豫西双龙剪切带假玄武玻璃的成因及地质意义

假玄武玻璃是发育在古地震断层带中的一种断层岩,是古地震断层快速滑动的化石记录。目前关于假玄武玻璃的成因还存在争议,有摩擦熔融成因和摩擦碎裂成因2种观点。豫西双龙剪切带是位于秦岭造山带核部的一条韧性剪切带,发育了一系列动力变质岩,后期地质作用在其构造薄弱面上形成了呈简单脉状、平行剪切面发育的假玄武玻璃。假玄武玻璃的出现说明秦岭群曾经历高应变速率的构造运动,即古地震事件。通过对该区假玄武玻璃的镜下观察、粉晶X射线衍射、扫描电镜及石英的EBSD组构等研究,对其成因进行了探讨,结果显示秦岭群核部的假玄武玻璃为摩擦碎裂成因。     

龙门山造山带的早期活动及其对造山作用的启示

2008年汶川地震后,在映秀-北川同震地表破裂带南段虹口乡八角庙地区发现有假玄武玻璃出露于~240m宽的断裂带内,代表了断裂带以往地震和断裂活动的直接产物。这套假玄武玻璃的高温熔融成因得到了元素地球化学和熔融结构的证实。玻璃基质、蚀变矿物和碎屑斑晶的化学分析显示假玄武玻璃继承了碎裂岩/超碎裂岩围岩的主要化学成分,除石英外,主要由长石和云母两种端员组分选择性熔融形成,并呈现出了化学组分分布的不均一性。假玄武玻璃的锆石U-Pb和玻璃基质~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar定年结果证实映秀-北川断裂的古地震发生于229~216Ma的中-晚三叠世,并具有11~14km的震源深度,表明映秀-北川断裂的早期活动始于印支期的造山运动。伴随着印支造山运动的发生,龙门山断裂带形成了其初始构造框架,并对之后的构造演化产生了深远的影响。     

断裂岩岩石磁学研究进展

断裂岩的岩石磁学研究可以揭示地震断裂作用的物理和化学环境,对于探讨地震断裂作用机制具有重要作用。本文在断裂岩岩石磁学最新文献的基础上,结合笔者及所在研究团队在龙门山断裂带获得的研究成果,综述了断裂岩的岩石磁学研究进展。大量研究发现断层泥和假玄武玻璃通常具有磁化率值或剩磁强度异常特征。顺磁性矿物在摩擦热或流体作用下形成新的铁磁性矿物是断层泥和假玄武玻璃高磁化率值或高剩磁强度的主要原因;地震断裂摩擦熔融作用中形成的单质铁是假玄武玻璃中高磁化率值或高剩磁强度异常的另一个重要原因。蠕滑断裂和出露于浅地表的断裂带中可见一些具有低磁化率值异常的断层泥,原因可能是流体作用或断裂带未经历高温摩擦热。断裂岩的岩石磁学研究为地震断裂带的应力应变、形成温度、摩擦热效应、流体作用、形成深度和氧化还原特征等提供了重要信息,可用于分析地震断裂的孕震和发震环境。综合岩石磁学测试和微米至纳米尺度的超显微学研究,并辅助地震断裂岩的摩擦实验、高温热模拟实验等研究可以更好地获得断裂岩的岩石磁学信息。     

大别造山带东部假玄武玻璃的显微构造特征及其意义

最近,在大别造山带东部发现了广泛的地震成因假玄武玻璃,这些假玄武玻璃主要呈简单脉状沿NE-SW向走滑断裂带或剪切带发育,后者大多与郯庐断裂带平行并穿切了包括白垩纪花岗岩在内的地质体。某些假玄武玻璃内发育由暗色石英条纹构成的糜棱质条带。本文通过普通光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察分析,详细研究对比了不同断裂带内部发育的假玄武玻璃及其围岩在显微构造特征上的差异及联系。根据岩石的组构特征,证实所发现的这些假玄武玻璃主要是由母岩的超碎裂岩化形成的,但在点1发育的假玄武玻璃基质的扫描电镜影象特征上,沿某些残斑矿物(钾长石、斜长石、黄铁矿)的边缘可以看到些许代表摩擦熔融成因的熔蚀状港湾结构,说明假玄武玻璃形成过程中曾经发生了程度较低的局部熔融作用。肉眼所见到的糜棱质石英条纹在显微镜下证实为早期的糜棱面理。同时,岩石组构的叠加显示,含假玄武玻璃的断裂带及假玄武玻璃本身普遍具有多期性,且晚期构造产物(或假玄武玻璃)总是较早期产物(或假玄武玻璃)碎裂岩化作用更加强烈,说明先期存在的构造软化带在控制假玄武玻璃形成过程中起着非常重要的作用,即构造带抬升过程中伴随的多期构造及细粒化是形成假玄武玻璃的基础。岩石的变形序列总体上显示为韧性-韧脆性-脆性的演化过程,从而证实了这些假玄武玻璃总体上形成于造山带抬升过程,而不是早期的俯冲过程。     

断裂熔融作用中单质铁的形成及其指示的孕震环境

目前缺乏来自于地震断裂带的假玄武玻璃的原始特征研究,制约着我们对地震孕震环境和地震发生机制的认识。本文以龙门山断裂带汶川科钻2号钻孔岩心的碎裂岩及花岗闪长岩为研究对象,通过氩气环境下的高温加热实验(最高温度达1750℃)、显微结构观察、地球化学分析和岩石磁学测试,探讨断裂熔融作用中单质铁的形成及其指示意义。花岗闪长岩和碎裂岩在1100℃时发生部分熔融作用,形成了非晶质和微晶;在≥1300℃时形成了大量单质铁组成的微球粒,可能是含铁矿物发生了以碳物质为还原剂的高温还原反应。高温实验后样品的磁化率值高于碎裂岩的磁化率值,新生成的磁铁矿是≤1100℃的样品高磁化率值的主要原因;熔融作用中形成的单质铁和少量的磁铁矿是≥1300℃样品高磁化率值的重要原因。结合前人对于快速摩擦实验熔体、地幔物质及陨石的研究,我们认为粘土矿物、硅酸盐矿物含量较多的断层泥在同震滑移中因热增压机制很难形成单质铁;而花岗岩、安山岩、辉长岩、闪长岩等岩浆岩和糜棱岩在流体作用弱和硫化物含量低的环境中易在大地震中形成单质铁。龙门山断裂带的假玄武玻璃的熔融温度≥1300℃,硫元素含量较低并发现有过剩铁元素。因此,表明龙门山断裂带的假玄武玻璃中可能形成了单质铁,其和磁铁矿是假玄武玻璃高磁化率值异常的重要原因,并指示了深部流体作用弱、硫化物含量低、还原性的孕震环境。     

汶川地震假玄武玻璃的特征、成因及其构造意义

富流体的断层泥是浅部地震断层带中的特征岩石。一般认为，地震过程中摩擦热会导致粒间孔隙流体热膨胀增压，形成同震断层弱化(热增压机制),从而抑制摩擦熔融的发生。然而我们研究发现，在2008年汶川大地震(M_W 7.9)中断层浅部发生了摩擦熔融。汶川地震发生一年后，我们在汶川地震断裂带科学钻探项目一号钻孔(WFSD-1)732.6m深处的断层泥中发现了厚度约2mm的假玄武玻璃(凝固的摩擦熔融物)。该假玄武玻璃形成的位置极浅，且产生于非固结的、富流体的断层泥中。从岩心来看，断层面可见镜面构造和同震擦痕。微构造分析显示，该假玄武玻璃主要由石英碎屑和由长石与黏土矿物熔融的非晶质基质组成，基质中发育众多不规则的微裂隙，并可见流动构造。化学成分分析显示，其基质富Ba且被重晶石(BaSO₄)小细脉切割，为同震及震后流体存在的证据。由于假玄武玻璃在流体存在的条件下会快速蚀变，且龙门山地区大地震复发周期为3000～6000年，因而这些完全未被蚀变的新鲜假玄武玻璃可能是最近一次大地震，即2008年汶川大地震的产物。针对钻孔中断层泥进行的高速摩擦试验，证实了在钻孔732...     

假玄武玻璃年代学研究现状及其地震学指示意义

假玄武玻璃是一种呈暗色的微晶—隐晶质岩石,一般产于古地震断层滑动面,被认为是研究地震活动的＂化石岩＂。经过碎裂岩化或摩擦熔融,假玄武玻璃发育于从地表到岩石圈地幔的整个地震活动区,其年代学研究对于揭示某一地区古地震活动频次及发生规律有重要意义。假玄武玻璃的定年一般采用Rb-Sr、^40Ar-^39Ar、裂变径迹等三种方法,但Sr的扩散性质、假玄武玻璃内部结构和成分的不均一性及其形成高温快速过程中锆石的退火行为等诸多因素,制约了以上三种方法的应用。文中总结了三种方法,分析了其适用范围和局限性,探讨了假玄武玻璃定年研究中最适用的方法和需注意的事项。最后,阐述了假玄武玻璃研究的地震学指示意义。     

断层带中假玄武玻璃成因机制及非稳态流变意义

假玄武玻璃呈玻璃质或隐晶质特性,常常与断层带相伴出现,其形成能有效地降低断层摩擦强度,被认为是古地震快速滑动的化石纪录。因此,对假玄武玻璃的研究对深入了解深部就位的断层变形和地震成因机制等具有重要意义。尽管国内外学者对假玄武玻璃开展了长期的研究,也积累了丰富的资料,然而,由于天然假玄武玻璃非常少见或零星地被报道,再加上其形成环境和过程的复杂性,对假玄武玻璃的构造特征、形成环境和成因机制仍然存在诸多争议及亟待解决的关键科学问题。研究表明,假玄武玻璃可以发育在大陆岩石圈不同深度范围内,即中下地壳乃至上地幔以糜棱岩为主的韧性变形领域（>60 km）,或中上地壳层次以碎裂岩为主的脆性变形域（<12 km）。越来越多证据也显示出在断层带的脆—韧性转换域中形成的假玄武玻璃跟浅源地震活动直接关联,也意味着中上地壳脆性变形和中下地壳塑性变形之间存在着更为复杂的耦合关联,同时对不同深部岩石强度和力学行为提出了挑战。对假玄武玻璃形成机制存在由断层面上的摩擦热导致的摩擦熔融体或仅仅是断层面岩石超碎裂粉碎作用认识的争议。而有研究认为干的环境有利于假玄武玻璃形成,因为流体的存在会降低断层面的有效正应力,不利于热量的积累以及摩擦熔融的进行;然而,另外一种观点认为流体的存在可以降低矿物熔融温度有利于断层摩擦熔融及形成假玄武玻璃。本文从假玄武玻璃的形成机制、形成深度、流体影响、形成后对断层强度的影响、以及保存与破坏机制几方面进行了最新总结,并对假玄武玻璃中非晶态物质的成因、脆—韧性转换带之下岩石的变形机制以及对陆壳强度的影响和非稳态流变意义进行探讨。     

断层带中假玄武玻璃成因机制及非稳态流变意义

假玄武玻璃呈玻璃质或隐晶质特性,常常与断层带相伴出现,其形成能有效地降低断层摩擦强度,被认为是古地震快速滑动的化石纪录。因此,对假玄武玻璃的研究对深入了解深部就位的断层变形和地震成因机制等具有重要意义。尽管国内外学者对假玄武玻璃开展了长期的研究,也积累了丰富的资料,然而,由于天然假玄武玻璃非常少见或零星地被报道,再加上其形成环境和过程的复杂性,对假玄武玻璃的构造特征、形成环境和成因机制仍然存在诸多争议及亟待解决的关键科学问题。研究表明,假玄武玻璃可以发育在大陆岩石圈不同深度范围内,即中下地壳乃至上地幔以糜棱岩为主的韧性变形领域（>60 km）,或中上地壳层次以碎裂岩为主的脆性变形域（<12 km）。越来越多证据也显示出在断层带的脆—韧性转换域中形成的假玄武玻璃跟浅源地震活动直接关联,也意味着中上地壳脆性变形和中下地壳塑性变形之间存在着更为复杂的耦合关联,同时对不同深部岩石强度和力学行为提出了挑战。对假玄武玻璃形成机制存在由断层面上的摩擦热导致的摩擦熔融体或仅仅是断层面岩石超碎裂粉碎作用认识的争议。而有研究认为干的环境有利于假玄武玻璃形成,因为流体的存在会降低断层面的有效正应力,不利于热量的积累以及摩擦熔融的进行;然而,另外一种观点认为流体的存在可以降低矿物熔融温度有利于断层摩擦熔融及形成假玄武玻璃。本文从假玄武玻璃的形成机制、形成深度、流体影响、形成后对断层强度的影响、以及保存与破坏机制几方面进行了最新总结,并对假玄武玻璃中非晶态物质的成因、脆—韧性转换带之下岩石的变形机制以及对陆壳强度的影响和非稳态流变意义进行探讨。     

阿勒泰青河地区发现假玄武玻璃

假玄武玻璃（pseudotachylite）是由或地震断层的快速滑移而形成的一种暗色脉状、网脉状隐晶质断层岩。地震成因的假玄武玻璃可以沿走滑地震带的整个深度范围内发育,假玄武玻璃不仅可以作为判断断裂带存在或活动的标志,还可以作为断裂带或造山带冷却或抬升历史的标志,也是目前地学研究热点之一。     

Multiple generations of pseudotachylyte in the Wenchuan fault zone and their implications for coseismic weakening

Pseudotachylytes are generally considered to be remnent products of past earthquakes, conveying significant information, which provide improved insight into the fault behavior and their mechanical properties. Pseudotachylytes and cataclastic rocks are exposed in the Pengguan complex along the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault zone, which ruptured during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau in Sichuan province, China. From outcrop investigations, pseudotachylyte veins are gray, dark-gray, brown and black, with thicknesses ranging from several mm to ∼10 cm. Microstructural observations, via optical microscope and SEM, show that distinct textures, such as spherulites, microlites, honeycomb-like vesicle structures, flow textures, irregularly shaped and deep embayed clasts, are present in the pseudotachylytes, suggesting that the pseudotachylytes are indeed melt-origin. Different colored veins and their overprinting relations observed at both macroscopic and microscopic scales, demonstrate that seismic faulting events and the associated generations of pseudotachylyte occurred repeatedly along the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault zone. Friction melt lubrication, thermal pressurization and mechanical lubrication, all can exist during one fault slip motion, indicating that multiple fault weakening mechanisms may work during a single coseismic event.     

Disappearing ink: How pseudotachylytes are lost from the rock record

Melt-origin pseudotachylytes are the most widely accepted feature recording earthquake slip in the fault rock record. However, reports of pseudotachylytes are rare compared to the frequency and distribution of earthquakes in active faults, suggesting melting occurs only under exceptional circumstances and therefore that pseudotachylytes are rarely formed. In this paper, we document the processes whereby pseudotachylytes are overprinted, destroyed and otherwise removed from the rock record. We present examples of recrystallized, altered, and cataclastically and crystal plastically deformed pseudotachylytes from a variety of ancient faults. Based on these observations, we identify characteristics of pseudotachylytes that are resistant to change over geologic time and develop criteria to allow recognition of relict pseudotachylytes. Our results imply that pseudotachylytes are vastly under-reported due to their vulnerability to destruction and the resulting difficulty in identification. As a consequence, the significance of frictional melting is underestimated. The criteria we propose to distinguish relict pseudotachylytes can help to reconcile the observed frequency of earthquakes with the difficulty of demonstrating ancient seismic slip in the rock record.     

Structure of a normal seismogenic fault zone in carbonates: The Vado di Corno Fault,Campo Imperatore,Central Apennines (Italy)

The Vado di Corno Fault Zone (VCFZ) is an active extensional fault cutting through carbonates in the Italian Central Apennines. The fault zone was exhumed from ∼2 km depth and accommodated a normal throw of ∼2 km since Early-Pleistocene. In the studied area, the master fault of the VCFZ dips N210/54° and juxtaposes Quaternary colluvial deposits in the hangingwall with cataclastic dolostones in the footwall. Detailed mapping of the fault zone rocks within the ∼300 m thick footwall-block evidenced the presence of five main structural units (Low Strain Damage Zone, High Strain Damage Zone, Breccia Unit, Cataclastic Unit 1 and Cataclastic Unit 2). The Breccia Unit results from the Pleistocene extensional reactivation of a pre-existing Pliocene thrust. The Cataclastic Unit 1 forms a ∼40 m thick band lining the master fault and recording in-situ shattering due to the propagation of multiple seismic ruptures. Seismic faulting is suggested also by the occurrence of mirror-like slip surfaces, highly localized sheared calcite-bearing veins and fluidized cataclasites. The VCFZ architecture compares well with seismological studies of the L'Aquila 2009 seismic sequence (mainshock M_W 6.1), which imaged the reactivation of shallow-seated low-angle normal faults (Breccia Unit) cut by major high-angle normal faults (Cataclastic Units).     

2014年5月云南盈江M_S5.6、M_S6.1地震发震构造分析

2014年5月云南省盈江县先后发生MS5.6、MS6.1地震,为确定它们的发震构造及其所反映的区域活动构造格局,笔者围绕该区开展了地震烈度调查、活动构造遥感解译、地质构造及构造地貌野外调查、震源机制解及余震分布资料分析等工作。调查与分析表明,两次地震的宏观震中均位于盈江县勐弄乡麻栗坡村附近,但发震断层明显不同。前者为NE走向左旋走滑的昔马—盘龙山断裂,后者为近SN向右旋走滑的苏典断裂。历史地震资料显示,盈江地区的地震活动多以5~6级的中-强震为主,并具有明显的群发性和沿SN向断层迁移的特征。在实皆断裂及滇西内弧带的共同作用下,腾冲地块内以大盈江断裂为界,北部主要发育近SN向右旋走滑断裂,南部则以NE向左旋走滑断裂为主,其中近SN向断层晚第四纪活动性更强。     

Pseudotachylyte petrogenesis: constraints from the Sudbury impact structure

 Pseudotachylytes and their host rocks from the North Range of the 1.85 Ga Sudbury impact structure have been investigated using analytical scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and XRF spectrometry. The results show that the pseudotachylytes were produced in high-speed slip zones by the frictional comminution and selective melting of wall rock lithologies. The preferential assimilation of hydrous ferromagnesian phases during frictional melting produced relatively basic melts, leaving the more mechanically resistant quartz and, to a lesser extent, plagioclase as included mineral clasts. Three distinct assemblages are identified within the pseudotachylytes: (a) pre-impact (>1.85 Ga) rock and mineral clasts derived from host lithologies; (b) a syn- to immediately post-impact (1.85 Ga), rapidly cooled, quartz + sanidine + labradorite + phlogopitic biotite matrix assemblage, formed due to crystallization from a melt at 800–900°C and (c) a post-impact (<1.85 Ga) retrograde assemblage which overprints both clasts and matrices. Field evidence indicates that most pseudotachylyte formed in large-displacement fault systems during gravitational collapse of the impact-generated transient cavity. The Sudbury pseudotachylytes, like endogenic pseudotachylytes, were generated by frictional melting on fault surfaces. The difference is primarily one of scale. Large (km) displacements occurring on impact-induced ring faults can generate immense volumes of friction melt resulting in spectacular pseudotachylyte bodies up to 0.5 km thick and more than 10 km long. Received: 15 March 1996 / Accepted: 15 June 1996     

Repeated seismic slips recorded in ultracataclastic veins along active faults of the Arima–Takatsuki Tectonic Line,southwest Japan

Field investigations, combined with meso- and microstructural analyses, reveal that numerous ultracataclastic veins are widely developed within a fault zone (<150 m wide) as simple veins, complex lenses, and networks, along active faults of the Arima–Takatsuki Tectonic Line, southwest Japan. These veins comprise mainly pseudotachylyte-like vein and weakly consolidated to unconsolidated fault gouge that is black, dark-brown, brown, gray, and brownish-red in color. Meso- and microstructural features show that these pseudotachylyte-like and fault gouge veins and networks formed during multiple stages, as earlier veins are generally cut and overprinted by younger veins, indicating that the vein-forming events occurred repeatedly and that ultracataclastic material was injected into networks of faults and fractures in the fault zone. The pseudotachylyte-like and fault gouge veins are characterized by an ultrafine- to fine-grained matrix and angular to subangular fragments of host granitic rocks of various sizes, ranging from submicron to millimeters. SEM–EDS (Scanning Electronic Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray) and powder X-ray diffraction analyses show that all the ultracataclastic veins are characterized by crystalline materials composed mainly of quartz and feldspar, similar to the host granitic rocks.The present results support the existing hypothesis that ultrafine- to fine-grained materials formed by comminution can be fluidized and injected rapidly into fracture networks located far from the source fault plane in a solid–fluid–gas system during seismic slip; therefore, such materials provide a record of paleoseismic faulting events that occurred repeatedly within the seismogenic fault zone.     

沂沭断裂带及其近区的地震成因岩石新认识

将沂沭断裂带及其附近地区的地震成因岩石划分为四种类型,它们是具有地震成因构造的震积岩、震断层构造岩、震火山岩及隐爆地震角砾岩.前两类是构造地震的记录,而后两类是火山地震及隐爆火山地震的记录.由于震断层构造岩沿长期活动性断层分布,大多遭受了若干期强地震活动的改造,所以不易确定其最初的形成时期.因此,笔者重点对分布于沂沭断裂地震带及附近的其它三类地震成因岩石(包括震积岩、震火山岩和隐爆地震角砾岩)作了研究,论述了三类地震成因岩石的特征、时空分布、反映的地震作用机理及意义.认为:地震成因岩石不仅是强地震事件和激烈构造活动的记录;而且,因为由强地震形成的不同等级断层和裂隙构成了一个高渗透性的能够沟通不同深度石油和成矿流体的网络,所以深入研究地震成因岩石有助于完善大断裂地震带及近区的石油聚集与成矿理论.     

Fluid behaviors from the seismogenic region of Longmenshan fault zone,eastern Tibetan PlateauSCIEI北大核心CSCD

震间期、同震期和震后期流体对断裂带物质的强度和运动性质起到重要作用。前人已识别出断裂带浅部区域流体对断层的弱化以及矿物沉淀导致的断层愈合,然而对于断裂带深部流体的研究鲜有报道。为深入了解孕震区流体行为以及地震成核过程中流体对断层的影响,本文以龙门山断裂带的映秀-北川断裂南段虹口乡八角庙村附近碎裂岩滑动带中石英和方解石脉为研究对象,通过对断裂带脉体的显微构造、碳氧同位素和主量元素含量等分析,开展地震相关脉体的特征结构、流体来源和矿物沉淀环境的研究。结果表明,碎裂岩主滑移带由颜色结构不同的三层断层泥和细小的方解石条带组成,在主滑动带边部和上盘碎裂岩中则分别发育了指示震间期、同震期和震后期三个阶段断层活动的脉体:(1)沿阶步生长的纤维状方解石脉和拉伸型柱状颗粒方解石脉;(2)断层泥楔入脉;(3)近等粒状方解石脉以及具有横向竞争生长结构的非等粒状方解石脉和石英脉。它们分别代表了震间期封闭的还原环境下的微滑动、同震外源高压流体注入以及震后开放的氧化环境至还原环境下的矿物沉淀。碳氧同位素结果表明主滑动带和碎裂岩方解石脉δ^(18)O V-PDB值为-20.5‰~-20.3‰,低于围岩碳酸钙胶结物,表明方解石脉具有大气水来源特征。方解石沉淀温度结合地温梯度表明方解石脉的形成深度大于4km,与碎裂岩形成深度及龙门山断裂带震源深度一致。该地区方解石脉和石英脉的研究深化了关于龙门山断裂带孕震区流体行为的理解,并且对进一步认识震间期、同震期和震后期断层的强度变化机制具有重要意义。     

Supracrustal faults of the St. Lawrence rift system, Québec: kinematics and geometry as revealed by field mapping and marine seismic reflection data

The St. Lawrence rift system from the Laurentian craton core to the offshore St. Lawrence River system is a seismically active zone in which fault reactivation is believed to occur along late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic normal faults related to the opening of the Iapetus ocean. The rift-related faults fringe the contact between the Grenvillian basement to the NW and Cambrian–Ordovician rocks of the St. Lawrence Lowlands to the SE and occur also within the Grenvillian basement. The St. Lawrence rift system trends NE–SW and represents a SE-dipping half-graben that links the NW–SE-trending Ottawa–Bonnechère and Saguenay River grabens, both interpreted as Iapetan failed arms. Coastal sections of the St. Lawrence River that expose fault rocks related to the St. Lawrence rift system have been studied between Québec city and the Saguenay River. Brittle faults marking the St. Lawrence rift system consist of NE- and NW-trending structures that show mutual crosscutting relationships. Fault rocks consist of fault breccias, cataclasites and pseudotachylytes. Field relationships suggest that the various types of fault rocks are associated with the same tectonic event. High-resolution marine seismic reflection data acquired in the St. Lawrence River estuary, between Rimouski, the Saguenay River and Forestville, identify submarine topographic relief attributed to the St. Lawrence rift system. Northeast-trending seismic reflection profiles show a basement geometry that agrees with onshore structural features. Northwest-trending seismic profiles suggest that normal faults fringing the St. Lawrence River are associated with a major topographic depression in the estuary, the Laurentian Channel trough, with up to 700 m of basement relief. A two-way travel-time to bedrock map, based on seismic data from the St. Lawrence estuary, and comparison with the onshore rift segment suggest that the Laurentian Channel trough varies from a half-graben to a graben structure from SW to NE. It is speculated that natural gas occurrences within both the onshore and offshore sequences of unconsolidated Quaternary deposits are possibly related to degassing processes of basement rocks, and that hydrocarbons were drained upward by the rift faults.     

A Mössbauer study of pseudotachylytes: redox conditions during seismogenic faulting

The redox conditions during frictional melting provide information on the physical and chemical conditions during seismic slip in the crust. Here we examine frictional melts from five localities by analyzing host rocks and corresponding pseudotachylytes using Mössbauer spectroscopy. The faults examined are located at South Mountain, Arizona; Fort Foster, Maine (two localities); Long Ridge fault, North Carolina; and the Homestake shear zone, Colorado. The main iron-bearing phases in the pseudotachylytes are phyllosilicates (biotite, muscovite and clays) and iron oxides (magnetite and hematite) and minor pyrite. The ferrous/ferric ratios of the phyllosilicates in the host rocks are the same as those in the pseudotachylytes, except for the hematite-bearing pseudotachylyte from the Long Ridge fault, which is more oxidized. The magnetites in the host rocks and the corresponding pseudotachylytes have different ferric and ferrous iron distributions, which is attributed to different cation chemistry, rather than redox conditions. With the exception of the South Mountain locality, the ferric/ferrous ratios of the micas are interpreted to record the primary redox state of the pseudotachylyte melt as the calculated oxygen fugacities are consistent with magnetite and hematite equilibria. Pyrite-bearing pseudotachylytes plot ~0–1 log₁₀ units above the fayalite-magnetite-quartz (FMQ) buffer. Magnetite-bearing pseudotachylytes plot ~2–4 log₁₀ units above the FMQ buffer, and hematite-bearing pseudotachylytes plot 3.5 log₁₀ units above the hematite-magnetite (HM) buffer. Hematite-bearing pseudotachylytes, together with previous oxygen isotope data, are inferred to represent melting in the presence of externally derived pressurized water. Other localities are inferred to represent melting under rock-buffered, closed system, conditions. If the localities studied are representative of seismogenic faulting, the calculated oxygen fugacities indicate that, in the system C–O–H–S, H₂O and CO₂ should be the dominant fluid species. This is the first detailed study of the redox state of pseudotachylytes.