Tectonic implications of the earthquake swarm of 1997 in the Michoacan Triangle, Mexico

An earthquake swarm occurred during February and March 1997 in the vicinity of the Tancitaro Volcano, in the southern part of the tectonically complex Michoacan Triangle. A study of these events provides an opportunity to map the active faults in the area and to learn if the orientation and the sense of motion on these faults are consistent with the mapped faults and the alignment of cinder cones in the region. The foci of 230 earthquakes, which could be located, are distributed between 10 and 18 km depth, and show an alignment in, roughly, a NE direction. The focal mechanisms and seismic moments of the 27 best-recorded events were determined by waveform modeling of P and S waves. These mechanisms show two distinct patterns. More than 50% of the solutions are left-lateral strike–slip mechanisms with a normal component. The preferred fault plane strikes NE. Another group of events, probably caused by triggered seismicity on the Chapala–Oaxaca fault zone, shows left-lateral strike–slip mechanisms with a large-thrust component on NW-trending faults. S wave splitting shows 1–2.5% crustal-anisotropy. The direction of the anisotropy coincides with the NE alignment of events, and the preferred nodal plane. This is also the alignment of cinder cones, suggesting that preexisting fractures and cracks are responsible for the seismicity and anisotropic behavior of the crust. The resulting stress orientation, NE compression, is the one expected for the fore-arc region. We conclude that although Michoacan Triangle lies in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, it does not form part of this stress province where the stress orientation is NS extension.     

Origin and implications of mafic xenoliths associated with Cenozoic extension-related volcanism in the Válencia Trough, NE Spain

Summary The Válencia Trough of northeastern Spain represents a poorly understood region of Cenozoic extension-related magmatism in western Europe. We present chemical data on mafic xenoliths and their host basalt from the Roca Negra cinder cone in the Catalán Volcanic Zone in the Válencia Trough. The xenoliths consist of augite+hornblende+ oxides±plagioclase±apatite±olivine::Lbiotitelorthopyroxene, and range from clinopyroxenites and hornblendites to gabbroic rocks. The major and trace element compositions of the xenoliths are compatible with formation as cumulates from a range of olivine tholeiitic to strongly alkaline magmas, and show a strong affinity to the Middle Miocene to Recent rift-related magmatism in the Cátalan Volcanic Zone. The xenoliths formed at temperatures of 1110–1180 °C, pressures of 2–7 kb (with 10 kb as the upper limit), and oxygen fugacities corresponding to 1–2 log units above the NNO oxygen buffer. The estimated pressure range implies formation in magma chambers within the crust, possibly also near the crust/mantle boundary (underplating). The presence of crustal cumulates indicates that the total volume of magmas emplaced into the crust in the Cátalan Volcanic Zone may be significantly larger than indicated by surface exposures. Isotopic compositions of the xenoliths are⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.703537–0.703647,¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd: 0.512732–0.512766,²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 18.097–19.106,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 15.522–15.579, and²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 37.850–38.794. This range suggests the involvement of two mantle source components. One of these may be the low-velocity component recognized in Cenozoic magmatism in the eastern Atlantic Ocean to central Europe and western Mediterranean. The other component, which differs from those involved in other domains of Cenozoic volcanism in Europe and adjacent areas, may be located in the lithospheric mantle underlying NE Spain, which was metasomatized during late Variscan to early Alpine deformation.

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Herkunft und Bedeutung mafischer Xenolithe aus känozoiscben Extensions-bezogenen Vulkaniten aus dem Valencia Trog, Nordost-Spanien

Zusammenfassung Der Válencia Trog in Nordost-Spanien stellt eine noch wenig verstandene Region mit känozoischen Extensions-bezogenern Magmatismus in Westeuropa dar. Wir geben hier chemische Daten über mafische Xenolithe und ihre basaltischen Muttergesteine aus dem Roca Negra Kegei in der vulkanischen Zone von Catalan im Valencia Trog. Die Xenolithe bestehen aus Augit+Hornblende+Oxiden±Plagioklas±Apatit±Olivin±Biotit±Orthopyroxen und reichen in ihrer Zusammensetzung von Klinopyroxeniten und Homblenditen his zu gabbroischen Gesteinen. Die Haupt- und Spurenelementzusammensetzung der Xenolithe entspricht einer Kumulatbildung aus Olivin-tholéitischen bis stark alkalischen Magmen and zeigt eine deutliche Affinität mit dem mittelmiozanen bis rezenten Rift-bezogenen Magmatismus in der vulkanischen Zone von Catalan. Die Xenolithe bildeten sich bei Temperaturen von 1.110 bis 1.180 °C und bei Drucken von 2–7 kb (mit 10 kb als Obergrenze) und bei Sauerstoff-Fugazitäten, die 1 bis 2 log Einheiten über dem NNO Sauerstoff-Puffer liegen. Die abgeschätzten Drucke weisen auf Bildung in Magmakammern innerhalb der Kruste bin, womölich auch in der Nähe der Kruste-Mantelgrenze (Underplating). Das Vorkommen von krustalen Kumulaten zeigt, daß das gesamte Volumen von Magma, das in die Kruste der vulkanischen Zone von Catalan eingedrungen ist, wesentlich größer ist als das, das man aus Oberflächen-Ausbissen entnehmen k6nnte. Die Isotopen-Zusammensetzung der Xenolithe sind⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.703537–0.703647,¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd: 0.512732–0.512766,²⁰⁶Pb/204 Pb: 18.097–19.106,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 15.522–15.579, and²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 37.850–38.794. Dies läßt erkennen, daß es sich bier um zwei verschiedene Mantel-Quellen handelt. Eine davon könnte die Niedrig-Geschwindigkeitskomponente sein, die man in känozoiscben Magmatiten des östlichen Atlantischen Ozeans, sowie in Zentraleuropa und im westlichen Mittelmeer erkannt hat. Die andere Komponete unterscheidet sich von jenen, die in anderen Bereichen von känozoischem Vulkanismus in Europa und benachbarten Gebieten vorkommen. Sie könnte im lithosphärischen Mantel unterhalb von Nordost-Spanien liegen, der während der variszischen bis zur frühalpidischen Deformation metasomatisch beeinflußt wurde.

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With 10 Figures     

Evolution of the seismic activity from the 1982 eruption of El Chichon Volcano, Chiapas, Mexico

 We analyzed more than 1700 earthquakes related to the 1982 eruption of El Chichon volcano in southern Mexico. The data were recorded at specific periods throughout the whole eruptive interval of March to April 1982, by three different networks. The seismic activity began several months before the first eruption on 28 March. During this period the seismicity consisted of hybrid and long-period shallow earthquakes most likely related to processes of faulting, fracturing, and fluid movement underneath the volcano. The foci of events occurring before the eruption circumscribe an aseismic zone from approximately 7 to 13 km below the volcano. After the eruption, the seismic activity consisted of tectonic-type earthquakes that peaked at 1200 events/h. This later activity occurred over a wide range of depths, mostly between 5 and 20 km, that includes the former aseismic zone and is roughly limited by the major tectonic faults in the area. Received: 19 May 1998 / Accepted: 13 June 1999     

Structural and kinematic analysis of the Corredoiras detachment: evidence for early Variscan synconvergent extension in the Ordenes Complex, NW Spain

 An important detachment is described in the allochthonous Ordenes Complex, in the NW Iberian Massif, and its meaning is related to the kinematics of contemporaneous convergent structures. The Corredoiras Detachment (CD) separates a hangingwall unit, characterised by a medium-pressure metamorphic gradient, from a footwall high-pressure and high-temperature unit and an underlying ophiolitic unit. An associated ductile shear zone, nearly 2000 m thick, developed in the lower part of the hangingwall unit, where the Corredoiras Orthogneiss, a Lower Ordovician metagranite, was progressively transformed into augengneisses, mylonitic and ultramylonitic gneisses. The attitude of the stretching and mineral lineation in the mylonites varies due to late refolding at map scale, but the sense of movement can be estimated, being roughly top to the SE. According to crosscutting relationships, the CD developed subsequent to the thrusting of the high-pressure/high-temperature unit onto the ophiolitic unit, and prior to younger extensional detachments, upright folding and strike-slip tectonics. The geometric relationships of the CD with the previous structures in the footwall unit, the subtractive character of the metamorphic gap between its hangingwall and footwall, and the available isotopic data suggest that the CD is an early Variscan, ductile extensional detachment, the movement of which was roughly simultaneous with the onset of thrusting of the allochthonous complexes over their relative autochthon. Received: 17 November 1998 / Accepted: 4 April 1999     

Crustal structure of the Alpine–Pannonian transition zone: a combined seismic and gravity study

 The crustal structure of the transition zone between the Eastern Alps and the western part of the Pannonian depression (Danube basin) is traditionally interpreted in terms of subvertical Tertiary strike-slip and normal faults separating different Alpine tectonic units. Reevaluation of approximately 4000-km-long hydrocarbon exploration reflection seismic sections and a few deep seismic profiles, together with data from approximately 300 wells, suggests a different structural model. It implies that extensional collapse of the Alpine orogene in the Middle Miocene was controlled by listric normal faults, which usually crosscut Alpine nappes at shallow levels, but at depth merge with overthrust planes separating the different Alpine units. The alternative structural model was tested along a transect across the Danube basin by gravity model calculations, and the results show that the model of low-angle extensional faulting is indeed viable. Regarding the whole lithosphere of the western Pannonian basin, gravity modelling indicates a remarkable asymmetry in the thickness minima of the attenuated crust and upper mantle. The approximately 160 km lateral offset between the two minima suggests that during the Miocene extension of the Pannonian basin detachment of the upper crust from the mantle lithosphere took place along a rheologically weak lower crust. Received: 13 July 1998 / Accepted: 18 March 1999     

Shortage in the midst of plenty: Labour strategies in four Central and Eastern European cities

Labour shortage was an integral feature of the communist system of economic management and one that seemed most unlikely to persist in the face of systemic transformation. A casual examination of the unemployment rates that have emerged throughout most of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) during the course of the past decade might suggest that this early assumption was correct. However, within the region the aggregate rate of joblessness, as well as the behaviour of national output, mask the fact that certain, major urban centres appear to have weathered well the storms caused by exposure to western markets and stringent fiscal and monetary policies. In these centres transformation has meant, to a greater or lesser degree, industrial modernisation and this begs the question of whether the human capital portfolios of the inherited labour force match up to the requirements of the new environment. This paper examines the meaning of the concept of labour shortage and presents the findings from a survey of employers in four leading cities of three major CEE economies designed to elicit if, and how, manpower requirements are being met in the present climate. The results indicate that, somewhat paradoxically, labour shortage persists in the more flexible markets of the post-communist era and that firms do not expect the situation to change radically in the near future. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Anisotropy of ionospheric irregularities determined from the amplitude of satellite signals at a single receiver

A new method of determining the anisotropy parameters of small-scale irregularities in the ionospheric F region is presented and experimental results are shown. The method is based on observations of amplitude fluctuations of radio waves transmitted by satellites flying above the F region. In practice, Russian navigational satellites are used and both the amplitude and the phase of the signal is measured on the ground level. The method determines both the field-aligned anisotropy and the field-perpendicular anisotropy and orientation of the spatial spectrum of the irregularities, assuming that the contours of constant power have an elliptic shape. A possibility of applying the method to amplitude tomography is also discussed. Using a chain of receivers on the ground level, one could locate the regions of small-scale irregularities as well as determine their relative intensities. Then the large-scale background structures could be mapped simultaneously by means of ordinary ray tomography using the phase observations, and therefore the relations of small-scale and large-scale structures could be investigated.     

The BanskáŠtiavnica ore district: relationship between metallogenetic processes and the geological evolution of a stratovolcano

The Banská?tiavnica ore district is in the central zone of the largest stratovolcano in the Central Slovakia Neogene Volcanic Field, which is situated at the inner side of the Carpathian arc over the Hercynian basement with the Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary cover. Volcanic rocks of the High-K orogenic suite are of the Badenian through Pannonian age (16.5–8.5?Ma). Their petrogenesis is closely related to subduction of flysch belt oceanic basement underneath the advancing Carpathian arc and to back-arc extension processes. The stratovolcano includes a large caldera 20?km in diameter and a late-stage resurgent horst in its centre, exposing a basement and extensive subvolcanic intrusive complex. The following stages have been recognized in the evolution of the stratovolcano: (1)?formation of a large pyroxene/hornblende-pyroxene andesite stratovolcano; (2)?denudation, emplacement of a diorite intrusion; (3) emplacement of a large granodiorite bell-jar pluton within the basement; (4) emplacement of granodiorite/quartz-diorite porphyry stocks and dyke clusters around the pluton; (5) caldera subsidence and its filling by biotite-hornblende andesite volcanics, emplacement of quartz-diorite porphyry sills and dykes at the subvolcanic level; (6)?renewed activity of andesites from dispersed centres on slopes of the volcano; (7) uplift of a resurgent horst accompanied by rhyolite volcanics and granite porphyry dykes. The following types of ore deposits (mineralizations) have been identified in the Banská?tiavnica ore district: 1. Quartz-pyrophyllite-pyrite high-sulphidation system at ?obov, related to the diorite intrusion. 2. Magnetite skarn deposits and occurrences?at contacts of the granodiorite pluton with Mesozoic carbonate rocks. Magnetite ores occur as lenses in the calcic skarns. 3.?Stockwork/disseminated base metal deposit along an irregular network of fractures in apical parts of the granodiorite pluton and in remnants of basement rocks. Mineral paragenesis is simple, with leading sphalerite and galena and minor chalcopyrite and pyrite. In overlying andesites the mineralization is accompanied by metasomatic quartzites and argillites with pyrophyllite, kaolinite, illite and pyrite. 4. Porphyry/skarn copper deposits and occurrences related to granodiorite/quartz-diorite porphyry dyke clusters and stocks around the granodiorite intrusion. The mineralized zone is represented by accumulations of chalcopyrite in exo- and endo-skarns, usually of the magnesian type affected by serpentinization. Besides chalcopyrite, pyrhotite, minor bornite, chalcosite, tennantite and magnetite, rare molybdenite and gold are present. The alteration pattern around productive intrusions includes an external zone of propylitization, a zone of argillitic alteration (kaolinite – illite – pyrite) and an internal zone of phyllic alteration (quartz – sericite – pyrite). Biotitization is rare and limited to porphyry intrusions. 5. Intrusion related “mesothermal” gold deposit in an andesitic environment just above the granodiorite intrusion. Gold of high fineness with base metal mineralization is contained in brecciated and/or banded quartz veins of subhorizontal orientation, parallel to the surface of granodiorite pluton. At least the first phase of mineralization is older than quartz-diorite porphyry sills, which separate granodiorite and blocks of mineralized andesite. 6. Hot spring type advanced argillic systems in the caldera filling. Silicites and opalites accompanied by kaolinite, alunite and pyrite grade downward into smectite dominated argillites. 7. Vein type epithermal precious/base metal deposits and occurrences as a result of the long lasting interaction among structural evolution of the resurgent horst and evolving hydrothermal system, extensive intrusive complex and deep seated siliceous magma chamber serving as heat and magmatic fluid source. Three types of epithermal veins occur in a zonal arrangement: (a) base metal veins ± Au with transition to Cu?±?Bi mineralization at depth in the east/central part of the horst, (b)?Ag – Au veins with minor base metal mineralization and (c) Au – Ag veins located at marginal faults of the horst. Isotopic composition of oxygen and hydrogen in hydrothermal fluids indicate mixing of magmatic and meteoric component (with generally increasing proportion of meteoric component towards younger mineralization periods?). Veins are accompanied by zones of silicification, adularization and sericitization, indicating a low sulphidation environment. 8.?Replacement base metal mineralization of a limited extent in the Mesozoic carbonate rocks next to sulphide rich epithermal base metal veins.     

Stratigraphy, Chronology, and Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of the Quaternary Sedimentary Infilling of a Volcanic Tube in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

La Cueva del Llano is a volcanic tube of Pleistocene age on Fuerteventura Island, in the Canary Islands. Part of it is infilled with sediments of external origin. These deposits are exceptional in stratigraphic complexity and thickness compared with other known tube infillings, and they comprise nine stratigraphic units deposited in five phases. In Phase I, which has not been dated, sedimentation of cinder from a nearby cone occurred. Phase II began ca. 16,830 ± 900 ¹⁴C yr B.P., whereas phase IV dates to 9280 ± 370 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The interpretation of sedimentary features shows that phases III and V correspond to a dry climate, similar to the present one, whereas the climate was much wetter during phases II and IV. This paleoclimatic sequence agrees with those suggested by the study of deposits formed in other sedimentary environments, not only in Fuerteventura but on other islands of the Canary group and the Sud-Maroc region.     

Structure of the South Powell Ridge (NE Antarctic Peninsula): new clues for changing tectonic regimes near the Scotia/Antarctica Plate boundary

The structure of the South Powell Ridge (SPR), separating the Late Cenozoic ocean-floored Powell Basin and the Mesozoic Weddell Sea domain, is revealed by multichannel seismic data. The SPR appears as a basement high, bounded northward by transtensional faults and by normal and major reverse faults to the south. These margin features seem to be linked to the Powell Basin southern strike-slip margin and to the Jane Arc paleotrench, respectively. We suggest the ridge evolved from the Antarctic Peninsula passive margin to become the deformational front of the Scotia/Antarctica Plate boundary, later being welded to the Antarctic Plate. Received: 18 August 1997 / Revision received: 4 May 1998