238U-206Pb, 235U-207Pb,systematics on Pyrenean basement

U-Pb ages for zircons of pyreneean gneisses and associated granites are comparable to whole rock Rb-Sr ages of 580, 320 m.y. and recent. Inherited radiogenic Pb in the granites limits the dating accuracy but points out an important contribution of crustal material in their formation.     

Analysis of the seismicity in the central part of the Pyrenees (France), and tectonic implications

Two temporary seismological networks have been set up in 2000 and 2002 in the central part of the Pyrenees, in a region, which appears as a transition between two domains where both the seismic activity and the tectonic regime are different. Together with the permanent networks, they allowed us to obtain precise hypocenter locations for more than 400 events with local magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 4.6, as well as 30 new focal mechanisms. The seismicity is distributed in several clusters, which are not located along the North Pyrenean Fault, considered as the major tectonic accident resulting from the suture of the Iberian and Eurasian convergent plates when the range formed. Several small fault segments dipping to the north are identified. The maximum focal depth varies from 10 to 20 km, with variations which are roughly parallel to those of the Moho, indicating a thickening of the seismogenic layer to the east of the studied area. The obtained focal solutions reveal a predominance of normal faulting to the West and reverse faulting to the East, with strike-slip motions in between. The largest fault segment to the East, with a length of about 20 km, could possibly be related to a large historical event which occurred in 1660, with intensity IX, close to cities which have become since then important touristic centres.     

Assimilation of continental crust by komatiites in the Precambrian basement of the Carswell structure (Saskatchewan,Canada)

The isotope geochemistry (Sm-Nd, Pb-Pb and Rb-Sr) of mafic gneisses from the basement of the Carswell structure (Saskatchewan, Canada), rich both in Mg and incompatible elements (K, Rb, REE) has been investigated. A good Sm-Nd alignment gives a slope corresponding to an age of 3.7 Ga. However, comparison with major elements data strongly suggests that this alignment is a mixing line between Mg-rich, high CaO/Al₂O₃ magmas and the local felsic crust older than 2.9 Ga. The mafic magmas were probably of komatiitic affinity (MgO > 20 percent) but, nevertheless, were extracted from a source with nearly chondritic to slightly enriched light REE distribution. The age of the komatiite emplacement (1.9–2.9 Ga) is only loosely constrained by the oldest crustal residence age in the series and the subsequent metamorphic events. The granulite facies climax is dated at ca. 1.9 Ga by concordant whole rock Pb-Pb and Sm-Nd garnet-whole rock isochrons. The Rb-Sr systematics have been disturbed by later event(s) younger than 1.5–1.7 Ga, but do not permit a more precise assessment of the perturbation age.     

The seismological picture of the inner core: structure and rotation

This paper presents a review of recent results concerning the structure and the rotation of the inner core, as inferred from seismological observations. We first focus on the apparent hemispherical pattern of the inner core structure, observed in both the anisotropy and the heterogeneity of the uppermost layers, whereas isotropic velocities seem to be homogeneous in a broad wavelength domain. Then we present results on the radial variations of the attenuation and its possible anisotropy, for which viscoelasticity and wave scattering provide complementary explanations. Linked to these results is a discussion about the detection of the PKJKP phase, which propagates as S-wave inside the inner core. Finally, the seismological observations of a possible inner core rotation are discussed; recent results seem to favour rotation rates below 0.2° yr^?1.     

Attenuation of Rayleigh waves across the volcanic area of the Massif Central,France

Rayleigh wave attenuation is investigated for periods ranging from 20 to 90 s, along a 450 km-long profile following the Oligocene tensile zone of the French Massif Central. A model is deduced by inversion, assuming that the S-wave intrinsic quality factor Q_β is frequency-independent, and yields a mean value Q_β = 43 ± 10 for the first 100 km in the upper mantle. This value, far lower than the mean value obtained in Eurasia, is close to those obtained in other recent tensile areas, e.g., the western United States or mid-oceanic ridges.A velocity-depth model for S-waves, deduced in a previous study from surface-wave propagation, has been corrected for the attenuation effect. We find a discrepancy between the corrected S-model and P-wave residuals in the same area, implying that Q_β must be frequency-dependent. This can be a clue for partial melting in the upper mantle beneath this region.     

Chemical and biological characterization of particles by flow cytometry in the Krka estuary, Croatia

Flow cytometry was used to characterize suspended particles in the Krka estuary (Croatia). This technique allows a rapid characterization and quantification of individual particles; it is based on the simultaneous measurement of the light scatter and natural or induced fluorescence. The relative size of the particles was determined by light scatter signals and by a calibration with fluorescent beads.The determination of organic particles was carried out by staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The autofluorescence of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and phycoerythrin) present in the phytoplankton population was measured. The carbohydrates (galactose and glucose-mannose) were stained by lectins conjugated to FITC. The abundance of organic coatings or mineral particles and detritus was obtained from the difference between the total number of particles stained by specific carbohydrate fluorochromes and living cells.Results show that the Krka estuary is characterized by the occurrence of very small particles. About 80% of suspended particles are organic, most of these particles being living cells. The only exception is the Guduca River, a small tributary.     

Enregistrements sismologiques de l'explosion sur le site de l'usine AZF (Toulouse,France)Seismological records of an explosion at the AZF chemical complex in Toulouse,France

This study presents a detailed analysis of the seismic records of a strong explosion that occurred on 21 September 2001 at a chemical complex located south of Toulouse, France, and provoked important damages. The explosion, which is equivalent to a 3.4 magnitude earthquake, has been recorded at most of the stations of the National Seismological Network, as well as at a station under test at the ‘Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées’, 4.2 km away from the epicentre. The main seismic phases are interpreted using the known crustal structures, and a modelling with synthetic seismograms is performed. To cite this article: A. Souriau et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 155–161.