Seismic lamination and anisotropy of the Lower Continental Crust

Seismic lamination in the lower crust associated with marked anisotropy has been observed at various locations. Three of these locations were investigated by specially designed experiments in the near vertical and in the wide-angle range, that is the Urach and the Black Forrest area, both belonging to the Moldanubian, a collapsed Variscan terrane in southern Germany, and in the Donbas Basin, a rift inside the East European (Ukrainian) craton. In these three cases, a firm relationship between lower crust seismic lamination and anisotropy is found. There are more cases of lower-crustal lamination and anisotropy, e.g. from the Basin and Range province (western US) and from central Tibet, not revealed by seismic wide-angle measurements, but by teleseismic receiver function studies with a P–S conversion at the Moho. Other cases of lamination and anisotropy are from exhumed lower crustal rocks in Calabria (southern Italy), and Val Sesia and Val Strona (Ivrea area, Northern Italy). We demonstrate that rocks in the lower continental crust, apart from differing in composition, differ from the upper mantle both in terms of seismic lamination (observed in the near-vertical range) and in the type of anisotropy. Compared to upper mantle rocks exhibiting mainly orthorhombic symmetry, the symmetry of the rocks constituting the lower crust is either axial or orthorhombic and basically a result of preferred crystallographic orientation of major minerals (biotite, muscovite, hornblende). We argue that the generation of seismic lamination and anisotropy in the lower crust is a consequence of the same tectonic process, that is, ductile deformation in a warm and low-viscosity lower crust. This process takes place preferably in areas of extension. Heterogeneous rock units are formed that are generally felsic in composition, but that contain intercalations of mafic intrusions. The latter have acted as heat sources and provide the necessary seismic impedance contrasts. The observed seismic anisotropy is attributed to lattice preferred orientation (LPO) of major minerals, in particular of mica and hornblende, but also of olivine. A transversely isotropic symmetry system, such as expected for sub-horizontal layering, is found in only half of the field studies. Azimuthal anisotropy is encountered in the rest of the cases. This indicates differences in the horizontal components of tectonic strain, which finally give rise to differences in the evolution of the rock fabric.     

Zur Tektonik im westlichen Fichtelgebirge

Zusammenfassung Es wird zu einigen tektonischen Problemen im westlichen Fichtelgebirge (Gradabteilungsblätter Weidenberg und Ebnath) Stellung genommen, wobei andere Deutungsmöglichkeiten zur Diskussion gestellt werden. Vor allem wird eine schichtparallele Verschieferung einer älteren Schiefrigkeit abgelehnt und das Umlaufen der Schieferung am SW-Rand des Fichtelgebirges durch sekundäre Kippungen erklärt.

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The author expresses his opinion on some tectonic problems in the western Fichtelgebirge (Topographical maps: Gradabteilungsblätter Weidenberg und Ebnath).He proposes different ways of interpretation. Above all he rejects that an older schistosity became again foliated parallel to the strata, and he ascribes the bending of the schistosity on the south-west border of the Fichtelgebirge to secundary tilts.

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Résumé L'auteur critique quelques problèmes tectoniques qui se posent à l'ouest du Fichtelgebirge. (Tebles topographiques: Gradabteilungsblätter Weidenberg und Ebnath). Il indique d'autres interprétations possibles. Avant tout il réfute qu'une ancienne schistosité au sud-ouest du Fichtelgebirge est attribuée à un basculement secondaire.

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Fichtelgebirge. .

     

Structure proof and significance of stereoisomeric 28,30-bisnorhopanes in petroleum and petroleum source rocks

Two C₂₈H₄₈-pentacyclic triterpanes were isolated from Monterey shale. X-ray crystallography of a crystal containing both compounds proved their structures as 17β,18α,21α(H)-28,30-bisnorhopane and 17β,18α,21β(H)-28,30-bisnorhopane. Several differences are found between 28,30-bisnorhopanes and the regular hopanes. Unlike the regular hopane epimers, for practical purposes the three epimeric 28,30-bisnorhopanes [17α,21β(H)-, 17β,21α(H)-, and 17β,21β(H)-]cannot be distinguished by their mass spectra. Special conditions are needed to separate them by gas chromatography. The diagenetically first-formed epimer is thought to be 17α,21β(H)- because it predominates in immature shales. The order of thermodynamic stability is 17β,2lα(H) < > 17α,21β(H) > 17β,21β(H), and all three epimers are present in petroleum. 25,28,30-Trisnorhopanes can be analyzed in similar fashion and are found to have similar thermodynamic characteristics. The percent of the ring D/E cis epimer of 28,30-bisnorhopane and/or 25,28,30-trisnorhopane is a useful maturation parameter similar to the 20S/20R sterane ratio. Evidence indicates 25-demethylation of 28,30-bisnorhopane to 25,28,30-trisnorhopane during advanced stages of biodegradation. Hence, percent ring $\text{D}\text{E}$cis 25,28,30-trisnorhopane has an application to maturation assessment in heavily biodegraded oils.     

Influence of plastic fines content on the liquefaction susceptibility of sands: monotonic loading

Acta Geotechnica - The paper presents an experimental study on the effect of plastic fines content on the undrained behavior and liquefaction susceptibility of sand–fines mixtures under...     

Yaxcopoil-1 and the Chicxulub impact

CSDP core Yaxcopoil-1 was drilled to a depth of 1,511 m within the Chicxulub crater. An organic-rich marly limestone near the base of the hole (1,495 to 1,452 m) was deposited in an open marine shelf environment during the latest Cenomanian (uppermost Rotalipora cushmani zone). The overlying sequence of limestones, dolomites and anhydrites (1,495 to 894 m) indicates deposition in various carbonate platform environments (e.g., sabkhas, lagoons). A 100-m-thick suevite breccia (894–794 m) identifies the Chicxulub impact event. Above the suevite breccia is a dolomitic limestone with planktic foraminiferal assemblages indicative of Plummerita hantkeninoides zone CF1, which spans the last 300 ky of the Maastrichtian. An erosional surface 50 cm above the breccia/dolomite contact marks the K/T boundary and a hiatus. Limestones above this contact contain the first Tertiary planktic foraminifera indicative of an upper P. eugubina zone P1a(2) age. Another hiatus 7 cm upsection separates zone P1a(2) and hemipelagic limestones of planktic foraminiferal Zone P1c. Planktic foraminiferal assemblages of Zone Plc to P3b age are present from a depth of 794.04 up to 775 m. The Cretaceous carbonate sequence appears to be autochthonous, with a stratigraphic sequence comparable to late Cretaceous sediments known from outside the Chicxulub crater in northern and southern Yucatan, including the late Cenomanian organic-rich marly limestone. There is no evidence that these sediments represent crater infill due to megablocks sliding into the crater, such as major disruption of sediments, chaotic changes in lithology, overturned or deep dipping megablocks, major mechanical fragmentation, shock or thermal alteration, or ductile deformation. Breccia units that are intercalated in the carbonate platform sequence are intraformational in origin (e.g., dissolution of evaporites) and dykes are rare. Major disturbances of strata by the impact therefore appear to have been confined to within less than 60 km from the proposed impact center. Yaxcopoil-1 may be located outside the collapsed transient crater cavity, either on the upper end of an elevated and tilted horst of the terrace zone, or even outside the annular crater cavity. The Chicxulub site thus records a large impact that predates the K/T boundary impact and mass extinction.     

Künstliche Geländefärbung als Beispiel für „physikalische Katalyse”

Zusammenfassung Die Erhöhung bzw. Verminderung der Strahlungsabsorption und-reflexion durch farbändernde Oberflächenschichten ist ein physikalisches Analogon zur positiven bzw. negativen Katalyse. Die Konsequenzen einer Farbänderung unter verschiedenen äußeren Bedingungen lassen sich durch Vergleich mit gewissen Grenzfällen charakterisieren.Die Verdunstungsverluste des Feuchtigkeitsgehalts von dunklem Erdboden ließen sich durch Weißbestäubung auf die Hälfte reduzieren. Für die mit abnehmender Schichtdicke zunehmende zusätzliche Heiz- bzw. Kühlleistung pro Farbgewicht gibt es bei gegebener Strahlungsintensität einen materialabhängigen oberen Grenzwert. Die von der färbenden Schicht im Laufe ihrer mittleren Lebensdauer zusätzlich in Wärme verwandelte bzw. daran verhinderte Energie betrug bei unseren Versuchen pro Gewichtsaufwand ein Vielfaches der mit chemischen Umsetzungen verbundenen Energien.

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Summary Increase or decrease of radiation absorption and reflection by change of colour of the superficial layers is considered as a physically analogous case of positive or negative catalysis. The consequences of a colour change under different external conditions can be characterized by comparison with certain boundary cases. Losses of moisture content of dark soil by evaporation could be reduced to the half by covering the surface with white dust. There exists a material dependent upper boundary value of the additional heating or cooling effect per weight unit of colour increasing with decreasing thickness of the layer. With our experiments, the energy additionally transformed into heat or prevented from being transformed into heat by the colouring layer in the course of its life amounted, per unit of weight, to many times the multiple of the energies connected with chemical conversions.

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Résumé L'accroissement et la diminution du pouvoir absorbant et réflexif de couches superficielles changeant de couleur est un phénomène analogue à la catalyse resp. positive et négative. On peut caractériser les conséquences d'un changement de couleur sous différentes conditions extérieures par une comparaison avec certains cas limites.Les pertes d'humidité par évaporation d'un sol sombre ont pu être réduites de moitié par aspersion de poussières blanches. Lorsqu'une couche de couleur diminuant d'épaisseur voit augmenter son pouvoir chauffant ou réfrigérant par unité de poids de couleur, il existe pour une intensité donnée de rayonnement une valeur limite supérieure dépendant de la substance. L'énergie supplémentaire transformée en chaleur, ou celle qui n'a pu l'être, par la couche de couleur au cours de sa vie moyenne s'est élevée dans nos essais à un multiple de celle qui résulte de transformations chimiques, par unité de poids.

     

Catabolic and anabolic energy for chemolithoautotrophs in deep-sea hydrothermal systems hosted in different rock types

Active deep-sea hydrothermal vents are hosted by a range of different rock types, including basalt, peridotite, and felsic rocks. The associated hydrothermal fluids exhibit substantial chemical variability, which is largely attributable to compositional differences among the underlying host rocks. Numerical models were used to evaluate the energetics of seven inorganic redox reactions (potential catabolisms of chemolithoautotrophs) and numerous biomolecule synthesis reactions (anabolism) in a representative sampling of these systems, where chemical gradients are established by mixing hydrothermal fluid with seawater. The wide ranging fluid compositions dictate demonstrable differences in Gibbs energies (ΔG_r) of these catabolic and anabolic reactions in three peridotite-hosted, six basalt-hosted, one troctolite-basalt hybrid, and two felsic rock-hosted systems. In peridotite-hosted systems at low to moderate temperatures (<∼45 °C) and high seawater:hydrothermal fluid (SW:HF) mixing ratios (>10), hydrogen oxidation yields the most catabolic energy, but the oxidation of methane, ferrous iron, and sulfide can also be moderately exergonic. At higher temperatures, and consequent SW:HF mixing ratios <10, anaerobic processes dominate the energy landscape; sulfate reduction and methanogenesis are more exergonic than any of the aerobic respiration reactions. By comparison, in the basalt-hosted and felsic rock-hosted systems, sulfide oxidation was the predominant catabolic energy source at all temperatures (and SW:HF ratios) considered. The energetics of catabolism at the troctolite-basalt hybrid system were intermediate to these extremes. Reaction energetics for anabolism in chemolithoautotrophs—represented here by the synthesis of amino acids, nucleotides, fatty acids, saccharides, and amines—were generally most favorable at moderate temperatures (22-32 °C) and corresponding SW:HF mixing ratios (∼15). In peridotite-hosted and the troctolite-basalt hybrid systems, ΔG_r for primary biomass synthesis yielded up to ∼900 J per g dry cell mass. The energetics of anabolism in basalt- and felsic rock-hosted systems were far less favorable. The results suggest that in peridotite-hosted (and troctolite-basalt hybrid) systems, compared with their basalt (and felsic rock) counterparts, microbial catabolic strategies—and consequently variations in microbial phylotypes—may be far more diverse and some biomass synthesis may yield energy rather than imposing a high energetic cost.     

Floodplain Residents' Preferences for Water Level Management Options in Flood Control Projects in Bangladesh

A maximum difference conjoint (MDC) model was part of a questionnaire toassess floodplain residents' preferences for the outcomes of water level managementinside an enclosed embankment system on the left bank of the Dhaleswari River, calledthe Compartmentalization Pilot Project (CPP)-Tangail. The outcomes were described as(a) varied flood depths in the rice field, (b) incidence of flooding on the courtyard andinside homes, (c) changes in floodplain and culture fisheries, and (d) varied conditionsof drainage congestion. Following a standard survey, the respondents from inside andoutside a completed section of the compartment (Cluster 1b) were shown profiles of these flood management outcomes and were asked to indicate for each profile the one most preferred and the one least preferred item. The results of the study indicated that the respondents had a clear preference for preventing flooding of their homes and courtyards and for an ideal water depth of 2 ft in the aman rice fields. At the same time, they also showed a strong concern about malfunctioning of sluices and to a lesser extent about the changes in the fish habitat. The successful application of the MDC as an approach to model tradeoffs among rural residents of Bangladesh shows that a relatively complex quantitative survey method, incorporating choice cards as pictograms, can be applied successfully even in a developing country.     

Lippmann Diagrams: Theory and Application to Carbonate Systems

Since 1980 when F. Lippmann's seminal paper appeared, ourunderstanding of solubility equilibria involving ionic solidsolutions has been advanced by theoretical considerations as wellas careful experimental studies designed to determine excess Gibbsfunctions. A unified theory of solid-solution aqueous-solutionequilibria as well as the thermodynamic background of thephenomenon of ``stoichiometric saturation' are reviewed.It is shown that Lippmann diagrams effectively summarize thethermodynamic basis of solid-solute aqueous-solution equilibria ofsparingly soluble metal carbonate systems. Clearly, the predictivepower of these diagrams may be limited due to kineticrestrictions. Only when dissolution and precipitation areessentially reversible, favourable conditions to synthesizehomogeneous solid phases can be derived from studies of equilibria.     

A cross-border regional earthquake early warning system: PRESTo@CE3RN

Since 2002 the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS) in Udine (Italy), the Agencija Republike Slovenije za Okolje (ARSO) in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and the Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik (ZAMG) in Vienna (Austria), are collecting, analyzing, archiving and exchanging seismic data in real time, initially in the framework of the EU Interreg IIIa Italia-Austria project “Trans-national seismological networks in the South-Eastern Alps”. As outcome of the successful cooperation, in the 2013 OGS, ARSO and ZAMG decided to officially merge their seismic monitoring efforts into the “Central and Eastern European Earthquake Research Network—CE³RN”. This work reports the results of a nine-month real-time test of the earthquake early warning (EEW) algorithm probabilistic and evolutionary early warning system carried out at the CE³RN. The study allowed identifying the actions to be implemented in order to let the CE³RN become in the next future an efficient cross-border EEW system.