Variable post-Paleozoic deformation detected by seismic reflection profiling across the northwestern “prong” of New Madrid seismic zone

High-resolution shallow seismic reflection profiles across the northwesternmost part of the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) and northwestern margin of the Reelfoot rift, near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in the northern Mississippi embayment, reveal intense structural deformation that apparently took place during the late Paleozoic and/or Mesozoic up to near the end of the Cretaceous Period. The seismic profiles were sited on both sides of the northeast-trending Olmsted fault, defined by varying elevations of the top of Mississippian (locally base of Cretaceous) bedrock. The trend of this fault is close to and parallel with an unusually straight segment of the Ohio River and is approximately on trend with the westernmost of two groups of northeast-aligned epicenters (“prongs”) in the NMSZ. Initially suspected on the basis of pre-existing borehole data, the deformation along the fault has been confirmed by four seismic reflection profiles, combined with some new information from drilling. The new data reveal (1) many high-angle normal and reverse faults expressed as narrow grabens and anticlines (suggesting both extensional and compressional regimes) that involved the largest displacements during the late Cretaceous (McNairy); (2) a different style of deformation involving probably more horizontal displacements (i.e., thrusting) that occurred at the end of this phase near the end of McNairy deposition, with some fault offsets of Paleocene and younger units; (3) zones of steeply dipping faults that bound chaotic blocks similar to that observed previously from the nearby Commerce geophysical lineament (CGL); and (4) complex internal deformation stratigraphically restricted to the McNairy, suggestive of major sediment liquefaction or landsliding. Our results thus confirm the prevalence of complex Cretaceous deformations continuing up into Tertiary strata near the northern terminus of the NMSZ.     

Now you see it, now you don't – the circumstellar disc in the GRO J1008−57 system

Multiwavelength observations are reported here of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar system GRO J1008−57. Over ten years worth of data are gathered together to show that the periodic X-ray outbursts are dependant on both the binary motion and the size of the circumstellar disc. In the first instance an accurate orbital solution is determined from pulse periods, and in the second case the strength and shape of the Hα emission line is shown to be a valuable indicator of disc size and its behaviour. Furthermore, the shape of the emission line permits a direct determination of the disc size which is in good agreement with theoretical estimates. A detailed study of the pulse period variations during outbursts determined the binary period to be 247.8 ± 0.4 d, in good agreement with the period determined from the recurrence of the outbursts.     

塔里木西克尔基性麻粒岩捕虏体的发现及其地质意义

在塔里木西部新生代碧玄岩中新发现了基性麻粒岩捕虏体。其原生矿物组合为Cpx+Opx+Pl (An=30~50)+Sp+Ilm+Tim,次生矿物组合为Ol+Pl (An>50)+alkaline feldspar+glass。原生矿物组合的温度和压力分别为1005~1059℃ 和 0.6~1.1GPa; 次生矿物组合形成于近等温减压过程和固相线上熔融以及之后的近地表快速冷却。这些麻粒岩捕虏体代表了早期底侵到塔里木板块下地壳的幔源岩浆。