New results of 40Ar/39Ar dating constrain the timing of transition from fissure-type to central volcanism at Mount Etna (Italy)

Recent geological studies performed at Etna allow reassessing the stratigraphic frame of the volcano where distinct evolutionary phases are defined. This stratigraphic reconstruction was chronologically constrained on the basis of a limited number of U–Th and K–Ar age determinations whose uncertainty margins are sometimes too wide. For this reason, we successfully adopted at Etna the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar technique that allowed obtaining more precise age determinations. The incremental heating technique also gives information on sample homogeneity, and potential problems of trapped argon. Five samples were collected from stratigraphically well-controlled volcanic units in order to chronologically define the transition between the fissure-type volcanism of the Timpe phase to the central volcanism of the Valle del Bove Centers. Isotopic ages with an uncertainty margin of 2–4% have been obtained emphasizing that this transition occurred (130–126 ka) without significant temporal hiatus.     

Active deformation in the northern Sierra de Valle Fértil,Sierras Pampeanas,Argentina

The Western Sierras Pampeanas region in the San Juan Province is characterized by thick-skinned deformation with approximately N–S trending ranges of average heights of 2500 m and a high frequency occurrence of seismic activity. Its location to the east of the mainly thin-skinned tectonics of the Argentine Precordillera fold-and-thrust belt suggests that at 30°S, deformation is concentrated in a narrow zone involving these two morphostructural units. In this paper, we present new apatite (U–Th)/He results (AHe) across the northern part of the Sierra de Valle Fértil (around 30°S) and analyze them in a framework of thermochronologic available datasets. We found Pliocene AHe results for Carboniferous and Triassic strata in the northern Sierra de Valle Fértil consistent with the hypothesis of recent cooling and inferred erosional denudation concentrated along the northern end of this mountain range. Our analysis shows that this northern region may have evolved under different conditions than the central part of the Sierra de Valle Fértil. Previous studies have observed AHe ages consistent with Permian through Cretaceous cooling, indicating the middle part of the Sierra de Valle Fértil remained near surface before the Pampean slab subduction flattening process. Those studies also obtained ∼5 My cooling ages in the southern part of the Sierra de Valle Fértil, which are similar to our results in the northern end of the range. Taken together, these results suggest a pattern of young deformation in the northern and southern low elevation ends of the Sierra de Valle Fértil consistent with regions of high seismic activity, and Quaternary active faulting along the western-bounding thrust fault of the Sierra de Valle Fértil.     

Geological evolution of Mount Etna volcano (Italy) from earliest products until the first central volcanism (between 500 and 100 ka ago) inferred from geochronological and stratigraphic data

We present an updated geological evolution of Mount Etna volcano based on new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations and stratigraphic data integrating the previous K/Ar ages. Volcanism began at about 500 ka ago through submarine eruptions on the Gela–Catania Foredeep basin. About 300 ka ago fissure-type eruptions occurred on the ancient alluvial plain of the Simeto River forming a lava plateau. From about 220 ka ago the eruptive activity was localised mainly along the Ionian coast where fissure-type eruptions built a shield volcano. Between 129 and 126 ka ago volcanism shifted westward toward the central portion of the present volcano (Val Calanna–Moscarello area). Furthermore, scattered effusive eruptions on the southern periphery of Etna edifice occurred until about 121 ka ago. The stabilization of the plumbing system on the Valle del Bove area is marked by the building of two small polygenic edifices, Tarderia and Rocche volcanoes. Their eruptive activity was rather coeval ending 106 and 102 ka ago, respectively. During the investigated time-span volcanism in Etna region was controlled by a main E–W extensional tectonic related to the reactivation of Malta Escarpment fault system in eastern Sicily. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. An erratum to this article can be found at     

European tectonic features observed by Magsat

Regional three-dimensional magnetic models have been developed to characterize the principal European long-wavelength magnetic anomalies represented on the improved magnetic anomaly map of Europe. The magnetic models were constrained by regional variations in geology and geophysical parameters (e.g., geologic boundaries, crustal thickness, heat flow). Because only limited measurements of magnetization are available on lower crustal and uppermost mantle rock samples, our results are useful in constraining and understanding the overall magnetization of these regions. Illustrations of these include: (1) geologic provinces across the Tornquist-Teisseyre tectonic zone; (2) regions of thin crust and high mantle heat flow in south-central Europe; (3) the Kursk-Voronezh magnetic anomaly; and (4) the Ladoga-Gulf of Bothnia zone. The region of the Tornquist-Teisseyre tectonic zone, that marks the boundary between the Fennoscandian-Baltic Shield and metastable Europe, is a major magnetic discontinuity. In south-central Europe, the regional magnetic variations appear to be directly related to variations in the lower crustal thickness and possibly also to heat flow. In addition, the famous Kursk (Ukraine) iron-ore deposit produces a prominent bullseye anomaly at satellite altitude. The Kiruna anomaly is modelled as having a large, deep body as its source. The high P-wave velocity, basal crustal layers encountered in rift (e.g., the Tornquist-Teisseyre tectonic zone itself) and continental arc (e.g., the Ladoga-Gulf of Bothnia zone) settings of Europe appear to be nearly non-magnetic.     

A tertiary fold and thrust belt in the Valle del Cauca Basin, Colombian Andes

Surface geology and heophysical data, supplemented by regional structural interpretations, indicate that the Valle del Cauca basin and adjacent areas in west-central Colombia form a west-vergent, basement-involved fold and thrust belt. This belt is part of a Cenozoic orogen developed along the west side of the Romeral fault system. Structural analysis and geometrical constraints show that the Mesozoic ophiolitic basement and its Cenozoic sedimentary cover are involved in a “thick-skinned” west-vergent foreland style deformation. The rocks are transported and shortened by deeply rooted thrust faults and stacked in imbricate fashion. The faults have a NE---SW regional trend, are listric in shape, developed as splay faults which are interpreted as joining a common detachment at over 10 km depth. The faults carry Paleogene sedimentary strata and Cretaceous basement rocks westward over Miocene strata of the Valle del Cauca Basin. Fold axes trend parallel or sub parallel to the thrust faults. The folds are westwardly asymmetrical with parallel to kink geometry, and are interpreted to be fault-propagation folds stacked in an imbricate thrust system. Stratigraphic evidence suggests that the Valle del Cauca basin was deformed between Oligocene and upper Miocene time. The kinematic history outlined above is consistent with an oblique convergence between the Panama and South American plates during the Cenozoic.A negative residual Bouguer anomaly of 20–70 mgls in the central part of the Valle del Cauca basin indicates that a substantial volume of low density sedimentary rocks is concealed beneath the thrust sheets exposed at the land surface. The hydrocarbon potential of the Valle del Cauca should be reevaluated in light of the structural interpretations presented in this paper.     

Mercury mobility in mine waste from Hg-mining areas in Almería,Andalusia (Se Spain)

Mining wastes and calcines from two abandoned mining areas (Valle del Azogue and Bayarque in Almería) have been characterized. In the mining wastes, the dominant mercury phases are cinnabar and elemental mercury in the matrix. In the calcines, however, the dominant mercury phase is elemental mercury bounded to the matrix. Water-leaching experiments were conducted on low-grade stockpiles and calcines in order to simulate the mobilization of mercury by runoff under environmental conditions. The laboratory column-leaching experiments show a possible mobilization of mercury from Hg⁰ dissolution, colloid transport and a possible dissolution of calomel and other soluble phases in the mine wastes from the Valle del Azogue and Bayarque mines. Equilibrium speciation modeling of Hg, conducted using the numerical code MINTEQ, showed that the theoretical dominant mercury species in the calcine and mining wastes samples are Hg(OH)₂, HgCl₂, HgClOH and Hg⁰. In some leachates obtained from the Valle del Azogue mining wastes (sample A06), the high Hg concentrations may indicate the possible dissolution of mineral phases such as calomel and other soluble phases, which are subsaturated. The environmental results indicate a great environmental mobility of mercury, especially during wet episodes associated with intense precipitation events, when there are significative amounts of secondary soluble minerals.     

Origin of silicic volcanism in the Panamanian arc: evidence for a two-stage fractionation process at El Valle volcano

In the Central American Volcanic Arc, adakite-like volcanism has often been described as volumetrically insignificant. However, extensive silicic adakitic volcanism does occur in the Panamanian arc and provides an opportunity to evaluate the origin of this magma-type as well as to contrast its origin with other Central American silicic magmas. The Quaternary volcanic deposits of El Valle volcano are characterized by pronounced depletions in the heavy rare earth elements, low Y, high Sr, high Sr/Y, relatively high MgO, and low K₂O/Na₂O, when compared with other Quaternary Central American volcanics at similar SiO₂. These chemical features are also diagnostic of adakitic signatures. Our new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of lava flows and ash flows that compose the volcanic edifice of El Valle volcano illustrate that the eruptive volume of adakitic-like volcanism is substantial during the Quaternary (~120 km³). Adakitic-like magmas dominate the stratigraphic record. Common to all models for the origin of an adakite geochemical signature is the involvement of garnet, as a residual or fractionating phase. The stability of garnet in hydrous magmas has been recently reevaluated with important consequences; garnet is a stable primary igneous phase at pressure and temperature conditions expected for magma differentiation at the roots of a mature island arc. Moreover, adakite-like volcanism erupted at El Valle volcano displays the middle rare earth element depletion observed in other Panamanian volcanic centers that has been attributed to significant amphibole fractionation. Extensive amphibole fractionation may have occurred in two stages. The first stage of fractionation, garnet + amphibole fractionation, occurs from hydrous basaltic–andesitic parental magmas that have ponded at the base of an overthickened crust. The second stage occurs at mid-lower crustal levels where abundant amphibole + plagioclase and minor sphene crystallized from water-rich magmas. These two stages combined may have resulted in an amphibole-rich cumulate layer. This amphibole layer is likely the source of the abundant amphibole-rich cumulate enclaves and blobs found in volcanic products across the Panamanian arc. Stalling of water-rich magmas during this two-stage fractionation process could drive the interstitial liquids to the evolved compositions typical of continental crust, while leaving behind amphibole-rich cumulate rocks that may eventually be returned to the asthenosphere. Differentiation of H₂O-rich magmas under the conditions appropriate for the roots of island arcs may therefore be a key process in developing a better understanding of the generation of continental crust in island arc environments.     

陇西第三纪红土磁学性质初步研究

在六盘山以西广泛分布着一套第三纪红色土状沉积,对这套沉积的成因及性质还没 有系统的研究。本文对陇西红土磁学性质的研究发现,该地红土的剩磁载体由主到次依次为磁铁矿、磁赤铁矿和赤铁矿,赤铁矿对剩磁有比较显著的贡献;特征剩磁载体主要是磁铁矿,一些古土壤中的赤铁矿也携带了部分特征剩磁,磁赤铁矿的存在不影响特征剩磁的稳定性。与六盘山以东宝鸡红土最显著的差异是陇西红土中的赤铁矿对磁学性质有明显的影响。与第四纪黄土一古土壤序列的热磁学性质的差异在于陇西红土在高温下仅产生少量或不产生强磁性矿物。这可能暗示着红土中含铁硅酸盐和粘土等矿物(可能在高温下产生磁铁矿)处于与黄土一古土壤的相应矿物不同的演化阶段。     

Magnetostratigraphic Study of Meishan Permian-Triassic Section, Changxing, Zhejiang Province, China

INTRODUCTIONBecause many P/ T boundary sections around the worldare stratigraphically unconformed,som e possible exceptionsdeveloped in Greenland,Iran,Russia and South China are ofcourse of international importance.Especially successive sedi-ments from the L ate Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic widely ap-peared in South China,for example,the Meishan Section inChangxing County,Zhejiang Province,and som e analogies inGuangyuan,Wulong and Shangsi counties,Sichuan Province.Some geologists…     

高盐矿井水深部转移存储介质特征与水动力演化规律

高盐矿井水处理及排放是近几年影响煤炭高效开采的重要因素之一,选择开采煤层底板下深部适当的含水层,将高盐矿井水进行异位转移存储是一种值得探索的矿井水排放减量方法。以鄂尔多斯盆地X矿为例,分析认为开采煤层以下宝塔山砂岩和深层刘家沟组砂岩地层具备转移存储空间。采取压汞实验和岩石力学分析研究2组地层介质特征;采用水位自然恢复试验、压水试验和数值模拟等手段研究水文地质参数和水动力场特征。结果表明:宝塔山砂岩孔隙率为6.57%~19.89%,储水潜力大但距离开采煤层过近,转移存储矿井水可能引起底板突水威胁,现今开采阶段不考虑作为转移存储目的层;刘家沟组孔隙率为4.18%~7.49%,原始状态下渗透系数为5.31×10-6 m/d,注水压裂后为0.008 14~0.015 27 m/d,渗透能力大幅提升并可保持稳定;MODFLOW模拟结果表明,刘家沟组含水层在长期转移存储矿井水方面具备较好前景。      

On the origin of multi‐layer coronas between olivine and plagioclase at the gabbro–granulite transition,Valle Fértil–La Huerta Ranges,San Juan Province,Argentina

Troctolitic gabbros from Valle Fértil and La Huerta Ranges, San Juan Province, NW‐Argentina exhibit multi‐layer corona textures between cumulus olivine and plagioclase. The corona mineral sequence, which varies in the total thickness from 0.5 to 1 mm, comprises either an anhydrous corona type I with olivine|orthopyroxene|clinopyroxene+spinel symplectite|plagioclase or a hydrous corona type II with olivine|orthopyroxene|amphibole|amphibole+spinel symplectite|plagioclase. The anhydrous corona type I formed by metamorphic replacement of primary olivine and plagioclase, in the absence of any fluid/melt phase at <840 °C. Diffusion controlled metamorphic solid‐state replacement is mainly governed by the chemical potential gradients at the interface of reactant olivine and plagioclase and orthopyroxene and plagioclase. Thus, the thermodynamic incompatibility of the reactant minerals at the gabbro–granulite transition and the phase equilibria of the coronitic assemblage during subsequent cooling were modelled using quantitative μMgO–μCaO phase diagrams. Mineral reaction textures of the anhydrous corona type I indicate an inward migration of orthopyroxene on the expense of olivine, while clinopyroxene+spinel symplectite grows outward to replace plagioclase. Mineral textures of the hydrous corona type II indicate the presence of an interstitial liquid trapped between cumulus olivine and plagioclase that reacts with olivine to produce a rim of peritectic orthopyroxene around olivine. Two amphibole types are distinguished: an inclusion free, brownish amphibole I is enriched in trace elements and REEs relative to green amphibole II. Amphibole I evolves from an intercumulus liquid between peritectic orthopyroxene and plagioclase. Discrete layers of green amphibole II occur as inclusion‐free rims and amphibole II+spinel symplectites. Mineral textures and geochemical patterns indicate a metamorphic origin for amphibole II, where orthopyroxene was replaced to form an inner inclusion‐free amphibole II layer, while clinopyroxene and plagioclase were replaced to form an outer amphibole+spinel symplectite layer, at <770 °C. Calculation of the possible net reactions by considering NCKFMASH components indicates that the layer bulk composition cannot be modelled as a ‘closed’ system although in all cases the gain and loss of elements within the multi‐layer coronas (except H₂O, Na₂O) is very small and the main uncertainties may arise from slight chemical zoning of the respective minerals. Local oxidizing conditions led to the formation of orthopyroxene+magnetite symplectite enveloping and/or replacing olivine. The sequence of corona reaction textures indicates a counter clockwise P–T path at the gabbro–granulite transition at 5–6.5 kbar and temperatures below 900 °C.     

Iblean diatremes 2: shallow marine volcanism in the Central Mediterranean at the onset of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (Iblean Mountains, SE-Sicily)—a multidisciplinary approach

A multidisciplinary analysis of intraplate volcanic complexes interbedded with shallow and deeper marine sediments of a Late Miocene carbonate platform (Iblean Plateau, Sicily) has allowed a detailed paleo-environmental reconstruction. Our approach includes sedimentology, physical volcanology, stratigraphy, geochemistry/mineralogy, paleontology and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating. Four volcanic complexes are distinguished from each other. Two comprise an eastern shallow water platform (diatreme field and Carlentini complex) and two a western deeper water environment representing a seamount belt on the carbonate ramp (Valle Guffari seamount and Mineo complex). The late Miocene volcanism was not time-equivalent: episodic eruptions took place from the Late Tortonian (ca. 9.38 Ma at Mt. Carrubba) to Early Messinian (ca. 6.46 Ma at Valle Guffari). Explosive volcanism of the diatreme field may be related geodynamically to the period of periodic sea-level oscillations at the onset of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Marine diatomites preserved in the crater areas of two diatremes are the only remnants of Early Messinian diatomites in the eastern Iblean Mountains.     

Sveconorwegian igneous complexes beneath the Norwegian–Danish Basin

Gravity and magnetic anomalies have previously been interpreted to indicate strongly magnetic Permian or even Tertiary intrusive bodies beneath the Skagerrak waterway (such as the ‘Skagerrak volcano’) and beneath Silkeborg in Denmark. Our combined modelling of the magnetic and gravity anomalies over these rock bodies indicates that a steep upward magnetisation is required to explain the magnetic anomalies at the surface, reminiscent of the magnetic direction in the Sveconorwegian rocks of the Rogaland Igneous Province in southern Norway. The younger rocks of the Permian Oslo Rift region have intermediate and flat magnetisation that is inadequate to explain the observed magnetic field. The positive part of the Skagerrak aeromagnetic anomaly is continuous with the induced anomalies associated with the eastward extension of the Rogaland Igneous Province. This relation also suggests that rocks of the Rogaland Igneous Province and its offshore extension are responsible for the Skagerrak anomalies. Both the negative, remanence-dominated aeromagnetic anomaly and the positive gravity anomaly can be modelled using constraints from seismic reflection lines and available density data and rock-magnetic properties. A 7 km thick complex of ultramafic/mafic intrusions is located below a southward dipping 1–4 km thick section of Mesozoic sediments and 1–2 km of Palaeozoic sediments. The enormous body of dense, ultramafic/mafic rocks implied by the modelling could be the residue of the parental magma that produced the voluminous Rogaland anorthosites. The application of similar petrophysical properties in the forward modelling of the Silkeborg source body provides an improved explanation of the observed gravity and magnetic anomalies compared with earlier studies. The new model is constrained by magnetic depth estimates (from the Located Euler method) ranging between 6 and 8 km. Forward modelling shows that a model with a reverse magnetic body (anorthosite?) situated above a dense, mafic/ultramafic body may account for the Silkeborg anomalies. The anorthosites may have formed by differentiation of the underlying mafic intrusion, similar to the intrusive relations in the Rogaland Igneous Province. We conclude that there is strong evidence for a Sveconorwegian age for both the Skagerrak and the Silkeborg anomalous rock bodies.     

塞浦路斯特罗多斯型洋壳最上部500米剖面(CY—1钻孔)中的不透明矿物、磁性及其蚀变作用的研究

引言近十年来为了鉴别大洋盆地中线性磁异常模式的起源,对洋壳磁化强度的研究显示了极大的兴趣。目前了解洋壳(尤其在深部)可以通过几种方法,如在推测为构造断崖的附近进行海底拖曳打捞、通过大洋基底钻探     

Fluid immiscibility in late-Alpine gold-bearing veins,Eastern and Northwestern European Alps

Gold-bearing quartz veins fill late-Alpine brittle structures in Pennine nappes of Austria (in the Tauern window) and in northern Italy. The veins formed in the latter stages of uplift of the Alps. Fluid inclusions in veins sampled from Böckstein, Austria, and Valle Anzasca, Italy have a wide variety of compositions, ranging from aqueous brine (about 5 wt% NaCl equiv.) to about 50 mol% CO₂. At room temperature, the inclusions range with increasing CO₂ content from two-phase aqueous, through three-phase in which the CO₂ homogenizes to vapour, to three-phase with CO₂ homogenizing to liquid. This wide range of inclusion compositions is interpreted as evidence for fluid immiscibility, with most inclusions being accidental mixtures of the two end-member immiscible fluids. The homogenization temperatures of the aqueous inclusions, 200–280°C, gives the best estimate of temperature of formation of the veins. Vein formation fluid pressure at Böckstein and Valle Anzasca was about 1 kbar, and Böckstein veins formed at lower pressure than Valle Anzasca veins. Fluid immiscibility may have contributed to deposition of gold at both Valle Anzasca and Böckstein, and possibly many other uplift-related Alpine gold localities.     

Über die Umkehr der remanenten Magnetisierung von Titanomagnetiten in Basaiten

Selfreversal of the remanent magnetization of titanomagnetites from basalts has been investigated as a matter of special magnetic properties of ferrites. The spontaneous and the remanent magnetization has been measured in the range between 77° K and 700° K. The spontaneous magnetization plotted vs temperature turns out to be similar toNéelsQ-,P-,L- orN-type curves. The occurence of different curves is interpreted as a function of differences in the chemical composition of the titanomagnetites. The N-type of the spontaneous magnetization shows selfreversal of the remanence, which only was observed below room temperature.     

Paleomagnetism of the Chibougamau greenstone belt,Quebec, and the effects of Grenvillian post-orogenic uplift

A paleomagnetic survey (34 sites, 200 core samples) of an Archean greenstone belt just north of the Grenville Front is described. Sixty per cent of the samples have blocking temperatures less than 400° C and remanent coercive forces predominantly below 100 Oe, and they provide no information about the Precambrian geomagnetic field. The other samples contain many magnetizations of which two (CS and CH) can be clearly recognized. The CS magnetization occurs in basic sills, and has high blocking temperature (550 to 650°C) and remanent coercive force (often exceeding 1000 Oe) and a direction (186°,?38°) that is not significantly different from that in Matachewan diabase dikes (2690 m.y.). CS is thought to have been caused by uplift following the Kenoran orogeny and its age is probably about 2600 m.y. No older magnetization has been found. The CH magnetization occurs in several different bodies and has a direction (119°, +51°) similar to that observed in rocks from other places close to the Grenville Front. CH has more variable blocking temperatures (200 to 650°C) and remanent coercive forces (200 to > 1000 Oe) and is considered to have been acquired by heating during uplift of the highly metamorphose Grenville Province to the south. Uplift occurred about 1000 m.y. ago, and the CH magnetization is considered to be of this age. Evidence is presented to support the suggestion that there was an extensive magnetization episode both within and adjacent to the Grenville Province at that time.     

Karst groundwater resources in the countries of eastern Mediterranean: the example of Lebanon

The hydrogeological study of some karst systems in Lebanon shows important storage capacity, up to 27 billions m³ for Zarka system, the spring of Orontes River. Their geological and morphological settings, as well as their hydrodynamic function, show structures developed below the level of present springs, probably up to several hundreds meters at depth. Since Miocene, those carbonate formations were subject to a remarkable instability of their base levels. Variations of sea level, of which the Messinian salinity crisis is the major phase, and effects of the alpine orogenesis, combined with climate variations to develop complex, multiphased karst systems. Karstification occurs frequently in the whole formation, often deeply below sea level or underneath sediment filling of continental basins. The surface karst landscape is often intensely eroded. Those multiple, superimposed karst phases give the carbonate aquifers their large extension and storage capacity. These karst aquifers show the typical easy restoration of storage. They have the ability to bear large interannual recharge variations and support exploitation under high pumping rates. However, these aquifers have some disadvantages for sustainable management. In some regions, successful boreholes, which allow high pumping rates also induce uncontrolled exploitation. Another consequence is natural seawater intrusion, as well as the submarine discharge of fresh groundwater, in coastal aquifers. Those carbonate aquifers are subject to important economical stress which jeopardizes their durability. The systematic study and understanding of carbonate aquifers in Eastern Mediterranean is a preliminary condition to any integrated and sustainable management of water resources. Studies in progress in Lebanon may serve as examples to the whole region.     

判别磁异常性质的一种新方法──磁偏角磁倾角法

由于岩矿体剩余磁化强度与感应磁化强度的差异导致岩矿磁异常差异及磁偏角、磁倾角的不同，根据这一特征来判别异常性质。