Mineral Chemistry, Trace Elements, Isotopic Analysis and Zircon U-Pb Dating in the Hesar Pluton, Northern UDMA, Iran: Implications for Pre-Collisional Magma Mixing

The Hesar pluton in the northern Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc hosts numerous mafic-microgranular enclaves (MMEs). Whole rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry, zircon U-Pb and Sr-Nd isotopes were measured. It is suggested that the rocks are metaluminous (A/CNK = 1.32–1.45), subduction-related I-type calc-alkaline gabbro to diorite with similar mineral assemblages and geochemical signatures. The host rocks yielded an U-Pb crystallization age of 37.3 ± 0.4 Ma for gabbro-diorite. MMEs have relatively low SiO2 contents (52.9–56.6 wt%) and high Mg# (49.8–58.7), probably reflecting a mantle-derived origin. Chondrite- and mantle-normalized trace element patterns are characterized by LREE and LILE enrichment, HREE and HFSE depletion with slight negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.86–1.03). The host rocks yield (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios of 0.70492–0.70510, positive εNd(t) values of +1.55–+2.06 and TDM2 of 707–736 Ma, which is consistent with the associated mafic microgranular enclaves ((87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.705014, εNd(t) = +1.75, TDM2 = 729 Ma). All data suggest magma-mixing for enclave and host rock formation, showing a complete equilibration between mixed-mafic and felsic magmas, followed by rapid diffusion. The TDM1(Nd) and TDM2(Nd) model ages and U-Pb dating indicate that the host pluton was produced by partial melting of the lower continental crust and subsequent mixing with injected lithospheric mantle-derived magmas in a pre-collisional setting of Arabian–Eurasian plates. Clinopyroxene composition indicates a crystallization temperature of ~1000°C and a depth of ~9 km.     

A performance‐based framework for adaptive seismic aftershock risk assessment

Operative seismic aftershock risk forecasting can be particularly useful for rapid decision‐making in the presence of an ongoing sequence. In such a context, limit state first‐excursion probabilities (risk) for the forecasting interval (a day) can represent the potential for progressive state of damage in a structure. This work lays out a performance‐based framework for adaptive aftershock risk assessment in the immediate post‐mainshock environment. A time‐dependent structural performance variable is adopted in order to measure the cumulative damage in a structure. A set of event‐dependent fragility curves as a function of the first‐mode spectral acceleration for a prescribed limit state is calculated by employing back‐to‐back nonlinear dynamic analyses. An epidemic‐type aftershock sequence model is employed for estimating the spatio‐temporal evolution of aftershocks. The event‐dependent fragility curves for a given limit state are then integrated together with the probability distribution of aftershock spectral acceleration based on the epidemic‐type aftershock sequence aftershock hazard. The daily probability of limit state first‐excursion is finally calculated as a weighted combination of the sequence of limit state probabilities conditioned on the number of aftershocks. As a numerical example, daily aftershock risk is calculated for the L'Aquila 2009 aftershock sequence (central Italy). A representative three‐story reinforced concrete frame with infill panels, which has cyclic strength and stiffness degradation, is used in order to evaluate the progressive damage. It is observed that the proposed framework leads to a sound forecasting of limit state first‐excursion in the structure for two limit states of significant damage and near collapse. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mineral chemistry and Ti in zircon thermometry: Insights into magmatic evolution of the Sangan igneous rocks,NE Iran

The Sangan Magmatic complex (SMC) is, a large I-type magmatic complex, located in the northeastern Iran. Zircons extracted from the intrusive and volcanic rocks within the SMC record a similar Hf compositions and REE patterns, indicating that these chemical signatures have likely been inherited from the same source and simple history of magmatic crystallization during the evolution of the orogeny. The zircon from volcanic rocks yield Ti-in-zircon crystallization temperatures of 667–1145?°C with average temperatures of 934?°C while those from granitoids indicate crystallization temperatures of 614–898?°C with an average of 812?°C. Ti-in-zircon, Ti in biotite thermometries also indicates that the crystallization temperatures of volcanic rocks are relatively higher than those of granitoids. The biotite chemistry studies reveal that this mineral crystallized at approximately 725°–800?°C and 758° to 816?°C for granitoid and volcanic rocks, respectively, which is similar to obtained temperatures by Zir-saturation of Eq. (1). T_zicsat and T_magma trend lines on the T-SiO₂ diagram cross at high silica contents of ～68?wt.%, at which temperature the magma becomes zircon-saturated and new zircons are crystallized. The zircon REE data including Ce/Ce*, Eu/Eu*, and Th/U ratios suggest that SMC igneous rocks are formed from oxidized magma. However, the zircon Th/U and Hf data suggest that the SMC became progressively more oxidized and also indicate lower temperatures from volcanic and plutonic rock with decreasing time.     

Spatial heterogeneity and temporal stability of throughfall under individual Quercus brantii trees

Spatio‐temporal patterns of throughfall (TF) have often been studied under forest canopies. Few reports, however, have been made on small‐scale TF variability in deciduous forest stands. In the present research, the spatial heterogeneity and temporal stability of TF under five individual persian oak trees (Quercus brantii var. Persica) was quantified. The research site was in the Zagros forests in western Iran, where mean annual precipitation and temperature are equal to 587.2 mm and 16.9 °C, respectively. Data from 23 rainfall events were aggregated to assess the spatial correlation of TF. Variograms for TF beneath two of the five trees reached a stable sill at the range of 5–6 m. The redistribution of TF within the canopy was highly variable in time, attributable to seasonal variation in canopy foliation and meteorological factors. As the length of the sampling period increased, the spatial variability of TF decreased and the temporal stability of the TF pattern increased. Time stability plots of TF normalized with respect to mean and variance showed a moderate general persistence for all individual trees. We conclude that single trees modify the spatial distribution of TF reaching the forest floors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transition from I‐type to A‐type magmatism in the Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone,NW Iran: an extensional intra‐continental arc

The South Dehgolan pluton, in NW Iran was emplaced into the Sanandaj–Sirjan magmatic–metamorphic zone. This composite intrusion comprises three main groups: (1) monzogabbro–monzodiorite rocks, (2) quartz monzonite–syenite rocks, and (3) a granite suite which crops out in most of the area. The granites generally show high SiO₂ content from 72.1%–77.6 wt.% with diagnostic mineralogy consisting of biotite and amphibole along the boundaries of feldspar–quartz crystals which implies anhydrous primary magma compositions. The granite suite is metaluminous and distinguished by high FeOt/MgO ratios (av. 9.6 wt.%), typical of ferroan compositions with a pronounced A‐type affinity with high Na₂O + K₂O contents, high Ga/Al ratios, enrichment in Zr, Nb, REE, and depletion in Eu. The quartz monzonite–syenites show intermediate SiO₂ levels (59.8%–64.5 wt.%) with metaluminous, magnesian to ferroan characteristics, intermediate Na₂O + K₂O contents, enrichment in Zr, Nb, REE, Ga/Al, and depletion in Eu. The monzogabbro–monzodiorites show overall lower SiO₂ content (48.5%–55.9 wt.%) with metaluminous and calc‐alkaline compositions, relatively lower Na₂O + K₂O contents, low Ga/Al ratios, and FeOt/MgO (av. 1.6 wt.%) ratios, low abundances of Zr, Nb, and lower REE element concentrations relative to the granites and quartz monzonite–syenites. These geochemical differences among the three different rocks suites are likely to indicate different melt origins. We suggest that the South Dehgolan pluton resulted from a change in the geodynamic regime, from compression to extension in the Sanandaj–Sirjan zone during Mesozoic subduction of the Neo‐Tethys oceanic crust beneath the Central Iranian microcontinent. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calcareous nannofossils from chalky limestone of upper Abderaz Formation and lower part of Abtalkh Formation in the Kopet-Dogh range NE Iran

For the first time, the calcareous nannofossils of the chalky limestone of upper Abderaz Formation and lower part of Abtalkh Formation have been studied. In this study, 83 nannoplanktonic species of 45 genera were identified and presented. A biostratigraphic study of calcareous nannofossils from this section has allowed the recognition of five calcareous nannofossil biozones of Sissingh (Geol Mijnbouw 56:37–65, 1977) CC17–CC21. On the obtained calcareous nannofossils, the age of this section is Late Santonian/Early Campanian–Early Late Campanian.     

Cosmological dynamics of a quintom field on the warped DGP brane

As a generalization of the Brans-Dicke type scalar-tensor gravity in a braneworld context, we study cosmological phase space of a braneworld model with induced gravity in the presence of a scalar field on the brane. We consider a quintom field minimally or non-minimally coupled to induced gravity on the warped DGP brane and we present a detailed analysis of the critical points, their stability and late-time cosmological viability of the solutions within a phase space approach. In particular, de Sitter solutions, different from the famous self-accelerated branch of the DGP model are found and the phase-space analysis for checking their attractor properties is performed. We analyze also the possibility of crossing of the phantom divide by the effective equation of state parameter of the model. We also focus on the classical stability of the solutions in w–w′ phase plane.     

Spectroscopy of Rindler modified Schwarzschild black hole

We study quasinormal modes (QNMs) of uncharged Grumiller black hole (GBH). This massive BH has a Rindler acceleration a, and hence it is also called Rindler modified Schwarzschild BH. After reducing the radial equation of the massless Klein-Gordon equation to the Zerilli equation, we compute the complex frequencies of the QNMs of the GBH. To this end, an approximation method which considers small perturbations around its horizon is used. Considering the highly damped QNMs in the process proposed by Maggiore, the quantum entropy and area spectra of these BHs are found. Although the QNM frequencies are tuned by the Rindler term, we show in detail that the spacing does not depend on it. Here, the dimensionless constant ? of the area spectrum is found to be double of its Schwarzschild value. The latter result is also discussed.     

Geochemical and isotopic constraints on the role of juvenile crust and magma mixing in the UDMA magmatism,Iran: evidence from mafic microgranular enclaves and cogenetic granitoids in the Zafarghand igneous complex

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The Zafarghand Igneous Complex is composed of granite, granodiorite, diorite, and gabbro that contain many mafic microgranular enclaves. This complex was...