Ignimbrites of basaltic andesite and andesite compositions from Tanna,New Hebrides Arc

Tanna island is part of a large volcanic complex mainly subsided below sea-level. On-land, two series of hydroclastic deposits and ignimbrites overlie the subaerial remains of a basal, mainly effusive volcano. The ‘Older’ Tanna Ignimbrite series (OTI), Late Pliocene or Pleistocene in age, consists of ash flows and ash- and scoria-flow deposits associated with fallout tephra layers, overlain by indurated pumice-flow deposits. Phreatomagmatic features are a constant characteristic of these tuffs. The ‘younger’ Late Pleistocene pyroclastics, the Siwi sequence, show basal phreatomagmatic deposits overlain by two successive flow units, each comprising a densely welded layer and a nonwelded ash-flow deposit. Whole-rock analyses of 17 juvenile clasts from the two sequences (vitric blocks from the phreatomagmatic deposits, welded blocks, scoriaceous bombs and pumices from the ignimbrites) show basaltic andesite and andesite compositions (SiO₂=53–60%). In addition, 296 microprobe analyses of glasses in these clasts show a wide compositional range from 51 to 69% SiO₂. Dominant compositions at ∼54, 56, 58.5 and 61–62% SiO₂ characterize the glass from the OTI. Glass compositions in the lower – phreatomagmatic – deposits from the Siwi sequence also show multimodal distribution, with peaks at SiO₂=55, 57.5, 61–62 and 64% whereas the upper ignimbrite has a predominant composition at 61–62% SiO₂. In both cases, mineralogical data and crystal fractionation models suggest that these compositions represent the magmatic signature of a voluminous layered chamber, the compositional gradient of which is the result of fractional crystallization. During two major eruptive stages, probably related to two caldera collapses, the OTI and Siwi ignimbrites represent large outpourings from these magmatic reservoirs. The successive eruptive dynamics, from phreatomagmatic to Plinian, emphasize the role of water in initiating the eruptions, without which the mafic and intermediate magmas probably would not have erupted. Received: February 19, 1993/Accepted October 10, 1993     

Holocene recurrent explosive activity at Chimborazo volcano (Ecuador)

Ice-capped Chimborazo is one of the large composite Ecuadorian volcanoes whose recent eruptive activity is poorly known. This paper presents the characteristics and the ages of a newly discovered Holocene sequence of pyroclastic deposits on the east and north sides of the cone. Lying upon a moraine of the Late-Glacial period, the most complete section of ~ 4.5 m in thickness is located 5 km from the present summit crater. It consists of seven massive or diffusely stratified ash flow layers and four fallout layers interbedded with seven paleosoils.     

Geochemical and petrological constraints on rear-arc magma genesis processes in Ecuador: The Puyo cones and Mera lavas volcanic formations

The Puyo scoria cones and the Mera lava flows, two newly recognized volcanic formations dated between Late Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene, extend the limits of the Ecuadorian rear-arc volcanic province some 100 km to the south. The Puyo scoria cones have erupted K-rich absarokites containing olivine, diopside and phlogopite, whereas the Mera lava flows display a basic andesite composition, with olivine and minor augite phenocrysts. In addition to high contents in LILE, LREE and HFSE, the Puyo absarokites exhibit many characteristics of primitive melts, namely high Cr (590–310 ppm) and Ni (330–154 ppm) contents, high Mg# (64–70) and they contain forsteritic olivine (Fo_82–89). The composition of the most primary Puyo absarokite was used in petrogenetic models, in order to constrain the genesis of these high-K magmas. Major and trace elements models, as well as isotopic data, indicate that the source of Puyo magmas is a hydrated phlogopite- and garnet-bearing lherzolite. Phlogopite crystallization in the mantle wedge is triggered by the metasomatism by 3–5% of a SiO₂-, H₂O-rich liquid generated by slab melting. Partial melting of the subducted oceanic crust beneath Ecuador is allowed by the subduction of the young and warm Carnegie Ridge, which modifies the thermal regime of the Benioff zone. A low degree (1–4%) of partial melting of the metasomatized mantle wedge, leaving a variable garnet (4–7%) ± phlogopite (0–4%) lherzolitic residual assemblage, leads to the compositions of the entire Puyo absarokite series and is consistent with previous petrogenetic models developed for the Ecuadorian volcanic arc. Indeed, the homogeneity of isotopic data across the arc suggests a similar source for the whole Ecuadorian magmas.     

Pre-eruptive physical conditions of El Reventador volcano (Ecuador) inferred from the petrology of the 2002 and 2004–05 eruptions

A petrological study of the eruptive products of El Reventador allowed us to infer the magmatic processes related to the 2002 and 2004–05 eruptions of this andesitic stratovolcano. On November 3, 2002, El Reventador experienced a highly explosive event, which was followed by emplacement of two lava flows in November–December 2002. Silica contents range from 62 to 58 wt.% SiO₂ for the November 3 pyroclastic deposits to 58–56 and 54–53 wt.% SiO₂ for the successive lava flows. In November 2004 eruptive activity resumed supplying four new lava flows (56–54 wt.% SiO₂) between November 2004 and August 2005.     

Spatio-temporal Slip, and Stress Level on the Faults within the Western Foothills of Taiwan: Implications for Fault Frictional Properties

We use preseismic, coseismic, and postseismic GPS data of the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake to infer spatio-temporal variation of fault slip and frictional behavior on the Chelungpu fault. The geodetic data shows that coseismic slip during the Chi-Chi earthquake occurred within a patch that was locked in the period preceding the earthquake, and that afterslip occurred dominantly downdip from the ruptured area. To first-order, the observed pattern and the temporal evolution of afterslip is consistent with models of the seismic cycle based on rate-and-state friction. Comparison with the distribution of temperature on the fault derived from thermo-kinematic modeling shows that aseismic slip becomes dominant where temperature is estimated to exceed 200° at depth. This inference is consistent with the temperature induced transition from velocity-weakening to velocity-strengthening friction that is observed in laboratory experiments on quartzo-feldspathic rocks. The time evolution of afterslip is consistent with afterslip being governed by velocity-strengthening frictional sliding. The dependency of friction, μ, on the sliding velocity, V, is estimated to be ${{\partial \mu }/{\partial \, {\rm ln}\, V}} = 8 \times 10^{ - 3}$ . We report an azimuthal difference of about 10–20° between preseismic and postseismic GPS velocities, which we interpret to reflect the very low shear stress on the creeping portion of the décollement beneath the Central Range, of the order of 1–3 MPa, implying a very low friction of about 0.01. This study highlights the importance of temperature and pore pressure in determining fault frictional sliding.     

Using Causal Inference in Field Development Optimization: Application to Unconventional Plays

Mathematical Geosciences - In the current era of big data and machine learning, a strong focus exists on prediction and classification. In industrial applications, however, many important questions...     

Uncoupled viral and bacterial distributions in coral reef waters of Tuamotu Archipelago (French Polynesia)

This study examined the distribution of virioplankton and bacterioplankton in two coral reef systems (Ahe and Takaroa atolls) in the Tuamotu Archipelago, in comparison with the surrounding oligotrophic ocean. Mean concentrations of 4.8×10(5) and 6.2×10(5)cellsml(-1) for bacteria and 8.1×10(6) and 4.3×10(6)VLP(virus-like particle) ml(-1) were recorded in Ahe and Takaroa lagoons, respectively. Chlorophyll-a concentrations and dissolved organic matter were higher in Ahe whereas (3)H thymidine incorporation rates were higher in Takaroa. First data on lytic and lysogenic strategies of phages in coral reef environments were discussed in this paper. The fraction of visibly infected cells by viruses was negligible regardless of the lagoon station (mean=0.15%). However, the fraction of lysogenic cells ranged between 2.5% and 88.9%. Our results suggest that the distribution patterns of virioplankton are apparently not coupled to the spatial dynamics of the bacterioplankton communities.     

Dantu's mineralogical properties – A view into the composition of Ceres' crust

Impact crater Dantu not only exhibits a very complex geological history but also shows an exceptional heterogeneity of its surface composition. Because of its location within a low‐lying region named Vendimia Planitia, which has been proposed to represent an ancient impact basin, Dantu possibly offers a window into the composition of Ceres’s deeper crust, which apparently is enriched in ammonia. Local concentration of carbonates within Dantu or its ejecta blanket may be either exposed or their emplacement induced by the Dantu impact event. Because carbonates can be seen along Dantu's crater walls, exposed due to recent slumping, but also as fresh spots or clusters of spots scattered across the surface, the deposition/formation of carbonates took place over a long time period. The association of several bright spots enriched in carbonates with sets of fractures on Dantu's floor might be accidental. Nevertheless, its morphological and compositional similarity to the faculae in Ceres’s prominent impact crater Occator including its hydrated state does not exclude a cryo‐volcanic origin, i.e., upwelling of carbonate‐enriched brines influenced by H₂O ice in the subsurface. Indeed, an isolated H₂O ice spot can be identified near Dantu, which shows that ice still exists in Ceres’s subsurface at midlatitudes and that it can exist on the surface for a longer period of time.     

Co-registration and correlation of aerial photographs for ground deformation measurements

We describe and test a procedure to accurately co-register and correlate multi-temporal aerial images. We show that this procedure can be used to measure surface deformation, and explore the performance and limitations of the technique. The algorithms were implemented in a software package, COSI-Corr (available from the Caltech Tectonics Observatory website). The technique is validated on several case examples of co-seismic deformation. First, we measure co-seismic ground deformation due to the 1992, Mw 7.3, Landers, California, earthquake from 1 m resolution aerial photography of the National Aerial Photography Program (United States Geological Survey). The fault ruptures are clearly detected, including small kilometric segments with fault slip as small as a few tens of centimeters. We also obtained similar performance from images of the fault ruptures produced by the 1999 Mw 7.1 Hector Mine, California, earthquake. The measurements are shown to be biased due to the inaccuracy of the Digital Elevation Model, film distortions, scanning artifacts, and ignorance of ground displacements at the location of the tie points used to co-register the multi-temporal images. We show that some of these artifacts can be identified and corrected.     

A novel platform to evaluate the dampening of water and solute transport in an experimental channel under unsteady flow conditions

This paper presents a novel platform to study the dampening of water and solute transport in an experimental channel under unsteady flow conditions, where literature data are scarce. We address the question about what could be the smallest size of experimental platform that is useful for research, project studies, and teaching activities and that allows to do rational experiments characterized by small space occupation, short experimental duration, high measurement precision, high quality and reproducible experimental curves, low water and energy consumption, and the possibility to test a large variety of hydrograph scenarios. Whereas large scale hydraulic laboratories have focused their studies on sediment transport, our platform deals with solute transport. The objectives of our study are (a) building a platform that allows to do rational experiments, (b) enriching the lack of experimental data concerning water and solute transport under unsteady state conditions, and (c) studying the dampening of water and solute transport. We studied solute transport in a channel with lateral gain and lateral loss under different experimental configurations, and we show how the same lateral loss flow event can lead to different lateral loss mass repartitions under different configurations. In order to characterize water and solute dampening between the input and the output of the channel, we calculate dampening ratios based on peak coordinates of time flow curves and time mass curves and that express the decrease of peak amplitude and the increase of peak occurrence time between the input and output curves. Finally, we use a solute transport model coupling the diffusive wave equation for water transfer and the advection–diffusion equation for solute transport in order to simulate the experimental data. The simulations are quite good with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency NSE > 0.98 for water transfer and 0.84 < NSE < 0.97 for solute transport. This platform could serve hydrological modellers because it offers a variety of measured parameters (flow, water height, and solute concentration), at a fine time step under unsteady flow conditions.