Debris flow (olistostromes) and slumping on a distal passive continental margin: the Palombini limestone–shale sequence of the northern Apennines

An olistostrome accumulation up to 530 m thick occurs in the Casanova area of the northern Apennines. It lies within or above the calciturbiditic Palombini limestone-shale sequence, and is part of the allochthonous Vara Complex—sediments originally deposited on oceanic crust. The olistostromes are poorly sorted, monomict, matrix-supported, submarine debris flow deposits with rigid plugs. They have a compactional foliation and a compaction-modified, planar clast fabric created during flow. Although diachronous in the main part of the area, the olistostromes have a vertical gradational contact with the overlying slumped Palombini, in which recumbent asymmetric fold hinges and trains and slump boudins are present. Many criteria indicate soft-sediment deformation. Fold asymmetry indicates a uniformly SW-dipping palaeoslope. The textural gradation from slumps to olistostrome beds, plus slump folds and boudins as olistostrome clasts show that the olistostromes are dismembered slumps. In vertical sections, variations in limestone petrography, volume percentage and size of clasts confirm that the olistostromes were derived from the Palombini as a series of bed-by-bed slumps keeping pace with sedimentation of the Palombini. From olistostrome clast sizes and bed thicknesses, a depositional slope of ～ 4° is estimated. The olistostromes are not precursor sediments shed from advancing nappes, as in the Bracco ridge model of some authors; rather, they were formed at the foot of a distal, block-faulted passive continental margin, long before nappe emplacement.     

The occurrence of calcified planktonic green algae in freshwater carbonates

Phacotus and Coccomonas, two carbonate-secreting, non-marine, planktonic chlorophyte genera, are important sediment contributors mainly in hard water lakes. The calcite loricae of these flagellate algae exhibit characteristic features easily recognizable under the microscope, making Phacotus and Coccomonas important facies fossils for the recognition of ancient non-marine environments. The fossil record of Phacotus can be traced back to the Miocene and it is probable that further research could extend this record into pre-Tertiary periods.     

Near-Ultrahigh Pressure Processing of Continental Crust: Miocene Crustal Xenoliths from the Pamir

Xenoliths of subducted crustal origin hosted by Miocene ultrapotassicigneous rocks in the southern Pamir provide important new informationregarding the geological processes accompanying tectonism duringthe Indo-Eurasian collision. Four types have been studied: sanidineeclogites (omphacite, garnet, sanidine, quartz, biotite, kyanite),felsic granulites (garnet, quartz, sanidine and kyanite), basalticeclogites (omphacite and garnet), and a glimmerite (biotite,clinopyroxene and sanidine). Apatite, rutile and carbonate arethe most abundant minor phases. Hydrous phases (biotite andphengite in felsic granulites and basaltic eclogites, amphibolesin mafic and sanidine eclogites) and plagioclase form minorinclusions in garnet or kyanite. Solid-phase thermobarometryreveals recrystallization at mainly ultrahigh temperatures of1000–1100°C and near-ultrahigh pressures of 2·5–2·8GPa. Textures, parageneses and mineral compositions suggestderivation of the xenoliths from subducted basaltic, tonaliticand pelitic crust that experienced high-pressure dehydrationmelting, K-rich metasomatism, and solid-state re-equilibration.The timing of these processes is constrained by zircon agesfrom the xenoliths and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of the host volcanic rocksto 57–11 Ma. These xenoliths reveal that deeply subductedcrust may undergo extensive dehydration-driven partial melting,density-driven differentiation and disaggregation, and sequestrationwithin the mantle. These processes may also contribute to thealkaline volcanism observed in continent-collision zones. KEY WORDS: xenolith; high-pressure; subduction; Pamir; Tibet     

Progressive alteration in CV3 chondrites: More evidence for asteroidal alteration

Abstract— The oxidized CV3 chondrites can be divided into two major subgroups or lithologies, Bali-like (CV3_oxB) and Allende-like (CV3_oxA), in which chondrules, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) and matrices show characteristic alteration features (Weisberg et al, 1997; Krot et al, 1997d; Kimura and Ikeda, 1997). The CV3_oxB lithology is present in Bali, Kaba, parts of the Mokoia breccia and, possibly, in Grosnaja and Allan Hills (ALH) 85006. It is characterized by the presence of the secondary low-Ca phyllosilicates (saponite and sodium phlogopite), magnetite, Ni-rich sulfides, fayalite (Fa>₉₀), Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes (Fs_10–50Wo_45–50) and andradite. Phyllosilicates replace primary Ca-rich minerals in chondrules and CAIs, which suggests mobilization of Ca during aqueous alteration. Magnetite nodules are replaced to various degrees by fayalite, Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes and minor andradite. Fayalite veins crosscut fine-grained rims around chondrules and extend into the matrix. Thermodynamic analysis of the observed reactions indicates that they could have occurred at relatively low temperatures (<300 °C) in the presence of aqueous solutions. Oxygen isotopic compositions of the coexisting magnetite and fayalite plot close to the terrestrial fractionation line with large Δ¹⁸O_{fayalite-magnetite} fractionation (～20%). We infer that phyllosilicates, magnetite, fayalite, Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes and andradite formed at relatively low temperatures (<300 °C) by fluid-rock interaction in an asteroidal environment. Secondary fayalite and phyllosilicates are virtually absent in chondrules and CAIs in the CV3_oxA lithology, which is present in Allende and its dark inclusions, Axtell, ALHA81258, ALH 84028, Lewis Cliff (LEW) 86006, and parts of the Mokoia and Vigarano breccias. Instead secondary nepheline, sodalite, and fayalitic olivine are common. Fayalitic olivine in chondrules replaces low-Ca pyroxenes and rims and veins forsterite grains; it also forms coarse lath-shaped grains in matrix. Secondary Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes are abundant. We infer that the CV3_oxA lithology experienced alteration at higher temperatures than the CV3_oxB lithology. The presence of the reduced and CV3_oxA lithologies in the Vigarano breccia and CV3_oxA and CV3_oXB lithologies in the Mokoia breccia indicates that all CV3 chondrites came from one heterogeneously altered asteroid. The metamorphosed clasts in Mokoia (Krot and Hutcheon, 1997) may be rare samples of the hotter interior of the CV asteroid. We conclude that the alteration features observed in the oxidized CV3 chondrites resulted from the fluid-rock interaction in an asteroid during progressive metamorphism of a heterogeneous mixture of ices and anhydrous materials mineralogically similar to the reduced CV3 chondrites.     

Secondary calcium-iron-rich minerals in the Bali-like and Allende-like oxidized CV3 chondrites and Allende dark inclusions

Abstract— We have characterized Ca-Fe-rich silicates (salite-hedenbergite pyroxenes (Fs_10–50Wo_45–50), andradite (Ca₃Fe₂Si₃O₁₂), kirschsteinite (CaFeSiO₄), and wollastonite (Ca₃Si₃O₉)) in the type I chondrules and matrices in the Bali-like and Allende-like oxidized CV3 chondrites and Allende dark inclusions. In type I chondrules in the Bali-like CV3 chondrites, metal is oxidized to magnetite; magnetite-sulfide nodules are replaced by Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes with minor andradite and pure fayalite. We infer that Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes, andradite, fayalite, magnetite, and phyllosilicates (which occur in mesostases) formed at relatively low temperatures (<300 °C) in the presence of aqueous solutions. Thermodynamic analysis of phase relations in the Si-Fe-Ca-O-H system and large O isotopic fractionation of the coexisting magnetite and fayalite (～20%) (Krot et al., 1998) are consistent with this interpretation. In type I chondrules in the Allende-like CV3 chondrites and dark inclusions, magnetite-sulfide nodules are replaced by Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes and ferrous olivine; low-Ca pyroxene and forsterite phenocrysts are rimmed and veined by ferrous olivine. It appear that the Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes predate formation of ferrous olivine; the latter postdates formation of talc and biopyriboles (Brearley, 1997). The Allende dark inclusions are crosscut by Ca-Fe-pyroxene-andradite veins and surrounded by Ca-rich rims that consist of Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes, andradite, wollastonite, and kirschsteinite. Calcium-rich veins and rims formed after aggregation and lithification of the dark inclusions. The rimmed dark inclusions show zoned depletion in Ca, which is due to a lower abundance of Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes close to the rim. Calcium was probably leached from the inclusions and redeposited along their edges. We infer that the Allende-like chondrites and dark inclusions experienced similar aqueous alteration to the Bali-like chondrites and were metamorphosed subsequently, which resulted in loss of aqueous solutions and dehydration of phyllosilicates. We conclude that Ca-Fe-rich silicates in the oxidized CV3 chondrites and Allende dark inclusions are secondary and resulted from aqueous fluid-rock interactions during progressive metamorphism of a heterogeneous mixture of hydrous (ices?) and anhydrous materials; the latter were possibly mineralogically similar to the reduced CV3 chondrites.     

On the effect of mid-air collisions on aeolian saltation

The effect of mid-air collisions on aeolian saltation is investigated using concentration profiles and grain velocities predicted by a numerical saltation model. The probability of a mid-air collision is found to be greater at high wind speeds. It is also found that mid-air collisions tend to reduce the number of grain/bed impacts and thus reduce the number of ejecta near the bed; this, in turn, reduces the intensity of mid-air collisions. It is suggested that this feed-back mechanism significantly influences transport rates at high wind speeds.     

CEMPS: A prototype spatial decision support system to aid in planning emergency evacuations

CEMPS is a prototype spatial decision support system which links the topographical support and analysis provided by a geographic information system, ARC/INFO, with the ability to simulate the dynamics of an evacuation process. CEMPS has been designed to enable emergency planners to experiment with different emergency evacuation plans in order to devise a plan which meets their requirements. ARC/INFO is used to parameterize a dynamic simulation with topographical information and to display its results. The prototype runs on a Sun SPARCStation cluster but could be modified to run on other hardware and software.     

Corona textures between kyanite, garnet and gedrite in gneisses from Errabiddy, Western Australia

Abstract Corona textures, which developed in alternating layers in rocks in a supracrustal belt at Errabiddy, Western Australia, involved:
(a) The production of staurolite, cordierite and quartz or sapphirine between Kyanite and/or sillimanite and gedrite; and
(b) The production of cordierite between garnet and gedrite.
These textures are inconsistent with development along the same pressure–temperature path in the system FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O, but can be accounted for if CaO, mainly in garnet, is taken into account. The sapphirine-bearing kyanite–gedrite textures are explained by lower a (SiO₂) during their development. The assemblages indicate a consistent pressure–temperature ( P–T ) trajectory involving substantial uplift with only a slight decrease in temperature. The history of these rocks includes reheating of originally high-grade rocks that had cooled to a stable conductive geotherm, followed by substantial, essentially isothermal uplift. The tectonic environment for this was presumably the one responsible for emplacement of the high-grade terrain in the upper crust.     

Polybaric Evolution of Calc-alkaline Magmas from Nisyros, Southeastern Hellenic Arc, Greece

The lavas of Nisyros were erupted between about 0?2 m.y B.P.and 1422 A.D., and range in composition from basaltic andesiteto rhyodacite. Most were erupted prior to caldera collapse (exactdate unknown), and the post-caldera lavas are petrographically(presence of strongly resorbed phenocrysts) and chemically (lowerTiO₂ K₂O, P₂O₅, and LIL elements) distinct from the pre-calderalavas. The pre-caldera lavas do not form a continuous seriessince lavas with SiO₂ contents between 60 and 66 wt.% are absent.Nevertheless, major element variations demonstrate that fractionalcrystalliz ation (involving removal of olivine, dinopyroxene,plagioclase, and Fe-Ti oxide from the basaltic andesites andandesites and plagioclase, clinopyroxene, hypersthene, Ti-magnetite,ilmenite, apatite, and zircon from the dacites and rhyodacites)played a major role in the evolution of the pre-caldera lavas.Several lines of evidence indicate that other processes werealso important in magma evolution: (1) Quantitative modelingof major element data shows that phenocryst phases of unlikelycomposi tion or unrealistic assemblages of phenocryst phasesare required to relate the dacites and rhyodacites to the basalticandesites and andesites; (2) The proportions of olivine andclinopyroxene required in quantitative models for the initialstages of evolution differ from those observed petrographicallyand this is not likely to reflect either differential ratesof crystal settling or the curvature of cotectics along whichliquids of basaltic andesite to andesite composition lie; (3)The concentrations of Rb, Cs, Ba, La, Sm, Eu, and Th in therhyod.acites are too high for these lavas to be related to thedacites by fractional crystallization alone; and (4) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Srratios for the andesites and rhyodacites are higher than thosefor the basaltic andesites and dacites, respectively. It isshown that fractional crystallization was accompanied by assimilation,and that magma mixing played a minor role (if any) in the evolutionof the pre-caldera lavas. Trace element and isotopic data indicatethat the andesites evolved from the basaltic andesites by AFCinvolving average crust or upper crust, whereas the rhyodacitesevolved from the dacites by AFC involving lower crust. Additionalevidence for polybaric evolution is provided by the occurrenceof distinct Ab-rich cores of plagioclase phenocrysts in thedacites and rhyodacites, which record a period of high pressurecrystallization, and by the occurrence of both normal and reverse-zonedphenocrysts in the basaltic andesites and andesites. Furthermore,calculated pressures of crystallization are {small tilde}8 kbfor the dacites and rhyodacites and 3?5–4 kb for the basalticandesites and andesites. It is concluded that the dacites andrhyodacites evolved via AFC from basaltic andesites and andesiteslargely in chambers sited near the base of the crust whereasthe basaltic andesites and andesites mostly evolved in chamberssited at mid-crustal levels. Eruption from different chambersexplains the compositional gap in the chemistry of the pre-calderalavas since eruptive products represent a more or less randomsampling of residual liquids which separate (via filter pressing)from bodies of crystallizing magma at various depths. Magmamixing was important in the evolution of the post-caldera lavas,but geochemical data require that these magmas evolved fromparental magmas which were derived from a more refractory sourcethan the parental magmas to the pre-caldera lavas. ^*Present address: Netherlands Energy Research Foundation (ECN), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands