Seismic patterns in Northern China and the characteristics of the epicentral distribution of the medium strong earthquakes before the large events

In this paper, the seismic pattern in Northern China from 30 ° to 42 ° N latitude and 104 ° to 125 ° E longitude, and the characteristics of the epicentral distribution before large events are presented. The results suggest that:

• 1.(1) the earthquakes in the region are mainly located in the orthogonal curvilinear network formed by the seismic belts;
• 2.(2) the larger earthquakes (M ⩾6) occurred mainly in the nodal regions of this grid:
• 3.(3) the strike of the fracture planes of the earthquakes coincided with the directions of the seismic belts;
• 4.(4) the pattern of medium strong earthquakes (M ⩾ 4.7) prior to thirteen large earthquakes (M⩾ 7) are analysed to be of three types:
  • 4.1.(a) mainly arranged along the two intersecting belts,
  • 4.2.(b) randomly distributed,
  • 4.3.(3) forming seismic gaps.

A theoretical basis and rules for drawing the orthogonal grid is presented, and an idea for the prediction of the sites of future earthquakes in Northern China is suggested.     

Coprecipitation of alkali metal ions with calcium carbonate

The coprecipitation of alkali metal ions (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Rb⁺) with calcium carbonate has been studied experimentally and the following results have been obtained:

• 1.(1) Alkali metal ions are more easily coprecipitated with aragonite than with calcite.
• 2.(2) The relationship between the amounts of alkali metal ions coprecipitated with aragonite and their ionic radii shows a parabolic curve with a peak located at Na⁺ which has approximately the same ionic radius as Ca²⁺.
• 3.(3) However, the amounts of alkali metal ions coprecipitated with calcite decrease with increasing ionic radius of alkali metals.
• 4.(4) Our results support the hypothesis that
  • 4.1.(a) alkali metals are in interstitial positions in the crystal structure of calcite and do not substitute for Ca²⁺ in the lattice, but
  • 4.2.(b) in aragonite, alkali metals substitute for Ca²⁺ in the crystal structure.
• 5.(5) Magnesium ions in the parent solution increase the amounts of alkali metal ions (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Rb⁺) coprecipitated with calcite but decrease those with aragonite.
• 6.(6) Sodium-bearing aragonite decreases the incorporation of other alkali metal ions (Li⁺, K⁺ and Rb⁺) into the aragonite.

     

Chondrules in the Murray CM2 meteorite and compositional differences between CM-CO and ordinary chondrite chondrules

Bulk compositions were determined by broad-beam electron microprobe analysis for thirteen of the least aqueously altered chondrules in Murray (CM2). These and literature data reveal compositional differences between CM-CO and ordinary chondrite (OC) chondrules:

• 1.(a) CO chondrules are richer in refractory lithophiles and poorer in Cr, Mn and volatile lithophiles than OC chondrules; much lower refractory lithophile abundances in CM chondrules resulted from aqueous alteration,
• 2.(b) in CM-CO chondrites, abundances of refractory lithophiles are higher in nonporphyritic than porphyritic chondrules, whereas in H-L-LL3 chondrites the converse is true,
• 3.(c) Cr ranges are greater and Cr and Mn correlate more strongly in chondrules in CM-CO than in H-L-LL3 chondrites.

We find evidence for two important lithophile precursor components of CM-CO chondrite chondrules:

• 1.(1) pyroxene- and refractory-rich, FeO-poor;
• 2.(2) olivine-rich, refractory and FeO-poor.

The occurrence of a few FeO-rich chondrules attests to a third component similar to matrix: olivine- and FeO-rich, refractories not characterized. The first two components differ from those inferred for OC chondrules, consistent with formation at different locations. The pyroxene- and refractory-rich, FeO-poor lithophile precursor component probably formed by an incomplete evaporation of presolar silicates that brought these materials into the enstatite stability field.     

Mineralogy and petrology of alkaline granophyric xenoliths from the Thorsmörk ignimbrite,southern Iceland

The Thorsmörk ignimbrite, southern Iceland, contains a suite of granophyre xenoliths displaying magmatic or high-temperature sub-solidus mineral assemblages. These granophyres are consanguineous with the erupting comenditic magma. Four types of mineral assemblages are distinguished:

• 1.(A) oligoclase, edenitic hornblende, salitic pyroxene, magnesian biotite, magnetite and sphene;
• 2.(B) oligoclase, manganoan to sodic ferro-augite, fayalite, richterite, ilmenite and magnetite;
• 3.(C) anorthoclase, ferrohedenbergite to aegirine hedenbergite, ilmenite, magnetite and (riebeckite);
• 4.(D) cryptoperthite, aegirine hedenbergite to (aegirine), aenigmatite, arfvedsonite, ilmenite and magnetite.

Geothermometry shows that the xenoliths have crystallized between 900°C and 500°C at moderate oxygen fugacities, just above the FMQ buffer. It is further demonstrated that a hot vapour phase heavily charged with sodium and halogens, played a major role in the late sub-solidus crystallization of the different types.     

A quantitative fluorescence technique for evaluating thermal maturity: Instrumentation and examples

Fluorescence microscopy is useful not only for identifying most of the oil-prone organic matter (macerals) in sedimentary rocks and coals but also for assessing their thermal maturities (ranks). This report introduces a violet-light excitation system which induces more than one order of magnitude stronger fluorescence intensity that the commonly used UV-light excitation system. The red/green quotient from violet-light excited fluorescence, Q_v, of sporinite can be easily measured using this system. Several examples using coal and cuttings samples are presented to demonstrate the use of this technique for evaluating the thermal maturities of coals and sedimentary rocks.From the results of our studies we conclude that:

• 1.(1) Violet-light excited fluorescence from sporinites can be routinely measured to assess thermal maturity.
• 2.(2) Spectral (Quantitative) fluorescence technique is useful for evaluating thermal maturity when samples are poorly polished or deficient in vitrinite.
• 3.(3) Visual (Strew-mounted) kerogen slides can not be used for fluorescence measurements unless a non-fluorescent mounting medium is used.

     

The geothermal gradient map of Central Tunisia: Comparison with structural,gravimetric and petroleum data

Five hundred and fifty temperature values, initially measured as either bottom-hole temperatures (BHT) or drill-stem tests (DST), from 98 selected petroleum exploration wells form the basis of a geothermal gradient map of central Tunisia. A “global-statistical” method was employed to correct the BHT measurements, using the DST as references. The geothermal gradient ranges from 23° to 49°C/km. Comparison of the geothermal gradient with structural, gravimetric and petroleum data indicates that:

• 1.(1) the general trend of the geothermal gradient curves reflects the main structural directions of the region,
• 2.(2) zones of low and high geothermal gradient are correlated with zones of negative and positive Bouguer anomalies and
• 3.(3) the five most important oil fields of central Tunisia are located near the geothermal gradient curve of 40° C/km.

Such associations could have practical importance in petroleum exploration, but their significance must first be established through further investigation and additional data.     

Aridification — Climate change in South-Eastern Europe

Climatic change in SE Europe can be characterized by the term aridification, which means increasing semi-aridity, manifested in an increase of mean annual temperature and at the same time in a decrease in the yearly precipitation.The paper deals with research results obtained within the framework of the MEDALUS II project (funded by the Commission of the European Communities). The project had the following objectives:

• 1.(i) Assessment of the impact of global change on the climate of the investigated area, including possible future climates.
• 2.(ii) Physical processes of aridification, including studies of groundwater level change, soil moisture profile dynamics, soil development, vegetation change and soil erosion.
• 3.(iii) Land use change, involving research on present land use and suggestions for the future.

Various methods were applied with respect to the different research objectives.

• 1.(i) Statistical analysis of climatic oscillations and computer runs of climatic scenarios,
• 2.(ii) Analysis of ground water data, mapping and analysis of soils and vegetation, assessment of present and future soil, and
• 3.(iii) Land capability assessment through ranking environmental conditions according to the demands of the most widely grown arable crops in Hungary.

According to our results i) the average annual warming during the last 110 years was +0.0105 °C, and precipitation decreased by 0.917 mm/year; ii) a decline of −2 to −4 m in the annual mean groundwater level can be detected in the most sensitive areas, with gradual lowering of the water table in alkali ponds; complete desiccation of some of them severs the direct contact between groundwater and salt-affected soils, the solonchak soil dynamics cease, helophile and hygrophile plant associations disappear, and consequent changes in the soil erosion regime are likely to lead to disastrous erosion in the future; iii) the climatic changes induce a transformation in land use from arable crops to plantations, starting with orchards.     

Evaluation of the thermal regime of the Valles Caldera,New Mexico,U.S.A., by downward continuation of temperature data

Downward continuation of temperature data from 73 wells extending to depths of 250 ft (76 m) provides constraints on the thermal regime of the Valles Caldera. Surface-temperature gradient data and bottom-hole temperatures were used as constraints in the downward continuation. Three factors were found to control the shallow thermal regime:

• 1.(1) heat associated with the main geothermal source;
• 2.(2) local topography; and
• 3.(3) west-southwest groundwater flow. Although the well density is relatively high, comparison with the topography shows that the wells are not randomly distributed and tend to be clustered in valleys. Many details in the thermal regime appear to be related to groundwater drainage in these valleys. Temperature gradients and temperatures generally increase in the same direction as the regional drainage of the caldera suggesting a long-wavelength, shallow component to this regional gradient trend. Inversion of gradient and temperature data show additional deep heat input in the west-southwest sector of the caldera which appears to be spatially associated to the youngest volcanism. A previously reported northeast displacement of the main heat source from the surface anomaly has not been confirmed.

     

Development of engineering geology in western United States

Geologic concepts and scientific-technical guidance for the planning-design and construction of engineered works was recognized in Europe by the 1800s and by the early 1900s in North America. This early geologic knowledge and experience provided the rudimentary principles that guided practitioners of the 19th century in serving the emerging projects in western United States. Case studies review the scientific-technical lessons learned and the legacy of geologic principles established in the planning and construction of major civil, mining, and military engineered works in the western states. These contributions to GeoScience knowledge and engineering geology practice include:

• •Tunnels and aqueducts across active fault zones, beneath young volcanic features, groundwater-charged faults, and land subsidence mitigation.
• •Controversial foundation design, Folsom and Auburn dams, Golden Gate Bridge.
• •Protective underground construction chambers, safety dependent geologic setting.
• •Geologic mapping as database management leasing, maintenance railroad trackway.
• •Causeway Great Salt Lake, geo-risks calculated, mitigated ‘as-constructed’.
• •Nuclear powerplants seismic design.
• •Urban Land-Use, on-going processes, acceptable geo-risks.
• •Dwelling Insurance, insuree's responsibilities.
• •Selecting technique/method to mitigate risk, preferably based on extensive database, evaluation of characteristics and historical origin adverse features/conditions that constitute a geo-risk.

     

Compositions and textures of relic forsterite in carbonaceous and unequilibrated ordinary chondrites

Several percent of the olivine in the C2, C3 and unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (UOC) can be distinguished by blue cathodoluminescence (CL) and an unusual composition for forsterite. This olivine has the following textural features:

• 1.(1) forms cores in single olivine grains;
• 2.(2) shows subhedral to euhedral boundaries against rim olivine;
• 3.(3) rarely contains inclusions;
• 4.(4) has embayments containing olivine like that of the rim;
• 5.(5) occurs within chondrules especially in UOC meteorites.

The blue olivine is always Fe-poor (0.25 < FeO < 1.0%) and shows the following average and maximum values (%): Al₂O₃ (0.25, 0.5), TiO₂ (0.05, 0.09), CaO (0.5, 0.8), Cr₂O₃ (0.15, 0.5), and MnO (0.02, 0.15); vanadium is present. Within a single olivine and within all blue olivines Al, Ca and Ti are strongly positively correlated as are Mn, Fe, and Cr in olivine surrounding the blue. The blue cores are not zoned but each element shows a marked change at the boundary of the blue with Al showing the most rapid change. These are interpreted as diffusion profiles between rim and core olivine.Textures suggest initial free growth probably from a gas and later addition of olivine by liquid crystallization to form single crystals or chondrules. The unusual olivine composition indicates high temperature growth from a refractory-rich reservoir with Al entering olivine in tetrahedral coordination. Vapor growth is suggested as the process allowing the high minor element levels. The occurrence of blue olivine in all primitive meteorites indicates that it is relic material which was widespread prior to chondrule and hence meteorite formation. Similarities in composition exist between this relic olivine and olivine of cosmic dust and Deep Sea Particles pointing to this olivine being a common component in all primitive extraterrestrial material.     

Sedimentmikrobioiogie und ihre geologischen Aspekte

The influence of bacteria on recent sediments was first discussed in 1885, whenFischer andGazert were discussing the cycle of substances in the sea as well as in sediments. The influence of bacteria on the cycling of C, N, S, P in recent sediments and the open sea was soon accepted by marine geologists. Nevertheless, only very few experiments have, so far, shown more than qualitative and quantitative data collection in various restricted areas. This is due to the extensive and complicated chain of reactions on the surface of sediments and in the sediment itself. Biologists are asking for the amount of organic and inorganic matter which is reworked and released to the sea. Geologists usually emphasize the amount of substances which are sedimentated. For biologists the sediment is only part of their dominant ecosystem (the sea). While, for geologists the “sea” is only furnishing and influencing their first range system sediment. How much then, are bacteria involved in the slow process of conversion from a recent sediment to sedimentary rocks? Bacteria influence more or less strongly and to a more or less advanced degree of diagenesis:

1. The organic matter in sediments and the final form in which it is found.
2. The anions CO₃ ^2?, NO₃ ^?, OH-, SO₄ ^2?, PO₄ ^3? as well as their intermediate stages and the resulting minerals.
3. The cations H⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Ca²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, and a series of metals which are dissolved or precipitated by microbial activities as for example Fe, Mn, Cu, Ag, V, Co, Mo, Ni, U, Se, Zn.
4. The equilibrium of silicium. At least diatoms and radiolarians are precipitating silica, while other reactions which have been proved are not yet shown to influence marine sediments.
5. p_H-values and oxidation-reduction potentials of the sediment.
6. The composition of interstitial waters.
7. The surface activity of minerals, since bacteria are growing especially on particle surfaces.
8. The energy content and temperature of sediments.
9. The texture of fine grained sediments.
10. The fossilization of microfauna, macrofauna and trace fossils.

Sedimentology and mineralogy may also influence the bacterial activities and the composition of the microflora within sediments. Methods and problems of sediment microbiology are demonstrated by some investigations in the German Bay (North Sea) in connection with the first German Underwater Station (UWL). Ecological work proves to be difficult in various directions. The main cause of difficulties in microbiological work on sediments are the great variety of different factors influencing the environment (microbial, chemical, physical, mineralogical), the difficulty of taking representative samples, and the small amount of data which has been collected so far.     

Great earthquakes,seismicity gaps and potential for earthquake disaster along the Himalaya plate boundary

Analysis of the space-time patterns of seismicity in the Himalaya plate boundary has established the existence of three seismic gaps:

• 1.(1) The “Kashmir gap” lying west of the 1905 Kangra earthquake;
• 2.(2) the “Central gap”, situated between the 1905 Kangra and the 1934 Bihar earthquakes;
• 3.(3) the “Assam gap” between the 1897 and 1950 Assam earthquakes.

This study has shown that the above great earthquakes were preceded as well as followed by long periods (⩾ 19 years) of decreased levels of seismic activity in the epicentral regions. Remarkable decrease in the seismicity following the year 1970 has been observed in the western half of the Central gap as well as in the Assam gap. Local seismic investigation in the Assam gap confirms this feature and the seismicity suggests the existence there of an asperity.The local seismic investigations in Garhwal Himalaya have shown that the small earthquakes are confined to the upper 6–8 km of the crust and may have strike-slip motions. These earthquakes occur in a region where teleseismically recorded events were few.     

Hydrological and hydrochemical studies in the permafrost drainage basin of Oobloyah Valley,N-Ellesmere Island,NWT, Canada

During the “Heidelberg-Ellesmere-Island-Expedition” to Oobloyah Valley, N-Ellesmere Island, NWT, Canada in 1978 the summerly water balance of this high arctic catchment area with continuous permafrost was investigated. The following results will be presented:

1. Three hydrogeological areas with different physical parameters, thawing depths and drainage are distinguished and studied on slope I, II and slope III.
2. The climatic situation of summer 1978 was mainly influenced by the change of radiating and cloudy periods. Due to air temperatures (2 m above ground), which never went below 0°C, these periods regulated the thawing of the glaciers and the respective run-off.
3. Most of the winterly snow cover melted before July, thereafter soil thawing and its drainage began. In none of the sediments the latter reached field capacity.
4. Considering the course of daily discharge and soil water balance the three studied streams were characterized by the “Dry-Weather-Discharge-Line”, DWL, of Peri-Creek the “Radiation-Weather-Discharge-Line”, RWL, and the “Cloudy-Weather-Discharge-Line”, CWL, of Nukapingwa River and Heidelberg River.
5. The periglacial streams never had a measurable sediment load not even during snow melt, whereas the glacial and mixed glacial-periglacial streams as Nukapingwa River and Heidelberg River showed a sediment drift depending on their run-off. Only in Peri-Creek the ion concentrations were correlated to discharge.
6. Precipitation (snow plus rain) add up to 51% of the summerly water balance. The glaciers contributed up to 48%, and the actual evapotranspiration is only 1%.

     

Untersuchung von suspendiertem Material in den Hydrothermallaugen des Atlantis-II-Tiefs

Suspended matter was separated from the hydrothermal brines of the Atlantis-II Deep in the Red Sea. Contents of iron, manganese, copper, and zink collected on membrane filters were measured by X-ray-flourescence, and the main results were:

1. Metal concentrations in suspended form were lower by 10^?1 to 10^?5 compared to the dissolved concentrations of the brines.
2. Suspended copper and zink were enriched most pronounced in the deeper brine zone — markedly so in the SW-basin, values there ranged between 10 and 30μg/l, one Zn-value was as high as 60μ/l, the other basins contained mostly less than 1 to 10μg/l.
3. Iron, copper, and zink in the deeper brine zone and in few cases also in the 50°-brine were suspended in the form of sulfide compounds. This conclusion is based only on the slightly purple-, green-, and blue-colored gray hues of the material on the filters and its rapid oxidation upon contact with the air.
4. In the transition zone of the 50°/60°-brine iron hydroxides were highly concentrated with values ranging up to 1000μg Fe/l.
5. Suspended manganese is found only within the transition zone of brine to the normal sea water, where up to 200μg Mn/l in form of darkbrown manganese hydroxides were found.
6. Concurrently with the increased thermal activity since 1966 more strongly reducing conditions within the brines seemed apparent which were caused by discharge of higher amounts of Sulfides into the basins. Increased precipitation of heavy metal sulfides was found to be most pronounced in the SW-basin.

     

Ore mineralization related to geological evolution of the Karkonosze–Izera Massif (the Sudetes,Poland) — Towards a model

The Karkonosze–Izera Massif is a large tectonic unit located in the northern periphery of the Bohemian Massif. It includes the Variscan Karkonosze Granite (about 328–304 Ma) surrounded by the following four older units:

• -Izera–Kowary (the Early Paleozoic continental crust of the Saxothuringian Basin),
• -Ještĕd (the Middle Devonian to Lower Viséan sedimentary succession deposited on the NE passive margin of the Saxothuringian Terrane), out of the present study area,
• -Southern Karkonosze (metamorphosed sediments and volcanics filling the Saxothuringian Basin), out of the present study area,
• -Leszczyniec (Early Ordovician, obducted fragment of Saxothuringian Basin sea floor).

The authors present a genetic model of ore mineralization in the Karkonosze–Izera Massif, in which ore deposits and ore minerals occurrences are related to the successive episodes of the geological history of the Karkonosze–Izera Massif:

• -formation of the Saxothuringian Basin and its passive continental margin (about 500–490 Ma)
• -Variscan thermal events:
  • -regional metamorphism (360–340 Ma)
  • -Karkonosze Granite intrusion (328–304 Ma)
• -Late Cretaceous and Neogene-to-Recent hypergenic processes.

The oldest ore deposits and ore minerals occurrences of the Karkonosze–Izera Massif are represented by pyrite and magnetite deposits hosted in the Leszczyniec Unit as well as by magnetite deposit and, presumably, by a small part of tin mineralization hosted in the Izera–Kowary Unit. All these deposits and occurrences were subjected to the pre-Variscan regional metamorphism.Most of the Karkonosze–Izera Massif ore deposits and occurrences are related to the Karkonosze Granite intrusion. This group includes a spatially diversified assemblage of small ore deposits and ore mineral occurrences of: Fe, Cu, Sn, As, U, Co, Au, Ag, Pb, Ni, Bi, Zn, Sb, Se, S, Th, REE, Mo, W and Hg located within the granite and in granite-related pegmatites, in the close contact aureole of the granite and within the metamorphic envelope, at various distances from the granite. Assuming world standards, all these deposits are now uneconomic. Various age determinations indicated that ore formation connected with the Karkonosze Granite might have taken place mostly between about 326 and 270 Ma.The last ore-forming episode in the Karkonosze–Izera Massif is related to hypergenic processes, particularly important in the northern part of the massif, in the Izera–Kowary Unit where some uranium deposits and occurrences resulted from the infiltration of ore solutions that originated from the weathering of pre-existing accumulations of uranium minerals. A separate problem is the presence of oxidation zones of ore deposits and occurrences, both the fossil and the recent.A full list of ore minerals identified in described deposits and occurrences of the Karkonosze–Izera Massif together with relevant, key references is presented in the form of an appendix.     

Paläoklima und paläoozeanische Verhältnisse im SW-Pazifik während der letzten 6 Millionen Jahre (DSDP - Site 594, Chatham Rücken, östlich Neuseeland)

Detailed sedimentological investigations were performed on sediments from DSDP-Site 594 (Chatham Rise, east of New Zealand) in order to reconstruct the evolution of paleoclimate and paleoceanographic conditions in the Southwest Pacific during the last 6 million years. The results can be summarized as follows:

1. High accumulation rates of biogenic opal and carbonate and the dominance of smectites in the clay fraction suggest increased oceanic productivity and an equable dominantly humid climate during the late Miocene.
2. During Pliocene times, decreasing contents of smectites and increasing feldspar/quartz ratios point to an aridification in the source area of the terrigenous sediments, culmunating near 2.5 Ma. At that time, accumulation rates of terrigenous components distinctly increased probably caused by increased sediment supply due to intensified atmospheric and oceanic circulation, lowered sea level, and decreased vegetation cover.
3. A hiatus (1.45 to 0.73 Ma) suggests intensified intermediate-water circulation.
4. Major glacial/interglacial cycles characterize the upper 0.73 Ma. During glacial times, oceanic productivity and terrigenous sediment supply was distinctly increased because of intensified atmospheric and oceanic circulations and lowered sea level, whereas during interglacials productivity and terrigenous sediment supply were reduced.
5. An increased content of amphibols in the sediments of Site 594 indicates increased volcanic activities during the last 4.25 Ma.

     

An alternative view of the Bayesian probabilistic prediction of strong shocks in the Hellenic Arc

A Bayesian discrete distribution, as developed by Ferraes (1985), is applied to predict the inter-arrival times for strong shocks in the Hellenic Arc on the basis of nine samples of shocks with seismotectonic locations very different from those used by Ferraes. The results suggest an alternative view of the Bayesian probabilistic prediction of strong earthquakes in the Hellenic Arc, and can be summed up as follows:

• 1.(a) Maximum final Bayesian probabilities of various inter-arrival times in a given seismotectonic segment are very dependent on the data set used and particularly on its time length.
• 2.(b) When using this method to determine the time intervals during which large shocks are to be expected in the Western and Eastern Hellenic arcs, it is very difficult to estimate intervals of less than a decade. The determination of the occurrence time, even in the long-term sense, remains the major problem in the prediction of these shocks.
• 3.(c) Bayesian probabilities in conjunction with seismicity observations indicate that large intermediate depth earthquakes in the Hellenic Arc are long overdue. Shocks of this sort can be expected to occur in the next few years.

It is also pointed out that although Bayesian-type predictions may be useful for engineering purposes, they are not a suitable basis for making specific predictions or taking special precautions.     

Control of syntectonic erosion and sedimentation on kinematic evolution of a multidecollement fold and thrust zone: Analogue modeling of folding in the southern subandean of Bolivia

Several analogue modeling studies have been conducted during the past fifteen years with the aim to discuss the effects of sedimentation and erosion on Foreland Fold and Thrust Belt, among which a few have analyzed these processes at kilometric scale (Malavieille et al., 1993; Nalpas et al., 1999; Barrier et al., 2002; Pichot and Nalpas, 2009). The influence of syn-deformation sedimentation and erosion on the structural evolution of FFTB has been clearly demonstrated. Here, we propose to go further in this approach by the study of a more complex system with a double decollement level. The natural study case is the Bolivian sub-Andean thrust and fold belt, which present all the required criteria, such as the double decollement level. A set of analogue models performed under a CT-scan have been used to test the influence of several parameters on a fold and thrust belt system, among which: (i) the spatial variation of the sediment input, (ii) the spatial variation of the erosion rate, (iii) the relative distribution of sedimentation between foreland and hinterland. These experiments led to the following observations:

• 1. The upper decollement level acts as a decoupling level in case of increased sedimentation rate: it results in the verticalization of the shallower part (above the upper decollement level), while the deeper parts are not impacted.
• 2. Similarly, the increase of the erosion rate involves the uplift of the deeper part (below the upper decollement level), whereas the shallower parts are not impacted.
• 3. A high sedimentation rate in the foreland involves a fault and fold vergence reversal, followed by a back-thrusting of the shallower part.
• 4. A high sedimentation rate in the hinterland favours thrust development toward the foreland in the shallower parts.

     

Chemical modelling of kerogens

Models of kerogens belonging to the three classical Types have been represented at the following evolution stages:

• &#x02022;-beginning of diagenesis (sensu-stricto),
• &#x02022;-beginning of catagenesis,
• &#x02022;-end of catagenesis.

Chemical models are drawn, using analytical data obtained on natural samples: elemental analysis, electron microscopy, ¹³C NMR, thermogravimetry, functional analysis and pyrolysis.In order both to get a statistical representation and make comparisons easier, the same molecular weight of about 25,000 has been chosen for the different models of kerogens at the beginning of the diagenesis stage.     

Geochemische Untersuchungen an Sedimenten des Persischen Golfes

The data obtained can be summed up in 6 points:

1. The sediment consists of varying amounts of quartz (14–23 weight percent, mean value 18%), aragonite, dolomite, Mg-rich calcite, Mg-poor calcite, Na-rich plagioclase (7–10%, m.v. 8%), chlorite (18–32%, m.v. 22%), kaolinite (4–29%, m.v. 13%), illite and mixedlayered illite-montmorillonite (20–42%, m.v. 34%) and organic matter (0.7–2.5%, m.v. 1.1%).
2. The composition of the carbonate fraction suggests a detrital origin for the carbonates deposited along the Persian Coast.
3. The clay mineral distribution follows gradients perpendicular to the long half-axis of the Persian Gulf. This favours detrital origin. The kaolinite distribution suggests an additional detritus from Euphrates and Tigris,
4. Enrichments of trace elements with regard to mean values in clays (Turekian and Wedepohl, 1961) are estimated for Fe, Co, Mo, Ni, V, Zr and Br; impoverishments are recorded for Cu, Mn, K. The contents of Rb, Ti and Zn comply with mean values of clays. The enrichments distribute as follows: chlorite concentrates Mn and Fe, kaolinite Ti and Zr, illite and mixedlayered illite-montmorillonite Rb, V, M, Zn, Mo and Co.
5. The high Br-contents (up to 420 ppm) in the sediment give positive correlations with the concentrations of organic carbon. The X-ray analysis of isolated kerogen confirms an enrichment of Br in this fraction of the organic matter.
6. The distribution of elements in the sediment to a large extent is controlled by a) detritus of Euphrates and Tigris, b) influence of organic matter.