Near-vertical seismic reflection image using a novel acquisition technique across the Vrancea Zone and Foscani Basin, south-eastern Carpathians (Romania)

The DACIA PLAN (Danube and Carpathian Integrated Action on Process in the Lithosphere and Neotectonics) deep seismic sounding survey was performed in August–September 2001 in south-eastern Romania, at the same time as the regional deep refraction seismic survey VRANCEA 2001. The main goal of the experiment was to obtain new information on the deep structure of the external Carpathians nappes and the architecture of Tertiary/Quaternary basins developed within and adjacent to the seismically-active Vrancea zone, including the Focsani Basin. The seismic reflection line had a WNW–ESE orientation, running from internal East Carpathians units, across the mountainous south-eastern Carpathians, and the foreland Focsani Basin towards the Danube Delta. There were 131 shot points along the profile, with about 1 km spacing, and data were recorded with stand-alone RefTek-125s (also known as “Texans”), supplied by the University Texas at El Paso and the PASSCAL Institute. The entire line was recorded in three deployments, using about 340 receivers in the first deployment and 640 receivers in each of the other two deployments. The resulting deep seismic reflection stacks, processed to 20 s along the entire profile and to 10 s in the eastern Focsani Basin, are presented here. The regional architecture of the latter, interpreted in the context of abundant independent constraint from exploration seismic and subsurface data, is well imaged. Image quality within and beneath the thrust belt is of much poorer quality. Nevertheless, there is good evidence to suggest that a thick (10 km) sedimentary basin having the structure of a graben and of indeterminate age underlies the westernmost part of the Focsani Basin, in the depth range 10–25 km. Most of the crustal depth seismicity observed in the Vrancea zone (as opposed to the more intense upper mantle seismicity) appears to be associated with this sedimentary basin. The sedimentary successions within this basin and other horizons visible further to the west, beneath the Carpathian nappes, suggest that the geometry of the Neogene and recent uplift observed in the Vrancea zone, likely coupled with contemporaneous rapid subsidence in the foreland, is detached from deeper levels of the crust at about 10 km depth. The Moho lies at a depth of about 40 km along the profile, its poor expression in the reflection stack being strengthened by independent estimates from the refraction data. Given the apparent thickness of the (meta)sedimentary supracrustal units, the crystalline crust beneath this area is quite thin (< 20 km) supporting the hypothesis that there may have been delamination of (lower) continental crust in this area involved in the evolution of the seismic Vrancea zone.     

Geochemistry and evolution of the fanos granite,N. Greece

Summary The Fanos granite, a Jurassic pluton composed of high silica fine- to coarse-grained leucogranites, is associated with and intrudes the Mesozoic Guevgueli ophiolitic complex. Discriminant diagrams indicate a collision related plate tectonic environment for the rocks studied. They are peraluminous with calc-alkaline affinities. Major and trace element behaviour suggest a fractional crystallization process for the evolution of the Fanos granite. Petrographic calculations, based on major elements, require 32% crystal accumulation mainly of plagioclase, K-feldspar and biotite for a direct model, while for a two-step model 21% and 14% crystal cumulate is required for the first and the second step respectively.

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Geochemie und Entwicklungsgeschichte des Fanos-Granites, N-Griechenland

Zusammenfassung Der jurassische Fanos-Granit ist ein fein- bis grobkörniger Leukogranit mit hohem Silikatanteil. Er ist mit dem mesozoischen Ophiolithkomplex von Guevgueli, mit dem er in instrusivem Kontakt steht, verknüpft.Diskriminierungsdiagramme weisen darauf hin, dab die untersuchten Gesteine im Zuge kollisions-tektonischer Prozesse gebildet wurden. Die untersuchten peraluminösen Gesteine folgen einem kalkalkalischen Trend. Die Haupt- und Spurenelementverteilungen belegen eine fraktionierte Kristallisation des Fanos-Granites. Einfache Mischungsmodell-Berechnungen, die mittels der Hauptelemente erstellt wurden, ergeben eine 32 %ige Kristallakkumulation von vorwiegend Plagioklas, Kalifeldspat und Biotit. Eine Zweistufenmodell-Berechnung ergab eine 21- beziehungsweise 14 %ige Kristallakkumulation für die erste und zweite Stufe.

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With 6 Figures     

大型现场室内两用直剪仪研制（Ⅱ）：试验测试

利用新近研制的大型现场室内两用直剪仪，对两种不同性质的砂样进行了剪切试验。在对干砂的直接剪切试验特性进行综述的基础上，从多方面对该大型直剪仪得出的干砂剪切试验数据进行了分析验证，结果表明该大型直剪仪得出的试验数据一致性好、可靠性较高，说明该大型直剪仪的基本剪切性能稳定，可进一步应用于相关岩土材料的试验研究。     

The estuarine clamRangia cuneata as a biomonitor of dioxins and furans in the Neches River,Taylor Bayou,and Fence Lake,Texas

Polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were measured in the tissues of the estuarine clamRangia cuneata at four sites in the Neches River that had been subjected to paper mill effluent and at two remote sites. One of the river samplings was taken before dioxin control measures and another 2 yr after the control measures began. Measurable concentrations of PCDD/Fs were present at all sites, but higher concentrations were present at the Neches River sites. Whole tissue concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD) and all PCDD congeners for the two collections were not significantly different (p>0.05), but lipid-normalized concentrations for the two collections were significantly different (p<0.05). Highest concentrations of PCDDs at sites located 8 km and 16 km upriver from the paper mill effluent outfall indicated that the materials were transported upriver by saltwater intrusion and/or that nonpoint sources existed upriver. The presences of PCDD/Fs in clam tissues from the remote sites also indicated that other sources of these materials existed. Even under extreme physiological conditions (spent reproductive phase, low lipid contents, water temperature 10°C; ripe reproductive phase, high lipids, water temperature 32°C)Rangia cuneata was an effective biomonitor to determine the distribution of PCDD/Fs at specific sites. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY069 00021     

Dynamic link between the level of ductile crustal flow and style of normal faulting of brittle crust

In a rheologically layered crust, compositional layers have an upper, elasto-plastic part and a lower, viscous one. When broken, the upper elastic part undergoes flexure, which is upward for the foot-wall and downward for the hanging wall. As a consequence of bending, stresses will develop locally that can overcome the strength of the plate and, therefore, impose the migration of active fault. In the lower, viscous part of each compositional layer, rocks can potentially flow. Numerical modelling of the behaviour of a crust made up of two compositional layers, during and following extension, shows that flow can take place not only in the lower crust but also, and more importantly, in the lower part of the upper crust. The ability of crustal rocks to flow influences the style and kinematics of rifted regions. When no flow occurs, subsidence will affect the extending areas, both hanging wall and foot-wall will subside with respect to an absolute reference frame such as sea level, and there will be a strict proportionality between extension and thinning. In addition, the downward movement of the fault blocks will decrease the local stresses created in the foot-wall and increase those of the hanging wall, thereby imposing a migration of fault towards the hanging wall. This is the behaviour of extensional settings developed on stabilised crust and which evolved in a passive margin. When flow does take place, middle crustal rocks will move towards the rifting zone causing isostatically driven upward movements that will be superimposed on movements associated with crustal and lithospheric thinning. Consequently, fault blocks will move upwards and the crust will show more extension than thinning. The upward movements will decrease the stresses developed in the hanging walls and increase those of the foot-wall. Faults will then migrate towards the foot-wall. Such a mode of deformation is expected in regions with thickened crust and has its most apparent expression in core complexes.     

Hydrogeochemical processes and quality assessment of groundwater in Dumka and Jamtara districts, Jharkhand, India

The hydrogeochemical study of groundwater in Dumka and Jamtara districts has been carried out to assess the major ion chemistry, hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality for domestic and irrigation uses. Thirty groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, anions (F^?, Cl^?, NO₃ ^?, HCO₃ ^?, SO₄ ^2?) and cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺). The analytical results show the faintly alkaline nature of water and dominance of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ in cationic and HCO₃ ^? and Cl^? in anionic abundance. The concentrations of alkaline earth metals (Ca²⁺?+?Mg²⁺) exceed the alkali metals (Na⁺?+?K⁺) and HCO₃ ^? dominates over SO₄ ^2??+?Cl^? concentrations in the majority of the groundwater samples. Ca?CMg?CHCO₃ is the dominant hydrogeochemical facies in 60?% of the groundwater samples, while 33?% samples occur as a mixed chemical character of Ca?CMg?CCl hydrogeochemical facies. The water chemistry is largely controlled by rock weathering and ion exchange processes with secondary contribution from anthropogenic sources. The inter-elemental correlations and factor and cluster analysis of hydro-geochemical database suggest combined influence of carbonate and silicate weathering on solute acquisition processes. For quality assessment, analyzed parameter values were compared with Indian and WHO water quality standards. In majority of the samples, the analyzed parameters are well within the desirable limits and water is potable for drinking purposes. Total hardness and concentrations of TDS, Cl^?, NO₃ ^? _, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ exceed the desirable limits at a few sites, however, except NO₃ ^? all these values were below the highest permissible limits. The calculated parameters such as sodium adsorption ratio, percent sodium (%Na) and residual sodium carbonate revealed excellent to good quality of groundwater for agricultural purposes, except at few sites where salinity and magnesium hazard (MH) values exceeds the prescribed limits and demands special management.     

Ocean model derived global surface circulation and Vertical velocity

In this article, the authors examine Sea surface temperature (SST), Sea surface circulation (SSC) and Vertical velocity (VV) fields from simulation of 25 layers coarse resolution Modular ocean model (MOM version 3.0) with prescribed wind forcing for the region 74.25°S to 65°N, 180°W-180°E. It is found that distribution of SST simulated by the model shows its consistency with the observed climatology. However, simulated SST in the areas of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) region and east of North America near equator exhibit slight warming with respect to observation, which may be due to model deficiency and forcing problems. Circulation features suggest that one of the strongest current viz. Antarctic circumpolar current (ACC) along with other major current systems viz. Gulf stream current, North and South Pacific current, Agulhas current, Labrador current, Canary current, etc are captured well by the model. In the Indian Ocean and other ocean basins, current patterns are well captured by the model simulation. Intense upwelling as well as downwelling areas is marked in the horizontal distribution of VV, which is as expected. VV show quasi-stagnant and convergent regions suggesting that floating materials may be accumulated during January/July in the real ocean and wind driven circulation may act as an important contribution for such transport of floating materials in these regions. An attempt has also been made to understand the fluctuations of the SST in NINO 3.4 region during the period of model simulation using SST anomalies.     

Response of a subtropical estuarine marsh to local climatic change in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico

We examined the contrasting, effects of floods and droughts produced by large changes in local climatology on vegetation patterns in Nueces marsh, a semi-arid subtropical salt marsh in south Texas from 1995 to 2005. Climate variations during the study included an initial 4-yr period of moderate conditions, followed by a 2-yr interval of drought, and a recent 4-yr wet period that included large-scale floods. Variation in freshwater inflow, rainfall, and potential evapotranspiration were used in conjunction with field measurements of salinity, inorganic nitrogen, and vegetation structure collected at sites located at varying distances from Nueces Bay. Tidal creek salinities varied with Nueces Bay salinity, with strength of effect inversely related to distance from the bay. Mean (±standard deviation) pore water salinities ranged from 59±54‰ at two high, marsh stations farthest from the bay (10.1 km distant) to 30±21‰ in soil at a low marsh site closest to the bay (0.5 km distant). Mean pore water ammonium was also higher at stations most distant from the bay; nitrate + nitrite did not exhibit a high marsh to low marsh gradient. Nueces Bay salinity decreased substantially when the 10-d cumulative mean daily Nueces River flows exceeded 10 m³ s⁻¹. During periods of low and moderate flood frequency (flows mostly below 10 m³ s⁻¹), vegetation assemblages were dominated by stress-tolerant clonal plants. A catastrophic flood, which immersed vegetation for several weeks between July and September 2002, resulted in extensive plant mortality, but within months, unvegetated areas were rapidly colonized by the obligate annualSalicornia bigelovii. With the end of major flooding by late 2004, plant community structure began a return to pre-drought assemblages at high and middle marsh stations by summer 2005. At the low marsh station, new conditions favored clonal dominants (Spartina alterniflora andBorrichia frutescens), with the latter replacingSalicornia virginica as the dominant species. Our results support the theory that the importance of competition and abiotic stress in determining community composition are inversely related.     

Geology of the Pedwardine district,Herefordshire and Powys

The stratigraphy of the Pedwardine inlier of Precambrian (Longmyndian), Tremadoc, and what are now shown to be upper Llandovery rocks is described. The inlier is surrounded by Silurian rocks, including upper Llandovery (two very small areas), Wenlock, Ludlow and Přídolí (Red Downton Formation). The Ludlow rocks provide a distal record of the mass movement recorded more fully in the Wigmore Rolls area to the east. The Pedwardine area lies along the Church Stretton Fault Zone. Though ill-exposed, it shows evidence of the history of faulting, including thrusting. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The dip equator over Peninsular India and its secular movement

A ground geomagnetic survey conducted in peninsular India has demarkated the dip equator for the epoch 1991.0. A well-defined southward migration in the last two decades is evident. The secular trend in the vertical component and the direction of the migration in the India zone are shown to be consistent. The migratory movement of the dip equator in different longitude sectors is compared to highlight the complex nature of the secular trends.