Basin effects on ground motion: the case of a high-resolution experiment in Cephalonia (Greece)

In this study data and results of a high-resolution experiment in Cephalonia (Greece) regarding empirical basin effects are presented. A total of 59 velocimeters and 17 accelerometers were deployed in the basin of Argostoli Cephalonia (Greece), for a period of 7 months (September 2011–April 2012). Due to high seismicity of the western Greece and surrounding area this array recorded thousands of local, regional and global events. Data used in this work come from a selection of 162 regional and local earthquakes, 3 km ≤ R ≤ 600 km, with magnitude range, 1.0 ≤ M ≤ 5.2. Based on high signal-to-noise ratio recordings and two selected reference stations, variation of several intensity measures (PGA, PGV, Arias Intensity, Cumulative Absolute Velocity), significant duration, HVSR and SSR of ground motion recordings on soil sites within the basin is carefully examined for a range of frequencies of engineering interest. Comparison of results with a detailed 2D geologic model shows a good consistency both in amplification and frequency domain. Influence of “reference” site on ground motion variation of soil sites is also discussed in light of our results. Finally, it is suggested that 2D or/and 3D theoretical modeling should be performed given the availability of geological and geophysical parameters to define a realistic model of the basin. Results of this study can undoubtedly serve in model validation and improvement of ground motion simulation tools.     

Deglaciation history at the Alpine-Mediterranean transition (Argentera-Mercantour,SW Alps) from 10Be dating of moraines and glacially polished bedrock

Estimating the extent and age of the last glacial maxima as well as the chronology of glacial recessions in various environmental contexts is key to source-to-sink studies and paleoclimate reconstructions. The Argentera-Mercantour massif is located at the transition between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, therefore, its deglaciation chronology can be compared to the sediment budget of the Var River basin. Based on 13 new cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) beryllium-10 (¹⁰Be) datings performed on moraines and polished crystalline bedrocks and 22 reassessed ¹⁰Be CRE ages from similar altitude nearby steep basement surfaces, and from a lake sediment core, we can constrain the deglaciation chronology of the Argentera-Mercantour massif. These data allow for the first time to fully reconstruct the deglaciation history at the scale of the entire massif in agreement with a major glacier recession at c. 15 ka, at the onset of Bølling transition between the Oldest and Older Dryas. Main deglaciation of the upper slopes [2700–2800 m above sea level (a.s.l.)] occurred after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) at 20.8–18.6 ka, followed by the main deglaciation of the lower slopes (2300 m a.s.l.) at 15.3–14.2 ka. Finally, the flat polished surfaces above 2600 m a.s.l. and the zones confined within narrow lateral valleys were likely affected by progressive ice melting of remaining debris covered glaciers and moraine erosion following the Younger Dryas re-advance stage between 12 and 8–9 ka. At lower elevations, the Vens Lake located at 2300 m a.s.l., allows evidence of the onset of lake sedimentation at c. 14 ka and a transition towards a vegetated environment that mainly occurred before 8 ka. Moraine final stabilization at 5 ka might reflect denudation acceleration during the Holocene humid phase. This contribution reveals a glacier–climate relationship more sensitive to warming phases in the southern Alps highlighted by a major decrease of glaciers after c. 15 ka. This major deglaciation is correlated with a 2.5-fold decrease of sediment discharge of rivers into the Mediterranean Sea. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

10 Years of the optical &; UV monitor (OM) on-board <Emphasis Type="Italic">XMM-Newton</Emphasis>

The XMM-Newton X-ray observatory was launched at the end of 1999 and it is still successfully operated. In addition to the X-ray instruments, the payload carries a small telescope, the Optical Monitor, which provides simultaneous imaging and spectroscopic observations in the optical and UV ranges. In this report we review the status of the OM and its main achievements after 10 years of operations. We also introduce the XMM-OM Serendipitous Ultra-violet Source Survey (SUSS) Catalogue.     

The reflection seismic survey of project TIPTEQ—the inventory of the Chilean subduction zone at 38.2° S

We describe results of an active-source seismology experiment across the Chilean subduction zone at 38.2°S. The seismic sections clearly show the subducted Nazca plate with varying reflectivity. Below the coast the plate interface occurs at 25 km depth as the sharp lower boundary of a 2–5 km thick, highly reflective region, which we interpret as the subduction channel, that is, a zone of subducted material with a velocity gradient with respect to the upper and lower plate. Further downdip along the seismogenic coupling zone the reflectivity decreases in the area of the presumed 1960 Valdivia hypocentre. The plate interface itself can be traced further down to depths of 50–60 km below the Central Valley. We observe strong reflectivity at the plate interface as well as in the continental mantle wedge. The sections also show a segmented forearc crust in the overriding South American plate. Major features in the accretionary wedge, such as the Lanalhue fault zone, can be identified. At the eastern end of the profile a bright west-dipping reflector lies perpendicular to the plate interface and may be linked to the volcanic arc.     

Dawn; the Vesta–HED connection; and the geologic context for eucrites,diogenites, and howardites

The Dawn mission has provided new evidence strengthening the identification of asteroid Vesta as the parent body of the howardite, eucrite, and diogenite (HED) meteorites. The evidence includes Vesta's petrologic complexity, detailed spectroscopic characteristics, unique space weathering, diagnostic geochemical abundances and neutron absorption characteristics, chronology of surface units and impact history, occurrence of exogenous carbonaceous chondritic materials in the regolith, and dimensions of the core, all of which are consistent with HED observations and constraints. Global mapping of the distributions of HED lithologies by Dawn cameras and spectrometers provides the missing geologic context for these meteorites, thereby allowing tests of petrogenetic models and increasing their scientific value.     

A first deep seismic survey in the Sea of Marmara: Deep basins and whole crust architecture and evolution

Increased source strength, streamer length and dense spatial coverage of seismic reflection profiles of the SEISMARMARA Leg 1 allow to image the deep structure of the marine North Marmara Trough (NMT) on the strike-slip North Anatolian Fault (NAF) west of the destructive Izmit 1999 earthquake. A reflective lower crust and the Moho boundary are detected. They appear upwarped on an E-W profile from the southern Central Basin eastwards, towards more internal parts of the deformed region. Thinning of the upper crust could use a detachment suggested from an imaged dipping intracrustal reflector that would allow upper crustal material to be dragged from beneath it and above the lower crust, accounting for the extensional component but also southwest motion of the southern margin of the NMT. Sections across the eastern half of the NMT, crossing the Cinarcik and Imrali basins, reveal several faults that are active reaching into the basement and have varying strike and proportions of normal and strike-slip displacement. They might be viewed as petals of a large scale negative flower-structure that spreads over a width of 30 km at surface and is rooted deeper in the lithosphere. Under the Central Basin a very thick sediment infill is revealed and its extensional bounding faults are active and imaged as much as 8 km apart down to 6 km depth. We interpret them as two deep-rooted faults encompassing a foundering basement block, rather than being merely pulled-apart from a jog in a strike-slip above a décollement. The deep-basin lengthening would account for only a modest part of the proposed 60 km finite motion since 4 Myr along the same direction oblique to the NMT that sidesteps the shear motion from its two ends. Thus differential motion occurred much beyond the deep basins, like subsidence involving the NMT bounding faults and the intracrustal detachments. The complex partitioned motion localized on active faults with diverse natures and orientations is suggested to represent the overburden deformation induced from horizontal plane simple shear occurring in depth at lithospheric scale, and in front of the North Anatolian Fault when it propagated through the region.     

Influence of instruments on the H/V spectral ratios of ambient vibrations

For an optimal analysis of the H/V curve, it appears necessary to check the instrument signal to noise ratio in the studied frequency band, to ensure that the signal from the ground noise is well above the internal noise. We assess the reliability and accuracy of various digitizers, sensors and/or digitizer-sensor couples. Although this study is of general interest for any kind of seismological study, we emphasize the influence of equipment on H/V analysis results. To display the impact of the instrumental part on the H/V behavior, some series of tests have been carried out following a step-by-step procedure: first, the digitizers have been tested in the lab (sensitivity, internal noise...), then the three components sensors, still in the lab, and finally the usual user digitizers-sensors couple in lab and outdoors. In general, the digitizer characteristics, verified during this test, correspond well to the manufacturer specifications, however, depending on the digitizer, the quality of the digitized waveform can be very good to very poor, with variation from a channel to another channel (gain, time difference etc.). It appears very clearly that digitizers need a warming up time before the recording to avoid problems in the low-frequency range. Regarding the sensors, we recommend strongly to avoid the use of “classical” accelerometers (i.e., usual force balance technology). The majority of tested seismometers (broadband and short period, even 4.5 Hz) can be used without problems from 0.4 to 25 Hz. In all cases, the instrumentation should be checked first to verify that it works well for the defined study aim, but also to define its limit of use (frequency, sensitivity...).     

苏鲁超高压变质带岗上石榴石橄榄岩岩体：中国大陆科学钻探卫星孔（CCSD-PP3钻孔）初步研究

大陆科学钻探在江苏岗上超镁铁岩体上打了一个卫星孔(CCSD-PP3),孔深705m,穿透428m厚超镁铁岩体,其下主要为不同类型片麻岩及少量榴辉岩。该岩体产在苏鲁超高压变质带中,面积1370×700m,上覆约10m厚第四纪盖层。岩心柱可以粗分为4段,370m上部超镁铁岩,50m片麻岩夹榴辉岩,60m下部超镁铁岩,225m片麻岩类。榴辉岩夹在片麻岩中,片麻岩有正、副之分。榴辉岩石榴石中发现柯石英假象,表明岩石经历超高压变质作用。超镁铁岩主要岩性为纯橄岩和含石榴石纯橄岩,含石榴石纯橄岩出现3层,总厚度仅90m,与不舍石榴石的纯橄岩无截然界线。岩相学研究观测到石榴石中保留橄榄石、单斜辉石和尖晶石等超高压变质之前的矿物组合,以及退变质矿物替代石榴石的现象。岩石化学成分总体变化小,SiO242.17-44.79,平均43.78;MgO46.35-48.98,平均47.42,Mg#值(=Mg/(Mg Fe)×100)为91.89-92.75,平均92.4,属于高Mg型;Al2O3和CaO丰度低,分别为0.66-0.27,平均0.43,和0,01-0.35,平均0.13;REE总量较原始地幔亏损,但LREE相对HREE富集。结合矿物组合特征,说明这套岩石属亏损型,但可能经历了流体热液的改造;纯橄岩和含石榴石纯橄岩成分的一致型,说明后者是前者经变质改造形成。SHRIMPU-Pb定年测得含石榴石纯榄岩中锆石存在两组年龄,超高压变质阶段新形成的锆石时代为240±2.7Ma,核部残留岩浆锆石给出726±56Mao前者与区域上超高压变质年龄十分吻合,后者与大别-苏鲁区域上新元古代大规模花岗质岩浆侵位时代。岗上超镁铁岩体可能记录了早期侵位到地壳,在陆陆俯冲碰撞阶段被俯冲岩片带入到柯石英形成深度,以及随岩片折返到地表的整个历史。     

雅鲁藏布江缝合带的双陆内俯冲构造与部分熔融层特征──INDEPTH项目结果的初步综合

根据中、美两国合作开展的西藏深反射地震结果,提出雅鲁藏布江缝合带（YZS）的"双陆内俯冲"构造模式和缝合带南、北分别存在着不同特征的、规模不一的部分熔融层;提出YZS处断裂向深部延深有限,认为YZS处地壳增厚有4种机制：①地壳规模的大的俯冲增厚;②上部地壳内的俯冲和背冲增厚;③下地壳内的底部垫托增厚和挤压增厚;④深部熔融体的向上挤入而引起的地壳增厚.提出可能存在两条大的伸展性断裂,造成江孜南、北地块间出现了大升降.     

蛇绿岩建造非金属矿床成矿系列初步探讨

我国蛇绿岩分布广泛。蛇绿岩中有着成因上和时空上紧密联系的一系列非金属矿床,它们构成了蛇绿岩建造非金属矿床成矿系列。这一成矿系列中的主要非金属矿有橄榄岩、玄武岩、蛇纹岩、石棉、滑石、玉石类等等,主要的成矿作用有岩浆作用、接触变质作用、交代蚀变作用等。其成矿作用和矿床分布模式有明显规律,这些规律对于地质勘查、资源开发等都具有重要的意义。