Evaluation of deep temperatures of hydrothermal systems by a new gas geothermometer

The chemical composition of gas mixtures emerging in thermal areas can be used to evaluate the deep thermal temperatures. Chemical analyses of the gas compositions for 34 thermal systems were considered and an empirical relationship developed between the relative concentrations of H₂S, H₂, CH₄ and CO₂ and the reservoir temperature. The evaluated temperatures can be expressed by: $\text{t°C =}\text{24775}\text{α + β + 36.05}\text{?273}$ where $\text{α = 2 log}\text{CH}{}_4\text{CO}{}_2\text{?log}\text{H}{}_2\text{CO}{}_2\text{?3 log}\text{H}{}_2\text{S}\text{CO}{}_2$ (concentrations in % by volume) and β = 7 logP_co2     

An investigation into the physico-chemical conditions of the coastal waters around the Gulf of Catania

The results are given of sea water sampling at 49 different stations around the Gulf of Catania. The main physico-chemical parameters are reported (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, BOD) as well as the concentrations of some nutritive salts (nitrite, nitrate, phosphate).     

Crystal data on 1M and 2M2 lepidolites

A coarse-grained, colourless lepidolite from a pegmatite of the Elba Island (Italy) has been examined. X-ray powder-diffraction and single-crystal patterns reveal the presence of the 1M and 2M₂ polymorphs, for wich cell parameters are given. On the basis of the optical and X-ray data the same composition for both the polymorphs is inferred. From the chemical analysis data of the whole micaceous material the following formula has been computed: (Ca_0,01Na_0,06K_0,92Rb_0,06) (Al_1,27Mg_0,01Li_1,75) (Si_3,36Al_0,64)O₁₀ (F_1,53OH_0,47). The crystal structure of this mica has been studied by means of one-dimensional Fourier projections on c^* and several interesting structural parameters were derived. Among them the mean tetrahedral rotation results to be about 11° for both the polymorphs: a value (quite similar to those of the other trioctahedral micas with K⁺ as interlayer cation) wich does not confirm Radoslovich's hypothesis that lepidolites should have a symmetry of the tetrahedral layers very close to the perfect hexagonality. Finally a new hypothesis on the structure of the 2M₂ polymorph consistent with such a proved ditrigonal symmetry of the basal oxygens arrangement in the lepidolites is pointed out.Notations O_bas basal oxygen atoms of the (Al, Si)O₄ tetrahedra. - O_ap apical oxygen atoms of the (Al, Si)O₄ tetrahedra. - b _tetr b dimension which the tetrahedral sheet would assume if unconstrained. - b _obs observed value of b. - c _oct ^* thickness of the octahedral sheet. - c _tetr ^* thickness of the tetrahedral sheet. - average tetrahedral rotation from ideal hexagonal symmetry. - separation of two O_bas sheets in contact with the interlayer cation. - O_ap-Si-O_bas angle. This research was supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma.     

Ground Motion Zoning of Santiago de Cuba: An Approach by SH Waves Modelling

— The expected ground motion in Santiago de Cuba basin from earthquakes which occurred in the Oriente fault zone is studied. Synthetic SH-waves seismograms have been calculated along four profiles in the basin by the hybrid approach (modal summation for the path source-profile and finite differences for the profile) for a maximum frequency of 1 Hz. The response spectra ratio (RSR) has been determined in 49 sites, distributed along all considered profiles with a spacing of 900 m. The corresponding RSR versus frequency curves have been classified using a logical-combinatorial algorithm. The results of the classification, in combination with the uppermost geological setting (geotechnical information and geological geometry of the subsoil) are used for the seismic zoning of the city. Three different main zones are identified, and a small sector characterized by major resonance effects, due to the particular structural conditions. Each zone is characterized in terms of its expected ground motion parameters for the most probable strong earthquake (M_S=7), and for the maximum possible (M_S=8).     

Seismic microzoning from synthetic ground motion parameters: case study, Santiago de Cuba

Synthetic seismograms (P-SV and SH waves) have been calculated along six profiles in Santiago de Cuba basin, with a cutoff frequency of 5 Hz, by using a hybrid approach (modal summation for a regional 1D structure plus finite differences for a local 2D structure embedded in the first). They correspond to a scenario earthquake of M_S=7 that may occur in Oriente fault zone, directly south of the city. As initial data for a seismic microzoning, the characterisation of earthquake effects has been made considering several relative (2D/1D) quantities (PGDR, PGVR, PGAR, DGAR, I_AR—ratios of peak ground values of displacement, velocity and acceleration, and of design ground acceleration and Arias intensity-, etc.) and functions representative of the ground motion characteristics in soil (2D) with respect to bedrock (1D). The functions are the response spectra ratio RSR(f), already routinely used in this kind of work, and the elastic energy input ratio E_IR(f), defined, for the first time, in this paper. These data, sampled at 115 sites within all the profiles have been classified in two steps, using logical combinatory algorithms: connected components and compact sets. In the first step, from the original ground motion parameters or functions extracted from the synthetic seismograms, nine sets have been classified and the partial results show the spatial distribution of the soil behaviour as a function of the component of motion. In the second step, the results of the classification of the nine sets have been used as input for a further classification that shows a spatial distribution of sites with a quasi-homogeneous integral ground motion behaviour. By adding the available geological surface data, a microzoning scheme of Santiago de Cuba basin has been obtained.     

Evolution of the Mesozoic Granites in the Xiong''''ershan-Waifangshan Region,Western Henan Province,China,and Its Tectonic Implications

Based on the new data of isotopic ages and geochemical analyses, three types of Mesozoic granites have been identified for the Xiong'ershan-Waifangshan region in western Henan Province: high-Ba-SrⅠ-type granite emplaced in the early stage (～160 Ma),Ⅰ-type granite in the middle stage (～130 Ma) and anorogenic A-type granite in the late stage (～115 Ma). Geochemical characteristics of the high-Ba-SrⅠ-type granite suggest that it may have been generated from the thickened lower crust by partial melting with primary residues of amphibole and garnet. Gradual increase of negative Eu anomaly and Sr content variations reflect progressive shallowing of the source regions of these granites from the early to late stage. New 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of the early-stage Wuzhangshan granite (156.0±1.1 Ma, amphibole) and middle-stage Heyu granite (131.8±0.7 Ma, biotite) are indistinguishable from their SHRIMP U-Pb ages previous published, indicating a rapid uplift and erosion in this region. The representative anorogenic A-type granite, Taishanmiao pluton, was emplaced at～115 Ma. The evolution of the granites in this region reveals a tectonic regime change from post-collisional to anorogenic between～160 Ma and～115 Ma. The genesis of the early- and middle-stageⅠ-type granites could be linked to delamination of subducted lithosphere of the Qiniing orogenic belt, while the late-stage A-type granites represent the onset of extension and the end of orogenic process. In fact, along the Qiniing -Dabie-Sulu belt, the Mesozoic granitoids in western Henan, Dabieshan and Jiaodong regions are comparable on the basis of these temporal evolutionary stages and their initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios, which may suggest a similar geodynamic process related to the collision between the North China and Yangtze cratons.     

Tectono-metamorphic history of the Tacagua ophiolitic unit (Cordillera de la Costa, northern Venezuela): Insights in the evolution of the southern margin of the Caribbean Plate

Abstract   The southern margin of the Caribbean Plate is well exposed in the Cordillera de la Costa of northern Venezuela, where amalgamated terranes consisting of continental and oceanic units occur. In the Cordillera de la Costa, metamorphosed oceanic units crop out along the coast near Caracas. Among them, the Tacagua unit is characterized by metaserpentinites and metabasites showing mid-oceanic ridge basalt geochemical affinity. These lithologies, representative of a disrupted ophiolite sequence, are associated with metasediments consisting of calcschists alternating with pelitic and psammitic schists, whose protoliths were probably represented by deep-sea hemipelagic and turbiditic deposits. In the Tacagua unit, a polyphase deformation history has been reconstructed, consisting of four folding phases from D1 to D4 . Geological setting suggests an involvement of the Tacagua unit in the processes connected with a subduction zone. The following deformations (from D2 to D4 ) observed in the field might be related to the exhumation history of the Tacagua unit. The late deformation history consists of an alternation of deformation phases characterized by displacement parallel ( D2 and D4 phases) and normal ( D3 phase) to plate boundary between the Caribbean and South America Plates. All lines of geological evidence suggest that the whole evolution of the Tacagua unit was acquired in a setting dominated by oblique convergence, in which alternation of strike-slip and pure compressional or pure extensional tectonics occurred through time.