Soil characteristics in Doon Valley (north west Himalaya,India) by inversion of H/V spectral ratios from ambient noise measurements

Past and recent observations have shown that the local site conditions significantly affect the behavior of seismic waves and its potential to cause destructive earthquakes. Thus, seismic microzonation studies have become crucial for seismic hazard assessment, providing local soil characteristics that can help to evaluate the possible seismic effects. Among the different methods used for estimating the soil characteristics, the ones based on ambient noise measurements, such as the H/V technique, become a cheap, non-invasive and successful way for evaluating the soil properties along a studied area.In this work, ambient noise measurements were taken at 240 sites around the Doon Valley, India, in order to characterize the sediment deposits. First, the H/V analysis has been carried out to estimate the resonant frequencies along the valley. Subsequently, some of this H/V results have been inverted, using the neighborhood algorithm and the available geotechnical information, in order to provide an estimation of the S-wave velocity profiles at the studied sites.Using all these information, we have characterized the sedimentary deposits in different areas of the Doon Valley, providing the resonant frequency, the soil thickness, the mean S-wave velocity of the sediments, and the mean S-wave velocity in the uppermost 30 m.     

Framework for the derivation of analytical fragility curves and life cycle cost analysis for non-seismically designed buildings

The quantification of the devastating effects of earthquakes on buildings can be achieved with the use of earthquake risk assessment. The formulation of strategies to minimise this risk is a complex task which relies on data regarding mainly the hazard, vulnerability and remaining life of the building. In this paper, the case study of Limassol municipality is presented. Initially, the building inventory and categorisation is defined followed by the selection of hazard scenarios and the development of analytical vulnerability curves. In the final part, risk assessment is performed leading to the formulation of retrofitting strategies for long term use.     

Centrifuge modeling of offshore wind foundations under earthquake loading

The construction of large offshore wind turbines in seismic active regions has great demand on the design of foundations. The occurrence of soil liquefaction under seismic motion will affect the stability of the foundations and consequently the operation of the turbines. In this study, a group of earthquake centrifuge tests was performed on wind turbine models with gravity and monopile foundations, respectively, to exam their seismic response. It was found that the seismic behavior of models was quite different in the dry or saturated conditions. Each type of foundation exhibited distinct response to the earthquake loading, especially in the offshore environment. In the supplementary tests, several remediation methods were evaluated in order to mitigate the relatively large lateral displacement of pile foundation (by fixed-end pile and multi-pile foundation) and excessive settlement of gravity foundation (by densification, stone column, and cementation techniques).     

特高压电气设备抗震设计反应谱特征周期取值研究

特征周期是抗震设计反应谱的重要参数,开展特高压电气设备抗震设计反应谱特征周期的研究,具有重要的理论意义和工程应用价值。对美国、日本等世界范围内的1448 条Ⅲ类场地水平向强震记录进行了统计分析,结果表明震级、震中距对特征周期有较大影响;强震记录特征周期的80%分位数结果约为0.9s。对全国近年来已通过评审的312 个Ⅲ类场地的地震安全性评价结果进行了统计分析,70%分位数的特征周期为0.9s。结合相关规范的对比分析,建议特高压电气设备抗震设计反应谱的特征周期取0.9s,可有效保证特高压电气设备的地震安全。     

新疆于田MS7.3地震主震精定位研究

新疆、青海、西藏数字地震台网和新疆和田台阵都十分清晰、完整地记录到2014年2月12日新疆于田MS7.3地震的波形,故采用区域地震台网和地震台阵联合定位的方法来精确测定该地震的震源位置。具体定位时采用了以下技术：①根据MS7.3地震震中的位置,360o等方位均匀选取台站,平均每隔约15o取1个台站参与初始定位;②将于田台的记录波形旋转至径向和切向上精确测定S波的到时,并以此控制震中距;③测定震中位置时采用的速度模型,是以震源为中心、半径约为1.0o范围内发生的历史地震资料为基础,重新拟合后获得的速度模型;④利用和田地震台阵记录的主震波形资料,经波形聚束方法处理后进行方位角测定,并以此方位角修正震中位置;⑤采用确定性方法测定震源深度。最终得到新疆于田MS7.3地震主震的震中位置为36.197oN、82.467oE,震源深度为12km,发震时刻为2014年2月12日17:19:48.2。     

南北地震带近期地壳水平运动变化分析

对2009、2011及2013年3期陆态网络流动GPS观测资料进行了处理,获得了2009~2011及2011~2013年两个时间段南北地震带地壳水平运动速度图像。参考1999~2007年网络工程流动GPS速度场结果,分析了南北地震带近期地壳水平运动场与应变场变化特征,认为近期地壳运动变化受汶川地震震后影响较大。2013年芦山7.0级地震和岷县漳县6.6级地震是2008年汶川8.0级地震震后应力场调整触发的结果。     

南大巴山前陆冲断褶皱带断裂流体地球化学特征及构造保存研究

南大巴山前陆构造带位于城口断裂与铁溪-巫溪断裂之间,为研究该构造带断裂对烃类运移及构造对页岩气保存的影响,本文对该构造带内断裂流体的碳氧同位素和流体包裹体进行了测试分析。测试结果显示,研究区断裂流体碳氧同位素整体较围岩更为分散,δ~(13)C_(PDB)介于-2.9‰~3.9‰之间,属正常海相碳酸盐层的碳同位素值,坪坝断裂附近δ~(13)C_(PDB)呈明显亏损,具外来流体混合的特征。流体包裹体为含烃的气液二相盐水包裹体,气相成分为CH_4,液相为H_2O。包裹体均一温度以城口断裂附近最高,主要为311~336℃,频率峰值温度为328℃;往南叠瓦带流体均一温度主要位于183~269℃之间,峰值为230℃,断褶带峰值为213℃,滑脱褶皱带为170℃,整体表现为向盆内方向降低。盐度主要为4.43%~8.6%NaCl。研究表明,城口断裂作为大巴山构造带南北分界的主干断裂,古流体的形成温度和热演化程度最高,且从盆地向北至城口断裂,各构造带流体的热演化程度、成岩温度、古流体压力均逐渐升高,说明随着构造活动的增强,构造带中的流体更为活跃,持续时间更长,导致流体形成的深度和温度变化较大。构造带内的流体总体上形成于封闭体系,在主构造应力的驱动下,盆地深部含烃流体沿断裂向浅部运移,并与浅部地层流体发生混合,运移通道整体处于封闭状态;而构造带内的一些次级断裂,因其形成的时间以及向下延伸的深度不足以触及下古生界烃源岩层,因此其对流体封闭性的影响有限。     

Basin-scale structure control of Carlin-style gold deposits in central Southwestern Guizhou,China: Insights from seismic reflection profiles and gravity data

Carlin-style gold deposits are widely distributed in Southwestern Guizhou, China. Research has dominantly focused on deposit-scale geology and structural control of mineralization. The relationship between the gold deposits and regional structures, in particular their control on the formation and distribution of those deposits is less well understood. Here we use seismic survey and gravity data to reveal the basin-scale structure control of the gold deposits in central Southwestern Guizhou. The seismic reflection profiles show strong reflection horizons including Upper Permian coal measures, and Dongwu and Guangxi unconformities. The seismic data provide important evidence of the basinal structural style and the relationship between fault-related folding and the Carlin-style gold deposits. Regional gravity data also revealed several paleo-uplifts, which appear to control the distribution of Carlin-style gold deposits.The Carlin-style gold deposits are spatially and temporally associated with fault-related folds. Based on their location, we classify the gold deposits into two types, (1) low-angle thrust-controlled deposits; and (2) high-angle reverse fault-related deposits. In the low-angle thrust-controlled deposits, main thrusts are listric, strike NW-SE and dip southwest. These thrusts detach into coal measures, tuffs and volcanic rocks and are bedding-parallel in the vicinity of the Dongwu unconformity. Gold ore bodies are found in the thrusts and characterized by cutting-layer veins near the surface and bedding-parallel veins at depth. The high-angle reverse fault-related deposits are located in the hinge of northeast-southwest-striking fault-related folds, with high-angle reverse faults near the hinge of folds crosscutting the Upper Permian coal measures, volcanic rocks and Dongwu unconformity, and then into the limestone of Middle Permian Maokou Formation. Ore bodies are bedding-parallel in anticline culminations where interlayer fracture zones in Upper Permian coal measures and volcanic rocks are generated by high-angle reverse faulting.We consider that the formation of the gold deposits is part of the tectonic evolution in the area. The two sets of NW-SE- and NE-SW-striking fault-related folds were successively formed during the closure of eastern Tethys Ocean in Late Triassic, and major gold deposits formed in the fault-related folds. The Dongwu unconformity and faults provided conduits for ore fluid flow, and the coal measures and the tuffs of Dachang Member acted as detachment layers and hosts for ore deposition.     

Geochemical and isotopic evidence for a magmatic-hydrothermal origin of the polymetallic vein-type Zn-Pb deposits in the northwest margin of Jiangnan Orogen,South China

Polymetallic vein-type Zn-Pb deposits are located in the Xiangxi–Qiandong zinc-lead metallogenic belt (XQMB) of the northwestern margin of the Jiangnan Orogen, South China. Ores are mainly found in fault-bounded quartz veins hosted in the upper part of the Banxi Group that consists of low-grade metamorphic sandstone, siltstone with minor tuff interbeds. The Zn-Pb deposits primarily contain sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite, accompanied by quartz and minor calcite. Zinc, lead, copper, indium and gallium are enriched in these ores. Investigation of the ore fluid reveals low temperature (87–262 °C) with scattered salinity (range from 2.73 to 26.64 wt% NaCl_eqv.). Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of fluid inclusions in quartz indicate mixing of magmatic hydrothermal fluid and meteoric water (δ¹⁸O_{H2O SMOW} = 0.2‰ to 4.2‰; δD_{H2O SMOW} = −126‰ to −80‰). Carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of carbonate samples indicate the magmatic hydrothermal origin of CO₃²⁻ or CO₂ in ore-forming fluid (δ¹³C_PDB = −6.9‰ to −5.7‰, δ¹⁸O_SMOW = 11.3‰ to 12.7‰). Sulfur and lead isotopic compositions (δ³⁴S_VCDT = 8.8–14.2‰ and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 17.156–17.209, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.532–15.508, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 37.282–37.546) demonstrate that sulfur sources were relatively uniform, and low radiogenic lead isotopic compositions indicate that ore metals were derived from a relatively unradiogenic source, probably by mixing of mantle with crust. Therefore, polymetallic vein-type Zn-Pb mineralization in this area probably arose from a magmatic-related hydrothermal system, and the deposition of sulfides occurred in response to cooling and boiling of magmatic hydrothermal fluids (high salinity, high δ¹⁸O_H2O and δD_H2O and metal-bearing), and is mainly the result of emplacement into open space and mixing with meteoric water (low salinity, low δ¹⁸O_H2O and δD_H2O). This study provides direct evidence that magmatism was involved in the ore-forming processes of the low temperature metallogenic district, South China, and it raises awareness about the presence of polymetallic vein-type Zn-Pb deposits in the northwest margin of Jiangnan Orogen and their potential as a source of zinc, copper, indium and gallium.     

Geology,geochronology and fluid characteristics of the Pingqiu gold deposit,Southeastern Guizhou Province,China

The junction of the southeastern Guizhou, the southwestern Hunan, and the northern Guangxi regions is located within the southwestern Jiangnan orogen and forms a NE-trending ∼250 km gold belt containing more than 100 gold deposits and occurrences. The Pingqiu gold deposit is one of the numerous lode gold deposits in the southeastern Guizhou district. Gold mineralization is hosted in Neoproterozoic lower greenschist facies metamorphic rocks and controlled by fold-related structures. Vein types present at Pingqiu include bedding-parallel and discordant types, with saddle-reefs and their down limb extensions dominating but with lesser discordant types. The major sulfide minerals are arsenopyrite and pyrite, with minor sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, and rare pyrrhotite, marcasite, and tetrahedrite. Much of the gold is μm- to mm-sized grains, and occurs as fracture-controlled isolated grains or filaments in quartz, galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and wallrock.Three types of fluid inclusions are distinguished in hydrothermal minerals. Type 1 aqueous inclusions have homogenization temperatures of 171–396 °C and salinities of 1.4–9.8 wt% NaCl equiv. Type 2 aqueous-carbonic inclusions yield final homogenization temperatures of 187–350 °C, with salinities of 0.2–7.7 wt% NaCl equiv. Type 3 inclusions are carbonic inclusions with variable relative content of CO₂ and CH₄, and minor amounts of N₂ and H₂O. The close association of CO₂-rich inclusions and H₂O-rich inclusions in groups and along the same trail suggests the presence of fluid immiscibility. The calculated δ¹⁸O_H2O values range from 4.3‰ to 8.3‰ and δD_H2O values of fluid inclusions vary from −55.8‰ to −46.9‰. A metamorphic origin is preferred on the basis of geological background and analogies with other similar deposit types.Two ore-related sericite samples yield well-defined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 425.7 ± 1.7 Ma and 425.2 ± 1.3 Ma, respectively. These data overlap the duration of the Caledonian gold mineralization along the Jiangnan orogen, and suggest that gold mineralization was post-peak regional metamorphism and occurred during the later stages of the Caledonian orogeny.Overall, the Pingqiu gold deposit displays many of the principal characteristics of the Bendigo gold mines in the western Lachlan Orogen (SE Australia) and the Dufferin gold deposit in the Meguma Terrane (Nova Scotia, Canada) but also some important differences, which may lead to the disparity in gold endowment. However, the structural make-up at deposit scale, and the shallow mining depth at present indicate that the Pingqiu gold deposit may have considerable gold potential at depth.