Some consequences of compressional tectonics for extensional models of basin subsidence

Changes in intraplate stress levels have important consequences for the stratigraphy of rifted basins and provide a tectonic explanation for the generation of sequence boundaries. Late-stage compressional phases during the post-rift evolution of basins produce unconformities, with offlap phases that increase in magnitude with the age of the rifted basin. Late-stage compression has not only a strong bearing on the generation of unconformities, but also induces significant downbending of the centre of a basin. Ignorance of the vertical motions of the lithosphere induced by late-stage compression during post-rift evolution can, therefore, give rise to substantial errors in the estimates of crustal extension derived from analysis of basement subsidence using stretching models. Consequently, late-stage compression can be of great significance in estimates of depth and timing of the hydrocarbon-window inferred from extensional models of basin subsidence. Quantification of the subsidence induced by post-rift compression has important implications for integrated models of basin subsidence and hydrocarbon generation.

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Zusammenfassung Unterschiede in platteninternen Streß-Niveaus haben entscheidende Auswirkungen für die Stratigraphie von Rift-Becken und liefern eine tektonische Erklärung für die Erzeugung von Sequenzgrenzen. Späte kompressive Phasen während der post-Rift-Entwicklung von Becken erzeugen Umkonformitäten mit offlap-Phasen, deren Ausmaß mit dem Alter des Rift-Beckens steigt. Entscheidende Fehlerquellen in der Abschätzung der Krustendehnung können darauf basieren, daß die durch späte Kompression während der post-Rift-Entwicklung ausgelösten Vertikalbewegungen der Lithosphäre ignoriert werden. Das Ausmaß der Krustendehnung wird durch Analysen der Basement-Subsidenz mit Hilfe von Dehnungsmodellen entwickelt. Die Quantifizierung der Subsidenz, die von der post-Rift-Kompression gesteuert wird, hat also wichtige Bedeutungen für Extensionsmodelle von Beckensubsidenz.

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Résumé Les changements dans la distribution des contraintes à l'intérieur des plaques ont des répercussions importantes sur la stratigraphie dans les bassins de rift et fournissent une explication tectonique de la limitation latérale des séries. Des épisodes compressifs tardifs, qui marquent l'évolution postrift des bassins, sont à l'origine de lacunes dans lesquelles l'importance des phases régressives augmente avec l'áge du bassin. Les mouvements verticaux de la lithosphère induits par ces épisodes tardifs de compression n'étant pas connus, il peut en résulter des erreurs non négligeables dans l'estimation de l'allongement crustal, telle qu'elle est déduite de la valeur de la subsidence du socle dans des modèles d'extension. Dans ces conditions, l'évaluation quantitative de la subsidence produite par les compressions post-rift doit être prise en considération dans l'élaboration des modèles qui rendent compte de la subsidence des bassins par les processus d'extension.

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Metamorphism of siliceous dolomites at Naxos,Greece

Siliceous dolomitic marbles at Naxos, Greece, are crystallized in a range of metamorphic temperatures, estimated from 350 to 700 °C and a total pressure of about 6 kb. A number of low variant assemblages of this rock-system have been studied. The sequence of these metamorphic assemblages is a function of increasing metamorphism, and this is in agreement with other fielddata and with experimental data for the chemical system CaO-MgO-SiO₂-H₂O-CO₂ (-HF). The composition of the associated fluid inclusions may be considered reasonably correct in the light of experimentally obtained X _CO2 values for the mineral equilibria, extrapolated for a total pressure of about 6 kb at the interpolated temperatures at the sample locations.     

Crustal accretion in the Pan African: Nd and Sr isotope evidence from the Arabian Shield

Nd and Sr isotope determinations on late Precambrian to early Palaeozoic igneous and sedimentary rocks from the Arabian Shield are used to investigate the proportion of reworked “older” crust, and the rate at which new crust was generated during the Pan African event. Eight Rb/Sr whole rock isochrons on igneous suites yield ages in the range 770?590 Ma and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7038?0.7023. These data confirm that magmatism in this area was largely restricted to the period 850-550 Ma, and the initial ratios are sufficiently low to preclude significant contributions from a long-lived upper crustal source. The initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios of a variety of lithologies, including several samples of possible “basement”, are all higher than the contemporaneous values for CHUR (ε_Nd = +1.6 to +6.9), suggesting that many were derived directly from the upper mantle, and that any inferred crustal source regions for the remainder could not have separated from likely LREE-depleted mantle reservoirs before 1200 Ma. The Arabian Shield therefore provides an example of rapid crustal growth during the Late Proterozoic, and contrasts with the Damara intracratonic belt of Namibia where Nd and Sr isotopes provide strong evidence for extensive reworking of older continental crust during the same period.     

Characterization of coal maceral concentrates by curie-point pyrolysis mass spectrometry

A set of 30 maceral concentrates consisting of 5 exinites (sporinites), 14 vitrinites and 11 inertinites (fusinites and semifusinites) was analyzed by Curie-point pyrolysis mass spectrometry in combination with computerized multivariate statistical analysis techniques. Seventeen samples, representing sink/flotation concentrates of 7 different coals, were obtained through the British National Coal Board, whereas the remaining samples represent cesium-chloride density-gradient centrifugation fractions of two different U.S. coals prepared at the University of Utah.It is found that vitrinites, (semi)fusinites and, to some extent, sporinites show qualitatively similar rank-related changes, such as a decrease in dihydroxybenzene signals and an increase in napthalene signals with increasing rank. In fact, the overall pyrolysis MS patterns of inertinities show a close similarity to those of vitrinites of corresponding carbon content (as obtained from higher rank coals).Notwithstanding these similarities, however, the presence of basic differences in maceral structure is indicated by relatively minor but characteristic peak series in the liptinite (sporinite) as well as inertinite samples. Whereas inertinite spectra show relatively pronounced peak series at the high mass end of the spectrum which can be tentatively identified as representative of polynuclear aromatic compounds, sporinites are characterized by series of branched aliphatic and/or alicyclic polyenic hydrocarbons, possibly representing isoprenoids and related biomarker compounds.     

Ecosystem responses in the Rhine-Meuse delta during two decades after enclosure and steps toward estuary restoration

Changes in hydrology, and developments in morphology, water quality, and ecology of the Rhine-Meuse estuary after its enclosure in 1970 are analyzed on the basis of existing monitoring data. Annual averages of ammonium, nitrate plus nitrite, total phosphate, total lead, and chlorophyll-a concentrations as well as transparency of the water are presented. Abundances of some water bird species are given for the period 1970–1993, and the relative fish biomass for the period 1971–1988 is discussed. The gradual evolution led toward the dominance of bream. The area has developed toward a system with generally low natural ecological values. Ecological impacts of present sluice management are discussed and include the accumulation of contaminated sediments, disappearance of intertidal areas and nursery grounds for fish, disturbance of fish migration, and less mixing of river and seawater. Recent policy developments have brought the present management of the Haringvliet sluices back in to discussion. A recent policy document has presented several management alternatives, including partial and complete reopening of the sluices to permit saltwater intrusion. Three management options are compared in terms of costs and ecological benefits. It is concluded that a complete reopening, and thus a partial restoration of the estuarine characteristics, is most beneficial for the ecosystems of the area itselt, for the upstream Rhine and Meuse rivers, and for the adjacent North Sea, but costs amount to about 600 million US $.     

The Cenozoic evolution of the Roer Valley Rift System integrated at a European scale

The Roer Valley Rift System (RVRS) is located between the West European rift and the North Sea rift system. During the Cenozoic, the RVRS was characterized by several periods of subsidence and inversion, which are linked to the evolution of the adjacent rift systems. Combination of subsidence analysis and results from the analysis of thickness distributions and fault systems allows the determination of the Cenozoic evolution and quantification of the subsidence. During the Early Paleocene, the RVRS was inverted (Laramide phase). The backstripping method shows that the RVRS was subsequently mainly affected by two periods of subsidence, during the Late Paleocene and the Oligocene–Quaternary time intervals, separated by an inversion phase during the Late Eocene. During the Oligocene and Miocene periods, the thickness of the sediments and the distribution of the active faults reveal a radical rotation of the direction of extension by about 70–80° (counter clockwise). Integration of these results at a European scale indicates that the Late Paleocene subsidence was related to the evolution of the North Sea basins, whereas the Oligocene–Quaternary subsidence is connected to the West European rift evolution. The distribution of the inverted provinces also shows that the Early Paleocene inversion (Laramide phase) has affected the whole European crust, whereas the Late Eocene inversion was restricted to the southern North Sea basins and the Channel area. Finally, comparison of these deformations in the European crust with the evolution of the Alpine chain suggests that the formation of the Alps has controlled the evolution of the European crust since the beginning of the Cenozoic.     

Competition between topography- and compaction-driven flow in a confined aquifer: Some analytical results

 An analysis is presented of the competition between topography- and compaction-driven flow in a confined aquifer. The aquifer crops out and is unconfined in an area with an elevated water table. In the absence of compaction, the elevated water table drives the flow toward areas with a lower water table, and leakage occurs from the aquifer through an overlying aquitard. Under these conditions, recharge occurs in the outcrop area. When sedimentation occurs above the aquifer away from the outcrop area, compaction tends to reverse the flow direction in the aquifer, causing expulsion of groundwater in the outcrop area. The actual flow field arises from the competition between the two driving mechanisms. An analytical expression for the combined flow field is derived in which the contribution from both mechanisms is apparent. The expression is useful as a practical guideline for estimating whether or not compaction can be safely ignored in regional groundwater-flow studies of confined aquifers. Received, July 1998 / Revised, February 1999 / Acccepted, February 1999