Chemical and isotopic effects of retrogression in metamorphic fluid inclusions

Fluid inclusions may provide compositional and isotopic information about fluids from which the host mineral precipitated as long as the host mineral does not react with the fluid. Our transmission electron microscope (TEM) investigation of grain boundaries and of fluid inclusions in zoisite and quartz of high-pressure metamorphic rocks from Dabie Shan (eastern China) demonstrates daughter minerals, such as margarite, muscovite, calcite, and anhydrite. Their precipitation changes (1) the composition of the fluid by selective and mineral-specific removal of CO₂ (carbonates), H₂O (sheet silicates, hydration of the walls), or S (gypsum, anhydrite, sulfides), (2) the concentrations and proportions of ions dissolved in the fluid, and (3) the isotopic composition of the fluid because of isotopic fractionation between mineral precipitate and fluid and between unmixed fluids. Fluid leakage from overpressurized fluid inclusions with daughter minerals changes the overall chemical and isotopic composition of the inclusion irreversibly, even when the daughter crystals later redissolve. Such fluid loss yields a wide range of compositionally and isotopically different fluids from a single starting fluid. Depending on the relation between mineral reactions in and fluid loss from the inclusion, the fluid remaining in the inclusion and the fluid lost from the inclusion may appear entirely unrelated.     

40Ar/39Ar ages of blueschist facies pelitic schists from Qingshuigou in the Northern Qilian Mountains, western China

Abstract   Pelitic schists from Qingshuigou in the Northern Qilian Mountains of China contain mainly glaucophane, garnet, white mica, clinozoisite, chlorite and piemontite. Isotopic age dating of these schists provides new constraints on the formation of the high-grade blueschists at Qingshuigou. White mica ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages range from 442.1 to 447.5 Ma (total fusion age of single grain) and from 445.7 to 453.9 Ma (integrated age of white mica concentrates). These ages (442.1–453.9 Ma) represent the peak metamorphic ages or cooling ages of the blueschists during exhumation shortly after peak metamorphism. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates in the present study are similar to ages previously reported for eclogites and blueschists in the area; this suggests that both the eclogites and pelitic sediments underwent high-grade metamorphism during the same subduction event. From this chronological evidence and the presence of well-developed Silurian remnant-sea flysch and Devonian molasse, it is concluded that the Northern Qilian Ocean had closed by the end of the Ordovician, and rapid orogenic uplift followed in the Devonian.     

Resource allocation in the intertidal salt-marsh musselGeukensia demissa in relation to shore level

Ribbed mussel populations at two levels of the intertidal shore were studied for 3 yr at a salt marsh site in Jamaica Bay (New York). Length-specific dry body weight was determined monthly and shell growth was monitored between April and November of each year. Production (P_i) was measured as monthly changes in body dry weight. Annual reproductive output (P_R) was estimated indirectly for mussels between 10 mm and 80 mm by determining the gain in body weight prior to spawning (Weight Gained Method). Using a second method (Basal Weight Method), monthly rates of somatic production (P_g) were determined by assuming that, as mussels grow in length, a fraction of monthly P_t is allocated to increasing body weight. The monthly production allocated to growth (P_g) was estimated based on the length-specific body weight (basal weight) in March, when body weights in these populations begin to increase due to gametogenesis. Monthly rates of reproductive output (P_r) were then estimated be substraction as the difference between monthly P_t and P_g. Total P_R determined by both methods were very similar. Shell and body growth were concurrent in sexually immature mussels, but body weight preceeded shell growth in older, larger animals. Annual shell increments were correlated with annual P_G. In sexually mature mussels, P_r preceeds P_g in larger mussels, that is, allocations of net production to reproduction and somatic growth diverge in time with increasing shell length. Between April and November, shell growth rates were correlated with water temperature. At the higher shore level, mussels allocated a much smaller proportion of total production to growth, exceeding the reproductive effort of the lower-shore population. Variation in mussel production between years probably is related to variability in nannoplankton biomass. Although mussels higher on the shore can reduce somatic growth in order to increase fecundity and reproductive effort, total reproductive output is much reduced as compared to the marsh edge.     

Uncertainty, subjectivity, experience: a comparative pilot study

Mean tendencies and variances of ad hoc mean estimates (field estimates) of some engineering geological parameters were compared to statistically obtained reference values. The latter correspond to the “best” estimates in the sense of approximating so-called reality (Einstein and Baecher, 1982. Probabilistic and statistical methods in engineering geology. Problem statement and introduction to solution. Rock Mech., Suppl. 12: 47–61; Einstein and Baecher, 1983. Probabilistic and statistical methods in engineering geology. Specific methods and examples, Part I: Exploration. Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 16: 39–72). The study was carried out by means of a demoscopic field study on 43 engineering geologists. “Professional experience” was examined by comparing the estimation results of two trial groups, one consisting of people with several years of professional experience, the other one consisting of university students. The biases of the ad hoc estimates due to subjectivity and the limitation of working time at the selected reference outcrops follow statistically describable trends and thus can be analyzed by univariate and multivariate methods. Some geological and psychological hypotheses concerning the mean estimation trends, correlations and discriminations are postulated. Implications on commonly used field estimation methods are discussed.     

On the Budget of OH Radicals and Ozone in an Urban Plume from the Decay of C5–C8 Hydrocarbons and NOx

Simultaneous measurements of ozone and ozoneprecursors were made during a field campaign atSchauinsland in the Black Forest and in the valleynorth of Schauinsland that channels the flow ofpolluted air from the city of Freiburg to the site.From the decay of hydrocarbons and NO_x between the twomeasuring sites and the known rate coefficients, theconcentration of OH radicals was calculated. From abudget analysis of OH and HO_x it is concluded that therelatively high OH concentrations (5–8 ×10⁶cm^-3) in the presence of high NO₂concentrations cannot be explained by the knownprimary sources. The budget can be closed if efficientrecycling of OH via HO₂ is assumed to occur andthat, based on the measured hydrocarbons, 2 HO₂molecules are formed for each OH radical that reactswith a hydrocarbon molecule. This assumption is inaccordance with the budget of O_x obtained from ourmeasurements and with results from earliermeasurements of alkylnitrates and peroxy radicals atSchauinsland. A possible conclusion is that the decayof precursors and production of photooxidants in urbanplumes proceeds at a faster rate than is currentlyassumed. The potential role of biogenichydrocarbons for the radical budget is alsodiscussed.     

Tectonic style and pressure distribution at the northern margin of the Alps between Lake Constance and the River Inn

Hydrocarbon exploration in the Molasse basin and the Alpine thrust belt has provided new information on the tectonic structure of the foreland margin of the overthrust belt. Two N-S cross-sections show the front of the Folded Molasse as a so-called Triangle Zone in the area north of the Hindelang 1 well (Bavaria) and the Sulzberg 1 well (Vorarlberg). The Triangle Zone was described and defined byJones (1982) for the Alberta Foothills in Canada.Oil and gas wells commonly encountered overpressured zones with pressure gradients up to 2.5 bar/10 m. The pressure profiles from the Sulzberg1, Hindelang1, Staffelsee1, Miesbach 1 and Bromberg 1 wells were analysed stratigraphically and lithologically with respect to the tectonics of the region. It can be concluded that the overpressures in the Foreland Molasse were caused by compaction, where those within the thrust belt were caused by tectonics.

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Zusammenfassung Die von der Erdöl- und Erdgasindustrie im Bereich des Alpennordrandes durchgeführten Untersuchungsarbeiten brachten neue Ergebnisse zum tektonischen Bau. So stellt sich in zwei N-S-Profilen nördlich von Hindelang (Bayern) und über die Tiefbohrung Sulzberg 1 (Vorarlberg) die Stirn der Faltenmolasse als Triangelzone dar, wie sie von Jones (1982) aus den Foothills der Rocky Mountains beschrieben wird.Tiefbohrungen auf Erdöl und Erdgas haben verbreitet überhydrostatische Porendrücke mit Gradienten bis 2,5 bar/10 m angetroffen. Es wurden Druckprofile aus den Bohrungen Sulzberg 1, Hindelang 1, Staffelsee 1, Miesbach 1 und Bromberg 1 nach stratigraphisch-lithologischen Gesichtspunkten analysiert, regionaltektonisch zugeordnet und interpretiert. Es zeigt sich, daß die Überdrücke in der Vorlandmolasse durch Kompaktion entstanden sind, während diejenigen unter den Decken tektonische Ursachen haben.

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Résumé Les travaux d'exploration entrepris par l'industrie du pétrole dans le bassin molassique et dans la bordure septentrionale des Alpes ont conduit à de nouveaux résultats en ce qui concerne les structures tectoniques de cette région. Dans deux profils nord — sud établis dans la région, respectivement au nord de Hindelang (Bavière) et au nord de Sulzberg (Vorarlberg), le front de la molasse plissée se présente comme une »zone triangulaire« du type défini parJones (1982) dans les Foothills d'Alberta au Canada.Des forages pétroliers profonds ont fréquemment recontré des pressions interstitielles hyperhydrostatiques avec des gradients pouvant atteindre 2,5 bars / 10 m.Les profils de pression relevés dans les sondages de Sulzberg 1, Hindelang 1, Staffelsee 1, Miesbach 1 et Bromberg 1 ont été analysés au point de vue stratigraphique et lithologique et placés dans le cadre tectonique de la région. Il en résulte que les surpressions dans la molasse d'avant-pays (Vorlandmolasse) sont dues à la compaction et que celles des formations recouvertes par les nappes sont d'origine tectonique.

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, - , . , Hindelang / /, Sulzberg 1 / Vorarlberg / , Jones' 1982 Foothills . 2.5 /10 . , . , , - .

     

Structural development of the Precambrian basement in the Bir Safsaf-Aswân area,SW-Egypt

Structural investigations, especially on quartz c-axis fabrics, combined with petrological work, were carried out in Precambrian rocks from the basement outcrops Bir Safsaf, Gebel el Asr und Gebel Umm Shâghir in the Western Desert in SW Egypt. The principal rock types are migmatites with local mylonite zones. The foliation and shear planes strike WNW-ESE, the axes of the wide and open folds NE-SW to N-S. Investigation of recrystallization features and mineral parageneses lead to P–T-estimates for the different stages of the metamorphic evolution. They range from early granulite facies down to greenschist facies. Quartz-c-axis fabrics of the migmatites and mylonites are similar (crossed-girdle fabrics) but they have a different regional orientation of the strain ellipsoid. Shear zones developed after the main migmatite facies event. The geological evolution of the basement outcrops in Bir Safsaf, Gebel el Asr and Gebel Umm Shâghir is comparable and the whole region is thought to be part of the East Sahara Craton.

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Zusammenfassung Strukturuntersuchungen, besonders Quarz-c-Achsen-Regelungen, kombiniert mit petrologischen Arbeiten, wurden an Gesteinen der präkambrischen Grundgebirgsaufschlüsse Bir Safsaf, Gebel el Asr und Gebel Umm Shâghir in der Western Desert, ägypten, durchgeführt. Die hauptsächlich auftretenden Gesteinstypen sind Migmatite mit lokalen Mylonitzonen. Schieferungs- und Scherflächen streichen WNW-ESE, die Achsen der weiten bis offenen Faltung NE-SW bis N-S. Mit Hilfe des Rekristallisationsverhaltens und der Paragenesen werden P-T-Abschätzungen der Metamorphosestadien angegeben. Sie reichen von früher Granulitfazies bis zu später Grünschieferfazies. Die Quarz-c-Achsenregelung in Migmatiten und Myloniten ist ähnlich (Kreuzgürtelregelung), jedoch mit unterschiedlicher regionaler Orientierung des Strainellipsoids. Scherzonen entwickelten sich nach dem migmatitfaziellen Hauptmetamorphose-Ereignis. Die geologische Entwicklung in den Grundgebirgsaufschlüssen von Bir Safsaf, Gebel el Asr und Gebel Umm Shâghir ist vergleichbar und das gesamte Gebiet wird als Teil des Ostsaharakratons angesehen.

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Résumé Cette note fait état des résultats de recherches menées dans les aires d'affleurement du socle pré-cambrien de Bir Safsaf, du Jebel al Asr et du Jebel Umm Shâghir, dans le désert occidental d'Egypte; ces recherches ont consisté en l'étude des structures, particulèrement des fabriques des axes c du quartz, combinée avec une étude pétrologique. Les roches sont essentiellement des migmatites accompagnées de zones de mylonites locales. La schistosité et les plans de cisaillement y sont orientés WNW-ESE; elles présentent des plis ouverts dont les axes sont NE-SW à N-S. L'étude des structures de recristallisation et des paragenèses minérales fournit une estimation des conditions (p,t) au cours des stades successifs de l'évolution métamorphique. Ces conditions s'échelonnent du faciès des granulites jusqu'à celui des schistes verts. Les fabriques des axes c du quartz sont les mÊmes dans les migmatites et les mylonites (fabrique à «ceintures croisées»), mais ces roches présentent des orientations régionales différentes de l'ellipsoÏde des déformations. L'événement métamorphique principal à caractère migmatitique a été suivi de la formation de couloirs de cisaillement (shear-zones). L'évolution géologique du socle est comparable dans les trois aires étudiées; l'ensemble est considéré comme faisant partie du craton du Sahara oriental.

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, Bir Safsaf, Gebel el Asr Gebel Umm Shâghir, . . WNW-ESE, — NE-SW N-S. , . . / Kreuzgü rtelregelung /, . . Bir Safsaf, Gebel el Asr Gebel Umm Shaghir , .

     

S- and I-type granitoids of North Victoria Land,Antarctica, and their inferred geotectonic setting

In the context of Gondwana North Victoria Land forms the Antarctic conjugate terrain to the East Australian Lachlan Fold Belt, where the distinction between S- and I-type granitoids was first worked out (Chappell &White 1974). Thus the area was considered a good testing ground for the hypothesis when the German Antarctic North Victoria Land Expedition (Ganovex) resumed fieldwork there in 1979/80.It was known at that time that there existed a Cambro/Ordovician and a Devonian/Carboniferous granitoid generation, which, in analogy to Australia, were taken to be related to two different orogenetic events. Our geological, petrographical and geochemical investigations, together with radiometric age dating, revealed that this is true only for the older granite generation. The younger generation is in fact anorogenic. At the same time, it became obvious that the S- and I-type classification did not completely fit the observed field data. At this pointPitcher's (1982) subdivision of the I-types into a »Cordilleran« and a »Caledonian« suite offered a solution to account for the observed irregularities.At about the same time, plate tectonic models based on evidence independent from the granite classification were developed for this part of the active Gondwana margin. This offers the opportunity to crosscheck the tectonic environment derived from the granite classification:The characteristics of the older, Cambro/Ordovician granitoids allow a perfect accommodation in the model of an active margin above a subduction zone as derived from other evidence.For the younger (Devonian/Carboniferous) granitoids, however, the postulated tectonic setting (post-collisional uplift and faulting) could not be verified in North Victoria Land.It is concluded thatPitchers classification is applicable in its petrographic and geochemical aspects but that the tectonic environment postulated for the production of »Caledonian« I-type granitoids may not be the same in all investigated areas.

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Zusammenfassung Im Gondwana Rahmen bildet Nord Victoria Land das antarktische Pendant zur ostaustralischen Lachlan Mobilzone, wo die Einteilung von Graniten in S- und I-Typen entwickelt wurde (Chappell &White 1974). Deshalb war eine überprüfung dieser neu entwickelten Hypothese eines der Arbeitsziele, als die deutschen Nord Victoria Land Expeditionen (Ganovex) dort 1979 ihre Arbeiten aufnahmen. An den bekannten zwei Granitgenerationen der Region wurden geologische, petrographische und geochemische Untersuchungen sowie Altersbestimmungen durchgeführt, deren Ergebnisse sich folgenderma\en zusammenfassen lassen.Die ältere, kambro-ordovizische Granitfolge steht, analog zur Situation in Australien, in enger Beziehung zu einer bedeutenden Orogenese, während sich zur jüngeren, devonisch-karbonischen Suite kein zugehöriges tektonisches Ereignis finden lie\. Dies steht im Gegensatz zur Situation in Australien/Tasmanien.Die S- und I-Typ Klassifikation, auf Nord Victoria Land angewendet, weist ähnliche Widersprüche auf, wie siePitcher (1982) zur Aufteilung der I-Typen in »kordillere« und »kaledonische« Sippen führten.Plattentektonische Modelle, die in den letzten Jahren für diese Region am mobilen Rand Gondwanas unabhängig von der Granitklassifikation nach geologischen und tektonischen Kriterien entwickelt wurden, erlauben es, die vonPitcher entwickelten tektonischen Bildungsmilieus für verschiedene Granit-Typen zu überprüfen:Die Charakteristiken der älteren (kambro-ordovizischen) Granite erlauben ein widerspruchsloses Einfügen in das aus anderen Kriterien abgeleitete Bild eines aktiven Kontinentalrandes über einer Subduktionszone.Für die jüngeren (devonisch-karbonischen) Granite dagegen, die im Charakter den »kaledonischen« I-TypenPitchers entsprechen, sind die für deren Bildung postulierten Vorgänge, nämlich Hebung und Dehnung nach einer Kollision, in Nord Victoria Land nicht erkennbar.Demnach erscheint zwar die KlassifikationPitchers sinnvoll, da sie in ihrer petrographisch-geochemischen Charakterisierung nachvollziehbar ist, aber das abgeleitete tektonische Milieu für die Bildung der »kaledonischen« Typen bedarf einer weiteren überprüfung.

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Résumé Dans le contexte du Gondwana, la Terre Victoria est le pendant antarctique de la zone plissée de Lachlan, en Australie Orientale, où la distinction entre granites S et I a été établie pour la première fois (Chappel &White 1974). C'est pourquoi la vérification de cette hypothèse a été portée au programme de l'expédition allemande à la Terre Victoria en 1979–80 (Ganovex).On connaissait à cette époque l'existence d'une génération cambro-ordovicienne et d'une génération dévono-carbonifère de granitoÏdes qui, par analogie avec l'Australie, avaient été rapportées à deux événements orogéniques différents. Nos investigations géologiques, pétrologiques, géochimiques et géochronologiques montrent que cette conclusion n'est vraie que pour les granites de la première génération. La seconde génération est, en fait, anorogénique. Il s'est avéré en mÊme temps que la répartition en types S et I ne correspond pas exactement aux observations de terrain. Par contre, la distinction introduite parPitcher (1982) parmi les granites I entre une série »de Cordillère« et une série »Calédonienne« peut expliquer les irrégularités que nous observons.Environ à cette époque, des modèles géodynamiques basés sur des considérations indépendantes de la classification des granites ont été proposés pour cette partie de la marge active du Gondwana. Ces modèles permettent de recouper les considérations sur l'environnement tectonique des granites, déduites de leur classification:Les caractères des granitoÏdes anciens, cambro-ordoviciens, s'accordent parfaitement au modèle d'une marge active surmontant une subduction.Par contre, pour les granitoÏdes jeunes, dévono-carbonifères, la situation tectonique postulée (soulèvement et fracturation post-collision) n'a pas pu Être confirmée sur la Terre Victoria.En conclusion, la classification dePitcher est applicable dans ses aspects pétrographiques et géochimiques, mais l'environnement tectonique qui préside à la formation de granitoÏdes de type »Calédonien I« n'est pas nécessairement le mÊme dans toutes les régions étudiées.

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- Lachlan, S I (Chappell & White, 1974). (GANOVEX) 1979 . , , . : - , , , , - , , - . S I , , (Pitcher, 1982) I . , , , , : — - — , . , - , , , , .. ., , - , , , , .