The Tamayo transform fault in the mouth of the Gulf of California

The Tamayo transform fault is located at the north end of the East Pacific Rise where it enters the Gulf of California. This paper presents bathymetric, seismic reflection, magnetic, and gravity data from a detailed survey of the transform fault. The dominant feature of the offset region is a bathymetric ridge trending 120°, parallel to the predicted transform plate boundary. This transform ridge is associated with a large (600 ) positive magnetic anomaly, and a very small positive free-air gravity anomaly. Magnetic and gravity models indicate either a basalt or serpentinite composition for the ridge, but cannot distinguish between these possibilities. At its eastern end, the modern zone of strike-slip motion is in a narrow valley south of the transform ridge. The transform plate margin appears to pass through a saddle in the transform ridge and meet the western spreading center segment in the trough north of the transform ridge. On the basis of this survey and previous work, the history of the Tamayo from continental breakup to the present has been reconstructed. Initial rifting occurred along a trend of 130° at approximately 3.5 m.y.b.p. Once the transform fault was free of the constraints imposed by continent-continent and continent-oceanic lithospheric interaction, the trend of the transform fault rotated counter-clockwise. This rotation resulted in a leaky transform fault and intrusion of a large continuous transform ridge. Further adjustments in the spreading center/transform fault plate boundary configuration have given rise to an incipient zone of rifting cutting across the transform ridge and emplacement of diapiric structures.Contribution of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, new series.     

Volcanic stratigraphy of DSDP/ODP Hole 395A: An interpretation using well-logging data

Deep Sea Drilling Project/Ocean Drilling Program Hole 395A was drilled approximately 500 m deep into young oceanic crust west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Core recovery is very poor in this hole and therefore continuous downhole measurements are important to understand the drilled lithology. Geophysical downhole measurements were carried out during several cruises. A new set of logs was recorded during Leg 174B in summer 1997. The new logging data show a significant improvement in data quality compared to older measurements from Leg 109. The lithostratigraphy established from cores gives only limited information because of the poor core recovery in this hole. The gaps in the core lithostratigraphy are filled by reconstructing a synthetic lithological profile using the standard well-logging data. Three types of lava morphologies, massive basalts, altered lava flows, and pillow basalts, may be distinguished using the logs because the lava morphologies show differences in their physical properties due to differences in fracturing and alteration. The synthetic lithological profile gives a more detailed and precise vertical definition of single layers than the core profile. The integration of further logging and core data enables a detailed reconstruction of the accretion history at the drill site. Cyclic, upward decreasing trends in the resistivity logs were already observed during earlier cruises and were referred to magmatic cycles. Similar trends occur in the density log and, inversely, in the total gamma ray log. The trends reflect gradual changes in fracturing, porosity, permeability, and alteration and cover depth intervals of several tens of meters. Boundaries between cycles are interpreted to correspond to periods of volcanic quiescence. Two types of boundaries may be identified. Boundaries correlating with reversals in the magnetic field and/or changes in the geochemical composition of the basalts are interpreted as long pauses. Basalts separated by these boundaries were probably fed by separate magma reservoirs. Boundaries identified only by changes in alteration but not in geochemistry are interpreted to represent shorter pauses. They separate basalts that were probably fed by the same magma chamber. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The contact binary AE phoenicis — An analysis from deconvoluted spectra

A method is described for an analysis of deconvoluted stellar spectra, and applied to new spectroscopic observations of the close eclipsing system AE Phuenicis, obtained with the 1.52 m telescope of the Southern European Observatory at La Silla, Chile, Results are presented for the rotational velocities of this variable, together with a proposed model of the system.Paper presented at the Lembang-Bamberg IAU Colloquium No. 80 on Double Stars: Physical Properties and Generic Relations, held at Bandung, Indonesia, 3–7 June, 1983.     

Color imaging of Mars by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)

HiRISE has been producing a large number of scientifically useful color products of Mars and other planetary objects. The three broad spectral bands, coupled with the highly sensitive 14 bit detectors and time delay integration, enable detection of subtle color differences. The very high spatial resolution of HiRISE can augment the mineralogic interpretations based on multispectral (THEMIS) and hyperspectral datasets (TES, OMEGA and CRISM) and thereby enable detailed geologic and stratigraphic interpretations at meter scales. In addition to providing some examples of color images and their interpretation, we describe the processing techniques used to produce them and note some of the minor artifacts in the output. We also provide an example of how HiRISE color products can be effectively used to expand mineral and lithologic mapping provided by CRISM data products that are backed by other spectral datasets. The utility of high quality color data for understanding geologic processes on Mars has been one of the major successes of HiRISE.     

HiRISE observations of gas sublimation-driven activity in Mars’ southern polar regions: I. Erosion of the surface

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has imaged the sublimation of Mars’ seasonal CO₂ polar cap with unprecedented detail for one complete martian southern spring. In some areas of the surface, beneath the conformal coating of seasonal ice, radially-organized channels are connected in spidery patterns. The process of formation of this terrain, erosion by gas from subliming seasonal ice, has no earthly analog. The new capabilities (high resolution, color, and stereo images) of HiRISE enable detailed study of this enigmatic terrain. Two sites are analyzed in detail, one within an area expected to have translucent seasonal CO₂ ice, and the other site outside that region. Stereo anaglyphs show that some channels grow larger as they go uphill - implicating gas rather than liquid as the erosive agent. Dark fans of material from the substrate are observed draped over the seasonal ice, and this material collects in thin to thick layers in the channels, possibly choking off gas flow in subsequent years, resulting in inactive crisscrossing shallow channels. In some areas there are very dense networks of channels with similar width and depth, and fewer fans emerging later in the season are observed. Subtle variations in topography affect the channel morphology. A new terminology is proposed for the wide variety of erosional features observed.     

Die tertiäre und quartäre Entwicklung im Bereich der Kufrah-Oasen (Zentrale Sahara) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung aktualistischer Vorgänge

Zusammenfassung Im Verlauf der Oberkreide und des Tertiärs bestand im Bereich der Kufrah-Oasen eine Einebnungstendenz, die mit der Bildung einer Peneplain ihre Vollendung fand. Die Umlagerungsprodukte, nur wenige Meter mächtige Sande und Feinkiese, wurden während einer warmfeuchten Klimaperiode lateritisiert und anschließend unter semiariden Bedingungen zur Eisenkruste I verhärtet. Auf den geringfügig höher gelegenen Iateritfreien Erosionsflächen kam es zur Ausbildung einer Silikatkruste. Ein Wechsel zu feuchterem Klima und eventuelle schwache epirogenetische Hebungen des Gebietes bewirkten eine teilweise Erosion der Silikat- und der Eisenkruste sowie der Sedimente der Nubischen Serie. Dabei entstanden teils brecciöse, teils fanglomeratartige Sedimente, die sowohl auf der Eisenkruste I als auch auf dem mesozoischen Untergrund abgelagert wurden. Erneute Klimaveränderungen führten jetzt zur Laterisierung und Verhärtung der vorliegenden maximal 10–12 m mächtigen Sedimente und zur Entstehung der Eisenkruste II.Eine Tiefenerosion setzte ein, die die bestehende Peneplain in Insel- und Tafelberge auflöste. Eine kurzzeitige Unterbrechung der Erosion im Altquartär begünstigte die Sedimentation von Kiesen und von Grobschutt auf einem ca. 50 m unterhalb der ehemaligen Peneplain gelegenen Niveau. Der Grobschutt wurde ebenfalls lateritisiert zur Eisenkruste III.Eine Analyse des fossilen aquatischen Systems zeigt ein stark verzweigtes Flußsystem, das das gesamte Gebiet der Kufrah-Oasen von SW nach NE entwässerte. Die Erosionsprodukte wurden zum größten Teil abtransportiert. Daher sind nur geringmächtige fluviatile Sedimente erhalten.Mit dem Ende des Pleistozän wurde die aquatische Erosionstätigkeit durch Wechsel von feuchtem zu trockenem Klima mit wenigen Ausnahmen beendet. Es kam zur Ablagerung feinklastischer limnischer Sedimente in lokalen Depressionen, denen äolische Sande zwischengeschaltet wurden. In dieser Übergangsphase bildeten sich Schwemmfächer am Fuße von Schichtstufen und Inselbergen, wobei zum Teil bereits existierende Sanddünen überlagert wurden. Es vollzog sich alternierend ein Wechsel von feuchtem zu trockenem Klima. Der Beginn einer ariden Klimaentwicklung kann in die Zeit um 6000 B. P. gesetzt werden.Die meteorologischen Daten der Station Kufrah seit 1933 zeigen nur noch eine äolische Aktivität als Wechselwirkung von Erosion und Sedimentation an. Reliktflächen sind die Hammada- und Serirflächen; überwiegend Sedimentation findet in der Ausbildung von Dünen und Sandtennen statt. Die Sandtennen sind in multimodale ebene und bimodale undulierende Tennen zu unterteilen. Die Bimodalität ist eine Funktion des selektiven Abtransportes mittlerer Korngrößen und deren Anreicherung als Sanddünen oder Sandanwehungen. Die undulierenden Sandtennen sind daher eine Weiterentwicklung ebener Sandtennen. Dünen existieren in Form von Seif- und Barchandünen oder als eine Kombination aus beiden.Die aktualistischen Vorgänge des vollariden Gebietes der Kufrah-Oasen zeigen eine Tendenz zum erneuten Reliefausgleich durch Deflation und Korrasion exponierter Areale und Sedimentation in Depressionen.

---

During the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary time a tendency of relief deplaning existed in the Kufrah-Oasis area which was completed by the development of a peneplain. The eroded material, sands and gravels of a thickness of only a few meters became lateritic during a period of warm and moist and was hardened to ironcrust I during a semiarid climat. On the slightly higher erosional planes without laterite a silicacrust was developed. A change to a more humid climat and possibly slight epirogenic lifting of the territory brought about an in part erosion of the silicacrust, the ironcrust I and the mesozoic rocks. Thereby breccious and fanglomeratic sediments were deposited and after laterization and hardening the ironcrust LI was formed. An indeep erosion began and disolved the existing peneplain into mesas and inselbergs. A short interruption in the erosional activity during Early Quarternary favoured the sedimentation of coarse grained material which was laterized to ironcrust III. An analysis of the fossil aquatic system shows an extensively branched river system which drained the whole territory of the Kufrah area from SW to NE. The eroded material was flushed away to a great extent, so that only some very thin beds of fluvial sediments still exist. At the close of the Pleistocene the aquatic erosional activity ended by a change from humid to arid climate. Only fine clastic limnic sediments were deposited in some local depressions often alternating with aeolian sands. In this transition period alluvial fans developed on the foot of mesas, in some locations sedimentated on top of already existing-sanddunes. The begin of an arid desert climat can be put at approximately 6 000 years before present.The data of the Kufrah meteorological station since 1933 show the possibility of only aeolic activity in form of mutual erosion and sedimentation. The relic planes are the hammada and serir planes. Sedimentation is responsible for the creation of dunes and sandflats. The sandflats can be differenciated into multimodal even flats and bimodal gently undulating flats. The bimodality is a function of the selective removal of sand grains with distinctive diameters and their accumulation as dunes or sand drifts. The undulating sandflats therefore are a further development of the even sandflats. Dunes exist in form of seifdunes or barchan dunes or as combinations of both types.The actualistic events in the fully arid area of the Kufrah-Oasis again show a tendency towards levelling out of the relief by deflation and corrasion of exposed areas and sedimentation in depressions.

---

Résumé Au cours du Crétacé supérieur et du Tertiaire, dans la région des Oasis de Koufra eut lieu un aplanissement dont la phase finale a abouti à une pénéplaine. Les produits du remaniement, des sables et des graviers de faible puissance, ont été látéritisés pendant une période chaude et humide indurés sous un climat semi-aride en croute ferrugineuse I. Sur les surfaces d'érosion plus élevées sans latérite se développait une croûte siliceuse. Le changement vers un climat plus humide et de faibles soulèvements tectoniques provoquèrent une érosion partielle des croûtes ferrugineuses et siliceuses et des sédiments de la série nubienne. Par ce remaniement se formaient des brèches et des fanglomérats qui se sont sédimentées aussi bien sur la croûte ferrugineuse I que sur le substratum méozoique. Un nouveau changement de climat provoqua la latéritisation et le durcissement des sédiment bréchiques et fanglomératiques la formation de la croûte ferrugineuse II.A la limite Tertiaire/Quaternaire commenca une érosion intense qui façonna la pénéplaine existente en inselbergs et tafelbergs. Une interruption brève de l'érosion au Quaternaire inférieur favorisa la sédimentation de graviers et blocs à un niveau d'à peu près 50 m inférieur à l'ancienne pénéplaine. Les graviers et les blocs ont été latéritisés ensemble pour former la croûte ferrugineuse III.Une anlyse du système hydrographique du Pleistocéne montre que toute la région des oasis de Koufra était drainée vers le Nord, période durant laquelle aucune sédimentation n'a eu lieu. A la fin du Pleitocène le climat changea une nouvelle fois pour devenir plus sec et l'érosion fluviatile se termina. Dans la phase de transition se déposèrent, au pied des corniches et des inselbergs, des éventails alluviaux en alternance avec le sable éolien. Le changement à un climat plus aride peut être daté à peu près 6000 B. P.Les données météorologiques de la station de Koufra, depuis 1933, ne permettent qu'une activité éolienne soit comme sédimentation soit comme érosion. Les surfaces »Hammada« et »Serir« sont des surfaces d'érosion résiduelles. La sédimentation se manifeste sous la forme de dunes et de plaines de sable. Les dunes existent sous forme de barchanes et de seifs; les plaines de sable sont à subdiviser du point de vue de la granulométrie en aires multimodales et en aires ondulées bimodales. La bimodalité est und fonction du transport sélectif des grains moyens.Le processus exogène récent dans la région des oasis de Koufra montre la tendance à un nouvel aplainissement effectué par une déflation et corrasion des terrains en relief et une sédimentation dans les dépressions.

---

, . — — , , 1. , . , , . , , 1, . 10–12 . , , 50 . 3. , -. . . , , . . , . . 6000 . e 1933 . . ; ( ): . , . — . , . .

---

---

Gekürzte Dissertation D 77.