The depositional environment of Mauddud limestone,Greater Burgan oil field,Kuwait

Six microfacies are defined on quantitative petrographic data in a carbonate/clastic sequence from the subsurface, oil producing Mauddud Formation of early Middle Cretaceous age. These are, in descending order of importance and abundance: (1) biomicritic wackestone-packstone, (2) argillaceous mudstone, (3) micritic mudstone, (4) glauconitic sandstone, (5)Orhitolina pelsparitic grainstone, and (6) argillaceous dolomite.Sedimentation took place during a marine transgression onto a very shallow, intertidal, restricted marine shelf lagoons. Facies variations appear to be related to depth and energy changes and proximity to areas of clastic deposition. These changes may have been controlled by slight tectonic events in the hinterland and changes in the rate of basin subsidence.

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Zusammenfassung Auf der Grundlage quantitativer petrographischer Daten werden sechs Mikrofazies in einer karbonat/klastischen Folge aus der unter der ErdoberflÄche liegenden, ölliefernden Mauddud-Formation der frühen Mittelkreide definiert. In absteigender Reihenfolge der Bedeutung und HÄufigkeit sind dieses: (1) biomikritischer wackestone-packstone, (2) toniger Schlickstein, (3) unkritischer Schlickstein, (4) glaukonitischer Sandstein, (5) Orbitolina-führender pelsparitischer Grainstone und (6) toniger Dolomit.Die Sedimentation erfolgte wÄhrend einer marinen Transgression auf sehr flache, intertidale Lagunen eines begrenzten marinen Schelfs. Die Fazies-Variationen scheinen mit den Wechseln in Wassertiefe und Energie sowie der mit NÄhe von Gebieten mit klastischer Sedimentation zusammenzuhÄngen.Diese Wechsel könnten durch kleinere tektonische Ereignisse im Hinterland und durch VerÄnderungen der Absenkungsrate des Beckens ausgelöst worden sein.

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Résumé Des données pétrographiques quantitatives permettent de définir six microfacies dans une série clasto-carbonatée d'âge crétacé inférieur du sous-sol de la région pé trolifère de Mauddud. Ce sont par ordre décroissant d'importance et d'abondance: (1) des wacstones-pacstone biomicritiques; (2) des argilites; (3) des argilites micritiques; (4) des grès glauconitiques; (5) des grainstone pelsparitiques à orbitolines; (6) des dolomies argileuses.La sédimentation se produisit au cours d'une transgression marine dans des lagunes très plates, intercotidales, d'une plate-forme continentale de faible étendue. Les variations de facies semblent Être dues à des changements de profondeur et d'énergie, ainsi qu'à la proximité de régions à sédimentation clastique.Ces changements pourraient résulter de légers mouvements tectoniques dans l'arrière-pays et de variations dans le degré de subsidence du bassin de sédimentation.

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Geochemical and mineralogical evidence for the occurrence of at least three distinct magma types in the ‘famous’ region

Bulk rock major and trace element variations in selected basalts from the Famous area, in conjunction with a detailed study of the chemical compositions of phenocryst minerals and associated melt inclusions are used to place constraints on the genetic relationship among the various lava types. The distribution of NiO in olivine and Cr-spinel phenocrysts distinguishes the picritic basalts, plagioclase phyric basalts and plagioclase-pyroxene basalts from the olivine basalts. For a given Mg/Mg+Fe²⁺ atomic ratio of the mineral, the NiO content of these phenocrysts in the former three basalt types is low relative to that in the phenocrysts in the olivine basalts. The Zr/Nb ratio of the lavas similarly distinguishes the olivine basalts from the plagioclase phyric and plagioclase pyroxene basalts and, in addition, distinguishes the picritic basalts from the other basalt types. These differences indicate that the different magma groups could not have been processed through the same magma chamber, and preclude any direct inter-relationship via open or closed system fractional crystallization.The Fe-Mg partitioning between olivine and host rock suggests that the picritic basalts represent olivine (±Cr-spinel) enriched magmas, derived from a less MgO rich parental magma. The partitioning of Fe and Mg between olivine, Cr-spinel and coexisting liquid is used to predict a primary magma composition parental to the picritic basalts. This magma is characterized by relatively high MgO (12.3%) and CaO (12.6%) and low FeO^* (7.96%) and TiO₂ (0.63%).Least squares calculations indicate that the plagioclase phyric basalts are related to the plagioclase-pyroxene basalts by plagioclase and minor clinopyroxene and olivine accumulation. The compositional variations within the olivine basalts can be accounted for by fractionation of plagioclase, clinopyroxene and olivine in an open system, steady state, magma chamber in the average proportions 453223. It is suggested that the most primitive olivine basalts can be derived from a pristine mantle composition by approximately 17% equilibrium partial melting. Although distinguished by its higher Zr/Nb ratio and lower NiO content of phenocryst phases, the magma parental to the picritic basalts can be derived from a similar source composition by approximately 27% equilibrium partial melting. It is suggested that the parental magma to the plagioclase-pyroxene and plagioclase phyric basalts might have been derived from greater depth resulting in the fractionation of the Zr/Nb ratio by equilibration with residual garnet.C.O.B. Contribution No. 722     

Vegetation east of the rocky mountains 18,000 years ago

The various lobes and segments of the southern periphery of the Laurentide ice sheet reached their maximum extension at different times between 21,000 and 14,000 yr ago, but the CLIMAP date of 18,000 yr ago is taken as a reference level to review the distribution of major vegetational formations in central and eastern United States. Tundra was apparently confined to a narrow belt peripheral to the ice margin only in the Minnesota area and from northern Pennsylvania to New England, with extensions down the crest of the Appalachian Highlands at least as far as Maryland. Some areas south of the Great Lakes may later have been marked by treeless vegetation briefly as the ice retreated. The boreal forest to the south in the central United States was dominated by spruce; the jack pine that had prevailed during previous times was apparently eliminated by the time the ice reached its maximum. In the Appalachian Highlands and the Atlantic Coastal Plain, however, jack pine occurred along with spruce, which decreased in importance southward. The southern limit of the boreal forest in the Southeast was perhaps somewhere in southern Georgia and Alabama. Oak and other temperate deciduous trees were minor components of the boreal coniferous forests especially in the southern Appalacchians, but there is no evidence yet in the southeastern states for a relic mixed mesophytic forest 18,000 yr ago similar to the rich modern deciduous forests of the region, except possibly in the Lower Mississippi Valley. The climate in much of the Southeast was apparently dry as well as cool at that time; in Florida oak/pine scrub and prairie-like openings prevailed, and all but the deepest lakes dried up.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy: A suggested approach to trace metal analysis in marine environments

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy analysis of marine samples from different environments appears to differentiate between adsorbed and structural Mn (II) and Fe (III) sites in the sediment. This suggests that EPR may provide a means of distinguishing different environmental influences on sediment. Acid extract solutions from sediment samples exhibit clearly defined EPR spectra due to Mn(II), Ti(III), Fe(III), and VO(IV), which are amenable to qualitative and quantitative analysis at concentrations below one part per million. Spectra of several shellfish vary considerably, both between species, and within a species, depending on sampling localities. Resonances from Mn(II), Mo(V), and Fe(III) can be obtained. Mn(II) is substituted for Ca(II) in the calcite structure of some shells. The low detection limits, small sample size, required and identification of oxidation states by EPR complement other analytical techniques and may prove useful in marine systems.     

Experimental duplication of a high-pressure megacryst/cumulate assemblage in a near-saturated hawaiite

The occurrence of corroded megacrysts and cumulates of olivine, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, plagioclase, ilmenite and apatite in near-saturated hawaiites from the mid-north coast of New South Wales point to the derivation of these hawaiites at elevated pressures. In an experimental study on one of these hawaiites under conditions ranging from 5–15 kb and 0–5% H₂O, orthopyroxene was identified in only one run with 2% H₂O at 1040° C and 6.5 kb. In this run it was associated with olivine, clinopyroxene and Fe-Ti oxide. The early appearance of plagioclase in the “dry” experimental runs and amphibole in runs with 5% H₂O, indicates that the water content in the natural hawaiite was intermediate to these values. The near-duplication of the natural megacryst-cumulate assemblage suggests that the hawaiite host precipitated these phases at a depth of approximately 20–24 km, prior to rapid eruption to higher crustal levels.     

Crustal structure from deep seismic soundings along the Koyna II (Kelsi-Loni) profile in the Deccan Trap area, India

The crustal depth section obtained from deep seismic soundings along the Koyna II (Kelsi-Loni) profile, which lies near latitude 18°N roughly in the east-west direction in that part of the Deccan Trap Maharashtra State, India, shows a number of reflection segments below the Deccan Traps down to the Moho discontinuity. A deep fault below the Deccan Traps 13 km east of Mahad divides the entire cross-section including the Moho boundary into two crustal blocks. The reflection segments show updip towards the west coast in the western block. The Moho discontinuity which is at a depth of 39 km near the deep fault starts rising towards the coast, reaching a depth of 31.5 km at the west coast. The eastern block is thrown up by 1.5 km with respect to the western block along the deep fault. A structural contour map of the Moho discontinuity for the Koyna reservoir area has been prepared from the present results and the crustal information obtained along the Koyna I profile (Kaila et al., 1979a), shows that the deep fault in the Koyna area is aligned in the NNW-SSE direction.Refraction seismic data analysis by the wave front method reveals that the thickness of the Deccan Trap increases towards the west coast. The Deccan Trap is 600–700 m thick in the eastern region between Nira (SP 130) and Loni (SP 200) and attains a thickness of 1500 m at 10 km east of the west coast. The longitudinal wave velocity in the Deccan Traps along the profile varies from 4.8 to 5.0 km/sec and in the crystalline basement from 6.0 to 6.15 km/sec. A tentative isopach contour map of the Deccan Traps and a tentative structural contour map of the Pre-Deccan Trap contact have been prepared for the Koyna reservoir area from the results along the Koyna II and Koyna I profiles. A flexure aligned in a NNW-SSE direction, in the Pre-Deccan Trap contact, which is an expression of the deep fault into the basement, has been clearly brought out. The flexure coincides in general with the orientation of the Deccan volcanic scarp in this area.     

An internal variable model for the creep of rocksalt

Summary The creep strain rate of rocksalt, like that of other ductile crystalline materials, can be described by a power law equation of the type ( ) ⁿ , where the active stress is the difference between the total deviatoric applied stress and an internal stress _i . In this paper, the origin and the nature of this internal stress, which develops during inelastic deformation of the material, are discussed. It is shown that this internal stress can serve as an internal (or state) variable in the constitutive model of rocksalt, which reflects the microstructure evolution of the material under the competitive action of hardening and recovery mechanisms.An analysis of experimental data, both our own and those taken from the literature, demonstrates that such a law is able to correctly reproduce rocksalt creep test results in the steady-state domain. The proposed model is in accordance with the macroscopic and microscopic behavior of salt, and with direct measurements of the internal stresses made by others on this material.     

Chemical characteristics and genesis of the quartz-feldspathic rocks in the Archean crust of Greenland

A total of 108 samples of meta-tonalites, metagranodiorites, granites and meta-tholeiites representing groups of Early to Late Archean age and different metamorphic history from SW and SE Greenland have been analyzed for Ca, K and 28 trace elements. There is no systematic change of the chemical composition with age observable. The results support petrologic experiments which suggest that tonalites and granodiorites (the most abundant rocks of the Archean crust) are partial melting products of a mafic lower crust. Modelling suggest that this crust consisted of garnet amphibolite derived from a source with a bulk composition resembling a slightly enriched rather than depleted mantle. The Ce_N/Yb_N ratio is above 10 in the majority of tonalites. Most samples have no Eu anomaly because of a balanced contribution from the minerals of a mafic rock (or a plagioclase-free source). The positive Eu anomaly of some granodiorites and of a minor proportion of tonalites can be explained as being caused by plagioclase accumulation during differentiation or by partial melting of plagioclase-rich fractions. Modelling with Zn excludes an origin of tonalitic melts by differentiation of basaltic to dioritic magmas. The Archean meta-diorites, meta-tonalites and meta-granodiorites from Greenland have generally lost some K and S relative to their suggested magmatic protoliths. Loss of Rb, Tl, Pb and K and relative gain of Ca, Sr, Ba and Sc connected with granulitization of meta-tonalites can be explained in the majority of cases by separation of about 25 percent granitic partial melt. High K/Rb, K/Pb, Zn/Cd and Nb/Th ratios of granulites plus low ratios of granites are almost in balance with intermediate ratios of amphibolite-facies tonalites. Retrogression of granulites into amphibolites was accompanied by introduction of Pb, Tl, Rb, Ba, Sr and K from Na-Cl-rich brines circulating on fractures. A comparison of the abundance of 24 elements (characterized by different compatibility) in the Archean crust of Greenland with the present bulk crust reflects only minor changes (Th, Nb) if at-all in the chemical composition of the continental crust since the Archean.