Alpine overdeepenings and paleo-ice flow changes: an integrated geophysical-sedimentological case study from Tyrol (Austria)

We present a study of the inneralpine basin of Hopfgarten focused on the analysis of basin fill in order to reveal its formation in relation to paleo-ice flow and tectonics. The study is based on geological mapping as well as seismic (reflection and refraction) and geoelectrical surveys. The oldest sequence in the basin, identified by seismic stratigraphy at 400 m below surface, consists of coarse grained sediments of supposedly Oligocene to Miocene age, which subsided along faults linked to the Inn fault. Three superimposed sequences, each displaying baselaps in contact with a subglacially formed unconformity and sigmoid foresets, show pleniglacial conditions followed by a glaciolacustrine environment. The uppermost of these three sequences lies on top of last glacial maximum till (LGM; Würmian Pleniglacial; MIS 2) and represents Termination I. The middle sequence is classified as Termination II following the Rissian Pleniglacial (MIS 6). The oldest glacial sequence cannot be constrained chronostratigraphically but might correlate with Termination V following the major glaciation of MIS 12. Limited glacial erosion during the LGM occurred only during the ice build-up phase. Further overdeepening was impeded due to topographic barrier and mutual blockades of glaciers within this highly dissected landscape. The occurrence and relative timing of the impediment was controlled by the onset of transfluences and thus by the altitude of coles. The higher amount of overdeepening during older glacial periods is explained by longer phases of free ice advance in the ice build up phase due to higher transfluences routes at that time. Thus, the preservation of older Pleistocene sequences within the basin may be the result of the lowering of watersheds from one glaciation to the next. Our model of an inverse relationship between glacial shaping of the surface and the subsurface may apply to similar Alpine landscapes as well.     

Three-dimensional forward and backward modelling of diapirism: numerical approach and its applicability to the evolution of salt structures in the Pricaspian basin

Numerical studies of ductile deformations induced by salt movements have, until now, been restricted to two-dimensional (2D) modelling of diapirism. This paper suggests a numerical approach to model the evolution of three-dimensional (3D) salt structures toward increasing maturity. This approach is also used here to restore the evolution of salt structures through successive earlier stages. The numerical methodology is applied to study several model examples. We analyse a model of salt diapirs that develop from an initial random perturbation of the interface between salt and its overburden and restore the evolved salt diapirs to their initial stages. We show that the average restoration errors are less than 1%. An evolutionary model of a 2D salt wall loaded by a 2D pile of sediments predicts a decomposition of the salt wall into 3D diapiric structures when the overburden of salt is supplied by 3D synkinematic wedge of sediments. We model salt extrusion feeding a gravity current over the depositional surface and estimate an average rate of extrusion and horizontal velocity of salt spreading. Faulting of the overburden to salt overhangs initiates new secondary diapirs, and we analyse the growth of these secondary diapirs. We also study how lateral flow effects the evolution of salt diapirs. The shape of a salt diapir can be very different if the rate of horizontal flow is much greater than the initial rate of diapiric growth solely due to gravity. We discuss the applicability of the results of the models to the evolution of Late Permian salt structures in the Pricaspian basin (Russia and Kazakhstan). These structures are distinguishable into a variety of styles representing different stages of growth: salt pillows, diapirs, giant salt massifs, 2D diapiric walls and 3D stocks complicated by large overhangs. The different sizes, shapes and maturities of salt structures in different parts of the Pricaspian basin reflect areal differences in salt thickness and loading history. Our results suggest that the numerical methodology can be employed to analyse the evolution of all salt structures that have upbuilt through younger ductile overburdens.     

Amoeboid olivine aggregates and related objects in carbonaceous chondrites: records of nebular and asteroid processes

Amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs) are the most common type of refractory inclusions in CM, CR, CH, CV, CO, and ungrouped carbonaceous chondrites Acfer 094 and Adelaide; only one AOA was found in the CB_b chondrite Hammadah al Hamra 237 and none were observed in the CB_a chondrites Bencubbin, Gujba, and Weatherford. In primitive (unaltered and unmetamorphosed) carbonaceous chondrites, AOAs consist of forsterite (Fa_<2), Fe, Ni-metal (5-12 wt% Ni), and Ca, Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) composed of Al-diopside, spinel, anorthite, and very rare melilite. Melilite is typically replaced by a fine-grained mixture of spinel, Al-diopside, and ±anorthite; spinel is replaced by anorthite. About 10% of AOAs contain low-Ca pyroxene replacing forsterite. Forsterite and spinel are always ¹⁶O-rich (δ^17,18O∼−40‰ to −50‰), whereas melilite, anorthite, and diopside could be either similarly ¹⁶O-rich or ¹⁶O-depleted to varying degrees; the latter is common in AOAs from altered and metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrites such as some CVs and COs. Low-Ca pyroxene is either ¹⁶O-rich (δ^17,18O∼−40‰) or ¹⁶O-poor (δ^17,18O∼0‰). Most AOAs in CV chondrites have unfractionated (∼2-10×CI) rare-earth element patterns. AOAs have similar textures, mineralogy and oxygen isotopic compositions to those of forsterite-rich accretionary rims surrounding different types of CAIs (compact and fluffy Type A, Type B, and fine-grained, spinel-rich) in CV and CR chondrites. AOAs in primitive carbonaceous chondrites show no evidence for alteration and thermal metamorphism. Secondary minerals in AOAs from CR, CM, and CO, and CV chondrites are similar to those in chondrules, CAIs, and matrices of their host meteorites and include phyllosilicates, magnetite, carbonates, nepheline, sodalite, grossular, wollastonite, hedenbergite, andradite, and ferrous olivine.Our observations and a thermodynamic analysis suggest that AOAs and forsterite-rich accretionary rims formed in ¹⁶O-rich gaseous reservoirs, probably in the CAI-forming region(s), as aggregates of solar nebular condensates originally composed of forsterite, Fe, Ni-metal, and CAIs. Some of the CAIs were melted prior to aggregation into AOAs and experienced formation of Wark-Lovering rims. Before and possibly after the aggregation, melilite and spinel in CAIs reacted with SiO and Mg of the solar nebula gas enriched in ¹⁶O to form Al-diopside and anorthite. Forsterite in some AOAs reacted with ¹⁶O-enriched SiO gas to form low-Ca pyroxene. Some other AOAs were either reheated in ¹⁶O-poor gaseous reservoirs or coated by ¹⁶O-depleted pyroxene-rich dust and melted to varying degrees, possibly during chondrule formation. The most extensively melted AOAs experienced oxygen isotope exchange with ¹⁶O-poor nebular gas and may have been transformed into magnesian (Type I) chondrules. Secondary mineralization and at least some of the oxygen isotope exchange in AOAs from altered and metamorphosed chondrites must have resulted from alteration in the presence of aqueous solutions after aggregation and lithification of the chondrite parent asteroids.     

Die Entwicklung der Tethystrias und Herkunft ihrer Fauna

Zusammenfassung Es wird zunächst ein kurzer Überblick über die stratigraphische und fazielle Entwicklung der Trias im Gesamtraum der Tethys zwischen Betischer Kordillere in Spanien und Timor gegeben. Hierbei zeigt sich, daß im Westabschnitt, besonders im mediterranen Raum, eine mio- und aristogeosynklinale und nur untergeordnet eugeosynklinale Entwicklung der Trias vorliegt, in Ostasien (Himalaya, China) auch eugeosynklinal entwickelte Trias vermehrt auftritt. Die europäische Entwicklung der Tethystrias ist durch ihre vielfältige Individualisierung von der asiatischen Trias, die in ihrem Oberteil weiträumig durch eine detritische Fazies beherrscht ist, unterschieden, was besonders auf den Einfluß der indosinischen Faltung in Ostasien zurückgeht. Nord- und Südast der Tethys aber deshalb und auf Grund eines verschiedenartigen Erbes als Paläo- und Neotethys zu bezeichnen, geht zu weit, da die Einheit der gesamten Tethys hierdurch begrifflich zerrissen werden würde.Besonders hervorzuheben ist die Tatsache, daß zahlreiche typische Triasschichtglieder in verschiedenen Abschnitten des Gesamtraumes der Tethys auftreten, nach Litho- und Biofazies und Altersstellung eindeutig als gleichartig identifiziert werden können und demnach im gesamten Raum mit gleichen Namen belegt werden sollen. Das gilt besonders für Reichenhaller Rauhwacke, Gutensteiner Kalk, Reiflinger Kalk, Wettersteinkalk, Hallstätter Kalk, Dachsteinkalk, Kössener Schichten, Rhätoliaskalk — um nur einige Glieder zu nennen, die vom gesamten Raum vom mediterranen Gebiet bis über China hinaus, und zwar z. T. bis Timor — und im Falle des Hallstätter Kalkes bis Südamerika -, verfolgt werden können. Die Ursache liegt im gleichen Schicksal der Kontinentrandgebiete, teils durch Eustatik, teils durch die Mobilität des Schelfs, teils durch die gleichartigen Gesteinsbildner in Fauna und Flora bewirkt.Die Gemeinsamkeit von entscheidenden Faunenelementen über den gesamten Raum der Tethys hin ist ein nächstes, besonders ins Auge stechendes Merkmal. Sie bezieht sich nicht nur auf planktonische und pelagische Elemente, sondern auch auf vagil-benthonische, ja sessile Organismen und umfaßt überraschend viele Arten der Makro- und Mikrofauna, darunter viele Leitfossilien. Zahlreiche Formen sind bisher unter verschiedenen Lokalnamen beschrieben worden, deren Nachuntersuchung nun die Gleichartigkeit über den gesamten Raum der Tethys bestätigt hat. Natürlich bezieht sich diese Feststellung nur auf einen Teil der Fauna, daneben erscheinen auch an Faunenprovinzen gebundene Elemente.Schließlich werden Überlegungen über die Herkunft der Tethysfauna angestellt. Als Heimat eines wesentlichen überregional verbreiteten Anteils wird der ostpazifische Raum am amerikanischen Kontinentalrand, besonders der Raum von Britisch-Kolumbien abgeleitet. Als Gründe sprechen dafür: 1. Reichliche Beteiligung von Tethyselementen an der Fauna dieser ostpazifischen Provinz, 2. Fehlen eines Meeresweges quer durch (Mittel-) Amerika nach Osten zur Tethys in der Zeit der Trias, 3. Rekonstruktion eines Paläowind- und Meeresströmungssystems auf Grund der Triaspaläogeographie und aktualistischer Prinzipien, das eine Drift von Osten nach Westen durch Pazifik und Tethys bewirkt haben muß, 4. Die Möglichkeit dieser Wanderung von Faunenelementen über den Pazifik auch für vagiles und sessiles Benthos mit Hilfe von Larvenstadien und in pseudoplanktonischer Form auf Tang und Treibholz. Abgesehen von diesem über den gesamten tropischen bis tropennahen Raum von Pazifik und Tethys verbreiteten Anteil kommt naturgemäß noch ein autochthoner Anteil der Fauna hinzu, der sich in den einzelnen Faunenprovinzen jeweils autonom entwickelt hat — besonders begünstigt im asiatischen Teil der Tethys. Schließlich liegt nach der Verbreitung bestimmter Arten und Artgruppen noch die Möglichkeit der Wanderung eurasiatischer Formen in höheren Breiten mit den ostgerichteten Gegenströmungen von Tethys und Pazifik nahe.

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The development of the Triassic within the Tethys realm and the origin of its fauna

Summary This paper gives at first a survey about the stratigraphy and facies of the Triassic within the Tethys realm between Betic Cordillera in Spain and Timor in Indonesia. This review shows that the western part of the Tethys in the Mediterranean region comprises a mio-, (eu-)and aristogeosynclinal facies of the Triassic and prooves that the eugeosynclinal facies is more significant for the central- and eastasiatic part of the Tethys realm.The European development is characterized by an extreme individualisation of faciestypes and a hight specification of Triassic formations, whilst the Asiatic region is dominated by an extensive spreading of immense masses of detritus in the Upper Triassic — particularly in the northern branch of Tethys -, in dependence on the Indosinic orogenesis at the end of the Middle Triassic. The distinction of a northern Paleotethys and a southern Neotethys during the Mesozoic era with regard to this event can't be sanctioned, respecting the integrity of the Tethys as a whole.The following chapter stresses the fact that many alpine formations are spreaded whole over the Tethys realm, identic in lithofacies, biofacies, fauna, flora and stratigraphic position, so that one must not hesitate denominating the same formations with the same name (Lugeon/Andrusov-principle). Those formations and members, identical all over the Tethys region, are e. g. Reichenhaller cellular dolomite, Gutenstein Wurstel-limestone, Reifling-, Wetterstein-, Hallstatt- and Dachstein-limestone, which can be observed from the Mediterranean region up to China and Timor — the Hallstatt limestone as fare as Southern America. The reason of this surprisingly fact is caused by the same conditions of the plate margins during the Triassic tectonic history, moreover by the same conditions for the formation of organogeneous limestone by time-specific organismes and in some cases also in eustatic movements of the sea level.The next fact shown in this paper is the result that a lot of characteristic alpin fauna elements are spreaded all over the Tethys area, from the Alps to Indonesia. This statement concerns not only planctonic and pseudoplanctonic taxa, but also many bentonic elements living in a vagil or sessil manner within the macro- and microfauna — comprisingly also many index-fossils. Hitherto a lot of those species have been described under local names. The revision of the fossil material, collected directly by the authors in many sectors of the Tethys has confirmed this result of widespread species whole over the Tethys ocean.Finally some reflections are made about the origin of the Tethys fauna. A part of the Tethys fauna which is common with the fauna of the Eastern Pacific region, is regarded as originally developed in Western America, particularly in the territory of British Columbia, and transported by the Pacific ocean currents westwards into the Tethys. A short connection between Eastern Pacific and Western Tethys by a Protoatlantic (Poseidon) did not existe in consequence of the existence of Pangea during the Triassic time. Therefore the communication of the identic faunistic elements of Eastern Pacific and Tethys must have be realized by transpacific way: New observations about the longevity of larval stages, also of recent benthic organisms and reflections about the Triassic paleocurrent system in the Panthalassa established on actualistic principles (Fig. 2) proove the feasibility of such a theory. By the counter-current in high latitudes the transport of Tethyal elements to eastern areas along the shore of America could be effected.

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Résumé Cet article donne premièrement un résumé de la stratigraphie et du faciès du Trias de la région mesogéenne entre la Cordillère Bétique et Timor en Indonésie. Il apparaît ainsi qu'on trouve dans les régions méditerranéennes notamment un faciès mio- et aristogéosynclinal, tandis que le faciès eugéosynclinal est plus fréquent dans la partie centrale et orientale de la Téthys asiatique.La partie européenne de la Téthys est caractérisée par une individualisation extrême des types de faciès et des formations. Au contraire, le faciès de la région asiatique est dominé par des masses détritiques dans le Trias supérieur, comme conséquence de la phase orogénique indosinienne dans l'Asie orientale.Par la suite on démontre que bien des formations alpines sont répandues dans toute la région de la Téthys, identiques en lithofaciès, biofaciès, faunes, flores et dans leur position stratigraphique — en conséquence, il ne faut pas hésiter d'employer les mêmes désignations pour les mêmes formations dans tout le territoire en question. On retrouve par exemple les cargnieules de Reichenhall, les calcaires vermiculés de Gutenstein, les calcaires de Reifling, du Wetterstein, de Hallstatt et du Dachstein etc. à partir de la région méditerranéenne jusqu' en Chine et à Timor; d'autre part, les calcaires de Hallstatt se retrouvent jusqu' en Amérique méridionale. Ce fait étonnant tient à des conditions identiques valables pour les bords des plaques continentales pendant le Triassique, ainsi qu'à une formation identique des calcaires organogènes provoquée par l'existence simultanée des mêmes organismes et aussi par des oscillations eustatiques de l'océan.Un autre résultat que nous aimerions mentionner dans cet article est le fait qu' un nombre assez grand des éléments de la faune alpine est répandu dans tout le territoire de la Téthys. Cette constatation ne concerne pas seulement les éléments (pseudo-)planctoniques, mais aussi beaucoup d'organismes bentoniques (vagiles et sessiles) de la macroet microfaune. Jusqu' à présent, beaucoup de ces espèces sont décrites sous des noms locaux. La révision des suites des fossiles, collectionnées par les auteurs eux-mêmes dans les différents secteurs de la Téthys, a confirmé ce fait.Enfin des réflexions sont faites sur l'origine de la faune téthysienne. Une partie de cette faune de la Téthys, celle qui correspond à la faune de la région pacifique orientale, se serait développée d'abord en Amérique septentrionale, notamment en Colombie britannique, et aurait été transportée par le courant pacifique central vers l'ouest, dans la Téthys. Une communication directe, pendant le Trias, entre le Pacifique et la Téthys occidentale, par un Protoatlantique («Poseidon») n'existait pas du fait que la Pangéa était intacte. La migration des éléments faunistiques dans le Pacifique oriental et dans la Téthys n'était possible que le long de la route transpacifique. Des observations nouvelles sur la longue durée des stades larvales des organismes bentoniques ainsi que des réflexions concernant les paléocourants de la Panthalassa (Fig. 2) prouvent le bien-fondé de cette théorie. Par des contre-courants dans des latitudes supérieures, le transport des éléments faunistiques de la Téthys dans des régions arctiques et antarctiques de l'Amérique était possible.

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Arbeit im Rahmen des Int. Geol. Correl. Programme, Projekt 73/I/4, Triassic of the Tethys Realm, durchgeführt.     

Unique Marine Olenekian-Anisian Boundary Section from South Primorye, Russian Far East

INTRODUCTION LateOlenekianandAnisianmarinedepositsin SouthPrimoryewerefirststudiedbyD.L.Ivanov,thechiefofageologicalteammakingreconnaissance workfortheconstructionofthetrans Siberianrail road.HecollectedEarlyandMiddleTriassicam monoidsonRussianIsland.Arep…     

Moving boulders in flash floods and estimating flow conditions using boulders in ancient deposits

Boulders moving in flash floods cause considerable damage and casualties. More and bigger boulders move in flash floods than predicted from published theory. The interpretation of flow conditions from the size of large particles within flash flood deposits has, until now, generally assumed that the velocity (or discharge) is unchanging in time (i.e. flow is steady), or changes instantaneously between periods of constant conditions. Standard practice is to apply theories developed for steady flow conditions to flash floods, which are however inherently very unsteady flows. This is likely to lead to overestimates of peak flow velocity (or discharge). Flash floods are characterised by extremely rapid variations in flow that generate significant transient forces in addition to the mean‐flow drag. These transient forces, generated by rapid velocity changes, are generally ignored in published theories, but they are briefly so large that they could initiate the motion of boulders. This paper develops a theory for the initiation of boulder movement due to the additional impulsive force generated by unsteady flow, and discusses the implications.     

Primary aragonite and high‐Mg calcite in the late Cambrian (Furongian). Potential evidence from marine carbonates in Oman

Transient aragonite seas occurred in the early Cambrian but several models suggest the late Cambrian was a time of calcite seas. Here, evidence is presented from the Andam Group, Huqf High, Oman (Gondwana) that suggests a transient Furongian (late Cambrian) aragonite sea, characterized by the precipitation of aragonite and high‐Mg calcite ooids and aragonite isopachous, fibrous, cements. Stable carbon isotope data suggest that precipitation occurred just before and during the SPICE (Steptoean Positive Carbonate Isotope Excursion). Aragonite and high‐Mg calcite precipitation can be accounted for if mMg:Ca ratios were around 1.2 given the very high atmospheric CO₂ at that time and if precipitation occurred in warm waters associated with the SPICE. This, together with reported occurrences of early Furongian aragonite ooids from various locations in North America (Laurentia), suggests that aragonite and high‐Mg calcite precipitation from seawater may have been more than just a local phenomenon.     

Spatially controlled Fe and Si isotope variations: an alternative view on the formation of the Torres del Paine pluton

We present new Fe and Si isotope ratio data for the Torres del Paine igneous complex in southern Chile. The multi-composition pluton consists of an approximately 1 km vertical exposure of homogenous granite overlying a contemporaneous 250-m-thick mafic gabbro suite. This first-of-its-kind spatially dependent Fe and Si isotope investigation of a convergent margin-related pluton aims to understand the nature of granite and silicic igneous rock formation. Results collected by MC-ICP-MS show a trend of increasing δ⁵⁶Fe and δ³⁰Si with increasing silica content as well as a systematic increase in δ⁵⁶Fe away from the mafic base of the pluton. The marginal Torres del Paine granites have heavier Fe isotope signatures (δ⁵⁶Fe = +0.25 ± 0.02 2se) compared to granites found in the interior pluton (δ⁵⁶Fe = +0.17 ± 0.02 2se). Cerro Toro country rock values are isotopically light in both Fe and Si isotopic systems (δ⁵⁶Fe = +0.05 ± 0.02 ‰; δ³⁰Si = ?0.38 ± 0.07 ‰). The variations in the Fe and Si isotopic data cannot be accounted for by local assimilation of the wall rocks, in situ fractional crystallization, late-stage fluid exsolution or some combination of these processes. Instead, we conclude that thermal diffusion or source magma variation is the most likely process producing Fe isotope ratio variations in the Torres del Paine pluton.     

Wetland Loss,Juvenile Salmon Foraging Performance,and Density Dependence in Pacific Northwest Estuaries

During the transition of juveniles from fresh water to estuarine and coastal environments, the survival of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) can be strongly size selective and cohort abundance is partly determined at this stage. Because quantity and quality of food influence juvenile salmon growth, high rates of prey and energy acquisition during estuarine residence are important for survival. Human activities may have affected the foraging performance of juvenile salmon in estuaries by reducing the area of wetlands and by altering the abundance of salmon. To improve our understanding of the effects of wetland loss and salmon density on juvenile salmon foraging performance and diet composition in estuaries, we assembled Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) diet and density data from nine US Pacific Northwest estuaries across a gradient of wetland loss. We evaluated the influence of wetland loss and density on juvenile Chinook salmon instantaneous ration and energy ration, two measures of foraging performance, and whether the effect of density varied among estuaries with different levels of wetland loss. We also assessed the influence of wetland loss and other explanatory variables on salmon diet composition. There was no evidence of a direct effect of wetland loss on juvenile salmon foraging performance, but wetland loss appeared to mediate the effect of density on salmon foraging performance and alter salmon diet composition. Specifically, density had no effect on foraging performance in the estuaries with less than 50 % wetland loss but had a negative effect on foraging performance in the estuaries with greater than 50 % wetland loss. These results suggest that habitat loss may interact with density to constrain the foraging performance of juvenile Chinook salmon, and ultimately their growth, during a life history stage when survival can be positively correlated with growth and size.     

Tectonic Subsidence of California Estuaries Increases Forecasts of Relative Sea-Level Rise

Even along the generally uplifting coast of the Pacific US, local geologic structures can cause subsidence. In this study, we quantify Holocene-averaged subsidence rates in four estuaries (Carpinteria Slough, Goleta Slough, Campus Lagoon, and Morro Bay) along the southern and central California coast by comparing radiocarbon-dated estuarine material to a regional sea-level curve. Holocene-averaged rates of vertical motion range from subsidence of 1.4?±?2.4, 1.2±0.4, and 0.4?±?0.3 mm/year in Morro Bay, Carpinteria Slough, and Goleta Slough, respectively, to possible uplift in Campus Lagoon (?0.1?±?0.9 mm/year). The calculated rates of subsidence are of the same magnitude as rates of relative sea-level rise experienced over the late Holocene and effectively double the ongoing rates of relative sea-level rise experienced over the last five decades on other parts of the coast. The difference in rates of vertical motion among these four estuaries is attributed to their geological settings. Estuaries developed in subsiding geological structures such as synclines and fault-bounded basins are subsiding at much higher rates than those developed within flooded river valleys incised into marine terraces. Restoration projects accounting for future sea-level rise must consider the geologic setting of the estuaries and, if applicable, include subsidence in future sea-level rise scenarios, even along the tectonically uplifting US Pacific Coast.