Identification of lateral discontinuities via multi‐offset phase analysis of surface wave data

Surface wave methods are based on the inversion of observed Rayleigh wave phase‐velocity dispersion curves. The goal is to estimate mainly the shear‐wave velocity profile of the investigated site. The model used for the interpretation is 1D, hence results obtained wherever lateral variations are present cannot be considered reliable. In this paper, we study four synthetic models, all with a lateral heterogeneity. When we process the entire corresponding seismograms with traditional f‐k approach, the resulting 1D profiles are representative of the subsurface properties averaged over the whole length of the receivers lines. These results show that classical analysis disregards evidences of sharp lateral velocity changes even when they show up in the raw seismograms. In our research, we implement and test over the same synthetic models, a novel robust automated method to check the appropriateness of 1D model assumption and locate the discontinuities. This new approach is a development of the recent multi‐offset phase analysis with the following further advantages: it does not need previous noise evaluation and more than one shot. Only once the discontinuities are clearly identified, we confidently perform classical f‐k dispersion curve extraction and inversion separately on both sides of the discontinuity. Thus the final results, obtained by putting side by side the 1D profiles, are correct 2D reconstructions of the discontinuous S‐wave distributions obtained without any additional ad‐hoc hypotheses.     

Frequency‐dependent multi‐offset phase analysis of surface waves: an example of high‐resolution characterization of a riparian aquifer

Multi‐offset phase analysis of seismic surface waves is an established technique for the extraction of dispersion curves with high spatial resolution and, consequently, for the investigation of the subsurface in terms of shear wave velocity distribution. However, field applications are rarely documented in the published literature. In this paper, we discuss an implementation of the multi‐offset phase analysis consisting of the estimation of the Rayleigh wave velocity by means of a moving window with a frequency‐dependent length. This allows maximizing the lateral resolution at high frequencies while warranting stability at the lower frequencies. In this way, we can retrieve the shallow lateral variability with high accuracy and, at the same time, obtain a robust surface‐wave velocity measurement at depth. In this paper, we apply this methodology to a dataset collected for hydrogeophysical purposes and compare the inversion results with those obtained by using refraction seismics and electrical resistivity tomography. The surface‐wave results are in good agreement with those provided by the other methods and demonstrate a superior capability in retrieving both lateral and vertical velocity variations, including inversions. Our results are further corroborated by the lithological information from a borehole drilled on the acquisition line. The availability of multi‐offset phase analysis data also allows disentangling a fairly complex interpretation of the other geophysical results.     

Italian accelerometric archive: geological, geophysical and geotechnical investigations at strong-motion stations

Geological, geophysical and geotechnical investigations, for the characterization of the strong-motion recording sites managed by the Italian Civil Protection, have been carried out in the framework of the project “Italian strong-motion database in the period 1972–2004”. The project aimed at creating an updated database of strong-motion data acquired in Italy by different institutions in the time span 1972–2004, and at improving the quality of disseminated data. This article illustrates the state of the recording site characterization before the beginning of the project, explains the criteria adopted to select the sites where geophysical/geotechnical investigation have been performed and describes the results of the promoted field surveys.     

Genesis of amethyst geodes in basaltic rocks of the Serra Geral Formation (Ametista do Sul,Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil): a fluid inclusion,REE, oxygen,carbon, and Sr isotope study on basalt,quartz, and calcite

In the Ametista do Sul area, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, amethyst-bearing geodes are hosted by a ~40- to 50-m-thick subhorizontal high-Ti basaltic lava flow of the Lower Cretaceous Paraná Continental Flood Basalt Province. The typically spherical cap-shaped, sometimes vertically elongated geodes display an outer rim of celadonite followed inwards by agate and colorless and finally amethystine quartz. Calcite formed throughout the whole crystallization sequence, but most commonly as very late euhedral crystals, sometimes with gypsum, in the central cavity. Fluid inclusions in colorless quartz and amethyst are predominantly monophase and contain an aqueous liquid. Two-phase liquid–vapor inclusions are rare. Some with a consistent degree of fill homogenize into the liquid between 95 and 98 °C. Ice-melting temperatures in the absence of a vapor phase between –4 and +4 °C indicate low salinities. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of calcites are highly variable and show generally no systematic correlation with the paragenetic sequence. The oxygen isotope composition of calcites is very homogeneous (δ¹⁸O_VSMOW=24.9±1.1‰, n=34) indicating crystallization temperatures of less than 100 °C. Carbon isotope values of calcites show a considerable variation ranging from –18.7 to –2.9‰ (VPDB). The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of calcites varies between 0.706 and 0.708 and is more radiogenic than that of the host basalt (~0.705). The most likely source of silica, calcium, carbon, and minor elements in the infill of the geodes is the highly reactive interstitial glass of the host basalts leached by gas-poor aqueous solutions of meteoric origin ascending from the locally artesian Botucatú aquifer system in the footwall of the volcanic sequence. The genesis of amethyst geodes in basalts at Ametista do Sul, Brazil, is thus considered as a two-stage process with an early magmatic protogeode formation and a late, low temperature infill of the cavity. Editorial handling: A. Cheilletz     

Ein Vergleich der Ergebnisse von A. Bianchi und F. Karl über die granitischen Gesteine des Zillertales und des Großvenedigers (Hohe Tauern)

Zusammenfassung Es wurde in einem Vergleichsreferat zwischen den Untersuchungsergebnissen vonA. Bianchi (1934) undF. Karl (1959) an den granitischen Gesteinen des Zillertal- und Großvenedigerbereiches (Hohe Tauern) und dem Tonalitmassiv des Rieserferner gezeigt, daß sich die Beobachtungen und Teilergebnisse vonBianchi trotz unterschiedlicher genetischer Auswertung gut in das Gesamtbild vonKarl einordnen lassen. Wichtig ist dafür, daß die Mehraktigkeit der alpidischen Orogenese für die Beurteilung des Verhältnisses zwischen Kristallisation und Deformation berücksichtigt wird und daß aus der zusammengefaßten Gesteinsgruppe der granodioritischen, schichtigen oder massigen Orthogneise mit normaler Biotit-reicher Facies tonalitisierte Paragneise (nachKarl Tonalitische Gneise) abgetrennt werden. Für die petrochemischen Vergleiche wurden alle interessierenden AnalysenBianchis auf Kationoxydprozente (Eskola) verrechnet und in vergleichbaren Verhältniszahlen gegenübergestellt.Mit 4 Textabbildungen     

The stability of the equilibrium of supermassive and superdense stars

The second variation of the mass-energy (by constant baryon number) is analysed to inquire into the stability of the equilibrium for a spherical mass under the action of its own gravitation. The equations of general relativity are used. For zero density at the surface, the sphere is stable if (and only if) a solution of a second order equation (Jacobi equation) has only one zero in the interior (at center) of the sphere. The results obtained in this way coincide of course with those obtained by means of the Chandrasekhar-Misner-Zapolsky variational principle, but the solution of the Jacobi equation is more simple and straightforward. In particular, the stability of the several modes are analysed without making any choice of a trial function for the Lagrangian displacement.The method is applied to the GrattonR-polytropic model of supermassive stars.Work done in the Laboratorio Astrofisico, Frascati-Roma, Italy.     

On a static criterion for the stability of the equilibrium

In a previous paper the stability of the equilibrium of an isentropic spherically symmetric relativistic star has been related to the existence inside the configuration of the zeros of a functionu. This function, which is a solution of a differential equation, appears there as a pure mathematical tool. Nevertheless it is susceptible of a physical interpretation which is drawn out in the present work. This interpretation allows an inquiry into the relation between the above static condition and the well-known dynamic criterion stated by Chandrasekhar and by Misner and Zapolsky on the stability of the equilibrium.Work done in the Laboratorio Astrofisico di Frascati, Roma, Italy.     

Can pseudotachylytes be used to infer earthquake source parameters? An example of limitations in the study of exhumed faults

Tectonic pseudotachylytes might be used to constrain earthquake source parameters, such as dynamic shear stress resistance, average dynamic friction and slip-weakening distance. Estimation of dynamic shear stress resistance and dynamic friction from field studies is based on the assumption that the volume of melt produced during coseismic slip is proportional to the frictional work converted to heat on the fault surface. Conditions conducive to a realistic estimate of dynamic shear resistance are: (i) the presence of large outcrop exposures that allow for estimation of the volume of pseudotachylyte; (ii) the presence of structural markers offset by faults in order to relate the displacement accommodated by the fault with the volume of melt produced; (iii) data that provide an estimate of the initial melt temperature; and (iv) determination of host-rock temperature and pressure conditions that may have existed during seismic faulting. An independent indication that steady-state friction in the presence of melts might be achieved during coseismic slip arises from the dependence of the fractal dimension of the fault profile (intersection of the fault surface with the outcrop surface) with displacement. This relation could also indicate the slip-weakening distance (Hirose, T., Shimamoto, T., 2003. Fractal dimension of molten surfaces as a possible parameter to infer the slip-weakening distance of faults from natural pseudotachylytes. Journal of Structural Geology 25, 1569–1574).The above conditions are all satisfied in the case of the Gole Larghe Fault Zone, which consists of hundreds subparallel strike-slip faults that cut tonalites of the Adamello batholith (Italy). The thickness of pseudotachylyte-bearing faults increases with displacement. From displacement/thickness ratios and energy balance calculations, we determined the dynamic shear resistance for several pseudotachylyte-bearing faults. In the same faults, the fractal dimension of the fault profile increases from 1.0 to 1.16 with displacement. This was also observed in experiments where steady-state friction in the presence of melt was achieved (Hirose, T., Shimamoto, T., 2003. Fractal dimension of molten surfaces as a possible parameter to infer the slip-weakening distance of faults from natural pseudotachylytes. Journal of Structural Geology 25, 1569–1574). However, we will show that the estimate of the dynamic shear stress resistance, average dynamic friction and slip-weakening distance in the studied faults is limited by the uncertainties to attribute the measured displacement to a single seismic rupture. Since many pseudotachylytes in the upper seismogenic crust overprint preexisting cataclasites, it is suggested that future field and experimental work should be addressed to determine microstructural indicators (i.e. evolution of cataclastic fabric with displacement) within cataclasites, which might constrain the contribution of the cataclastic, pre-pseudotachylyte displacement to the total displacement accommodated by the fault.     

Occurrence and breakdown of paragonite and margarite in the Greiner Schiefer Series (Zillerthal Alps,Tyrol)

Margarite and Paragonite are found coexisting in amphibolites of the Untere Schieferhülle in the area of the upper Schlegeistal (Zillerthal Alps, Northern Tyrol). These amphibolites are metamorphosed under conditions of the low grade amphibolite facies. The chemical composition of the two micas was determined by the electron microprobe. A maximum of 14 Mol-% margarite and 18 Mol-% muscovite enters into the paragonite, the margarite being entered by 20 to 50 Mol-% paragonite and a maximum of 10 Mol-% muscovite. There seems to be a solubility gap between margarite and paragonite in a range between 15 and 50 Mol-% margarite.At their margins the margarites and paragonites breakdown into a mixture of feldspar and into a fine, microscopically not identifiable phase. Plagioclases having An 28 to An 42 result from breakdown of paragonite, feldspars between An 50 and An 60 probably arose from breakdown of margarite. A definite statement on this probelem is not possible because the smallness and the inhomogeneity of the feldspar grains.Based on the experimental data concerning the stability of margarite, paragonite (±quartz, ±CO₂) and kyanite, the P-T-range of the metamorphosis is discussed.     

Mikrosondenuntersuchungen an ankeritisch entmischten Calciten aus den mittleren Zillertaler Alpen

Zusammenfassung Mit der Mikrosonde wurde die Zusammensetzung von Matrix und Entmischungen der Karbonate der regionalmetamorphen Gneisund Glimmerschieferserien der mittleren Zillertaler Alpen (Tirol, Österreich) untersucht. Die Matrix besteht aus einem fast reinen Calcit, die Entmischungen haben ankeritische Zusammensetzung. Die Entmischungen enthalten doppelt so viel Mangan wie die Matrix. Die Strontiumgehalte von Matrix und Entmischungen zeigen keine gesetzmäßigen Beziehungen.

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A microprobe study on calcites with ankeritic exolutions from the central Zillertal Alps

The chemical composition of carbonates with fine-grained exsolutions from a series of regionally metamorphosed rockes of the Zillertal Alps (Tyrol, Austria) have been studied by the electron microprobe. The matrix is nearly pure calcite, the exsoluted phase ankerite. The exsoluted ankerite contains twice as much manganese as the calcitic matrix. The Sr-contents of matrix and exsoluted calcite show no correlation.