Adolf Seilacher's fossil record

Adolf (Dolf) Seilacher, who died earlier this year at the age of 89, was a major figure in palaeontology on both sides of the Atlantic. His interests were diverse, including trace fossils, the processes involved in exceptional preservation, and the evolution of invertebrate morphology. But it is for his views on the nature of the extraordinary fossils of the Ediacaran that he is perhaps best known. His ideas—compelling and provocative—will continue to stimulate research for years to come, not least through the wide use of his terminology (e.g. Lagerstätten, morphodynamics, constructional morphology, vendobiont).     

Improvement and Application of Riedel Shear Systerm

For some strain in the strike slip zone is difficult to be determined accurately in the classification scheme of the 7 elements of the ellipse of the strike slip strain ellipse (PDZ, R, R', P, T, Y and local contraction), the properties of the strain elements in all directions in the strained ellipse were reunderstood by analyzing the causal relationship between the mechanical state and the strain properties in a certain direction. A new model of the Riedel shear system was proposed, which contained 4 pure strain zones (pure right walk slip, pure left walking slip, pure extrusion, pure Stretch Strain Zone) and 4 complex strain zones (both stretching and right walking, both stretching and left walking, both extrusion and left walking, both extrusion and right walking slip strain zone). The closer the crack was to the direction of a single strain band, the stronger the corresponding property. The model included all the elements of the traditional model and made up for its vacancy. It proved the rationality of the left (right) row left (right) order and the double tectonic belt rule. At the same time, three research examples of Bohai Sea were cited to illustrate the application of the model: (1) The synchronous and perpendicular spatial-temporal relationship between compressive and extensional stress fields in strike-slip zones, as well as the unified but not contradictory dialectical relationship between them, were illustrated through the example of the co-controlled cycle formation of northeastern depression in Laizhou Bay Depression; (2) The Bohai Sea walk was enumerated. The research results of the slip transition zone illustrated the strain trend law of the extensional or compressive transition zone in the strike-slip zone; (3) The relationship between the strike of the effective fracture and the extensional strain zone in the present strike-slip stress field was illustrated by giving an example of the effective fracture research results of a buried hill structure in the Bohai Sea.     

里德尔剪切的组合型式与走滑盆地组合型式的相似性

走滑断裂体系中经常发育里德尔剪切的断裂组合,世界上不同构造背景下与走滑断裂相关的盆地(走滑盆地)也很多见。因此里德尔剪切是地质构造研究中的重要方面。我们从三个方面对里德尔剪切的节理构造组合及盆地组合进行了对比:(1)里德尔剪切构造组合与比例尺无关。里德尔剪切带的(转换)拉张区与沉积盆地的分布区是相似的;(2)断裂的最大位移区与断陷盆地的沉积中心是一致的,断陷盆地长轴平行于断裂走向;(3)物理模拟试验及数学模拟试验都证实了走滑盆地的演化。基于上述认识,我们通过厘米级岩芯标本的观察,结合已发表的盆地资料,提出了6类与里德尔剪切有关的构造组合及断陷盆地组合。(1)雁列状构造及盆地组合:许多盆地发育雁列状构造。同时,与里德尔剪切相关的雁列状盆地的宽度与主剪切断裂的剪切位移呈正相关。(2)帚状或马尾状构造及盆地组合:二者在形态上相似,所以归为一类。成因上,马尾状构造及盆地主要发育在走滑断裂的拉张端部,而帚状构造或盆地反映走滑断裂的旋扭作用,可以在走滑断裂影响区域的任何部位。(3)串珠状构造及盆地组合:该类型的盆地主要是指释压盆地的组合,拉分盆地也可以形成串珠状盆地。(4)S状或Z状构造或盆地组合:左行走滑形成Z状构造或盆地,而右行走划形成S状构造或盆地。(5)多字型构造及盆地组合:是拉分盆地的典型组合,可以过渡到串珠状盆地。(6)复杂的网状构造及盆地组合:通常是由于分布型简单剪切的作用结果。以上盆地组合类型包括大型盆地内次级单元(次级盆地或更次级盆地)的组合,但不包括多成因、多期活动的构造及盆地。     

岩石剪切破裂中的“Riedel Shear”构造模式

岩石破裂中的“里德尔切变”(Riedel Shear),是地质构造研究中常见的违反岩石破裂准则理论的逆反现象。文中侧重从应力应变理论的角度讨论了这一构造模式形成的机理,并结合典型构造实例对其进行了系统分析。     

Initiation and development of pull-apart basins with Riedel shear mechanism: insights from scaled clay experiments

Typical pull-apart structures were created in scaled clay experiments with a pure strike-slip geometry (Riedel type experiments). A clay slab represents the sedimentary cover above a strike-slip fault in the rigid basement. At an early stage of the development of the deformation zone, synthetic shear fractures (Riedel shears) within the clay slab display dilatational behaviour. With increasing basal displacement the Riedel shears rotate and open further, developing into long, narrow and deep troughs. The shear displacement and the low angle with the prescribed principal basal fault set them apart from tension gashes. At a more evolved stage, synthetic segments (Y-shears) parallel to the basal principal fault develop and accommodate progressive strike-slip deformation. The Y-shears connect the tips of adjacent troughs developed from the earlier Riedel shears, resulting in the typical rhomb-shaped structures characteristic for pull-apart basins. The Strait of Sicily rift zone, with major strike-slip systems being active from the Miocene to the Present, comprises pull-apart basins at different length scales, for which the structural record suggests development by a mechanism similar to that observed in our experiments.     

Two more books from A. A. Balkema

Kahasa. J. (ed) IY84: Quorrrriury of South Afrierrco and Antarctic Penusula A. A. Balksma. Rotterdam.     

A REVIEW OF The Akchagylian of Turkmenistan,A MONOGRAPH BY A.A. ALI-ZADE

The supposed specific distinction of the lower Pleistocene elephants, Elephas Müst Pavlova of eastern Europe and E. trogontherii Pohlig of western Europe, cannot be supported, as shown by evidence adduced by the author; the former is therefore relegated to the synonymy of the latter.—C. E. Ray.