Time and duration of Variscan high-temperature metamorphic processes in the south European Variscides: constraints from U-Pb chronology and trace element chemistry of zircon

The lower crust of the Serre massif (Calabria, southern Italy) provides a window into the mid- to lower crust of the south European Variscan orogenic belt. Previously, zircon U-Pb ages were employed to date high-temperature processes affecting this portion of the Variscan crust. The present paper reports new LA-ICP-MS U-Pb data on the zircon of a deformed quartz-monzodiorite dike and of three mafic granulites sampled at the base of the lower crust section. Determination of trace elements on zircon, including rare earth elements (REE), has been also performed. The end of the Variscan exhumation, dated by anatectic zircon from migmatitic metapelites, and the growth-modification of zircon with respect to the growth of Variscan metamorphic garnet have been assumed as ??time markers??. The concordant zircon ages of the metamorphic basic rocks cover a range from 744?±?20 Ma to 231?±?10 Ma with high age density from 357?±?11?Ma to 279?±?10 Ma, a few ages comprised between 418?±?14 Ma and 483?±?12 Ma and between 505?±?11 Ma and 593?±?14 Ma. Zircon from the deformed quartz-monzodiorite dike evidences a minimum age of emplacement of 323?±?5 Ma. Most of the analysed zircon domains dated between 357?±?11 Ma to 279?±?10 Ma from garnet-bearing metabasic rocks show flat patterns of heavy rare earth elements (HREE), as expected in the case of their simultaneous growth with garnet. This allows to consider (1) zircon domains giving Variscan ages as ??metamorphic?? with specific geological significance, and (2) zircon domains with ages ranging from 564?±?17 Ma to 593?±?14 Ma as dating the emplacement of the magmatic protoliths as shown by internal microtextures, fractionated patterns of HREE and Th/U ratios (0.16?C0.19). The Variscan zircon ages (357?C279?Ma) reflect effects of crustal thickening, peak metamorphism and subsequent multistage Variscan decompression documented by the statistically significant clusters of ages around 347?C340?Ma, 323?C318?Ma, 300?C294?Ma and 279?Ma. The U-Pb zircon ages of the metabasic rocks suggest a period of about 60?C70?Ma for granulite facies metamorphism and anatectic conditions. Literature data indicate that the migmatitic metapelites of the upper part of the Serre crust section also underwent a long period, about 40?Ma, of granulite facies metamorphism and anatectic conditions. A diachronism emerges through the time comparison of the Variscan evolution between the upper and the lower portions of the Serre deep crust. The duration of the Variscan processes defined in Calabria is comparable to that of other south European Variscan blocks.     

Magnetic classification of stony meteorites: 1. Ordinary chondrites

Abstract— We present a database of magnetic susceptibility measurements on 971 ordinary chondrites. It demonstrates that this parameter can be successfully used to characterize and classify ordinary chondrite meteorites. In ordinary chondrites, this rapid and non‐destructive measurement essentially determines the amount of metal in the sample, which occurs in a very narrow range for each chondrite class (though terrestrial weathering can result in a variable decrease in susceptibility, especially in finds). This technique is particularly useful not only for a rapid classification of new meteorites, but also as a check against curation errors in large collections (i.e., unweathered meteorites, the measured susceptibility of which lies outside the expected range, may well be misclassified or misidentified samples). Magnetic remanence, related to magnetic field measurements around asteroids, is also discussed.     

Strike-slip faults parallel to crustal spreading axes: data from Iceland and the Afar Depression

Slickenside studies in regions of crustal spreading such as Iceland and the Afar Depression, East Africa, reveal that a significant number of faults parallel and close to rift axes are strike-slip rather than normal. Therefore, the pattern of brittle deformation in these regions does not conform to the classic two-dimensional schemes of oceanic tectonics and pre-oceanic rifting. Dip-slip and strike-slip faulting presumably alternated along or in the vicinity of spreading axes, indicate a varying stress field and a combination of transverse and longitudinal movements. In Iceland, strike-slip faults parallel to rifts are observed both west and east of the rift system as well as in a median area between overlapping rifts; the mechanisms proposed for their origin include accommodation of oblique convergence or divergence of crustal sections due to variations of spreading directions along axis and the interaction of overlapping rifts. In the Afar Depression this kind of fault is recorded west of the rift of Asal and can be imputed to reflect an interaction among rifts in the vicinity of the Afar triple junction. Rift-parallel strike-slip faults cannot however be assumed to be a feature of all crustal spreading axes due to the peculiarity of the examined regions: both of them are hot-spot areas and the Afar Depression lies at a triple junction.     

Pennsylvanian glacimarine sedimentation in the Cushamen Formation,western North Patagonian Massif

The metasedimentary sequence of the Cushamen Formation in the western North Patagonian Massif is540 m thick and comprises six sedimentary lithofacies associations related to a glacimarine environment.Four of these lithofacies represent distal glacimarine environments, whereas another one was deposited in proximal glacimarine environments, and the last includes subglacial environments. The organization and configuration of these lithofacies associations represent the advance and retreat of the glacier masses. The maximum glacial advance is correlatable with the G2 glacial interval of the Pennsylvanian Pampa de Tepuel, Las Salinas and Valley Chico, formations of the Extraandean Chubut, and the southern part of Neuquen Cordillera. Contemporaneously, in southern Chile there are marine and glacimarine sediments. The chronostratigraphic relationships between the Silurian to Permian units allow five paleogeographic stages to be distinguished. The middle Silurian-late Devonian igneous rocks represent the first magmatic stage. The second stage, which is transitional to the first, is represented by a marine basin that includes the late Devonian-early Carboniferous Esquel and Rio Pescado formations and the Llanquihue Complex. The third stage(early-late Carboniferous) includes granitoids of the second magmatic event that partially overlapped the first magmatic igneous belt. The fourth stage belongs to the late Carboniferous sedimentation of the Cushamen and equivalent formations. The extended early Permian magmatism was the last Paleozoic event in the studied area.     

From the plutonic root to the volcanic roof of a continental magmatic arc: a review of the Neoproterozoic Araçuaí orogen,southeastern Brazil

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The Araçuaí-West Congo orogen (AWCO) is one of the various components of the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogenic network generated during the...     

LARAM School 2018: the doctoral school on “LAndslide Risk Assessment and Mitigation”

The international school for PhD students and young doctors on “LAndslide Risk Assessment and Mitigation” (LARAM) is presented and, specifically, information is provided about the next edition of the doctoral school that will held in Italy, at the University of Salerno, on September 3–14, 2018. The LARAM School is managed by the Geotechnical Engineering Group (GEG) of the University of Salerno, which recently became an Associate member of the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL). The 2018 edition of the LARAM School is organised as an ICL/IPL activity.     

Expert engagement in participatory processes: translating stakeholder discourses into policy options

This paper demonstrates an innovative role for experts in supporting participatory policy processes with an application to landslide risk management in the Italian town of Nocera Inferiore. Experts co-produce risk mitigation options based on their specialized knowledge taking account of local knowledge and values by directly coupling stakeholder discourses with option design. Drawing on the theory of plural rationality and based on a literature review, interviews and a public questionnaire, stakeholder discourses are elicited on the landslide risk problem and its solution. Armed with the discourses and in close interaction with stakeholders, experts provide a range of technical mitigation options, each within a given budget constraint. These options are subsequently deliberated in the participatory process with the intent of reaching compromise recommendations for landslide risk mitigation. As we show in an accompanying paper, “Compromise not consensus. Designing a participatory process for landslide risk mitigation” (this issue), the provision of multiple co-produced policy options enhances stakeholder deliberation by respecting legitimate differences in values and worldviews.

     

A seismogenic zone in the deep crust indicated by pseudotachylytes and ultramylonites in granulite-facies rocks of Calabria (Southern Italy)

Pseudotachylyte veins frequently associated with mylonites and ultramylonites occur within migmatitic paragneisses, metamonzodiorites, as well as felsic and mafic granulites at the base of the section of the Hercynian lower crust exposed in Calabria (Southern Italy). The crustal section is tectonically superposed on lower grade units. Ultramylonites and pseudotachylytes are particularly well developed in migmatitic paragneisses, whereas sparse fault-related pseudotachylytes and thin mylonite/ultramylonite bands occur in granulite-facies rocks. The presence of sillimanite and clinopyroxene in ultramylonites and mylonites indicates that relatively high-temperature conditions preceded the formation of pseudotachylytes. We have analysed pseudotachylytes from different rock types to ascertain their deep crustal origin and to better understand the relationships between brittle and ductile processes during deformation of the deeper crust. Different protoliths were selected to test how lithology controls pseudotachylyte composition and textures. In migmatites and felsic granulites, euhedral or cauliflower-shaped garnets directly crystallized from pseudotachylyte melts of near andesitic composition. This indicates that pseudotachylytes originated at deep crustal conditions (>0.75 GPa). In mafic protoliths, quenched needle-to-feather-shaped high-alumina orthopyroxene occurs in contact with newly crystallized plagioclase. The pyroxene crystallizes in garnet-free and garnet-bearing veins. The simultaneous growth of orthopyroxene and plagioclase as well as almandine, suggests lower crustal origin, with pressures in excess of 0.85 GPa. The existence of melts of different composition in the same vein indicates the stepwise, non-equilibrium conditions of frictional melting. Melt formed and intruded into pre-existing anisotropies. In mafic granulites, brittle faulting is localized in a previously formed thin high-temperature mylonite bands. migmatitic gneisses are deformed into ultramylonite domains characterized by s-c fabric. Small grain size and fluids lowered the effective stress on the c planes favouring a seismic event and the consequent melt generation. Microstructures and ductile deformation of pseudotachylytes suggest continuous ductile flow punctuated by episodes of high-strain rate, leading to seismic events and melting.     

The partitioning of trace elements between clinopyroxene and trachybasaltic melt during rapid cooling and crystal growth

We present the variation in trace element partition coefficients measured at the interface between rapidly cooled clinopyroxene crystals and co-existing melts. Results indicate that, as the cooling rate is increased, clinopyroxene crystals are progressively depleted in Si, Ca and Mg counterbalanced by enrichments in Al (mainly tetrahedral Al^iv), Na and Ti. Partition coefficients (Ds) for rare earth elements (REE), high field strength elements (HFSE) and transition elements (TE) increase with increasing cooling rate, in response to clinopyroxene compositional variations. The entry of REE into the M2 site is facilitated by a coupled substitution where either Na substitutes for Ca on the M2 site or Al^iv substitutes for Si in the tetrahedral site. The latter substitution reflects an increased ease of locally balancing the excess charge at M2 as the number of surrounding Al^iv atoms increases. Due to the lower concentration of Ca in rapidly cooled clinopyroxenes, divalent large ion lithophile elements (LILE) on M2 decrease at the expense of monovalent cations. Conversely, higher concentrations of HFSE and TE on the M1 site are facilitated as the average charge on this site increases with the replacement of divalent-charged cations by Al^vi. Although crystallization kinetics modify clinopyroxene composition, deviations from equilibrium partitioning are insufficient to change the tendency of a trace element to be compatible or incompatible. Consequently, there are regular relationships between ionic radius, valence of the trace element and D. At both equilibrium and cooling rate conditions, Ds for isovalent cations define parabola-like curves when plotted against ionic radius, consistent with the lattice strain model, demonstrating that the partitioning of trace elements is driven by charge balance mechanisms; cation substitution reactions can be treated in terms of the energetics of the various charge-imbalanced configurations.     

Linear stability analysis of the explicit treatment of mobilities in non-Newtonian and non-Darcy porous media flow simulation

A von Neumann stability analysis of the discretized conservation equation for single-phase porous media flows is performed, where non-Newtonian and non-Darcy effects are accounted for using a velocity (or mass flux)-dependent mobility factor. Comprehensive results in three dimensions for two low-order finite-volume discretizations typically encountered in reservoir simulation are provided, based on edge-centered and upstream cell-centered mobility calculations. It is found that common semi-implicit schemes, where the pressure gradient driving the flow is taken implicitly while the velocity-dependent mobility is evaluated explicitly, are subject to restrictions on the logarithmic derivative of mobility with respect to velocity. A remarkable new result is nevertheless obtained: for any physically acceptable strength of non-Newtonian and non-Darcy effects, there exists a stable and explicit method to evaluate the mobility, rendering the need to implement costly fully implicit schemes more difficult to justify.