Evolution of basin architecture in an incipient continental rift: the Cenozoic Most Basin, Eger Graben (Central Europe)

The Oligo-Miocene Most Basin is the largest preserved sedimentary basin within the Eger Graben, the easternmost part of the European Cenozoic Rift System (ECRIS). The basin is interpreted as a part of an incipient rift system that underwent two distinct phases of extension. The first phase, characterised by NNE–SSW- to N–S-oriented horizontal extension between the end of Eocene and early Miocene, was oblique to the rift axis and caused evolution of a fault system characterised by en-échelon-arranged E–W (ENE–WSW) faults. These faults defined a number of small, shallow initial depocentres of very small subsidence rates that gradually merged during the growth and linkage of the normal fault segments. The youngest part of the basin fill indicates accelerated subsidence caused probably by the concentration of displacement at several major bounding faults. Major post-depositional faulting and forced folding were related to a change in the extension vector to an orthogonal position with respect to the rift axis and overprinting of the E–W faults by an NE–SW normal fault system. The origin of the palaeostress field of the earlier, oblique, extensional phase remains controversial and can be attributed either to the effects of the Alpine lithospheric root or (perhaps more likely because of the dominant volcanism at the onset of Eger Graben formation) to doming due to thermal perturbation of the lithosphere. The later, orthogonal, extensional phase is explained by stretching along the crest of a growing regional-scale anticlinal feature, which supports the recent hypothesis of lithospheric folding in the Alpine–Carpathian foreland.     

Analytical and experimental investigations on seismic performance of exterior beam–column subassemblages of existing RC‐framed building

Seismic performance of exterior beam–column subassemblages of reinforced concrete structure designed and detailed on the basis of the provisions of Eurocode and Indian Standards at different stages of their evolution is evaluated. Performance of the subassemblages designed and detailed according to the three different stages of codal evolution (gravity load design, ‘Nonductile’, and ‘Ductile’) is evaluated through analytical formulations and experimental investigations. In the ‘NonDuctile’ specimens, it has been observed that the shear distortion and degradation in stiffness and strength are significantly high. Performance of the ‘Ductile’ specimens based on Eurocode and Indian Standards is almost similar in terms of strength and stiffness degradation. Nevertheless, the specimen designed on the basis of Indian Standard shows higher energy dissipation at a given drift ratio. In the analytical study, shear and flexural failure of members of subassemblage and shear failure of the joint are considered as possible modes of failure of the beam–column subassemblage. For evaluating the shear strength of the joint region, a soften strut‐and‐tie model is used. Analytically obtained strengths based on the failure criteria of different components of the specimens have been first validated with experimental results and then used to determine the strength of the specimens. The investigation could indicate even the mode of failure at local level. It is utmost important to mention here that even the ductile specimens dissipate most of the energy through the development of damage in the joint region, which is neither desirable nor safe for the stability of whole structure. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Petrology and geochemistry of feldspathic impact‐melt breccia Abar al' Uj 012, the first lunar meteorite from Saudi Arabia

Abar al' Uj (AaU) 012 is a clast‐rich, vesicular impact‐melt (IM) breccia, composed of lithic and mineral clasts set in a very fine‐grained and well‐crystallized matrix. It is a typical feldspathic lunar meteorite, most likely originating from the lunar farside. Bulk composition (31.0 wt% Al₂O₃, 3.85 wt% FeO) is close to the mean of feldspathic lunar meteorites and Apollo FAN‐suite rocks. The low concentration of incompatible trace elements (0.39 ppm Th, 0.13 ppm U) reflects the absence of a significant KREEP component. Plagioclase is highly anorthitic with a mean of An_96.9Ab_3.0Or_0.1. Bulk rock Mg# is 63 and molar FeO/MnO is 76. The terrestrial age of the meteorite is 33.4 ± 5.2 kyr. AaU 012 contains a ~1.4 × 1.5 mm² exotic clast different from the lithic clast population which is dominated by clasts of anorthosite breccias. Bulk composition and presence of relatively large vesicles indicate that the clast was most probably formed by an impact into a precursor having nonmare igneous origin most likely related to the rare alkali‐suite rocks. The IM clast is mainly composed of clinopyroxenes, contains a significant amount of cristobalite (9.0 vol%), and has a microcrystalline mesostasis. Although the clast shows similarities in texture and modal mineral abundances with some Apollo pigeonite basalts, it has lower FeO and higher SiO₂ than any mare basalt. It also has higher FeO and lower Al₂O₃ than rocks from the FAN‐ or Mg‐suite. Its lower Mg# (59) compared to Mg‐suite rocks also excludes a relationship with these types of lunar material.     

Comparison of Different Techniques of Tilt Testing and Basic Friction Angle Variability Assessment

A relevant parameter for estimating discontinuity shear strength is the basic friction angle, usually derived from different types of tilt tests. However, the tilt tests described in the literature produce varying basic friction angle values. From a large number of different types of tilt tests on different kinds of rocks, it was possible to conclude that the mechanisms of sliding along cylinder generatrixes and planar surfaces are quite different, and that tests based on sliding along generatrixes are not appropriate for determining reliable basic friction angle values for discontinuity planes. Tests on small specimens are also not recommended, for geometry reasons and because ensuring reliable stress conditions is difficult. To quantify the natural variability in tilt testing, large specimens of the same granite were tested. The results revealed coefficients of variation for the basic friction angle in the range of 5–10?%, a variability which is no greater than that found for other rock mechanics parameters. This observation enables to forward some recommendations concerning the appropriate number of tests needed to obtain reliable results.     

On Dynamics of G-Band Bright Points

Various parameters describing the dynamics of G-band bright points (GBPs) were derived from G-band images, acquired by the Dutch Open Telescope (DOT), of a quiet region close to the disk center. Our study is based on four commonly used diagnostics (effective velocity, change in the effective velocity, change in the direction angle, and centrifugal acceleration) and two new ones (rate of motion and time lag between recurrence of GBPs). The results concerning the commonly used parameters are in agreement with previous studies for a comparable spatial and temporal resolution of the used data. The most probable value of the effective velocity is ～?0.9 km?s^?1, whereas we found a deviation of the effective velocity distribution from the expected Rayleigh function for velocities in the range from 2 to 4 km?s^?1. The change in the effective velocity distribution is consistent with a Gaussian one with FWHM=0.079 km?s^?2. The distribution of the centrifugal acceleration exhibits a highly exponential nature (a symmetric Gaussian centered at the zero value). To broaden our understanding of the dynamics of GBPs, two new parameters were defined: the real displacement between their appearance and disappearance (rate of motion) and the frequency of their recurrence at the same locations (time lag). For ～?45 % of the tracked GBPs, their displacement was found to be small compared to their size (the rate of motion smaller than one). The locations of the tracked GBPs mainly cover the boundaries of supergranules representing the network, and there is no significant difference in the locations of GBPs with small (m<1) and large (m>2) values of the rate of motion. We observed a difference in the overall trend of the obtained distribution for the values of the time lag smaller (slope of the trend line being ?0.14) and greater (?0.03) than ～?7 min. The time lags mostly lie within the interval of ～?2?–?3 min, with those up to ～?4 min being more abundant than longer ones. Results for both new parameters indicate that the locations of different dynamical types of GBPs (stable/farther traveling or with short/long lifetimes) are bound to the locations of more stable and long-living magnetic field concentrations. Thus, the disappearance/reappearance of the tracked GBPs cannot be perceived as the disappearance/reappearance of their corresponding magnetic field concentrations.     

Magnetic susceptibility anisotropy of deformed rocks

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Automatic Location of Swarm Earthquakes from Local Network Data

An advanced method of automated seismic phase picking and exact location and magnitude determination of swarm micro-earthquakes from local network data is presented. The phase picker is applied in two steps: first, S-wave groups are identified using a polarisation detector, and then corresponding P-wave groups are searched for. The times of maximum P- and S-amplitudes are then used as starting points for the determination of accurate P- and S-arrival times. The maximum S-wave amplitudes are utilised for determining local magnitudes. The whole procedure is checked by simultaneous preliminary hypocentre location providing estimates of local magnitudes and a compatibility check of the candidate P- and S-phases. The closest station to the earthquake cluster is used as a master, and the phase search at the remaining stations is governed by the P- and S-phases identified at the master station. Thanks to the use of apriori information on the approximate position of hypocentres, the procedure is also capable of picking the individual P- and S-phases of sequences of overlapping swarm events. The performance of the procedure was tested by comparison of the automatically and interactively created catalogues of the January 1997 NW-Bohemia micro-earthquake swarm. With stations located at epicentral distances between 0 and 20 km, the difference between hypocentre coordinates obtained by automatic and interactive processing did not exceed 80 m for 86% events. All events above magnitude 0.5 were identified, and the automatically determined polarity of first P-wave motion proved to be correct in 89% of them.     

On the survivability of an enantiomeric excess of amino acids in comet nuclei during the decay of26Al and other radionuclides

We present a computer model calculation for the racemization of a possible excess of amino acids in the icy fraction of comet nuclei bring about by ionizing radiation released during the decay of²⁶Al,⁴⁰K,²³⁵U,²³⁸U and²³²Th. The model takes into account a total of 110 chemical reactions, of which 91 are needed to explain the radiation chemical processing of the major constituents of comet nuclei (Navarro-Gonzálezet al., 1992) and 19 are necessary to simulate the radiolysis of glycine/alanine mixtures in aqueous solutions (Navarro-Gonzálezet al., 1994 and 1996). It is predicted that an enantiomeric excess of alanine would not be destroyed by radioracemization during the decay of embedded radionuclides. Nevertheless, this enantiomeric excess could be attenuated by the formation of racemic amino acids in the interior of comet nuclei as a result of the radiation-induced polymerization of HCN.     

Problems of the „Pannonian Median Massif“ and the plate tectonic concept. Contributions based on the distribution of Late Paleozoic — Early Mesozoic isopic zones

After a short historical review of conceptions about the Pannonian Median Massif or Tisia, the distribution of Middle-Upper Carboniferous and Lower Triassic-Liassic facies is briefly examined on the two sides of the Zagreb-Zemplin line dividing into two main segments the basement of the Carpathian basin. It shows on the one hand, that the Igal-Bükk zone (Igal-Bükk eugeosyncline ofWein, 1969), thought to establish a connection between the NW-Dinarides and the Dinaric-type Bükkium, is only a tectonic zone and could never have been a paleogeographical unit. On the other hand, the northern, marginal part of Tisia (Mecsek-Bihor crystalline belt and its sedimentary cover;Dank &Bodzay, 1971) exhibits a development and facies characteristic of the northern (northeastern) marginal complex of the Tethys. Also, facies-transitions from the foreland toward the open sea are always of N S direction. All autochthonous explanations must face the striking differences along the Zagreb-Zemplin line, which seem to exclude the possibility that the northern part of Tisia was a central, partly emerged crystalline ridge (no facies-transitions toward N!); it was rather part of the northern (northeastern) marginal complex of Tethys. Therefore allochthonous models suggesting largerscale horizontal movements give a much more plausible explanation. The style of Late Hercynian development and the distribution of Lower Triassic-Liassic facies zones suggest, that Tisia was part of the northern (northeastern) shelf of the Tethys until the end of the Liassic (in accordance with the opinion ofBleahu), then split off and was wedged in by horizontal movements between the NW-Dinarides and the Dinaric-type Bükkium by the end of the Jurassic — beginning of the Cretaceous.

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Zusammenfassung Nach einem kurzgefaßten historischen Überblick zur Deutung des Pannonischen Massivs oder Tisia wird die Verteilung der Fazies von Mittel- und Oberkarbon sowie Untertrias bis Lias auf den beiden Seiten der Zagreb-Zemplin-Linie — welche den Untergrund des Karpatenbeckens in zwei Abschnitte zerteilt — kurz untersucht. Sie zeigt einerseits, daß die Igal-Bükk-Zone (die Igal-Bükk Eugeosynklinal vonWein, 1969)-welche eine Verbindung zwischen den NW Dinariden und dem dinarisch-typischen Bükkium darstellen soll — nur eine tektonische Zone ist, hingegen nie eine paleogeographische Einheit gewesen sein kann.Der nördliche, äußerste Teil des Tisia (Mecsek-Bihor kristalliner Gürtel und seine sedimentäre Decke;Dank u.Bodzay, 1971) weist eine Ausbildung und Fazies auf, welche für den nördlichen (nordöstlichen) marginalen Komplex der Tethys typisch ist. Auch Faziesübergänge vom Vorland in der Richtung der offenen See sind immer N S gerichtet. Alle Erklärungen, die eine autochthone Lage der Zonen entlang der Zagreb-Zemplin-Linie mit einbeziehen, müssen mit der Tatsache fertig werden, daß der nördliche Teil der Tisia einen zentralen Teil eines teilweise emporgehobenen Kristallinrückens darstellt (kein Faziesübergang nach Norden). Sie war eher Teil der nördlichen (nordöstlichen) marginalen Serie der Tethys. Daher erscheinen allochthone Modelle, welche horizontale Bewegungen in größerem Maßstabe andeuten, eher glaubwürdig zu sein. Der Stil der spätherzynischen Entwicklung und die Verteilung der Fazieszonen von Untertrias bis Lias deuten an, daß der Tisia Teil der nördlichen (nordöstliche) Shelf der Tethys bis Ende Lias war (übereinstimmend mit der Meinung vonBleahu 1976); dann spaltete er sich ab und keilte sich mit horizontalen Bewegungen zwischen den NW Dinariden und dem Bükkium dinarischen Types ein; dies könnte Ende Jura-Anfang Kreide stattgefunden haben.

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Résumé Après une brève revue historique des conceptions sur la »Masse médiane pannonienne« ou la »Tisia«, on examine brièvement la distribution des facies du Carbonifère moyen-supérieur et du Trias-Lias aux deux cotés de la ligne de Zagreb-Zemplin divisant le soubassement du Bassin Carpathique en deux ségments principaux.Ce qui est démontré, c'est d'une part que la zone Igal-Bükk (le »géosynclinal Igal-Bükk«, Wein, 1969), considérée comme l'établissement d'une communication entre les Dinarides du NW et le Bükkium de type dinarique, ne représente qu'une zone tectonique, mais qu'elle ne peut jamais être une unité paléogéographique. D'autre part la partie septentrionale, marginale de la »Tisia« (la ceinture crystalline de» Mecsek-Bihor« et sa couverture sédimentaire; Dank-Bodzay, 1971) présente un développement et un faciès caractéristique du complexe marginal septentrional (nordoriental) de la Téthys. Les transitions de faciès de l'avant-pays vers la mer ouverte sont également de direction N-S. Toutes les explications autochtonistes doivent faire face aux différences accentuées le long de la ligne Zagreb-Zemplin, ce qui semble exclure la possibilité que le Nord de la »Tisia« ait été une dorsale cristalline centrale, émergée (aucune transition de faciès vers le N!); elle a fait plutôt partie du complexe marginal du N (NE) de la Téthys. C'est pourquoi les modèles allochtonistes suggérant des mouvements horizontaux plus vastes donnent une explication plus plausible. Le style du développement éohercynien et la distribution des zones faciales du Trias inférieur-Lias suggèrent que la »Tisia« a fait partie du shelf septentrional (nordoriental) de la Téthys jusqu'à la fin du Lias (en accord complet avec l'opinion de Bleahu, 1976) et qu'ensuite elle s'était décollée et coinné par des mouvements horizontaux entre les Dinarides du NW et le Bükkium de type dinarique vers la fin du Jurassique et le début du Crétacé.

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Because of shortage of place, only some of the most important non-Hungarian literature and the latest Hungarian works concerned with this region are listed up here: for a more detailed list of reference the reader is referred to the papers ofBalogh (1972) andKovács (1980).