Evidence for low-temperature ultrapotassic siliceous fluids in subduction zone environments from experiments in the system K2O---MgO---Al2O3---SiO2---H2O (KMASH)

Experiments in the system K₂O---MgO---Al₂O₃---SiO₂---H₂O (KMASH) were undertaken with the piston-cylinder-apparatus to study the reactions:

1. (1) phengite±quartz+K,Mg-rich siliceous fluid=feldspar+phologopite+H₂O

2. (2) phengite+talc+K,Mg-rich siliceous fluid=phlogopite+quartz/coesite+H₂O

at temperatures between 400 and 700°C. The ultrapotassic fluid appearing at pressures above 15 kbar on the low-temperature sides of the corresponding reaction curves, which show positive dP/dT slopes, is probably supercritical. The P-T positions of the reactions are compatible with KMASH mineral reactions studied previously and with melting investigations in the KMASH system undertaken at temperatures higher than 700°C.

It is possible that natural rocks, chiefly K-rich metasediments subducted as minor portions of the oceanic crust, could give rise to low-temperature ultrapotassic fluids, mainly at temperatures between 300° to 600°C and pressures between 15 and 30 kbar. The ascending K-rich fluids would penetrate the overlying mantle to metasomatize it. After termination of the subduction process, heating of this mantle material, previously cooled by the subducted lithosphere, could lead to the formation of high-temperature K-rich magmas.     

P -T-t history of the Lower Austroalpine Nappe Complex in the “Tarntaler Berge” NW of the Tauern Window: implications for the geotectonic evolution of the central Eastern Alps

New petrologic and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronologic data constrain conditions of Alpine metamorphism along the northwestern border of the Tauern Window. The P-T estimations based on phengite barometry were determined for samples from units of the Lower Austroalpine nappe complex exposed above the Southpenninic interior of the Tauern Window, and from upper parts of the Southpenninic “Bündner Schiefer” sequence. Results suggest that both Mesozoic metasedimentary nappe units (Reckner and Hippold Nappes) and an ophiolitic nappe (Reckner Complex) of the Lower Austroalpine nappe complex have been metamorphosed at pressures between 8 and 10.5 kbar and temperatures around 350 °C. The structurally highest Lower Austroalpine unit (Quartzphyllite Nappe) was not affected by high-pressure metamorphism and records maximum P-T conditions of approximately 4 kbar and 400 °C. Highest parts of the structurally underlying Southpenninic Bündner Schiefer sequence were metamorphosed at intermediate pressures (6–7 kbar). Temperatures increased in all structural units during decompression. Whole-rock ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of silicic phyllites and cherts with abundant high-Si phengites record ages around 50 Ma in the Reckner Nappe, and 44–37 Ma in the Hippold Nappe and Southpenninic Bündner Schiefer sequence. These ages are interpreted to date closely the high-pressure metamorphism. The Lower Austroalpine-Southpenninic border area in the NW Tauern Window appears to have evolved along an indented, fragmented active continental margin where the Reckner Complex represents one of the oldest sections of the Southpenninic (Piemontais) Oceanic tract that was originally situated close to, or even within, the Lower Austroalpine continent. During closure of the Piemontais Ocean, the resultant subduction zone did not entrain components of the Reckner Complex or its cover sequences (Reckner and Hippold Nappes): therefore “Eoalpine” high-pressure metamorphism did not occur. Sequences exposed within the study area were subducted to relatively shallow depths during the last stage of consumption of oceanic crust and immediately prior to final continental collision. Received: 30 July 1996 / Accepted: 7 April 1997     

Statistical analysis of strong-motion accelerograms and its application to earthquake early-warning systems

In view of increasing damage due to earthquakes, and the current problems of earthquake prediction, real-time warning of strong ground motion is attracting more interest. In principle, it allows short-term warning of earthquakes while they are occurring. With warning times of up to tens of seconds it is possible to send alerts to potential areas of strong shaking before the arrival of the seismic waves and to mitigate the damage, but only if the seismic source parameters are determined rapidly. The major problem of an early-warning system is the real-time estimation of the earthquake's size.
We investigated digitized strong-motion accelerograms from 244 earthquakes that occurred in North and Central America between 1940 and 1986 to find out whether their initial portions reflected the size of the ongoing earthquake. Applying conventional methods of time-series analyses we calculate appropriate signal parameters and describe their uncertainties in relation to the magnitude and epicentral distance. The study reveals that the magnitude of an earthquake can be predicted from the first second of a single accelerogram within ±1.36 magnitude units. The uncertainty can be reduced to about ±0.5 magnitude units if a larger number (≥8) of accelerograms are available, which requires a dense network of seismic stations in areas of high seismic risk.     

Eclogites from the Chinese continental scientific drilling borehole, their petrology and different P-T evolutions

Abstract Four phengite‐bearing eclogites, taken from different depths of the Chinese continental scientific drilling (CCSD) borehole in the Sulu ultrahigh pressure terrane, eastern China, were studied with the electron microprobe. The compositional zonations of garnet and omphacite are moderate, whereas phengite compositions generally vary significantly in a single sample from core to rim by decrease of the Si content. Various geothermobarometric methods were applied to constrain the P‐T conditions of these eclogites on the basis of the compositional variability of the above minerals. The constrained P‐T path for sample B218 is characterized by pressure decrease from ca 3.0 GPa (ca 600°C) to 1.3 GPa (ca 550°C). Eclogite B310 yielded P‐T conditions of 3.0 GPa and 750°C. The path for eclogite B1008 starts at about 650°C and 3.6–3.9 GPa (stage I) followed by a pressure decrease to 2.8–3.0 GPa and a significant temperature rise (stages II and IIIa, 750–810°C). Afterwards, this rock cooled down to 620–660°C at still high pressures (2.5–2.7 GPa, stage IIIb). Retrograde conditions were about 670°C and 1.3 GPa (stage IV). Eclogite B1039 yielded a P‐T path starting at ca 600°C and 3.3–3.9 GPa (stage I). A pressure decrease to about 3.0 GPa (stage II, 590–610°C) and then a moderate isobaric temperature increase to ca 630°C (stage III) followed. Stage IV is characterized by temperatures of 650°C at pressures close to 1.3 GPa. During and after this stage (hydrous) fluids partially rich in potassium penetrated the rocks causing minor changes. Relatively high oxygen fugacities led to andradite and magnetite among the newly formed minerals. We think that the above findings can be best explained by mass flow in a subduction channel. Thus, we conclude that the assembly of UHP rocks of the CCSD site, eclogites, quartzofeldspathic rocks, and peridotites, cannot represent a crustal section that was already coherent at UHP conditions as it is the common belief currently. The coherency was attained after significant exhumation of these UHP rocks.     

海洋双壳类软体动物幼虫发育类型及其在东太平洋的地理分布

沿东太平洋浅海分布的双壳类软体动物数据显示,大量非浮游异养型双壳类具有广泛的地理分布.其中某些种的纬度跨度可达30°以上,这些种绝大部分是分布在38°N～5°S之间.东太平洋沿岸海流、热带海洋相对适宜的环境以及生物地理分区性是导致这一现象的主要原因.经历浮游异养型幼虫发育阶段的双壳类一般具有较高的地理散布潜力,但是,其中某些种由于其对环境的忍耐性较差,只能局限于狭窄的分布范围.东太平洋浅海双壳类的种多样性以及非浮游异养型与浮游异养型双壳类的比例随纬度发生变化.低纬度地区显示很高的多样性,向高纬度地区逐渐降低,浮游异养型双壳类的下降率大大高于非浮游异养型.热带地区以浮游异养型双壳类占主导地位,随着纬度增加其所占比例减少,而非浮游异养型双壳类的比例随纬度增加而逐渐提高.表明随纬度增加所发生的环境变化对浮游异养型双壳类的影响更为显著,而对以本身卵黄为幼虫营养来源的非浮游异养型双壳类影响相对较小一些.     

Evidence for oceanic subduction at the NE Gondwana margin during Permo-Triassic times

Blueschist was recently recognized within the Lhasa terrane, which is one of the NE Gondwana blocks. In this rock, the Mn and Mg contents of garnet enclosing aegirine-rich clinopyroxene, rutile and quartz decrease and increase, respectively, from core to rim. Amphibole changes from glaucophane through Na–Ca amphibole to Ca amphibole. The Si contents of phengite are high in the centre but low along the rim. The P – T path, starting above 2.5 GPa–450 °C and showing subsequently first a temperature increase to 500 °C and then a pressure release via blueschist conditions to 0.6 GPa, was reconstructed using a P – T pseudosection calculated for the P – T range 0.4–2.8 GPa and 250–650 °C. This path points to deep subduction of a cold oceanic crust probably beneath the NE Gondwana margin during Permo-Triassic times. This finding contributes to a better understanding of the pre-Cenozoic history of major terranes of NE Gondwana.     

Molecular isotopic evidence of environmental and ecological changes across the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary in the Levant Platform of central Jordan

We evaluated the structure of planktonic communities and paleoenvironmental conditions throughout the Cenomanian–Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE2) by studying bulk geochemical properties and the molecular isotopic composition of source-specific hydrocarbons from organic-rich sediments deposited in an intrashelf basin at the Levant Platform, central Jordan. High concentrations of desmethyl and 4-methylsteranes as well as dinosteranes indicate that marine algae including dinoflagellates were the main primary producing organisms. The presence of 2-methylhopanes and ¹³C-enriched hopanes, in addition to isotopically enriched aryl isoprenoids, evidenced the contribution of cyanobacteria and green sulfur bacteria, respectively. Additionally, variable but fairly low δ¹⁵N values during OAE2 suggest the occurrence of diazotrophy as a likely important process fueling primary production during OAE2 in this stratified/anoxic continental platform. Variations in the relative contribution of biomarkers revealed changes in planktonic communities associated with sea level change and water column stratification. OAE2 was characterized by strong stratification, anoxic bottom waters and a deep chemocline, as evidenced by high gammacerane and homohopane indices and the absence of photic zone euxinia (PZE) markers, respectively. However, the presence of isorenieratane and its derivatives in post-OAE black shales points to a shoaling of the chemocline and to PZE. This interval was also characterized by an exceptionally high abundance of chlorophyll-derived pristane and phytane (up to 2 mg g^?1 TOC), likely as a result of highly enhanced primary production and organic matter preservation. Remarkably, this high productivity event co-occurs with an exceptionally high abundance of calcispheres reported elsewhere to be part of a global bio-event.     

The geodynamics of collision of a microplate (Chilenia) in Devonian times deduced by the pressure–temperature–time evolution within part of a collisional belt (Guarguaraz Complex,W-Argentina)

The Guarguaraz Complex in West Argentina formed during collision between the microplate Chilenia and South America. It is composed of neritic clastic metasediments with intercalations of metabasic and ultrabasic rocks of oceanic origin. Prograde garnet growth in metapelite and metabasite occurred between 1.2 GPa, 470°C and 1.4 GPa, 530°C, when the penetrative s₂-foliation was formed. The average age of garnet crystallization of 390 ± 2 Ma (2σ) was determined from three four-point Lu–Hf mineral isochrones from metapelite and metabasite samples and represents the time of collision. Peak pressure conditions are followed by a decompression path with slight heating at 0.5 GPa, 560°C. Fluid release during decompression caused equilibration of mineral compositions at the rims and also aided Ar diffusion. An ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of white mica at 353 ± 1 Ma (1σ) indicates the time of cooling below 350–400°C. These temperatures were attained at pressures of 0.2–0.3 GPa, indicative of an average exhumation rate of ≥1 mm/a for the period 390–353 Ma. Late hydrous influx at 0.1–0.3 GPa caused pervasive growth of sericite and chlorite and reset the Ar/Ar ages of earlier coarse-grained white mica. At 284–295 Ma, the entire basement cooled below 280°C (fission track ages of zircon) after abundant post-collisional granitoid intrusion. The deeply buried epicontinental sedimentary rocks, the high peak pressure referring to a low metamorphic geotherm of 10–12°C/km, and the decompression/heating path are characteristics of material buried and exhumed within a (micro) continent–continent collisional setting.     

The Inner Ear and its Coupling to the Swim Bladder in the Deep-Sea Fish Antimora rostrata (Teleostei: Moridae)

The inner ear structure of Antimora rostrata and its coupling to the swim bladder were analyzed and compared with the inner ears of several shallow-water species that also have similar coupling. The inner ear of Antimora has a long saccular otolith and sensory epithelium as compared to many other fishes. Some parts of the membranous labyrinth are thick and rigid, while other parts are thinner but attached tightly to the bony capsule. The partially rigid membranous labyrinth, along with its intimate connection to the swim bladder, may help the inner ear follow the sound oscillations from the swim bladder with better precision than would occur in a less rigid inner ear. In addition, the saccular sensory epithelium has an elaborate structure and an anterior enlargement that may be correlated with increased hearing sensitivity. Some of the features in the inner ear of Antimora may reflect the functional specialization of deep-water living and support the hypothesis that there is enhanced inner ear sensitivity in some deep-sea fishes.