Magneto- and biostratigraphy of the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary in the Lókút section (transdanubian range,Hungary)

Jurassic-Cretaceous sediments of Transdanubian Range in Northern Hungary mostly retain their primary magnetizations and are suitable for detailed bio- and magnetostratigraphic studies. The Lókút section, 13 m in thickness, is localized in the central part of the Transdanubian Range. It contains the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary in pelagic carbonate facies. Although the colour of the rocks changes from reddish-pinkish in the bottom to almost white at the top of the section, magnetite was identified as a magnetic carrier without evidence of hematite. Integrated bio- and magnetostratigraphical investigations resulted in construction of chronostratigraphical scheme. The section, embraces magnetozones from M21r to M18r, of upper Lower Tithonian (Parastomiosphaera malmica Zone) to Lower Berriasian age (Calpionella alpina Subzone). Sedimentation rate of pelagic limestones increased from 1–3 m/My during Tithonian to 5–7 m/My during Berriasian. The sedimentation rate and its changes up the section are comparable to those from the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary sections of Trento plateau (Southern Alps, Italy) — sedimentary environments of Trento plateau and central Transdanubian Range in that time might be similar. Sedimentation rate within Umbrian Apennine basins and Križna unit in the Western Tatra Mts. seems significantly higher. Analysis of rock magnetic parameters reveals that detrital input was much lower into the Lókút section than into Križna basin in the Tatra Mts. (Zliechov trough). Increase of sedimentation rate occurs in both sections in the Upper Tithonian — Lower Berriasian. It coincides with the onset of calpionellid limestone facies and is related to increased productivity of calcareous micro- and nannoplankton. Detailed correlation of both sections basing on rock magnetic parameters and susceptibility changes is, however, not possible. They are dependent mostly on the local sedimentary conditions (Bakony Mts. — deep water plateau; Križna unit — deep water trough) and correlation with any “global” paleoenvironmental (climatic, eustatic) trends is not straightforward.     

New Methods for Modeling Laterolog Resistivity Corrections

The paper presents methods for laterolog response modeling. In Coulomb’s charges method, Laplace’s equation is solved for the electric field distribution in rock medium with internal boundaries between different resistivity layers. There, the boundary problem is reduced to Fred-holm integral equation of the second kind. The second method uses a finite element array to model apparent resistivity from laterolog. The task is treated as DC problem and the Laplace equation is solved numerically. The presented methods were applied to borehole data covering a typical stratigraphie section of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline in southwestern Poland. Apparent resistivity was calculated using the Coulomb’s charges method and alternatively modeled using a finite element method which gave similar results. Then, a series of linear corrections for borehole, shoulder bed, and filtration effects for apparent resistivity obtained by the Coulomb’s charges method demonstrated the feasibility of calculating true resistivity of virgin and invaded zones. The proposed methods provide a flexible solution in modeling which can be adapted to other logs.     

Effects of the stellar wind on X-ray spectra of Cygnus X-3

We study X-ray spectra of Cyg X-3 from BeppoSAX , taking into account absorption and emission in the strong stellar wind of its companion. We find the intrinsic X-ray spectra are well modelled by disc blackbody emission, its upscattering by hot electrons with a hybrid distribution, and by Compton reflection. These spectra are strongly modified by absorption and reprocessing in the stellar wind, which we model using the photoionization code cloudy . The form of the observed spectra implies the wind is composed of two phases. A hot tenuous plasma containing most of the wind mass is required to account for the observed features of very strongly ionized Fe. Small dense cool clumps filling ≲0.01 of the volume are required to absorb the soft X-ray excess, which is emitted by the hot phase but not present in the data. The total mass-loss rate is found to be  (0.6–1.6) × 10⁻⁵ M_⊙ yr⁻¹  . We also discuss the feasibility of the continuum model dominated by Compton reflection, which we find to best describe our data. The intrinsic luminosities of our models suggest that the compact object is a black hole.     

Seismic velocity estimation from post-critical wide-angle reflections in layered structures

The travel time inversion of wide-angle seismic data is a technique commonly used in the deep seismic sounding. We propose an application of this technique to a smaller scale of a sedimentary layer, where the characteristics of seismic observations changes significantly. Field observations confirmed by synthetic analysis recognize the dominant amplitudes of wide-angle post-critical reflections. A case study is presented in this paper, of a joint interpretation of conventional reflection seismic with reflection imaging, combined with the wide-angle travel time inversion of additional full-spread observations. A joint interpretation results in a precise recognition of the seismic velocity distribution, that is further used for the seismic depth conversion with the uncertainty analysis of the depth of the reflecting horizons. Despite the salt layer in the studied structure this method is able to precisely recognize the seismic velocities of the sub-salt structures.     

On accuracy of prediction of pre-failure deformations of granular soils

The problem of accuracy of predictions of pre-failure deformations of granular soils is considered. Firstly, the deterministic incremental equations describing qualitative character of such deformations are presented. These equations are based on extensive experimental data, obtained from the tri-axial compression tests. The parameters appearing in the incremental equations are assumed as random numbers, characterized by their mean values and standard deviations. The normal probability distribution is assumed. Then, such a model is applied to predict strains caused by some simple deterministic stress paths. The incremental equations are integrated for a large number of random coefficients, generated by a computer program. The final results are presented as either paths or points in the strain space, and respective density of probability distribution is calculated. The proposed method and results obtained show, that in mechanics of granular media we cannot expect “a good agreement” between predictions of theoretical models and experimental results, but only a kind of agreement measured by probability. The results presented should be important for both theoretical modellers and experimentalists.     

Shallow-generated damage within non-planar strike-slip fault zones: role of sedimentary rocks in slip accommodation,SW Holy Cross Mountains,Poland

International Journal of Earth Sciences - We investigated exhumed damage zones of dextral strike-slip faults dissecting the south-western part of the Mesozoic cover of the Late Palaeozoic Holy...     

Diffraction by plane sectors and polygons

Time-domain theory of edge and edge-and-vertex diffraction is briefly reviewed and its applications to diffraction by polygons, pyramids and curved reflectors are discussed. The time-domain theory is based on canonical functions defined in terms of inverse trigonometric and algebraic functions, which ensures its numerical efficiency.     

An algorithm for the optimum distribution of a regional seismic network—I

Summary An algorithm for the optimum distribution of any number of regional seismic stations is formulated. The information needed from a given region is the relative distribution of seismic intensity and the travel times of seismic waves used in earthquake location procedure. To define the optimum distribution of a regional network, some generalization of D-planning (minimization of the ellipsoid volume of earthquake location errors) was applied. The D-optimum criterion is generalized for a case where equations describing the process are nonlinear and when the most probable values of the sought parameters (origin time and earthquake focus coordinates) are not known.As an example of the algorithm application, the optimum distribution of seismic stations in the central district of the Lublin Coal Basin in Poland is given.