Regional metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration related to Miocene submarine volcanism ('green tuff') in the Yurihara oil and gas field, northwest Honshu Island, Japan

Abstract Alteration of reservoir rocks in the Yurihara Oil and Gas Field, hereafter referred to as the ‘Yurihara field’, have been examined by using samples from six wells. These rocks are basalts in the lowermost part of the basin-fills (‘green tuff’ Formation). These basalts were produced in many eruptions in a submarine environment during the early to middle Miocene, and they underwent continuous intensive alteration genetically associated with Miocene submarine volcanism. The alteration of the basalts is of two types: low grade metamorphism and hydrothermal. The former belongs to the type of ocean floor metamorphism and comprises two subgroups: zeolite (zone I) and prehnite-pumpellyite (zones IIa: vein and amygdule occurrence, and IIb: replacing plagioclase). The latter is characterized by potassic metasomatism accompanied by adularia, quartz and calcite veins (zones IIIa: center and IIIb: margin of the metasomatism). This overprints the low grade metamorphic alteration. The central zone of hydrothermal alteration coincides with a major estimated fault, so that fluids probably assent along the fault. The basalts erupted during 16.5-15.5 Ma, determined by planktonic foraminifera assemblages of inter-bedded shales, then underwent successive low grade metamorphism. In time, the hydrothermal alteration that overprints low grade metamorphism occurred. Adularia veins of the altered rocks located in the hydrothermal alteration zones (zone IIIa and IIIb) have been dated as 9 Ma determined by the K-Ar method. This fact indicates that the activity of low grade metamorphism had already crossed the peak before hydrothermal alteration occurred at 9 Ma. The shape of isotherms of fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures (Th) and that of isolines of apparent salinity (Tm) almost coincide with each other, and these also coincide with the distribution of hydrothermal alteration (zones IIIa and IIIb). This indicates that the fluid inclusions formed at the same time as ascending fluids produced the potassic metasomatism. The maximum Th of the fluid inclusions is 222°C and Tm indicates trapped fluids of up to 3.3 wt% equivalent NaCl (i.e. almost the same as seawater). A Th versus Tm plot indicates mixing occurred between hydrothermal fluids and formation water that has low salinity. Corrensite and chlorite form veins, and the temperatures of their formation, estimated by the extent of aluminium substitution into the tetrahedral site of chlorite, ranges between 165 and 245°C in the centre of the hydrothermal alteration zone (zone IIIa). This is consistent with the result of Th analyses. The deposition temperature of chlorite associated with prehnite in veins ranges between 190 and 215°C in zones IIa and IIb.     

Anomalous behavior of cristobalite in helium under high pressure

We have investigated the high-pressure behavior of cristobalite in helium by powder X-ray diffraction. Cristobalite transformed to a new phase at about 8 GPa. This phase is supposed to have a molar volume of about 30 % larger than cristobalite, suggesting the dissolution of helium atoms in its interstitial voids. On further compression, the new phase transformed to a different phase which showed an X-ray diffraction pattern similar to cristobalite X-I at about 21 GPa. On the other hand, when the new phase was decompressed, it transformed to another new phase at about 7 GPa, which is also supposed to have a molar volume of about 25 % larger than cristobalite. On further decompression, the second new phase transformed to cristobalite II at about 2 GPa. In contrast to cristobalite, quartz did not show anomalous behavior in helium. The behavior of cristobalite in helium was also consistent with that in other mediums up to about 8 GPa, where the volume of cristobalite became close to that of quartz. These results suggest that dissolution of helium may be controlled not only by the density (amount of voids) but also by the network structure of SiO₄ tetrahedra (topology of voids).     

Morphological classification of nearby galaxies based on asymmetry and luminosity concentration

We investigate the behaviour of the asymmetry parameter A as a morphological parameter using a 'volume-limited' sample of 349 galaxies  (distance ≤25 Mpc,  M_V ≤−18.5 mag)  and a larger magnitude-limited sample of 707 nearby galaxies. We confirm the correlation of A with morphological type. The late-type galaxies (Sdm, Sm and Im) have larger A than early-type galaxies, and they tend to have larger A than spiral galaxies. We investigate the usefulness of the A versus concentration index C _in diagram as a tool for the regular–irregular and early–late classification. The diagram is not very useful to the regular versus late-type irregular classification, as inferred previously, but it is found to be useful to the early–late classification.     

Adjustable vertical vibration isolator with a variable ellipse curve mechanism

This paper presents a passive vertical quasi‐zero‐stiffness vibration isolator intended for relatively small objects. The present isolator has features of compactness, long stroke, and adjustability to various load capabilities. To realize these features, we use constant‐force springs, which sustain constant load regardless of their elongation, and propose a variable ellipse curve mechanism that is inspired by the principle of ellipsographs. The variable ellipse curve mechanism can convert the restoring force of the horizontally placed constant‐force springs to the vertical restoring force of the vibration isolator. At the same time as converting the direction, the vertical restoring force can be adjusted by changing the ratio of the semi‐minor axis to the semi‐major one of the ellipse. In this study, a prototype of a class of quasi‐zero‐stiffness vibration isolator with the proposed variable ellipse curve mechanism is created. Shaking table tests are performed to demonstrate the efficacy of the present mechanism, where the prototype is subjected to various sinusoidal and earthquake ground motions. It is demonstrated through the shaking table tests that the prototype can reduce the response acceleration within the same specified tolerance even when the mass of the vibration isolated object is changed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Welded tuffs and related pyroclastic deposits in northeastern Japan

Welded tuffs and related pyroclastic deposits are distributed at many localities in northeastern Japan, especially around the volcanoes of the Nasu volcanic zone running from north to south, but they are absent from the region along the Japan Sea. Their geological age varies from the Miocene to the Holocene, those of the Pleistocene being predominant in amount. Petrographically they cover rather a wide range from andesite to rhyolite, among which dacite is most common. The welded tuffs are always compact and hard, with well-developed columnar jointing, carrying parallel-layered obsidian lenticules; and various stages are observed from loose pyroclastic deposits to lava-like welded tuffs. Petrological, petrochemical, and physical properties of these deposits are studied in some detail. From these data some genetic consideration is given for the mechanism of welding, and also for the relation between the nature of parental magma and the formation of such pyroclastic deposits.     

Compressibility of calcium ferrite-type MgAl2O4

 In situ X-ray diffraction experiments of calcium ferrite-type MgAl₂O₄ have been carried out using a diamond anvil cell combined with synchrotron radiation and an imaging plate X-ray detector under hydrostatic pressures up to 9 GPa. The observed unit-cell volumes at various pressures were fitted to the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state, yielding a bulk modulus of K _{T 0}= 241(3) GPa when K′ _{T 0}=4 is assumed. This relatively large bulk modulus of calcium ferrite-type MgAl₂O₄ is consistent with that expected from the systematic relation between bulk modulus and molar volume for the most compounds possessing fcc oxygen packing. Received March 5, 1996/Revised, accepted October 15, 1996     

Geochemical Features of Vein Anhydrite from the Kakkonda Geothermal System, Northeast Japan

Abstract. Cathodoluminescence (CL) color, rare earth element (REE) content, sulfur and oxygen isotopes and fluid inclusions of anhydrite, which frequently filled in hydrothermal veins in the Kakkonda geothermal system, were investigated to elucidate the spatial, temporal and genetical evolution of fluids in the deep reservoir. The anhydrite samples studied are classified into four types based on CL colors and REE contents: type-N (no color), type-G (green color), type-T (tan color) and type-S (tan color with a high REE content). In the shallow reservoir, only type-N anhydrite is observed. In the deep reservoir, type-G anhydrite occurs in vertical veins whereas type-T and -N in lateral veins. Type-S anhydrite occurs in the heat-source Kakkonda Granite. The CL textures revealed that type-G anhydrite deposited earlier than type-T in the deep reservoir, implying that fracture system was changed from predominantly vertical to lateral.
Studies of fluid inclusions and δ³⁴S and δ¹⁸O values of the samples indicate that type-N anhydrite deposited from diluted fluids derived from meteoric water, whereas type-G, -T and -S anhydrites deposited from magmatic brines derived from the Kakkonda Granite with the exception of some of type-G with recrystallization texture and no primary fluid inclusion, which deposited from fossil seawater preserved in the sedimentary rocks. Type-G, -T and -S anhydrites exhibit remarkably different chondrite-normalized REE patterns with a positive Eu anomaly, with a convex shape (peak at Sm or Eu) and with a negative Eu anomaly, respectively. The difference in the patterns might result from the different extent of hydrothermal alteration of the reservoir rocks and contribution of the magmatic fluids.     

Interfacial energies for quartz and albite in pelitic schist

Interfacial energies of quartz/quartz (qz/qz), albite/albite (ab/ab), and quartz/albite (qz/ab) boundaries in low-grade pelitic schist were determined based on measured values of dihedral angles. Three kinds of microstructures were investigated, and the interfacial energies were obtained in two independent ways. (1) Relative values of interfacial energy were calculated from dihedral angles formed at quartz and albite triple junctions. (2) Subgrain boundary energy was calculated using the Read-Shockley theory for a boundary connected to an intergranular pore. Dihedral angles formed at the corners of intergranular pores were measured. From the interfacial tension balance equation, the value of the qz/qz grain boundary energy was then obtained. (3) Dihedral angles formed at intersections of either pericline or albite twin boundaries with either ab/ab or qz/ab boundaries were measured. The twin boundary energy was calculated based on a previously derived equation using Landau potential, twin wall thickness, and critical temperature for a phase transition in albite. With a modified interfacial tension balance equation for a twin boundary fixed to a facet orientation, the interfacial energies of ab/ab and qz/ab boundaries were obtained. Energies obtained by methods of (2) and (3) are in good agreement. The interfacial energies for qz/qz, ab/ab, and qz/ab boundaries obtained in this study are 270뀶, 300끞, and 250끀 mJ/m², respectively.     

Experimental study on pumice and obsidian

Thermal experiment on the pumice at atmospheric pressure shows that welding begins at about 900° C and complete melting occurs at 1350° C. It is noticed that FeO content of pumice decreases first with increasing temperature, attaining minimum value at 1100° C, and then again increases with increasing temperature. Therefore, an equilibrium is expected in the presence of liquid phase as follows:

$$4FeO + O_2 = 2Fe_2 O_3 .$$