Thermal convection in a cylindrical annulus with a non-Newtonian outer surface

This study presents the results of numerical simulations of a model for lithospheremantle coupling in a terrestrial type planet. To first order, a geologically active terrestrial type planet may consist of a metallic core, silicate mantle and lithosphere, with the lithosphere being rheologically different from the mantle. Therefore we have developed a numerical model consisting of a thin non-Newtonian fluid hoop that is dynamically coupled to a thick Newtonian fluid cylindrical annulus. Thus the rheological dichotomy between mantle and lithosphere is built into the model. Time-dependent calculations show the existence of at least two regimes of behaviors. In one regime, the behavior of the hoop switches between periods characterized by low or high speeds, in response to changes in convective vigor and planform. This regime may apply to the planet Venus where the available evidence indicates that prior to 500 myr ago, the planet was resurfaced on a time scale of <100 myr. Since that time, large-scale tectonic activity on Venus has been sharply curtailed. In the other regime, which is more like plate tectonics on Earth, the hoop speeds rise and fall on short time scales.     

Reappraisal of the structure of the Western Iron Ore Group, Singhbhum craton, eastern India: Implications for the exploration of BIF-hosted iron ore deposits

The middle to late Archean Iron Ore Group rocks occurring along the western margin (the Western Iron Ore basin) of the Singhbhum Granite massif in the Singhbhum craton were deformed during Iron Ore orogeny and are disposed in a horseshoe-shaped synclinal structure in the eastern part of the Indian shield. The Western Iron Ore basin hosts almost all the major high-grade iron ore deposits of eastern India. Contrary to the established view, present analysis emphasizes that the horseshoe fold in reality is a synclinorium consisting of a syncline–anticline fold pair which were later cross-folded along an east–west axis.

Structural analysis in the eastern anticline of the ‘horseshoe synclinorium’ suggests that the BIF hosting the high-grade iron ore bodies are disposed in three linear NNE–SSW trending belts, each showing an open synclinal geometry. Later cross folding produced development of widespread dome and basin pattern at the sub-horizontal hinge zones of these synclinal fold belts. The major iron ore deposits in the eastern anticline at the present level of erosion are preferentially localized within shallow elongated basinal structures only. The axis of the adjoining western syncline was similarly uplifted as partial culminations where cross-folded against E–W anticlinal axes. But here, the BIF-iron ore bodies are preferentially localized within elongated domal structures in contrast to the basinal sites in the adjacent eastern anticline. Such an inference based on structural analysis could probably be utilized as a potential tool for all future explorations, reserve estimation and recovery of the iron ore deposits in the terrain.     

Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic deformations in the southwestern Primorye region

Two types of tectonic deformations indicating different geodynamic settings are defined in the southwestern Primorye region. Near-latitudinal compression forces were responsible for the oldest, Late Paleozoic deformations. The Permian stratified complexes host a near-meridional system of folds and zones of dynamothermal metamorphism, cleavage, and foliation oriented orthogonally relative to the compression. Late Proterozoic (?) mafic-ultramafic rocks are characterized by similar deformations. In the Late Permian, the deformations were accompanied by granitoid magmatism controlled by fold and cleavage structures. The younger, Mesozoic deformations produced by near-meridional compression are represented by NE-trending sinistral strike-slip faults and their structural parageneses: an ENE-trending system of folds and downdip-thrusts both superimposed on Paleozoic protostructures and manifested in Mesozoic and Cenozoic sequences. It is inferred that, at the Paleozoic-Mesozoic boundary, near-latitudinal compression was replaced by near-meridional compression, probably, in response to the corresponding change in direction of the lateral displacement of the interacting Asian continent and (or) Pacific Plate.     

Cenozoic folding in the Cumuruxatiba basin,Brazil: An approach to the deformation trigger by the Abrolhos magmatism

The Cumuruxatiba basin is located in the central portion of the eastern Brazilian margin surrounded by Cenozoic magmatic highs that belong to the Abrolhos Magmatic Complex. This basin was formed by rifting, in the Neocomian followed by thermal subsidence during late Cretaceous like other basins along the Eastern Brazilian margin. In the Cenozoic, the Abrolhos magmatism took place as sills and dykes intruded the sedimentary section, primarily during the Paleogene. In that time, there was a strong NS contractional deformation in the basin represented by folds related to reverse faults coeval with Abrolhos magmatism activity. The structural restorations of regional 2D seismic sections revealed that most of the contractional deformation was concentrated at the beginning of the Cenozoic with maximum peak at the Eocene (up to 33% of total shortening and rate of 6 km/Ma). The Post-Eocene period was marked by a decrease in the strain rate that continues to the present day (around 4 km/Ma to less than 1). 3D structural modelling exhibited a major, well-developed E–W to NE–SW fold belt that accommodated most of the contractional Cenozoic deformation between Royal Charlotte and Sulphur Minerva magmatic highs. Volcanic eruptions and magmatic flows from the Abrolhos complex resulted in differential overburden on edge of the basin, acting as a trigger for halokinesis and the subsequent formation of fault-related folds. In general, such structures were developed close to adjacent magmatic highs, commonly exhibiting vergence towards the centre of the basin. Some magmatic features formed coeval with Cenozoic syn-deformation sediments clearly indicate that Abrolhos magmatism activity and contractional deformation development were associated. The study of the thickness variation of the syn-deformation section in relation to fault-related folds on deformation maps and maximum strain diagrams revealed that most folds were activated and re-activated several times during the Cenozoic without a systematic kinematic pattern. This lack of systematic deformation might be related to the variation of the magmatic pulse activity of adjacent magmatic highs resulting in a complex interference pattern of Cenozoic folds. These structural interpretations of the timing of fault-related folds that are potential Cenozoic traps in the Cumuruxatiba basin play a fundamental role in petroleum systems and exploration of low-risk hydrocarbon prospects.     

若尔盖黄河唐克段河岸沉积序列测年及地表过程变化

通过对若尔盖盆地进行野外考察,在盆地中部黄河唐克段右岸发现了包含深湖相的河岸沉积物,进行了细致的地层观测和系统年代学样品采集。在实验室利用光释光和AMS¹⁴C测年技术建立了年代框架,并结合各个层次的地层沉积相宏观特征和理化性质,分析探讨了若尔盖盆地内部从末次冰期古湖消亡以来的环境和地表过程变化规律。研究结果表明：古黄河在37 ka沿着玛曲断陷谷地溯源侵蚀,沟通了若尔盖古湖水系,盆地内部在30.9 ka之前为深湖环境,稳定地沉积了蓝灰色湖相淤泥层。30.9 ka之后,黄河贯穿若尔盖湖盆内部,古湖水外泄消失,原有的古湖水系转变成为黄河源水系。黄河从湖盆上游远距离搬运携带来的浊黄橙色泥沙大量沉积,覆盖了古湖相沉积层,湖盆内部风沙作用盛行。在末次冰盛期（Last Glacial Maximum, LGM）,盆地内部松散沉积物普遍地受到冰缘冻融作用的改造,形成了冻融褶皱现象。到了14.6~12.5 ka,响应B/A（B?lling-Aller?d）时期的温暖气候,盆地周边山地冰川消融,冰融水汇入盆地,古湖盆底部各种浅洼地形成了大小不等的浅湖,沉积了滨浅湖相的沙层。在12.5~11.7 ka,对应于全球性新仙女木（Younger Dryas,YD）事件,盆地气候再次变冷,转变为冰缘冻土环境,盆地内部滨浅湖相的沙层受到冻融作用和古地震扰动,形成复式褶皱现象。进入全新世,在11.7~4.8 ka气候逐渐变得温暖湿润,古湖盆底部浅洼地积水成为淤泥质沼泽环境,在全新世中后期4.8~1.8 ka则转变成为沼泽草甸环境,在1.8 ka之后,盆地内沼泽面积收缩,风沙活动盛行,河岸台地的近源沙尘暴沉积物经过成壤改造形成亚高山草甸黑土类现代土壤。     

Improved Geometric Model of Extensional Fault–bend Folding

Extensional fault–bend folds, also called rollovers, are one of the most common structures in extensional settings. Numerous studies have shown that oblique simple shear is the most appropriate mechanism for quantitative modeling of geometric relations between normal faults and the strata in their hanging walls. However, the oblique simple shear has a rather serious issue derived from the shear direction, particularly above convex bends. We use geometric and experimental methods to study the deformation of extensional fault–bend folds on convex bends. The results indicate that whether the fault bends are concave or convex, the shear direction of the hanging wall dips toward the main fault. On this basis, we improve the previous geometric model by changing the shear direction above the convex bends. To illustrate basin history, our model highlights the importance of the outer limit of folding instead of the growth axial. Moreover, we propose a new expression for the expansion index that is applicable to the condition of no deposition on the footwall. This model is validated by modeling a natural structure of the East China Sea Basin.     

陕西蟒岭马河地区宽坪群多期褶皱变形

据面理置换、小褶皱叠加、线理构造,以及对大中型构造的分析,再结合原生沉积构造和构造几何学分析,确定马河地区宽坪群经历了至少三期叠加变形.第一期为区域性挤压的紧闭平卧褶皱,第二期为穹窿状或长垣状褶皱.第三期为南北向开阔宽缓褶皱。查清构造为正确建立层序提供了依据.     

A mathematical model for orientation data from macroscopic conical folds

Statistical techniques are developed to classify folds into one of three classes: cylindrical, conical, or neither. A translated version of Bingham's distribution on the sphere is applied to orientation data fron conical folds. Iterative least-squares techniques are used to determine the best-fitting small circle (or cone), and confidence intervals for the cone axis and half apical angle are developed. Examples of a cylindrical and a conical fold are given. Another fold is neither cylindrical nor conical and is classified as pseudoconical. Relationships between the Bingham and Fisher distributions are presented.     

褶皱构造的曲率分析及其裂缝估算--以江汉盆地王场褶皱为例

曲面曲率的几何意义可以反映曲面一点邻近区域的具体形态和变形特征,因而可以用来研究褶皱层面的变形特征、构造样式及其可展性.褶皱面裂缝发育主要为一组张裂系,张裂隙走向与最大主曲率的方向垂直.褶皱构造的主曲率在一定程度上可以反映与褶皱有关的张裂隙的发育情况.对于圆柱状褶皱可以估算与褶皱有关的裂缝孔隙度和渗透率.以王场褶皱构造面为例,通过计算二次趋势面的特征值和特征向量得到褶皱构造面主曲率的大小和方向,确定该褶皱为圆柱状褶皱,并对与之相关的裂缝孔隙度和渗透率进行了估算.     

Use of incipient motion data for backward erosion piping models

Backward erosion piping involves the gradual removal of granular material under the action of water flow from the foundation of a dam or levee, whereby shallow pipes are formed that grow in the direction opposite to the flow. This pipe-forming process can ultimately lead to failure of a water-retaining structure and is considered one of the most important failure mechanisms for dikes and levees in the Netherlands and the United States. Modeling of this mechanism requires the assessment of hydraulic conditions in the pipe, which are controlled by the particle equilibrium at the pipe wall. Since the pipe's dimensions are controlled by the inflow to the pipe from the porous medium, the flow through the pipe is thought to be laminar for fine- to medium-grained sands. The literature provides data for incipient motion in laminar flow, which is reviewed here and complemented with data from backward erosion experiments. The experiments illustrate the applicability of the laminar incipient motion data to determine the erosion pipe dimensions and corresponding pipe hydraulics for fine- to medium-grained sands, for the purpose of backward erosion piping modeling.