Geologic and metamorphic evolution of the basement complexes in the Kontum Massif, central Vietnam

This paper presents a regional scale observation of metamorphic geology and mineral assemblage variations of Kontum Massif, central Vietnam, supplemented by pressure–temperature estimates and reconnaissance geochronological results. The mineral assemblage variations and thermobarometric results classify the massif into a low- to medium-temperature and relatively high-pressure northern part characterised by kyanite-bearing rocks (570–700 °C at 0.79–0.86 GPa) and a more complex southern part. The southern part can be subdivided into western and eastern regions. The western region shows very high-temperature (> 900 °C) and -pressure conditions characterised by the presence of garnet and orthopyroxene in both mafic and pelitic granulites (900–980 °C at 1.0–1.5 GPa). The eastern region contains widespread medium- to high-temperature and low-pressure rocks, with metamorphic grade increasing from north to south; epidote- or muscovite-bearing gneisses in the north (< 700–740 °C at < 0.50 GPa) to garnet-free mafic and orthopyroxene-free pelitic granulites in the south (790–920 °C at 0.63–0.84 GPa). The Permo-Triassic Sm–Nd ages (247–240 Ma) from high-temperature and -pressure granulites and recent geochronological studies suggest that the south-eastern part of Kontum Massif is composed of a Siluro-Ordovician continental fragment probably showing a low-pressure/temperature continental geothermal gradient derived from the Gondwana era with subsequent Permo-Triassic collision-related high-pressure reactivation zones.     

Mapping and surveillance of active fissure zones on a volcano by the self-potential method, Etna, Sicily

The self-potential (S.P.) method, often employed in base-metal exploration, has successfully been applied to volcanological problems.Test surveys on the site of Mount Etna (Sicily) have revealed some positive anomalies as high as a few hundred millivolts over recent and old eruptive fissures. The S.P. technique allows one to determine the precise location of the fissures.The interpretation of the geophysical results (including S.P.), taking into account the structure of Mount Etna, has shown two important zones upon which several S.P. investigations have been carried out.Studies of the causes of these S.P. anomalies have shown the importance of the streaming potential as the principal source mechanism.     

Building Information Modelling for High‐rise Land Administration

Current land administration systems mainly use 2D plans to define and secure ownership rights associated with properties in high‐rise buildings. These 2D plans may not effectively communicate and manage the spatial complexity associated with multi‐layered and stacked properties in such buildings; additionally, multiple pages of plans (representing sections of the building) are required to represent all ownership boundaries. In response, land administration organizations have been investigating a 3D digital approach to managing information about ownership rights in high‐rise building structures. In this article, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is proposed as a feasible approach for managing land and property information in high‐rise buildings. BIM provides a collaborative, digital and intelligent 3D data environment for managing building information throughout the lifecycle of buildings. However, there is currently no capacity in BIM for recording and representing information about ownership and boundaries of properties, which is core land administration information. Therefore, this article proposes an extension to the BIM standard, which is implemented in a prototype BIM model of a complex building to showcase the potential capability of using BIM for high‐rise land administration and for modeling 3D ownership rights.     

Complex deposits in the Lo Gam structure,northeastern Vietnam: mineralogy,geochemistry, and formation conditions

The Pb–Zn deposits in the Lo Gam structure, northeastern Vietnam, account for>80% of all the Pb and Zn resources of Vietnam. All the deposits make up four isolated ore districts (Thai Nguyen, Cho Don, Cho Dien, Na Son), which can be combined in one metallogenic zone extending for >100 km from southeast to northwest. The Pb–Zn deposits in all the ore districts show some similarity to stratiform (Mississippi-type) deposits: confinement to Devonian carbonate sediments; localization at the intersection of faults of different orientations; vein and stockwork (pocket-vein-disseminated) morphology of the mineralized zones; evidence for hydrothermal-metasomatic formation (carbonate-rock marbleization, quartz–carbonate veins, etc.); and low and moderate mineralization temperatures (<250 °C). On the other hand, some differences from stratiform deposits are observed: widespread occurrence of Permo-Triassic igneous rocks in the above ore districts; absent tabular orebodies, which are typical of stratiform deposits; large set of trace elements (In, Bi, Sb, Au, Ag, Cu, Cd) not typical of stratiform deposits; and an endogenic primary source, as evidenced by the isotope composition of sulfur (δS³⁴= 2.68‰), which is close to meteoritic, and the set of trace elements, which are mainly of deep genesis. All this indicates that the above Pb–Zn deposits within the carbonate units are low-and moderate-temperature hydrothermal-metasomatic products associated with active magmatism which took place in this region in the Permo-Triassic.The differences in the mineral composition of the deposits, as well as in the trace-element set and contents at different deposits, clearly indicate an intricate ore formation process and the relation of the deposits with magmatism of different compositions. The simple mineral composition and the limited set of trace elements (Cd, Ag, Sb, As) at the Lang Hich deposit are closer to the characteristics of stratiform deposits. Also, manifestations of magmatism are almost absent here. On the contrary, unusually high (ppm) In (75.8), Sn (307.5), Cu (1080), Ag (157.7), Bi (99), and As (13,650) contents were observed at the deposits of the Cho Don and Cho Dien districts, with widespread granitoid magmatism in the Phia Bioc complex. Rare-earth mineralization (orthite) and high Mo, Re, and Rb contents at the deposits of the Na Son district are probably due to the widespread occurrence of stratified alkaline volcanics and their subvolcanic analogs, which belong to the Pla Ma complex (ξγPZ₂ pm).     

Settlement Prediction of Surcharge Preloaded Low Embankment on Soft Ground Subjected to Cyclic Loading

This article studies the effect of dynamic cyclic loading and surcharge preloading method on the post-construction settlement of low embankments. Soil samples obtained from the soft ground under an embankment were consolidated by surcharge preloading followed by static and dynamic cyclic loading in the odometer. The results show that the consolidation deformation of the soil samples is independent of the frequency of the dynamic cyclic loading, which was simulated to follow the half-sine wave, and this is consistent with the energy concept. The post-construction settlement increases with increasing amplitude of cyclic load and the effectiveness of surcharge preloading depends on the difference between magnitude of surcharge and amplitude of the cyclic load. Based on the consolidation theory combined with the test results, a formula has been proposed to compute the post-construction settlement of a low embankment under cyclic loading.     

Triggered earthquake study in Tranh River No. 2 (Vietnam) Hydropower Reservoir

This article presents the results of investigating triggered earthquakes in the vicinity of Tranh River No.2 Hydropower Reservoir in recent years. It is found that earthquakes occurred in the vicinity of Tranh River Hydropower Reservoir, probably associated with the Trà My — Trà BÓng fault zone. It is estimated that this fault is capable of hosting an earthquake of M~6.1. The ‘b’ value for this earthquake sequence is 0.83, which is higher than the regional ‘b’ value of 0.60. We estimate that the return period of earthquakes of M=4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 is 11, 29, 76 and 198 months respectively. On October 22, 2012 an earthquake M_S=4.6, I₀=6.0 (MSK-64) occurred at 13:41:28 hrs GMT. The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a distance of 5.5 km away from the center of the dam towards the west. The focal depth is about 4.5 km, and the rupture length is about 1.8 km.     

The conditions of formation of sapphire and zircon in the areas of alkali-basaltoid volcanism in Central Vietnam

Study of the chemical composition of clinopyroxene and garnet megacrysts from the Dak Nong sapphire deposit and model calculations have shown that megacrysts originated from the crystallization of alkali basaltoid magma in a deep-seated intermediate chamber at 14–15 kbar, which is close to the Moho depth (50 km) in this part of southeastern Asia. The chamber was a source of heat and CO₂ fluids for the generation of crustal syenitic melts producing sapphires and zircons. The formation conditions of sapphires and zircons are significantly different. The presence of jadeite inclusions in placer zircons points to high pressures during their crystallization, which is confirmed by the ubiquitous decrepitation of CO₂-rich melt inclusions. Sapphires crystallized from iron-rich syenitic melt in the shallower Earth’s crust horizons with the participation of CO₂ and carbonate–H₂O–CO₂ fluids. The subsequent eruptions of alkali basalts favored the transportation of garnet and pyroxene megacrysts as well as sapphire and zircon xenocrysts to the surface. It is shown that sapphire deposits can be produced only during multistage basaltic volcanism with deep-seated intermediate chambers in the regions with thick continental crust. The widespread megacryst mineral assemblage (clinopyroxene, garnet, sanidine, ilmenite) and the presence of placer zircon megacrysts can be used as indicators for sapphire prospecting.     

越南西北部Pu Sam Cap高钾碱性岩LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb年龄与Hf同位素组成及其区域构造意义

越南西北部Pu Sam Cap高钾碱性杂岩位于哀牢山剪切带南段西侧,由粗面岩、煌斑岩、碱性正长岩与碱性花岗岩组成。其中粗面岩不整合于晚白垩世陆相沉积岩之上,碱性侵入岩侵入到三叠纪陆源沉积岩、侏罗纪流纹岩及40～35Ma含角闪石二长岩-花岗岩中。该杂岩的岩石具有低TiO2(0.8%)、P2O5(0.64%)和FeO*(7.74%),高Na2O(1.41%～4.5%)和K2O(5.22%～9.4%)的地球化学属性,属于高钾碱性玄武质到高钾碱性长英质岩浆岩类型与钾质至超钾质岩浆系列。这套岩石富集大离子亲石元素LILE、轻稀土元素LREE和一组相容元素,具有明显的Ta、Nb和Ti异常,表明Pu Sam Cap高钾碱性杂岩形成于与俯冲带有关的大陆弧和后碰撞弧构造环境。锆石LA-ICPMS U-Pb年代学研究表明碱性正长岩与碱性花岗岩分别形成于32.70±0.24Ma、35.1±0.06Ma,上述年龄代表了Pu Sam Cap高钾碱性杂岩的侵入岩结晶年龄。两个样品中锆石的εHf(t)变化范围分别为-2.8～2.5和-4.9～0.1,在t-εHf(t)相关图上分析点落在下地壳和亏损地幔演化线之间,两阶段模式年龄变化范围为950～1286Ma和1107～1421Ma。该杂岩的εNd(t)变化范围-5.63～-3.26,具有低143Nd/144Nd比值(0.512336～0.512447)和高87Sr/86Sr比值(0.706254～0.707273),Sr-Nd同位素相关图上接近于EM2地幔端元趋势线,与大理地区新生代高钾岩浆岩十分相似,表明PuSamCap高钾碱性杂岩的岩浆是幔源岩浆和壳源岩浆的混合结果,同时可与大理地区新生代高钾岩浆岩对比,它们形成于哀牢山-红河左行走滑活动之前,墨江古特提斯洋盆的消减与印度-欧亚陆陆碰撞活动提供了宏观区域性构造背景。