Carboniferous–Permian volcanic evolution in Central Europe—U/Pb ages of volcanic rocks in Saxony (Germany) and northern Bohemia (Czech Republic)

Nine SHRIMP U/Pb ages on zircon and two Pb/Pb single zircon ages have been determined from Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks from Saxony and northern Bohemia. Samples came from the Teplice-Altenberg Volcanic Complex, the Meissen Volcanic Complex, the Chemnitz Basin, the Döhlen Basin, the Brandov-Olbernhau Basin, and the North Saxon Volcanic Complex. The Teplice-Altenberg Volcanic Complex is subdivided into an early Namurian phase (Mikulov Ignimbrite, 326.8 ± 4.3 Ma), thus older than assumed by previous studies, and a late caldera-forming phase (Teplice Ignimbrite, 308.8 ± 4.9 Ma). The age of the latter, however, is not well constrained due to a large population of inherited zircon and possible hydrothermal overprint. The Leutewitz Ignimbrite, product of an early explosive volcanic episode of the Meissen Volcanic Complex yielded an age of 302.9 ± 2.5 Ma (Stephanian A). Volcanic rocks intercalated in the Brandov-Olbernhau Basin (BOB, 302 ± 2.8 Ma), Chemnitz Basin (CB, 296.6 ± 3.0 Ma), Döhlen Basin (DB, 296 ± 3.0 Ma), and the North Saxon Volcanic Complex (NSVC, c. 300–290 Ma) yielded well-constrained Stephanian to Sakmarian ages. The largest Late Paleozoic ignimbrite-forming eruption in Central Europe, the Rochlitz Ignimbrite, has a well-defined middle Asselian age of 294.4 ± 1.8 Ma. Ages of palingenic zircon revealed that the Namurian-Westphalian magmatism assimilated larger amounts of crystalline basement that formed during previous Paleozoic geodynamic phases. The Precambrian inherited ages support the chronostratigraphic structure assumed for the Saxo-Thuringian Zone of the Variscan Orogen. The present results help to improve the chronostratigraphic allocation of the Late Paleozoic volcanic zones in Central Europe. At the same time, the radiometric ages have implications for the interbasinal correlation and for the geodynamic evolution of the Variscan Orogeny.     

Coupling of P–T–t–D histories of eclogite and metagreywacke—Insights to late Ordovician–Silurian crustal folding events recorded in the Beishan Orogen (NW China)

The Beishan complex is composed of orthogneiss and metagreywacke that both enclose bodies of eclogite and serves as a unique example for comparative petrological study of all these lithologies. The rocks show the earliest regional steep N-S striking fabric (S2) preserved in low strain domains that are reworked by ubiquitous steep N-NE dipping cleavage (S3). The eclogite shows an almost isotropic fabric defined by an M1 assemblage of Grt–Cpx–Amp–Qz–Rt–Ilm that is locally retrogressed to M2-3 amphibolite facies mineral assemblages, with P–T peak at 20–21 kbar and 750–775°C and retrogression to 2–3kbar and 530–550°C. The typical mineral assemblage of the host metagreywackes is Bt–Ms–Pl–Qz−Chl–Ilm±Grt. Rare Al-rich metagreywacke layers are composed of Grt–Ky–St±Sil−And–Bt–Ms–Pl–Qz±Chl±Rt–Ilm giving a P–T path with peak at 8–8.5kbar and ~670°C correlated with the S2 fabric and retrogression to ~2.5kbar and 525–550°C correlated with the S3 foliation. In two eclogite samples, the garnet-whole rock-clinopyroxene Lu–Hf isochrons give ages of 461.9±1.6 Ma and 462.0±6.2 Ma interpreted as reflecting average age of garnet formation, and Sm–Nd isochrons give ages of 453.6±2.7 Ma and 452.8±3.0 Ma interpreted as dating near-peak metamorphism. In metagreywacke, in-situ U–Pb dating of monazite gives two groups of ages of 445–440 Ma (Mnz cores) and 436–429 Ma (Mnz rims), interpreted as reflecting the metamorphic peak and retrogression. Our results show that eclogite was formed during Ordovician by subduction of a continental crust (D1). Eclogite and metagreywacke underwent partly decoupled P–T–t–D paths until their juxtaposition at mid-crustal levels during a first late Ordovician–early Silurian D2 shortening. Coupling of their P–T–t–D paths occurred during exhumation in the Silurian and a second and orthogonal D3 shortening event. The data from the Beishan Orogen are consistent with a collisional intra-Gondwanan orogen located south of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.     

A numerical model of exhumation of the orogenic lower crust in the Bohemian Massif during the Variscan orogeny

We present a numerical model of the main phase (370?C335 Ma) of the Variscan orogeny in the central part of the Bohemian Massif. The crustal deformation in our model is driven by radiogenic heating in the felsic lower crust, the lateral contraction of the Moldanubian domain due to convergence with the Saxothuringian plate (in the early stage of orogeny), and the indentation of the Brunovistulian basement into the weakened orogenic root (in the late stage). Our model explains the main geological events inferred from the geological record in the Moldanubian domain: formation of the orogenic plateau and onset of sedimentation at about 345 Ma, rapid exhumation of the orogenic lower crust at about 340 Ma and subsurface flow of crustal material (?? 335 Ma and later). The results of our modeling suggest that delamination of the lithosphere, often invoked to explain the high temperature metamorphism in the orogenic lower crust of the Bohemian Massif, is not the only physical mechanism which can transfer a sufficient amount of heat to the crust to trigger its overturn.     

Effect of the spatial organization of land use on muddy flooding from cultivated catchments and recommendations for the adoption of control measures

Sediment‐laden runoff from arable fields has increasingly been recognized as a threat to housing, infrastructure and watercourses in Western Europe. Research suggests that land‐use change is far more important than any changes in rainfall in explaining recent increases in muddy flooding. However, the importance of changes in the organization of fields in the catchment has been overlooked. The loss of field boundaries has led to the loss of traditional sites of sediment deposition and an increase in the risk of sediment export via valley‐bottom ephemeral gullies. Successful schemes to combat muddy flooding have been pioneered in Flanders. The installation of grassed waterways in topographically controlled concentrated runoff pathways and the creation of sediment deposition structures are effective and efficient muddy flooding control measures. A supportive legislative and financial framework is also essential. The situation in Flanders is contrasted to that in the South Downs National Park, UK, where few measures to combat muddy flooding have been introduced and a supportive framework is lacking. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Andean type Palaeozoic convergence in the Bohemian Massif

The geological inventory of the Variscan Bohemian Massif can be summarized as a result of Early Devonian subduction of the Saxothuringian ocean of unknown size underneath the eastern continental plate represented by the present-day Teplá-Barrandian and Moldanubian domains. During mid-Devonian, the Saxothuringian passive margin sequences and relics of Ordovician oceanic crust have been obducted over the Saxothuringian basement in conjunction with extrusion of the Teplá-Barrandian middle crust along the so-called Teplá suture zone. This event was connected with the development of the magmatic arc further east, together with a fore-arc basin on the Teplá-Barrandian crust. The back-arc region – the future Moldanubian zone – was affected by lithospheric thinning which marginally affected also the eastern Brunia continental crust. The subduction stage was followed by a collisional event caused by the arrival of the Saxothuringian continental crust that was associated with crustal thickening and the development of the orogenic root system in the magmatic arc and back-arc region of the orogen. The thickening was associated with depression of the Moho and the flux of the Saxothuringian felsic crust into the root area. Originally subhorizontal anisotropy in the root zone was subsequently folded by crustal-scale cusp folds in front of the Brunia backstop. During the Visean, the Brunia continent indented the thickened crustal root, resulting in the root's massive shortening causing vertical extrusion of the orogenic lower crust, which changed to a horizontal viscous channel flow of extruded lower crustal material in the mid- to supra-crustal levels. Hot orogenic lower crustal rocks were extruded: (1) in a narrow channel parallel to the former Teplá suture surface; (2) in the central part of the root zone in the form of large scale antiformal structure; and (3) in form of hot fold nappe over the Brunia promontory, where it produced Barrovian metamorphism and subsequent imbrications of its upper part. The extruded deeper parts of the orogenic root reached the surface, which soon thereafter resulted in the sedimentation of lower-crustal rocks pebbles in the thick foreland Culm basin on the stable part of the Brunia continent. Finally, during the Westfalian, the foreland Culm wedge was involved into imbricated nappe stack together with basement and orogenic channel flow nappes.     

Search for orthorhombic or higher symmetry in rocks

Summary The properties of quadrics of stress and strain, which were derived from the eigenvectors of the matrix of elastic constants, are analysed for a medium with orthorhombic or higher symmetry. It was found that the orientation of the axes of the quadrics can be employed to determine the crystallographic axes of the medium. This formalism derived for minerals is used for finding the axes of the internal symmetry of a rock for which we assume a distribution close to that of the orthorhombic system with a view to the spatial distribution of P-wave velocities.     

Effect of the anomalous part of the atmosphere on the observed acceleration of gravity

Summary With the aid of a simplified model, the gravitational effect of the anomalous part of the atmosphere was analysed theoretically and formulae were derived for numerical computation. It was found that under extreme meteorological conditions this effect is of the same order as the present accuracy of absolute gravity observations, i.e. ±100–150 nm s^–2. It is, therefore, recommended to reduce these observations to some model of the normal atmosphere by introducing computational corrections.     

Short-period rayleigh waves recorded in the western carpathians during dss

Summary The periods, the maximum absolute displacement amplitudes and the maximum particle velocities of the surface waves, propagating in the weathered layer are investigated. Dependences of the parameters under discussion on the distance r (km) between sites and shot points are expressed for distances from 3.6 to 38.6 km by the functions: T(s)=0.40r ^0.30 , A _max (m)==502.73r ^–1.93 and v _max (mm s –1)=7.95 r –2.22.     

Les mouvements de l'ecorce terrestre et leur observation geodesique

Conclusion Les exemples cités dans cet article et étudiés en Tchécoslovaquie montrent que sur la terre entière, se produisent des mouvements de l'écorce terrestre, horizontaux et verticaux, positifs et négatifs. En même temps on peut constater que ce sont les régions de tectonique jeune qui subissent ces mouvements et qu'ils s'y manifestent beaucoup plus intensivement (système slovaco—carpathien) que sur les masses de continent plus stables de l'écorce terrestre (Bohême et Moravie—Massif de Bohême) et que dans les régions séismiquement actives (bassin de Komarno en Slovaquie du Sud) leur direction peut changer. On peut supposer que ces mouvements provoquent certaines tensions dans les roches de l'écorce terrestre. Si une réserve suffisante d'énergie potentielle s'accumule en forme de tensions élastiques, il suffit d'une impulsion insignifiante (par ex. des dérangements aux lieux, fatigués tectoniquement, une altération du milieu minier par l'exploitation, etc..) pour transformer l'énergie potentielle accumulée en énergie cinétique. Ensuite se produisent des pressions des roches, des secousses et des dérangements différents de la structure des roches et par suite des mouvements secondaires. A. PELNAR conclut également que les secousses dans les mines de Pribram en Bohême peuvent être causées par des mouvements verticaux petits, mais bien impétueux des massifs, montagneux, moyennant quoi une énergie considérable se libère par un, écrasement des établissements miniers. Comme les mouvements mentionnés sont fonction du temps, les changements de tension et les déformations dans les roches et leurs conséquences se présentent comme une fonction du temps. L'importance des études de l'écorce terrestre est immense non seulement au point de vue scientifique (géologie, géodésie, géophysique), mais aussi au point de vue pratique (géologie d'ingénieur, industrie minière). L'étude détaillée des mouvements de l'écorce terrestre, de leurs causes, de l'énergétique, de l'action, de la connection et des conséquences de leurs marques permettra de résoudre un nombre de problèmes, parmi les autres même le problème des pressions et des couches montagneuses et aidera à résoudre maintes discussions à cet égard (voir par ex. la discussion entre le savant tchèque A. PELNAR et le spécialiste G. SPACKELLER sur la question de savoir si les secousses à Ostrava sont causées par les dernières manifestations du plissement varisque ou si elles sont provoquées par l'exploitation des mines ou toute autre cause inconnue. Les mouvements du groupe B joueront aussi un r?le important dans la solution de ces problèmes.