Cataclasites along the Saltville thrust,U.S.A. and their implications for thrust-sheet emplacement

Cataclasis and frictional wear are the primary bulk deformation mechanisms along steeply dipping portions of the Saltville thrust in the southern Appalachian foreland zone, U.S.A. Fault character ranges from a single discrete sliding surface with negligible gouge, to a zone of several discrete sliding surfaces or a zone (up to 0.3 m thick) of pervasive cataclasite. Marked fracturing occurs up to 20 m above the fault, whereas minimal deformation is found in the footwall rocks. Hanging wall dolomites range from crush breccias (less than 5% matrix) to ultracataclasites (with 90% matrix), although cataclasites (50–70% matrix) are predominant. Foliated cataclasites occur where dolomite is thrust over shale. Progressive development of cataclastic fabrics is due to comminution by fracturing and grinding along intersecting fractures. Continued frictional grinding results in complete disruption of the original fabric to produce cataclasite and minor ultracataclasite. Grain alignment occurs by rigid body rotation with subsequent local enhancement by pressure-solution. Microstructural relations of the fault gouge suggest periodic fluctuations in fluid pressure, where λ_v (ratio of fluid to overburden pressure) probably ranged between 0.45 and 1. The Saltville thrust-sheet emplacement must have occurred in a caterpillar-like fashion involving aseismic and seismic shear. Shear stresses accompanying fault motion as determined from dolomite twin lamellae are in the order of 65 mPa.     

Theories for the origin of lunar magnetism

This paper reviews the major theories which have been proposed to explain the remanent magnetism found in the lunar crust. A total of nine different mechanisms for lunar magnetism are discussed and evaluated in the light of the theoretical and experimental constraints pertinent to lunar magnetism. We conclude that none of these theories in their present state of development satisfy all the known constraints. However, the theories which agree best with our present understanding of the Moon are meteorite impact magnetization, thermoelectric dynamo field generation, and an early solar wind field.     

Seismic gaps and source zones of recent large earthquakes in coastal Peru

The earthquakes of central coastal Peru occur principally in two distinct zones of shallow earthquake activity that are inland of and parallel to the axis of the Peru Trench. The interface-thrust (IT) zone includes the great thrust-fault earthquakes of 17 October 1966 and 3 October 1974. The coastal-plate interior (CPI) zone includes the great earthquake of 31 May 1970, and is located about 50 km inland of and 30 km deeper than the interface thrust zone. The occurrence of a large earthquake in one zone may not relieve elastic strain in the adjoining zone, thus complicating the application of the seismic gap concept to central coastal Peru. However, recognition of two seismic zones may facilitate detection of seismicity precursory to a large earthquake in a given zone; removal of probable CPI-zone earthquakes from plots of seismicity prior to the 1974 main shock dramatically emphasizes the high seismic activity near the rupture zone of that earthquake in the five years preceding the main shock. Other conclusions on the seismicity of coastal Peru that affect the application of the seismic gap concept to this region are: (1) Aftershocks of the great earthquakes of 1966, 1970, and 1974 occurred in spatially separated clusters. Some clusters may represent distinct small source regions triggered by the main shock rather than delimiting the total extent of main-shock rupture. The uncertainty in the interpretation of aftershock clusters results in corresponding uncertainties in estimates of stress drop and estimates of the dimensions of the seismic gap that has been filled by a major earthquake. (2) Aftershocks of the great thrust-fault earthquakes of 1966 and 1974 generally did not extend seaward as far as the Peru Trench. (3) None of the three great earthquakes produced significant teleseismic activity in the following month in the source regions of the other two earthquakes. The earthquake hypocenters that form the basis of this study were relocated using station adjustments computed by the method of joint hypocenter determination.     

Interannual temperature variability in the United States since 1896

The variability of mean monthly temperatures in the United States since 1896 is examined. The results show that the interannual variability reached a peak in the decade centered on 1930 and decreased fairly steadily to a minimum in the decade centered on 1970. This temporal trend is almost completely explained by changes in the variability of winter (December, January, February) mean monthly temperatures. The greatest percent decrease in variability occurred in the Midwest.     

Monitoring of secular gravity change in southern California

Repeat gravity measurements have been carried out over more than 1000 km of level lines in southern California. The initial surveys over a number of these lines were made in 1962. Repeat gravity survey lines are located primarily in the San Joaquin Valley, in the Los Angeles and Palmdale areas and in the Imperial Valley. Secular changes of gravity have been noted in a number of areas. In areas of subsidence, due to groundwater withdrawal, direct correlation between elevation and gravity change is found. In areas of vertical crustal motion along fault zones, such as in the Palmdale area, gravity changes are also noted. However, these are not, in general, directly related to elevation change. Apparently, subsurface mass redistributions are associated with the vertical motions noted in fault-zone areas before and after earthquakes. Several possible models to explain the gravity observations are being explored.     

Aging and strain softening model for episodic faulting

Episodic slip on shallow crustal faults can be qualitatively explained by postulating a fault constitutive law that is the superposition of two limiting material responses: (1) strain softening after peak stress during large strain rates, and (2) strength (peak stress) recovery during aging at small strain rates. A single law permits a variety of seismic and aseismic phenomena to occur over a range of space and time scales. Specific cases are determined by the spatial variation of material constants, recent deformation history, crustal rigidity, and remote forcing.     

Removal of contaminants from landfill leachates by filtration through glauconitic greensands

Passing landfill leachate through glauconitic greensand filters reduces the heavy metal cation content, lessens the unpleasant odor, and diminishes the murkiness of the leachate. The capability of the greensand to trap metal cations is increased by prolonging the contact time between the leachate and the greensand. Flushing the charged greensand filter with water does not cause significant release of cations back into solution, suggesting that polluted greensand might be disposed of at landfill sites without endangering the quality of either ground or surface water.     

Glauconitic greensand: A possible filter of heavy metal cations from polluted waters

Experiments using distilled water, spiked with heavy metal cations and passed through a filtration system composed of greensand containing 80% glauconite at a rate of 2–4 ml/min, showed: (1) starting fluids containing Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, Ag, or Zn had an average of 90% of the contaminating cation removed from acidic solutions and an average of 84% removed from the basic solutions; and, (2) filtration through greensand tended to neutralize both acidic and basic solutions. The removal of the contaminant cation from starting fluids containing K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Si, or Al (the principal constituents of glauconite plus Ca from shell material) is not as consistently effective as for the first named metals.     

Vibrational structure of the S 2 − luminescence in scapolite

An analysis has been made of the strong yellow luminescence of S ₂ ^? in the silicate mineral scapolite. The emission spectrum is dependent upon excitation wavelength, indicating that S ₂ ^? occupies several different sites. The vibrational constants for the ground state average 609 cm^?1 for ω″₀, while ω″₀χ″₀=2.2cm^?1. For the excited state ω′₀=399cm^?1 and ω′₀χ′₀=1.0cm^?1. The intensities of the vibrational bands are described by a simple harmonic oscillator calculation.     

Movements and population structure of Atlantic menhaden indicated by tag returns

Over 968,000 adult Atlantic menhaden,Brevoortia tyrannus, were tagged from 1967 to 1969 and over 85,000 juvenile menhaden were tagged from 1969 to 1973. Recoveries of these tagged fish through 1975 provide direct evidence that Atlantic menhaden consist of a single population that over-winters in offshore waters off the southeastern coast of the United States, moves northward in spring and stratifies along the coast by age and size during summer, and moves southward in late autumn.