Intrusion of ultramafic magmatic bodies into the continental crust: Numerical simulation

Intrusions of ultramafic bodies into the lower density continental crust are documented for a large variety of tectonic settings spanning continental shields, rift systems, collision orogens and magmatic arcs. The intriguing point is that these intrusive bodies have a density higher by 300-500 kg m⁻³ than host rocks. Resolving this paradox requires an understanding of the emplacement mechanism. We have employed finite differences and marker-in-cell techniques to carry out a 2D modeling study of intrusion of partly crystallized ultramafic magma from sublithospheric depth to the crust through a pre-existing magmatic channel. By systematically varying the model parameters we document variations in intrusion dynamics and geometry that range from funnel- and finger-shaped bodies (pipes, dikes) to deep seated balloon-shaped intrusions and flattened shallow magmatic sills. Emplacement of ultramafic bodies in the crust lasts from a few kyr to several hundreds kyr depending mainly on the viscosity of the intruding, partly crystallized magma. The positive buoyancy of the sublithospheric magma compared to the overriding, colder mantle lithosphere drives intrusion while the crustal rheology controls the final location and the shape of the ultramafic body. Relatively cold elasto-plastic crust (T_Moho = 400 °C) promotes a strong upward propagation of magma due to the significant decrease of plastic strength of the crust with decreasing confining pressure. Emplacement in this case is controlled by crustal faulting and subsequent block displacements. Warmer crust (T_Moho = 600 °C) triggers lateral spreading of magma above the Moho, with emplacement being accommodated by coeval viscous deformation of the lower crust and fault tectonics in the upper crust. Strong effects of magma emplacement on surface topography are also documented. Emplacement of high-density, ultramafic magma into low-density rocks is a stable mechanism for a wide range of model parameters that match geological settings in which partially molten mafic-ultramafic rocks are generated below the lithosphere. We expect this process to be particularly active beneath subduction-related magmatic arcs where huge volumes of partially molten rocks produced from hydrous cold plume activity accumulate below the overriding lithosphere.     

Short‐time (<10 ka) denudation rates as a marker of active folding in the Zagros Fold Belt (Iran)

Coupling between tectonics and surface processes is usually ill‐quantified as other factors such as climate and lithology affect the later. We provide catchment‐wide ¹⁰Be denudation rates of the Mand catchment in the Zagros Fold Belt (Iran) to infer correlations between these rates and ongoing tectonic shortening in the region. Denudation rates are generally low (~0.05–0.1 mm/a) but increase to ~1 mm/a near the Halikan anticline, where changes in precipitation, lithology or hillslope gradient are insignificant. The denudation rates upstream and downstream of the Halikan anticline are consistent with the GPS convergence rates in these areas. The sharp increase in denudation rates over the Halikan anticline denotes its growth as previously detected from terrace incision. It also reveals small wavelength coupling between crustal deformation and erosion. Denudation rates are therefore a useful and sensitive tool that helps constraining non‐brittle active tectonics such as folding of a sedimentary cover.     

U–Pb zircon dating of the Gruf Complex: disclosing the late Variscan granulitic lower crust of Europe stranded in the Central Alps

Permian granulites associated with noritic intrusions and websterites are a common feature of the post-Variscan European crust. Such granulites are common in the Southern Alps (e.g. Ivrea Zone), but occur only in the Gruf Complex in the Central Alps. To understand the geotectonic significance of these granulites, in particular in the context of Alpine migmatisation, zircons from 15 high-grade samples have been U–Pb dated by SHRIMP II analysis. Oscillatory zoned zircons from charnockite sheets, interpreted as melts generated through granulite facies fluid-absent biotite melting at 920–940°C, yield ages of 282–260 Ma. Some of these zircons contain inclusions of opx, unequivocally attributable to the granulite facies, thus confirming a Permian age for the charnockites and associated granulites. Two samples from an enclave-rich orthogneiss sheet yield Cambrian and Ordovician zircon cores. Two deformed leucogranites and six ortho- and augengneisses, which compose two-thirds of the Gruf Complex, give zircon ages of 290–260 Ma. Most zircons have milky rims with ages of 34–29 Ma. These rims date the Alpine amphibolite facies migmatisation, an interpretation confirmed by directly dating a leucosome pocket from upper amphibolite facies metapelites. The Gruf charnockites associated with metre-scale schlieren and boudins of opx–sapphirine–garnet–granulites, websterites and gabbronorites can thus be identified as part of the post-Variscan European lower crust. A geotectonic reconstruction reveals that this piece of lower crust stranded in the (European) North upon rifting of the Neotethys, such contrasting the widespread granulite units in the Southern Alps. Emplacement of the Gruf lower crust into its present-day position occurred during migmatisation and formation of the Bergell Pluton in the aftermath of the breakoff of the European slab.     

Differences in soil moisture in two Middle Eastern oak forests: Comparing the effects of trees and soil composition

The incidence of large rain events in Mediterranean ecosystems vary among years. Summer aridity is interpreted as a resetting event, eliminating previous soil‐moisture dynamics. The dynamics of soil moisture and retention are critical to tree survival, particularly in dry regions. This study examines the long‐term soil water content (θ_V) dynamics in two distinct locations within the forest, under the canopy and forest clearing, within two diverse oak forests: subhumid mixed oak forests (MG) and semiarid monospecific oak woodlands (YE). Plots were established at small‐scale catchments and soil water contents were measured during 2010–2013, at three depths in the two different locations. Cumulative rainfall was used as an independent proxy for θ_V analysis. A novel bell‐bilogistic mathematical model of wetting, saturation, and drying arms was developed. We aimed to study the θ_V distribution differences between soil profiles giving the large climatic gradient between the two forested sub basins, the differences in vegetation traits along with soil attributes. We further aimed at determining the role of an individual tree in regulating soil‐moisture dynamics. We hypothesized the occurrence of distinct responses between sites in all soil‐moisture indices with higher θ_V at the wetter site. We tested the hypothesis that seasonal cumulative rainfall dictates the variations in soil‐moisture regimes throughout contiguous years. Annual rainfall was higher than long‐term average throughout the study. Soil profiles under the canopies at both sites were consistently wetter. Infiltration and depletion constants were higher at MG whereas maximum soil moisture was higher at YE. Homogenous recharge patterns were seen at MG although YE evinced more variation. Oaks had no effect on recharge at MG compared with the forest clearing. Soil properties primarily affected the wetting arm whereas vegetation composition regulated the drying arm. Mixed‐stands characterized by ever‐green and deciduous species may maintain favourable soil‐moisture conditions, in comparison with other mixed stand morphologies. The increasing role of slacking forces in infiltration process may alter the interaction between trees and herbaceous vegetation.     

Thermo-mechanical approach to validation of deep crustal and lithospheric structures inferred from multidisciplinary data: application to the Western and Northern Alps

Current multidisciplinary studies confront the difficult problem of validation and verification of internal compatibility of geophysical and geological data of different nature, quality and origin. Our 'geodynamic' approach exploits the natural interdependence between the data related to different physical properties of geological structures (density, rheology, temperature, stress). Using the latter as input for a thermo-mechanical finite-element model, we can verify whether the inferred properties and geometries (i) are mechanically stable, (ii) require rheologically consistent stresses, strains, realistic thermal conditions, etc., and (3) will evolve in a geologically realistic way in the future. This 'mechanically balanced' approach is tested on the Alpine orogen (ECORS and NFP20 profiles) in the framework of the GeoFrance 3D programme. The results suggest a number of corrections and adjustments that can be made to existing seismically-and gravity-predicted geometries of structures such as the Ivrea body and those of the depleted subducted crust.     

A giant catastrophic mud‐and‐debris flow in the Miocene Makran

We challenge the former interpretation of the ‘sedimentary mélange’ of the Makran accretionary complex as a tectonic mélange diapirically emplaced from below and provide evidence for its sedimentary gravitational emplacement from the north during Tortonian–Messinian times (between 11.8 and 5.8 Ma). It is an olistostrome that includes blocks of ophiolites and oceanic sediments derived from the ‘coloured mélange’ to the north, and reworked chunks of the turbidites on which it rests with an erosional truncation. The chaotic scattering of blocks of any size and lithology and the weak, soft‐sediment deformation of the matrix argue against a tectonic emplacement of the chaotic formation. Its size and internal structure, together with the size of the individual blocks, make the olistostrome a fossil equivalent of the large, gravitationally emplaced debris flows observed along present‐day continental margins and unstable volcanic edifices.     

Active faults pattern and interplay in the Azerbaijan region (NW Iran)

Northwest Iran is dominated by two main sets of active strike slip faults that accommodate oblique convergence between the Arabian and Iranian Plates. The best known are the right-lateral North-Tabriz, Qoshadagh, Maragheh and Zagros (Main Recent) strike slip Faults. This work reports that these dominant NW–SE to E–W striking faults are conjugate to smaller, NNE–SSW striking, left-lateral faults with minor dip slip component. All of these active faults displace Precambrian rock units, which suggests that they root in the crystalline basement of the NW Iranian microcontinent. Coulomb stress variance during co-seismic rupture along one of these faults may cause reactivation of the other faults. The minor set of left-lateral fault is therefore important to introduce in seismic risk assessment.     

Development of igneous layering during growth of pluton: The Tarçouate Laccolith (Morocco)

We discuss the significance of igneous layering with respect to pluton growth processes. The case study is the Tarçouate Laccolith (Morocco), whose core consists of modally layered hornblende granodiorites with high amount of monzodioritic enclaves, contrasting with peripheral, non-layered biotite granodiorites with low amount of enclaves. Rhythmic layering, with modal grading, cross-stratification and trough layering is associated with monzodioritic layers and wraps around mafic enclaves. Its steep dips ≥ 45° result from tilting that occurred above solidus conditions, as indicated by sub-vertical and synmagmatic granite, aplite and monzodiorite dykes cutting across the layering.The systematic association of igneous layering with mafic enclaves in calc-alkaline plutons suggests that layering originates from recurrent injection of mafic magma. Viscosity calculations suggest that the physicochemical properties of magma alone cannot account for the presence of layering in the central hornblende granodiorite and its coeval absence in the peripheral biotite granodiorite of the Tarçouate Laccolith. Intermittent pulses of hot mafic magma into crystallizing granodiorite likely produced thermal perturbations able to trigger local convection, formation of mafic enclaves and development of igneous layering through protracted crystallization.     

Deduction of groundwater flow regime in a basaltic aquifer using geochemical and isotopic data: The Golan Heights, Israel case study

Groundwater flow-paths through shallow-perch and deep-regional basaltic aquifers at the Golan Heights, Israel, are reconstructed by using groundwater chemical and isotopic compositions. Groundwater chemical composition, which changes gradually along flow-paths due to mineral dissolution and water–rock interaction, is used to distinguish between shallow-perched and deep-regional aquifers. Groundwater replenishment areas of several springs are identified based on the regional depletion in rainwater δ¹⁸O values as a function of elevation (−0.25‰ per 100 m). Tritium concentrations assist in distinguishing between pre-bomb and post-bomb recharged rainwater.

It was found that waters emerging through the larger springs are lower in δ¹⁸O than surrounding meteoric water and poor in tritium; thus, they are inferred to originate in high-elevation regions up to 20 km away from their discharge points and at least several decades ago. These results verify the numerically simulated groundwater flow field proposed in a previous study, which considered the geological configuration, water mass balance and hydraulic head spatial distribution.