Experimental study of the seismic properties of the Eastern Alps (Italy) along the Aurina–Tures–Badia Valleys transect

In order to better constrain the interpretation and the nature of the seismic reflectors, experimental measurements at high confining pressure (up to 300 MPa) and room temperature of the compressional wave velocity (Vp) on 10 samples representative of the most common lithologies along the Aurina (Ahrntal), Tures (Tauferer Tal), and Badia (Abtei Tal) Valleys profile (Eastern Alps, Italy) have been performed. For each sample, the speed of ultrasonic waves was measured in three mutually perpendicular directions, parallel and normal to the rock foliation and lineation.The main results are:(a) Good agreement between the calculated vs. measured modal compositions of the considered rocks, indicating that they were presumably equilibrated at the estimated P–T conditions; therefore, the seismic properties are representative of the crustal level indicated by the thermobarometry.(b) Measured and calculated average Vp are in good agreement, and are typical of mid-crustal level (6.0–6.5 km/s). Only the amphibolites show Vp typical of the lower crust (7.2 km/s).(c) The seismic anisotropy of metapelites is very high (12–27%), both with orthorhombic and transverse isotropy symmetry; amphibolites are transversely isotropic with an anisotropy of 8%; orthogneisses and granitoids are isotropic or weakly anisotropic.(d) The contacts between amphibolites and all other rock types may generate good reflections, provided they are not steeply inclined. Although the metamorphic foliation remains steeply inclined, discordant buried sub-horizontal igneous contacts may be detected.     

Mechanisms and orientation of melt segregation paths during pure shearing of a partially molten rock analog (norcamphor–benzamide)

In-situ deformation experiments were performed on partially molten analog materials (norcamphor in the presence of a benzamide–norcamphor melt) undergoing pure shearing at a constant melt fraction of 0.13. Melt in the samples induces a strain-dependent transition from purely dislocation creep to dislocation creep associated with minor intergranular fracturing and grain boundary sliding (GBS). Intergranular fractures drain the melt from initially isotropic melt pockets to grain boundaries. Along such boundaries, grain-boundary migration recrystallization is inhibited, while GBS occurs. Intergranular melt pockets occur along grain boundaries oriented subparallel to the shortening direction, but melt must have migrated parallel to the elongation direction of the samples, as indicated by melt accumulations at both extruding ends of the sample. Intergranular melt pockets parallel to the elongation direction were only rarely observed, because melt was rapidly expelled from these sites. Nevertheless, these grain boundaries are the pathways of melt segregation in the samples.     

High-frequency loading effects by the Ligurian Sea — a statistical investigation

In the present work we analyzed the high-frequency band of crustal tilts at Genoa in order to investigate indirect loading effects by the quarter-diurnal oceanic tides, as well as by an observed oceanic oscillation of 3.66 h which was previously ascribed to the proper oscillation of the Ligurian Sea. With this aim two hourly series of tidal observation recorded by an horizontal pendulum along a NS direction have been submitted to spectral analyses (1 May 1965-28 February 1966; 1 June 1966-31 December 1966).Power spectra revealed two peaks near the periods of 6.15 and 3.66 h and highly resolved Fourier spectra allowed us to detect the loading effects by the oceanic tides M₄, MS₄ and MK₄. As regards to the oscillation of 3.66 h we have found a spreading of spectral lines and non-significant values for the phases. This result provides a decisive verification of the existence of a proper oscillation of the Ligurian Sea regarded as a wide oscillating system with an open boundary from Nice (Côte d'Azur) to Calvi (Corsica).Finally, a spectral analysis performed on sea-level observations at Genoa revealed a complete correspondence between ocean and earth oscillations in the quarter-diurnal band and at the frequency of the longitudinal free oscillation of the Ligurian basin, with a mean amplitude ratio of about 1 mseca/mm.     

Magnetostratigraphy and Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary in Italy

Analysis of some sedimentary series near Rome and comparison with other series in northern and southern Italy give evidence that Arctica islandica, considered a marker species for the beginning of the Pleistocene, appears during the Re´union paleomagnetic event (about 2 my ago). A period of erosion, called the Aullan erosional phase, is evident in the lower part of the late Villafranchian (= early Pleistocene, Olivola faunal unit).     

Multiple intrusions in the Cima d'Asta pluton (Northern Italy)

The systematic modal analysis of four sectors of the Cima d'Asta pluton (North Italy) has shown the existence of multiple adjacent intrusions.The main data supporting this interpretation are reported. Some problems concerning the mechanism of adjacent intrusions and the plutonic magmatic evolution are also discussed in a preliminary way.This paper is published with the help of a grant from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italia.     

Thermal modelling of the Larderello geothermal field (Tuscany,Italy)

We present a 3-D thermal model of the Larderello geothermal field (Tuscany) to evaluate (1) the extent and contribution of the heat transfer mechanisms (conduction vs. convection) at the intermediate-upper crust levels, (2) the variability of the heat and mass fluxes entering from below and (3) the crucial role of the formation permeability. The model, composed by three main layers, considers the upper 10 km of the crust to better constrain the simulations with experimental data from borehole, fluid inclusion studies and hypocentral distributions. Several sets of simulations were carried out with different bottom boundary temperatures and different formation permeabilities for the two deeper layers. The results indicate that the present temperature (T) and pressure distributions in the Larderello field require deep reservoir rocks with higher permeability than the overlying capping units and underlying intermediate crust. Permeability values of 1 mDarcy for the reservoir rocks are enough to allow fluid convection, if the temperature at 10 km depth is as high as 500 ± 50°C. The presence of localized zones with formation permeability 50–100 times higher than the surrounding rocks strongly favours the migration of over-pressurized fluids, which episodically break through the overburden, feeding the presently exploited geothermal fields.     

Advanced numerical modeling of seismic response of a propped r.c. diaphragm wall

The paper presents some results from a number of dynamic FE simulations carried out to investigate the seismic response of a propped flexible retaining wall in a dry coarse-grained soil, considering two bedrock acceleration time histories as seismic input. Two different soil plasticity models have been considered in this study: an anisotropic hardening, critical-state model for cyclic/dynamic loading of sands and the classical Mohr–Coulomb elastic-perfectly plastic model with nonassociative flow rule. The results obtained allow to highlight the main features of the seismic performance of such type of flexible retaining structures and to evaluate the effects of the constitutive assumptions made on soil behavior on the predicted wall displacements and structural loads.     

UV observations of the symbiotic star EG And

EG And is a S-type symbiotic star. Here is present UV observations made by IUE from 1978 to 1991. From these observations the electronic density and the electronic temperature were obtained. The size of He II emitting region was estimated as 7.3R . Line and continuum variations confirm the binary nature of EG And.