Pre-Cenozoic intra-plate magmatism along the Central Andes (17–34°S): Composition of the mantle at an active margin

Sr–Nd–Pb isotope ratios of alkaline mafic intra-plate magmatism constrain the isotopic compositions of the lithospheric mantle along what is now the eastern foreland or back arc of the Cenozoic Central Andes (17–34°S). Most small-volume basanite volcanic rocks and alkaline intrusive rocks of Cretaceous (and rare Miocene) age were derived from a depleted lithospheric mantle source with rather uniform initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ( 0.5127–0.5128) and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ( 0.7032–0.7040). The initial ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios are variable (18.5–19.7) at uniform ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (15.60 ± 0.05). A variety of the Cretaceous depleted mantle source of the magmatic rocks shows elevated Sr isotope ratios up to 0.707 at constant high Nd isotope ratios. The variable Sr and Pb isotope ratios are probably due to radiogenic growth in a metasomatized lithospheric mantle, which represents the former sub-arc mantle beneath the early Palaeozoic active continental margin. Sr–Nd–Pb isotope signatures of a second mantle type reflected in the composition of Cretaceous (one late Palaeozoic age) intra-plate magmatic rocks (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd  0.5123, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr  0.704, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb  17.5–18.5, and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb  15.45–15.50) are similar to the isotopic composition of old sub-continental lithospheric mantle of the Brazilian Shield.

Published Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of Mesozoic to Cenozoic arc-related magmatic rocks (18–40°S) represent the composition of the convective sub-arc mantle in the Central Andes and are similar to those of the Cretaceous (and rare Miocene) intra-plate magmatic rocks. The dominant convective and lithospheric mantle type beneath this old continental margin is depleted mantle, which is compositionally different from average MORB-type depleted mantle. The old sub-continental lithospheric mantle did not contribute to Mesozoic to Cenozoic arc magmatism.     

以2008年汶川8.0级地震为例分析地震触发的静态库仑应力计算的不确定性

人们常用地震产生的静态库仑应力变化解释地震的空间迁移和余震的空间分布规律,但是,在计算静态库仑应力场时,室内试验数据和观测资料往往无法对计算所涉及的参数进行足够的约束,而参数取值的不确定性会直接影响到静态库仑应力的计算结果。不同研究组得到的汶川地震产生的静态库仑应力变化结果并不一样,为研究不同计算模型和参数的选取对静态库仑应力计算的影响,我们通过建立模型并依次改变参数,分析比较了各个参数对计算结果的影响。结果表明:重力、接收断层位置和走向等的影响较小,其他参数均会对静态库仑应力变化量值和符号造成不同程度的影响,其影响在地震破裂面周边尤其明显,计算时参数敏感性分析不可忽略。     

Response of active tectonics on the alluvial Baghmati River, Himalayan foreland basin, eastern India

Active tectonics in a basin plays an important role in controlling a fluvial system through the change in channel slope. The Baghmati, an anabranching, foothills-fed river system, draining the plains of north Bihar in eastern India has responded to ongoing tectonic deformation in the basin. The relatively flat alluvial plains are traversed by several active subsurface faults, which divide the area in four tectonic blocks. Each tectonic block is characterized by association of fluvial anomalies viz. compressed meanders, knick point in longitudinal profiles, channel incision, anomalous sinuosity variations, sudden change in river flow direction, river flow against the local gradient and distribution of overbank flooding, lakes, and waterlogged area. Such fluvial anomalies have been identified on the repetitive satellite images and maps and interpreted through DEM and field observations to understand the nature of vertical movements in the area. The sub-surface faults in the Baghmati plains cut across the river channel and also run parallel which have allowed us to observe the effects of longitudinal and lateral tilting manifested in avulsions and morphological changes.     

闽南漳州沙建温泉区的微震观测

1982年9-12月,在漳州温泉区布设了台网进行微震观测。结果表明,在漳州及其以北的沙建温泉区一带均有微震与小震群活动,震级为M_s=-1～1级,震源为3-14km。用震源的分布、震源机制解和微震综合断层面解的结果,研究了地质断裂的现今活动性及其与温泉的关系。认为区内东西向与北东向断裂是控制温泉分布的主要构造,而北西向断裂则是温泉的涌水构造。经探明,在有浅层热储的漳州市以及地质断裂发育的沙建地区,地震波速与介质泊松系数均低于正常值。此外,台网尚观测记录到一些异常的振动现象。根据地震的综合信息,探讨了研究区微震活动与水热活动的关系。     

晋中至太原城际铁路沿线地质条件分析

晋中至太原城际铁路位于山西断陷带次级构造单元太原断陷盆地内,盆地内部新构造运动复杂,城际铁路沿线跨越多条第四纪隐伏活动断裂,并穿过榆次地裂缝发育地带及砂土液化区域,这些地质问题极大地影响着晋中至太原城际铁路的前期勘测选线。本文从地质构造、地层岩性、浅层地震勘探等方面对穿越城际铁路的三条活动断裂的危险性进行了分析评价,以查明断裂错动对城际铁路的影响。结合前人对榆次地裂缝的研究成果,对城际铁路附近的地裂缝发育情况进行了调查验证,以查明榆次地裂缝对城际铁路的影响。通过在城际铁路车站及车辆段布置地质钻孔,进行标贯试验、剪切波速测试,以查明城际铁路沿线工程地质条件,对沿线车站及车辆段场地进行液化判定及场地类别判定。针对城际铁路沿线存在的上述地质问题,给出了相应的工程建议,对城际铁路前期勘测设计具有重要的指导意义。     

Palaeoproterozoic mid‐basin inversion in the northern Mt Isa terrane,Queensland

The Mellish Park Syncline is located in the northern part of the Mt Isa terrane. It has an axial trace that transects the remnants of the unconformity‐bounded Palaeoproterozoic Leichhardt and Isa Superbasins. The syncline is separated into a lower and upper component based upon variation in fold geometry across the basin‐bounding unconformity. The lower syncline, in the Leichhardt Superbasin, is tight and has an inclined west‐dipping axial plane. The upper syncline, in the Isa Superbasin, is open and upright. The geometry of the lower syncline is a consequence of a period of shortening and basin inversion which post‐dated the Leichhardt Rift Event (ca 1780–1740 Ma) and pre‐dated the Mt Isa Rift Event (ca 1710–1655 Ma), forming an open and upright north‐oriented syncline. Subsequent southeast tilting and half‐graben development during the Mt Isa Rift Event resulted in the lower syncline being tilted into its inclined geometry. Sequences of the Isa Superbasin were then deposited onto the eroded syncline. The geometry of the upper syncline reflects regional east‐west shortening during the Isan Orogeny (ca 1590–1500 Ma). The position of the upper syncline was largely controlled by the pre‐existing lower syncline. At this time the lower syncline was reactivated and tightened by flexural slip folding.     

Seismic activity at the MCT in Sikkim Himalaya

A microearthquake survey in the Sikkim Himalaya raised a question whether the north–south segment of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) in this part of the Himalaya is seismically active(?). Fault-plane solution of a cluster of events occurred below this segment of the MCT shows right-lateral strike-slip motion. The seismic observations and the geological evidences suggest that a NNE–SSW trending strike-slip fault, beneath this segment, caused right lateral movement on the MCT, and is seismically active.     

Prolonged Variscan to Alpine history of an active Eurasian margin (Georgia, Armenia) revealed by Ar/Ar dating

Variscan to Alpine magmatic activity on the North Tethys active Eurasian margin in the Caucasus region is revealed by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages from rocks sampled in the Georgian Crystalline basement and exotic blocs in the Armenian foreland basin. These ages provide insights into the long duration of magmatic activity and related metamorphic history of the margin, with: (1) a phase of transpression with little crustal thickening during the Variscan cycle, evidenced by HT-LP metamorphism at 329–337 Ma; (2) a phase of intense bimodal magmatism at the end of the Variscan cycle, between 303 and 269 Ma, which is interpreted as an ongoing active margin during this period; (3) further evolution of the active margin evidenced by migmatites formed at ca. 183 Ma in a transpressive setting; (4) paroxysmal arc plutonic activity during the Jurassic (although the active magmatic arc was located farther south than the studied crystalline basements) with metamorphic rocks of the Eurasian basement sampled in the Armenian foreland basin dated at 166 Ma; (5) rapid cooling suggested by similar within-error ages of amphibole and muscovite sampled from the same exotic block in the Armenian fore-arc basin, ascribed to rapid exhumation related to extensional tectonics in the arc; and finally (6) cessation of ‘Andean’-type magmatic arc history in the Upper Cretaceous. Remnants of magmatic activity in the Early Cretaceous are found in the Georgian crystalline basement at c. 114 Ma, which is ascribed to flat slab subduction of relatively hot oceanic crust. This event corresponds to the emplacement of an oceanic seamount above the N Armenian ophiolite at 117 Ma. The activity of a hot spot between the active Eurasian margin and the South Armenian Block is thought to have heated and thickened the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust. Finally, the South Eurasian margin was uplifted and transported over this hot oceanic crust, resulting in the cessation of subduction and the erosion of the southern edge of the margin in Upper Cretaceous times. Emplacement of Eocene volcanics stitches all main collisional structures.     

中国大陆与各活动地块、南北地震带实测应力特征分析

本文以"中国大陆地壳应力环境基础数据库"为基础,补充了迄今为止查阅到的中国大陆水压致裂法与应力解除法的实测地应力数据,在1474个测点上得到3586条数据,研究区经度范围75°E－130°E,纬度范围18°N－47°N,深度范围0~4000 m,基本覆盖了中国大陆的各活动地块与南北地震带各段等研究区.本文采用等深度段分组归纳的方法解决了实测地应力数据样本数量沿深度分布的不均匀问题,给出了中国大陆与各研究区地壳浅层测量深度范围内应力量值、方位特征.结果显示:(1)中国大陆地壳浅层最大水平应力、最小水平应力、垂直应力随深度呈线性增加;(2)中国大陆地区侧压系数随深度的变化特征为:浅部离散,随着深度增加而集中,并趋向0.68,D=465 m是水平作用为主导向垂直作用为主导的转换深度,Kav=1;(3)中国大陆水平差应力在地表为3 MPa左右,随深度增加以5.8 MPa/km的梯度增大;(4)在测量深度范围内,中国大陆各研究区最大水平应力中间值(深度为2000 m时的统计回归值)从大到小的顺序是:青藏地块63.6 MPa、南北带北段57.3 MPa、华南地块51.4 MPa、华北地块50.5 MPa、南北带中段47.9 MPa、西域地块47.5 MPa、南北带南段45.4 MPa、东北地块44.8 MPa,总体表现为"西强东弱"的基本特征,反映了印度板块与欧亚板块的强烈碰撞是中国大陆构造应力场强度总体特征的主要来源;(5)与其他研究区相比较,青藏地块地壳在从南向北的挤压作用下呈现出明显的"浅弱深强"特点;(6)最大水平应力方向的总体特征,基本以青藏高原为中心,呈辐射状展布,由西向东,从近N-S方向逐步顺时针旋转至NNE-SSW、NE-SW、NEE-SWW、NW-SE方向,与深部的震源机制解研究结果有一致性.     

Unravelling the evolution of an Alpine to post-glacially active fault in the Swiss Alps

The Gemmi fault is a prominent NW–SE striking lineament that crosses the Gemmi Pass in the central Swiss Alps. A multidisciplinary investigation of this structure that included geological mapping, joint profiling, cathodoluminescence and scanning electron microscopy, stable isotope measurements, luminescence- and U-TH-dating, 3D ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveying and trenching reveals a history of fault movements from the Miocene to the Holocene. The main fault zone comprises a 0.5–3 m thick calcite cataclasite formed during several cycles of veining and brittle deformation. Displaced Cretaceous rock layers show an apparent dextral slip of 10 m along the fault.A detailed study of a small sediment-filled depression that crosses the fault provides evidence for a post-glacial reactivation of the fault. A trench excavated across the fault exposed a Late-Glacial-age loess layer and late Holocene colluvial-like slope-wash deposits that showed evidence for fault displacement of a few centimeters, indicating a recent strike-slip reactivation of the fault. Focal mechanisms of recent instrumentally recorded earthquakes are consistent with our findings that show that the fault at the Gemmi Pass, together with other parallel faults in this area, may be reactivated in today's stress field. Taking together all the observations of its ancient and recent activity, the Gemmi fault can be viewed as a window through geological space and time.