Development of large‐scale seismites in Upper Cretaceous fluvial sandstones in a fault‐proximal setting

Large‐scale soft‐sediment deformation structures occur within fluvial sandstone bodies of the Upper Cretaceous Wahweap Formation in the Kaiparowits basin, southern Utah, USA. These structures represent an exceptional example of metre‐scale fault‐proximal, seismogenic load structures in nearly homogenous sandstones. The load structures consist of two types: large‐scale load casts and wedge‐shaped load structures. Large‐scale load casts penetrate up to 4·5 m into the underlying sandstone bed. Wedge‐shaped load structures include metre‐scale, parallel, sub‐vertical features and decimetre‐scale features along the periphery of the large‐scale load casts or other wedge‐shaped load structures. Wedge‐shaped load structures contain well‐developed, medial cataclastic shear deformation bands. All load structures contain pervasive well‐defined millimetre‐thick to centimetre‐thick internal laminae, oriented parallel to the outside form of the load structures and asymptotic to deformation bands. Both types of load structures formed because of an inverted density profile, earthquake‐triggered liquefaction and growth of irregularities (a Rayleigh–Taylor instability) on the sandstone–sandstone erosional contact. The internal laminae and deformation bands formed during deformation and clearly demonstrate polyphase deformation, recording a transition from liquefied to hydroplastic to brittle modes of deformation. Decimetre‐scale wedge‐shaped load structures on the edge of the large‐scale load casts probably formed towards the end of a seismic event after the sediment dewatered and increased the frictional contact of grains enough to impart strength to the sands. Metre‐scale wedge‐shaped load structures were created as the tips of downward foundering sediments were driven into fractures, which widened incrementally with seismic pulsation. With each widening of the fracture, gravity and a suction effect would draw additional sediment into the fracture. Superimposed laminae indicate a secondary syndeformational origin for internal laminae, probably by flow‐generated shearing and vibrofluidization mechanisms. Large‐scale and wedge‐shaped load structures, polyphase deformation and secondary laminae may characterize soft‐sediment deformation in certain fault‐proximal settings.     

Aragonite and calcite preservation in sediments from Lake Iznik related to bottom lake oxygenation and water column depth

This study examines the forcing mechanisms driving long‐term carbonate accumulation and preservation in lacustrine sediments in Lake Iznik (north‐western Turkey) since the last glacial. Currently, carbonates precipitate during summer from the alkaline water column, and the sediments preserve aragonite and calcite. Based on X‐ray diffraction data, carbonate accumulation has changed significantly and striking reversals in the abundance of the two carbonate polymorphs have occurred on a decadal time scale, during the last 31 ka cal bp . Different lines of evidence, such as grain size, organic matter and redox sensitive elements, indicate that reversals in carbonate polymorph abundance arise due to physical changes in the lacustrine setting, for example, water column depth and lake mixing. The aragonite concentrations are remarkably sensitive to climate, and exhibit millennial‐scale oscillations. Extending observations from modern lakes, the Iznik record shows that the aerobic decomposition of organic matter and sulphate reduction are also substantial factors in carbonate preservation over long time periods. Lower lake levels favour aragonite precipitation from supersaturated waters. Prolonged periods of stratification and, consequently, enhanced sulphate reduction favour aragonite preservation. In contrast, prolonged or repeated exposure of the sediment–water interface to oxygen results in in situ aerobic organic matter decomposition, eventually leading to carbonate dissolution. Notably, the Iznik sediment profile raises the hypothesis that different states of lacustrine mixing lead to selective preservation of different carbonate polymorphs. Thus, a change in the entire lake water chemistry is not strictly necessary to favour the preservation of one polymorph over another. Therefore, this investigation is a novel contribution to the carbon cycle in lacustrine systems.     

Use of targets to track 3D displacements in highly vegetated areas affected by landslides

Monitoring landslides with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is currently a well-known technique. One problem often encountered is the vegetation that produces shadow areas on the scans. Indeed, the points behind a given obstacle are hidden and thus occluded on the point cloud. Thereby, locations monitored with terrestrial laser scanner are mostly rock instabilities and few vegetated landslides, being difficult or even impossible to survey vegetated slopes using this method with its classical non-full wave form. The Peney landslide (Geneva, Switzerland) is partially vegetated by bushes and trees, and in order to monitor its displacements during the drawdown of the Verbois reservoir located at its base, an alternative solution has been found. We combined LiDAR technique with 14 targets made of polystyrene placed at different locations inside and outside the landslide area. The obtained displacements were compared with classical measurement methods (total station and extensometer), showing good resemblance of results, indicating that the use of targets in highly vegetated areas could be an efficient alternative for mass movements monitoring.     

Suevite of the ries crater,Germany: Source rocks and implications for cratering mechanics

Suevites are impact breccias with a montmorillonitic matrix that contains shocked and unshocked mineral and rock fragments from the crystalline basement, glass inclusions and a small amount of sedimentary clasts. Data are given of the modal composition of fall-out suevites (deposited at isolated points around the crater) and crater suevite (forming a layer below post-impact lake sediments in the crater cavity). Fall-out suevites contain aerodynamically shaped bombs which are absent in crater suevite. Taking into account not only large glass fragments and bombs, but also the finer fractions, the glass content of fall-out and crater suevites amounts to 47 and 29 vol%, respectively. Crystalline clasts in suevites consist of all igneous and metamorphic rock types that constitute the local basement which consists of an upper layer of igneous rocks (mainly granites) and a lower series of gneisses and amphibolite. Based on a collection of 1 200 clasts from 13 suevite occurrences the average crystalline clast population of suevites was determined. Suevites contain on the average 46 % igneous and 54 % metamorphic clasts. In constrast, weakly shocked and unshocked crystalline ejecta of the Ries structure consist of 82 % igneous and 18 % metamorphic rocks. From 138 analyses of crystalline rock samples average compositions of the major rock types were calculated. Comparison of these averages with the average glass composition leads to the conclusion that suevite glasses were formed by shock melting of gneisses in deeper levels of the basement. Suevite matrices consist in most cases of 80 to 90 % montmorillonite, in special cases of celadonite. Chemical analyses are given of some matrices and montmorillonite formulas calculated. It is supposed that montmorillonite was formed by early hydrothermal alteration of rock flour or fine glass particles. In the latter case the original glass content of suevites was higher than at present. Of all ejecta from the Ries crater only crystalline rocks contained in suevites occur in all stages of shock metamorphism up to complete fusion. The overwhelming majority of the ejecta from the sedimentary sequence (about 580 m) show no indications of shock pressures above 10 GPa. The same holds true for crystalline megablocks and breccias around the crater which consist mainly of granites from upper levels of the basement. We assume that the Ries impact can be approximated by a deep-burst model: The projectile penetrated through the sedimentary cover into the basement in such a way that the highest pressures and temperatures developed within the gneiss complex below the upper, predominately granitic layer and that rocks of the sedimentary sequence experienced weak shock compression. Numerical data are given for such a model of the Ries impact on transient crater geometry and volumes of vaporized, melted, shocked and excavated rocks. Fall-out suevites are supposed to have been lifted from the central zone by an expanding plume of vaporized rocks and deposited as fluidized turbulent masses outside the crater whereas the main mass of crater suevite was not removed from the crater cavity.     

Die Anomalien der Schwere am Südwest-Rand des Bayerischen Waldes und ihre Interpretation

Zusammenfassung Zur Untersuchung der Störungssysteme, die im Raum Regensburg—Passau das Kristallin-Gebiet des Vorderen Bayerischen Waldes gegen die Sedimente des Vorlands begrenzen, wurden entlang von neun Profilen senkrecht zum Streichen der tektonischen Linien (Donau-Randbruch, Pockinger Abbruch, Keilberg-Störung) gravimetrische Messungen durchgeführt. Die Gesamtlänge der Profile beträgt 173 km, bei einer Gesamtzahl von 1985 Gravimeter-Meßpunkten, also einem mittleren Punktabstand von 87 m. Für alle Punkte wurden Freiluft- und Bouguer-Anomalie berechnet. Zur Interpretation der Schwere-Anomalien wurden Modelle von zweidimensionalen Störkörpern entworfen, deren berechnete Schwerestörung mit der gemessenen gut übereinstimmt. Dabei wurden Bohrergebnisse mit berücksichtigt und als Randwerte einbezogen.Der Zunahme des Schwere-Unterschieds zwischen Kristallin und Vorland von Nordwesten nach Südosten entspricht dabei eine Zunahme der Sedimentmächtigkeit von etwa 500 m bei Regensburg auf etwa 1600 m südlich von Passau. Die Modellrechnungen ergaben außerdem oberflächennahes Kristallin im südöstlichen Drittel des Untersuchungsgebietes, das sich noch mehrere Kilometer südlich des Anstehenden unter nur geringer Sedimentbedeckung (unter 150 m) befindet. Eindeutig konnte entschieden werden, daß die Südgrenze des Vorderen Bayerischen Waldes als tektonische Abschiebung, meist in Form eines Staffelbruchs, ausgebildet ist und keineswegs Kristallin auf die Sedimente aufgeschoben ist. Südlich von Passau konnte aus den Schwereanomalien eine höhere Dichte des Kristallins abgeleitet werden, die durch dort vorkommenden dichteren Gneis erklärt wird. Magnetische Anomalien in unmittelbarem Zusammenhang mit den tektonischen Störungen konnten nicht beobachtet werden. Obwohl seismische Ereignisse nicht registriert wurden, gibt es einige Hinweise, daß die Bewegungen am Donau-Randbruch noch andauern.

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The marginal faults separating the crystalline region of the Bavarian Forest (Bohemian Massif) in the area between Regensburg and Passau (Southern Germany) from the sediments of the Molasse basin to the south were investigated with gravity measurements along nine profiles perpendicular to the strike of the faults. The total length of the profiles is 173 km with a total number of 1985 gravity points (mean distance 87 m). Free-air (Faye-) and Bouguer anomalies of all stations were calculated. Models of two-dimensional bodies using data from drillings were developed. The increase of the intensity of the gravity anomalies from NW to SE corresponds to an increase of the thickness of the sediments from about 500 m near Regensburg to about 1600 m to the south of Passau. The model calculations moreover showed that the crystalline basement in the south-eastern part of the area extends several kilometers to the south of the outcrops beneath a thin sedimentary layer of less than 150 m. It was possible to show that normal type faults dominate, usually in the form of antithetical steps. An upthrust of the Bavarian Forest onto the Molasse basin could be excluded. South of Passau the gravity anomalies support a higher density of the crystalline rocks which is explained by the denser gneiss outcroping locally there. It was impossible to observe magnetic anomalies directly associated with the faults. Although seismic events could not be registered, there are indications of tectonical movements still continuing at present.

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Résumé Les failles marginales qui séparent dans la région de Regensburg—Passau (Allemagne du Sud) la zone cristalline de la ForÊt Bavaroise (Massif Bohémien) des sédiments du bassin molassique au Sud on été étudiées à l'aide de mesures gravimétriques suivant neuf profils perpendiculaires à la direction des failles. La longueur totale des profils est de 173 km avec 1985 points gravimétriques au total (distance moyenne 87 m). Des anomalies à l'air libre (de Faye) et de Bouguer on été calculées pour toutes les stations. Pour interpréter les anomalies de la gravité, on a développé des modèles de corps à deux dimensions dont les anomalies calculées s'accordent bien avec les anomalies mesurées. Dans ces modèles on a utilisé et intégré des résultats des forages comme valeurs marginales. L'augmentation de l'intensité des anomalies de la gravité du Nord-Ouest vers le Sud-Est correspond à une augmentation d'épaisseur des sédiments d'environ 500 m près de la ville de Regensburg, à environ 1600 m au Sud de la ville de Passau. De plus, les calculs sur modèle on fait apparaÎtre que dans la partie Sud-Est de la région étudiée, le soubassement cristallin couvert d'une mince couche sédimentaire de moins de 150 m se continue de plusieurs kilomètres au Sud des affleurements. On a pu démontrer que des failles antithétiques sont prédominantes, le plus souvent sous forme d'une faille en escalier. Un chevauchement de la ForÊt Bavaroise sur le bassin molassique peut Être exclu. Au Sud de Passau, il a été possible de déduire des anomalies de la gravité une densité plus élevée du cristallin, ce qui s'explique par la densité plus forte des gneiss de cette région. On n'a pas observé d'anomalies magnétiques en rapport direct avec des failles. Bien que des événements sismiques n'aient pas été enregistrés, il y a quelques indicies que les mouvements tectoniques perdurent le long de faille du Danube.

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Eocene high pressure metamorphism in the Penninic units of the Tauern Window (Eastern Alps): evidence from40Ar−39Ar dating and petrological investigations

The⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar degassing spectra of white micas and amphiboles from three tectonic units of the central Tauern Window (Pennine basement and cover in the Eastern Alps) have been measured. White micas are classified as (1) pre-Alpine low-Si relic micas with an age value of 292 Ma, variously disturbed by the Alpine metamorphism; (2) Alpine phengitic micas of variable composition with an age between 32 and 36 Ma; (3) Alpine low-Si micas with a maximum age of 27 Ma. We attribute the higher Alpine ages to a blueschist facies event, whereas the lower age reflects the late cooling of the nappe pile. Blueschist facies phengites from the basement (Lower Schieferhülle) and the tectonic cover (Upper Schieferhülle) crystallized at a temperature below the closure temperature (T _c) for argon diffusion in white mica and record ages of 32 to 36 Ma. At the same time a thin, eclogite facies unit (Eclogite Zone) was thrust between the Lower and the Upper Schieferhülle and cooled from eclogite facies conditions at about 600°C at 20 kbar to blueschist facies conditions at 450°C or even 300°C at >10 kbar. Eclogite facies phengites closed for argon diffusion and record cooling ages, coinciding with the crystallization ages in the hanging and the footwall unit. Amphibole age spectra (actinolite, glaucophane, barroisite) are not interpretable in terms of geologically meaningful ages because of excess argon.