Age,budget and dynamics of an active salt extrusion in Iran

The Hormuz salt of Kuh-e-Namak, Iran began rising through its Phanerozoic cover in Jurassic times and had surfaced by Cretaceous times. In Miocene times, the still-active Zagros folds began to develop and the salt is still extruding to feed a massive topographic dome and two surface flows of salt which have previously been called salt glaciers but are here called namakiers.Two crude but independent estimates for the rate of salt extrusion and loss are shown to balance the salt budget if the current salt dynamics are assumed to be in steady state. First, to replace the extrusive salt likely to be lost in solution in the annual rainfall, the salt must rise at an average velocity of about 11 cm a^?1. Second, the foliation pattern shows that the extruding (and partially dissolved) salt column spreads under its own weight. The maximum height of the salt dome is consistent with a viscous fluid with a viscosity of 2.6 × 10¹⁷ poises extruding from its orifice at a rate of almost 17 cm a^?1. Both estimates are consistent in indicating that salt can extrude onto the surface 42–85 times faster than the average long term rate at which salt diapirs rise to the surface.The structure, fabrics, textures and deformation mechanisms of the impure halite all change along the path of the extrusive salt from the dome down the length of both namakiers. Such changes tend to occur when the flowing salt encounters changes in its boundary conditions, and the recognition of buried namakiers is discussed in the light of such observations. Episodes of salt flow at a rate of 0.5 m per day have been measured along the margin of the N namakier after significant rain showers. Such brief episodes of rapid flow alternate with long periods when the namakier is dry and stationary. The shape of the colour bands cropping out on the N namakier indicate that the flow over the surface of impure salt with a mylonitic texture obeys a power law with n ≈ 3. Although the reported annual rainfall has the potential of dissolving both namakiers in about 2000 years, a superimposed thin marine cover may protect static parts of them for as long as 30,000 to 300,000 years.     

A cleavage triple point and its meso-scopic structures: the Mustio Sink (Svecofennides of SW Finland)

A cleavage-triple-point (CTP) structure is analyzed, located at the west side of the Mustio gneiss dome in the Svecofennides of southwest Finland. The presence of the CTP and the pattern of mesoscopic fold structures exclude the origin of the Mustio dome by successive interference of fold phases. The highly variable deformation structures are explained in a single-phase deformation model by using the theoretical specific strain environments of a CTP. These environments are (1) horizontal oblation on top of a dome, (2) transition from horizontal to vertical oblation on the flanks of a dome, and (3) vertical constriction in the center of the CTP. It is shown that each strain environment is associated with specific development of foliation, folds, mesoscopic fold interference and strain intensity. The theoretical strain environments are confirmed by strain analysis.     

江西清江盆地岩盐矿床三种盐矿物中流体包裹体的初步研究

清江盆地岩盐矿床是我国东南地区中新生代的一个重要盐矿。该盐矿的矿石矿物主要为石盐，其次为钙芒硝和硬石膏，在这三种盐矿物中均含有较丰富的流体包裹体，但其流体包裹体的类型，成分、数量、大小和分布等特征都存在差异。就一般而言，研究盐矿物中的流体包裹体对发展岩盐矿床地质理论和指导开采以及处置核废物都具有重要意义。     

庐山东南麓冰川作用表皮构造特征及其意义

庐山东南麓第六阶地基座上,发现了早更新世冰川作用表皮构造。按其形态与成因可分为巨砾压入基岩、小型倒转构造与不协调褶皱、逆冲-贯入构造、大型片麻岩包裹体等四种类型。早更新世初期之庐山,确实多次发生过山麓冰川作用。     

Microstructural evolution of deformation-modified primary halite from the Middle Triassic Röt Formation at Hengelo, The Netherlands

The microstructure of halite from the subhorizontal, bedded Main Röt Evaporite Member at Hengelo, The Netherlands (AKZO well 382, depth interval of 420–460 m), was studied by transmitted and reflected light microscopy of gamma-irradiation decorated samples. Primary microstructures compare favourably with those found in recent ephemeral salt pans. Large, blocky, fluid-inclusion-poor halite grains and elongated chevrons are interpreted to have formed in the saline lake stage, while void-filling clear halite is interpreted to have formed during the desiccation stage of the salt pan. In addition, in all layers the grains are rich in deformation-related substructures such as slip bands and subgrains indicating strains of a few percent. The study of gamma-irradiation decorated thin sections shows that the main recrystallization mechanism is grain boundary migration. Grain boundary migration removes primary fluid inclusions and produces clear, strain-free new grains. Differential stresses as determined by subgrain size piezometry were 0.45–0.97 MPa. The deformation of the salt layers is probably related to Cretaceous inversion in the area.     

Faulting and fracturing in the Jurassic carbonate ramp folds of southern Rif ridges (Northern Morocco)

In the South Rifian ridges (SRR), the dominated structures correspond to the faulted anticline characteristic of a foreland orogeny context, front of the Rif Alpine belt. These anticlines correspond to thrust propagation folds. Geometric model of these structures shows that the normal faults have controlled the Mesozoic sedimentation during extensive episodes and participated in determining areas of thrusting during Miocene compressional phases. However, the normal fault strike which is relative to the direction of the shortening determined the geometry of diverse folds whether into the frontal ramps, lateral, or oblique. In the meantime, the systematic fracturing study in the Jurassic limestone beds, in different parts of the folds with axes oriented E-W, NW-SE, and NE-SW, permits to propose a relative fracturing chronology and tries investigating the relationship between folding and fracturing. The three main fracture families, oblique, transversal, and axial, appear simultaneously during the amplification of the fold. The simple shear in the limb contributes the latest to the folding reactivation and the density of the intensification of these microfractures. Likewise, given the important downslope fold limb dip of the ramp propagation folds, theoretically the shear intensity is more important, and micro-fractures are more important in the downslope fold limb, thus the uphill one.     

Late Cretaceous to Miocene and Quaternary deformation history of the Chalk: Channels,slumps, faults,folds and glacitectonics

Late Cretaceous Chalk sedimentation history across the British Isles included (i) fault controlled uplift and subsidence in Northern Ireland and the Inner Hebrides and (ii) uplift along the lines of en echelon folds in Southern Britain and northern France. Synsedimentary slump folds and downslope displacement structures are compared with penecontemporaneous interbed slides and later tectonic folds and faults. Compressional strike-slip tectonic processes at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, illustrate intra-Chalk slump beds in a half-graben setting. Progressive ‘growth’ of structures characterises early downslope slump folding, interbed sliding and some listric faulting. Sheet-flints replacing slide shear planes and early fractures provide evidence for early movements. Availability of open-slopes or the depth of burial under which the range of structures developed is reflected in the degree of disruption and fragmentation of chalk and flint. Fragmentation provides clues to the timing of events and origin of the Late Campanian Altachuile Breccia (Northern Ireland) and the Coniacian Hope Gap slides (Sussex). Fragmentation and formation of sheet flints together help distinguish intra-Chalk tectonics from Quaternary glacitectonic structures.The role of marl seams, high porosity chalk beds and hardgrounds on bed-sliding, décollement zones and disruption of chalk blocks from bedrock in glacitectonics is discussed. Chalk formations with marl seams develop a special style of fracturing related to early interbed sliding and pore-fluid escape structures. Marl-seams are shown to be primary sedimentary features and not the products of post depositional pressure-solution. More than any other formation the Late Santonian – Early Campanian Newhaven Chalk contains extensive sheet-flints and shows great lateral variation in thickness and lithology across the fold belts of southern England and northern France.     

云南兰坪-思茅盆地勐野井矿区钾石盐的特征及其沉积环境

本文运用X射线粉晶衍射(XRD)、透射电镜-能谱(TEM-EDS)和工业C T等方法,对云南江城勐野井钾盐矿床580m运输坑道地质剖面钾矿石的特征进行了研究。XRD和TEM-ESD结果给出,矿石中的盐类矿物主要是石盐、钾石盐、硬石膏和菱镁矿,钾石盐主要赋存在青灰色岩盐和灰绿色泥砾质岩盐中。CT结果表明,青灰色钾盐矿体中的石盐呈近似圆形和棱角分明的角砾,钾石盐沿石盐角砾的边缘呈条带状或不规则状分布,在条带状的内部可见钾石盐呈粒状或团块状分布,其中粒状钾石盐可能以八面体和立方体为主,而团块状钾石盐无特定晶形。钾石盐的这种分布特征表明,该盐类矿床在蒸发沉积过程中,早期沉积的石盐体呈遭受外力破坏,后期形成的钾石盐沿其裂隙沉积,表明钾石盐形成晚于石盐,且可能有多次沉积。     

老挝甘蒙省钾镁盐矿床含矿段的矿物学和地球化学特征及成因

老挝甘蒙省钾镁盐矿床位于呵叻盆地的东隅,本文以该矿床ZK318钻孔的含矿段———下盐层为研究对象,对其开展了系统的矿物学和地球化学特征研究。结果表明,矿石矿物以石盐、钾石盐和光卤石为主,含少量方硼石和硬石膏。根据矿物与主量元素的分布特征,将下盐层分为5个次层,由下至上顺序为:盐岩层(石盐为主)→钾盐岩层(钾石盐为主)→光卤石岩层(光卤石为主)→薄盐岩层(石盐为主)→钾盐岩层(钾石盐为主)。微量元素Br值均大于200×10-6,表明卤水来源于海水;由盐岩层→钾盐岩层→光卤石岩层,B含量呈现出逐渐升高的趋势,表明B含量与卤水盐度呈线性关系。但顶部钾盐岩层的B含量高达890×10-6,与少量方硼石的存在相吻合,指示成矿卤水除了海水外,还有深部热液的贡献。按照卤化物卤水蒸发浓缩的顺序,光卤石是该卤水浓缩的最后阶段,但在光卤石沉积之后,又晶出一薄层石盐,表明曾经历过一次短暂的淡水补给。上、下两层钾石盐具有基本相同的Br含量,分别为1 790×10-6和1 792×10-6,且均直接沉积在石盐之上,故为原生钾石盐,而非光卤石的次生淋滤产物。认为甘蒙省钾镁盐矿床为海源陆相沉积,海水和深部热液是成钾物质的主要来源,钻孔中出露的两层钾石盐均为原生沉积。     

川西地区甲基卡穹隆的构造变形特征

甲基卡穹隆因其丰富的锂辉石资源而闻名,在华北、扬子和羌塘3个板块之间的南北向和东西向双向收缩背景下,形成了其复杂的变形特征。穹隆顶部地层平缓,向外逐渐变陡,总体为同心圆状向外倾的复式背斜。顶部发育有A型等斜平卧褶皱、肠状石英脉及对称型压力影;翼部变质矿物多被拉伸旋转而呈不对称状,表现出向穹隆周围的正向剪切运动;穹隆外围地层产状较陡,多发育直立紧闭褶皱及倒转褶皱。总体来说,甲基卡穹隆岩浆底辟作用前,先后经历了南北向及东西向的挤压,成穹后再一次经历南北和东西向挤压的两期构造运动,属于构造变形与岩浆作用的共同产物。     

An alternative interpretation for the formation of doubly plunging folds in sandstone terrains

Folds are marvellous features of mountain terrains, but despite extensive research, many fundamental problems have still not been solved. In terrains of sandstone, fold hinges are rarely straight lines but curved, forming a pattern characterized by doubly plunging, elliptical dome‐and‐basin structures. Such structures are an obvious manifestation of coeval or successive shortening deformation in two orthogonal principal directions in the horizontal plane. Based on an anatomic investigation of the fold pattern of sandstone beds at the rocky beaches of Saint‐Jean‐Port‐Joli (Quebec, Canada), we propose that the doubly plunging folds may result from a transition from a plane deformation to a constrictional deformation due to auxetic effects of quartz‐rich rocks. The sandstone beds possessed potentially such negative values of Poisson's ratio that, when placed under compression in one direction, they become contracted in the transverse direction, producing a series of doubly plunging folds. Further work is needed to approve or disapprove the interpretation.     

Extreme ductile deformation of fine-grained salt by coupled solution-precipitation creep and microcracking: Microstructural evidence from perennial Zechstein sequence (Neuhof salt mine,Germany)

Microstructural study revealed that the ductile flow of intensely folded fine-grained salt exposed in an underground mine (Zechstein-Werra salt sequence, Neuhof mine, Germany) was accommodated by coupled activity of solution-precipitation (SP) creep and microcracking of the halite grains. The grain cores of the halite aggregates contain remnants of sedimentary microstructures with straight and chevron shaped fluid inclusion trails (FITs) and are surrounded by two concentric mantles reflecting different events of salt precipitation. Numerous intra-granular or transgranular microcracks originate at the tips of FITs and propagate preferentially along the interface between sedimentary cores and the surrounding mantle of reprecipitated halite. These microcracks are interpreted as tensional Griffith cracks. Microcracks starting at grain boundary triple junctions or grain boundary ledges form due to stress concentrations generated by grain boundary sliding (GBS). Solid or fluid inclusions frequently alter the course of the propagating microcracks or the cracks terminate at these inclusions. Because the inner mantle containing the microcracks is corroded and is surrounded by microcrack-free outer mantle, microcracking is interpreted to reflect transient failure of the aggregate. Microcracking is argued to play a fundamental role in the continuation and enhancement of the SP–GBS creep during halokinesis of the Werra salt, because the transgranular cracks (1) provide the ingress of additional fluid in the grain boundary network when cross-cutting the FITs and (2) decrease grain size by splitting the grains. More over, the ingress of additional fluids into grain boundaries is also provided by non-conservative grain boundary migration that advanced into FITs bearing cores of grains. Described readjustments of the microstructure and mechanical and chemical feedbacks for the grain boundary diffusion flow in halite-brine system are proposed to be comparable to other rock-fluid or rock-melt aggregates deforming by the grain boundary sliding (GBS) coupled deformation mechanisms.     

Criteria for the recognition of acid-precipitated halite

Modern acid and neutral saline lakes in Western Australia are an excellent natural laboratory for testing how pH affects halite, and for developing criteria for distinguishing past acid saline waters from past neutral saline waters in the rock record. This study characterizes and compares physical, chemical and biological features in halite precipitated from acid (pH 1·7 to 4·2) and neutral (pH 6·8 to 7·3) saline lakes in southern Western Australia. Supplemental data include synthetic halite grown from acid and neutral saline solutions, as well as halite deposited in Permian acid lakes. Although physical processes of halite growth are not affected by pH, there are differences in the colour, accessory minerals, fluid inclusions and microfossils between acid and neutral halites. Acid lake halite commonly is yellow or orange in colour; neutral lake halites examined in this study are always snow white. Acid halites tend to contain abundant sulphate and iron oxide minerals, both as solid inclusions and as solids within fluid inclusions; neutral halites contain little, if any, sulphates and no iron oxides. Acid fluid inclusion freezing/melting behaviours include characteristics that differ from neutral fluid inclusion behaviours, such as lower eutectic temperatures, higher and wider temperature range of hydrohalite rims with a definable fuzzy border and more complex metastable phases. Acid halite contains 'hairy blobs', clusters of bacterial/archaeal/fungal remains and sulphate crystals, which are not found in halite from neutral lakes. This distinct assemblage of features characteristic of modern acid lake halites may serve as informal criteria for the recognition of past acid lake evaporites in the rock record.     

Chemical and physical weathering in a hot‐arid,tectonically active alluvial system of Anza Borrego Desert,California

Investigation of chemical and physical weathering of bedrock and alluvial sediment in the Anza Borrego Desert, California, sheds light on weathering processes in hot‐arid systems and clarifies interpretations of climate from alluvial sediment. All of the alluvial sediment in the study area emanates from Cretaceous tonalite of the Peninsular Range, enabling exploration of the effects of external variables – climate, transport distance and tectonics – on the physical and chemical properties of the sediment. Chemical weathering in this area is dominated by plagioclase alteration observed in both bedrock outcrops and sediment, evinced most clearly by changes in the Eu anomaly. Biotite chemical weathering, manifested by interlayer K⁺ loss, is not evident in bedrock, but clearly observed in the sediment. Despite the weak intensity of chemical weathering (Chemical Index of Alteration = 56 to 62), fine‐grained (<63 μm) sediment displays a clear weathering trend in A–CN–K space and contains up to 25% clay minerals. Physical abrasion and grain‐size reduction in biotite during transport predominates in the sediment, whereas physical (insolation) weathering affecting bedrock is inferred from estimates of differential thermal expansion of mineral phases in response to extreme temperature changes in the study area. Chemical alteration and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area both increase within the active Elsinore fault zone at the distal end of the depositional transect, reflecting tectonic‐induced fracturing and associated accelerated weathering. Extensive fracturing, together with a more humid Pleistocene climate, probably facilitated in situ bedrock weathering, preceding arid alluvial deposition in the Holocene. This study demonstrates that both climate and tectonic processes can affect chemical and physical weathering, resulting in alteration of plagioclase, leaching of K⁺ from biotite in the sediment and formation of clay minerals, even in hot, arid systems.     

Morphometry of gibber gravel at Mt Sturt,New South Wales

Mt Sturt is a duricrusted residual, from which particles of silcrete are discharged on to flanking slopes and surrounding pediments. Dimensional analysis of the particles yields log‐normal curves, bimodal on the crest but unimodal elsewhere, with an orderly downslope decrease in median dimensions. The rate of decrease appears insufficient to reduce the particles to sand size within conceivable limits of pediment length. Analysis of shape indices gives normal distributions with no significant down‐slope change of index, except for the roundness index which tends to assume distributions of the Poisson type and to increase in value downslope. The general correspondence between observed distributions and theoretical curves is close, although it seems likely that gilgai can disturb to some extent the distribution of dimensions in particular samples.     

Reverse modelling of detachment folds; application to the Pico del Aguila anticline in the South Central Pyrenees (Spain)

A simple method to estimate fold-amplification and thrust-movement rates for detachment folds is documented and illustrated by its application to a symmetrical detachment fold in the Southern Pyrenees, Spain. The technique provides a complete record of the kinematic evolution of detachment folds and is based on the application of equations for detachment folds involving limb rotation. The method uses the stratal pattern of the syntectonic sediments and assumes that these growth strata were deposited horizontally, that the folds involve a homogeneous competent unit detached over a ductile horizon, and that the folds can be represented by chevronkink bands. The procedure is applicable to any detachment fold with associated growth strata that display wedge geometries (‘progressive unconformities’) indicating limb rotation through time. This method can be used for both detachment folds formed with constant limb length or variable limb length, and it can also accommodate undecompacted or decompacted growth strata.     

塔西南坳陷中新生代蒸发岩沉积初探

通过资料搜集、蒸发岩野外露头地质调查、石盐岩沉积特征分析及盐类矿物学研究,对塔里木盆地塔西南坳陷中新生代蒸发岩的分布、层位、盐类矿物组合、成因进行了初步探讨。塔西南坳陷石盐岩沉积呈透镜体状,主要沿西昆仑山前分布,常含有褐红色、灰绿色泥砾,泥砾岩性与吐依洛克组下段岩性一致,推测应为吐依洛克组沉积晚期海退期成盐,其层位应归属于吐依洛克组上段。石盐岩透镜体在横向分布上不连续,反映了当时塔西南坳陷内部可能存在多个古盐湖次级凹地,其在干旱气候条件下经浓缩蒸发成盐。蒸发岩矿物除石盐、石膏外,还见有杂卤石、钙芒硝等,其中杂卤石可能为后期富钾卤水交代原生石膏的产物,而乌泊1井石盐表面大量的次生钙芒硝可能为盐湖后期石盐析出阶段含钙地下水缓慢持续补给盐湖的产物。     

某产铀岩体锆石的标型特征及其地质意义

某岩体为一产铀的加里东期复式岩体。本文研究了该岩体中副矿物锆石的形态、包体和环带及其延长度、粒度的变化,将其与围岩中副矿物锆石进行对比并结合岩体中锆石的稀土元素地球化学特点,表明该岩体是区域上的沉积变质岩重熔交代的产物。笔者还从岩体中锆石的含铀性,ZrO_z/HfO_2值与岩石中Na_2O的关系探讨了成矿中铀和钠的来源,并从副矿物锆石的标型方面提出了产铀岩体的评价标志。     

Solution-precipitation creep and fluid flow in halite: a case study of Zechstein (Z1) rocksalt from Neuhof salt mine (Germany)

Zechstein (Z1) rocksalt from the Fulda basin, from the immediate vicinity of the Hessen potash bed is folded into tight to isoclinal folds which are cut by an undeformed, 1 cm thick, coarse-grained halite vein. Microstructures were investigated in etched, gamma-irradiated thin sections from both the wall rock and the vein. The lack of synsedimentary dissolution structures and the widespread occurrence of plate-shaped and hopper grains in the wall-rock suggests that the sedimentary environment was perennial lake. Deformation microstructures are in good agreement with solution-precipitation creep process, and salt flow under very low differential stress. Strength contrast between anhydrite-rich and anhydrite-poor layers caused the small scale folding in the halite beds. The vein is completely sealed and composed mainly of euhedral to subhedral halite grains, which often overgrow the wall-rock grains. Those microstructures, together with the presence of occasional fluid inclusion bands, suggest that the crystals grew into a solution-filled open space. Based on considerations on the maximum value of in-situ differential stress, the dilatancy criteria, the amount of released fluids from the potash bed during metamorphism and the volume change, it is proposed that the crack was generated by hydrofracturing of the rocksalt due to the presence of the salt-metamorphic fluid at near-lithostatic pressure.     

东濮断陷盐湖盆地下第三系砂体类型及沉积模式

东濮盆地是我国东部目前重点油气勘探地区之一,现已证实在下第三系各类砂岩体中聚集丰富的油气。查明盆地内砂体类型、特征、成因及分布规律,对今后油气勘探及开发有着十分重要的意义。