Evolution of the lithosphere in the area of the Rhine Rift System

The Rhine Rift System (RRS) forms part of the European Cenozoic Rift System (ECRIS) and transects the Variscan Orogen, Permo-Carboniferous troughs and Late Permian to Mesozoic thermal sag basins. Crustal and lithospheric thicknesses range in the RRS area between 24–36 km and 50–120 km, respectively. We discuss processes controlling the transformation of the orogenically destabilised Variscan lithosphere into an end-Mesozoic stabilised cratonic lithosphere, as well as its renewed destabilisation during the Cenozoic development of ECRIS. By end-Westphalian times, the major sutures of the Variscan Orogen were associated with 45–60 km deep crustal roots. During the Stephanian-Early Permian, regional exhumation of the Variscides was controlled by their wrench deformation, detachment of subducted lithospheric slabs, asthenospheric upwelling and thermal thinning of the mantle-lithosphere. By late Early Permian times, when asthenospheric temperatures returned to ambient levels, lithospheric thicknesses ranged between 40 km and 80 km, whilst the thickness of the crust was reduced to 28–35 km in response to its regional erosional and local tectonic unroofing and the interaction of mantle-derived melts with its basal parts. Re-equilibration of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system governed the subsidence of Late Permian-Mesozoic thermal sag basins that covered much of the RRS area. By end-Cretaceous times, lithospheric thicknesses had increased to 100–120 km. Paleocene mantle plumes caused renewed thermal weakening of the lithosphere. Starting in the late Eocene, ECRIS evolved in the Pyrenean and Alpine foreland by passive rifting under a collision-related north-directed compressional stress field. Following end-Oligocene consolidation of the Pyrenees, west- and northwest-directed stresses originating in the Alps controlled further development of ECRIS. The RRS remained active until the Present, whilst the southern branch of ECRIS aborted in the early Miocene. Extensional strain across ECRIS amounts to some 7 km. Plume-related thermal thinning of the lithosphere underlies uplift of the Rhenish Massif and Massif Central. Lithospheric folding controlled uplift of the Vosges-Black Forest Arch.     

The southeastern border of the Upper Rhine Graben: a 3D geological model and its importance for tectonics and groundwater flow

A 3D geological model of the area east of Basel on the southeastern border of the Upper Rhine Graben, consisting of 47 faults and six stratigraphic horizons relevant for groundwater flow, was developed using borehole data, geological maps, geological cross sections, and outcrop data. This model provides new insight into the discussions about the kinematics of the area between the southeastern border of the Upper Rhine Graben and the Tabular Jura east of Basel. A 3D analysis showed that both thin-skinned and thick-skinned tectonic elements occur in the modeled area and that the Anticline and a series of narrow graben structures developed simultaneously during an extensional stress-field varying from E–W to SSE–NNW, which lasted from the Middle Eocene to Late Oligocene. In a new approach the faults and horizons of the 3D geological model were transferred into discrete elements with distributed hydrogeological properties in order to simulate the 3D groundwater flow regime within the modeled aquifers. A three-layer approach with a horizontal regularly spaced grid combined with an irregular property distribution of transmissivity in depth permitted the piezometric head of the steady-state model to be automatically calibrated to corresponding measurements using more than 200 piezometers. Groundwater modeling results demonstrated that large-scale industrial pumping affected the groundwater flow field in the Upper Muschelkalk aquifer at distances of up to 2 km to the south. The results of this research will act as the basis for further model developments, including salt dissolution and solute transport in the area, and may ultimately help to provide predictions for widespread land subsidence risks.     

Evolution and structure of the Upper Rhine Graben: insights from three-dimensional thermomechanical modelling

The evolution and geometry of the Tertiary Upper Rhine Graben were controlled by a continually changing stress field and the reactivation of pre-existing crustal discontinuities. A period of WNW-ESE extension in the late Eocene and Oligocene was followed by lateral translation from the early Miocene onwards. This study utilizes 3D finite element techniques to simulate extension and lateral translation on a lithospheric scale. Brittle and creep behaviour of lithospheric rocks are represented by elastoplasticity and thermally activated power-law viscoplasticity, respectively. Contact elements allocated with cohesion and frictional coefficients are used to describe pre-existing zones of weakness in the elastic-brittle field. Our results suggest that (1) extension is accommodated along listric border faults to midcrustal depth of 15–16 km. Beneath, pure shear stretching occurs without a need for localized shear zones in lower crust and upper mantle. (2) Ductile flow at midcrustal depth across the graben accounts for the pronounced halfgraben morphology. Thereby, the shape of the border faults, their frictional coefficients, and sedimentary loads have profound effects on the rate of ductile flow across the graben. (3) Horizontal extension of 8–8.5 km and sinistral displacement across the rift of 3–4 km are needed to accommodate the observed sediment thickness.     

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.     

Interplay between tectonic, fluvial and erosional processes along the Western Border Fault of the northern Upper Rhine Graben, Germany

The northern Upper Rhine Graben, situated in the central part of the European Cenozoic rift system, is currently characterized by low intra-plate seismicity. Historical earthquakes have not been large enough to produce surface rupturing. Moreover, the records of Quaternary surface processes and human modifications are presumably better preserved than the record of the relatively slow tectonic deformation.In order to gain information on the neotectonic activity and paleoseismicity in this setting, the geological and geomorphological records of fault movements along a segment of the Western Border Fault (WBF) were studied using an integration of techniques in paleoseismology, structural analysis and shallow geophysics. The WBF segment investigated follows a 20 km long linear scarp of unclear origin. A series of geophysical measurements were performed and the results suggested that near-surface deformation structures are present at the segments' southern end. Several trenches opened at this location revealed fault structures with consistent extensional style and a maximum vertical displacement of 0.5 m. In one trench, the deformation structures were dated between 19 and 8 ka. Assuming the deformation has been caused by an earthquake, a M_w 6.5 earthquake would be implied. Aseismic deformation would point to a fault creep rate ≥ 0.04 mm/yr.A reconstruction of the sequence of events at the trench site, from Middle Pleistocene to Present, demonstrates that the morphology at the base of the scarp is the result of interplay between tectonic activity and fluvial and erosional processes. At the regional scale, a mixed origin for the WBF scarp is proposed, combining the effects of fluvial dynamics, erosion, regional uplift and localized tectonic activity on the WBF.     

The lower marine to lower freshwater Molasse transition in the northern Alpine foreland basin (Oligocene; central Switzerland–south Germany): age and geodynamic implications

The Wilhelmine Alpe section near Immenstadt (Allgäu, south Germany), which represents one of the best continuously exposed outcrops within the northern Alpine foreland basin, has been analyzed for magnetostratigraphic and palynostratigraphic signals. The section comprises the marine-to-terrestrial transition from Lower Marine (UMM) to Lower Freshwater Molasse (USM) sediments. Based on the correlation of the local magnetic pattern with the geomagnetic polarity timescale (GPTS) and palynostratigraphic data, an age of about 31 Ma is suggested for the UMM–USM transition in the Wilhelmine Alpe section. A comparison with coeval magnetostratigraphic sections from central and eastern Switzerland indicates that the regression of the UMM sea along the southern margin of the Molasse basin occurred strongly heterochronously between 31.5 and 30 Ma. The heterochroneity is attributed to the deposition of fan-delta and alluvial fan sediments which document that the overall marine conditions during the UMM were accompanied by strong clastic input derived from the rising Alps. This clastic contribution had a much stronger influence on the depositional pattern than previously thought.     

Polyphase Alpine deformation at the northern edge of the Menderes–Taurus block, North Konya, Central Turkey

Low-grade metamorphic rocks of Paleozoic–Mesozoic age to the north of Konya, consist of two different groups. The Silurian–Lower Permian Sizma Group is composed of reefal complex metacarbonates at the base, and flyschoid metaclastics at the top. Metaigneous rocks of various compositions occur as dykes, sills, and lava flows within this group. The ?Upper Permian–Mesozoic age Ardicli Group unconformably overlies the Sizma Group and is composed of, from bottom to top, coarse metaclastics, a metaclastic–metacarbonate alternation, a thick sequence of metacarbonate, and alternating units of metachert, metacarbonates and metaclastics. Although pre-Alpine overthrusts can be recognized in the Sizma Group, intense Alpine deformation has overprinted and obliterated earlier structures. Both the Sizma and Ardicli Groups were deformed, and metamorphosed during the Alpine orogeny. Within the study area evidence for four phases of deformation and folding is found. The first phase of deformation resulted in the major Ertugrul Syncline, overturned tight to isoclinal and minor folding, and penetrative axial planar cleavage developed during the Alpine crustal shortening at the peak of metamorphism. Depending on rock type, syntectonic crystallization, rotation, and flattening of grains and pressure solution were the main deformation mechanisms. During the F₂-phase, continued crustal shortening produced coaxial Type-3 refolded folds, which can generally be observed in outcrop with associated crenulation cleavage (S₂). Refolding of earlier folds by the noncoaxial F₃-folding event generated Type-2 interference patterns and the major Meydan Synform which is the largest map-scale structure within the study area. Phase 3 structures also include crenulation cleavage (S₃) and conjugate kink folds. Further shortening during phase 4 deformation also resulted in crenulation cleavage and conjugate kink folds. According to thin section observations, phases 2–4 crenulation cleavages are mainly the result of microfolding with pressure solution and mineral growth.     

中国及邻近陆海地区软流圈三维结构及其与岩石圈的相互作用

通过中国及邻近陆海地区天然地震面波层析成像三维Vs速度结构的系统地质构造解析,笔者论述了中国及邻近陆海地区软流圈三维结构特征,发现该区软流圈内既有高速块体,又有低速异常体,显示软流圈内存在纵向与横向上的不均匀性,研究软流圈内低速异常体三维几何结构表明,南海低速异常体呈复蘑菇状,结合地幔体波层析成像研究显示,南海地区存在巨型复蘑菇状地幔低速柱头。笔者还探讨了软流圈对岩石圈结构的影响及其相互作用问题。     

The Glueckstadt Graben of the North-German Basin: new insights into the structure from 3D and 2D gravity analyses

The structure of the Glueckstadt Graben has been investigated by use of 3D gravity backstripping technique and by 2D gravity and magnetic modelling. Subtracting the gravity effects of the Meso-Cenozoic sediments together with Permian salt reveals a positive residual anomaly within the Glueckstadt Graben. This anomaly includes two local maxima over the Westholstein and Eastholstein Troughs. The 2D gravity models point to the presence of a high-density body within the lower crust of the Glueckstadt Graben. In addition, the results of 2D magnetic modelling indicate that the central part of the high-density body is overlain by an area with high susceptibility. Most probable, the formation of this high-density body is a result of complex poly-phase tectonic history of the study area. Finally, the results of gravity modelling indicate that Permian salt is not homogeneous. 3D gravity analysis and, especially, 2D gravity modelling have distinguished the differences in degree of salt saturation in salt-rich bodies, and elucidate the proportion of Rotliegend salt.     

恒载作用下轴对称圆巷围岩的流变变形方程求解

建立围岩-支护相互作用流变变形机制的数学力学模型是解决岩石地下工程支护问题的有效途径,其关键问题是,在围岩产生流变变形的过程中支护是如何对围岩进行作用的。根据基于Levy-Mises本构关系及D-P屈服准则的轴对称圆巷的理想弹塑性解、一维蠕变曲线的等时曲线相似的假设以及三维流变试验结果,推导出了原岩应力和被动支护反力均为恒载,且巷道围岩为三维应力状态下的蠕变方程及轴对称圆巷围岩的非线性黏弹塑性流变变形计算公式。与前人的工作相比,文中推导的公式中含有对围岩流变变形起决定作用的2个参数,即原岩应力 和岩石材料的单轴塑性屈服应力 ,因此公式推导的理论基础更加完备、可信度更高。     

黄土边坡二维和三维变形破坏模型的对比分析

边坡变形特征在稳定性预测中尤为重要,已有文献往往只局限于二维或三维分析,没有对两者加以比较,导致模型选择与分析的问题不一致,浪费了时间和金钱。针对这个问题,课题组以某黄土边坡加固为例,运用ADINA软件建立二维和三维模型进行模拟,并与现场实际对照。结果表明：两种模型对边坡变形趋势的分析结果一致;三维模型变形预测值大于二维模型的30％～100％,分别得出定性和定量的结果,三维模型更符合实际变形;两种模型预测出的最薄弱部位和现场实际一致,具有实用性。这些结论为黄土边坡的变形预测和加固分析模型的选择提供了参考依据。     

中国大陆及邻区岩石圈地壳三维结构与动力学型式

通过中国大陆及邻区地震测深剖面的系统构造解析,建立起中国大陆岩石圈地壳厚度与速度结构模型。本文根据地壳厚度与速度结构模型、地壳变形结构样式、地壳地质结构与构造演化、地壳运动学与动力学等四方面标志,将中国大陆岩石圈地壳划分为3类6种地壳结构-动力学型式:克拉通型褶推式结构-挤压动力学型式、克拉通型地垒结构-拉伸动力学型式、增厚型高原扇形结构-碰撞楔入动力学型式、增厚型造山带楔状结构-俯冲楔入动力学型式、减薄型盆岭结构-块体伸展动力学型式和减薄型铲状结构-整体伸展动力学型式。笔者探讨了克拉通型地壳、增厚型地壳和减薄型地壳的基本特征、相互关系及其地质意义。     

用FLAC-3D分析呷爬滑坡的变形特征

简单地介绍了边坡岩体变形研究的现状和FLAC-3D软件,利用FLAC-3D软件对天然状态下和蓄水条件下呷爬滑坡的变形进行数值模拟研究。根据模拟所得的计算结果,从滑坡主剖面上特征点的位移值和位移矢量图分析,得出滑坡体在天然状态下和不同蓄水高程下的变形特征,确定滑坡变形特征与滑坡稳定性之间的联系。从而为呷爬滑坡的稳定性评价提供必要的理论依据。     

东非大裂谷的地壳和上地幔密度结构

利用卫星重力场数据和小波多尺度分析方法对东非大裂谷进行三维密度结构成像,取得了东非大裂谷地壳和上地幔多个深度等效层上的密度扰动图像,为东非大裂谷岩石圈结构和动力学的研究提供了重要佐证。结果表明,东非大裂谷中段的西支裂谷与东支裂谷的幔源熔体同源,但是西支裂谷发育较不充分、形成较晚。东非大裂谷的动力学模式为熔流体上涌的树形分叉模式,其要点包括：① 低密度流体在软流圈大面积上涌;② 流体在岩石圈继续上涌,部分转化为基性岩浆岩,平面面积缩小;③ 进入地壳后上涌熔流体分叉成多支,平面总面积进一步缩小; ④ 熔流体上涌到上地壳后仅在裂谷带活动,反映为火山链和玄武岩带。     

东非大裂谷的地壳和上地幔密度结构

利用卫星重力场数据和小波多尺度分析方法对东非大裂谷进行三维密度结构成像,取得了东非大裂谷地壳和上地幔多个深度等效层上的密度扰动图像,为东非大裂谷岩石圈结构和动力学的研究提供了重要佐证。结果表明,东非大裂谷中段的西支裂谷与东支裂谷的幔源熔体同源,但是西支裂谷发育较不充分、形成较晚。东非大裂谷的动力学模式为熔流体上涌的树形分叉模式,其要点包括：① 低密度流体在软流圈大面积上涌;② 流体在岩石圈继续上涌,部分转化为基性岩浆岩,平面面积缩小;③ 进入地壳后上涌熔流体分叉成多支,平面总面积进一步缩小; ④ 熔流体上涌到上地壳后仅在裂谷带活动,反映为火山链和玄武岩带。     

Structural style and deformation mechanism of the southern Dabashan foreland fold-and-thrust belt, central China

The Daba Mountains define the southern margin of the East Qinling orogenic belt, and form the boundary of the Sichuan basin in the north and northeast. The Daba Mountains can be divided into two structural belts by the NW-striking Chengkou fault, namely the northern Dabashan thrust-nappe belt and the southern Dabashan foreland fold-and-thrust belt. The southern Dabashan fold-and-thrust belt is a southwestward extruding thin-skinned thrust wedge, showing obvious belted change in deformation style and deformation intensity along the dip direction, and can be divided further into three sub-belts, i.e. the imbricate thrust sub-belt characterized by imbricate stepped-thrust sheets, the thrust-fold sub-belt characterized by the combination of the equally-developed thrusts and related folds, and the detachment-fold sub-belt characterized by box folds and closed overturned-isoclinal folds on the outcrops. Several kinds of structures have been recognized or inferred, including imbricate thrust system, passive-roof duplex (triangle zone), fault-related folds, back-thrust system and pop-up structure. The NE-SW compressive stress from the Qinling orogenic belt and detachment layers in the covering strata are the two most important determinants of deformation style. After the collision between the North China block and Yangtze block at the end of the Middle Triassic, the northward intracontinental subduction along the southern edge of the Qinling orogenic belt was initiated, which led to the corresponding southward thrusting in the upper crust. The thrusting propagated towards the foreland through the Jurassic and extended to the southernmost part of the southern Daba Mountains around the end of the Early Cretaceous, with thrusting deformation to be preferentially developed along major detachment layers and progressing upwards from the Lower Sinian through the Lower Cambrian and Silurian to Middle-Lower Triassic. Translated from Geotectonica et Metallogenia, 2006, 30(3): 294–304 [译自: 大地构造与成矿学]     

基坑开挖对涉支护结构下穿盾构隧道变形的三维模拟与影响规律研究

依托某大厦基坑支护工程项目,研究深厚软土地层中基坑开挖对涉支护结构下穿盾构隧道变形的影响规律。采用三维有限元数值模拟分析隧道顶部支护桩的长度对支护结构变形和隧道隆起的影响,并将数值模拟结果与现场监测结果进行对比。结果表明：深厚软土地层中基坑开挖对下穿盾构隧道产生了较大的隆起变形;因下穿隧道的影响,隧道顶部支护桩嵌固深度的减小对支护结构的变形和下穿隧道的隆起会产生重要影响,当支护桩底与隧道顶的竖向间距S＞4 m或支护桩边缘与隧道边缘的水平间距S1＞4 m 时,支护桩的踢脚位移和下穿隧道的隆起变形迅速增加。研究成果可为类似工程提供应用参考和理论支撑。     

Deep 3D structure of the Sydney Basin using gravity modelling

A detailed deep 3D geological model is an important basis for many types of exploration and resource modelling. Renewed interest in the structure of the Sydney Basin, driven primarily by sequestration studies, geothermal studies and coal seam gas exploration, has highlighted the need for a model of deep basin geology, structure and thermal state. Here, we combine gravity modelling, seismic reflection surveys, borehole drilling results and other relevant information to develop a deep 3D geological model of the Sydney Basin. The structure of the Sydney Basin is characteristic of a typical intracontinental rift basin, with a deep north–south orientated channel in the Lachlan Fold Belt basement, filled with up to 4 km of rift volcanics, and overlain with Permo-Triassic sediments up to 4 km thick. The deep regional architecture presented in this study will form the framework for more detailed geological, hydrological and geothermal models.     

中国岩石圈三维结构专项研究主要进展和成果

“中国岩石圈三维结构”专项研究取得诸多新发现和新成果:建成中国第一个“岩石圈三维结构数据库”;建立了中国岩石圈结构模型;深化了对中国东部岩石圈、软流圈性状、结构的认识,证明岩石圈与软流圈之间存在呈“层块结构”的过渡带,在东亚至西太平洋地区70～250km深度发现一巨型低速异常带;揭示中国东部岩石圈呈现明显的“上老下新”的年龄结构;初步建立了中国大陆岩石圈岩石学结构模型,把中国大陆及毗邻海域岩石圈划分为5种类型;提出中国岩石圈构造单元划分方案,把中国大陆及毗邻海域划分为2个岩石圈构造域和6个岩石圈块体;证实青藏高原存在巨型南北向构造;在地质上获得一些新发现和新认识。     

矿山三维GIS研究进展

矿山三维GIS利用3D数据结构来描述矿山三维实体,利用可视化、虚拟现实等技术实现矿山数据的三维显示.矿山三维GIS可有效地提供矿山三维数据的整合处理方法,完成矿山数据的三维建模及可视化,实现多源数据的空间分析,指导矿山规划和监控.