Rare Earth Elements in Hydrothermally Altered Granitic Rocks in the Ranong and Takua Pa Tin‐Field,Southern Thailand

Geochemical studies were conducted on the hydrothermally altered granitic rocks in the Ranong and Takua Pa tin‐fields in southern Thailand in order to investigate the mode of occurrence of REE (rare earth elements), with emphasis placed on a potential REE resource associated with granitic rocks in the Southeast Asian Tin Belt. The total REE (ΣREE) content of altered granitic rocks ranges from 130 to 350 ppm at Haad Son Paen (which is presently mined for kaolin clay) in the Ranong tin‐field, and that of altered granitic rocks and kaolinite veinlets reaches up to 424 ppm and 872 ppm, respectively, at Nok Hook in the Takua Pa tin‐field. Rare earth elements in the altered granitic rocks and kaolinite veinlets show a relatively flat chondrite‐normalized pattern, thus enriched in heavy REE compared with the original granitic rocks and their weathered crusts. At Nok Hook (Takua Pa), the ΣREE content of kaolinite separated from an altered granitic rock by elutriation is 1313 ppm, a ΣREE amount about four times higher than that of whole‐rock composition of the altered granitic rock. Chondrite‐normalized REE patterns of the elutriated kaolinite and of the altered granite are relatively flat. Sequential extraction experiments suggest that 41 and 85 percent of REE are present as ion exchangeable‐form in the altered granitic rock, and in the kaolinite veinlets, respectively. In addition, more than 90% of REE in the kaolinite veinlets are present as the acid‐soluble state. On the other hand, the ΣREE content of kaolinite veinlets and of the kaolinite concentrated by elutriation from an altered granitic rock at Haad Som Paen (Ranong) is 70 ppm and 75 ppm, respectively, thus enrichment of REE in kaolinite was not confirmed. In addition, by the sequential extraction experiments, 23% and 4% of REE were extracted from the altered granitic rock and the kaolinite veinlets at Haad Som Paen. In the altered granitic rocks at Haad Som Paen, REE are present as refractory phases, and REE in the acid‐soluble states had been leached by hydrothermal fluid.     

Investigation of influence of tunneling on existing building and tunnel: model tests and numerical simulations

To investigate the realistic ground behavior during tunneling, a new device has been developed. With the new device, model tests of tunnel excavation considering an existing tunnel and an existing building were carried out. Non-linear finite element analyses corresponding to the model tests were also conducted using FEMtij-2D software where an elastoplastic subloading t _ij model was used to describe the mechanical behavior of soil. Earth pressure distribution around the tunnels and ground movements during tunnel excavation depend on the distance and position between the twin tunnels. There is a significant effect of tunneling on the existing foundation of building even in the case where the tunnel is constructed in deep underground. The numerical analyses capture well the results of the model tests.     

Characteristics of coastal-trapped waves induced by typhoon along the southeast coast of Honshu,Japan

Mooring observations using ADCP, electromagnetic current meters and thermometers were performed to clarify the vertical and horizontal structure of coastal-trapped waves (CTWs) on continental shelf and slope on the eastern side of Sagami Bay, Japan, in August and September 2003. A strong inflow associated with CTW caused by Typhoon 0315 (CTW15) was observed with remarkable downwelling. The maximum current due to CTW15 was over 100 cm s⁻¹, confined to the upper layer shallower than 90 m. The CTW (CTW10) induced by Typhoon 0310, was associated with the coastal upwelling and maximum outflow was 33 cm s⁻¹; the currents were extended near the bottom at 230 m depth. Remarkable discrepancies were found between the current structures of CTWs. CTW15 was explained by superposing the second CTW mode on the first CTW mode, whereas CTW10 was explained by the first CTW mode. The generation and propagation processes of both CTWs were reproduced by numerical experiments using a three-dimensional level model. The model results indicated that the difference of modal characteristics between CTW15 and CTW10 already exists in the CTW generation region and are due to difference of the wind direction, i.e., the typhoon’s path.     

Seismotectonics of the Median Tectonic Line in southwest Japan: Implications for coupling among major fault systems

The relationship between the slip activity and occurrence of historical earthquakes along the Median Tectonic Line (MTL), together with that of the fault systems extending eastward has been examined. The MTL is divided into three segments, each containing diagnostic active faults. No historical earthquakes have been recorded along the central segment, although the segment has faster Quaternary slip rates compared with the other segments that have generated historical earthquakes. This discrepancy between earthquake generation and slip rate can be explained by a microplate model of southwest Japan. The microplate model also provides spatial and temporal coupling of slip on adjacent fault systems. In the context of this model, slip on adjacent faults reduces the normal stress on the MTL. Historical data and paleoseismic evidence indicate that slip on this segment occurs without significant strong ground motion. We interpret this as indicating anomalously slow seismic slip or aseismic slip. Slip on the central segment of the MTL creates transpressional regions at the eastern and western segments where historical earthquakes were recorded. Alternatively, the earthquakes at the eastern and western segments were triggered and concentrated shear stress at the edge of the segments resulted in postseismic slip along the central segment. The sequence of historical events suggests that the MTL characteristically does not produce great earthquakes. The microplate model also provides a tectonic framework for coupling of events among the MTL, the adjacent fault systems and the Nankai trough.     

Gravity measurements with a portable absolute gravimeter A10 in Syowa Station and Langhovde,East Antarctica

Absolute gravity values were measured with a portable absolute gravimeter A10 in East Antarctica, for the first time by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. This study aims to investigate regional spatiotemporal variations of ice mass distributions and associated crustal deformations around Syowa Station by means of repeated absolute gravity measurements, and we obtained the first absolute gravity value in Southern Langhovde on the Antarctic Continent. The average absolute gravity value at the newly installed benchmark AGS01 in Langhovde (obtained on 3 February 2012) was 982535584.2 ± 0.7 μgal (1 [μgal] = 1 × 10^?8 [m/s²]), which was in agreement with the gravity values obtained by the past relative gravity measurements within 1 mgal. In addition, the average absolute gravity value obtained at AGSaux in Syowa Station was consistent with both previous absolute gravity values and those obtained by simultaneous measurements using an FG5 gravimeter, owing to adequate data corrections associated with tidal effects and time variations in atomic clock frequencies. In order to detect the gravity changes associated with the ice mass changes and other tectonic phenomena, we plan to conduct absolute gravity measurements at AGS01 again and at other campaign sites around Syowa Station as well in the near future, with careful attention paid to the impacts of severe environmental conditions in Antarctica on gravity data collection.     

Monitoring and simulation of water, heat, and CO2 fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems based on the APEIS-FLUX system

The Integrated Environmental Monitoring (IEM) project, part of the Asia-Pacific Environmental Innovation Strategy (APEIS) project, developed an integrated environmental monitoring system that can be used to detect, monitor, and assess environmental disasters, degradation, and their impacts in the Asia-Pacific region. The system primarily employs data from the moderate resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS) sensor on the Earth Observation System- (EOS-) Terra/Aqua satellite, as well as those from ground observations at five sites in different ecological systems in China. From the preliminary data analysis on both annual and daily variations of water, heat and CO2 fluxes, we can confirm that this system basically has been working well. The results show that both latent flux and CO2 flux are much greater in the crop field than those in the grassland and the saline desert, whereas the sensible heat flux shows the opposite trend. Different data products from MODIS have very different correspondence, e.g. MODIS-derived land surface temperature has a close correlation with measured ones, but LAI and NPP are quite different from ground measurements, which suggests that the algorithms used to process MODIS data need to be revised by using the local dataset. We are now using the APEIS-FLUX data to develop an integrated model, which can simulate the regional water, heat, and carbon fluxes. Finally, we are expected to use this model to develop more precise high-order MODIS products in Asia-Pacific region.     

A Late Holocene geomagnetic secular variation record from Erhai Lake, southwest China

A secular variation record of the geomagnetic field direction for the last 6.5  kyr has been obtained from the magnetization of sediment cores from Erhai Lake, southwest China. In order to make a comparison with this record, secular variation in east-central China was investigated by combining available magnetic field data from historical records and archaeomagnetic measurements since about 350 bc . The secular variation in Erhai Lake shows features consistent with the combined record, except for the oldest three observed declination swings in Sian from 720 to 900 ad . Many features of declination and inclination in China also occur in Japan. From 500 to 1000 ad , declination was westerly ranging from about −20° to −5° in Erhai Lake, east-central China, and Japan.     

Eoarchean–Paleoproterozoic zircon inheritance in Japanese Permo-Triassic granites (Unazuki area,Hida Metamorphic Complex): Unearthing more old crust and identifying source terrranes

U–Pb zircon geochronology of two Permo-Triassic granites (samples OT-52 and OT-272 with ages of 229 ± 8 Ma and 256 ± 2 Ma, respectively) in the Unazuki area, Hida Metamorphic Belt, southwest Japan, revealed the presence of Eoarchean to Paleoproterozoic inheritance. Inheritance is consistent with both samples showing low zircon saturation temperatures for their bulk compositions. In OT-52, dark in CL, low Th/U zircon domains have a mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 1940 ± 17 Ma, which is consistent with an age of 1937 ± 6 Ma for anatexis in the Precambrian Busan gneiss complex in Korea. Eoarchaean inherited zircons with ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages from ca. 3750 to 3550 Ma are common in OT-272 but are few in OT-52, suggesting a source from rocks with affinities to those in the Anshan area in the northeast China part of the North China Craton. On the other hand, a Hida Metamorphic Belt metasedimentary gneiss into which the granites were intruded contains ca. 1840, 1130, 580, 360, 285 and 250 Ma zircons (Sano et al., 2000). These ages suggest that the Unazuki Mesozoic granites did not originate from proximal Hida Metamorphic Complex rocks, but instead from unrelated rocks obscured at depth. The predominance of Eoarchean to Paleoproterozoic age components, and the marked lack of 900–700 Ma components suggest that the source was the (extended?) fringe of the North China Craton, rather than from Yangtze Craton crust. The Mesozoic evolution of Japan and its linkages to northeast Asia are discussed in the context of these results.