湘西地质公园岩溶峡谷群成因及其地学意义

湘西地质公园岩溶峡谷分布面积约1 162 km2,岩溶峡谷200多条,密如蜘网分布,是世界上最密集的岩溶峡谷群分布区。湘西岩溶峡谷形态上分为线型峡谷、“V”字型峡谷和箱型峡谷,其间分布岩溶台地和峰丛山地,岩溶峡谷两侧岩溶洞穴、瀑布和石柱发育,景观奇特壮观。相间分布的硅质碳酸盐岩和泥质碳酸盐岩、密集分布的地质构造及高角度节理裂隙、地块掀斜式抬升和强的岩溶水动力为岩溶峡谷群的发育提供了有利条件。岩溶峡谷群的形成经历了地质构造抬升、河流峡谷形成、岩溶峡谷发育三个阶段。与世界其他岩溶区峡谷对比,湘西岩溶峡谷群是世界地质公园中分布规模最大、峡谷最密集、岩溶发育最典型的岩溶峡谷区。湘西岩溶峡谷群不但具有重要的岩溶学研究和地质历史价值,而且具有重要的地质景观和地质文化意义。      

喀斯特洞穴窝穴的形态对比与成因分析——以贵州省双河洞为例

喀斯特洞穴窝穴作为洞穴小形态的一种,记录了喀斯特地区地下河的演变过程和洞穴的发育状况。通过对双河洞系统中阴河洞、响水洞洞穴窝穴的规模、形态大小进行统计,对比了两洞穴窝穴形态的差异性并分析其成因。结果表明:在规模上,阴河洞窝穴分布面积较小,但窝穴数量相当可观,响水洞窝穴分布数量巨大,范围广泛,成千上万的窝穴沿洞穴通道两侧分布;在平面形态上,阴河洞内窝穴扁率要高于响水洞;在垂直剖面上,阴河洞内窝穴深宽比要比响水洞的偏大,且阴河洞窝穴以“V”型、倒“Ω”型窝穴为主,响水洞窝穴以倒“Ω”型窝穴为主,这与两洞穴水动力条件、地质构造、推移质、基岩、风化溶蚀作用等因素的不同密切相关。      

Neotectonic study along mountain front of northeast Himalaya,Arunachal Pradesh,India

To study neotectonics, the structural and morphotectonic aspects are studied along a part of mountain front region of Northeast Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Unpaired river terraces are recognized near north of transverse Burai River exit, which is cut by an oblique fault. Across this fault, fluvial terraces are located at heights of 22.7 and 3 m, respectively, on the left and right banks. A water gap is formed along the river channel where the uplifted Middle Siwalik sandstone beds dipping 43° towards ENE direction, thrust over the Quaternary deposit consisting of boulders, cobbles, pebbles and sandy matrix. This river channel incised the bedrock across the intraformational Ramghat Thrust along which the rocks of the Middle Siwalik Formation thrust over the Upper Siwalik Formation. Recent reactivated fault activity is suggested north of the Himalayan Frontal Thrust that forms the youngest deforming front of the Himalaya. The uplifting along the stream channel is noticed extended for a distance of ~130 m and as a result the alluvial river channel became a bedrock river. The relative displacement of rocks is variable along the length of strike–slip faults developed later within the Ramghat Thrust zone. Longitudinal and Channel gradient profiles of Burai River exhibit knick points and increase in river gradient along the tapering ends of the profiles. The study suggests active out-of-sequence neotectonically active thrusting along the mountain front. Neotectonics combined with climatic factor during the Holocene times presents a virgin landscape environment for studying tectonic geomorphology.     

Evaluation of the role of rock properties in the development of potholes: A case study of the Indrayani knickpoint,Maharashtra

The most conspicuous erosional features associated with constricted bedrock channel reaches and knickpoints are potholes. The presence and morphology of potholes have been attributed to a number of factors by earlier researchers. Amongst these factors, the role of substrate rock properties has received very little quantitative attention. The main objective of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the physical properties of bedrock in order to test the possible influences of rock properties on the occurrence and morphology of potholes. The area selected for this study is a large scabland area developed by the Indrayani river at Shelarwadi near Pune. This site is ideally suited for the study since it is featured by wide straths, multiple inner channels and several hundred potholes. A transect-based quadrat method was used in this study. Within each quadrat, the pothole dimensions, the joint length, joint direction, the rock mass strength and the distance from active channel were measured. The analysis reveals a weak correlation between pothole size and rock properties. The distance from the active channel emerges as the most significant factor, suggesting that the hydraulics of flows is the key factor and substrate characteristics play only a secondary role.     

Active fault traces along Bhuj Fault and Katrol Hill Fault, and trenching survey at Wandhay, Kachchh, Gujarat, India

Several new active fault traces were identified along Katrol Hill Fault (KHF). A new fault (named as Bhuj Fault, BF) that extends into the Bhuj Plain was also identified. These fault traces were identified based on satellite photo interpretation and field survey. Trenches were excavated to identify the paleoseismic events, pattern of faulting and the nature of deformation. New active fault traces were recognized about 1km north of the topographic boundary between the Katrol Hill and the plain area. The fault exposure along the left bank of Khari River with 10m wide shear zone in the Mesozoic rocks and showing displacement of the overlying Quaternary deposits is indicative of continued tectonic activity along the ancient fault. The E-W trending active fault traces along the KHF in the western part changes to NE-SW or ENE-WSW near Wandhay village. Trenching survey across a low scarp near Wandhay village reveals three major fault strands F1, F2, and F3. These fault strands displaced the older terrace deposits comprising Sand, Silt and Gravel units along with overlying younger deposits from units 1 to 5 made of gravel, sand and silt. Stratigraphic relationship indicates at least three large magnitude earthquakes along KHF during Late Holocene or recent historic past.     

Coupling fluvial processes and landslide distribution toward geomorphological hazard assessment: a case study in a transient landscape in Japan

This study quantified the relationship among deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DGSDs), landslides, and river rejuvenation in the upper reaches of the Kumano River in the Kii Mountains of Japan, an area of frequent bedrock landslides. River profiles and hillslope landforms were examined, and high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) were used to identify DGSDs and landslides. Many of the deep-seated landslides were associated with rainstorms in 1889 and 2011. Landslide volumes were related to landslide areas on the basis of 52 deep-seated landslides that failed during the 2011 rainfall, providing basic data for landscape denudation and sediment yield. River rejuvenation occurred stepwise, incising moderate relief paleosurfaces and forming two series of knickpoints and V-shaped inner gorges that are up to 400-m deep. More than 65% of DGSDs and 75% of the landslides were located in association with the incised inner gorges along the peripheries of the paleosurfaces or were entirely contained within the inner gorges. DGSDs and landslides associated with the incised inner valley slopes tended to be larger than those developed within the paleosurfaces and may be long-term transient hillslope responses to river incision. Hillslope undercutting caused by rejuvenated river incision may play an important role in long-term slope stability and distribution of mass movements, and could serve as an indicator of landslide hazard.     

Response of a dryland fluvial system to climate–tectonic perturbations during the Late Quaternary: Evidence from Rukmawati River basin,Kachchh, western India

Dryland rivers, dominated by short-lived, localised and highly variable flow due to discrete precipitation events, have characteristic preservation potential, which serves as suitable archives towards understanding the climate–tectonic coupling. In the present study, we have investigated the fluvial records of a major, southerly-draining river – the Rukmawati River in the dryland terrain of southern Kachchh, in western India. The sediment records along the bedrock rivers of Kachchh register imprints of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM), which is the major source of moisture to the fluvial system in western India. The Rukmawati River originates from the Katrol Hill Range in the north and flows towards the south, into the Gulf of Kachchh. The field stratigraphy, sedimentology, along with the optical chronology suggests that a braided-meandering system existed during 37 ka period due to an overall strengthened monsoon. A gradual decline in the monsoon strength with fluctuation facilitated the development of a braided channel system between 20 and 15 ka. A renewed phase of strengthened monsoon with seasonality after around 15 ka which persisted until around 11 ka, is implicated in the development of floodplain sequences. Two zones of relatively high bedrock uplift are identified based on the geomorphometry and morphology of the fluvial landform. These zones are located in the vicinity of the North Katrol Hill Fault (NKHF) and South Katrol Hill Fault (SKHF). Geomorphic expression of high bedrock uplift is manifested by the development of beveled bedrock prior to or around 20 ka during weak monsoon. The study suggests that the terrain in the vicinity of NKHF and SKHF is uplifting at around 0.8 and >0.3 mm/a, respectively. Simultaneously, the incision in the Rukmawati River basin, post 11 ka, is ascribed to have occurred due to lowered sea level during the LGM and early Holocene period.     

A morphological study of Durance River terraces from Tallard to Avignon, South-East France

This study of Durance River terrace morphologies in the lower 200 km of the valley shows that terrace ages, elevations and heights above the river generally all increase upstream. It is based on extensive fieldwork checked against geological maps and memoirs. Subdivision of the valley, based on gorges and former tectonic blockages, is relevant because there are no Durance terraces downstream of Mallemort and there are considerable differences between each reach. For most of the Pleistocene, the river was diverted through the Crau Plains to the sea. Below the Mirabeau gorge, there are a few narrow low and middle terraces. The best terrace development is between Mirabeau and the Sisteron defile. Upstream of that barrier there is glacial dominance. Changes in terrace continuity are illustrated by means of height-range diagrams and their rates of dissection have been quantified approximately, based on cosmic ray exposure age modelling. Climate forcing cannot explain all the changes found. The influence of tectonic activity was found to increase in an upstream direction and also with age on the southwestern flanks of the Alps.     

云南泸水县小水电建设诱发地质灾害的研究

泸水县新构造运动强烈,是典型的峡谷地貌区。小水电建设过程中引发地质灾害的问题突出。本文对泸水县峡谷地区小水电建设过程中容易诱发的地质灾害类型及特征进行了分析,并提出了防治对策。     

Dating bedrock gorge incision in the French Western Alps (Ecrins-Pelvoux massif) using cosmogenic 10Be

We report in-situ produced ¹⁰Be data from the Gorge du Diable (French Western Alps) to date and quantify bedrock gorge incision into a glacial hanging valley. We sampled gorge sidewalls and the active channel bed to derive both long-term and present-day incision rates. ¹⁰Be ages of sidewall profiles reveal rapid incision through the late Holocene (ca 5 ka) at rates ranging from 6.5 to 13 mm yr⁻¹. Present-day incision rates are significantly lower and vary from 0.5 to 3 mm yr⁻¹ within the gorge. Our data imply either delayed initiation of gorge incision after final ice retreat from internal Alpine valleys at ca 12 ka, or post-glacial surface reburial of the gorge. Our results suggest that fluvial incision rates >1 cm yr⁻¹ into crystalline bedrock may be encountered in transient landscape features induced by glacial-interglacial transitions.     

Neotectonic Control on the Geomorphic Evolution of the Gangotri Glacier Valley, Garhwal Himalaya

The paper records evidences of neotectonic activities in the Gangotri glacier valley that are found to be responsible for the present-day geomorphic set-up of the area since the last phase of major glaciation. Geomorphological features indicate the presence of a large glacier in the valley in the geological past. Prominent planar structures present in the rocks were later on modified into sets of normal faults in the present-day Himalayan tectonic set-up giving rise to graben structures. The block nearest the snout is traversed by the NW-SE trending Gaumukh fault. A number of terraces mark the entrenchment of Bhagirathi River in this part. The contrasting drainage morphometric parameters of two sides of the valley and asymmetric recessional patterns of the tributary glaciers further document movement along the fault. The distribution and orientation of debris fans also seem to be controlled by neotectonic activity. The neotectonic activity that followed the process of deglaciation has brought the glacially carved, wide U- shaped valley in contact with the present-day fluvially incised narrow and relatively deep valley. The wider segments have become sites of active deposition of glacially eroded debris. The low gradient and excessive filling has resulted in the river attaining a braided nature in these segments.     

维西-乔后断裂新活动特征及其与红河断裂的关系

根据野外调查结果,重点阐述了维西-乔后断裂晚第四纪活动特征,并对其与红河断裂之间的关系进行了探讨分析。维西-乔后断裂对晚新生代盆地具有明显的控制作用,右旋走滑特征明显,沿线山脊和河流表现为同步右旋位错。德胜和长邑南探槽揭示其断错了晚更新世晚期-全新世堆积。岩曲-石岩村一带Ⅱ级河流阶地和后缘洪积扇上发育长约3 km、高2.5 m左右的断层陡坎。根据洪积扇、冲沟和河流阶地位错量估算,该断裂晚更新世晚期以来右旋水平滑动速率为1.8~2.4 mm/a,垂直滑动速率为0.30~0.35 mm/a。它南与红河断裂相连,北与金沙江断裂相接,新生代以来具有与红河断裂和金沙江断裂相似的运动学特征、相同的地质演化历史和构造变形机制,是红河活动断裂的北延部分。维西-乔后断裂与红河、金沙江以及德钦-中甸-大具等断裂一起,共同构成了川滇活动块体的西部边界。      

Lithostratigraphic development and neotectonic significance of the Quaternary sediments along the Kachchh Mainland Fault (KMF) zone,western India

The Kachchh Mainland Fault (KMF) is a major E–W trending seismically active fault of the Kachchh palaeorift basin whose neotectonic evolution is not known. The present study deals with the eastern part of the KMF zone where the fault is morphologically expressed as steep north facing scarps and is divisible into five morphotectonic segments. The Quaternary sediments occurring in a narrow zone between the E–W trending KMF scarps and the flat Banni plain to the north are documented. The sediments show considerable heterogeneity vertically as well as laterally along the KMF zone. (The Quaternary sediments for a northward sloping and are exposed along the north flowing streams which also show rapid decrease in the depth of incision in the same direction.) The deposits, in general, comprise coarse as well as finer gravelly deposits, sands and aeolian and fluvial miliolites. The Quaternary sediments of the KMF zone show three major aggradation phases. The oldest phase includes the colluvio-fluvial sediments occurring below the miliolites. These deposits are strikingly coarse grained and show poor sorting and large angular clasts of Mesozoic rocks. The sedimentary characteristics indicate deposition, dominantly by debris flows and sediment gravity flows, as small coalescing alluvial fans in front of the scarps. These deposits suggest pre-miliolite neotectonic activity along the KMF. The second aggradation phase comprises aeolian miliolites and fluvially reworked miliolites that have been previously dated from middle to late Pleistocene. The youngest phase is the post-miliolite phase that includes all deposits younger than miliolite. These are represented by comparatively finer sandy gravels, gravelly sands and sand. The sediment characteristics suggest deposition in shallow braided stream channels under reduced level of neotectonic activity along the KMF during post-miliolite time evidenced by vertical dips of miliolites and tilting of gravels near the scarps. The tectonically controlled incision and dissection of the Quaternary deposits is the result of neotectonic activity that continues at present day. The overall nature, sedimentary characteristics and geomorphic setting of the sediments suggest that the KMF remained neotectonically active throughout the Quaternary period.     

Neotectonics and recent uplift at Kamchatka and Aleutian arc junction, Kamchatka Cape area, NE Russia

The tectonic position of the Kamchatka Cape Peninsula at the junction of the active Kuril–Kamchatka and Aleutian arcs exposes the coastline of the peninsula to strong neotectonic activities. Fracture zones have variable influence on uplift of the Kamchatka Cape Peninsula. Relevant morphologic indicators of neotectonic activity are multilevel, highly uplifted marine terraces and terraces displaced along active faults. Recent uplift rates of coastal sediments are determined by remote sensing via ASTER and SRTM DEM combined with optically stimulated luminescence dating (OSL). On the Kamchatka Cape Peninsula, terraces from the same generation are mapped at different elevations by remote sensing methods. After defining different areas of uplifted terraces, four neotectonic blocks are identified. According to apatite fission track data, the mean differential exhumation rates range from 0.2 to 1.2 mm year^?1 across the blocks since Late Miocene. The OSL data presented point to significant higher uplift rates of up to 3 ± 0.5 and 4.3 ± 1 mm year^?1, which indicates an acceleration of the vertical movement along the coast of Kamchatka Cape Peninsula in Upper Pleistocene and Holocene times.     

The Mazafran river (western Sahel of Algiers): superimposition or antecedence?

At the western Sahel of Algiers, the watercourse of the Mazafran river is perpendicular to the Sahel fold, forming a gorge that has developed in a tectono-eustatic context characteristic of the Sahel region. This gorge has formed in a regime of superimposition which involves the evolution of antecedence in relation to the Sahel uplift. This deduction is the result of multiple analyses that are based on a stratigraphic study which characterizes the succession of continental and marine deposits and the analyses of lineament map of tectonic evolution during the Quaternary which is marked by the Sahel folding. In order to correlate the chronology between the fluvial and marine sedimentary dynamics, a geomorphological study of the Mazafran alluvial terraces associated with the paleoshorelines was realized. The obtained results reveal that the development of the Mazafran river gorge is complex.     

西昆仑山前河流阶地的形成及其构造意义

西昆仑山前河流普遍发育6级阶地,利用光释光（OSL）与热释光（TL）方法对采自西昆仑山前几条主要河流的低阶地堆积物样品进行年代测定。研究结果显示,主要河流低阶地的形成具有同时性,构造活动是河流阶地形成的主要控制因素。河流阶地的年龄测定结果表明,西昆仑山前河流阶地最早形成于约1.2Ma,T4、T3、T2阶地分别形成于约39ka、18ka和5ka。多级阶地的形成反映了河流自早更新世中期开始下切于活动抬升的西昆仑山。河流阶地的发育及区域对比揭示了西昆仑第四纪晚期以来的隆升过程,区域构造活动明显地影响河流的形态与行为。河流阶地的分布、地貌特征及区域对比表明,河流阶地的形成与演化受新构造活动、山脉隆升、气候变化等多种因素的影响。     

太行山南缘晚更新世以来河流阶地的发育及其新构造运动意义

太行山南缘的武家湾河流经太行山与华北平原两大地貌单元的过渡地带,较太行山内部其他水系对新构造运动的响应更为敏感,能较好地记录区域地壳抬升历史。以武家湾河下游平甸河为研究重点,通过野外河流阶地级序及沉积特征的调查并结合光释光（OSL）测年结果,厘定了平甸河4级河流阶地,T4、T3、T2及T1阶地河拔高度分别为61～96 m、35～54 m、19～43 m、3～5 m,分别形成于974 kaBP、739 kaBP、483 kaBP、23 kaBP,根据对阶地成因的探讨,认为T4、T3、T2阶地为构造阶地,T1阶地为气候阶地,阶地资料揭示晚更新世（Qp3）太行山南缘经历3次间歇性构造抬升后至少隆升了90 m: 第一次抬升26～42 m、抬升速率111～179 mm/a,第二次抬升11～27 m、抬升速率043～105 mm/a,第三次抬升16～39 m、抬升速率035～085 mm/a。本研究为河流阶地对新构造运动的响应研究提供了实际材料,对晚更新世太行山的形成及演化研究具有较重要的参考价值。     

贵州涟江惠水段河流阶地特征与地貌演化研究

贵州涟江惠水段级次清晰的四级阶地是流域地貌阶段性演化的直观记录。笔者等利用差分GPS测量法精确厘定了涟江阶地的级序和高程,结合剖面观测发现从上游到下游,涟江惠水段阶地标高和级差逐渐降低,地貌面整体呈“收拢”趋势;阶地沉积物呈现砾石层厚度变小,砾石含量降低、砾径减小,砂质沉积占比增大趋势;阶地类型从基座阶地为主向堆积阶地为主演变。光释光(OSL)测年显示,T1阶地埋藏年龄31.2±2.0 ka BP到14.7±1.3 ka BP,T2阶地122.4±8.5 ka BP到66.9±3.8 ka BP,阶地年龄与贵州高原其他流域十分相近,具有同步演化特征。结合阶地时代和发育特征,认为贵州高原河流阶地是构造运动的产物。涟江四级阶地记录了在更新世以来四次构造抬升背景下,流域经过多期自北向南“削高补低”的地貌改造,逐步由构造洼地演变为山间盆地的地貌过程。     

贵州涟江惠水段河流阶地特征与地貌演化研究

贵州涟江惠水段级次清晰的四级阶地是流域地貌阶段性演化的直观记录。笔者等利用差分GPS测量法精确厘定了涟江阶地的级序和高程,结合剖面观测发现从上游到下游,涟江惠水段阶地标高和级差逐渐降低,地貌面整体呈“收拢”趋势;阶地沉积物呈现砾石层厚度变小,砾石含量降低、砾径减小,砂质沉积占比增大趋势;阶地类型从基座阶地为主向堆积阶地为主演变。光释光（OSL）测年显示,T1阶地埋藏年龄31.2±2.0 ka BP到14.7±1.3 ka BP,T2阶地122.4±8.5 ka BP到66.9±3.8 ka BP,阶地年龄与贵州高原其他流域十分相近,具有同步演化特征。结合阶地时代和发育特征,认为贵州高原河流阶地是构造运动的产物。涟江四级阶地记录了在更新世以来四次构造抬升背景下,流域经过多期自北向南“削高补低”的地貌改造,逐步由构造洼地演变为山间盆地的地貌过程。     

岷江源地区新构造运动特征

为了深入了解岷江断裂带晚新生代以来的构造活动,以岷江源地区河谷地貌、新生代盆地、夷平面为主要研究内容,研究区内新构造运动的特征。结果表明该区河谷地貌以宽谷和窄谷的交替出现为特点,源区发育三级夷平面,新构造运动强烈,地貌差异显著。该区新近纪以来主要经历了早期(5.3 Ma)伸展断陷和中期(1.8 Ma)逆冲推覆兼左行走滑及晚期(0.13 Ma)掀斜抬升演化过程。岷江源区河谷地貌的演化严格受新构造运动的影响,构造运动控制了河谷以及第四纪断陷盆地的形态,影响了河岸两侧阶地的分布、形态与结构。本区新构造运动具有南北分带型和东西向掀斜运动的不对称性等特征。本研究为进一步研究青藏高原东缘的活动构造提供了重要的地貌证据。