Patterns and processes of oxygen isotope exchange in a fossil meteoric hydrothermal system,Cuillins Gabbro Complex,Isle of Skye,Scotland

Oxygen isotope compositions of whole rock specimens and mineral separates from the Cuillins Gabbro Complex, Isle of Skye, Scotland, are employed to determine the patterns and processes of¹⁸O depletion in the Outer Unlayered Gabbro (OUG) and associated dikes. Whole rock ¹⁸O values range from +4.8 to –1.1 (SMOW) and dike ¹⁸O values range from +4.7 to –2.8 Mineral separates from three OUG samples yield ¹⁸O values from +5.3 to +4.8 for augite and +4.1 to +0.8 for plagioclase. An early, small-scale hydrothermal circulation system was initiated by the OUG prior to the large-scale hydrothermal convection established by the later Layered Cuillins Complex (LCC). Dikes were emplaced in the OUG after intrusion of the LCC and had only a minor effect on hydrothermal circulation in the OUG. There is evidence of enhanced fluid flow along dike/gabbro contacts. Isotopic compositions of augite separates demonstrate a normal ¹⁸O value for the OUG magma with all¹⁸O depletion in the OUG due to subsolidus exchange processes including diffusion and surface reaction. The mineral separates yield a pattern of¹⁸O depletion consistent with a diffusion mechanism, the bulk of the exchange having occurred in the plagioclase. Secondary mineral formation played a subordinate role in the¹⁸O depletion of the OUG. The calculated water to rock mass ratio necessary to effect the observed¹⁸O depletion in the OUG is on the order of 0.2, although a much greater amount of water circulation probably occurred. The cooling duration required to explain the measured¹⁸O depletion in the OUG by diffusion is very short (140 years at 750° C, 2400 years at 550° C) compared to the duration necessary for pure conductive cooling (10⁵ to 10⁶ years). Rapid local cooling rates in the OUG due to meteoric water convection are consistent with the observed¹⁸O depletion in OUG samples.     

Investigation of insured earthquake damage

The assessment of the loss potential caused by natural perils is a very important task for all insurance companies working in hazard-prone markets. It has to be based on two crucial items: the frequency of events and the investigation of their effects on the insured portfolio. This article deals with the second aspect, i.e. an evaluation of the insured damage caused by two earthquakes, namely those occurring near Albstadt, Germany, on 3 September 1978, and in central Chile on 3 March 1985. The results of the analysis of the earthquake in central Chile enable the mean damage ratio (damage in relation to the value) to be related to the height and the type of construction of the buildings affected. The Albstadt earthquake data permit an illustration of the effects of the type of subsoil on the mean damage ratio. The damage to individual buildings can be described by a lognormal distribution. Possible applications of these results are mentioned.     

Iī-I2/c phase transition in alkaline-earth feldspars along the CaAl2Si2O8-SrAl2Si2O8 join: Thermodynamic behaviour

Feldspars crystallized in the range SrF₈₀An₂₀-SrF₆₀An₄₀ of the join CaAl₂Si₂O₈-SrAl-₂Si₂O₈ from gels at T = 1350–1500° C for short time show cell parameters significantly different from those obtained from longer heating. This difference has been interpreted as due to higher metastable Al/Si disorder in short heated samples and to more ordered configurations with longer heat treatments. HT powder spectra show that the T _c of the Iī-I2/c phase transition of feldspars changes with composition and with the degree of order at constant composition; the evolution of the spontaneous strain (～cosα^*) versus T for the samples examined shows a variation in the order of the transition from continuous (II order) in more ordered and Sr-rich samples to a discontinuous behaviour (presumably I order) for more disordered and Sr-poor samples. A biquadratic coupling between displacive and OD parameters is therefore suggested.     

Defects and hydrolytic weakening in α-berlinite AlPO4 a structural analog of quartz

Berlinite, AlPO₄, is a structural analog of quartz and a number of physical properties are very similar in both materials. It is thus interesting to compare their mechanical properties and investigate the possible role of water. Constant strain rate tests on wet synthetic crystals have been performed at room temperature and at 600 MPa confining pressure. They indicate that \((000){1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 3}} \right. \kern-0em} 3}\langle 11\bar 20\rangle \) is the easy glide system. Detailled investigation of the crystal structure shows that the corresponding a dislocations can glide in such a way that only the weaker Al—O bonds are broken. This explains why this glide system is much more easily activated in berlinite than in quartz. Deformation experiments at higher temperature and at atmospheric pressure clearly show a thermally activated regime. However the actually available crystals are so rich in water that above 300° C the dislocation structure resulting from deformation is completely hidden by water precipitation and coarsening of the as-grown fluid inclusions. Like for wet quartz this later phenomenon generates numerous bubbles and sessile dislocation loops.     

Near bottom variations of turbidity in the St Lawrence estuary

Observations of the turbidity and velocity fields in the near-bottom waters of the St Lawrence estuary were obtained with a package which includes a self-recording attenuance meter and a currentmeter. The latter also measures salinity and temperature. Time series varying in length between 26 h and 26 days, and with repetition rates between one and 15 min are discussed for 3 typical open-channel and nearshore stations. A high-frequency sampling mode provides a means to observe the passage of a frontal disturbance over the bottom during the semi-diurnal cycle. With lower frequency records having lengths of one week to one month, contributions to the turbidity fluctuations due to the spring-neap oscillations, seasonal changes in run-off, and the sudden rise in solid discharge of local tributaries following storms, can be resolved. From turbidity polar diagrams, local onshore sources of particulate suspended matter can be identified. Among other advantages, it is possible from such records to time precisely the occurrence of turbidity peaks in relation to the ebb and flow velocities, to assess the importance of resuspension, and to specify exactly the time rate of change of the turbidity. On the whole, self-recording equipments provide a wealth of information unavailable from more traditional hydrocast sampling techniques.     

Classifying chalk microtextures: Sedimentary versus diagenetic origin (Cenomanian–Santonian,Paris Basin,France)

Microtexture describes the type of particles and their arrangement in matrix samples at scanning electron microscopy scale. Although a microtexture classification exists for micritic limestone, it cannot be directly applied to chalk. This study therefore proposes a classification of chalk microtextures and discusses the origin of microtexture variability. Chalk was sampled at thirteen spatio‐temporal locations along the coastline of northern France (Cenomanian–Santonian). Four criteria are defined to describe, characterize and determine chalk matrix microtexture: (i) mineralogical content; (ii) biogenic fraction; (iii) micritic fraction; and (iv) cement fraction. From these criteria, two major groups are defined: Pure Chalk Microtexture Group, with seven classes, and Impure Chalk Microtexture Group, divided into two subgroups: Argillaceous Microtexture with four classes and Siliceous Microtexture with two classes. Microtexture variability is related both to initial sedimentation and to diagenesis. Sedimentological conditions (for example, climate and distance from shore) affect chalk composition (carbonate content and type of insoluble particles), thus influencing microtexture. Changes in Pure Chalk Microtexture are the result of increasing diagenetic intensity. This classification can also be used to characterize the microtexture of subsurface chalk reservoirs. Reservoir quality depends on the petrophysical and mechanical properties of reservoir rocks, which can be better understood by exploring their sedimentary and diagenetic history, revealed by the study of chalk microtexture variability.     

Titanite: A potential solidus barometer for granitic magma systems

Constraining crystallization pressure and thus intrusion depth of granites in various geodynamic settings remains challenging, yet important to further our understanding of magma system and crustal evolution. We propose that titanite, which is a common accessory in metaluminous and weakly peraluminous granites, can be used as a barometer if it crystallized in magmatic, near-solidus conditions and in equilibrium with amphibole, plagioclase, K-feldspar, quartz, biotite, and magnetite ± ilmenite. Titanite Al₂O₃ increases with pressure (P) according to: P (in MPa) = 101.66 × Al₂O₃ in titanite (in wt%) + 59.013 (R² = 0.83) with estimated uncertainties of ~±60 to ~±100 MPa for crystallization between ~150 and 400 MPa. We highlight that the current calibration dataset is limited, and that systematic experimental studies are needed to rigorously quantify the relation. The most important use of this empirical barometer will be for rocks in which amphibole is present but significantly altered, or in combination with amphibole barometry, as titanite can be easily dated by LA-ICP-MS.     

Automatic correction and simplification of geological maps and cross-sections for numerical simulations

Incorporating prior geological knowledge in geophysical process models often meets practical meshing challenges and raises the question of how much detail is to be included in the geometric model. We introduce a strategy to automatically repair and simplify geological maps, geological cross-sections and the associated meshes while preserving elementary consistency rules. To identify features breaking validity and/or the thin features potentially problematic when generating a mesh, we associate an exclusion zone with each model feature (horizon, fault). When these zones overlap, both the connectivity and the geometry of the geological layers are automatically modified. The output model enforces specific practical quality criteria on the model topology and geometry that facilitates the generation of a mesh with lower bounds on minimum angles and minimum local entity sizes. Our strategy is demonstrated on an invalid geological cross-section from a real-case study in the Lorraine coal basin. We further explore the impacts of the model modifications on wave propagation simulation. We show that the differences on the seismograms due to model simplifications are relatively small if the magnitude of simplifications is adapted to the physical problem parameters.     

Rates of generation and growth of the continental crust

Models for when and how the continental crust was formed are constrained by estimates in the rates o crustal growth. The record of events preserved in the continental crust is heterogeneous in time with distinctive peaks and troughs of ages for igneous crystallisation, metamorphism, continental margin and mineralisation. For the most part these are global signatures, and the peaks of ages tend to b associated with periods of increased reworking of pre-existing crust, reflected in the Hf isotope ratios o zircons and their elevated oxygen isotope ratios. Increased crustal reworking is attributed to periods o crustal thickening associated with compressional tectonics and the development of supercontinents Magma types similar to those from recent within-plate and subduction related settings appear to hav been generated in different areas at broadly similar times before ~3.0 Ga. It can be difficult to put th results of such detailed case studies into a more global context, but one approach is to consider when plate tectonics became the dominant mechanism involved in the generation of juvenile continental crust The development of crustal growth models for the continental crust are discussed, and a number o models based on different data sets indicate that 65%-70% of the present volume of the continental crus was generated by 3 Ga. Such estimates may represent minimum values, but since ~3 Ga there has been reduction in the rates of growth of the continental crust. This reduction is linked to an increase in th rates at which continental crust is recycled back into the mantle, and not to a reduction in the rates a which continental crust was generated. Plate tectonics results in both the generation of new crust and it destruction along destructive plate margins. Thus, the reduction in the rate of continental crustal growth at ~3 Ga is taken to reflect the period in which plate tectonics became the dominant mechanism b which new continental crust was generated.