Some properties of velocity fields in the solar photosphere

Photoelectric records of the Doppler effect (DE) and longitudinal Zeeman effect (LZE) were obtained with the Capri magnetograph of the Fraunhofer Institut photoelectric, using the Fei line λ 5250.22. Each record consists of 65 scans repeated along the same line on the sun. The analysis of 16 records covering a total of 485 oscillating regions (period 300 sec) leads to the following results:

1. (1)
   The mean lifetime of the DE-oscillations outside active regions is 20 min and 32 min in the neighborhood of spotgroups. Discarding the weakest sporadic osculations, one obtains 27 min and 43 min respectively. The most frequent lifetime in both cases is 15 min.     

Mapping of lunar surface from side-looking orbital radar images

Side-looking spacecraft radar imagery has thus far been produced only from an orbit around the Moon. This was a part of the Apollo Lunar Sounder Experiment (ALSE) of the Apollo 17 mission in December, 1972. This paper reports results of a radargrammetric evaluation of overlapping Apollo 17 synthetic aperture radar images (wavelength 2 m). The potential to map from single images and to reconstruct 3D stereoscopic models is studied. The relative height accuracy achieved is about ± 100 m and is thus competitive with that obtained with the vidicon camera that is presently used for planetary exploration.NAS-NRC Resident Research Associate.     

1: Subduction, slab detachment and mineralization: The Neogene in the Apuseni Mountains and Carpathians

The Inner Carpathians comprise several distinct Neogene late-stage orogenic Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag–Au ore districts. The mineral deposits in these districts are closely related to volcanic and subvolcanic rocks, and represent mainly porphyry and epithermal vein deposits, which formed within short periods of time in each district. Here, we discuss possible geodynamic and structural controls that suggest why some of the Neogene volcanic districts within the Carpathians comprise abundant mineralization, while others are barren. The Neogene period has been characterized by an overall geodynamic regime of subduction, where primary roll-back of the subducted slab and secondary phenomena, like slab break-off and the development of slab windows, could have contributed to the evolution, location and type of volcanic activity. Structural features developing in the overlying lithosphere and visible in the Carpathian crust, such as transtensional wrench corridors, block rotation and relay structures due to extrusion tectonics, have probably acted in focusing hydrothermal activity. As a result of particular events in the geodynamic evolution and the development of specific structural features, mineralization formed during fluid channelling within transtensional wrench settings and during periods of extension related to block rotation.In the Slovakian ore district of the Western Carpathians, Neogene volcanism and associated mineralization were localized by sinistral, NE-trending wrench corridors, which formed part of the extruding Alcapa block. The Baia Mare ore district, in the Eastern Carpathians, reflects a transtensional wrench setting on distributed oversteps close to the termination of the Dragos Voda fault. There, mineralization was spatially controlled by the transtensional Dragos Voda master fault and associated cross-fault systems. The Golden Quadrangle Cu–Au ore district of the Southern Apuseni Mountains reflects an unusual rotated transtensional/extensional setting close to the termination of a graben system. There, fluid flow was probably localized by fault propagation at the inner tip of the graben system.The spatial and temporal evolution of the magmatism and its changing geochemical signature from (N)W to (S)E strongly suggests a link with the contemporaneous northeastward roll-back of the subducted slab and a progressive southeastward detachment during accelerating roll-back. This geodynamic evolution is further supported by the present-day overall and detailed mantle lithospheric density images, the present-day heat flow patterns, the crustal architecture and its interpreted evolution, and the spatial and temporal evolution of depocentres around the Carpathian arc. In contrast to all these features, the mineral deposits in the West Carpathians, East Carpathians and Apuseni Mountains are too synchronous with respect to their individual volcanic history and contrast too much with younger volcanics of similar style, but barren, in southeastern parts of the Carpathians to simply link them directly to the slab evolution. In all three districts, the presence of magmatic fluids released from shallow plutons and their mixing with meteoric water were critical for mineralization, requiring transtensional or extensional local regimes at the time of mineralization, possibly following initial compressional regimes.These three systems show that mineralization was probably controlled by the superposition of favourable mantle lithospheric conditions and partly independent, evolving upper crustal deformation conditions.In the 13 to 11 Ma period the dominant mineralization formed all across the Carpathians, and was superimposed on structurally favourable crustal areas with, at that time, volcanic–hydrothermal activity. The period may reflect the moment when the (upper part of the) crust failed under lithospheric extension imposed by the slab evolution. This crustal failure would have fragmented the overriding plate, possibly breaking up the thermal lid, to provoke intensive fluid flow in specific areas, and allowed subsequent accelerated tectonic development, block rotation and extrusion of a “family of sub-blocks” that are arbitrarily regarded as the Tisia–Dacia or Alcapa blocks, even though they have lost their internal entity.     

Spatial distribution of heavy metals in surficial sediments from Guanabara Bay: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ninety-two surface sediment samples were collected in Guanabara Bay, one of the most prominent urban bays in SE Brazil, to investigate the spatial distribution of anthropogenic pollutants. The concentrations of heavy metals, organic carbon and particle size were examined in all samples. Large spatial variations of heavy metals and particle size were observed. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in the muddy sediments from the north western region of the bay near the main outlets of the most polluted rivers, municipal waste drainage systems and one of the major oil refineries. Another anomalous concentration of metals was found adjacent to Rio de Janeiro Harbour. The heavy metal concentrations decrease to the northeast, due to intact rivers and the mangrove systems in this area, and to the south where the sand fraction and open-marine processes dominate. The geochemical normalization of metal data to Li or Al has also demonstrated that the anthropogenic input of heavy metals have altered the natural sediment heavy metal distribution.     

Kinematics of the Inntal shear zone–sub-Tauern ramp fault system and the interpretation of the TRANSALP seismic section, Eastern Alps, Austria

A new interpretation of the Inntal–Tauern sector of the TRANSALP seismic section is presented. One of the most prominent contrasts in reflectivity in the TRANSALP seismic section is the contact between the Bajuvaric unit in the footwall and the overlying Tirolic unit and its basement across a moderately south-dipping interface. We trace this contact from the surface at the southern margin of the Inn valley to a depth of 5 km. There, the contact is deformed or cut by the Tauern Window northern margin. We define the contact between Bajuvaric and Tirolic units as Brixlegg thrust, which is older than Miocene Tauern window exhumation and has a Paleogene age. The sub-Tauern ramp connects with the Inntal fault system at the surface and roots below the Tauern window. Oblique thrust movements across this fault system in the Miocene caused exhumation of the hanging wall, where the fault has a ramp geometry, which is in the area of the TRANSALP cross section and west of it. East of the TRANSALP cross section, the fault system merges with Alpine basal thrust, which is a flat. No Miocene exhumation occurred above the flat.     

A tectono-stratigraphic record of an extensional basin: the Lower Jurassic Ab-Haji Formation of east-central Iran

The Lower Jurassic Ab-Haji Formation consists of siliciclastic strata which are widespread and superbly exposed across the Tabas and Lut blocks of east-central Iran. The formation records the geodynamic history of central Iran during the Early Jurassic in the aftermath of the main Cimmerian event (near the Triassic–Jurassic boundary) through its sedimentary facies and stratigraphic architecture and allows palaeogeographic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. We measured and studied three well-exposed outcrop sections and identified lithofacies and facies associations (fluvial plain, delta plain, delta front, prodelta, and shallow-marine siliciclastic shelf). The integration of all geological, stratigraphic, and sedimentological data shows a west-to-east continental-to-marine gradient within the Ab-Haji Formation. Based on thickness variations, lateral facies changes, palaeocurrent patterns, and changes in the nature of the basal contact of the Ab-Haji Formation on the Tabas and Lut blocks, we locate the fault-bounded Yazd Block in the west and the Shotori Swell at the eastern edge of the Tabas Block as provenance regions. The pattern of thickness variations, rapid east–west facies changes, and provenance is best explained by a tectonic model invoking large tilted fault blocks in an extensional basin. The basal unit shows distinct increase in grain size at the base of the Ab-Haji Formation, similar to the Shemshak Group of the Alborz Mountains (the base of the Alasht Formation) and the non-marine time-equivalent succession of the Binalud Mountains of northeastern Iran. This grain size pattern may have been caused by rapid source area uplift due to slab break-off of the subducted Iran plate in the course of the Cimmerian collision in east-central Iran.     

柴北缘—南祁连地区构造热事件

对柴北缘路乐河剖面新生代沉积物和山前现代河沙中碎屑的锆石U-Pb同位素热年代学研究表明:研究区物源区发育～260、～450、500～600、800～900Ma 4个主要年龄峰值和～1.8、2.5～2.6Ga 2个较小的年龄峰值。结合研究区已有的同位素年龄数据提出:柴北缘—南祁连地区在二叠纪中—晚期遭受了一次较强烈的低温区域构造热事件的改造;柴北缘高压榴辉岩及其相关的地质体隆升到地表的时间晚于上新世;柴北缘—南祁连地区先后主要经历了800～900 Ma的Rodinia超大陆裂解事件,500～600 Ma的泛非区域变质事件和～450Ma的俯冲碰撞变质事件;柴北缘—南祁连地区的主要构造热事件发生在元古代,主要集中在500～600Ma和800～900Ma,表明柴北缘—南祁连地区的前寒武纪基底性质与扬子板块相似,与华北板块完全不同。     

Sediment characteristics and sedimentations rates of a small river in Western Central Brazil

The purpose of this study is to characterise the alluvial sediments and to quantify sedimentation rates of a small river system, the Ribeir?o do Torto in Central Western Brazil. The study area provides an excellent opportunity to examine the effect of land use on sedimentation rates in the region for the first time and thus contributes to understanding sediment transport processes into water reservoirs (silting). ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Pb and ¹⁴C dating techniques were used to estimate natural sedimentation rates and those associated with land use development. Complementary use of physical and chemical analyses of the sediments and contained anthropogenic materials revealed that sedimentation dynamics had varied over time. Natural sedimentation rates are more than ten times lower than in the period since the mid-1950s for the alluvial system of the Ribeir?o do Torto. The results indicated that human impact had accelerated the sedimentation dynamics, which resulted in higher sediment quantities and sand content and changes of sediment sources. The variation of sedimentation rates may reflect also several other factors, e.g. natural fluctuation in flow energy or geomorphologic changes within the alluvial system. However, the multiple dating techniques and supplementary interpretation employed in this study show the potential use of radionuclides and soil/sediment parameters to identify changes in sedimentation rate, stream energy and sediment characteristics in floodplains.     

Lu–Hf garnet systematics of a polymetamorphic basement unit: new evidence for coherent exhumation of the Adula Nappe (Central Alps) from eclogite-facies conditions

The Adula Nappe in the Central Alps is a mixture of various pre-Mesozoic continental basement rocks, metabasics, ultrabasics, and Mesozoic cover rocks, which were pervasively deformed during Alpine orogeny. Metabasics, ultrabasics, and locally garnet–mica schists preserve eclogite-facies assemblages while the bulk of the nappe lacks such evidence. We provide garnet major-element data, Lu profiles, and Lu–Hf garnet geochronology from eclogites sampled along a north–south traverse. A southward increasing Alpine overprint over pre-Alpine garnets is observed throughout the nappe. Garnets in a sample from the northern Adula Nappe display a single growth cycle and yield a Variscan age of 323.8 ± 6.9 Ma. In contrast, a sample from Alpe Arami in the southernmost part contains unzoned garnets that fully equilibrated to Alpine high-pressure (HP) metamorphic conditions with temperatures exceeding 800 °C. We suggest that the respective Eocene Lu–Hf age of 34.1 ± 2.8 Ma is affected by partial re-equilibration after the Alpine pressure peak. A third sample from the central part of the nappe contains separable Alpine and Variscan garnet populations. The Alpine population yields a maximum age of 38.8 ± 4.3 Ma in line with a previously published garnet maximum age from the central nappe of 37.1 ± 0.9 Ma. The Adula Nappe represents a coherent basement unit, which preserves a continuous Alpine high-pressure metamorphic gradient. It was subducted as a whole in a single, short-lived event in the upper Eocene. Controversial HP ages and conditions in the Adula Nappe may result from partly preserved Variscan assemblages in Alpine metamorphic rocks.