Attenuation relations for strong seismic ground motion in the Himalayan region

Strong motion data from various regions of India have been used to study attenuation characteristics of horizontal peak acceleration and velocity. The strong ground motion data base considered in the present work consists of various earthquakes recorded in the northern part of India since 1986 with magnitudes 5.7 to 7.2. Using these data, relations for horizontal peak acceleration and velocity, which are $$\begin{gathered} log_{10} a = 1.14 + 0.31M + 0.65log_{10} R \hfill \\ log_{10} v = 0.571 + 0.41M + 0.768log_{10} R \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ have been proposed wherea is the peak horizontal acceleration in cm/sec²,v is the peak horizontal velocity in mm/sec,M is body wave magnitude, andR is the hypocentral distance in km. The proposed relations are in reasonable agreement with the small amount of strong ground motion data available for the northern part of India. The present results will be useful in estimating strong ground motion parameters and in the earthquake resistant design in the Himalayan region.     

Hybrid seismic modeling based on discrete-wave number and finite-difference methods

Any calculation of seismic wave propagation comprising the seismic source, the travel path, and the receiver site in a single finite-difference (FD) model requires a considerable amount of computer time and memory. Moreover, the methods currently available for including point sources in the 2D FD calculations are far-field approximations only. Therefore we have developed a new hybrid method for treating the seismic wave fields at localized 2D near-surface structures embedded in a 1D background medium, and excited by a point source. The source radiation and propagation in the background model is solved by the discrete-wave number (DW) method, while the propagation in the local 2D structure is calculated by the FD method. The coupling between the two sets of calculations is performed on a rectangular excitation box surrounding the local structure. We show the usefulness of the method in ground-motion studies where both near-field source effects and local site effects are important. Technical problems connected with the inconsistency between the 3D source radiation and the 2D FD calculation are minor for the relatively distant in-plane point explosive sources, but are more serious for the in-plane dislocation sources.     

The gravitational field of topographic-isostatic masses and the hypothesis of mass condensation II-the topographic-isostatic geoid

In Part I we focussed on a convergent representation of the gravitational potential generated bytopographic masses on top of the equipotential surface atMean Sea Level, thegeoid, and by those masses which compensate topography. Topographic masses have also been condensated, namely represented by a single layer. Part II extends the computation of the gravitational field of topographic-isostatic masses by a detailed analysis of itsforce field in terms ofvector-spherical harmonic functions. In addition, the discontinuous mass-condensated topographic gravitational force vector (head force) is given. Once we identify theMoho discontinuity asone interface of isostatically compensated topographical masses, we have computed the topographic potential and the gravitational potential which is generated by isostatically compensated masses atMean Sea Level, the geoid, and illustrated by various figures of geoidal undulations. In comparison to a data oriented global geoid computation ofJ. Engels (1991) the conclusion can be made that the assumption of aconstant crustal mass density, the basic condition for isostatic modeling, does not apply. Insteaddensity variations in the crust, e.g. betweenoceanic and continental crust densities, have to be introduced in order to match the global real geoid and its topographic-isostatic model. The performed analysis documents that thestandard isostatic models based upon aconstant crustal density areunreal.     

Petrogenesis of the late-Delamerian gabbroic complex at Black Hill,South Australia: Implications for convective thinning of the lithospheric mantle

Summary A group of funnel-shaped gabbroic plutons at Black Hill, South Australia, consist of a lower series of layered peridotite, troctolite and olivine gabbro cumulates overlain by gabbronorites and potassic gabbronorites, the latter yielding a Sm-Nd isochron of 489 ± 39 Ma. Mineral assemblages in the gabbros record an olivine compositional hiatus (Fo_75-55) and a high temperature (1200-1000°C), low pressure (1 kbar), continental tholeiitic fractionation trend under moderate f_{O 2} (QFM) conditions. The liquid line of descent involved complex open system processes including recharge and crustal assimilation. In one pluton, fine-grained norites may reflect assimilation which resulted in an increaseda _SiO2 ^liquid causing orthopyroxene to crystallize prior to plagioclase.All the gabbros, including the most primitive peridotites, are LREE and incompatible element enriched. Moreover, the calculated parental magma composition in equilibrium with the most primitive troctolite has high La/Yb, La/Nb, Ti/Y and low Rb/Ba, similar to that of basaltic dykes which cut the gabbroic complex. Such compositions are untypical of melts derived from the asthenosphere suggesting that the incompatible element enrichment is not simply due to small degrees of melting. Given the isotopic constraints (Nd_i 3.4 to –4.6,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i 0.7038-0.7065), this enrichment is not easily reconciled by crustal contamination either, and instead it is inferred to reflect an enriched lithospheric mantle source. Published data on mantle xenoliths from local Tertiary volcanoes overlap the isotopic and geochemical array of the gabbros and dykes, supporting this hypothesis.In conjunction with A-type granites and minor volcanic rocks, the gabbroic plutons form part of a high temperature, bimodal magmatic suite which intruded the Adelaide fold belt just after the cessation of convergent deformation during the Cambro-Ordovician Delamerian Orogeny. The appearance of such magmas is problematic since thick orogenic lithosphere severely restricts the likelihood of decompression melting in the asthenosphere. One solution to this dilemma is that convective thinning of the lithospheric mantle beneath the orogen promoted melting of hydrated, enriched regions within the lithospheric mantle. Such a model can reconcile the strong lithospheric mantle signature in the gabbros with the observation that their intrusion was coincident with uplift and the cessation of deformation.

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Die Petrogenese eines spätdelamerischen Gabbrokomplexes von Black Hill, Südaustralien: Schlußfolgerungen zur konvektiven Ausdünnung des lithospharischen Mantels

Zusammenfassung Eine Gruppe von trichterförmigen, gabbroiden Plutonen von Black Hill, Südaustralien, setzt sich aus einer unteren Serie von geschichteten Peridotiten, Troktoliten and Olivin-Gabbro-Kumulaten, die von Gabbro-Noriten und potassischen Gabbros überlagert werden, zusammen; letzgenannte Gesteine ergaben ein Sm-Nd Isochronenalter von 489 ± 39 Ma. Die Mineralzusammensetzungen der Gabbros belegen eine Mischungslücke bei Olivin (Fo_75-55). Die Gesteine folgen einem kontinentalen, tholeiitischen Fraktionierungstrend und kristallisierten bei hohen Temperaturen (1200-1000°C), unter niedrigem Druck ( 1 kbar) and moderatem fo₂ ( QFM). Wiederholte Magmenzufuhr und Krustenassimilation sind weitere zu beriicksichtigende, komplexe Prozesse, die sich in einem offenen System abspielten. Feinkörnige Norite von einem der Plutone könnten durch Assimilationsprozesse - she äußern sich in einer Erhöhung desa _SiO₂ ^liquid liquid - entstanden sein. In diesen Gesteinen kristallisierte Orthopyroxen vor Plagioklas.Alle Gabbros, einschließich der primitivsten Peridotite, sind an LREE und inkompatiblen Elementen angereichert. Die berechnete Zusammensetzung des Ausgangsmagmas, das im Gleichgewicht mit dem primitivsten Troktolit steht, weist hohe La/Yb, La/Nb, Ti/Y and niedrige Rb/Ba auf. Basaltische Dykes, die die Gabbros durchsetzen zeigen ähnliche Elementverhältnisse. Derartige Zusammensetzungen sind untypisch für astenosphärische Schmelzen und belegen, daß die Anreicherung an inkompatiblen Elementen nicht einfach nur mit geringen Aufschmelzungsraten zu erklären ist. Auf Grund der Isotopendaten (Nd_i 3.4 to -4.6,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶ Sr_i 0.7038–0.7065) kann these Anreicherung auch nicht leicht mit Krustenkontamination erklärt werden. Vielmehr wird eine angereicherte, lithosphärische Mantelquelle vermutet. Publizierte Daten an Mantelxenolithen von tertiären Vulkanen zeigen sehr ähnliche isotopische und geochemische Zusammensetzungen and belegen these Hypothese.Gemeinsam mit A-Typ Graniten und untergeordnet, vorkommenden, vulkanischen Gesteinen sind die Gabbros Teil einer hochtemperierten bimodalen, magmatischen Serie, die den Adelaide Fold Belt postdeformativ, während der kambro-ordovizischen delamerischen Orogenese, intrudierten. Das Vorkommen solcher Magmen ist problematisch, da die Präsenz dicker, orogen gebildeter Lithosphäre die Möglichkeit der Dekompressions-Aufschmelzung der Astenosphäre stark vermindert. Eine mögliche Lösung dieses Dilemmas ist, daß konvektives Ausdünnen des lithosphärischen Mantels unterhalb der Orogenzone das Aufschmelzen von hydratisierten, angereicherten Regionen innerhalb der Lithosphäre förderte. Dieses Modell bringt die Beobachtungen, daß die Gabbros einerseits eine lithosphärische Signatur zeigen, andererseits aber während der Hebungsphase und am Ende des Deformationsgeschehens intrudierten, in Einklang.

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With 15 Figures     

Dislocations in CaTiO3 perovskite deformed at high-temperature: a transmission electron microscopy study

Dislocation configurations in natural single crystals of CaTiO₃ perovskite deformed in high-temperature creep were examined and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Screw dislocations with Burgers vector [100]_pc and [011]_pc, dissociated on the $(01\bar 1)_{{\text{pc}}} $ plane, form rectangular networks with extended four-fold nodes in the shape of octagons, a configuration never observed in any of the previously investigated perovskites, except CaGeO₃. Screw dislocations with Burgers vector [101]_pc and $(\bar 101)_{{\text{pc}}} $ , on the (010)_pc plane, react to form a twist wall; the dislocations with Burgers vector [002] produced by the reaction decompose into two perfect dislocations [001]_pc. This results in a new configuration, never observed before, with three-fold nodes at the corners of rectangles. Both the octagonal extended nodes and the junctions decomposed into perfect dislocations are seen in samples deformed indifferently by slip on {100}_pc or {110}_pc planes, but they seem to appear only above 1520 K, in the cubic phase.     

Extreme value analysis of diamond-size distributions

Extreme value analysis provides a semiparametric method for analyzing the extreme long tails of skew distributions which may be observed when handling mining data. The estimation of important tail characteristics, such as the extreme value index, allows for a discrimination between competing distribution models. It measures the thickness of such long tailed distributions, if only a limited sample is available. This paper stresses the practical implementation of extreme value theory, which is used to discriminate a lognormal from a mixed lognormal distribution in a case study of size distributions for alluvial diamonds.     

Hierarchical decomposition of variance with applications in environmental mapping based on satellite images

A quadtree-based image segmentation procedure (HQ) is presented to map complex environmental conditions. It applies a hierarchical nested analysis of variance within the framework of multiresolution wavelet approximation. The procedure leads to an optimal solution for determining mapping units based on spatial variability with constraints on the arrangement and shape of the units. Linkages to geostatisiics are pointed out, but the HQ decomposition algorithm does not require any homogeneity criteria. The computer implementation can be parameterized by either the number of required mapping units or the maximum within-unit variance, or it can provide a spectrum of significances of nested ANOVA. The detailed mathematical background and methodology is illustrated by a salt-affected grassland mapping study (Hortobágy, Hungary), where heterogeneous environmental characteristics have been sampled and predicted based on remotely sensed images using these principles.     

Integrated chronostratigraphy of Proterozoic-Cambrian boundary beds in the western Anabar region, northern Siberia

Carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks of the western Anabar region, northern Siberia, preserve an exceptional record of evolutionary and biogeochemical events near the Proterozoic/Cambrian boundary. Sedimentologically, the boundary succession can be divided into three sequences representing successive episodes of late transgressive to early highstand deposition; four parasequences are recognized in the sequence corresponding lithostratigraphically to the Manykal Formation. Small shelly fossils are abundant and include many taxa that also occur in standard sections of southeastern Siberia. Despite this coincidence of faunal elements, biostratigraphic correlations between the two regions have been controversial because numerous species that first appear at or immediately above the basal Tommotian boundary in southeastern sections have first appearances scattered through more than thirty metres of section in the western Anabar. Carbon- and Sr-isotopic data on petrographically and geochemically screened samples collected at one- to two-metre intervals in a section along the Kotuikan River, favour correlation of the Staraya Reckha Formation and most of the overlying Manykai Formation with sub-Tommotian carbonates in southeastern Siberia. In contrast, isotopic data suggest that the uppermost Manykai Formation and the basal 26 m of the unconformably overlying Medvezhya Formation may have no equivalent in the southeast; they appear to provide a sedimentary and palaeontological record of an evolutionarily significant time interval represented in southeastern Siberia only by the sub-Tommotian unconformity. Correlations with radiometrically dated horizons in the Olenek and Kharaulakh regions of northern Siberia suggest that this interval lasted approximately three to six million years, during which essentially all 'basal Tommotian' small shelly fossils evolved.