Acquisition and primary processing of geomagnetic pulsations in real time operation by microcomputer

For continuous acquisition and primary processing of short periodic geomagnetic variations at the Adolf Schmidt Observatory Niemegk recording equipment has been put into operation which renders possible a permanent computer controlled observation of pulsations in the framework of geomagnetic observatory tasks. It permits the stepwise replacement of processing analogue paper recordings practised for several years and extends the on line recordings with the process control computer system PRS 4000 carried out up to now on the monthly 3 World Days only. In addition to routine characterization of pulsation activity, especially by use of process control computers for on line primary processing extended investigations on the microstructure of diurnal variations of pc pulsation amplitudes in medium latitudes became possible. Now, these investigations can be significantly enlarged in a permanent observation with problem oriented on line data condensation.     

The nappe structure of the central Northern Calcareous Alps and its disintegration during Miocene tectonic extrusion—a contribution to understanding the orogenic evolution of the Eastern Alps

The classical concept of the nappe structure of the central Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA) is in contradiction with modern stratigraphic, structural, metamorphic and geochronological data. We first perform a palinspastic restoration for the time before Miocene lateral tectonic extrusion, which shows good continuity of structures, facies and diagenetic/metamorphic zones. We present a new nappe concept, in which the Tirolic unit practically takes the whole area of the central NCA and is divided into three subunits (nappes): Lower and Upper Tirolic subunit, separated by the Upper Jurassic Trattberg Thrust, and the metamorphic Ultra-Tirolic unit. The Hallstatt (Iuvavic) nappe(s) formed the highest unit, but were completely destroyed by erosion after nappe stacking. Remnants of the Hallstatt nappes are only represented by components of up to 1 km in size in Middle/Upper Jurassic radiolaritic wildflysch sediments ("Hallstatt Mélange" belonging to the Tirolic unit). Destruction of the continental margin started in Middle to Upper Jurassic time and prograded from the oceanic side towards the shelf. The original substratum of the external nappes (Bavaric units) of the NCA was largely the Austroalpine crystalline basement, of the internal nappes (Tirolic units) the weakly metamorphosed Palaeozoic sequences (Greywacke Zone and equivalents). Eocene movements caused limited internal deformation in the Tirolic unit.     

The eroded Late Jurassic Kurbnesh carbonate platform in the Mirdita Ophiolite Zone of Albania and its bearing on the Jurassic orogeny of the Neotethys realm

Several Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian?-Tithonian) to Early Cretaceous (Late Berriasian-Valanginian) shallow-water carbonate clasts of different facies are contained in mass-flow deposits in a pelagic sequence in the Kurbnesh area of central Albania. These clasts are used to reconstruct shallow-water carbonate platforms, which formed on top of the radiolaritic-ophiolitic wildflysch (ophiolitic mélange) of the Mirdita Zone. Stratigraphic interpretation of the platform carbonates was compiled on basis of calcareous algae, benthic foraminifera, and calpionellids. From biostratigraphic data and microfacies analysis, the Neocomian clasts can be directly correlated with autochthonous platform carbonates of the western part of the Munella carbonate platform, which at least reaches up to the Late Aptian. A Late Jurassic precursor platform (Kurbnesh carbonate platform; nomen novum) was completely eroded until the Valanginian and is only documented by the clasts described here. It was deposited on top of the Mirdita Ophiolite Zone nappe stack, which formed during the Middle to Late Jurassic Kimmeridian orogeny. Thrusting and imbrications as well as the formation of the syntectonic wildflysch (mélange) therefore occurred much earlier than previously assumed. Our results constrain the Kimmeridian orogeny, which was controlled by the closure of the Neotethys Ocean, and show excellent correlation with the Eastalpine-Dinaric- Hellenic orogenic system.     

Conodont colour alteration indices: Palaeotemperatures and metamorphism in the Northern Calcareous Alps — a general view

The middle and eastern parts of the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA) can be subdivided into two distinct units with a lateral boundary marked by abrupt changes in the conodont colour alteration index (CAI-values). The first of these is a northern unit (Tirolikum) with a relatively homogeneous distribution of no or low grade conodont alteration (CAI 1.0–2.0). The thermal overprint is thought to be relatively young and related to a heat flow from the Tauern crystallization. The second unit consists of the Juvavic nappe system (Juvavikum), which is distributed along the southern rim of the NCA but also covers some of the northern parts of the Tirolikum. With respect to its CAI-distribution the Juvavikum is more heterogeneous on a regional and local scale, with some local CAI-inversions. The Juvavikum additionally shows distinctly different sets of CAI-values one with weak (CAI 1.0–1.5) and another with strong alteration (CAI 5.5–7.0) — at present the highest known thermal overprint measured in the NCA. The metamorphism is relatively old as it predates the Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous gravity tectonic emplacement of the Juvavikum onto the Tirolikum. The high CAI-values of parts of the Juvavic nappe system are though to be related to tectonic burial in an accretionary wedge formed parallel to the closure of the Vardar Ocean. The low CAI values of the Tirolikum apparently exclude a direct juxtaposition of the two units at the time of metamorphism.     

Evidence for Jurassic subduction from the Northern Calcareous Alps (Berchtesgaden; Austroalpine,Germany)

The closure of the western part of the Neotethys Ocean started in late Early Jurassic. The Middle to early Late Jurassic contraction is documented in the Berchtesgaden Alps by the migration of trench-like basins formed in front of a propagating thrust belt. Due to ophiolite obduction these basins propagated from the outer shelf area (=Hallstatt realm) to the interior continent (=Hauptdolomit/Dachstein platform realm). The basins were separated by nappe fronts forming structural highs. This scenario mirrors syn-orogenic erosion and deposition in an evolving thrust belt. Active basin formation and nappe thrusting ended around the Oxfordian/Kimmeridgian boundary, followed by the onset of carbonate platforms on structural highs. Starved basins remained between the platforms. Rapid deepening around the Early/Late Tithonian boundary was induced by extension due to mountain uplift and resulted in the reconfiguration of the platforms and basins. Erosion of the uplifted nappe stack including obducted ophiolites resulted in increased sediment supply into the basins and final drowning and demise of the platforms in the Berriasian. The remaining Early Cretaceous foreland basins were filled up by sediments including siliciclastics. The described Jurassic to Early Cretaceous history of the Northern Calcareous Alps accords with the history of the Western Carpathians, the Dinarides, and the Albanides, where (1) age dating of the metamorphic soles prove late Early to Middle Jurassic inneroceanic thrusting followed by late Middle to early Late Jurassic ophiolite obduction, (2) Kimmeridgian to Tithonian shallow-water platforms formed on top of the obducted ophiolites, and (3) latest Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sediments show postorogenic character.