Detrital zircon provenance of Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic deposits in Iran: Implications for chronostratigraphy and collisional tectonics

Ion-microprobe U–Pb analyses of 589 detrital zircon grains from 14 sandstones of the Alborz mountains, Zagros mountains, and central Iranian plateau provide an initial framework for understanding the Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic provenance history of Iran. The results place improved chronological constraints on the age of earliest sediment accumulation during Neoproterozoic–Cambrian time, the timing of the Mesozoic Iran–Eurasia collision and Cenozoic Arabia–Eurasia collision, and the contribution of various sediment sources of Gondwanan and Eurasian affinity during opening and closure of the Paleotethys and Neotethys oceans. The zircon age populations suggest that deposition of the extensive ~ 1 km-thick clastic sequence at the base of the cover succession commenced in latest Neoproterozoic and terminated by Middle Cambrian time. Comparison of the geochronological data with detrital zircon ages for northern Gondwana reveals that sediment principally derived from the East African orogen covered a vast region encompassing northern Africa and the Middle East. Although most previous studies propose a simple passive-margin setting for Paleozoic Iran, detrital zircon age spectra indicate Late Devonian–Early Permian and Cambrian–Ordovician magmatism. These data suggest that Iran was affiliated with Eurasian magmatic arcs or that rift-related magmatic activity during opening of Paleotethys and Neotethys was more pronounced than thought along the northern Gondwanan passive-margin. For a Triassic–Jurassic clastic overlap assemblage (Shemshak Formation) in the Alborz mountains, U–Pb zircon ages provide chronostratigraphic age control requiring collision of Iran with Eurasia by late Carnian–early Norian time (220–210 Ma). Finally, Cenozoic strata yield abundant zircons of Eocene age, consistent with derivation from arc magmatic rocks related to late-stage subduction and/or breakoff of the Neotethys slab. Together with the timing of foreland basin sedimentation in the Zagros, these detrital zircon ages help bracket the onset of the Arabia–Eurasia collision in Iran between middle Eocene and late Oligocene time.     

Mascali,Mount Etna Region Sicily: An Example of Fascist Planning During the 1928 Eruption and Its Continuing Legacy

The 1928 eruption of Etna, Sicily, although the largest such event this century, has not been studied in detail. In this paper the nature of the eruption, the destruction it caused – including the complete devastation of the town of Mascali (pre-eruption population 2,000) – and emergency responses of the authorities to it are reviewed in the context of fascist politics and planning priorities. It is contended that, although at one level the response to the 1928 eruption was successful, at another fascism merely continued and enhanced a reactive, propitiatory approach to hazard mitigation. We argue that this legacy was not successfully overcome until the middle of the nineteen eighties. Finally contemporary Italian moves towards a more proactive approach to disaster planning, both generally and in the context of Etna, are discussed.     

The emplacement of intermediate volume ignimbrites: A case study from Roccamonfina Volcano,Southern Italy

A model is presented for the emplacement of intermediate volume ignimbrites based on a study of two 6 km³ volume ignimbrites on Roccamonfina Volcano, Italy. The model considers that the flows were slow moving, and quickly deflated from turbulent to non-turbulent conditions. Yield strength and density increased whereas fluidisation decreased with time and runout of the pyroclastic flows. In proximal locations, on the caldera rim, heterogeneous exposures including discontinuous lithic breccias, stratified and cross-stratified units interbedded with massive ignimbrite suggest deposition from turbulent flows. In medial locations thick, massive ignimbrite occurs associated with three types of co-ignimbrite lithic breccia which we interpret as being emplaced by non-turbulent flows. Multiple grading of different breccia/lithic concentration types within single flow units indicates that internal shear occurred producing overriding or overlapping of the rear of the flow onto the slower-moving front part. This overriding of different parts of non-turbulent pyroclastic flows could be caused by at least two different mechanisms: (1) changes in flow regime, such as hydraulic jumps that may occur at breaks in slope; and (2) periods of increased discharge rate, possibly associated with caldera collapse, producing fresh pulses of lithic-rich material that sheared onto the slower-moving part of the flow in front.We propose that ground surge deposits enriched in pumice compared with their associated ignimbrite probably formed by a flow separation mechanism from the top and front of the pyroclastic flow. These turbulent clouds moved ahead of the non-turbulent lower part of the flow to form stratified pumice-rich deposits. In distal regions well-developed coarse, often clast-supported, pumice concentrations zones and coarse intra-flow-unit lithic concentrations occur within the massive ignimbrite. We suggest that the flows were non-turbulent, possessed a relatively high yield strength and may have moved by plug flow prior to emplacement.     

The 3D shear experiment over the Natih field in Oman: the effect of fracture-filling fluids on shear propagation

This is the final paper in a series on the 3D multicomponent seismic experiment in Oman. In this experiment a 3D data set was acquired using three-component geophones and with three source orientations. The data set will subsequently be referred to as the Natih 9C3D data set. We present, for the first time, evidence demonstrating that shear waves are sensitive to fluid type in fractured media. Two observations are examined from the Natih 9C3D data where regions of gas are characterized by slow shear-wave velocities. One is that the shear-wave splitting map of the Natih reservoir exhibits much larger splitting values over the gas cap on the reservoir. This increase in splitting results from a decrease in the slow shear-wave velocity which senses both the fractures and the fracture-filling fluid. Using a new effective-medium model, it was possible to generate a splitting map for the reservoir that is corrected for this fluid effect. Secondly, an anomaly was encountered on the shear-wave data directly above the reservoir. The thick Fiqa shale overburden exhibits a low shear-wave velocity anomaly that is accompanied by higher shear reflectivity and lower frequency content. No such effects are evident in the conventional P-wave data. This feature is interpreted as a gas chimney above the reservoir, a conclusion supported by both effective-medium modelling and the geology.
With this new effective-medium model, we show that introduction of gas into vertically fractured rock appears to decrease the velocity of shear waves (S2), polarized perpendicular to the fracture orientation, whilst leaving the vertical compressional-wave velocity largely unaffected. This conclusion has direct implications for seismic methods in exploration, appraisal and development of fractured reservoirs and suggests that here we should be utilizing S-wave data, as well as the conventional P-wave data, as a direct hydrocarbon indicator.     

The quaternary stratigraphy of mount Etna,sicily: the effects of differing palaeoenvironments on styles of volcanism

Using recently published radiometric dates of important horizons within the Etna succession, correlations are proposed with the Late Quaternary biostratigraphies of the Italian mainland and the Mediterranean sea floor. This enables palaeoclimatic, palaeohydrological and palaeogeographical conditions on Etna to be established at stages in the volcano's evolution. It is argued that several major volcaniclastic suites were formed through the operation of processes that were under complex environmental, rather than simple volcanological control alone. In particular it is suggested that certain episodes of phreatomagmatic and laharic activity cannot be related to episodes of more evolved magma production, but rather to times during which the environment, height and configuration of Etna favoured the eruption and emplacement of these deposits. The authors reiterate their explanation of the formation of the Valle del Bove through processes of massive slope failure and indicate that conditions favouring this occurred at an appropriate stage in the history of the volcano. It is concluded that on active basaltic volcanoes, especially those like Etna which are also high mountains, the explanation of more violent phases requires the consideration of both internal volcanological and external environmental and morphological variables and that this is particularly important when its development has been set within the context of Late Quaternary environmental change. Finally the implications of these findings for the assessment of hazard are considered.

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Resumé Utilisant récemment des publications sur les datations radiométriques de couches importantes à l'intérieur de la succession de l'Etna, nous proposons d'établir des corrélations entre les biostratigraphies du Quaternaire Récent de la Péninsule Italienne et due fond marin Méditerranéen. Par ce procédé, nous pouvons établir les conditions paléoclimatiques, paléohydrologiques et paléogéographiques par stades selon l'évolution du volcan, capendant il faut tenir compte du fait que plusieurs suites volcaniclastiques majeures se sont formées à partir d'opérations de processus qui etaient eux-mêmes sous une complexe influence écologique plutôt que volcanologique seulement. Il est suggéré, en particulier, que certains épisodes d'activités phreatomagmatiquer et laharique ne puissent être reliés à des épisodes de production de magma plus elaborée, mais plutôt à des périodes pendant lesquelles le milieu, la hauteur et la configuration de l'Etna ont favorisé l'éruption et la localisation de ces dépôts. Les auteurs réitèrant leur explication sur la formation de la Vallée del Bove selon un processus de rupture radicale de pente et indiquent que les conditions favorables à ce dernier sont survenues à un stade opportun dans l'histoire du volcan. Ceci amènè à conclure que, sur des volcans basaltiques actifs comme l'Etna en particulier qui sont egalement des montagnes élevées, l'explication de phases plus violentes demande la consideration de facteurs volcanologiques internes d'une part, et morphologiques et écologiques externes d'autre part et que ceci est essential lorsque son développement a été fixé dans le contexte du changement de milieu au Quaternaire Recent. Enfin, il faut tenir compte de l'implication de ces résultats face aux incidences de risques.