Control of paths of quaternary volcanic products in western Bohemian Massif by rejuvenated Variscan triple junction of ancient microplates

Our objective is to look for deep paths of Cenozoic volcanism and migration routes of active mantle volatiles through the lithosphere of the western Bohemian Massif. We show that the rejuvenated junction of three mantle domains, delimited by different orientation of seismic anisotropy and belonging to originally separated microplates — the Saxothuringian (ST), Moldanubian (MD) and Teplá-Barrandian (TB) — can provide the easiest upward routes of fluids through the deep lithosphere. Geographic distribution of mantle-fluid escapes at the surface suggests fluid migration through the ductile lower crust and through partly open faults in the rigid upper crust, which is locally detached and shifted from its lower part and from the mantle lithosphere. Present-day escapes of mantle-derived helium and CO₂ concentrate mainly in two tectonically different crust edifices — in the Cheb Basin (CHB) and in an allochtonous block called the Mariánské Lázně Complex (MLC). Crystalline basement of the CHB developed above the Variscan ‘triple junction’ of the mantle lithosphere domains. The basement was extended during the Cenozoic and dissected by systems of faults into small partly sunken blocks. Thanks to buoyancy the mantle fluids migrate upwards along the lithosphere junction into the faulted basement of the CHB. The highest CO₂ flow and the highest ³He/⁴He ratios are observed at intersections of major normal faults and along the southern boundary of the Smrčiny (Fichtelgebirge) granite Pluton. The fluid escapes are separated from the earthquake swarm epicentres. Routes of the fluids to the MLC are longer and more complicated. Surface escapes tap the mantle fluids mainly from the Mariánské Lázně Fault (MLF) and from the tectonic boundaries along which the MLC block of the TB lower crust was thrust over the ST complexes. Hypocentres of earthquake swarms of the two major focal areas at Novy Kostel and Lazy, located mainly at depths of 6–13 km, reside either in granite or in underlying gneiss, while the escapes of mantle fluids follow major faults or boundaries of crystalline units outside the Smrčiny and Karlovy Vary granite Plutons. We suggest that primarily those parts of faults in the upper crust, which is strengthened by granite magmatism and rigid enough to selectively accumulate stresses, are seismoactive. On the other hand, other parts of the faults tapping ascending mantle volatiles are ‘lubricated’ by the fluids and secondary mineralogical changes, and thus they cannot accumulate sufficient stresses to be released by earthquakes. A comparison of the most probable paths of the mantle fluids with the space-time distribution of the Novy Kostel hypocentres does not seem to support the model of the earthquake swarms triggered by pressurized fluids of mantle origin.     

Can injection tests reveal the potential for fault movements?

The role of fluids in faulting mechanism and triggering earthquakes is widely accepted. The effective-stress law is the basis for the postulated theories. Using a generalized version of this law, applicable to both continuum and discontinuities, hydromechanical behaviour of a horizontal fracture in a hypothetical fluid-injection problem is investigated. In this problem the increasing intake flow rates, unpredictable by the traditional fluid-flow solutions, brings out another significant aspect of the role of the fluid pressure in rocks. By reducing the magnitude of the compressive effective stresses the fluid pressure causes elastic recovery in fractures. Simple rheologic models are used to demonstrate this fact. Such effects may lead to permeability increases in the rock mass, depending on the magnitude of the fluid pressure. Such variations in permeability, however, are governed by the path dependency of the fracture-deformation response. Therefore, a significant increase in permeability is an indication of comparability of the state of stress and the applied fluid pressure.This index may reveal the potential of hydroactivation of faults, as may arise in the regions of dam reservoirs, underground waste injections, and known faults, for certain ranges of working pressures relevant to each of the above-cited situations. Fluid-injection tests under constant working pressures are suggested as a means revealing the likelihood of movement on the faults.     

Fluid regime in the source and preparation area of an earthquake

Peculiarities of the fluid regime in the source and in the area of preparation of an earthquake which accommodates the evolution of the precursors are considered. The qualitative characteristics and the conditions of migration of the fluids, as well as their influence on the disjunctive deformations of the crust are discussed. During the development of the earthquake source, the fluid regime in this area depends on the redistribution of the fluids and their inflow from the outside. The fluid inflow and the increase in the fluid pressure are mainly due to the filtering from the subvertical permeable faults and the metamorphic dehydration of the rocks in the walls of the main fault. The fluids may also be supplied to the source from the near-surface horizons, and most of the induced earthquakes are associated with this process. These earthquakes can be considered as large-scale natural experiments which can shed light on the contribution of fluids in this phenomenon. A particular role in the mechanism of natural seismicity is played by the inflow of high-pressure fluids through the faults from the deep zones of the section.     

Fluid involvement in normal faulting

Evidence of fluid interaction with normal faults comes from their varied role as flow barriers or conduits in hydrocarbon basins and as hosting structures for hydrothermal mineralisation, and from fault-rock assemblages in exhumed footwalls of steep active normal faults and metamorphic core complexes. These last suggest involvement of predominantly aqueous fluids over a broad depth range, with implications for fault shear resistance and the mechanics of normal fault reactivation. A general downwards progression in fault rock assemblages (high-level breccia-gouge (often clay-rich) → cataclasites → phyllonites → mylonite → mylonitic gneiss with the onset of greenschist phyllonites occurring near the base of the seismogenic crust) is inferred for normal fault zones developed in quartzo-feldspathic continental crust. Fluid inclusion studies in hydrothermal veining from some footwall assemblages suggest a transition from hydrostatic to suprahydrostatic fluid pressures over the depth range 3–5 km, with some evidence for near-lithostatic to hydrostatic pressure cycling towards the base of the seismogenic zone in the phyllonitic assemblages. Development of fault-fracture meshes through mixed-mode brittle failure in rock-masses with strong competence layering is promoted by low effective stress in the absence of thoroughgoing cohesionless faults that are favourably oriented for reactivation. Meshes may develop around normal faults in the near-surface under hydrostatic fluid pressures to depths determined by rock tensile strength, and at greater depths in overpressured portions of normal fault zones and at stress heterogeneities, especially dilational jogs. Overpressures localised within developing normal fault zones also determine the extent to which they may reutilise existing discontinuities (for example, low-angle thrust faults). Brittle failure mode plots demonstrate that reactivation of existing low-angle faults under vertical σ₁ trajectories is only likely if fluid overpressures are localised within the fault zone and the surrounding rock retains significant tensile strength. Migrating pore fluids interact both statically and dynamically with normal faults. Static effects include consideration of the relative permeability of the faults with respect to the country rock, and juxtaposition effects which determine whether a fault is transmissive to flow or acts as an impermeable barrier. Strong directional permeability is expected in the subhorizontal σ₂ direction parallel to intersections between minor faults, extension fractures, and stylolites. Three dynamic mechanisms tied to the seismic stress cycle may contribute to fluid redistribution: (i) cycling of mean stress coupled to shear stress, sometimes leading to postfailure expulsion of fluid from vertical fractures; (ii) suction pump action at dilational fault jogs; and, (iii) fault-valve action when a normal fault transects a seal capping either uniformly overpressured crust or overpressures localised to the immediate vicinity of the fault zone at depth. The combination of σ₂ directional permeability with fluid redistribution from mean stress cycling may lead to hydraulic communication along strike, contributing to the protracted earthquake sequences that characterise normal fault systems.     

断层脆塑性转化带的强度与变形机制及其流体和应变速率的影响

野外、实验和地震数据表明:浅部地壳的变形以脆性破裂为主,深部地壳的变形以晶体塑性流动为主.在这种认识的基础上,提出了地壳变形的2种机制模型,即发生脆性变形的上部地壳强度基于Byerlee摩擦定律以及发生塑性变形的下部地壳强度基于幂次蠕变定律.而位于其间的脆塑性转化带的深度与浅源地震深度的下限具有很好的一致性.然而,二元结构的流变模型局限性在于其力学模型过于简单,往往过高估计了脆塑性转化带的强度.问题的根源在于对脆塑性转化带的变形机制的研究已有很多,但没有定量的力学方程来描述脆塑性转化带强度;而且以往对断层脆塑性转化带的研究主要集中在温度引起的脆塑性转化方面,对因应变速率和流体对脆塑性转化的影响方面的研究也比较薄弱.对断层带内矿物变形机制研究表明,某些断层带脆塑性转化发生在相同深度(温度和压力)内,发生脆塑性转化的原因是应变速率的变化,而这种变化被认为与地震周期的同震、震后-间震期蠕变有关,这种变化得到了主震-余震深度分布变化的证实.对断层流体特征分析表明,断层带内可能存在高压流体,这种高压流体会随断裂带的破裂及愈合而周期性变化,在地震孕育及循环中起着关键性作用.高压流体的形成(裂隙愈合)有多种机理,其中,压溶是断层带裂隙愈合的主导机制之一.研究在水作用下的压溶,可以对传统的摩擦-流变二元地壳强度结构及其断层强度进行补充与修正.通过以上分析,认为有必要通过野外变形样品和高温高压实验,深入研究应变速率及流体压力对断层脆塑性转化的影响,同时,通过实验建立压溶蠕变的方程,近似地估计脆塑性转化带的强度.     

Fault zone fabrics and geofluid properties as indicators of rock deformation modes

In this paper we present the results of a geostructural study on active faults in central Italy, where seismogenic fault zones occur as part of a Quaternary network dissecting and/or inverting earlier tectonic features of the central Apennines fold and thrust belt. In our work we focus on the possibility of using structurally-oriented quantitative analysis of fault fabrics and fluid inclusion studies for assessing the hydraulic properties and scaling relations of fault zones in order to evaluate the role and effects of the interaction between rock and fluids in the brittle deformation of strained crustal rock volumes. The results of our study show that this approach is appropriate for (i) assessing the structural permeability of faulted and fractured rock volumes, (ii) defining the conduit/barrier behaviour of fault zones to fluid flow, (iii) mapping spatial variations of the fluid pressure across different fault segments, (iv) evaluating the maturity of a structural network and the degree of interaction of linked structural discontinuities, (v) assessing fluid composition and the conditions of deformation by means of microstructural and fluid inclusion data.     

南海北部深水盆地流体活动系统及其成藏意义

根据高精度的3D和2D地震资料,对南海北部深水盆地的流体活动系统的类型、影响因素和它们之间的演化关系进行了研究.南海北部深水区存在着包括:泥火山、泥底辟、气烟囱、管状通道、多边形断层和构造断层等多种类型的流体活动系统.根据地震反射特征,可以把它们划分为断层有关的流体活动系统和柱状流体活动系统两大类.研究发现研究区内的流体活动系统主要受构造和沉积两方面的影响.并且,气烟囱、泥底辟和泥火山存在着单向演化的关系,可以从是否有沉积物参与运移及是否喷出海底将它们区分开来.最后,本文探讨了流体活动系统对深水油气和天然气水合物成藏的重要影响,建立了南海北部流体活动系统的存在模式.     

Patterns of stress corrosion: Geometry of the principal stresses

We investigate migration of fluids through the rock in the stress corrosion process. The fluids migrate along the trajectories of the principal stress field. We study geometry of these trajectories, including singularities, limit cycles, and possible bifurcations. We describe corresponding configurations of weakened zones in the lithosphere due to the fluid migration.     

Potential Contaminant Pathways from Hydraulically Fractured Shale to Aquifers

Hydraulic fracturing of deep shale beds to develop natural gas has caused concern regarding the potential for various forms of water pollution. Two potential pathways—advective transport through bulk media and preferential flow through fractures—could allow the transport of contaminants from the fractured shale to aquifers. There is substantial geologic evidence that natural vertical flow drives contaminants, mostly brine, to near the surface from deep evaporite sources. Interpretative modeling shows that advective transport could require up to tens of thousands of years to move contaminants to the surface, but also that fracking the shale could reduce that transport time to tens or hundreds of years. Conductive faults or fracture zones, as found throughout the Marcellus shale region, could reduce the travel time further. Injection of up to 15,000,000 L of fluid into the shale generates high pressure at the well, which decreases with distance from the well and with time after injection as the fluid advects through the shale. The advection displaces native fluids, mostly brine, and fractures the bulk media widening existing fractures. Simulated pressure returns to pre‐injection levels in about 300 d. The overall system requires from 3 to 6 years to reach a new equilibrium reflecting the significant changes caused by fracking the shale, which could allow advective transport to aquifers in less than 10 years. The rapid expansion of hydraulic fracturing requires that monitoring systems be employed to track the movement of contaminants and that gas wells have a reasonable offset from faults.     

Pore pressure profiles in fractured and compliant rocks1

Fluid permeability in fractured rocks is sensitive to pore-pressure changes. This dependence can have large effects on the flow of fluids through rocks. We define the permeability compliance γ= 1/k(k/δp_p)_pc, which is the sensitivity of the permeability k to the pore pressure p_p at a constant confining pressure p_c, and solve the specific problems of constant pressure at the boundary of a half-space, a cylindrical cavity and a spherical cavity. The results show that when the magnitude of permeability compliance is large relative to other compliances, diffusion is masked by a piston-like pressure profile. We expect this phenomenon to occur in highly fractured and compliant rock systems where γ may be large. The pressure profile moves rapidly when fluids are pumped into the rock and very slowly when fluids are pumped out. Consequently, fluid pressure, its history and distribution around injection and production wells may be significantly different from pressures predicted by the linear diffusion equation. The propagation speed of the pressure profile, marked by the point where δp_p/δx is a maximum, decreases with time approximately as and the amplitude of the profile also dissipates with time (or distance). The effect of permeability compliance can be important for fluid injection into and withdrawal from reservoirs. For example, excessive drawdown could cause near-wellbore flow suffocation. Also, estimates of the storage capacity of reservoirs may be greatly modified when γ is large. The large near-wellbore pressure gradients caused during withdrawal by large γ can cause sanding and wellbore collapse due to excessive production rates.     

Material transportation and fluid-melt activity in the subduction channel: Numerical modeling

The subduction channel is defined as a planar to wedge-like area of variable size,internal structure and composition,which forms between the upper and lower plates during slab subduction into the mantle.The materials in the channel may experience complex pressure,temperature,stress and strain evolution,as well as strong fluid and melt activity.A certain amount of these materials may subduct to and later exhume from100 km depth,forming high to ultra-high pressure rocks on the surface as widely discovered in nature.Rock deformation in the channel is strongly assisted by metamorphic fluids activities,which change composition and mechanical properties of rocks and thus affect their subduction and exhumation histories.In this study,we investigate the detailed structure and dynamics of both oceanic and continental subduction channels,by conducting highresolution petrological-thermomechanical numerical simulations taking into account fluid and melt activities.The numerical results demonstrate that subduction channels are composed of a tectonic rock melange formed by crustal rocks detached from the subducting slab and the hydrated mantle rocks scratched from the overriding plate.These rocks may either extrude sub-vertically upward through the mantle wedge to the crust of the upper plate,or exhume along the subduction channel to the surface near the suture zone.Based on our numerical results,we first analyze similarities and differences between oceanic and continental subduction channels.We further compare numerical models with and without fluid and melt activity and demonstrate that this activity results in strong weakening and deformation of overriding lithosphere.Finally,we show that fast convergence of orogens subjected to fluid and melt activity leads to strong deformation of the overriding lithosphere and the topography builds up mainly on the overriding plate.In contrast,slow convergence of such orogens leads to very limited deformation of the overriding lithosphere and the mountain building mainly occurs on the subducting plate.     

Estimation of groundwater velocity in localized fracture zones from well temperature profiles

In fractured rocks, well temperature logs often exhibit abrupt temperature changes over a small distance, typically surging or dropping several degrees over several tens of meters. The abrupt temperature changes usually occur in localized fracture zones or small faults. Away from these zones, temperature quickly restores itself to the background linear conductive profile. A theoretical model is presented herein to interpret the pattern of such abrupt temperature changes. I illustrate that this type of temperature profile originates from a different physical process than the physical processes found in some other typical temperature patterns in large scales. I also demonstrate that, using the field data, the theoretical model can be effectively used to estimate fluid flow velocity in fracture zones or local faults. Using the temperature profiles from two boreholes, fluid flow velocity in fracture zones is estimated to be as high as 1.1×10⁻⁶ m/s. Although fracture flow is a highly localized feature, it can reach three orders of magnitude higher than fluid flow in the hosting rock matrices.     

Cross-section through the frontal Japan Trench subduction zone: Geochemical evidence for fluid flow and fluid–rock interaction from DSDP and ODP pore waters and sediments

Abstract Fluids and sediments from Deep Sea Drilling Project/Ocean Drilling Program Legs (56, 57, 87 and 186) along a transect extending from the subducting plate, across the midslope and upper slope of the Japan Trench forearc were analyzed for B and B isotopes in order to assess their composition and fluid–sediment interaction. At the reference Site 436 on the subducting plate, changes in B contents and B isotopes are controlled by the lithology and diagenesis only. The midslope Sites 440 and 584 showed stronger variations in the B geochemistry, which can be related to diagenesis and tectonic dewatering along faults. The strongest changes in the B geochemistry were observed on the upper slope Sites 1150 and 1151, where profound down‐hole freshening (chlorinities as low as ～310 mmol) coincides with a B enrichment (up to 9.3 × seawater concentration). The B isotope pore fluid profile of Site 1150 displayed a bimodal variation with depth, first increasing to values more positive than seawater, then shifting to lower signatures typical for deep‐seated fluids, whereas Site 1151 showed a constant B decrease with depth. Sites 1150 and 1151 sediments showed B increases with depth to values as high as ～164 p.p.m. and isotopic compositions ranging from ～+4 to ?9‰. A linear decrease in B_solid/B_fluid ratio, suggests that B geochemistry of the upper slope sites is controlled by fluid–rock interaction and deep‐seated fluid flow, whereas constant B_solid/B_fluid ratios were observed at the reference site on the incoming plate. This fluid overprint is probably caused by normal faults in the sediment cover which might be interconnected to deep thrusts in the underlying Cretaceous accreted wedge. This suggests that the erosive Japan Trench margin is characterized by back‐flux of deep‐seated, B‐enriched fluids into the ocean, which is facilitated by extensional normal faulting as a result of tectonic erosion and subsidence.     

Geophysical surveys of the Joya Honda maar (México) and surroundings; volcanic implications

Joya Honda (JH) is a Quaternary maar excavated in Mesozoic limestone. It is located in central Mexico and belongs to the Ventura volcanic field (VVF), which is composed by cinder cones and maars made of intraplate-type mafic alkalic rocks. Volcanoes in the region form  N20W lineaments, roughly parallel to a regional set of normal faults, but there is no obvious relation between these faults and vent distribution in the exposed geology around the maar. The volcanic rock volume is small in the VVF, and most volcanoes and their products are scattered in a region where outcrops are dominated by limestone.The near-vent tephra associated to the JH maar lies north of the crater. This relation suggests that the crater was formed by directed hydromagmatic explosions and may indicate an inclined volcanic conduit near the surface. The tephra stratigraphy suggests that the initial explosions were relatively dry and the amount of water increased during the maar forming eruption. Therefore, the existing model of the maar–diatreme formation may not be applicable to Joya Honda as it requires the formation of a cone of depression in the aquifer and deepening of the focii of the explosions as the crater and underlying diatreme grew. Thus, it is unlikely that there is a diatreme below Joya Honda.Aeromagnetic data shows a boundary between two regional magnetic domains near the elongated volcanic cluster of the VVF. The boundary is straight, with a distinct kink, from NE- to NW-trend, near JH. The limit between the domains is interpreted as fault contacts between mid-Tertiary volcanic rocks and marine Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. Hence, magma ascent in the area may have been facilitated by fractures near the surface.Magnetic and gravimetric ground surveys show that the anomalies associated with the maar are not centered in the crater, which could be consistent with an inclined volcanic conduit. A magnetic profile measured on exposed limestone across the volcanic lineament failed to show an anomaly such as that caused by a connecting dike between the volcanoes. Therefore, either the dike does not exist or it is so deep or so thin that it is beyond the limit of detection of the method and/or equipment used. Thus, the volcanic conduit immediately below Joya Honda can be reasonably modeled in the shape of a plug. A 2-D model of the crater anomaly is consistent with a roughly tabular deposit formed by fall-back pyroclasts and slump deposits near the surface. Based on this result we propose an alternative model for the formation of maar-type volcanoes excavated in hard rock, where there is no evidence of a gradual decrease of the water/magma ratio as the eruption advanced.     

Deep origin of Cenozoic volcanoes in Northeast China revealed by 3-D electrical structure

The three-dimensional(3-D)electrical structure of the upper-mantle was used to examine the deep origins of and relationship among the Cenozoic volcanoes located in Northeast China(NEC).High-quality,long-period magnetotelluric(LMT)full-impedance tensor data were collected in NEC and subjected to 3-D Gauss-Newton inversion in order to construct a resistivity model.The resulting model reveals the presence of multiple localized low-resistivity anomalies(LRAs)within the high resistivity lithosphere beneath NEC.These LRAs partially coincide with Cenozoic volcanoes on the surface.Three LRAs that form a larger,annular LRA were observed in the deep upper mantle beneath the Songliao Basin,whereas vein-like LRAs were found in the asthenosphere that connect the lithosphere and deep upper mantle.Petrophysical analyses suggest that the LRAs may have been caused by fluid-induced melting.Based on our electrical model,we propose that,following dehydration of the subducted Western Pacific slab into the mantle transition zone(MTZ)beneath NEC,the released water migrated upward and caused partial melting at the top of the MTZ beneath the Songliao Basin.Under the effect of buoyancy,the melted mantle formed a thermal upwelling that caused melting of asthenosphere before diapiring at the base of the dry lithosphere.The magma then penetrated structural boundaries(such as thinner,weaker,or activated suture zones)and finally reached the Earth's surface.This melting and upwelling of hot mantle materials may have resulted in large-scale volcanism in the region throughout the Cenozoic,including the eruption of Changbai Mountain and Halaha Volcanoes.Our results suggest that the Cenozoic NEC volcanoes may all share a similar mode of genesis,and probably originated from the annular LRA in the deep upper mantle.     

Three‐dimensional texture of natural pseudotachylyte: Pseudotachylyte formation mechanism in hydrous accretionary complex

Melt‐origin pseudotachylyte is the most reliable seismogenic fault rock. It is commonly believed that pseudotachylyte generation is rare in the plate subduction zone where interstitial fluids are abundant and can trigger dynamic fault‐weakening mechanisms such as thermal pressurization. Some recent studies, however, have discovered pseudotachylyte‐bearing faults in exhumed ancient accretionary complexes, indicating that frictional melting also occurrs during earthquakes in subduction zones. To clarify the pseudotachylyte generation mechanism and the variation of slip behavior in the plate subduction zone, a pseudotachylyte found in the exhumed fossil accretionary complex (the Shimanto Belt, Nobeoka, Japan) was re‐focused and microscopic and three‐dimensional observations of the pseudotachylyte‐bearing fault were performed based on optical, electron, and X‐ray microscope images. Based on the patterns contained in the fragment, the pseudotachylyte is divided into four domains, although no clear domain boundaries or layering structures are not found. Three‐dimensional observation also suggests that the pseudotachylyte were fragmented or isolated by cataclasite or carbonate breccia. The pseudotachylyte was rather injected into the surrounding carbonate breccia, which is composed of angular fragments of the host rock and a matrix of tiny crystalline carbonate. The pseudotachylyte volume was extracted from the X‐ray microscope image and the heat abundance consumed by the pseudotachylyte generation was estimated at 2.18 MJ/m², which can be supplied during a slip of approximately 0.5 m. These observations and calculations, together with the results of the previous investigations, suggest hydrofracturing and rapid carbonate precipitation that preceded or accompanied the frictional melting. Dynamic hydrofracturing during a slip can be caused by rapid fluid pressurization, and can induce abrupt decrease in fluid pressure while drastically enhancing the shear strength of the shear zone. Consequently, frictional heating would be reactivated and generate the pseudotachylyte. These deformation processes can explain pseudotachylyte generation in hydrous faults with the impermeable wall rock.     

剪切破裂与粘滑——浅源强震发震机制的研究

周口店花岗闪长岩的高温高压三轴实验和理论分析表明,剪切破裂和摩擦滑移具有类似的孕育过程和发生机制。剪切破裂贯通强度就是一种摩擦强度。剪切破裂和摩擦滑移各自都有渐进式和突发式之分。突发式摩擦滑移是已有断层的粘滑滑移。突发式剪切破裂则是完整岩石的初始粘滑滑移。考虑到地壳温度随深度增加,完整岩石剪裂强震要求较高的围压,因此,多数浅源强震的发震方式很可能是已有断层的粘滑     

The generation and mineral associations of rock assemblages at mud volcanoes: Southeastern Siberia

We consider the main features in the formation of rock assemblages in the southern Siberian Mesozoic–Cenozoic mud volcanism area that the present writers identified. The related mineral associations and mechanism of generation were found. We identified fluid dynamic regimes of mud volcanoes with different mechanisms of mineral generation, viz., root (chamber) structures of fluid generation, as well as the channels for the transmission of the fluid–rock substratum and of hydrothermal fluids.     

Seismological study on the crustal structure of Tengchong volcanic-geothermal area

Introduction The Tengchong volcanic-geothermal area is located on the northeast edge of the collision zone between Indian and Eurasian plates, and belongs to Eurasian volcanic zone (the MediterraneanHimalayanSoutheast Asia volcanic zone). In Tengchong area, the Quaternary volcanic, geothermal and seismic activities are all intensive. These phenomena have been drawing the attention of many geoscientists in the world. Their studies are concerned with geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and cr…     

On Electrical Conductivity at Depth in the Shanuch Copper–Nickel and the Aginskoe Gold-Ore Fields,Kamchatka

This paper is concerned with the method of interpretation and with the results of magnetotelluric sounding (MTS) along the line connecting the Shanuch copper–nickel and the Aginskoe gold ore deposit. The interpretation revealed that the upper section divides into two blocks according to the electrical resistivity. The western block has a high resistivity, which is due to the metamorphic and igneous basement rocks that are exposed at the ground surface. The eastern block has a low resistivity, which is due to the presence of a conductive sedimentary–volcanogenic cover involving a wide network of discontinuities. A low resistivity layer was identified at depths of 30–60 km. The deep-seated faults that have been identified by interpretation in the eastern block penetrate through the lithosphere as far as the conductive layer; fluids can move along these faults upward into the upper crust where at lower temperatures they release minerals whose accumulations make up ore deposits of nonferrous and noble metals.