Seismic moment release along selected major transforms on the Central Indian Ridge,Western Indian Ocean,and its tectonic implications

A detailed seismicity map of the Central Indian Ridge for the period 1912–1993 is presented, and the earthquakes pertaining to four major transforms offsetting the ridge are utilized to study the moment release pattern. The scalar moment release for the period 1912–1993, and the summed moment rate tensors for both short period (1977–1993) and long period (1912–1993) bring out a unified picture of moment release pattern. The fraction of seismic slip calculated based on depths of 100°C and 400°C limiting temperatures suggests that the Marie-Celeste transform requires a slip almost to a depth of 400°C isotherm to account for the observed moment, and the Argo transform requires depth of faulting much above the 400°C isotherm. A very small fraction of slip is accounted seismically for Vema (53%) and 12° 12′S (23%) even to depths of 100°C isotherm, suggesting a very low order of moment release along these transforms. The horizontal plate velocities and the corresponding strain rates obtained from moment tensor summation of long period data (82 years) give rise to (V _y ^y ; V _y ^x mm. yr⁻¹) of 6.0 and 6.1 along Marie-Celeste, 1.3 and 0.50 along Argo, 0.06 and 0.06 along 12° 12′S, 1.6 and 0.25 along Vema transforms. The corresponding strain rates (ε _y ^y ;ε _y ^x × 10⁻¹⁵ S⁻¹) are 12.7 and 6.8 along MarieCeleste, 6.9 and 1.4 along Argo, 0.27 and 0.14 along 12° 12′S, 7.3 and 0.58 along Vema transforms. These results suggest that the strain rates were highest and almost all predicted motion is taken up seismically along the Marie-Celeste transform. The strain rates are lower along Argo transform and the observed moment release require shallower depth of faulting in order to slip to be accounted seismically. The Vema and 12° 12′S transforms are characterized by low strain rates and less than 15 per cent of motion is accommodated seismically within the seismogenic layer. It is proposed that the deficiency of moment release along the Vema and 12° 12′S multiple transform system may be due to most of the plate motion occurring aseismically.     

Early Pliocene Paleoceanography of the Vityaz Fracture Zone, Central Indian Ridge

Planktic foraminifera from the calcareous substrate of a ferromanganese crust in the Vityaz Fracture Zone （VFZ）, Central Indian Ridge were studied to reconstruct the early Pliocene paleoceanography of this region. Eleven species of planktic foraminifera were encountered, among them Globorotalia menardii, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, Globigerina bulloides and Globigerinoides tuber are prominent. Predominance of N. dutertrei in the top 3 cm of the carbonate substrate is attributed to an influx of fresh water which eventually triggered their productivity by increasing the nutrient level. The presence of G. bulloides and G. menardii in significant proportions in deeper layers suggests the prevalence of open ocean upwelling. The bulk chemical compositions of the substrate at different depth intervals indicates higher enrichment of trace metals in the upper sections which could have been supplied through oceanic water by the chemical weathering of terrestrial matter during the peak of Pliocene Asian monsoon. Thus, it is concluded that during the early Pliocene the biogenic components of the substrate were distinctly contributed by both upwelling and productivity triggered by an influx of fresh water originating from the intensification of the Asian monsoon during the early Pliocene Period.     

Genesis of Central Indian Ocean basin seamounts: morphological,petrological, and geochemical evidence

International Journal of Earth Sciences - We present the petrological investigation carried out of the seamounts located between water depths of 4300 and 5385 m in the Central Indian Ocean...     

Massive sulfides of Mount Jourdanne along the super-slow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge and their genesis

Modern massive sulfide deposits are known to occur in diverse tectonic settings and it is generally expected that hydrothermal deposits of similar geological settings shall have more or less similar mineralogical and geochemical signatures. However, the Mount Jourdanne sulfide deposits along the super-slow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge deviate from this common concept. These sulfide precipitates are Zn-rich (up to 35 wt.%) and are characterized by high concentrations of Pb (≤ 3.5 wt.%), As (≤ 1.1 wt.%), Ag (≤ 0.12 wt.%), Au (≤ 11 ppm), Sb (≤ 967 ppm), and Cd (≤ 0.2 wt.%) which are unusual for a modern sediment-free mid-oceanic ridge system. Therefore, we have reinvestigated the sulfide samples collected during the INDOYO cruise in 1998, in order to explain their unusual mineralogy and geochemical composition. The sulfide samples are polymetallic and are classified as: a) chimneys, b) mounds, and c) hydrothermal breccias. The chimneys are small tube-like symmetrical bodies (30–40 cm high; ~ 10 cm diameter) and consist mainly of sphalerite and less chalcopyrite, set in a matrix of late amorphous silica. The inner wall shows a late-stage colloform sphalerite containing co-precipitates of galena and/or Pb–As sulfosalts. In contrast, the mound samples are dominated either by Fe-sulfides (pyrite) or by a mixture of pyrite and chalcopyrite with less sphalerite, pyrrhotite, amorphous silica and barite. Both, the chimney and mound samples, are characterized by layering and mineral zonation. The hydrothermal breccias are highly altered and mineralogically heterogeneous. They consist of silicified basaltic material that are impregnated with sulfides and contain cm-sized chimney fragments within a matrix of low-temperature minerals such as sphalerite and pyrite. The latter fragments mainly consist of chalcopyrite with isocubanite lamellae. In addition, these breccias contain late-stage realgar, boulangerite, galena, Pb–As sulfosalts and barite that are mostly confined to vugs or fractures. At least five mineralogical associations are distinguished that indicate different thermal episodes ranging from black smoker mineralization conditions to cessation of the hydrothermal activity. Based on the mineralogical associations and established literature in this regard, it is inferred that the mineralization at Mt. Jourdanne occurred mainly in three temperature domains. Above 300 °C, the chalcopyrite (with isocubanite)–pyrrhotite association formed whereas the sphalerite dominated assemblage with much less chalcopyrite and pyrite formed around and below 300 °C. The late-stage mineralization (below 200 °C) contains colloform sphalerite, galena, Pb–As sulfosalts, realgar and barite. The unusual mineralogy and trace element chemistry for this modern VHMS deposit could be explained assuming hydrothermal leaching of some felsic differentiates underneath the basaltic cover and subsequent zone refining processes.     

Garnet-field Melting and Late-stage Refertilization in 'Residual' Abyssal Peridotites from the Central Indian Ridge

The role of residual garnet during melting beneath mid-oceanridges has been the subject of many recent investigations. Toaddress this issue from the perspective of melting residues,we obtained major and trace element mineral chemistry of residualabyssal peridotites from the Central Indian Ridge. Many clinopyroxeneshave ratios of middle to heavy rare earth elements (MREE/HREE)that are too low to be explained by melting in the stabilityfield of spinel peridotite alone. Several percent of meltingmust have occurred at higher pressures in the garnet peridotitestability field. Application of new trace element partitioningmodels, which predict that HREE are compatible in high-pressureclinopyroxene, cannot fully explain the fractionation of theMREE from the HREE. Further, many samples show textural andchemical evidence for refertilization, such as relative enrichmentsof highly incompatible trace elements with respect to moderatelyincompatible trace elements. Therefore, highly incompatibleelements, which are decoupled from major and moderately incompatibletrace elements, are useful to assess late-stage processes, suchas melt entrapment, melt–rock reaction and veining. Moderatelyincompatible trace elements are less affected by such late-stageprocesses and thus useful to infer the melting history of abyssalperidotites. KEY WORDS: abyssal peridotites; mantle melting; garnet     

Mineralization and deformation of the Malanjkhand terrane (2,490–2,440 Ma) along the southern margin of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone

The Malanjkhand Cu–Mo–Au deposit, located near the northwest margin of the Malanjkhand batholith (terrane), is a strategic and significant porphyry-style deposit that experienced a protracted 50 m.y. deformational history shortly after its formation at 2,490±8 Ma (Stein et al. 2004). In a recent study, Panigrahi et al. (2004) averaged U–Pb SHRIMP zircon data from a pooled set of samples from the Malanjkhand batholith to advocate a meaningless intermediate age of ~2,476 Ma for the Malanjkhand granitoid and its Cu–Mo–Au deposit. In the northwest part of the Malanjkhand batholith, Re–Os dating of occurrence-specific molybdenite captures not only the age of porphyry-style mineralization and associated magmatism, but also elucidates a complex deformational history that extends to ~2,450 Ma. In the central part of the Malanjkhand batholith, Re–Os dating of delicate spindles of accessory molybdenite occurring with pristine muscovite in miarolitic cavities within the undeformed microgranitoid at the Devgaon Mo prospect unequivocally shows that deformation ceased at this location no later than 2,470–2,465 Ma. The deformational history recorded at the Malanjkhand deposit in the northwest most likely reflects prolonged transpressive convergence and docking of the Malanjkhand terrane with units in the poorly understood (proto) Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) along its southern margin, the Central Indian shear zone. The timing for this convergence is Late Archean–Early Paleoproterozoic.Comment on “Age of granitic activity associated with copper–molybdenum mineralization at Malanjkhand, Central India” by Panigrahi MK et al. (Mineralium Deposita 39:670–677)     

Hydrothermal alteration studies of gabbros from Northern Central Indian Ridge and their geodynamic implications

Mylonitic gabbro and altered gabbro were recovered from off-axis high and corner high locations at ridge-transform intersection, adjacent to Vityaz transform fault of the slow spreading (32–35 mm/yr, full spreading) Northern Central Indian Ridge. Both the varieties show signatures of extensive alteration caused due to interaction with sea water. Mylonitic gabbro represents high temperature metamorphism (∼700–800°C) and comprised of hornblende mineral which exhibits well defined foliation/gneissic appearance along with dynamically recrystallised plagioclase grains frequently intercalated with magnetite-ilmenite. Altered gabbro from corner high generally includes low temperature greenschist grade (∼300°C) mineralogical assemblages: chlorite, albite, quartz and locally magnesio hornblende. Crystal plastic deformation resulted in mylonite formation and often porphyroclasts of plagioclase and clinopyroxene grains, while altered gabbro locally exhibits cataclastic texture. Presence of Vityaz transform fault and adjacent megamullion at the weakly magmatic ridge-transform intersection and off-axis high locations prompted the present scenario very much conducive for hydrothermal circulation and further facilitate the exhumation of present suite of gabbro.     

Glass and Mineral Chemistry of Northern Central Indian Ridge Basalts:Compositional Diversity and Petrogenetic Significance

Abstract: The glass and mineral chemistry of basalts examined from the northern central Indian ridge (NCIR) provides an insight into magma genesis around the vicinity of two transform faults: Vityaz (VT) and Vema (VM). The studied mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) from the outer ridge flank (VT area) and a near-ridge seamount (VM area) reveal that they are moderately phyric plagioclase basalts composed of plagioclase (phenocryst [An60–90] and groundmass [An35–79]), olivine (Fo81–88), diopside (Wo45–51, En25–37, Fs14–24), and titanomagnetite (FeOt ~63.75 wt% and TiO2 ~22.69 wt%). The whole-rock composition of these basalts has similar Mg# [mole Mg/mole(Mg+Fe2+)] (VT basalt: ~0.56–0.58; VM basalt: ~0.57), but differ in their total alkali content (VT basalt: ~2.65; VM basalt: ~3.24). The bulk composition of the magma was gradually depleted in MgO and enriched in FeOt, TiO2, P2O5, and Na2O with progressive fractionation, the basalts were gradually enriched in Y and Zr and depleted in Ni and Cr. In addition, the SREE of magma also increased with fractionation, without any change in the (La/Yb)N value. Glass from the VM seamount shows more fractionated characters (Mg#: 0.56–0.57) compared to the outer ridge flank lava of the VT area (Mg#: 0.63–0.65). This study concludes that present basalts experienced low-pressure crystallization at a relatively shallow depth. The geochemical changes in the NCIR magmas resulted from fractional crystallization at a shallow depth. As a consequence, spinel was the first mineral to crystallize at a pressure >10 kbar, followed by Fe-rich olivine at <10 kbar pressure.     

中印度洋脊Edmond热液区黄铁矿的标型特征及其对海底成矿作用环境的指示

对中印度洋脊Edmond热液区的丘顶和丘坡进行电视抓斗取样,获得了大量的金属硫化物等热液作用产物样品。在进行细致的矿相学分析基础上,对硫化物中黄铁矿的标型特征及其演化进行了详细研究。结果表明,Edmond热液区的黄铁矿可分3种类型,其形态标型和成分标型分别具有以下特征:Ⅰ型:呈自形立方体状,S/Fe原子数比接近于2.00,微量元素具有高Cu,低Zn、As、Pb、Ni和Ag的特点,Cu/Zn值高,平均可达4.26;Ⅱ型:呈半自形立方体状,S/Fe原子数比平均2.03,具有高Zn、Co、低Cu的特点,Cu/Zn值(平均0.04)低;Ⅲ型:主要呈胶状、莓球状,S/Fe原子数比平均2.04,具有Ag、Pb、Zn、As元素富集的特点,Cu/Zn值介于前两者之间(平均1.09)。根据硫化物中矿物共生组合关系,认为这3类黄铁矿分别对应高温、中高温和低温成矿作用,黄铁矿的形态和成分能很好地指示热液区的成矿环境和成矿条件的演变。     

P-T-t constraints on the metamorphic evolution of the Transangarian Yenisei Ridge: Geodynamic and petrological implications

Two metamorphic complexes of the Yenisei Ridge with contrasting composition are analyzed to unravel their tectonothermal evolution and geodynamic processes during the Riphean geologic history of the area. The structural, mineralogical, petrological, geochemical and geochronological data are used to distinguish two stages of the evolution with different ages, thermodynamic regimes, and metamorphic field gradients. Reaction textures, chemical zoning in minerals, shapes of the P-T paths, and isotope dates provide convincing evidence for a poly metamorphic history of the region. The first stage is marked by the formation of the ~ 970 Ma low-pressure zoned And-Sil rocks (P = 3.9-5.1 kbar, T = 510–640 °C) of the Teya aureole and a high metamorphic field gradient with dT/dH = 25–35 °C/km typical of many orogenic belts. At the second stage, these rocks experienced Late Riphean (853–849 Ma) collisional medium-pressure metamorphism of the kyanite-sillimanite type (P = 5.7-7.2 kbar, T = 660–700 °C) and a low metamorphic field gradient with dT/dH < 12 °C/km. This metamorphic event was almost coeval with the Late Riphean (862 Ma) contact metamorphism in the vicinity of the granitic plutons, which was accompanied by a high metamorphic field gradient with dT/dH > 100 °C/km. At the first stage, the deepest blocks of the Garevka complex in the vicinity of the Yenisei regional shear zone underwent high-pressure amphibolite-facies metamorphism within a narrow range of P = 7.1-8.7 kbar and T = 580–630 °C, suggesting the burial of rocks to mid-crustal depths at a metamorphic field gradient with dT/dH ~ 20–25 °C/km. At the second stage, these rocks experienced the Late Riphean (900–850 Ma) syn-exhumation dynamometamorphism under epidote-amphibolte facies conditions (P = 3.9-4.9 kbar, T = 460–550 °C) and a low gradient with dT/dH < 10 °C/km accompanied by the formation of blastomylonitic complexes in shear zones. All these deformation and metamorphic events identified on the western margin of the Siberian craton are correlated with the final episodes of the Late Grenville orogeny and provide supporting evidence for a close spatial connection between Siberia and Laurentia during early Neoproterozoic time, which is in good agreement with recent paleomagnetic reconstuctions.     

Hydrothermal Activity Events at Kairei Field,Central Indian Ridge 25°S

The Kairei hydrothermal field is located on the Central Indian Ridge at 70°02′E, 25°19'S, which was discovered in 2000. Eight representative hydrothermal product samples including massive sulfide, sulfide chimney and mineralized rock breccia samples collected from this field were age‐dated using the ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U and ²¹⁰Pb/Pb methods. Four episodes of hydrothermal activity were determined: 94.5 to 96.3 ka (event I), 56.6 to 61.2 ka (event II), 8.4 to 10.6 ka (event III), and <180 a to present (event IV). Among them, event I is the oldest and is characterized by the low‐temperature mineralization of rock breccias which probably represents for the onset of the hydrothermal activity of the field. Events II to IV represent the episodic high‐temperature hydrothermal activities characterized by Cu and Zn‐rich sulfides. The recent hydrothermal activity has lasted for at least 180 a.     

Heat Flow Asymmetry of the West Indian Ridge

Statistically significant asymmetry of geothermal data was established by statistical analysis of the heat flow density along the geotraverses intersecting the West Indian Ridge in the southwestern part of the ocean. To compare the samples of the heat flow density, the Cramer–Welch criterion was applied. It was found that the heat flow on the western slope of the ridge and in the adjacent abyssal basins is higher than in the same structural elements located east of the ridge axis. Asymmetry in the crust structure and in the magnetic field is also noted. To explain this phenomenon, a model that takes the Coriolis force into consideration was proposed. The Coriolis force affects the ascending magma flux in the divergent zone of the ridge.

     

中印度洋脊Edmond区热液硫化物的形成——来自铅和硫同位素的约束

位于中印度洋脊23°52’S的Edmond热液区发现于2000年,属于典型的以玄武岩为宿主的活动热液区。首次测得了Edmond热液区9件硫化物的铅同位素和6件样品的硫同位素组成,结果表明:硫化物矿石的206Pb/204Pb为17.879～17.970,207Pb/204Pb为15.433～15.550,208Pb/204Pb为37.743～38.130。Pb-Pb图解表明,Edmond热液区硫化物的铅同位素数据与中印度洋脊玄武岩的铅同位素组成较一致,与印度洋沉积物和锰结壳相比具较低放射性成因铅的特征,说明硫化物中的铅主要来源于地幔(玄武岩),海水的贡献微弱。硫化物的δ34S为5.7‰～7.2‰,明显高于玄武岩的硫同位素组成(δ34S≈0‰),认为Edmond热液区硫化物中的硫除地幔的贡献外,海水中硫酸盐还原作用产生的硫的贡献可能超过30%。中印度洋脊Edmond热液区存在非常活跃的浅循环系统,可能是造成硫化物中硫同位素组成偏重的主要原因。     

Spilites from the Carlsberg Ridge, Indian Ocean

A dredge haul from 5°N. on the Carlsberg Ridge brought upa collection of rocks that form a coherent spilitic series.Different specimens are identified with the various parts ofa spilitic pillow lava pile; some with pillow cores, otherswith pillow margins, and yet others with the material interstitialto the pillows. Their mineralogy is of greenschist facies. Comparisonwith the fresh basalt pillow lavas of the oceans suggests thatthese spilites were formed from the basalts by low-grade metamorphism,and were neither the product of the reaction of hot basalt withsea water nor that of the crystallization of a special spiliticmagma. The pillow cores, consisting of an albite-chlorite-augite-sphene-(actinolite-epidote)assemblage are contrasted strongly with the pillow margins,composed principally of chlorite, and this contrast seems tobe controlled by the original basalt mineralogy. Calcic plagioclasehas been replaced by albite, augite may remain or may be replacedby actinolite, iron ore has been replaced by sphene, and botholivine and basalt-glass by chlorite. Thus the pillow margins,originally almost entirely glassy, are now chemically very differentfrom the originally crystalline pillow cores. This process has involved a large-scale local transport of materialbetween core and margin of the pillows. The degree of this transportcan be closely estimated because the convergent compositionof deep-ocean basalts, especially strong in this region, meansthat the composition of the basalt from which the spilite hasformed is very well known. The hypothesis that the bulk compositionof the lava pile has remained constant during the transformationto spilite can also be tested, and it appears that it does nothold. Significant amounts of CaO and A1₂O₃ must have been lostfrom the pile, and a large amount of water gained by it. Theremay or may not have been significant gains in SiO₂, total Feand Na₂O. The contrast of this kind of process with the isochemicalmetamorphism more normal in metamorphic terrains is ascribedto the effect of shear on the rates of nucleation of the differentphases.     

Morphotectonic investigations along the Western Rift in the Masindi area,Bunyoro District,Uganda

Morphological and geological investigations along the Western Rift in the Lake Mobutu area (formerly Lake Albert), Uganda, East Africa are reviewed.Morphotectonic analyses reveal a complex interplay between rift faulting, erosion processes and sedimentation; an inversion of laterite surfaces in zones of subsidence and sedimentation is suggested. At least three phases of rift faulting can be recorded. The initiation of rift faulting is regarded as younger than the upper latente surface but pre lower Miocene.

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Zusammenfassung Morphologische und geologische Untersuchungen am westlichen Zweig des ostafrikanischen Grabens im Bereich des Mobutu-Sees (früher Albert-See) in Uganda werden zusammen mit den Ergebnissen der bisherigen Arbeiten in einer Gesamtschau dargestellt.Morphotektonische Analysen ergeben ein kompliziertes Wechselspiel zwischen Grabentektonik, Erosions- und Sedimentationsprozessen, Eine Inversion der latente surfaces im Absenkungs- und Sedimentationsbereich wird angenommen.Wenigstens drei Bewegungsphasen an der Grabenrandverwerfung sind zu erfassen. Das Einsetzen der aktiven Grabentektonik beginnt nach Bildung des upper latente surface und vor der Ablagerung unter-miozäner Sedimente.

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Résumé Des recherches géologiques et morphologiques du rift occidental dans la région du lac Mobutu (préalablement de lac Albert) en Ouganda, coordonnées avec les résultats d'études antérieures, sont offertes en vue d'ensemble.Les analyses morpho-tectoniques font ressortir des relations complexes entre la tectonique du fossé, l'érosion et la sédimentation. La possibilité d'une « inversion » des horizons latéritiques dans la région de subsidence et sédimentation s'annonce.Au moins trois phases de mouvement ont été ofservées le long de la faille qui délimite le fossé. L'activité tectonique du fossé commence après la formation de la «surface latéritique supérieure » et avant la sédimentation des couches du Miocène Inférieur.

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- — — . - . « » «laterite surfaces» . - . «upper laterite surface» - .

     

中印度洋海岭Edmond热液区块状硫化物中自然金的发现及其意义

位于中印度洋中速扩张洋脊的Edmond热液区块状硫化物矿石样品主要分为以黄铁矿-黄铜矿为主的富Fe块状硫化物、热水沉积成因的富含硅质块状矿石和以硬石膏为主的硫酸盐矿石等3种不同类型.通过扫描电镜观察和X射线光电子能谱分析,在硫酸盐矿石和富Fe块状硫化物中首次发现了自然金,最大粒径可达20 μm左右,主要呈不规则粒状或板状与硬石膏、闪锌矿等硫化物颗粒紧密共生,少量以次显微金形式沉淀在自形黄铁矿晶体表面.电子探针分析结果显示,晚期形成于中低温条件下的贫Fe闪锌矿中Au富集程度普遍较高(平均含量约为6700×10-6);Ag主要以类质同象形式赋存于与闪锌矿、黄铜矿伴生的硫盐矿物中(5.0％～6.7％ Ag),这表明贵金属元素的富集成矿作用与海底热液活动晚期的中低温成矿阶段有关.推断Au在该研究区以高温、酸性和氯度较高为特征的热液流体中主要呈AuCl2-或AuHS0形式迁移.而海水与热液流体混合、喷口流体发生相分离以及传导冷却作用,被认为是导致Au有效沉淀的重要控制因素.     

A Geotransect in the Central Indian Shield,across the Narmada-Son Lineament and the Central Indian Suture

This paper reports on a geotransect in the central Indian shield along a 100 km wide NW-SE corridor between Hirapur and Rajnandgaon. This corridor has been selected based on two seismic profiles—a 235 km long seismic-refraction/wide-angle-reflection profile between Hirapur and Mandla and a 130 km long coincident deep-reflection/refraction profile between Seoni and Kalimati. Since the geologic, gravity, magnetic, and heat-flow data are available up to Rajnandgaon, the second part of the corridor has been extended by another 80 km in the absence of seismic data. From northwest to southeast, the transect corridor covers different tectonic units of the Late Archean to Mesoproterozoic Bundelkhand craton, the Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic Satpura mobile belt, the Middle Archean to Mesoproterozoic Kotri-Dongargarh mobile belt, and the Neoproterozoic Bastar craton.

The seismic results in the Bundelkhand craton show lower crustal velocity values at a very shallow depth; these data have now been interpreted as a lower-crustal intrusive body that is present throughout the Bundelkhand craton in the lower crust at depths of 23 to 25 km. Combined interpretation of seismic travel times with the gravity data indicate the presence of a local magmatic body at mid-crustal depth in the Satpura mobile belt. The crust-mantle boundary is at depths varying between 40 and 44 km.

The seismic-reflection data set identifies the presence of a suture at the Satpura mobile belt/ Kotri-Dongargarh mobile belt boundary. A well-defined Moho offset and a pattern of adjacent fabrics, each characterized by dips toward each other, mark tectonically imbricated crust on opposite sides of the suture.     

Fractal analysis of bathymetry and gravity profiles across the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge and the Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean

Gravity and bathymetry data have been extensively used to infer the thermo-mechanical evolution of different segments of the oceanic lithosphere. It is now understood that magmatic fluid processes involved in the accretion of oceanic crust are spatially complex and episodic. The nature of these processes which are in general nonlinear, can be described using fractal analysis of marine geophysical data. Fractal analysis has been carried out for gravity and bathymetry profiles over the aseismic Chagos-Laccadive Ridge and the spreading Carlsberg Ridge. The Iterated Function Systems (IFS) have been used to generate synthetic profiles of known dimension (D) and these are compared with the observed profiles. The D for the data sets are in the range of 1–1.5. The D for gravity profiles is less than those of bathymetry and the D for gravity and bathymetry over spreading ridge is higher than the aseismic ridge. The low fractal dimension indicates that the processes generating them are of low dimensional dynamical systems.     

The Southwest Indian Ridge: Remelting the Gondwanan Mantle

<正>The Southwest Indian Ridge is an ultraslow spreading ridge(~14-mm/yr)that formed~150 Ma with the breakup of Gondwana.It extends 7700 km from the Bouvet to the Rodriguez Triple Junction,crossing over the flank of the large southern Geoid high centered over Marion and Crozet islands and the Conrad Rise.There is a     

Structure and Evolution of the Eastern Part of the Southwest Indian Ridge

Geotectonics - The structure and evolution of the eastern part of the Southwest Indian Ridge are discussed. Based on geological-geophysical data and cartographic materials, analysis of spatial and...