The upper cenozoic evolution of the Duero and Ebro fluvial systems (N-Spain): part I. paleogeography; part II. geomorphology

Lack of age dates in the terrigenous Cenozoic sediments of the Duero and the Ebro sedimentary basins has complicated tecto-stratic correlation across the two basins. We tentatively synthesize a range of existing studies and new data to construct a rough general paleogeography throughout Upper Cenozoic times. The more extensive erosion of the Ebro has been previously attributed to the earlier moment of opening. We tentatively analyse lithostratic data to conclude that the lower knick-point and different lithologies have also contributed to the deeper erosion in the Ebro Basin. We conclude from lithostratic data and field evidence that the W half of the Rioja was part of the Duero in earlier times and that the escarpment retreated westward through the Rioja in four subsequent episodes of erosion. The tilt of the NW Duero is a consequence of isostatic rebound to this erosion.     

Post Gondwana breakup evolution of the SE Australia rifted margin revisited

Low‐temperature thermochronology (LTT) is commonly used to investigate onshore records of continental rifting and geomorphic evolution of passive continental margins. The SE Australian passive margin, like many others, has an elevated plateau separated from the coastal plain by an erosional escarpment, presumed to originate through Cretaceous rifting prior to Tasman Sea seafloor spreading. Previous LTT studies have focused on reconciling thermal histories with development of the present‐day topography. New apatite LTT data along an escarpment‐to‐coast transect define a classic “boomerang” (mean track length vs. fission‐track age), indicating variable overprinting of late‐Palaeozoic cooling ages by a younger, mid‐Cretaceous cooling event. Regionally, however, the boomerang trend diverges NNW away from the coast and crosses the escarpment, implying the underlying thermal history pre‐dates escarpment formation and is largely independent from post‐breakup landscape evolution. We suggest that Cretaceous cooling might relate to erosion of Permo‐Triassic sedimentary cover from a formerly more extensive Sydney Basin.     

Alpine paleostress reconstruction and active faulting in Western Iberia

The study of intraplate tectonics is crucial for understanding the deformation within plates, far from active plate boundaries and associated stress transmission to the plate interiors. This paper examines the tectonic evolution of the Variscan basement at the western margin of the Cenozoic Duero basin. Located east of the Vilariça Fault System in NW Iberia, this intraplate zone is a relatively flat but elevated area with an intense NNE-SSW trending fault system and associated moderate seismicity. Although the area has played an important role in the Duero basin configuration, its Alpine to present-day tectonic evolution has not been well constrained. In order to characterize the successive paleostress fields, 1428 pairs of fault-striae were measured at 56 sites and two focal mechanisms were used. Stress inversion methods have been applied to analyze paleostress regimes. Results show the existence of three dominant maximum horizontal stress (Shmax) trends: N-S, NE-SW and E-W. Relative and absolute dating of the activated faults for each Shmax shows that the clearly predominant N-S paleostress field in the zone has been active since the Oligocene up to the present day; while a NE-SW stress field is found to have been active during the Cretaceous and an older E-W paleostress field was active in the earlier Alpine cycle (Late Triassic).     

Modern erosion and sedimentation processes in the deep-water part of the Tuapse Trough based on the data of 3D seismic survey

On the basis of new 2D/3D seismic data, the modern tectonic, erosion, and sedimentation processes have been studied in detail in the Tuapse Trough of the Black Sea. The principal processes identified are growth of anticline folds, erosion of submarine ridges, and formation of submarine channels and modern small basins. It has been shown that erosion of submarine ridges took place throughout the entire evolution of their growth.     

Predicting landscape-scale erosion rates using digital elevation models

Functional relationships between erosion rates and topography are central to understanding controls on global sediment flux and interactions among tectonics, climate, and erosion in shaping topography. Based on such relations digital elevation models (DEMs) allow predicting landscape-scale erosion rates to the degree that process models can be calibrated and to the extent that such processes reflect elevation, drainage area, and aspect, or their derivatives such as slope and curvature. Digital elevation models allow investigating the influence of erosional processes on landscape form and evolution through generalized quantitative expressions often referred to as ‘erosion laws’. The analytical forms of such expressions are derived from physical principles, but only limited data are available to guide calibration to particular landscapes. In addition, few studies have addressed how different transport laws interact to set landscape-scale erosion rates in different environments. Conventionally, landscape-scale sediment flux is considered to be linearly related to slope or relief, but recent analyses point toward non-linear relations for steep terrain in which changes in the frequency of landsliding accommodate increased rates of rock uplift. In such situations, landscape-scale erosion rates are more closely tied to erosion potential predicted by models of bedrock river incision. Consequently, I propose that using DEMs to predict absolute or relative erosion rates at the landscape-scale counter-intuitively involves the rate of fluvial processes as governing the sediment flux from steep landscapes, and rates of hillslope processes as governing sediment flux from low-gradient landscapes. To cite this article: D.R. Montgomery, C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Geomorphology and tectonics of the Dorrigo Plateau,N.S.W.

The Dorrigo Plateau is covered by basalt, which is a remnant of the 18 Ma old Ebor Volcano. The centre of this volcano is an intrusion in the Bellinger Valley. The volcano was erupted on a palaeoplain of moderate relief. Subsequent uplift and tilting led to erosion of the Nambucca Beds, together with much of the volcano, and creation of a major escarpment, part of the Great Escarpment of eastern Australia. In this area the Great Escarpment is younger than 18 Ma.     

Sill genesis in the Paleoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the Onega Trough,Baltic shield

This study considers the role of sill genesis in the tectonic evolution of the Onega Trough during the Middle to Late Paleoproterozoic (Jatulian-Vepsian). The evolution of the Onega Trough is divided into three stages: pre-sill, or preparatory, subsynchronous, and post-sill. Sill magmatism manifested itself most completely at the subsynchronous stage of the evolution of the Onega Trough within the initial, principal, and final phases of sill genesis. Sill formation followed the stage of regional downwarping of the area reaching its maximum during the Early Ludicovian. Paragenesis of sills and high carbon shungite rocks was accompanied by the formation of peperites, while sills influenced the structure of the host rocks. A model reflecting the regular patterns of manifestations of sill genesis identified in the Onega Trough has been proposed.     

四川盆地环开江——梁平海槽长兴组——飞仙关组沉积模式

在综合分析的基础上确定了环开江--梁平海槽长兴组--飞仙关组的层序划分方案,长兴组和飞仙关组均可划分出两个三级层序.在层序格架内进行了岩相古地理的编图及演化分析,认为在台地边缘不同地区具有不同的岩相古地理特征,发育不同类型的台地边缘.结合地震资料及钻井资料建立了台地边缘的三种沉积模式:(1)以剑阁地区为代表的"进积型台...     

Saalian to Weichselian stratigraphy and sedimentation along the Lågjæren – Høgjæren escarpment,southwest Norway

Quaternary sediments along a profile crossing the southern part of the Jæren escarpment, southwestern Norway, have been investigated with regard to their glacial history and sea-level variations. Deposits from at least three glaciations and two ice-free periods between Oxygen Isotope Stage 6 and the Late Weichselian have been identified. Subglacial till directly overlain by a glaciomarine regressional succession indicates a deglaciation, and amino acid ratios in Elphidium excavatum between 0.083 and 0.118 date this event to Oxygen Isotope Stage 6. Sea-level dropped from 130 to below 110 m a.s.l. Subsequently, a short-lived ice advance deposited a marginal moraine and a sandur locally on the escarpment. Stratigraphical position and luminescence dates around 148 ka BP suggest deposition during the final stage 6 deglaciation. A Late Weichselian till covers most of the surface of Jæren. In addition to a well documented westerly ice flow, glaciotectonic indications of ice flow towards the north have been found. Ice flow directions and a hiatus between Oxygen Isotope Stage 6 and the Weichselian indicate enhanced erosion along the escarpment and the influence of a Norwegian Channel ice-stream. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

冲绳海槽中部和南部玄武岩的区域性差异及其成因研究

本文从岩石学和岩石化学角度出发 ,对冲绳海槽中部和南部玄武岩样品进行了对比研究。结果表明中部和南部玄武岩均系亚碱性玄武岩 ,其中前者兼具钙碱性系列和拉斑玄武岩系列两种性质 ,后者则主要属拉斑玄武岩系列。根据岩石化学特征命名 ,中部样品主体为石英拉斑玄武岩 ,南部样品则为橄榄拉斑玄武岩。两区海槽玄武岩岩浆均由下伏地幔岩部分熔融而成 ,但源区地幔性质不均一 ,岩浆演化程度各异。中部样品源区地幔性质为过渡型 ,结晶分异程度较高 ;南部样品源于近亏损或富集型的地幔 ,结晶分异程度较弱 ;另外两区玄武岩样品均受到了不同程度的陆壳物质混染。中、南部海槽玄武岩在岩石学、岩石化学方面的差异与源区地幔性质不均一和岩浆演化程度各异有直接关系。海槽玄武岩构造环境属于过渡洋中脊玄武岩 (张性 )与岛弧玄武岩 (压性 )之间 ,代表的仍是海槽早期的岩浆活动。     

Tectonic burial and exhumation in a foreland fold and thrust belt: the Monte Alpi case history (Southern Apennines,Italy)

The Monte Alpi area of the Southern Apennines represents the only sector of the thrust belt where the reservoir rocks (i.e. Apulian Platform carbonates) for major hydrocarbon accumulations in southern Italy are interpreted to crop out. Tectonic evolution and exhumation of this area were analysed by integrating stratigraphic and structural data with different organic and inorganic parameters which record the burial and thermal evolution of the sediments (vitrinite reflectance, fluid inclusions, and I/S mixed layers in clayey sediments). Our analyses suggest that the presently exposed Monte Alpi structure suffered a loading of ca. 4000 m, owing to the emplacement of allochthonous units in Early Pliocene times. Available geological data indicate that erosion of the tectonic load occurred since the Late Pliocene, when the area first emerged. This implies an average exhumation rate in excess of 1 mm/year. A model can be constructed which matches the maturity indices and also takes into account intermediate stages of the evolution, resulting from combined structural and fluid inclusion data. By this model, a first stage of exhumation would have taken place at an average rate of about 0.36 mm/year. This was controlled by uplift and erosion associated with both: (i) thrusting at depth within the Apulian carbonates (Late Pliocene), and (ii) strike-slip faulting (Early Pleistocene). A second exhumation stage would have occurred in the last 700 ky at a much faster rate (ca. 4 mm/year) as a result of extensional tectonics.     

Cretaceous of Saratov Povolzh'e and adjacent regions of Pricaspian depression

The area is divided into two parts: 1) elevated Precambrian basement with platform-type structures, and 2) an area of subsidence occupied by the Pricaspian depression; these structural subdivisions are separated by an escarpment. The Cretaceous stratigraphic section is subdivided into groups, based on lithological (geoelectrical) and faunal properties, correlated between the uplifted and down-warped areas. Eleven and twelve groups have been defined in the Lower and Upper Cretaceous, respectively. Variations in lithologles of the groups were controlled by the Voronezh massif and the Pricaspian depression. There was a gradual transgression of the Cretaceous sea from basin to elevated areas, on which some groups were bevelled by erosion. Deep downwarping of the salt dome area took place in the Valanginian and Hauterivian. The area near the Voronezh massif also subsided in the Hauterivian. Sedimentation took place on a geotectonically levelled surface during the greater part of the Barremian, Aptian, Touronian-Coniacian, Santonian and, partially, in the Cenomanian and Campanian stages. Intense warping of the Pricaspian depression occurred in the Albian and Maestrichtian and is marked by a sudden increase in the thickness of deposits of these ages and the appearance of Danian rocks. Thinning occurs on the Uzen-Ichinsk uplift and in the Upper Cretaceous, in the region of the marginal escarpment. — J.D. Haun     

冲绳海槽中部热液活动区构造地球物理特征分析

对冲绳海槽中部南奄西、伊平屋、伊士名三个现代海底热液活动区的地形、热流分布、地震、地磁场特征进行了初步研究。结果表明,海槽中部的热液活动区都集中于海槽的中央地堑中,或位于火山口的侧坡上,或位于地堑中山脊的侧坡上,热流值高而变化大,地震事件十分上频繁,地磁场曲线变化较大。这一系列特征说明现代海底热液活动区和目前的构造活动带吻合,热液活动和岩浆作用或浅成岩浆房密切相关。板块俯冲在海槽下诱生地幔物质上涌,上涌的地幔物质所携带的热量为热液活动提供了动力源,在海槽拉张过程中形成的断裂为热液流体提供了运移通道.     

The Early Devonian Coopers Creek Limestone: A deep‐water redeposited limestone in the Melbourne Trough,southeastern Australia

The Coopers Creek Limestone represents an Early Devonian redeposited carbonate accumulation and records the evolution of a carbonate slope in the southeastern portion of the Melbourne Trough. During the earliest Devonian, the underlying Boola Formation was deposited, probably as turbidites, in a moderately deep‐water setting. The presence of chert and greenstone clasts in the top of the formation indicates exposure of an area of Cambrian greenstones in this part of the Melbourne Trough, as a result of uplift associated with the earliest Devonian Bowning Orogeny. This uplift provided ideal conditions for carbonate production along the margin of the exposed landmass. The periodic transportation of carbonate material downslope resulted in the accumulation of the Coopers Creek Limestone. Initially, in the early Pragian, turbidity currents deposited clayey biomicrites and biopelmicrites on a relatively gentle slope. However, the rapid build‐up of carbonate sand banks at the shelf margin steepened the gradient from the shelf into the basin and a bypass margin began to develop. Grainflows deposited pelsparites and biopelsparites and the presence of debris flow breccias indicates erosion of lithified limestone by channelling. Continued carbonate build‐up led to the development of a rimmed reef margin in the earliest Emsian, with a steep fore‐reef gradient. Large blocks of reefal limestone fell or rolled to the base of the slope, to accumulate as reefal megabreccias at the top of the Coopers Creek Limestone. Carbonate production abruptly ceased in the early Emsian, due to the uplift of a quartzo‐micaceous source to the east during the initial stages of the Tabberabberan Orogeny. This uplift supplied abundant terrigenous material into the Melbourne Trough to be deposited as the turbidites of the Walhalla Group, which deeply buried the limestone accumulation.     

冲绳海槽火山岩岩石系列的厘定及构造环境意义

冲绳海槽是一个处于弧后扩张作用早期的年轻的弧后盆地,是研究弧后扩张作用早期盆地演化和壳幔过程的天然实验室.随着调查研究工作的逐步展开和深入,也发现了一些新的、重要的、亟待解决的科学问题,而火山岩岩石系列归属的厘定又是其他研究工作的基础.在系统收集和整理迄今已有冲绳海槽火山岩资料的基础上,结合近期分析测试数据, 对冲绳海槽火山岩的岩石系列归属进行了重新厘定,探讨了火山岩的构造环境指示意义和浮岩与玄武岩之间的成因联系.研究结果表明:冲绳海槽火山岩分布具有以基性玄武岩和酸性(流纹)英安岩为主的双峰式特征,中性火山岩稀少,基性的玄武岩属于亚碱性系列的橄榄拉斑玄武岩,酸性浮岩可归属为亚碱性岩系的流纹英安岩或流纹岩;在构造环境判别上,冲绳海槽玄武岩表现出大洋中脊和岛弧构造环境的特点,既有别于大洋中脊扩张中心,也有别于成熟型弧后盆地,呈现出弧后早期扩张阶段盆地独特的构造环境特征;广泛分布于冲绳海槽的酸性浮岩表现出一定的岛弧环境的特点;酸性浮岩与玄武岩具有同源性,酸性岩是基性的玄武质岩浆经不同程度结晶分异和同化混染作用的产物.      

Submarine hydrothermal mineralization in the Okinawa Trough, SW of Japan: an overview

The Okinawa Trough is a heavily sedimented, rifted back-arc basin formed in an intracontinental rift zone. Submarine hydrothermal activity is located within the six back-arc rifts located in the middle and southern Okinawa Trough and its distribution is controlled principally by tectonic factors. Subduction of the Daito and Gagua Ridges beneath the Ryukyu Arc has resulted in fracturing of the brittle lithosphere beneath the Okinawa Trough. Hydrothermal activity is strongest in the volcanic arc-rift migration phenomenon (VAMP) area plus the JADE site and Southernmost Part of the Okinawa Trough (SPOT) area which form the prolongation of these two ridges. These areas are characterized by extremely high heat flow locally. Submarine hydrothermal fluids from the Okinawa Trough tend to be strongly influenced by interaction of the hydrothermal fluids with organic matter in the sediment resulting in high alkalinity and NH₄⁺ concentrations of the fluids. The fluids also contain high concentrations of CO₂ of magmatic origin. Submarine hydrothermal mineralization in the trough is diverse. The CLAM site consists principally of carbonate chimneys. Interaction of the hydrothermal fluid with organic matter in the sediment is particularly strong at this site. This is most probably a sediment-hosted deposit in which sulphide minerals have deposited within the sediment column leaving ‘spent ore-fluids’ to emerge at the seafloor. The JADE site consists of active and inactive sulphide–sulphate chimneys and mounds. The Zn–Pb-rich sulphides at this site contain the highest concentrations of Pb, Ag and Au so far recorded in submarine hydrothermal sulphide deposits. At Minami-Ensei Knoll and Hatoma Knoll, active and inactive chimneys consist principally of anhydrite and barite as a result of phase separation of the hydrothermal fluids beneath the seafloor. An intense black smoker has recently been discovered at Yonaguni Knoll in the SPOT area. If it is confirmed that sulphide mineralization is dominant at this site, this could be a highly prospective area. The most prospective areas for economic-grade minerals in the Okinawa Trough appear to be the JADE site and the SPOT area.     

Geomorphology of carbonate platform‐marginal uppermost slopes: Insights from a Holocene analogue,Little Bahama Bank,Bahamas

As the product of a variety of sediment sources and sedimentation (and re‐sedimentation) and erosion processes, the geomorphology and sedimentology of carbonate slopes are highly variable. The purpose of this study is to describe sub‐bottom profiles and side‐scan sonar, multibeam and optical data acquired by an autonomous underwater vehicle to explore variability in geomorphological and sedimentological character of the present‐day platform‐marginal, uppermost slope environments (< 240 m water depth) on the north, open‐ocean facing flank of Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas. Although at time scales of greater than 100 ka this margin is progradational, the data illustrate a complex juxtaposition of erosional and depositional processes and features. Erosion is evidenced by two prominent escarpments (70 m and 120 m) that expose eroded, bedded rocky outcrops. These escarpments are interpreted to represent relict features, related to past sea‐level positions, although they still may be shedding debris. Aside from erosional remnants, sedimentation and active transport is indicated by several features, including active bedforms (especially above the 70 m escarpment, but ripples occur to depths of ca 200 m), several mass transport complexes that overlie and cover the lower escarpment, gravity flow deposits and rare slump features. Similarly, a thick (up to 20 m) onlapping sediment wedge, interpreted to be Holocene in age, suggests lateral accretion of the slope by more than 75 m in this period. Data illustrate that this open‐ocean margin is distinct from windward margins in the Bahamas, which typically include near‐vertical walls of erosion or bypass, flanked downdip by rubble and talus, and leeward margins, which have onlapping muddy wedges, but that lack marked terraces or escarpments. Collectively, the results provide perspectives into the nature and controls on complex geomorphological patterns of erosion and deposition in Holocene uppermost slope systems, concepts potentially applicable to ancient analogues.     

黄河源地区的河谷地貌特征及其对黄河上游形成和演化的启示

黄河的形成与演化对于认识我国宏观地貌格局的形成、青藏高原及黄土高原的区域构造活动历史、华北平原及黄渤海陆架的形成和演化等问题具有重要意义。目前对黄河演化历史的研究主要集中在龙羊峡以下的河段,对于黄河源段的关注较少。文章基于黄河源地区河谷地貌的实地考察,并利用SRTM1-DEM数据,分析了黄河源段干流及支流河谷橫剖面的地貌特征,并与该区典型的冰川谷和兰州附近黄河的河谷横剖面进行了对比。结果表明:黄河源地区的河谷规模巨大,并呈现出谷底开阔、河床窄小、阶地不明显、谷坡陡立、河谷横剖面左右对称的U型谷特征。这些特征与该区冰蚀谷的特征相似,但与兰州段黄河成型河谷的特征相差甚远,且其河谷规模更大。我们推断,黄河源地区的河谷可能主要为冰期时的冰蚀作用所塑造,而非单纯的流水侵蚀形成。由于冰蚀作用的存在,该区早期的河流阶地可能被随后冰期的冰蚀作用所破坏,当前基于黄河源地区现存河流阶地年代的研究很可能低估了该区水系的发育历史。此外,反复的冰川进退也可能导致黄河源水系自上而下贯通,而非溯源侵蚀形成。     

西南喀斯特区土壤侵蚀研究进展

西南喀斯特区土层浅薄、成土速率低等特点决定了其允许土壤流失量小,土壤一旦流失,极难恢复,土壤侵蚀及其造成的石漠化现象已成为制约该区可持续发展最严重的生态环境问题。文章首先明晰西南喀斯特区土壤侵蚀特征,从坡面、小流域和区域三个尺度上系统概括西南喀斯特区土壤侵蚀的相关研究进展。针对当前喀斯特区土壤侵蚀研究野外径流小区、小流域及区域空间尺度数据缺少和相关研究模型限制性强等不足,建议从不同尺度深入研究喀斯特区土壤侵蚀发生发展规律及时空演化格局,并结合高新遥感、地球物理探测技术及模型,同步监测坡面—小流域—区域土壤流失,对土壤侵蚀进行定量评估,结合不同空间尺度土壤侵蚀特征构建系统性水土保持生态恢复治理模式和监测系统评价体系。      

Recent colluvial sedimentation in Jordan: fans evolving into sand ramps

Abstract High‐angle accumulations of sand and escarpment‐derived gravel along the outcrop walls of Plio‐Pleistocene sandstones, eastern Jordan, form small, coalesced colluvial fans, built by rockfalls, rockfall‐derived debris flows, dry sandfalls and sandy grainflows. These deposits are sourced through wind erosion of fault‐controlled outcrops of weakly cemented sandstone and a hard, gypsum‐cemented sandstone and fine conglomerate caprock exposed in sandpits. Eroded sediment is supplied to the fans directly as rockfalls and sandfalls, and indirectly as gully‐confined sandy grainflows. The preserved colluvium fans comprise sandy, matrix‐rich rockfall, rockfall‐derived, dry debris‐flow lenticular gravel deposits and minor lenticular sandy grainflow deposits. The fans develop initially against the footwall escarpment and, as erosion continues, the outcrop and the fans become covered by stable sand sheet ramps in a self‐regulatory geomorphic system. Preserved fan–sand ramp systems in eastern Jordan are characterized by a threefold hierarchy of genetically related bounding surfaces, which develop over short time scales. Rapid fault‐controlled uplift and/or rapid stream incision may produce non‐equilibrium scarp faces, identical to those in the sandpits, associated with the colluvial fan–sand ramp systems. Thus, such systems have the potential to identify fault‐related unconformities, rapid uplift events and episodes of rapid downcutting in the rock record. Colluvium deposits have good preservation potential, but are often associated with complex, coarse, basin‐margin facies, and are thus difficult to identify in the stratigraphic record; a problem exacerbated by the lack of adequate colluvium facies models and diagnostic sedimentary criteria.