及该区内的构造分布。研究结果表明,高精度重力测量方法结合有效的数据处理方法,能在城市煤矿采空区的探测中发挥重要作用。      

青藏高原措勤盆地巨厚古生代碳酸盐岩坳陷的地球物理证据

简要介绍了措勤盆地的重力、磁力和大地电磁异常特征,针对措勤县北巨厚的大地电磁高阻异常,结合地质、重磁异常和岩石物性进行了综合研究与解释,多方法相互佐证与约束,认为地处裂陷或地堑带的高阻异常是古生代海相碳酸盐岩沉积地层的反映。巨厚古生代沉积地层的存在,表明措勤盆地具有较好的寻找古生界油气藏的前景。     

青藏高原措勤盆地巨厚古生代碳酸盐岩坳陷的地球物理证据

简要介绍了措勤盆地的重力、磁力和大地电磁异常特征,针对措勤县北巨厚的大地电磁高阻异常,结合地质、重磁异常和岩石物性进行了综合研究与解释,多方法相互佐证与约束,认为地处裂陷或地堑带的高阻异常是古生代海相碳酸盐岩沉积地层的反映。巨厚古生代沉积地层的存在,表明措勤盆地具有较好的寻找古生界油气藏的前景。     

Structure of the sea of Galilee graben, Israel, from magnetic measurements

The results of recent magnetic measurements in the southern part of the Sea of Galilee, Israel and in the land area south of it, indicate the presence in the subsurface of elongated intrusive bodies of basic composition. These bodies are thought to be associated with faults which formed a rhomb shaped graben during movement along the main Jordan Rift Valley shear system and may mark the southern boundary of that graben. If that is the case, the Sea of Galilee may be considerably shorter in the N-S direction than previously thought. The proposed new dimensions of the graben as outlined in this study are more readily explained by the accepted mechanisms for the formation of rhomb shaped grabens.     

EGY-HGM2016: an improved hybrid local geoid model for Egypt based on the combination of GOCE-based geopotential model with gravimetric and GNSS/levelling measurements

An improved hybrid gravimetric geoid model for Egypt, EGY-HGM2016, has been recently computed implementing the least-squares collocation (LSC) method through the remove-compute-restore (RCR) procedure. The computation of EGY-HGM2016 involves different datasets in terms of gravity anomalies determined from the GOCE (gravity field and steady-state ocean circulation explorer)-based global geopotential model (SPW-R4) up to d/o 200 and EGM2008 from d/o 201 to 720 combined with terrestrial gravity datasets in terms of 2140 gravity field anomalies and about 121,480 marine surface gravity anomalies. In addition, orthometric heights from 17 GPS/levelling measurements have been considered during the modelling process to improve the determination of the hybrid gravimetric geoid over the Egyptian region. The EGY-HGM2016 model estimated over Egypt provides geoid heights that are ranging from 7.677 to 21.095 m with a standard deviation (st. dev.) of about 2.534 m in the northwest of the country excluding the involvement of the orthometric heights from GPS/levelling measurements. When the later dataset is considered during the implementation of LSC process, hybrid residual height anomalies ranging from ?1.5 to +0.9 m, with a mean of 0.22 m and a st. dev. of 0.17 m, are obtained. Comparison of the predicted hybrid gravimetric geoid with the corresponding ones obtained from EGM2008, GOCE-based SPW R4 model, and GPS/levelling reveals considerable improvements of our EGY-HGM2016 model over Egypt.     

Archaeological evidence for tectonic activity in the region of the Haifa-Qishon Graben, Israel

Thirty-five archaeological sites between Lebanon and Gaza on the Mediterranean shore of Israel were surveyed for evidence of relative changes of sea level; and published and unpublished data were compiled on a further 23 sites. Remains of occupation levels were classified into 13 archaeological periods from Neolithic to Crusader, giving a good dating scale over the last 9000 years. The Bronze Age shoreline (4000 years B.P.) is shown to be very close to the present shore along most of the coast, with vertical changes of less than 1.0 m at most sites. For later periods the accuracy of measurement of relative changes of level was improved to a root sum square error of 28 cm.The mean and modal sea levels derived from all sites of the same archaeological period were plotted against time to indicate the most probable “eustatic” sea-level curve, though it is accepted that hydro-isostatic adjustment and broad-scale slow earth movements cannot be separated statistically from eustatic changes on a 200-km stretch of coast. The relative sea level is shown to have been between −70 cm and present sea level for the last 4000 years, with no evidence for oscillations of amplitude more than ±30 cm at periodicities longer than 400 years, and no high sea level still stands.Relative vertical displacement between sites of the same archaeological age is attributed to tectonism. The sites on the alluvium of the Haifa—Qish on graben show no signs of vertical displacement, but there is maximum activity to north and south. Acco, on the north margin, shows submergence of nearly 2.0 m since A.D. 1300, with probable uplift preceding that date. Mount Carmel, south of the graben, shows signs of only very slight relative change, possibly attributable to eustatic change, in the immediate vicinity of the graben. But the southern flank of the mountain, 20–80 km south of the southern fault of the Graben, shows active vertical movements on the whole coast. Dor and Caesarea indicate multiple vertical movements ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 m in the last 2000 years, and a slump or fault has intersected the harbour area of Caesarea about 150 m offshore.These observations are related briefly to recent geodetic levelling of the coast and graben area; observations on the Dead Sea Rift, and hypotheses of fault control of the linearity of the Israel Mediterranean coastline.     

西藏阿里地区多桑地堑的构造特征及成因机制

笔者以冈底斯构造带内部近南北向发育的多桑地堑带为代表,简述了多桑地堑带构造的组成及基本构造特征。根据该地堑两侧断隆山的发育特征及磷灰石、锆石裂变径迹测年结果,推断地堑的断陷活动时期始于中新世,直至第四纪仍有活动,对上新世-第四纪沉积起明显的控制作用。多桑地堑带的形成可能为前期南北向受力不均而产生共轭x节理,后期南北向挤压的持续进行使地壳隆升,当隆升到达一定程度后造成重力塌陷及下地壳物质的侧向流动产生纵向拉张作用,此时前期形成的共轭x节理追踪并部分贯通,最终形成多桑地堑,而横向上的区域断裂则可能控制地堑各区段拉伸宽窄的变化和沉降的不均匀性。