Geochronology of Middle and Upper Pleistocene Loess Sections in Hungary

The application of both thermoluminescence and infrared stimulated luminescence dating to the extensively studied “classical” Hungarian loess/paleosol sequences from Basaharc, Mende, and Paks provides a reliable chronological framework and climatostratigraphic reconstruction for the last interglacial/glacial cycle. Based on this combined luminescence dating study a new chronology is proposed for the “Young Loess” in Hungary. Luminescence dating suggests that the loess below the MF2 horizon formed during the penultimate glaciation. The MF1 horizon probably formed during an interstade within oxygen isotope stage 3. For the youngest loess, overlying MF1, a very high accumulation rate was determined. Large time gaps occur above MF2 and MF1, indicating that most of the record of the last glaciation is missing in the standard sections at Basaharc, Mende, and Paks. Either large discontinuities or a very low accumulation rate occurred in all three type sections during the soil-forming periods. High-resolution studies of climatic proxies using this combined luminescence dating approach provide a reliable chronological framework for loess and loess derivatives of the last glacial cycle in Hungary, although a precise and complete chronostratigraphic reconstruction cannot be achieved from the incomplete records found at these sites.     

Seismic anisotropy within the uppermost mantle of southern Germany

This paper presents an updated interpretation of seismic anisotropy within the uppermost mantle of southern Germany. The dense network of reversed and crossing refraction profiles in this area made it possible to observe almost 900 traveltimes of the P_n phase that could be effectively used in a time-term analysis to determine horizontal velocity distribution immediately below the Moho. For 12 crossing profiles, amplitude ratios of the P_n phase compared to the dominant crustal phase were utilized to resolve azimuthally dependent velocity gradients with depth. A P -wave anisotropy of 3–4 per cent in a horizontal plane immediately below the Moho at a depth of 30 km, increasing to 11 per cent at a depth of 40 km, was determined. For the axis of the highest velocity of about 8.03 km s⁻¹ at a depth of 30 km a direction of N31°F was obtained. The azimuthal dependence of the observed P_n amplitude is explained by an azimuth-dependent sub-Moho velocity gradient decreasing from 0.06 s⁻¹ in the fast direction to 0 s⁻¹ in the slow direction of horizontal P -wave velocity. From the seismic results in this study a petrological model suggesting a change of modal composition and percentage of oriented olivine with depth was derived.     

塔里木西南早第三纪古地磁和地壳缩短

属于帕米尔弧山前带的乌帕尔剖面和属于南天山山前带的巴对布拉克剖面，现今的纬度差为０．５６°，但是下第三系古地磁测定结果表明其古纬度差很大．乌帕尔剖面齐姆根组上部的古纬度为８°Ｎ，而巴什布拉克剖面巴什布拉克组第５段的古纬度为３６．１°Ｎ。若考虑到当时板块的相对运移速度，估计始新世早期巴什布拉克地区的古纬度大致为３１°Ｎ，与当时乌帕尔所处位置的纬差达２３°。又根据Ｋｌｏｏｔｗｉｊｋ测得的帕米尔西北缘利什坦层的古纬度值，在始新世末期．包括乌帕尔在内的帕米尔前缘与以巴什布拉区为代表的南天山山前带之间还有至少１０°的纬度差。古地磁资料表明，始新世早期，塔里木海宽达２０００ｋｍ，此时印度板块西北端已与欧亚板块局部碰撞，至始新世末，印度板块向北推进２０°，帕米尔弧前缘与南天山山前的距离缩短到约１０００ｋｍ，原塔里木海的两侧上升为山前平原。     

青藏高原Pn波研究进展及问题

简要总结了青藏高原地区Pn波速度结构、各向异性研究进展；介绍了Pn波速度结构、各向异性等在岩石圈结构、构造背景反映等方面的应用研究进展。分析了目前青藏高原Pn波研究中存在的一些问题。     

Are open fractures necessarily aligned with maximum horizontal stress?

Fluid flow in fractured rock is an increasingly central issue in recovering water and hydrocarbon supplies and geothermal energy, in predicting flow of pollutants underground, in engineering structures, and in understanding large-scale crustal behaviour. Conventional wisdom assumes that fluids prefer to flow along fractures oriented parallel or nearly parallel to modern-day maximum horizontal compressive stress, or S_Hmax. The reasoning is that these fractures have the lowest normal stresses across them and therefore provide the least resistance to flow. For example, this view governs how geophysicists design and interpret seismic experiments to probe fracture fluid pathways in the deep subsurface. Contrary to these widely held views, here we use core, stress measurement, and fluid flow data to show that S_Hmax does not necessarily coincide with the direction of open natural fractures in the subsurface (>3 km depth). Consequently, in situ stress direction cannot be considered to predict or control the direction of maximum permeability in rock. Where effective stress is compressive and fractures are expected to be closed, chemical alteration dictates location of open conduits, either preserving or destroying fracture flow pathways no matter their orientation.     

Passive Seismic Experiment Mosaic - A Pilot Study of Mantle Lithosphere Anisotropy of the Bohemian Massif

We present results of an array study of seismic anisotropy beneath the Bohemian Massif (BM) showing distinct lateral and directional variations of the fast shear-wave polarization and split-delay time consistent with variations in the P-residual spheres, in which directional means of relative residuals are subtracted. Our analysis of the S- and P-wave anisotropy suggests that the mantle lithosphere of the BM consists of at least three large domains with different orientation of the large-scale fabric separated by sutures cutting most likely the whole lithosphere. Boundaries of the units are characterised by a null or small shear-wave splitting, as well as by smaller values in the P-residual spheres. We present self-consistent 3D anisotropic models of the lithosphere domains of the BM resulting from joint inversion of anisotropic parameters searching for a 3D orientation of mantle fabric. While in the Saxothuringian and Sudetes parts of the BM the (a, c) foliations dip prevailingly to the N-NW, they dip to the S and SW in the southern and eastern parts of the Moldanubian.