The Australian continental shelf: Has Australia's high-latitude diplomacy paid off?’

The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf has granted Australia extended continental shelf areas around two of its sub-Antarctic island groups, and these extend into the Antarctic Treaty area. The overlap potentially raises conflict between Australian and Antarctic interests. Australia's submission included and expressly excluded Antarctic data and its high-latitude diplomacy paid off, but its next steps will be crucial to gaining acceptance by other Antarctic Treaty parties. It is likely that any resource exploitation will stop at the fence (60° South) during the life of the Treaty.     

Late Cretaceous (Late Turonian,Coniacian and Santonian) petroleum source rocks as part of an OAE,Tarfaya Basin,Morocco

Late Turonian, Coniacian and Santonian source rock samples from a recently drilled well (Tafaya Sondage No. 2; 2010) in the Tarfaya Basin were analyzed for quantity, quality, maturity and depositional environment of the organic matter (OM). To our knowledge such a thick sequence of organic matter-rich Turonian to Santonian source rocks was investigated in that great detail for the first time. Organic geochemical and organic petrological investigations were carried out on a large sample set from the 200 m thick sequence. In total 195 core samples were analyzed for total organic carbon (C_org), total inorganic carbon contents and total sulfur (TS) contents. Rock-Eval pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance measurements were performed on 28 samples chosen on the basis of their C_org content. Non-aromatic hydrocarbons were analyzed on selected samples by way of gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC–FID) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The organic matter-rich carbonates revealed a high source rock potential, representing type I kerogen and a good preservation of the organic matter, which is mainly of marine (phytoplankton) origin. HI values are high (400–900 mg/g C_org) and in a similar range as those described for more recent upwelling sediments along the continental slope of North Africa. TS/C_org ratios as well as pristane over phytane ratios indicate variable oxygen content during sediment deposition. All samples are clearly immature with respect to petroleum generation which is supported by maturity parameters such as vitrinite reflectance (0.3–0.4%), T_max values (401–423 °C), production indices (S₁/(S₁ + S₂) > 0.1) as well as maturity parameters based on ratios of specific steranes and hopanes.     

The Beni-Ourtilane-Tachaouaft fault and Seismotectonic aspects of the Babors region (NE of Algeria)

A shallow moderate (M _s=5.7) but damaging earthquake shook theregion of Beni-Ourtilane located about 50 km NW of Setif and 390 kmNE of Algiers (Central Eastern Algeria). The main shock caused the deathof 2 peoples, injured 50 and caused sustainable damage to about 3000housing units. The main shock was preceded by 2 foreshocks and followedby many aftershocks which lasted for many days. Analysis of historicalseismicity including the localisation of epicenters, the trend of isoseismalmaps of some historical events, the localisation of the November 10, 2000main shock (M _s=5.7) and the November 16, 2000 aftershock(M _s=4.5) as well as the shape of the area of maximum intensity ofthe November 10, 2000 earthquake suggest that the Tachaouaft fault of20 km of length is the activated geological structure. Although, there isno clear surface breaks associated with this earthquake, the localisation ofgeological disorders, such as ground fissures, during the Beni-Ourtilaneearthquake, which are remarkably located near the fault, may have atectonic meaning. Geomorphological analysis through Digital ElevationModels (DEMs) allowed us to identify a clear fault scarp related likely tostrong earthquakes occurred in the past. Among geomorphologicalevidences of this active fault there are the uplift and tilt of alluvial terraceson the hanging wall and the diversion of the drainage pattern. Based onthe quality of constructions and field observations an intensity I ₀ = VII (MSK scale) is attributed to the epicentral area,which is striking NE-SW in agreement with the focal mechanism solutionand the seismotectonic observations. In the other hand the amount ofdamage is due rather to the bad quality of constructions than to theseverity of ground motion. The Tachaouaft fault with the Kherrata fault isthe main source of seismic hazard in the Babors region.     

Exchange of light rare earths for Ca in apatite

Diffusion experiments were carried out on natural apatite crystals that were immersed in molten light rare earth element (REE) chloride salt at temperatures between 900 and 1150 °C for periods up to 35 days. Electron microprobe analysis of the crystals showed that light REEs replaced Ca according to electronic balance, i.e. $\text{2}\text{REE}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$ for $\text{3}\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$. These diffusion profiles indicate that a maximum amount of substitution in the structure occurs when two of the ten Ca ions in apatite are replaced by the REE diffusing elements. Anisotropic diffusion is observed between a and c crystallographic directions. Comparison of maximum distance indicates that the larger ions move more easily in the apatite structure. We conclude that the light REEs diffuse within the channel structures of the mineral, and that this diffusion is controlled by the substitution type of elements in the calcium sites. To cite this article: A. Iqdari et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).