Contribution of structural analysis to understanding the geodynamic evolution of the Calabrian arc (Southern Italy)

A marked curvature of crustal structures characterizes the Calabrian arc in Southern Italy. The overall deformation of the arc seems mostly controlled by the Sangineto shear zone to the north and by the Mt. Kumeta-Alcantara shear zone to the south, which both separate different crustal sectors. Other important fault systems cut the Iblean foreland (Scicli-Ragusa fault zone) and many others dissect the crystalline units of Central Calabria. Neotectonic structural analyses have been carried out in order to recognize the character of the Plio-Pleistocene tectonic phases and their bearing on the present configuration of the arc.After the Middle Miocene extensional phase an Early-Middle Pliocene compressional phase is detectable in many parts of the arc. Right- and left-lateral displacements respectively characterize the Mt. Kumeta-Alcantara and Sangineto shear zones and right-lateral movements are also detectable within the Scicli-Ragusa fault system.Finally, the Pleistocene tensional regime seems to have been controlled mainly by uplift. The structural and neotectonic data allow us to propose a model of the recent evolution of the arc, which was bent mainly as a result of opposed wrench faulting along the Sangineto and Mt. Kumeta-Alcantara shear zones.     

Episodic accretion in magnetically layered protoplanetary discs

We study protoplanetary disc evolution assuming that angular momentum transport is driven by gravitational instability at large radii, and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in the hot inner regions. At radii of the order of 1 au such discs develop a magnetically layered structure, with accretion occurring in an ionized surface layer overlying quiescent gas that is too cool to sustain MHD turbulence. We show that layered discs are subject to a limit cycle instability, in which accretion on to the protostar occurs in ∼10⁴-yr bursts with ̇ ∼10⁻⁵ M_⊙ yr⁻¹, separated by quiescent intervals lasting ∼10⁵ yr where ̇ ≈10⁻⁸ M_⊙ yr⁻¹. Such bursts could lead to repeated episodes of strong mass outflow in young stellar objects. The transition to this episodic mode of accretion occurs at an early epoch ( t ≪1 Myr), and the model therefore predicts that many young pre-main-sequence stars should have low rates of accretion through the inner disc. At ages of a few Myr, the discs are up to an order of magnitude more massive than the minimum-mass solar nebula, with most of the mass locked up in the quiescent layer of the disc at r ∼1 au. The predicted rate of low-mass planetary migration is reduced at the outer edge of the layered disc, which could lead to an enhanced probability of giant planet formation at radii of 1–3 au.     

A numerical interpretation of load tests on vibro-piles

The finite element interpretation is discussed of two load tests carried out on instrumented vibro-piles in a granular deposit. A first back analysis, aimed at assessing the improvement of the mechanical characteristics of soil induced by the vibratory construction process, highlights an apparent contradiction between the experimental variation of the axial load along the pile and the numerical results. This suggests introducing as a free variable, in addition to the elastic and shear strength parameters of the granular soil, also the increase of the nominal diameter of pile caused by vibrations. The second back analysis provides some insight into the variation of the diameter with depth and leads to an acceptable interpretation, from the engineering standpoint, of the load tests. On these bases a quantitative comparison is presented between the calculated load–settlement diagram of the vibro-pile and that of a “standard” pile constructed without vibrations in the same granular deposit.     

Eocene simple shear and plio-quaternary pure-shear folding in the Central-Eastern Algerian Atlas

Tertiary folds of the central and eastern part of the Algerian Atlas were studied in order to assess their kinematics and regimes of deformation. Folds developed following two main phases of deformation during the Eocene and the Pliocene. The NE-SW trending Eocene folds show a clockwise rotation of fold axis with depth, noncylindrical geometry and a right-stepping en echelon configuration. Early secondary structures inside each fold are also rotated clockwise with respect to the younger folds. These data are in agreement with progressive ‘simple shear’ deformation. Pliocene folds strike E-W and display a cylindrical geometry. Associated Plio-Quaternary brittle structures show no rotational path. These observations are compatible with ‘pure shear’ style of deformation. These results, in combination with focal mechanism solutions, have important implications for the understanding of the kinematic evolution of the western segment of the African-European plate boundary. For Algeria they imply that transcurrent motion during the Paleogene was followed by coaxial shortening with a NNW direction during Neogene-Quaternary times. Comparison with published data for Morocco and Tunisia suggests that this transcurrent regime developed from west to east continuing from the Middle Jurassic through to the Miocene.     

UV survey of δ Scuti stars: Final results and open problems

The results obtained from our IUE observations of some Scuti stars and in particular 71 Tau and 69 Tau are reviewed. 71 Tau is the second brightest X-ray source of the Hyades cluster; on the contrary 69 Tau, very similar to 71 Tau in the optical range, does not show X emissions. The complex and in somewhat controversial scenario obtained from this survey is also discussed. In particular we consider the X-ray emission detected in some Scuti with respect to the chromospheric activity level as measured through the MgII line and to other stellar parameters.     

Evidence of dislocations on the southern slope of the nebrodi-madonie mountains (northern Sicily, Italy): Their neotectonics implications

The investigated area is located on the southern slope of the NebrodiMadonie Mts. (northern Sicily, Italy). It was studied in order to obtain neotectonic evidence by means of fracture measurements, morphotectonic and hydrographical patterns, aerial photographs and satellite analysis. The results were compared with the well-known geological structures.This area could be considered an outstanding crustal part of Sicily, as here we find alignments of earthquake foci and a deep gradient of gravity anomalies, testifying to an important isostatic imbalance. This analysis confirms the observed structural picture of surface tectonics. Rose diagrams elaborated from fieldwork and aerial lineations show distinctive E—W trends which conform to the directions of the main faults.From a chronological viewpoint faults breaks, aerial photographs and satellite lineations seem to indicate that the E—W trend is the less dislocated and, therefore, the most recent.     

The accretion of brown dwarfs and planets by giant stars – II. Solar-mass stars on the red giant branch

This paper extends our previous study of planet/brown dwarf accretion by giant stars to solar-mass stars located on the red giant branch. The model assumes that the planet is dissipated at the bottom of the convective envelope of the giant star. The evolution of the giant is then followed in detail. We analyse the effects of different accretion rates and different initial conditions. The computations indicate that the accretion process is accompanied by a substantial expansion of the star, and, in the case of high accretion rates, hot bottom burning can be activated. The possible observational signatures that accompany the engulfing of a planet are also extensively investigated. They include the ejection of a shell and a subsequent phase of IR emission, an increase in the ⁷Li surface abundance and a potential stellar metallicity enrichment, spin-up of the star because of the deposition of orbital angular momentum, the possible generation of magnetic fields and the related X-ray activity caused by the development of shear at the base of the convective envelope, and the effects on the morphology of the horizontal branch in globular clusters. We propose that the IR excess and high Li abundance observed in 4–8 per cent of the G and K giants originate from the accretion of a giant planet, a brown dwarf or a very low-mass star.     

Long-term radial velocity variations of o And

The results of radial velocity measures of the star o And from high dispersion plates relative to the years 1964, 1966, 1975 and 1976 are given. The averaged values of the 1964 and 1966 plates confirm the existence of the minimum in the trend of the radial velocities and fit well the curve obtained in the hypothesis of periodic long-term radial velocity variations with the period of 23.5 years (Fracassiniet al., 1977). Preliminary orbital elements in the hypothesis of a long period spectroscopic binary system have been tentatively drawn.     

Normal faulting, transcrustal permeability and seismogenesis in the Apennines (Italy)

Late Pliocene–Pleistocene tectonic evolution of the Apennines is driven by progressive eastward migration of extensional downfaulting superposed onto the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene compressional thrust belt. This process has led to distinct structural domains that show decreasing transcrustal permeability from conditions of pervasive mixing between deep and surface fluids in the hinterland (west) to conditions of restricted fluid circulation and overpressuring in the foreland (east). At present, the highest rates of normal faulting and the strongest seismicity occur in the area bounded by stretched, highly permeable crust to the west and thick, poorly permeable crust to the east. In this area, the seismogenic sources of the largest earthquakes (5<M_s<7) are potentially related to mature normal faults that deeply penetrate thick brittle upper crust, and act as transient high-permeability channels during seismic activity. In this framework, it is plausible that domains of overpressuring govern progressive inception of normal faulting and fluid redistribution in the crust, leading to eastward migration of the belt of maximum seismicity with time.