Propagation pathways and fluid transport of hydrofractures in jointed and layered rocks in geothermal fields

Palaeofluid-transporting systems, observed as networks of mineral-filled veins in deeply eroded parts of extinct geothermal fields, indicate that hydrofractures commonly supply fluids to geothermal fields. Here we examine well-exposed vein networks that occur at crustal depths of around 1.5 km below the initial surface of the Tertiary lava pile in North Iceland. The veins are located in the damage zone of a major fault zone that dissects basaltic lava flows, the most common host rocks of geothermal fields in Iceland. The lava flows contain numerous weaknesses, particularly columnar (cooling) joints and contacts. For hydrofractures to supply fluids to geothermal fields, the fractures must be able to propagate, and transport fluids, to the surface. We explore hydrofracture pathway formation using boundary-element models of hydrofractures with fluid overpressure varying linearly from 10 MPa at the fracture centre to 0 MPa at the fracture tip (or the fluid front). The hydrofractures propagate through a vertically jointed and horizontally layered pile of lava flows with a general rock-matrix Young’s modulus of 1×10¹⁰ Pa and a Poisson’s ratio of 0.25. The joints and contacts between layers are modelled as internal springs, each with a stiffness (‘strength’) of 6 MPa/m. The location and sizes of discontinuities, as well as the location of the hydrofracture tip, vary between the models. The results indicate that tensile stresses generated at the tip of an overpressured hydrofracture can open up horizontal and vertical discontinuities out to a considerable distance from the tip, and that these discontinuities eventually link up to form the hydrofracture pathway. Analytical models indicate that for a hot spring of a given yield associated with a fault, the dimensions of the fluid-transporting part of the fault are likely to be similar for a typical normal fault and a strike-slip fault. Also, a hot spring of yield 180 l/s (the maximum in the low-temperature fields of Iceland) can be supplied through a hydrofracture of aperture 3 mm and trace length 1.2 m. These dimensions are very similar to those of typical veins in the studied networks. Buoyancy, rather than excess pressure in the fluid source, appears to be the primary driving force of hydrofractures in the geothermal fields of Iceland.     

Permeabilities and Chemical Properties of Water in Crystalline Rocks of the Black Forest, Germany

Investigations were carried out to determine the hydraulic and hydrochemical properties of crystalline rocks in the Black Forest of Germany and neighbouring regions. Rock permeabilities (K) were determined to a depth of 3500 m. These parameters range from K = 3.5 × 10-10 ms-1 to K = 8.7 × 10-5 ms-1; and can increase up to an order of magnitude which is typical for porous aquifers. It is shown that on an average, granites are more pervious than gneisses and only the permeabilities of gneisses decrease with depth. The geochemistry of natural waters in crystalline rocks is not constant, but varies with depth and location. The concentration increases with depth and the water-type changes from a Ca–-Na–-HCO 3-type (or Na–-Ca–-HCO3–-) at shallow depths to a Na–-Cl-type at greater depths. Thermal springs are found only in granitic rocks with on average higher permeabilities than in gneisses. Thermal waters are welling up in valleys at the bottom of steep mountains. The chemical composition of thermal spring water is identical to that of water found at greater depths. Using geothermometers it is found, that the depth of the deposits of thermal spring water in the crystalline basement rocks of the Black Forest is some 1000 m below the surface. The topographic relief in the mountains induces a deep circulation of infiltrating rain-water with an upwelling as thermal springs in the valleys.     

Tidal amplification and along‐strike process variability in a mixed‐energy paralic system prograding onto a low accommodation shelf,Edgeøya,Svalbard

The study describes the depositional development and sediment partitioning in a prograding paralic Triassic succession. The deposits are associated with the advance of large prism‐scale clinoforms across a shallower platform area. Approaching the platform, the limited accommodation and associated relative higher rates of deposition generated straighter clinoforms with lower foreset angles. The vertical restriction across the platform is interpreted to have amplified the tidal signature. Sediment was redistributed from the coast into increasingly sandy delta‐front deposits, compared to offshore equivalents. The deposits comprise extensive compound dune fields of amalgamated and increasingly clean sandbodies up‐section. Rapid deposition of significant amounts of sand led to differential subsidence and growth‐faulting in the delta front, with downthrown fault blocks further amplifying the tidal energy through funnelling. A mixed‐energy environment created along‐strike variability along the delta front with sedimentation governing process‐regime. Areas of lower sedimentation were reworked by wave and storm‐action, whereas high sedimentation rates preserved fluvially dominated mouth bars. A major transgression, however, favoured tidally dominated deposits also in these areas, attributed to increasing rugosity of the coastline. Formation of an extensive subaqueous platform between the coast and delta front dampened incoming wave energy, and tidally dominated deposits dominate the near‐shore successions. Meanwhile formation of wave‐built sand‐bars atop the platform attest to continued wave influence. The strong tidal regime led to the development of a heterolithic near‐shore tidally dominated channel system, and sandier fluvial channels up‐river. The highly meandering tidal channels incising the subaqueous platform form kilometre wide successions of inclined heterolithic stratification. The fluvially dominated channels which govern deposition on the delta plain are narrower and slightly less deep, straighter, generally symmetric and filled with cleaner sands. This study provides important insight into tidal amplification and sand redistribution during shallowing on a wide shelf, along with along‐strike process‐regime variability resulting from variations in sediment influx.     

Geochemistry of peridotites and mafic igneous rocks from the Central Dinaric Ophiolite Belt,Yugoslavia

In the Central Dinaric Ophiolite Belt (CDOB) peridotites and associated metamorphic rocks of various grades tectonically overlie an olistostrome melange of middle to late Jurassic age. Peridotites and underlying slices of mafic granulites (partially transformed to gamet amphibolites) are intruded by doleritic dikes which do not occur in the melange. The melange contains blocks of subgreywackes and cherts as well as those of pillow lavas and massive diabase (spilites). CDOB peridotites are in the spinel peridotite facies, but locally spinel-plagioclase peridotites occur as well. All peridotites have lherzolitic compositions showing several significant element correlations: Al₂O₃, CaO, TiO₂, Na₂O and Cu are negatively correlated and Ni is positively correlated with MgO. Recent estimates of primitive mantle compositions lie near the low-MgO end point of each correlation trend. Al/Ti and Ca/Al ratios of CDOB lherzolites are for the most part higher than the range observed in chondrites. However, when a few samples with extreme compositions are excluded, Al/Ti and Ca/Al are positively correlated with MgO, and the samples at the low-MgO end have near-chondritic Ca/Al but slightly higher than chondritic Al/Ti ratios. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of CDOB lherzolites show extreme depletions in LREE providing strong evidence for the absence of any metasomatic renrichment. The lack of correlation between highly incompatible elements (LREE) and moderately incompatible elements (HREE, Ti, Na, Al, Ca) together with the extremely low La/Sm ratios suggest that fractional or very small increment melt removal played a role in the genesis of these lherzolites. Four out of five lherzolites yield and apparent Sm-Nd isochron age of 136±15 Ma with an Nb of 6.0±1.1 (bulk rocks and clinopyroxene separates). One sample has an exceptionally high Nd of about 23. The mafic igneous rocks scatter around the lower end of the 136 Ma reference isochron allowing, but not proving, a genetic relationship with a mantle having a Nd isotopic composition which is similar to that of CDOB lherzolites. LIL element abundances of spilites and doleritic dike rocks suggest some hydrothermal alteration. In primitive mantle-normalized concentration diagrams none of these mafic igneous rocks shows a significant negative Nb-Ta anomaly. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of both rock types are essentially flat. Whereas the inferred primary compositions of the spilites compare well with those of E-type MORBs, the doleritic dike rocks show elemental ratios similar to those normally found in back-arc basin tholeiites.     

Evidence for a Panafrican volcanic arc and wrench fault tectonics in the Jbel Saghro,Anti-Atlas,Morocco

The Saghro hills constitute the northern branch of the Panafrican mobile belt in the eastern part of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas. The Precambrian terranes are predominantly composed of volcaniclastic and volcanic series witnessing a mainly explosive volcanism, intruded by diorites and granites. Their age attribution is problematic, and has been reconsidered in the present study based on structural evidence and Rb/Sr data of quartzdiorites: penetratively deformed volcano-sedimentaries intruded by these plutons aged between 754 and 722 Ma are now considered as Lower Precambrian II. The Upper PII series have been reattributed, and only formations overlying a basal conglomerate and angular disconformity are considered PIII.Main schistosities are predominantly NE-SW, cut by conjugate sets of strike-slip shear zones. In the Saghro area NW-SE compression can explain the observed structures during this main Panafrican deformation phase, while fault kinematics and dike emplacement related to late deformation events indicate rather a NE-SW compression.The explosive volcanism of the Saghro area can be related to a volcanic arc, active during the subduction- and collision-related Panafrican deformations. This arc would be located on the upper plate in respect to the northward dipping subduction zone evidenced in Bou Azzer — El Graara inlier (Saquaque et al., 1989a).

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Zusammenfassung Der Saghro repräsentiert den nördlichen Zweig der panafrikanischen Kette im östlichen Teil des marokkanischen Anti-Atlas. Die präkambrischen Serien bestehen weitgehend aus vulkanischem und vulkano-detritischem Material, die Zeugnis einer vorwiegend explosiven Vulkantätigkeit sind. Diese Serien sind intrudiert von Dioriten und Graniten. Die Altersbestimmung dieser Serien ist problematisch, und ihre Einstufung ist in vorliegender Arbeit revidiert auf Grund struktureller Beobachtungen und Rb-Sr Alter der intrusiven Quarzdiorite von 754 bis 722 Ma. Damit gehören die penetrativ deformierten Serien dem unteren PII an und dem oberen PII werden die etwas deformierten Teile des ehemaligen unteren PIII zugeordnet. Nur diejenigen Formationen, die ein charkteristisches Basiskonglomerat oder eine Winkeldiskordanz überlagern, werden als PIII eingestuft.Die Hauptschieferung streicht NE-SW, und wird von einem System konjugierter Scherzonen durchschnitten. Im Saghro können alle Strukturen dieser panafrikanischen Hauptphase durch eine NW-SE gerichtete Einengung erklärt werden. Die Injektion von Gängen und die Kinematik entlang Störungen im späteren Stadium der panafrikanischen Deformation dagegen deutet auf eine NE-SW-Einengung.Der explosive Vulkanismus und die kalk-alkalinen Plutone des Saghro können durch einen Inselbogenmagmatismus im Zusammenhang mit der nordvergenten Subduktion entlang des »accident majeur« von Bou Azzer – El Graara erklärt werden (Saquaque et al., 1989). Seine Aktivität war gleichzeitig mit den die Subduktion und die Kollision begleitenden Deformationen.

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Résumé Les boutonnières du Saghro constituent la branche nord de la zone panafricaine mobile dans la partie est de l'Anti-Atlas marocain. Les terrains précambriens sont essentiellement composés de séries volcano-clastiques et volcaniques témoignant d'un volcanisme à prédominance explosive, qui sont intrudées par des diorites et des granites. Leur attribution stratigraphique est problématique et fut reconsidérée comme PrécambrienII inférieur sur la base des données structurales et des datations Rb/Sr des diorites qaurtziques intrusives entre 754 et 722 Ma. En conséquence la série PII supérieur a été redéfinie, et uniquement des formations surmontant un conglomérat basai caractéristique ou une discordance angulaire sont considérés du PIII.La schistosité principale est NE-SW, recoupé par des systèmes de zones de cisaillement décrochantes conjuguées. Dans la région du Saghro, une compression NW-SE peut expliquer ces structures associées à la phase de déformation pan-africaine majeure, tandis que la cinématique des failles et l'emplacement de dykes liés aux déformations panafricaines tardives indiquent une compression NE-SW.Le volcanisme explosif du Saghro peut être lié à un arc, qui a été actif pendant les événements tectoniques liés à la subduction et la collision panafricaines. Cet arc sera localisé sur la plaque supérieure par rapport à une zone de subduction vers le nord retracée le long de l'accident majeur dans la boutonnière de Bou Azzer — El Graara (Saquaque et al., 1989).

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Systems engineering principles in fisheries management

Fisheries management receives valuable, but often fragmented information from academic disciplines such as biology, economics, and social sciences. A multi-disciplinary perspective seems to be necessary if the fisheries are to become sustainable. Globally, overcapacity is considered as the most serious threat to sustainable fisheries, which indicates the need for a stronger integration of technological aspects into fisheries management. This paper discusses application of systems engineering principles and integration of technology into fisheries management. The systems engineering process facilitates implementation of multi-disciplinary information from researchers to fisheries managers in the decision-making towards sustainable fisheries, but may also be used to overcome multi-disciplinary obstacles among scientists. The article concludes that use of systems engineering principles may become a valuable contribution to fisheries management because of increased transparency and reduced risk associated with the decision-making process.     

System evaluation of sustainability in the Norwegian cod-fisheries

Overcapacity in the fishing fleets is considered as the most serious threat to sustainable fisheries. More effective fishing vessels and catching gear contribute to increased catch capacity. Increased catch capacity causes environmental problems such as overexploitation and calls for larger quotas. The problem of overcapacity indicates the need for a stronger integration of technological aspects into fisheries management. This article assesses the differences in sustainability between the Norwegian ocean and coastal fishing fleets in the cod fisheries, by using systems engineering methods. Attributes of sustainability in the Norwegian cod fishing fleets are investigated, as well as acceptance criteria and performance indicators. The results show that there are huge differences in the performance between the vessel groups, and that the results of an evaluation of sustainability in the fishing fleets are dependent on which attributes are explored. Thus, the discussion may contribute to a better decision basis and improved sustainability in fisheries management.     

Impact of Biodeposition on Macrofaunal Communities in Intertidal Sandflats

Abstract. This investigation deals with the changes in macrofaunal communities in intertidal sandflats caused by the input of organic material via biodeposition produced by mussel beds. The area of investigation was the back barrier tidal flat system behind the East Frisian Island of Spiekeroog. Due to erosion by the ebb current a plume of biodeposits extended from an area of mussel beds ( Mytilus edulis ) towards the adjacent sandy sediments. This plume represented a gradient of decreasing contents of organic material. Five stations were installed along this gradient to analyse the effects of this organic input on the macrofaunal communities; a control station was placed on sandy sediments.
The macrofaunal communities differed along the transect. In the mussel patches oligochaetes dominated, whereas deposit-feeding polychaetes increased along the transect. These polychaetes were different from the communities of the sand flats. The changes in the macrofaunal communities discussed in the framework of the organic carbon contents of sediments and interspecific relationships.
After a cover of green algae during summer and after a cold winter, the mussels were almost completely eliminated from the area of investigation and reaggregated in another area of the flat. The layer of biodeposits eroded as well. After the decrease in contents of organic matter, the macrofaunal communities no longer followed the transitional distribution but showed a diffuse and seasonally influenced distribution.
The results indicate that biodeposits changed the quality of the sediment structure of the sand flats and that the amount of organic matter (TOC) is a main structuring factor for the macrofaunal communities.