Initiation of crustal shortening in the Himalaya

New monazite U/Th‐Pb petrochronological data from the Annapurna region of central Nepal outline a protracted thermal history spanning ~ 30 Ma from the early Eocene (c. 48 Ma) to the early Miocene (c. 18 Ma). Rare earth element data collected concomitant with the isotopic analyses are consistent with prograde metamorphism and crustal thickening between ~ 48 and 30 Ma and anatexis between ~ 28 and 18 Ma. The timing of metamorphism recorded in these rocks is consistent with records of crustal shortening derived from ultrahigh‐pressure rocks in the western Himalaya and exhumed metamorphic rocks in southern Tibet. Although previous records of early shortening/metamorphism related to the initial collision of India with Asia are spatially associated with the northern margin of the Indian plate, the ages presented in this study extend that early record south into the main Himalayan range. These new data provide important geological constraints on this early, poorly documented history.     

Terrace staircases of the River Euphrates in southeast Turkey,northern Syria and western Iraq: evidence for regional surface uplift

We present the first overall synthesis of the terrace deposits of the River Euphrates in SE Turkey, northern Syria, and western Iraq, combining new observations with summaries of data sets from different reaches that had previously been independently studied on a piecemeal basis. The largest number of terraces observed in any reach of the Euphrates is 11, in western Iraq, where this river leaves the uplands of the Arabian Platform. In many other localities not more than 5 or 6 terraces have previously been identified, although we infer that some of these are resolvable into multiple terraces. These terraces are typically formed of gravel, principally consisting of Neotethyan ophiolite and metamorphic lithologies transported from Anatolia. Although older gravels are also evident, most of the Euphrates terrace deposits appear, given the chronologies that have been established for different parts of the study region, to date from the late Early Pleistocene onwards, the cold stages most often represented being interpreted as marine Oxygen Isotope Stages 22, 16, 12, 8, 6 and/or 4, and 2. The formation of this terrace staircase reflects regional uplift of the Arabian Platform. Estimated amounts of uplift since the Middle Pliocene decrease southeastward from almost 300 m in SE Turkey to ∼150 m in western Iraq. Uplift rates increased in the late Early Pleistocene, the uplift estimated since then decreasing from ∼110 m in SE Turkey to a minimum of ∼50 m in the Syria–Iraq border region, then increasing further downstream across western Iraq to ∼70 m. Numerical modelling of this uplift indicates a relatively thin mobile lower-crustal layer, consistent with the low surface heat flow in the Arabian Platform.     

Gravity anomalies and crustal shortening in the eastern Mediterranean

Crustal shortening of the ocean floor in the eastern Mediterranean is recognized by a marked thickening of the sedimentary layer seaward of the Hellenic and Calabrian island arcs. Steep gradients and large negative free-air anomalies in the gravity field along with a highly uniform, low regional heat flow are manifestations of the thickened crust. Bodies of recently deformed sediment in and seaward of the Hellenic Trough reveal the style, polarity, and dynamics of the thickening mechanism.

A linear buried anticlinal structure, inferred from analysis of surface ship gravity profiles, may mark the site of contemporary intrabasinal underthrusting. The distribution of earthquakes beneath the Mediterranean Ridge supports the interpretation that the Anaximander, Ptolomy, and Strabo Mountains are features comparable to large basement nappes. Cyprus is one such structure, offset to the south, where the oceanic crust and part of the upper mantle have been involved in the décollement.     

Using hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes in the assessment of groundwater quality in the Euphrates alluvial aquifer,Syria

Hydrochemical and environmental isotope methods were used to characterize the groundwater quality in ten wells belonging to the Euphrates alluvial aquifer in Syria, with the aim to assess the origin and dynamic of groundwater salinization in this system. The Euphrates River (ER) water along its entire course in Syria is rather fresh (TDS < 0.5 g/L), and thus, it is suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes. Groundwater salinity progressively increases from north to south, changing from almost freshwater (TDS < 0.6 g/L), with a Ca–Mg and HCO₃ type near the Syrian–Turkish border to brackish water (1 < TDS < 3 g/L), with a Ca–Mg or Na–Ca–Mg and SO₄–HCO₃ type in the vicinity of Al-Raqqa, and hence it can safely be used for irrigation. Downstream Deir-Ezzor the groundwater quality becomes fairly saline to very saline (3 < TDS < 29 g/L), with a Na–Cl type, and therefore it has an absolute hazard (SAR > 5) for irrigation uses. This pattern of chemical evolution, which is also clearly reflected in the variations of groundwater ionic ratios, completely agrees with the thermodynamic simulation results obtained by an experimental evaporation essay of a water sample taken from the ER near Deir-Ezzor. Stable isotopes permit the distinction between three main evaporation processes: under high, intermediate and low humidity conditions. Radioisotopes (³H and ¹⁴C) indicate the recent age and renewability of groundwater in this aquifer and confirm that its origin is entirely belonged to the ER water, either by direct bilateral interconnection or by vertical infiltration of the irrigation water totally taken from the ER. Relationships between major ions and δ¹⁸O values of the groundwater allow to differentiate between two main enrichment processes: either evaporation only or evaporation plus dissolution, that can explain altogether the development of groundwater salinity in such a dry area.     

Late Quaternary marine terraces in the Mediterranean coastal area of Syria: Geochronology and neotectonics

In order to provide new data on the neotectonics and geodynamic properties of western Syria, studies of marine terraces have been carried out. The most attention was paid to the lower terraces in the range of 3–5 to 30–35 m above sea level, because they have more complete distributions along the shore. The lower terraces were examined along the coastal area from Tartus to Latakia, and along the carbonate cliff on Arwad Island. Seven ²³⁰Th/U dates for these terraces are in the range of 85–130 ka, suggesting the age interval of the last interglacial (MIS 5). New dates on the lower terraces provide a basis for stratigraphical and geomorphological interpretation as well as neotectonic reconstruction. According to the geomorphological data and lithological composition of those terraces, two main uplifted blocks can be established. One coincides with the Latakia block, and another corresponds to the western margin of the Banias volcanic plateau. These blocks are divided by a subsided structure corresponding to the Nahr el Kebir graben. The amplitude of neotectonic uplifting in the Latakia and Banias blocks reaches 15–20 m for the Late Pleistocene.     

Upper crustal shortening and forward modeling of the Himalayan thrust belt along the Budhi-Gandaki River, central Nepal

A balanced cross-section along the Budhi-Gandaki River in central Nepal between the Main Central thrust, including displacement on that fault, and the Main Frontal thrust reveals a minimum total shortening of 400 km. Minimum displacement on major orogen-scale structures include 116 km on the Main Central thrust, 110 km on the Ramgarh thrust, 95 km on the Trishuli thrust, and 56 km in the Lesser Himalayan duplex. The balanced cross-section was also incrementally forward modeled assuming a generally forward-breaking sequence of thrusting, where early faults and hanging-wall structures are passively carried from the hinterland toward the foreland. The approximate correspondence of the forward modeled result to observe present day geometries suggest that the section interpretation is viable and admissible. In the balanced cross-section, the Trishuli thrust is the roof thrust for the Lesser Himalayan duplex. The forward model and reconstruction emphasize that the Lesser Himalayan duplex grew by incorporating rock from the footwall and transferring it to the hanging wall along the Main Himalayan thrust. As the duplex developed, the Lesser Himalayan ramp migrated southward. The movement of Lesser Himalayan thrust sheets over the ramp pushed the Lesser Himalayan rock and the overburdens of the Greater and Tibetan Himalayan rock toward the erosional surface. This vertical structural movement caused by footwall collapse and duplexing, in combination with erosion, exhumed the Lesser Himalaya.     

Newly found Tunglo Active Fault System in the fold and thrust belt in northwestern Taiwan deduced from deformed terraces and its tectonic significance

We found active faults in the fold and thrust belt between Tunglo town and the Tachia River in northwestern Taiwan. The surface rupture occurred in 1999 and 1935 nearby the study area, but no historical surface rupture is recorded in this area, suggesting that the seismic energy has been accumulated during the recent time. Deformed fluvial terraces aid in understanding late Quaternary tectonics in this tectonically active area. This area contains newly identified faults that we group as the Tunglo Fault System, which formed after the area's oldest fluvial terrace and appears at least 16 km long in roughly N–S orientation. Its progressive deformations are all recorded in associated terraces developed during the middle to late Quaternary. In the north, the system consists of two subparallel active faults, the Tunglo Fault and Tunglo East Fault, striking N–S and facing each other from opposite sides of the northward flowing Hsihu River, whose course may be controlled by interactions of above-mentioned two active faults. The northern part of the Tunglo Fault, to the west of the river, is a reverse fault with upthrown side on the west; conversely the Tunglo East Fault, to the east, is also a reverse fault, but with upthrown side on the east. Both faults are marked by a flexural scarp or eastward tilting of fluvial terraces. Considering a Quaternary syncline lies subparallel to the east of this fault system, the Tunglo Fault might be originated as a bending moment fault and the Tunglo East Fault as a flexural slip fault. However, they have developed as obvious reverse faults, which have progressive deformation under E–W compressive stress field of Taiwan. Farther south, a west-facing high scarp, the Tunglo South Fault, strikes NNE–SSW, oblique to the region's E–W direction of compression. Probably due to the strain partitioning, the Tunglo South Fault generates en echelon, elongated ridges and swales to accommodate right-lateral strike–slip displacement. Other structures in the area include eastward-striking portion of the Sanyi Fault, which has no evidence for late Quaternary surface rupture on this fault; perhaps slip on this part of Sanyi Fault ceased when the Tunglo Fault System became active.     

西藏措勤盆地构造特征与地壳缩短

措勤盆地为青藏高原仅次于羌塘盆地的第二大海相盆地,笔者通过对盆地基底和盖层变形特征分析,将措勤盆地基底划分为北部拗陷、北部隆起、中部拗陷和南部隆起4个一级构造单元;盖层划分为北部拗褶带、北部冲断带、中部拗褶带、南部冲断带和南部拗褶带5个一级构造单元,并利用平衡剖面计算得到措勤盆地晚白垩世缩短约24%。     

Vegetation development in the Middle Euphrates and Upper Jazirah (Syria/Turkey) during the Bronze Age

Vegetation changes are reconstructed based on more than 51,000 charcoal fragments of more than 380 samples from nine Bronze Age sites in northern Syria and southern Turkey. In addition to fragment proportions, special attention was paid to the frequency of Pistacia relative to Quercus and Populus/Salix relative to Tamarix, fruit-tree ubiquity, and riverine diversity in order to gain an improved understanding of the human versus climatic impact on the vegetation. The results indicate that human impacts first took place within the riverine forest. This phase was followed by land clearing within the woodland steppe, especially in the northern portion of the study area. In the south near Emar, the woodland steppe probably disappeared by the Late Bronze Age. It is uncertain whether this was caused by aridification and/or human clearing. The northward shift of the Pistacia-woodland steppe is very likely a result of climatic drying that occurred throughout the entire period under investigation. Although increased deforestation is evident through time, the small proportions of imported wood indicate that local resources were still available.     

基于数字剖面的河流阶地与新构造运动研究——以内蒙古西拉木伦河河流阶地为例

野外调查发现在内蒙古东部西拉木伦河流域存在12级阶地序列。利用数字剖面野外系统对该河流阶地剖面的记录完成全程数字化采集,并进行数字剖面桌面系统厚度自动计算和剖面图、柱状图自动生成,发现该阶地序列中T7、T8、T9保存完好,而时代最为古老的T12 根据基座玄武岩形成于上新世—早更新世的年龄,其形成时代应为上新世—早更新世。通过计算新构造运动抬升速率,将其形成、演化过程划分为6个阶段。数据表明,自中新世以来,该地区新构造运动存在一定的周期性,在总体上新构造运动的强度逐渐趋于缓和。     

Magma genesis and crustal contamination of continental intraplate lavas in northwestern Syria

The Miocene to Quaternary lavas of northwestern Syria range from basanite, alkali basalts, and tholeiites to basaltic andesites, hawaiites, and mugearites. Crustal assimilation and fractional crystallization processes (AFC) modified the composition of the mantle derived magmas. Crustal assimilation is indicated by decreasing Nb/U (52.8–17.9) and increasing Pb/Nd (0.09–0.21) and by variable isotopic compositions of the lavas (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.7036–0.7048, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd: 0.51294–0.51269, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 18.98–18.60) throughout the differentiation. Modeling of the AFC processes indicates that the magmas have assimilated up to 25% of continental upper crust. The stratigraphy of the lavas reveals decreasing degrees and increasing depths of melting with time and the strongly fractionated heavy rare earth elements indicate melt generation in the garnet stability field. Modeling of melt formation based on trace element contents suggests that 8–10% melting of the asthenospheric mantle source produced the tholeiites, whereas basanite and alkali basalts are formed by 2–4% melting of a similar source.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

长江中下游成矿带磁异常揭示的深部构造与成矿关系

长江中下游成矿带是我国最主要的铁铜金多金属成矿带之一。本文通过高精度航磁异常数据分析成矿带内磁异常的分布特征,研究表明,火山岩盆地和郯庐断裂带沿线的正磁异常呈团块状分布,而大别造山带和九华山的正磁异常呈宽缓分布,前者与成矿带内以铁矿化为主的多金属矿床密切相关。航磁异常边界识别结果清晰揭示了郯庐断裂带、晓天-磨子潭断裂和襄樊-广济断裂等区内重要的深大断裂,九江附近的边界可能是郯庐断裂带的南延。长江中下游及邻域的居里等温面深度变化范围约为23.5~31.5km,沉积盆地下方居里等温面总体呈现拗陷,火山岩盆地下方居里等温面总体呈现隆起,郯庐断裂带沿线的居里等温面呈带状分布的隆起。大别造山带和九华山下方居里等温面呈现拗陷,有别于火山岩盆地和郯庐断裂带沿线的居里等温面隆起。长江中下游成矿带内主要的铁铜多金属矿床点集中分布在居里等温面隆起或隆起边缘部位,指示了长江中下游早白垩世剧烈的岩浆活动使区域大地热流值相对较高,地壳深部的构造格局和岩浆活动制约了浅部的成矿。     

Post-depositional modification of Pleistocene terraces of the River Thames

The recognition of materials and structures which are unrelated to the original floodplain processes of terrace formation is essential to the proper understanding of terrace morphology and stratigraphy. Two groups of processes have been active in modifying the Lower and Middle Pleistocene terraces of the River Thames since their formation: non-fluvial deposition; and structural rearrangement by subsidence associated with solution of the underlying Chalk. Non-fluvial deposits comprise solifluction gravels which are variable in character and may incorporate a range of pre-existing deposits; and brickearths which appear in most cases to be redistributed loess mixed with non-loessic components. The distinction between fluvial and non-fluvial deposits is made using particle size, composition and fabric analysis. Structural rearrangement of terrace sediments has occurred due to subsidence into deep, narrow, steep-sided pipes. Within such pipes, disturbance of primary structures and fabrics is severe. Over a wider area. primary bedding may be inclined towards pipes, and sediments may show evidence of shearing, faulting and brecciation. Interpretative problems arising from post-depositional modification are exemplified.     

Timings of early crustal activity in southern highlands of Mars:Periods of crustal stretching and shortening

Extensional and compressional structures are globally abundant on Mars. Distribution of these structures and their ages constrain the crustal stress state and tectonic evolution of the planet. Here in this paper, we report on our investigation over the distribution of the tectonic structures and timings of the associated stress fields from the Noachis-Sabaea region. Thereafter, we hypothesize possible origins in relation to the internal/external processes through detailed morphostructural mapping. In doing so, we have extracted the absolute model ages of these linear tectonic structures using crater size-frequency distribution measurements, buffered crater counting in particular. The estimated ages indicate that the tectonic structures are younger than the mega impacts events(especially Hellas) and instead they reveal two dominant phases of interior dynamics prevailing on the southern highlands, firstly the extensional phase terminating around3.8 Ga forming grabens and then compressional phase around 3.5-3.6 Ga producing wrinkle ridges and lobate scarps. These derived absolute model ages of the grabens exhibit the age ca. 100 Ma younger than the previously documented end of the global extensional phase. The following compressional activity corresponds to the peak of global contraction period in Early Hesperian. Therefore, we conclude that the planet wide heat loss mechanism, involving crustal stretching coupled with gravitationally driven relaxation(i.e.,lithospheric mobility) resulted in the extensional structures around Late Noachian(around 3.8 Ga). Lately cooling related global contraction generated compressional stress ensuing shortening of the upper crust of the southern highlands at the Early Hesperian period(around 3.5-3.6 Ga).     

大地热流研究揭示的中国地壳成分横向变化

依据大地热流值、地壳厚度以及大陆壳／幔热流比与地下流体氦同位素比值的相关关系，计算出中国主要构造单元地壳生热率。同时，根据Rudnick和Fountain(1995）的数据得到地壳生热率和SiO2质量分数的线性关系，进而利用生热率数据得到地壳SiO2质量分数。此方法得到的中国东部地壳生热率和SiO2质量分数与基于地震波速的成分模型相符。中国大陆地壳生热率和SiO2质量分数横向变化明显，东部地区地壳为中性成分，相对富集强不相容元素；而西北部盆地地壳成分偏于中基性。华北、扬子和塔里木地壳成分差异较大，克拉通内部表现出明显的成分非均匀性，褶皱带地壳一般较克拉通略富长英质组分。     

黄河源区河流阶地特征及源区黄河的形成

提要：本文通过对黄河源区河流阶地的系统测量和研究,认为黄河源区黄河阶地主要由堆积阶地组成,少量侵蚀阶地,阶地拔河高度低,阶面比较开阔平坦。黄河自源头至入扎陵湖段仅发育一级河流阶地,从鄂陵湖出水口至黄河乡段发育两级河流阶地,从黄河乡以下至久治县东段发育三级河流阶地。结合ESR测年结果,黄河源区河流阶地形成的时间主要为中更新世晚期—全新世,T1河流阶地的形成时代约为1万年;T2河流阶地的形成时代为5.8～1.9万年;T3河流阶地的形成时代为16.1～2.5万年。河流阶地研究表明,黄河在源区形成较晚,可能为晚更新世晚期。     

Lower crustal fluid distribution in the northeastern Japan arc revealed by high-resolution 3D seismic tomography

The Ou Backbone Range strikes northwards through the central northeastern Japan arc and is bounded on both sides by the active reverse Uwandaira and Sen'ya faults. We have applied a traveltime inversion method (seismic tomography) with spatial velocity correlation to active and passive seismic data in order to investigate a three-dimensional (3-D) velocity structure. The data set contains 33,993 P- and 18,483 S-wave arrivals from 706 natural sources and 40 blasts, as well as 2803 P-wave traveltime data from 10 explosions detonated during the 1997 controlled source experiment. The traveltime inversion reveals a zone beneath the Ou Backbone Range in which P-wave velocities (V_P) are approximately 6–8% lower than the average velocity at equivalent depths. The low V_P and a low V_P to S-wave velocity (V_S) ratio (V_P/V_S) of about 1.65 suggest the presence of aqueous fluids in the middle crust.     

青藏高原东北缘海原-六盘山断裂带现今地壳应力环境的数值分析

海原-六盘山断裂是青藏高原东北缘的大型边界断裂带,是中国大陆典型的地震危险区。地壳构造加载特征的定量研究有助于分析区域孕震环境,参考青藏高原东北缘GPS形变和岩石圈精细结构等资料,本文建立海原-六盘山断裂带周缘的三维岩石圈分层模型,分析现今构造加载作用下区域地壳形变和应力演化特征。数值计算结果显示:青藏高原东北缘现今处于以北东-南西向的水平挤压为主导和北西-南东向的水平引张的变形特征。青藏高原东北缘中-下地壳流变性质影响上覆脆性地壳应力环境,中地壳较低粘滞系数对应的模型地壳应力计算值与研究区实际地壳应力场相近。海原断裂中-西段构造加载作用显著,具有相对较高的库仑应力积累和最大剪应力分布;而六盘山断裂周缘地壳应力和最大剪应力小于海原断裂带。构造应力积累的空间分布差异说明六盘山断裂具有较弱的构造孕震环境,而研究区走滑型断裂的孕震加载作用显著。尽管六盘山处于较低的应力状态,但仍不能轻易忽视其长期存在的强震空区所暗示的发震潜力。