Tectonic setting of volcanic rocks in the Akara Au mine, north-central Thailand using petrochemical and stratigraphic investigations

Akara gold mine in north-central Thailand is situated within the Loei-Phetchabun-Nakhon Nayok volcanic belt. The roughly north-south trending, Permo-Triassic volcanic rocks earlier mapped by Thailand Department of Mineral Resources were re-mapped and samples were collected from the main active open pit. Forty-four samples were petrographi-cally classified and geochemically analyzed to docu-ment their stratigraphy. Two types of volcanic rocks are recognized, namely coherent and non-coherent units, in which the former is older on the basis of stratigraphic succession. Several lines of evidence suggest that the studied rocks occurred nearby the volcanic edifices and were dominated by debris flows of submarine environment.     

Precursory seismicity rate changes prior to the large and major earthquakes along the Sagaing fault zone,Central Myanmar

In this study, the seismicity rate changes that can represent an earthquake precursor were investigated along the Sagaing Fault Zone (SFZ), Central Myanmar, using the Z value technique. After statistical improvement of the existing seismicity data (the instrumental earthquake records) by removal of the foreshocks and aftershocks and man-made seismicity changes and standardization of the reported magnitude scales, 3574 earthquake events with a M _w ≥ 4.2 reported during 1977–2015 were found to directly represent the seismotectonic activities of the SFZ. To find the characteristic parameters specifically suitable for the SFZ, seven known events of M _w ≥ 6.0 earthquakes were recognized and used for retrospective tests. As a result, utilizing the conditions of 25 fixed earthquake events considered (N) and a 2-year time window (T _w), a significantly high Z value was found to precede most of the M _w ≥ 6.0 earthquakes. Therefore, to evaluate the prospective areas of upcoming earthquakes, these conditions (N = 25 and T _w = 2) were applied with the most up-to-date seismicity data of 2010–2015. The results illustrate that the vicinity of Myitkyina and Naypyidaw (Z = 4.2–5.1) cities might be subject to strong or major earthquakes in the future.     

Missing ophiolitic rocks along the Mae Yuam Fault as the Gondwana–Tethys divide in north-west Thailand

Abstract Thailand comprises two continental blocks: Sibumasu and Indochina. The clastic rocks of the Triassic Mae Sariang Group are distributed in the Mae Hong Son–Mae Sariang area, north‐west Thailand, which corresponds to the central part of Sibumasu. The clastic rocks yield abundant detrital chromian spinels, indicating a source of ultramafic/mafic rocks. The chemistry of the detrital chromian spinels suggests that they were derived from three different rock types: ocean‐floor peridotite, chromitite and intraplate basalt, and that ophiolitic rocks were exposed in the area, where there are no outcrops of them at present. Exposition of an ophiolitic complex denotes a suture zone or other tectonic boundary. The discovery of chromian spinels suggests that the Gondwana–Tethys divide is located along the Mae Yuam Fault zone. Both paleontological and tectonic aspects support this conclusion.     

Beach recovery after 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami from Phang-nga, Thailand

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated the coastal areas along the Andaman western coast of Thailand and left unique physical evidence of its impact, including the erosional landforms of the pre-tsunami topography. Here we show the results from monitoring the natural recovery of beach areas at Khuk Khak and Bang Niang tidal channels of Khao Lak area, Phang-nga, Thailand. A series of satellite images before and after the tsunami event was employed for calculating the beach area and locating the position of the changed shoreline. Field surveys to follow-up the development of the post-tsunami beach area were conducted from 2005 to 2007 and the yearly beach profile was measured in 2006. As a result, the scoured beach areas where the tidal channel inlets were located underwent continuous recovery. The return of post-tsunami sediments within the beach zone was either achieved by normal wind and wave processes or during the storm surges in the rainy season. Post-2004 beach sediments were derived mainly from near offshore sources. The present situation of the beach zone has almost completed reversion back to the equilibrium stage and this has occurred within 2 years after the tsunami event. We suggest these results provide a better understanding of the geomorphological process involved in beach recovery after severe erosion such as by tsunami events.     

Lithostratigraphy of Permian marine sequences, Khao Pun Area, central Thailand: Paleoenvironments and tectonic history

Geologic mapping and subsurface lithostratigraphic investigations were carried out in the Khao Pun area (4 km²), central Thailand. More than 250 hand specimens, 70 rock slabs, and 70 thin sections were studied in conjunction with geochemical data in order to elucidate paleoenvironments and tectonic setting of the Permian marine sedimentary sequences. This sedimentary succession (2485 m thick) was re‐accessed and re‐grouped into three lithostratigraphic units, namely, in ascending order, the Phu Phe, Khao Sung and Khao Pun Formations. The Lower to lower Upper Permian sedimentary facies indicated the transgressive/regressive succession of shelf sea/platform environment to pelagic or abyssal environment below the carbonate compensation depth. The sedimentological and paleontological aspects, together with petrochemical and lithological points of view, reveal that the oldest unit might indicate an Early Permian sheltered shallow or lagoonal environment. Then the depositional basin became deeper, as suggested by the prolonged occurrence of bedded chert‐limestone intercalation with the local exposure of shallower carbonate build‐up. Following this, the depositional environment changed to pelagic deposition, as indicated by laminated radiolarian (e.g. Follicucullus sp.) cherts. This cryptic evidence might indicate the abyssal environment during middle Middle to early Late Permian; whereas, previous studies advocated shelf‐facies environments. Following this, the depositional condition might be a major regression on the microcontinent close to Indochina, from the minor transgressive/regressive cycles that developed within a skeletal barrier, and through the lagoon with limited circulational and anaerobic conditions, on to the tidal flat to the sheltered lagoon without effective land‐derived sediments.     

Nature of accretion related to Paleo-Tethys subduction recorded in northern Thailand: Constraints from mélange kinematics and illite crystallinity

We reconstructed the accretion process related to Paleo-Tethys subduction recorded in northern Thailand, based on mélange and thrust structures, and metamorphic temperatures derived from illite crystallinity data. Mélange formation was characterized by hydrofracturing and cataclastic deformation, with mud injection under semi-lithified conditions followed by shear deformation and pressure solution. Illite crystallinity data suggest metamorphic temperatures below 250 °C during mélange formation. The combined structural and metamorphic data indicate that during mélange formation, the accretionary complex related to Paleo-Tethys subduction developed at shallow levels within an accretionary prism. Asymmetric shear fabrics in mélange indicate top-to-south shear. After correction for rotation associated with collision between the Indian and Eurasian continents, the trend of the Paleo-Tethys subduction zone is estimated to have been N80 °E. We conclude that the Paleo-Tethys was subducted northward beneath the Indochina Block from the Permian to Triassic.     

Application of enhanced satellite-borne images to the relationships between fractures and mineralization in the nam Mae moei-nam Mae Ping area,northern Thailand

The study area is located in the Chiang Mai, Tak, and Mae Hong Son provinces of northern Thailand. Digitally enhanced Landsat TM5 and SPOT images and data on economic minerals deposits were used in the investigation. High-pass filtering and principal component analyses were determined to be the most appropriate enhancement methods.Space-borne image interpretation indicates two major faults: the north-trending Mae Hong Son and the northwest-trending Mae Ping. Both large-scale faults are inferred to be closely related to substantial, nearly parallel folds and thrusts. The four main sets of lineaments observed (north-south, northeast-southwest, northwest-southeast, and east-west) are considered to have an essential role in the occurrences of various mineral deposits. Mineral exploration has emphasized areas where several sets of lineaments cross-cut each other, since the possibility of finding concealed ore bodies or potential target areas is considered quite high. Some sets of lineaments probably control post-Triassic granitoid emplacements both directly and indirectly. Three major granitoid series are recognized in the study area: the Mae Lama (ca. 70 Ma), the Tae Song Yang (ca. 45 Ma), and the Mae Sariang (205–210 Ma) Granites. These peraluminous, S-type granites are closely related to tin, tungsten, and fluorite deposits. Fluorite, barite, manganese, and antimony deposits may be related to the northtrending lineaments. Stibnite deposits may be related to the northeast-trending lineaments. The tin/tungsten deposits are likely related to the east- and northwest-trending lineaments. Ovoid-shaped lineaments, found only at a few locations, are interpreted to indicate the granitoid emplacement and are thought to be important in the generation of concealed mineral deposits. We conclude that the existence of such lineaments is related to the post-Triassic abutment and collision of the Shan-Thai, Indochina, and Western Burma microcontinental blocks.     

Lower Permian glacially influenced deposits in Phuket and adjacent islands, peninsular Thailand

It has previously been proposed that the Sibumasu block of Southeast Asia, which contains glaciomarine deposits, became detached from the Gondwana margin during the Early Permian. A combination of facies analysis and the identification of dropstones and dump structures from a Lower Permian diamictite-bearing sequence at Phuket, Thailand, and adjacent islands suggests that the sediments originated as glaciomarine and debris-flow deposits. The Lower Permian diamictite-bearing sequence in the study area corresponds to the Ko Sire and Ko He Formations, both of which consist of three principal lithofacies: diamictite, sandstone, and fine-grained facies. The low-lying Ko Sire Formation is up to 400 m thick and is characterized by laminated mudstone; the presence of dropstones and dump structures associated with Cruziana ichnofacies indicates ice-rafted sedimentation in a glacially influenced offshore area. The Ko Sire Formation is overlain by a diamictite sequence of the Ko He Formation (up to 400 m thick). Poorly and well-stratified diamictites with tabular and lensoidal geometries, in combination with resedimentation textures, indicate that the diamictites within the Ko He Formation are debris-flow deposits. The similar lithology of clasts in the diamictites and dropstones possibly suggests that the debris-flow diamictite was presumably remobilized from pre-existing glacial deposits. The evidence of a glacially influenced offshore environment supports a previously proposed paleogeographic interpretation in which the Sibumasu block was most likely located at the Northwest Australian margin of Gondwana.