Magnetic fabric, welding texture and strain fabric in the Nuraxi Tuff, Sardinia, Italy

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been used to interpret flow directions in ignimbrites, but no study has demonstrated that the AMS fabric corresponds to the flow fabric. In this paper, we show that the AMS and strain fabric coincide in a high-grade ignimbrite, the Nuraxi Tuff, a Miocene rhyolitic ignimbrite displaying a wide variability of rheomorphic features and a well-defined magnetic fabric. Natural remanent magnetization (NRM) data indicate that the magnetization of the tuff is homogeneous and was acquired at high temperatures by Ti-magnetite crystals. Comparison between the magnetic fabric and the deformation features along a representative section shows that AMS and anisotropy of isothermal remanent magnetization (AIRM) fabric are coaxial with and reproduce the shape of the strain ellipsoid. Magnetic tests and scanning electron microscopy observations indicate that the fabric is due to trails of micrometer-size, pseudo-single domain, magnetically interacting magnetite crystals. Microlites formed along discontinuities such as shard rims and vesicle walls mimicking the petrofabric of the tuff. The fabric was thus acquired after deposition, before late rheomorphic processes, and accurately mimics homogeneous deformation features of the shards during welding processes and mass flow.     

Petrogenetic implications and geochronology of middle Miocene Tannayama igneous rocks,Goto Islands,Japan Sea southern margin,northwestern Kyushu,Japan

The subduction of “hot” Shikoku Basin and the mantle upwelling related to the Japan Sea opening have induced extensive magmatism during the middle Miocene on both the back-arc and island-arc sides of southwest Japan. The Goto Islands are located on the back-arc side of northwestern Kyushu, and middle Miocene granitic rocks and associated volcanic, hypabyssal, and gabbroic rocks are exposed. The igneous rocks at Tannayama on Nakadori-jima in the Goto Islands consist of gabbronorite, granite, granite porphyry, diorite porphyry, andesite, and rhyolite. We performed detailed geological mapping at a 1:10 000 scale, as well as petrographical and geochemical analyses. We also determined the zircon U–Pb age dating of the igneous rocks from Tannayama together with a granitic rock in Yagatamesaki. The zircon U–Pb ages of the Tannayama igneous rocks show the crystallization ages of 14.7 Ma ± 0.3 Ma (gabbronorite), 15.9 Ma ± 0.5 Ma (granite), 15.4 Ma ± 0.9 Ma (granite porphyry), and 15.1 Ma ± 2.1 Ma (rhyolite). Zircons from the Yagatamesaki granitic rock yield 14.5 Ma ± 0.7 Ma. Considering field relationships, new zircon data indicate that the Tannayama granite formed at ~16–15 Ma, and the gabbronorite, granite porphyry, diorite porphyry, andesite, and subsequently rhyolite formed at 15–14 Ma, which overlaps a plutonic activity of the Yagatamesaki. The geochemical characteristics of the Tannayama igneous rocks are similar to those of the tholeiitic basalts and dacites of Hirado, and the granitic rocks of Tsushima in northwestern Kyushu. This suggests that the Tannayama igneous rocks can be correlated petrogenetically with the igneous rocks in those areas, with all of them generated by the upwelling of hot mantle diapirs during crustal thinning in an extensional environment during the middle Miocene.     

东秦岭南部推覆带地质特征及油气地质意义

分析了东秦岭南部逆冲推覆带构造展布及基本地质特征，认为东秦岭南部经过加里东期以来陆间海槽多次启闭与陆陆碰撞、陆内俯冲等岩石圈演变过程，形成现今前陆盆地，其原型盆地具备成油气地质条件，勘探潜力大。在这一勘探领域开展逆冲、逆抡推覆体的勘探研究工作，有望实现前新生代海相地层油气勘探的重大突破。     

西秦岭温泉岩体的磁组构特征及其侵位机制意义

结合岩石磁学、磁化率各向异性度与区域构造分析了西秦岭温泉岩体的侵位机制及意义.温泉岩体的样品的平均磁化率k_m值总体很大,岩石磁学表明对于磁化率较低的样品,顺磁性矿物（如黑云母等）对磁化率的贡献较大,而少量铁磁性矿物（如磁铁矿等）可能作为剩磁载体.对于磁化率较高的样品,其主要载磁矿物为磁铁矿;花岗岩样品的校正磁化率各向异性度P_J总体小于1.2,显示了岩体为流动磁组构的特征,磁化率椭球体形态参数T总体大于0,扁率E总体大于1,以压扁椭球体为主;岩体的磁面理同磁线理相比更为发育,样品的磁面理普遍表现出围绕岩体边界分布的特点,且倾角较陡;而在岩体内部磁线理与磁面理分布相对散乱,定向性差,这一特征说明温泉岩体的磁组构主要由侵位时的侧向挤压作用形成的;虽然岩体的磁组构特征总体显示了N-NEE和SW向的挤压作用,但岩体侵位时由商丹缝合带闭合所产生的垂直于缝合带方向的挤压作用已相对较弱.本文认为,温泉岩体侵位时是一种弱挤压环境,或者是一种相对稳定的环境甚至可能是一种相对引张的背景,这与温泉岩体形成于后碰撞环境,秦岭造山带已演化至后碰撞拆沉作用发生的伸展阶段所反映的区域构造背景是一致的.     

The Miocene Costa Giardini diatreme,Iblean Mountains,southern Italy: model for maar-diatreme formation on a submerged carbonate platform

In this paper we present a model for the growth of a maar-diatreme complex in a shallow marine environment. The Miocene-age Costa Giardini diatreme near Sortino, in the region of the Iblei Mountains of southern Sicily, has an outer tuff ring formed by the accumulation of debris flows and surge deposits during hydromagmatic eruptions. Vesicular lava clasts, accretionary lapilli and bombs in the older ejecta indicate that initial eruptions were of gas-rich magma. Abundant xenoliths in the upper, late-deposited beds of the ring suggest rapid magma ascent, and deepening of the eruptive vent is shown by the change in slope of the country rock. The interior of the diatreme contains nonbedded breccia composed of both volcanic and country rock clasts of variable size and amount. The occurrence of bedded hyaloclastite breccia in an isolated outcrop in the middle-lower part of the diatreme suggests subaqueous effusion at a low rate following the end of explosive activity. Intrusions of nonvesicular magma, forming plugs and dikes, occur on the western side of the diatreme, and at the margins, close to the contact between breccia deposits and country rock; they indicate involvement of volatile-poor magma, possibly during late stages of activity. We propose that initial hydromagmatic explosive activity occurred in a shallow marine environment and the ejecta created a rampart that isolated for a short time the inner crater from the surrounding marine environment. This allowed explosive activity to draw down the water table in the vicinity of the vent and caused deepening of the explosive center. A subsequent decrease in the effusion rate and cessation of explosive eruptions allowed the crater to refill with water, at which time the hyaloclastite was deposited. Emplacement of dikes and plugs occurred nonexplosively while the breccia sediment was mostly still soft and unconsolidated, locally forming peperites. The sheltered, low-energy lagoon filled with marine limestones mixed with volcaniclastic material eroded from the surrounding ramparts. Ultimately, lagoonal sediments accumulated in the crater until subsidence or erosion of the tuff ring caused a return to normal shallow marine conditions.     

Geochemistry and regional distribution of ophiolites and associated volcanics in Mianlüe suture, Qinling-Dabie Mountains

Systematic studies of the ophiolites and associated volcanics stretching more than 1500 km from the Derni-Nanping-Pipasi-Kangxian area in the west to the Qingshuihe area of the south Dabie Mountains in the east indicate the existence of a suture zone (the Mianl(u)e suture)and a vanished paleo-ocean basin (the Mianlue paleo-ocean basin) in the region. From west to east, ophiolitic melange associations distribute discontinuously along the suture. Rock assemblages include ophiolite, island arc and oceanic island rock series. The Mianlue paleo-ocean basin experienced its major formation and expending episode during the Carboniferous-Permian period. The finding of the suture zone and the paleo-ocean basin is tectonically significant in timing the collision between the North China-Qinling and Yangtze blocks and determining the formation and evolution of the Qinling orogenic belt.     

青藏高原东缘新生代早期古应力环境:来自四川盆地西南缘磁组构的记录

四川盆地西南缘紧邻龙门山褶皱冲断带(青藏高原东边界)南段.该地区的新生代早期红层沉积记录了青藏高原东缘的隆升历史及构造演变.本研究选取四川盆地西南缘芦山地区古新统一下渐新统名山组-芦山组地层剖面为研究对象,利用磁组构方法,结合前人对研究区古地磁及构造变形的研究,恢复了该地区新生代早期的古应力方向.本研究获取了548块样...     

Paleomagnetism of Jurassic to Miocene sediments from the Apenninic carbonate platform (southern Apennines, Italy): evidence for a 60° counterclockwise Miocene rotation

The tectonic evolution of the Apennine belt/southern Tyrrhenian Sea system is addressed through a paleomagnetic study of Lias to Langhian sediments from the Apenninic carbonate platform (southern Apennines, Italy). Reliable paleomagnetic data gathered from 21 sites document a regional-scale post-Langhian 80° counterclockwise (CCW) rotation. Since previous studies of the Plio-Pleistocene clays spread over the orogen had shown a ∼20°CCW rotation, we conclude that the southern Apennines rotated by 60° during Middle-Late Miocene. Our data provide evidence that the southeastward drift of Calabrian block (and synchronous spreading of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea) induced ‘saloon door’ like deformation of the southern Apennines and Sicily, which underwent similar magnitude (although opposite in sign) orogenic rotations. A paleomagnetically derived paleogeographic reconstruction shows that at 15 Ma (Late Langhian) the Alpine-Apennine belt collided with a NNE-oriented carbonate platform corridor surrounded by oceanic basins. We speculate that both the end of the Corsica-Sardinia rotation and the eastward jump of the locus of back-arc extension (from the Liguro-Provençal to the Tyrrhenian Sea) may have been consequences of this event.     

Precambrian volcanics associated with the taum Sauk Caldera,St. Francois Mountains,Missouri, U.S.A.

Petrological studies of 12 volcanic rock units in the northeast segment of the Taum Sauk Caldera, the major structural feature in the western part of the St. Francois Mountains, indicate that they were probably derived from the same magma chamber. These calc-alkalic rocks become progressively silica and alkali rich and calcium poor from the base to the top of the stratigraphic column. In the part of the northeast segment of the caldera studied in detail, the extrusives are over 5 thick and have a volume of over 500 km³. Rock units consisting of ash-flow tuffs, bedded airfall tuffs and lava flows were apparently deposited within a single episode of volcanic activity, since no signs of extensive erosion were observed among them. Although the rocks are completely devitrified, the preservation of pyroclastic and flow features is excellent. These volcanics are exposed representatives of a 1.3–1.4 b.y. old belt of volcanics and associated plutons which extends from southern Ohio to the Texas Panhandle any may represent a belt of continental accretion.     

Formation mechanism of condensates,waxy and heavy oils in the southern margin of Junggar Basin,NW China

It is a challenge to determine the source and genetic relationship of condensate, waxy and heavy oils in one given complicated petroliferous area, where developed multiple sets of source rocks with different maturity and various chemical features.The central part of southern margin of Junggar Basin, NW China is such an example where there are condensates, light oils, normal density oils, heavy crude oils and natural gases. The formation mechanism of condensates has been seriously debated for long time;however, no study has integrated it with genetic types of waxy and heavy oils. Taking the central part of southern margin of Junggar Basin as a case, this study employs geological and geochemical methods to determine the formation mechanism of condensates,waxy and heavy oils in a complicated petroliferous area, and reveals the causes and geochemical processes of the co-occurrence of different types of crude oils in this region. Based on detailed geochemical analyses of more than 40 normal crude oils, light oils,condensates and heavy oils, it is found that the condensates are dominated by low carbon number n-alkanes and enriched in light naphthenics and aromatic hydrocarbons. Heptane values of these condensates range from 19% to 21%, isoheptane values from1.9 to 2.1, and toluene/n-heptane ratios from 1.5 to 2.0. The distribution of n-alkanes in the condensates presents a mirror image with high density waxy crude oils and heavy oils. Combined with the oil and gas-source correlations of the crude oils, condensates and natural gas, it is found that the condensates are product of evaporative fractionation and/or phase-controlled fractionation of reservoir crude oils which were derived from mature Cretaceous lacustrine source rocks in the relatively early stage. The waxy oils are the intermediate products of evaporative fractionation and/or phase-controlled fractionation of reservoir crude oils, while the heavy oils are in-situ residuals. Therefore, evaporative fractionation and/or phase-controlled fractionation would account for the formation of the condensate, light oil, waxy oil and heavy oil in the central part of southern margin of Junggar Basin, resulting in a great change of the content in terms of light alkanes, naphthenics and aromatics in condensates, followed by great uncertainties of toluene/n-heptane ratios due to migration and re-accumulation. The results suggest that the origin of the condensate cannot be simply concluded by its ratios of toluene/n-heptane and n-heptane/methylcyclohexane on the Thompson's cross-plot, it should be comprehensively determined by the aspects of geological background, thermal history of source rocks and petroleum generation,physical and chemical features of various crude oils and natural gas, vertical and lateral distribution of various crude oils in the study area.     

Modelling the relationship between magnetic fabric and strain in polymineralic rocks

We present a model that is applicable to the relatively frequent case of rocks in which the magnetic fabric is dominated by uniaxial paramagnetic minerals, and in which the deformation (pure shear) corresponds to the March-Fernandez model. Borradaile et al.'s procedure for the isolation of the magnetic fabric of monocrystals of anisotropic components allows us to obtain the magnetic properties equivalent to those of all the component minerals if they should be artificially aligned. In the case of real component minerals with similar shape parameters, χ (dependent on dimension ratio), these properties will correspond to those of a theoretical equivalent mineral. Therefore, finite strain and orientation tensors may be determined from magnetic fabric measurements of such polymineralic rocks.     

Palaeomagnetism of the Börzsöny Mountains (Hungary)

Summary Mean directions of magnetization (29 normal and 31 reversed) were recorded for 60 magmatic localities of middle Miocene age from the Börzsöny Mountains (Hungary). The overall mean direction of RM, irrespective of polarity, isD=0,9°;I=59,8°; withk=8,3 and ₉₅=6,8°. The coordinates of the corresponding geomagnetic north pole are =82,7°, A=193,8 with p=7,7° and m=10,2°.     

Microstructure and magnetic fabric in the Shuanghe pluton: A synkinematic granite in Eastern Dabie Mountains,China

Strain analyses for the Shuanghe pluton show that the main strain planes suffered distinct deformation. The main strain value (XZ) is up to 1.59-2.18, and the value of Flinn index (K) ranges from 0.11 to 0.82. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) measurements reveal that the orientations of the magnetic foliation and lineation gently dip SE, consistent with the macroscopic foliation of the pluton. The value of anisotropy degree (P) ranges from 1.109 to 1.639, and the shape parameter (7) from 0.079 to 0.534. These studies prove that the pluton was deformed under strong compression. Quartz c-axis textures, defined by monoclinic or triclinic asymmetry, usually developed the high maxima paralleling the b-axis, which is defined by the developed in the high-ultrahigh pressure rocks (UHP) which were captured in the pluton or country rocks. It is concluded that the Shuanghe pluton emplaced under regional compression slightly after the formation of UHP, and it is characterized by synkinematic granitic deformation.     

Field and laboratory studies on alpine soil erodibility,southern Rocky Mountains,Colorado

Soil erodibility has been studied on the alpine tundra of Trail Ridge in the southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado. Field experiments were conducted using a portable rainfall simulator to estimate an erodibility index (grams of detached soil per unit area) at 71 sites. The index determined on eight soil types allowed discrimination of a high erodibility group (mean index of 18.9 g), moderate or transitional group (mean index of 10.1 g), and one low group (mean index of 4.5 g). Laboratory measurements of physical propertiesMdashtexture, water absorption capacity, organic carbon, and aggregationMdashwere compared with the erodibility index and results of simple and multiple regressions showed that 29 per cent of the variance in erodibility is explained by the measured variables, the strongest correlation (r=0.42) being associated with aggregation. Unexplained variability (71 per cent) may be due in part to unmeasured soil properties, non-linearity in the data, random processes, bias, and experimental error. These correlations represent a beginning in understanding factors influencing alpine soil erodibility. The results suggest that field measurement is still the most satisfactory method of estimating an erodibility index and that laboratory surrogates for this index are not readily applicable in this environment.     

Temporal and spatial correlations of the strain field in tectonic active region,southern Kyusyu,Japan

The southern Kyusyu district is one of the most characteristic subduction zones in Japan. In this region, large earthquakes occurred sequentially, although earthquake mechanisms are different and the distance between earthquakes is far. We investigate strain propagation caused by a strain fluctuation related to subducting plate velocity. For this purpose, we used the data obtained from extensometers installed in an observation network at Kyusyu district and applied the cross-correlation function. If the strain associated with the subduction propagates in the crust, it is expected that the correlation around arrival of propagating signal varies from steady state. The results suggest existence of strain propagation in the overlying crust. Its velocity is estimated to be about 90–140 km/year with a direction from the subduction zone to inland.     

聂拉木地区高喜马拉雅岩石磁组构及其构造含义

利用岩石磁化率量值椭球体与岩石构造应变椭球体的共轴性,在缺乏岩性标志层的高喜马拉雅结晶基底（聂拉木地区）进行岩石磁组构研究,进而研究喜马拉雅造山带的变形期次和过程.磁组构特征表明：磁化率各向异性度P在樟木镇北1km处的片岩最高为1.72,在康山桥南1km处最低,为1.13;百分率各向异性度H在11.82%～45.07%之间;磁性线理L在1.02～1.09之间,磁性面理F在1.06～1.60之间,磁性面理F比磁性线理L发育;磁化率椭球体的形状因子T在0.19～0.76之间,磁化率椭球的扁率E在1.04～1.49之间,磁化率椭球体的形状为一压扁椭球;樟木镇北1km到肉切村,平均最小磁化率主轴方向D3为S－N（除聂拉木北1km的MA9外）,大多数样品最小磁化率主轴方向倾角I3＞51°,最高达72.6°,局部发育有拉长形磁化率量值椭球体.本文研究结果表明,聂拉木地区早期经历强烈的韧性变形,推测可能是一条巨大的右旋逆冲韧性变形带,晚期构造掀斜.     

澳大利亚悉尼Long Reef Beach中新世古土壤岩石磁学特征及环境意义

本文对发育在澳大利亚悉尼附近的Long Reef Beach中新世古土壤剖面进行了系统的岩石磁学研究,测量了磁化率、饱和磁化强度、饱和等温剩磁、非磁滞剩磁等常温磁学参数和磁滞回线,并对所有样品进行了热磁分析.实验结果表明:全新世软土层主要磁性矿物为MD颗粒磁铁矿,磁性矿物含量与黄土高原黄土层相当.中新世老成土层随地层深度增加主要磁性矿物由磁铁矿转变为磁赤铁矿,随着磁铁矿向磁赤铁矿的转化,开始出现赤铁矿;磁性矿物粒径分布较广,以PSD颗粒为主,其次为SD颗粒,同时含有少量MD颗粒;磁性矿物含量高于黄土高原强发育古土壤层.中新世红土矿层主要磁性矿物为赤铁矿,同时含有少量磁赤铁矿和针铁矿,属于铁的富集层,赤铁矿以SD颗粒为主,含少量PSD和MD颗粒.Long Reef Beach中新世古土壤形成时期,对应着一种全球性高温多雨气候,地表化学风化作用十分强烈.丰富的降水,导致中新世老成土层发生淋溶作用,磁铁矿在向下淋溶迁移过程中逐渐氧化为磁赤铁矿和赤铁矿,铁氧化物最终在红土矿层淀积,磁赤铁矿经高温压实作用再结晶转化为赤铁矿.磁性矿物转化过程可概括为磁铁矿—磁赤铁矿化的磁铁矿—磁赤铁矿—赤铁矿,其中部分磁赤铁矿具有热稳定性,在空气(氩气)环境中加热到700℃未发生转化.     

Radiolarian‐based study on the fabric and the formation process of the Early Cretaceous mélange near Zhongba,Yarlung–Tsangpo Suture Zone,southern Tibet

The Yarlung–Tsangpo Suture Zone (YTSZ), as the southernmost and youngest among the sutures that subdivides the Tibetan Plateau into several east–west trending blocks, marks where the Neo‐Tethys was consumed as the Indian continent moved northward and collided against the Eurasian continent. Mélanges in the YTSZ represent the remnants of the oceanic plate through subduction and collision. Mélanges are characterized by a highly sheared volcanoclastic or siliceous mudstone matrix including blocks of chert, claystone, and basalt. Detailed radiolarian analyses are conducted on the mélange near Zhongba County. Macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic observations are combined in order to elucidate the relationships among age, lithology, and structure of blocks in the mélange. Reconstructed ocean plate stratigraphy includes Lower Jurassic limestone within the chert sequence accumulated at a depth near the CCD (Unit 2), Upper Jurassic thin‐bedded chert interbedded with claystone deposited in the wide ocean basin (Unit 3), and Lower Cretaceous chert with siliceous mudstone (Units 4 and 5), representing the middle parts of ocean plate stratigraphy. The results highlight the fabric of brecciated chert on mesoscopic scale, which is thought to be due to localized overpressure. The formation of mesoscopic and microscopic block‐in‐matrix fabrics in the mélange is proposed for the chert and siliceous mudstone bearing different extents of consolidation and competence during the progressive deformation of accreted sediments at shallow‐level subduction.     

Paleomagnetism,magnetic fabric,and <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar dating of Pliocene and Quaternary ignimbrites in the Arequipa area,southern Peru

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages and paleomagnetic correlations using characteristic remanent magnetizations (ChRM) show that two main ignimbrite sheets were deposited at 4.86 ± 0.07 Ma (La Joya Ignimbrite: LJI) and at 1.63 ± 0.07 Ma (Arequipa Airport Ignimbrite: AAI) in the Arequipa area, southern Peru. The AAI is a 20–100 m-thick ignimbrite that fills in the Arequipa depression to the west of the city of Arequipa. The AAI is made up of two cooling units: an underlying white unit and an overlying weakly consolidated pink unit. Radiometric data provide the same age for the two units. As both units record exactly the same well-defined paleomagnetic direction (16 sites in the white unit of AAI: Dec = 173.7; Inc = 31.2; α95 = 0.7; k = 2749; and 10 sites in the pink unit of AAI; Dec = 173.6; Inc = 30.3; α95 = 1.2; k = 1634), showing no evidence of secular variation, the time gap between emplacement of the two units is unlikely to exceed a few years. The >50 m thick well-consolidated white underlying unit of the Arequipa airport ignimbrite provides a very specific magnetic zonation with low magnetic susceptibilities, high coercivities and unblocking temperatures of NRM above 580°C indicating a Ti-poor titanohematite signature. The Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) is strongly enhanced in this layer with anisotropy values up to 1.25. The fabric delineated by AMS was not recognized neither in the field nor in thin sections, because most of the AAI consists in a massive and isotrope deposit with no visible textural fabric. Pumices deformation due to welding is only observed at the base of the thickest sections. AMS within the AAI ignimbrite show a very well defined pattern of apparent imbrications correlated to the paleotopography, with planes of foliation and lineation dipping often at more than 20° toward the expected vent, buried beneath the Nevado Chachani volcanic complex. In contrast with the relatively small extent of the thick AAI, the La Joya ignimbrite covers large areas from the Altipano down the Piedmont. Ti-poor titanomagnetites are the dominant magnetic carriers and AMS values are generally lower than 1.05. Magnetic foliations are sub horizontal and lineations directions are scattered in the LJI. The AMS fabrics are probably controlled by post-depositional compaction and welding of the deposit rather than transport dynamics. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.