COSMOGENIC NUCLIDES EXPOSURE DATING FOR BEDROCK FAULT SCARP: RECONSTRUCTING THE PALEOEARTHQUAKE SEQUENCE

The bedrock scarps are believed to have recorded the continuous information on displacement accumulation and sequence of large earthquakes. The occurrence timing of large earthquakes is believed to be correlated positively with the exposure duration of bedrock fault surfaces. Accordingly, cosmogenic nuclides concentration determined for the bedrock footwall can offer their times, ages, and slip over long time. In general, multiple sites of fault scarps along one or even more faults are selected to carry out cosmogenic nuclide dating in an attempt to derive the temporal and spatial pattern of fault activity. This may contribute to explore whether earthquake occurrence exhibits any regularity and predict the timing and magnitude of strong earthquakes in the near future. Cosmogenic nuclide ³⁶ Cl dating is widely applied to fault scarp of limestone, and the height of fault scarp can reach as high as 15~20m. It is strongly suggested to make sure the bedrock scarp is exhumed by large earthquake events instead of geomorphic processes, based on field observation, and data acquired by terrestrial LiDAR and ground penetration radar (GPR). In addition, it is better for the fault surface to be straight and fresh with striations indicating recent fault movement. A series of bedrock samples are collected from the footwall in parallel to the direction of fault movement both above and below the colluvium, and each of them is~15cm long,~10cm wide, and~3cm thick. The concentrations of both cosmogenic nuclide ³⁶ Cl and REE-Y determined from these samples vary with the heights in parallel to fault scarps. Accordingly, we identify the times of past large earthquakes, model the profile of ³⁶ Cl concentration to seek the most realistic one, and determine the ages and slip of each earthquake event with the errors. In general, the errors for the numbers, ages, and slips of past earthquake events are ±1-2, no more than ±0.5-1.0ka, and ±0.25m, respectively.     

Landscape development in an hyperarid sandstone environment along the margins of the Dead Sea fault: Implications from dated rock falls

In this study, we explored the spatial and temporal relations between boulders and their original in-situ locations on sandstone bedrock cliffs. This was accomplished by combining field observations with dating methods using cosmogenic isotopes (¹⁰Be and ¹⁴C) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). Our conclusions bear both on the landscape evolution and cliff retreat process in the hyperarid region of Timna and on the methodology of estimating exposure ages using cosmogenic isotopes.

We recognize three discrete rock fall events, at 31 ka, 15 ka, and 4 ka. In this hyperarid region, the most plausible triggering mechanism for rock fall events is strong ground acceleration caused by earthquakes generated by the nearby Dead Sea fault (DSF). Our record, however, under represents the regional earthquake record implying that ongoing development of detachment cracks prior to the triggering event might be slower than the earthquake cycle.

Cliff retreat rates calculated using the timing of rock fall events and estimated thickness of rock removed in each event range between 0.14 m ky^− 1 and 2 m ky^− 1. When only full cycles are considered, we derive a more realistic range of 0.4 m ky^− 1 to 0.7 m ky^− 1. These rates are an order of magnitude faster than the calculated rate of surface lowering in the area. We conclude that sandstone cliffs at Timna retreat through episodic rock fall events that preserve the sharp, imposing, landscape characteristic to this region and that ongoing weathering of the cliff faces is minor.

A 10%–20% difference in the ¹⁰Be concentrations in samples from matching boulder and cliff faces that have identical exposure histories and are located only a few meters apart indicates that cosmogenic nuclide production rates are sensitive to shielding and vary spatially over short distances. However, uncertainties associated with age calculations yielded boulder and matching cliff face ages that are similar within 1 σ . The use of external constraints in the form of field relations and OSL dating helped to establish each pair's age. The agreement between calculated ¹⁴C and ¹⁰Be ages indicates that the accumulation of ¹⁰Be at depth by the capture of slow deep-penetrating muons was properly accounted for in the study.     

SURFACE TRACKS AND SLIP RATE OF THE FAULT ALONG THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF THE WUWEI BASIN IN THE LATE QUATERNARY

The fault along the southern margin of the Wuwei Basin, located in the eastern Hexi Corridor, NW China, plays an important role in the thrust fault system in the northern Qilian Mountains. The activities of this fault resulted in the generation of the Gulang earthquake(M_S8.0) in 1927. Based on remote sensing image interpretation, geological and geomorphic observations in the field and ¹⁴C geochronological dating results, we conducted a detailed research on the geometry and kinematics of the fault. According to the discontinuous geometric distribution and variable strike directions, we divide this fault into 5 segments: Kangningqiao Fault(F₁), Nanyinghe Fault(F₂), Shangguchengcun-Zhangliugou Fault(F₃), Tajiazhuang Fault(F₄)and Yanjiazhuang Fault(F₅). Results indicate that this fault, with a total of 60km long trace at the surface, has been active since the late Pleistocene. It behaves predominantly as a thrust fault and is accompanied with a locally sinistral strike-slip component along the Nanyinghe Fault(F₂). Intensive activities of this fault in Holocene have caused extensive occurrence of dislocated landforms along its strike. Some measured displacements of the dislocated geologic or geomorphic units, combined with the ¹⁴C dating results, yield a vertical slip rate of (0.44±0.08)mm/a on this fault in Holocene, and a sinistral strike-slip rate of (1.43±0.08)mm/a on the Nanyinhhe Fault (F₂) in late Pleistocene.     

Optical dating of Holocene sand dune activities in the Horqin sand-fields in inner Mongolia, China, using the SAR protocol

The Horqin sand-field in northeastern Inner Mongolia, China, had been the fertile grassland in North China, but desertification and sand-dust storm have increasingly occurred in the past decades [Zhu and Wang, 1992. Theory and practice of sandy desertification in China (in Chinese with English abstract). Quaternary Sciences 2, 97]. To understand the Holocene sand dune activities in this region, five sand dune profiles were investigated, and 32 coarse grain quartz samples were dated by OSL using the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol [Murray and Wintle, 2000. Luminescence dating of quartz using an improved single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol. Radiation Measurements 32, 57–73]. For cross-checking, six organic-rich samples from the paleosols and sandy peat/mud were dated by both ¹⁴C and quartz OSL. With one exception, ¹⁴C and quartz OSL dating results show good agreements. Based on the consistent results of five sand dune profiles, a chronology of Holocene dune activity in Horqin sand-field is established as follows: (i) active sand dunes built up widely before 10 ka; (ii) dunes semi-stabilized between 10 and 7.5 ka ago; (iii) the dunes solidify and chernozem soils developed between 7.5 and 2.0 ka ago; and (iv) partially re-mobilization of dunes occurred since about 2.0 ka ago.     

LATE HOLOCENE AVERAGE RECURRENCE INTERVAL OF GREAT EARTHQUAKES OF SHANGZHI PART OF THE YILAN-YITONG FAULT ZONE,NE CHINA: CONSTRAINTS FROM PALEO-EARTHQUAKES AND HISTORICAL WRITTEN RECORDS

Although the kinematics and mechanics of the Yilan-Yitong fault zone (YYFZ) since the Mesozoic-early Cenozoic were studied very well in the past decades,few results about the average recurrence interval of great earthquakes in late Quaternary,which is the most important parameter for us to understand the active tectonics and potential seismic hazard of this crucial structure,were obtained because of its unfavorable work environments.Based on interpretations of high-resolution satellite images and detailed geologic and geomorphic mapping,we discovered that there exist linear fault scarp landforms and troughs in the Shangzhi part of YYFZ with a length of more than 25km.Synthesized results of trenches excavation and differential GPS measurements of terrace surfaces indicate two paleo-events EⅠ and EⅡ occurring in Shangzhi part during the late Holocene,which resulted in ca.(3.2±0.1) m accumulated vertical coseismic displacement with strike-slip motion accompanied by thrusting and shortening deformation.¹⁴C samples dating suggests that event EⅠ might occur at (440±30) and (180±30) a BP and event EⅡ might happen between (4 090±30) and (3 880±30) a BP,and the average recurrence interval of major earthquakes on the YYFZ is around (3 675±235) a.Historical written records discovered from Korea show that the event EⅠ may correspond to the earthquake occurring in AD 1810(Qing Dynasty in Chinese history) in Ningguta area with magnitude 7.0.     

Solar modulation of cosmogenic nuclide production over the last millennium: comparison between C and Be records

For about the last 30 years it has been recognized that the high frequency component of the tree rings ¹⁴C/¹²C record is dominated by the modulation of the cosmic ray flux by the solar wind. In particular, it has been demonstrated that the three most recent periods of low sunspot occurrence were characterized by high values of atmospheric ¹⁴C/¹²C. During the last millennium other periods of high ¹⁴C/¹²C values were observed but their solar origin is still debatable. In the present work we compare these fluctuations with an independent record of cosmogenic ¹⁰Be measured in ice from the South Pole to check the solar origin of the observed ¹⁴C/¹²C variations. In order to compare quantitatively the results obtained on ¹⁰Be and ¹⁴C, it is necessary to take into account the different behaviour of these two cosmogenic isotopes, and especially the damping effect of the carbon cycle in the case of ¹⁴C. As an input to a 12-box numerical model we used the relative fluctuations of the ¹⁰Be concentrations record measured in South Pole ice and converted it into a synthetic ¹⁴C record. We took into account the fact that ¹⁰Be modulation is enhanced in polar regions due to the orientation of the geomagnetic field. As expected, the fluctuations of the modelled ¹⁴C record are much smaller (a factor of 20) than those observed for the raw ¹⁰Be record. In addition, the variations are smoother and shifted in time by a few decades. The ¹⁰Be-based ¹⁴C variations closely resemble the ¹⁴C measurements obtained on tree rings (R = 0.81). In particular, it is easy to identify periods of maximal ¹⁴C/¹²C which correspond to solar activity minima centred at about 1060, 1320 (Wolf), 1500 (Spörer), 1690 (Maunder) and 1820 (Dalton) yr A.D. Cross-correlation calculations suggest that there is no significant lag between the ¹⁰Be-based ¹⁴C and the tree-ring ¹⁴C records. Our study strongly suggests the dominance of the solar modulation on the cosmonuclide production variations during the last millennium.     

Ice core record of Be over the past millennium from Dome Fuji, Antarctica: A new proxy record of past solar activity and a powerful tool for stratigraphic dating

The cosmogenic nuclide ¹⁰Be was analyzed by using accelerator mass spectrometry on an ice core drilled at the Dome Fuji station, inland Antarctica, for 700–1900 yr CE. The measured concentration of ¹⁰Be in the Dome Fuji ice core and the derived ¹⁰Be flux show similar fluctuations, with both increasing at known solar-activity minima over the last millennium in agreement with earlier observations of ¹⁰Be and ¹⁴C. Based on the similar nature of the ¹⁰Be flux to the reconstructed ¹⁴C production rate patterns, a ¹⁰Be–¹⁴C correlation age model for the Dome Fuji ice core was successfully constructed. This age model agrees well with the initial version of the tephrochronology of the core. The ¹⁰Be-flux record contains information on variability in the amount of cosmic radiation incident on the atmosphere, which is mainly attributable to high-frequency change in solar activity and low-frequency background intensity adjustment of the geomagnetic field. High-resolution ¹⁰Be analyses of the Dome Fuji ice cores promise to provide potentially important information on the history of cosmic radiation intensity over the past several hundred thousand years.     

Mid-Holocene variability in the marine C reservoir age for northern coastal Papua New Guinea

Changes in oceanic radiocarbon (¹⁴C) reservoir ages through the deglaciation and Holocene can provide important information on ocean circulation as Earth's climate warmed. Here, we present reservoir ages for the western tropical Pacific that span the mid-Holocene transition from less to more frequent El Niño events. Reservoir ages were calculated using paired U–Th and conventional ¹⁴C dating of eight individual fossil coral samples from Koil and Muschu Islands, northern coastal Papua New Guinea (PNG). AMS ¹⁴C and MC-ICPMS U–Th dating of additional samples from six of the fossil corals were used to confirm the TIMS U–Th and conventional ¹⁴C ages. The combined results show average reservoir ages of 185±30 ¹⁴C yr (n=4) for 7220–5850 yr BP compared to 420 ¹⁴C yr for a modern coral from Muschu Island. From 5850 to 5420 yr BP reservoir ages increase to modern values. The relatively young reservoir ages from 7220 to 5850 yr BP are best explained by greater influx of well-equilibrated sub-tropical water from the southern branch of the South Equatorial Current (SEC). This is consistent with strengthening trade winds (facilitating air–sea exchange) and a more northerly position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone thought to have occurred at this time. The transition to more modern-like reservoir ages from 5850 to 5420 yr BP suggests modern oceanic circulation patterns were established during this interval. The onset of modern El Niño activity around this time would have served to enhance the intrusion of ¹⁴C-depleted equatorial waters via the south equatorial branch of the SEC. Overall, the changes in reservoir age presented here for the western tropical Pacific suggest that Holocene changes in the El Niño–Southern Oscillation state of the tropical Pacific resulted in reorganisation of oceanic circulation in this region.     

焉耆盆地北缘和静逆断裂-褶皱带古地震破裂方式和时间序列

古地震研究是构造地质基础研究工作之一,获得较为精细的古地震结果有利于提高对断层构造变形的样式、强度以及时间的认识。焉耆盆地是南天山东段的山间盆地,现今的构造应力场特征以挤压兼有走滑为主。盆地南北缘断裂均为全新世活动断裂,南缘开都河断裂以走滑运动为主。盆地北缘断裂向盆内扩展的新生和静逆断裂-褶皱带以逆冲运动为主,且具备发生7级以上大地震的能力。因此,对于焉耆盆地北缘和静逆断裂-褶皱带的古地震破裂方式和发生时间的研究具有重要意义。调查发现,其中的哈尔莫敦背斜南翼主逆断裂以30°左右向盆内逆冲,在河漫滩和T1阶地上形成了3排断层陡坎。在3条断层陡坎上开挖的5个探槽中,通过标志地层建立的时间序列可以确定6次古地震事件的先后关系。利用14C和光释光(OSL)测年手段获得了探槽中相关地层和坎前堆积物的沉积时代,利用逐次限定法得到了各次古地震事件的发生时间和全新世以来2ka左右的古地震复发间隔。结果显示F1断层在所有的古地震事件中都发生了破裂,F2断层只在事件E时产生了破裂,F3断层只在事件D和事件E中发生过破裂。从古地震事件上分析,事件D是一次3条断层同时破裂的事件,事件E是一次F1和F32条断层同时破裂的事件,其他事件都只在F1断层上破裂。和静逆断裂的古地震破裂同时存在必然性和不确定性。     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ABOUT SLIP RATE OF MIDDLE SEGMENT OF THE NORTHERN QILIAN THRUST FAULT ZONE SINCE LATE QUATERNARY

The Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault belongs to the forward thrust fault of the middle segment of northern Qilian Shan overthrust fault zone, and it is also the boundary between the Qilian Shan and Jiudong Basin. Accurately-constrained fault slip rate is crucial for understanding the present-day tectonic deformation mechanism and regional seismic hazard in Tibet plateau. In this paper, we focus on the Shiyangjuan site in the western section of the fault and the Fenglehe site in the middle part of the fault. Combining geomorphic mapping, topographic surveys of the deformed terrace surfaces, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating and radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating methods, we obtained the average vertical slip rate and shortening rate of the fault, which are ~1.1mm/a and 0.9~1.3mm/a, respectively. In addition, decadal GPS velocity profile across the Qilian Shan and Jiudong Basin shows a basin shortening rate of~1.4mm/a, which is consistent with geological shortening rates. Blind fault or other structural deformation in the Jiudong Basin may accommodate part of crustal shortening. Overall crustal shortening rate of the Jiudong Basin accounts for about 1/5 of shortening rate of the Qilian Shan. The seismic activity of the forward thrust zone of Tibetan plateau propagating northeastward is still high.     

PALEOSEISMOLOGY ON THE YEMAHE SEGMENT OF THE YEMAHE-DAXUESHAN FAULT REVEALED BY TRENCH STUDY

A series of NWW striking faults are obliquely intersected by the NEE striking Altyn Tagh fault zone in the western Qilian Mountains. These faults were mostly active in late Quaternary and play an important role in accommodating regional lateral extrusion by both reverse and sinistral slip. Detailed studies on late Quaternary activity, tectonic transformation, paleoseismology, and strain partitioning not only significantly affect our recognition on seismogenic mechanism and zones of potential large earthquakes, but also provide useful information for exploring tectonic deformation mechanism in the northern Tibetan plateau. The Danghenanshan Fault, Yemahe-Daxueshan fault, and Altyn Tagh Fault form a triplet junction point at southwest of Subei county. The Yemahe-Daxueshan fault is one important branch fault in the western Qilian Mountains that accommodated eastward decreasing slip of the Altyn Tagh Fault, which was active in late Holocene, with a length up to 170km. Based on geometry and late Quaternary activity, the Yemahe-Daxueshan fault was subdivided into 3 segments, i.e. the Subei fault, Yemahe fault and Daxueshan Fault. The Yemahe Fault has the most prominent appearance among them, and is dominated by left-lateral slip with a little normal component. The heights of fresh scarps on this fault are only several tens of centimeters. We dug 2 trenches at the Zhazhihu site, and cleaned and reinterpreted one trench of previous studies. Then we interpreted trench profiles and paleoseismic events, and collected ¹⁴C and Optical Stimulated Luminescence samples to constrain event ages. Finally, we determined 3 events on the Yemahe fault with ages(6 830±30) a BP-(6 280±40) a BP, (5 220±30) a BP, (2 010±30) a BP, respectively. The elapsed time of most recent earthquake is(2 010±30) years before present, which is very close to the recurrence interval, so the possibility of major earthquakes on the Yemahe fault is relatively large.     

甘加盆地西缘断裂带发现新活动证据

甘加盆地位于西秦岭北缘断裂带西端,盆地西缘发育了三条近南北向的断层（东支、中支、西支）,表现为西高东低的弧形地貌阶梯带。基于高分辨率卫星遥感影像解译、地质地貌调查、UAV航拍测量、剖面清理与¹⁴C测年等工作,对甘加盆地西缘断裂带进行综合研究,发现该断裂带第四纪晚期有新活动。断层新活动在地貌上表现为不同级别的断层陡坎、阶地与洪积台地断错以及冲沟与阶地右旋等特征。断层剖面与擦痕揭示,该断裂带具右旋逆冲性质,断层断错最新地层为全新统。根据测量与测年数据,初步估算甘加盆地西缘断裂带西支全新世中期以来的平均水平右旋滑动速率为0.89 mm/a,平均垂直滑动速率为0.30 mm/a。     

Local erosion rates versus active tectonics: cosmic ray exposure modelling in Provence (south-east France)

Over the past decade, in situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides have revolutionised the study of landscape evolution. In particular, numerous studies have demonstrated that, in active tectonic settings, cosmic ray exposure dating of deformed or displaced geomorphic features makes it possible to quantify long-term deformation rates. In western European countries, erosion due to climatically driven processes and human activities is probably the factor that most limits the accuracy of exposure ages and landscape modification rates. In this study, we present the results of a depth-profiling technique applied to alluvial terraces located along the Rhône and the Moyenne Durance rivers. The expected decrease with depth of the measured ¹⁰Be concentrations has been modelled using a χ² inversion method in order to constrain the exposure history of the alluvial sediments. The results suggest that: (1) over the Quaternary, the local surface erosion rates including both regional uplift and climatically driven processes acting on landforms are on the order of 30 m/Myr in southeastern France, and (2) providing a fairly good bracketing of the exposure age, the modelled abandonment age of alluvial terraces affected by the Moyenne Durance Fault allows estimating incision rates, comparing the alluvial terrace elevations with topographic river profiles, and a minimum vertical slip rate value of roughly 0.02 mm/yr for the southern segment of the Moyenne Durance Fault.     

1556年陕西华县大地震形变遗迹及华山山前断裂古地震研究

华山山前断裂带晚第四纪以来具有明显的新活动,沿断裂带及其两侧分布有最新断层崖,基岩裂缝、黄土裂缝、山体崩(滑)塌体等众多的地震形变和破坏遗迹,华山山前断裂带应是1556年华县8级地震的发震断层。 从本文提供的一个古地震剖面分析,华山山前断裂带全新世以来可能发生过四次大地震,其重复间隔约2000—2500年     

Be andCl depth profiles in an Apollo 15 drill core

Cosmic-ray-produced¹⁰Be (t_1/2 = 1.6 × 10⁶ years) and³⁶Cl (t_1/2 = 3.0 × 10⁵ years) have been measured in the Apollo 15 long core for study of galactic cosmic ray production profiles using tandem accelerator mass spectrometry. From these experiments, the half-attenuation length for¹⁰Be production and³⁶Cl production were calculated to be 120 g/cm² and 132 g/cm² (150–400 g/cm² region). The measured half-attenuation length for¹⁰Be is slightly longer than that predicted by the Reedy-Arnold theoretical model. The flatter and somewhat deeper maximum seen in the³⁶Cl profile compared to the¹⁰Be,²⁶Al and⁵³Mn profiles can be explained by production from secondary thermal neutrons on³⁵Cl.     

Groundwater recharge and palaeoclimate in the Sirte and Kufra basins, Libya

Stable and radio-isotope results (C, H, O) for groundwaters from the Sirte and northern Kufra basins are used to determine the recharge history during the Holocene and late Pleistocene. Radiocarbon ages have been corrected on the basis of their stable carbon isotope ratios and on environmental samples from the areas, and two groups may be recognised: (1) low ¹⁴C activity groundwaters (13000–34000 yr. BP) with δ ¹³C-5.6 to −11.7‰; and (2) higher ¹⁴C activity groundwaters (5000–7800 yr. BP) enriched in ¹³C up to δ ¹³C = −3.2‰. There is a general correlation of age with depth.

A well defined freshwater (< 50 mg/l Cl⁻) channel can be traced within the aquifer for some 130 km through the region, which is considered to represent recharge from a former wadi. This water with an age of ± 7800 yr. BP is chemically and isotopically distinct from the regional groundwaters and provides direct evidence of a significant recharge event during the Holocene.

The stable isotope (O and H) composition of groundwater from the Kufra and Sirte basins are all related by an evaporative line with slope δ D = 4.5δ ¹³O − 35 with an intercept on the meteoric line of -11‰. This suggests a recharge source continuing into the Holocene from air masses, analogous to current heavy monsoon rain derived from south of the Sahara. The spatial and temporal distribution of groundwaters in relation to the evaporative line suggests a progressive change in character of the recharge which is controlled by a shift towards strongly convective rainfall during the Holocene.

The direct hydrogeological and geochemical evidence supports climatic models proposed by several workers in which discrete humid episodes during the Holocene are inferred.     

A note on reporting radiocarbon

Recommended reporting practice concerning ¹⁴C dates, relevant for Quaternary Geochronology, is given in this report.     

HOLOCENE SLIP RATE AND EARTHQUAKE HAZARD OF THE NORTH-EDGE FAULT OF THE YANQI BASIN,SOUTHEASTERN TIAN SHAN,CHINA

The Tian Shan Mountains is an active orogen in the continent. Previous studies on its tectonic deformation focus on the expanding fronts to basins on either side, while little work has been done on its interiors. This work studied the north-edge fault of the Yanqi Basin on the southeastern flank of Tian Shan. Typical offset landforms, and lineaments of scarps on the eastern segment of this fault were used to constrain the vertical displacement and shortening rates. Geological and geomorphic mapping in conjunction with high-resolution GPS differential measurement reveals that the vertical offsets can be divided into three groups of 1.9m, 2.4m and 3.0m, and the coseismic vertical offset was estimated as 0.5~0.6m. In situ ¹⁰Be terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating of three big boulders capping the regional geomorphic surface that preserved 3.0m vertical offset suggests that the surfaces were exposed at~5ka. Meanwhile, the lacustrine sediments from Bosten Lake within the Yanqi Basin suggest climate change during cooling-warming transitions was also at~5ka. The climate, therefore, controlled creation and abandonment of geomorphic surfaces in southern piedmont of Tian Shan. Combining the exposure ages and vertical offsets, we inferred that the east section of the north-edge fault in the Yanqi Basin has a dip slip rate 0.6~0.7mm/a,~0.5mm/a of vertical slip and~0.4mm/a of shortening since 5ka. Based on calculation of earthquake moment, we estimated that this fault is capable of generating M7.5 earthquakes in the future. This study provides new data for further understanding tectonic deformation of Tian Shan and is useful in seismic hazard assessment of this area.     

Production of selected cosmogenic radionuclides by muons: 2. Capture of negative muons

We have determined the production yields for radionuclides in Al₂O₃, SiO₂, S, Ar, K₂SO₄, CaCO₃, Fe, Ni and Cu targets, which were irradiated with slow negative muons at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen (Switzerland). The fluences of the stopped negative muons were determined by measuring the muonic X-rays. The concentrations of the long-lived and short-lived radionuclides were measured with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and γ-spectroscopy, respectively. Special emphasis was put on the radionuclides ¹⁰Be, ¹⁴C and ²⁶Al produced in quartz targets, ²⁶Al in Al₂O₃ and S targets, ³⁶Cl in K₂SO₄ and CaCO₃ targets, and ⁵³Mn in Fe₂O₃ targets. These targets were selected because they are also the naturally occurring target minerals for cosmic ray interactions in typical rocks. We also present results of calculations for depth-dependent production rates of radionuclides produced after cosmic ray μ⁻ capture, as well as cosmic ray-induced production rates of geologically relevant radionuclides produced by the nucleonic component, by μ⁻ capture, by fast muons and by neutron capture.     

秦岭北麓晚第四纪断层陡坎的初步研究

根据航片解译和野外调查,发现在秦岭北麓第四纪松散沉积物中发育有断层陡坎,本文依据对这些陡坎的地质地貌分析、地形剖面测制、探槽揭露及测年数据,讨论了断层陡坎的空间分布和形态学特征、生成时代和断距,评估了秦岭北麓断裂在晚第四纪的活动强度。由断层陡坎高度经过校核获得断距变化范围在1.1至7.9米之间,由此求得秦岭北麓断裂中段全新世中晚期以来平均滑动速率接近1mm/a,西段在眉县一带为0.5mm/a左右。晚更新世以来,发生过3—4次古地震事件