Tectonic history of the Shikoku marginal basin

Studies of marine magnetic anomaly data from the Shikoku basin reveal magnetic lineations which strike northwest almost parallel to the trend of the Palau-Kyushu ridge. The lineation pattern is best developed in the western part of the basin and we can confidently identify a sequence of anomalies 7 through 5E between the base of the Palau-Kyushu ridge and the center of the basin. In the eastern part of the basin the basement morphology is rough and complex and magnetic anomalies can not be identified unequivocally. We infer that the Palau-Kyushu ridge and the Izu-Bonin island arc began separating about 27 m.y. B.P. An interval of rapid separation (4.2 cm/yr) occurred between 26 and 22.5 m.y. B.P. which approximately coincides with a period of intense volcanic activity in Japan. The observed magnetic lineation pattern and basement morphology can be best explained if the Shikoku basin formed at a two-limb spreading system during the Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene. Subsequently the eastern half of the basin was disrupted by fractures as the Iwo-Jima ridge collided with the Japanese islands. The accretionary process which formed the crust of the Shikoku marginal basin appears similar to that operating at mid-ocean ridges of the world.     

Relationship between fluid-bearing and fluid-absent invariant points and a petrogenetic grid for a greenschist facies assemblage in the system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-CO2-H2O

In the 6 component system CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-CO₂-H₂ with 9 solid phases (quartz, plagioclase, epidote, tremolite, talc, chlorite, magnesite, calcite, dolomite) and a fluid phase, all 17 possible fluid-absent reactions have been set up and balanced. Using molar entropy and volume data for the solid phases, these reactions are arranged in P-T space about the 8 possible fluid-absent invariant points after the method of Schreinemakers. Field observations in Ordovician greenschist facies basic volcanics at Sofala N.S.W., indicate that neither talc+epidote nor magnesite+calcite are stable under the conditions of metamorphism. Assuming these conditions to apply to the theoretical study here, the fluid-absent invariant points are arranged in a relative fashion with fluid-absent reactions subdividing P-T space into smaller areas.A scheme which permits a fluid of composition (i.e. a fluid containing CO₂ and H₂O together with other components), is modeled by treating H₂O as a mobile component independent of CO₂, and by allowing values that lie off the locus of binary H₂O-CO₂. Taking into account that neither talc+epidote nor magnesite +calcite is to be permitted, the fluid scheme is used to set up and balance all 39 possible fluid-bearing reactions. These are then arranged about 20 valid fluid-bearing invariant points in space after the method of Korzhinskii and Sehreinemakers.A characteristic solid phase assemblage is defined for each P-T area using chemographic relations inherent from the fluid-absent boundary reactions. The fluid-bearing invariant points that have a solid assemblage compatible with the characteristic assemblage in a particular P-T area are stable within the P-T regime of that area. When these stable fluidbearing invariant points are arranged in a relative fashion in space, they outline a fluid grid which can be used to study the possible effects of local variation in X _fluid over the particular P-T regime.Symbols Used U chemical potential - S entropy - V molar volume - n coefficient of a phase in a reaction - X mole fraction - T temperature - P pressure - F number of degrees of freedom - C number of components - p number of phases - s solid - slope of reaction - 1 quartz - 2 plagioclase - 3 epidote - 4 tremolite - 5 talc - 6 chlorite - 7 dolomite - 8 magnesite - 9 calcite     

A stochastic model of low flows

A model is developed for annual low flow hydrographs. Its two primary components reflect the fact that hydrologic processes during streamflow rise (function of water input) and recession (function of basin storage) are different. Durations of periods of rise (wet intervals) and recession (dry intervals) are modelled by discrete probability distributions — negative binomial for dry intervals and negative binomial or modified logarithmic series for wet intervals depending on goodness of fit. During wet intervals, the total inflow is modelled by the lognormal distribution and daily amounts are allocated according to a pattern-averaged model. During dry intervals, the flow recedes according to a deterministic-stochastic recession model. The model was applied to three Canadian basins with drainage area ranging from 2210 to 22000 km² to generate 50 realizations of low flow hydrographs. The resulting two standard-error confidence band for the simulated probability distribution of annual minimum 7-day flows enclosed the probability distribution estimated from the observed record. A sensitivity analysis for the three basins revealed that in addition to the recession submodel, the most important submodel is that describing seasonality. The state of the basin at the beginning of the low flow period is of marginal importance and the daily distribution of input is unimportant.     

Palaeomagnetic studies within the Ballantrae Ophiolite; southwest Scotland: magnetotectonic and regional tectonic implications

The Early Arenig Slockenray Formation within the Ballantrae Ophiolite, southwest Scotland, displays a multivectorial magnetisation structure. Two components (S and M) are identified delineated by differing blocking temperature/ coercivity spectra. Component S is removed around 200°C/10 mT, and is regarded to be of recent viscous origin. Component M forms the characteristic formation magnetisation and resides in both magnetite and haematite. Extensive sampling of all exposed lithologies reveals an (in situ) non-Fisherian distribution of the characteristic magnetisation defining an envelope from SE moderate positive to SW shallow negative directions. A negative infra-formation conglomerate test identifies this component as a pervasive overprint.

A second conglomerate test performed in the overlying Benan Conglomerate of Llandeilo age, reveals dispersely directed magnetisation with a stability range equivalent to that of component M. This field test therefore defines a maximum remagnetisation window of 30 million years for the characteristic remanence. “Hard” viscous magnetisations are identified both in the Benan Conglomerate and at some sites within the Slockenray Formation.

Structurally corrected site mean results from the Slockenray Formation define a non-Fisherian distribution and form a small circle partial arc centred on a vertical axis (NW moderate positive to SW moderate positive directions). A combined palaeomagnetic fold and fault test suggests that acquisition of component M pre-dates both folding and faulting.

The resulting palaeolatitude of remanence acquisition (28.8°S) implies a tectonic position close to the southern Laurentian margin for the Ballantrae ophiolite in Arenig times.     

Geochemical signatures of possible deep-seated ore deposits in Tertiary volcanic centers, Arizona and New Mexico, U.S.A.

A reconnaissance geochemical survey of stream drainages within 21,000 km² of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico shows broad zones of low-level to moderate contrast anomalies, many associated with mid-Tertiary eruptive centers and Tertiary fault zones. Of these eruptive centers, few are known to contain metallic deposits, and most of those known are minor. This, however, may be more a function of shallow erosion level than an indication of the absence of mineralization, since hydrothermal alteration and Fe-Mn-oxide staining are widespread, and geochemical anomalies are pervasive over a larger part of the region than outcrop observations would predict. Accordingly, interpretations of the geochemical data use considerations of relative erosion levels, and inferred element zonalities, to focus on possible undiscovered deposits in the subsurface of base-, precious-, and rare-metal deposits of plutonic-volcanic association. In order to enhance the identification of specific deep targets, we use the empirically determined ratio: This ratio is based on reported metal contents of nonmagnetic heavy-mineral samples from the drainage sediment, determined by emission spectrographic analysis. Before the ratio was computed for each sample site, the data were normalized to a previously estimated regional threshold value. A regional isopleth map was then prepared, using a cell-averaging computer routine, with contours drawn at the 25th, 50th, 75th, 80th, 90th, 95th and 99th percentiles of the computed data.     

Crustal structure of the French Guiana margin, West Equatorial Atlantic

Geophysical data from the Amazon Cone Experiment are used to determine the structure and evolution of the French Guiana and Northeast Brazil continental margin, and to better understand the origin and development of along-margin segmentation. A 427-km-long combined multichannel reflection and wide-angle refraction seismic profile acquired across the southern French Guiana margin is interpreted, where plate reconstructions suggest a rift-type setting.
The resulting model shows a crustal structure in which 35–37-km-thick pre-rift continental crust is thinned by a factor of 6.4 over a distance of ∼70  km associated with continental break-up and the initiation and establishment of seafloor spreading. The ocean–continent boundary is a transition zone up to 45  km in width, in which the two-layered oceanic-type crustal structure develops. Although relatively thin at 3.5–5.0  km, such thin oceanic crust appears characteristic of the margin as a whole.
There is no evidence of rift-related magmatism, either as seaward-dipping sequences in the reflection data or as a high velocity region in the lower crust in the P -wave velocity model, and as a such the margin is identified as non-volcanic in type. However, there is also no evidence of the rotated fault block and graben structures characteristic of rifted margins. Consequently, the thin oceanic crust, the rapidity of continental crustal thinning and the absence of characteristic rift-related structures leads to the conclusion that the southern French Guiana margin has instead developed in an oblique rift setting, in which transform motion also played a significant role in the evolution of the resulting crustal structure and along-margin segmentation in structural style.     

Disintegration of lunar samples over time: A test

Lunar samples provide ground-truth for all planetary exploration. Lunar soils, especially their <1 mm fraction, constitute the only primary standards for remotely sensing the composition of small airless planetary bodies. Therefore, maintaining the integrity, especially of the <1 mm fraction, takes on a much larger, big picture responsibility. A possibility has been suggested that lunar soils may disintegrate (to smaller grain sizes) if exposed to the Earth's moist atmosphere, thus losing some of their intrinsic value to science. We have tested that possibility by multiple, independent reanalyses with three techniques (wet-sieving in water and in alcohol, and laser diffractometry) using a fresh allocation of Apollo 17 “orange soil,” 74220. Our results are very similar to each other despite repeated soaking–drying in water, and also to those originally determined in the 1970s. We have also used a laser diffractometry technique to reanalyze the grain sizes of ~50 mg splits of eight soils that were initially analyzed three to four decades ago. The results are randomly different from previous measurements, which we attribute to nonrepresentative subsampling of very small amounts from previous allocations; ~50 mg is too small for obtaining representative aliquots. The results of grain-size analyses presented and discussed in this study indicate that the integrity of the lunar soil 74220, and indeed, all lunar soils, has not been physically compromised in the last four decades.     

A seismic reflection and GLORIA study of compressional deformation in the Gorringe Bank region, eastern North Atlantic

Seismic reflection and GLORIA side-scan sonar data obtained on RRS Charles Darwin cruise CD64 reveal new information on the styles of deformation in the Gorringe Bank region, at the eastern end of the Azores–Gibraltar plate boundary. Previous studies suggest that Gorringe Bank was formed by the overthrusting of a portion of the African plate upon the Eurasian plate. The new seismic data show, however, that the most intensely deformed region is located south of Gorringe Bank, on the northern flanks of a NW–SE-trending submarine ridge which includes the Ampere and Coral Patch seamounts. The deformation is expressed as long-wavelength (up to 60  km), large-amplitude (up to 800  m) folds in the sediments and underlying acoustic basement, which in places are associated with one or more reverse faults, and as a fabric of short-wavelength folds (up to 3  km) with a NE trend. In contrast, the same sedimentary units when traced beneath the flanking plains are undeformed, except for some faults with a small throw (~30  m), some of which offset the seafloor. GLORIA data show that recent deformation is broadly distributed over the region. Structural trends rotate from 45° in the west to 70° in the east of the region, nearly perpendicular to the NW-verging plate motion vectors as determined from plate kinematic models. Flexure modelling suggests that a portion of Gorringe Bank has loaded 152  Ma oceanic lithosphere and that a maximum of 50  km of shortening has occurred at Gorringe Bank since the mid-Miocene. Our observations support a model in which there is no single plate boundary in the region, rather that the deformation is distributed over a 200–330  km wide zone.