Earthquake ground motion predictive equations for Garhwal Himalaya,India

Predictive equations based on the stochastic approach are developed for earthquake ground motions from Garhwal Himalayan earthquakes of 3.5≤M_w≤6.8 at a distance of 10≤R≤250 km. The predicted ground motion parameters are response spectral values at frequencies from 0.25 to 20 Hz, and peak ground acceleration (PGA). The ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) are derived from an empirically based stochastic ground motion model. The GMPEs show a fair agreement with the empirically developed ground motion equations from Himalaya as well as the NGA equation. The proposed relations also reasonably predict the observed ground motion of two major Himalayan earthquakes from Garhwal Himalayan region. For high magnitudes, there is insufficient data to satisfactorily judge the relationship; however it reasonably predicts the 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake (M_w=6.8) and 1999 Chamoli earthquake (M_w=6.4) from Garhwal Himalaya region.     

Thermal conductivity of Higher Himalayan Crystallines from Garhwal Himalaya, India

We report the measurements of thermal conductivity for some Higher Himalayan Crystalline rocks from Joshimath and Uttarkashi areas of the Garhwal Himalaya. Seventy-three rock samples including gneiss, metabasic rock and quartzite were measured. Gneissic rocks, which include augen gneiss, banded gneiss, felsic gneiss and fine-grained gneiss, exhibit a wide range in conductivity, from 1.5 to 3.6 Wm^− 1K^− 1 for individual samples, and 2.1 to 2.7 Wm^− 1K^− 1 for the means. Among these, augen gneisses and banded gneisses show the largest variability. Of all the rock types, quartzites (mean 5.4 Wm^− 1K^− 1) and metabasic rocks (mean 2.1 Wm^− 1K^− 1) represent the highest and lowest mean values respectively. The range in conductivity observed for gneissic rocks is significantly higher than that generally found in similar rock types in cratonic areas. The rock samples have very low porosity and exhibit feeble anisotropy, indicating that they do not contribute to the variability in thermal conductivity. Besides variations in mineralogical composition, the heterogeneous banding as well as intercalations with metabasic rocks and quartz veins, a common occurrence in structurally complex areas, appears to cause the variability in conductivity. The study therefore brings out the need for systematic characterization of thermophysical properties of major rock types comprising the Himalayan region for lithospheric thermal modeling, assessment of geothermal energy and geo-engineering applications in an area. The dataset constitutes the first systematic measurements on the Higher Himalayan Crystalline rocks.     

藏南特提斯喜马拉雅晚二叠世酸性岩浆作用及其构造意义

A型花岗岩的岩石成因对于评估伸展构造背景下的岩浆作用极为关键。我们对藏南特提斯喜马拉雅带内的哲古错花岗闪长岩进行了锆石U-Pb定年、全岩地球化学和同位素（Sr和Nd）组成分析测试。结果表明,该花岗闪长岩形成于260.3±2.8Ma,并且被一约146Ma的闪长岩侵入。该花岗闪长岩属于高K钙碱性、偏铝质系列,其A/CNK和A/NK分别为0.74~0.76和1.87~2.72,富集轻稀土元素（LREE）,亏损重稀土元素（HREE）,有明显的Nb、Ta和Ti的负异常,Zr和Hf正异常,ε_Nd（t）值为+1.1~+2.3;岩相学也显示出碱性花岗岩特征。以上所有特征揭示了该花岗闪长岩和A2型花岗岩相似,但其与典型的弧岩浆岩不同,而是与伸展构造背景下形成的岩浆岩类似。哲古错花岗闪长岩的源区是为经亏损地幔物质改造过的沉积岩或变沉积岩,基于本研究数据及已有数据表明,本研究中的晚二叠世酸性岩浆作用是一次与冈瓦纳大陆北缘裂解和新特提斯洋开启有关的岩浆活动。

     

淡色花岗岩的岩石学和地球化学特征及其成因

淡色花岗岩(leucogranite)是一类高铝高硅碱的酸性侵入岩,主要地球化学特征是:SiO2≥72%,Al2O3≥14%,Na2O+K2O~8.5%,富Rb,亏损Th、Ba、Sr,稀土总量较一般花岗岩低(∑REE=(40~120)×10-6),且表现为中等分异的轻稀土弱富集型,一般具有Eu负异常;Sr-Nd-Pb-O同位素指示其岩浆明显的陆壳来源。淡色花岗岩主要发育于陆壳(俯冲)碰撞加厚带,由逆冲折返的俯冲板片变沉积岩部分经过脱水熔融产生。淡色花岗岩可划分为三种不同的岩石类型:(1)二云母型淡色花岗岩,由变泥质岩(或变硬砂岩)在中地壳水平经黑云母(和/或白云母)脱水熔融产生;(2)电气石型淡色花岗岩,由变泥质岩在较低温度下经白云母脱水熔融产生;(3)石榴子石型淡色花岗岩,由长英质下地壳经黑云母脱水熔融产生。源区残留独居石、磷灰石等富REE矿物是淡色花岗岩亏损REE、Th等元素的原因。源岩为变泥质岩及源区残留钾长石是淡色花岗岩亏损Sr、Ba的主要原因。     

The effect of pH of water and mineralogical properties on the slake durability (degradability) of different rocks from the Lesser Himalaya, India

Slake durability is an important geotechnical parameter and is a measure of degradability of rocks due to the process of mechanical and chemical breakdown. It is closely related to the mineralogical composition and the texture of the rocks. In this paper, mineralogical examination along with slake durability tests under variable pH conditions, both in acidic and alkaline environments, on the limestone, shale and siltsone were evaluated to understand the relationship between mineralogy and the degradability of rocks. The study revealed that rocks rich in calcium carbonate and or magnesium carbonate are adversely affected in the acidic environment, whereas, the rocks rich in quartz, feldspar and muscovite are independent of the pH of the slaking fluid, which in turn, is more influenced by the texture of the constituent minerals. It has also been observed that fine grained rocks are more susceptible to degrade in comparison to the coarse grained rocks.     

Geometrical analysis of mesoscopic shear zones in the crystalline rocks of MCT zone of Garhwal Higher Himalaya

The crystalline rocks of the MCT Zone of Garhwal Higher Himalaya exhibit well-preserved mesoscopic shear zones. Majority of these shear zones are of ductile and brittle ductile type with both sinistral and dextral sense of movement. Detailed analysis of mesoscopic shear zones reveals that sinistral shear zones exhibit a strike variation from NNE to ENE and dextral shear zones exhibit variation from NNW to WNW directions thus forming a conjugate pair. The bisectors of statistically preferred orientations of the two sets of the shears indicate that they generated due to NNE–SSW horizontal compression. These dextral and sinistral shear zones exhibit strike–slip geometry developed during progressive ductile shearing.     

苏鲁超高压变质带含褐帘石正、副片麻岩中变质锆石的地球化学性质及其SHRIMP U-Pb定年

贪褐帘石正、副片麻岩是苏鲁地体重要的超高压变质岩石.矿物包体激光拉曼鉴定、阴极发光图像分析、锆石微区LA-ICP-MS成分测试及SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果表明,含褐帘石正、副片麻岩中的锆石具有明显的三层结构.即弱发光效应的继承性(碎屑或岩浆结晶)锆石的核、强发光效应的含柯石英变质增生幔部和弱发光效应的退变边.继承性岩浆结晶锆石核部记录了新元古代(＞810Ma)的原岩形成年龄,含柯石英锆石微区记录了241～223Ma的超高压变质年龄(正、副片麻岩的加权平均年龄分别为230±7Ma和229±7Ma),锆石的退变边记录了217～200Ma的角闪岩相退变质年龄(正、副片麻岩的加权平均年龄分别为211±3Ma和210±2Ma),由此限定苏鲁地体构造抬升速率为5.3km/Myr,表明苏鲁超高压岩石经历了一个相对快速抬升的变质演化过程.与苏鲁-大别其它超高压岩石变质增生锆石对比,含褐帘石正、副片麻岩中的超高压变质增生锆石微区具有十分独特的地球化学性质,主要表现为重稀土元素(HREE)明显富集,U含量明显偏低(10～29×10-6),而Th/U比值则明显偏高(0.45～0.92).HREE的明显富集与寄主岩石普遍存在超高压矿物褐帘石(富集轻稀土元素)有关,而低U含量和高Th/U比值的特点则表明超高压峰期变质阶段处在高氧逸度(fO2)的体系环境.     

珠峰地区锂成矿作用: 喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩带首个锂电气石-锂云母型伟晶岩

喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩具有较好的稀有金属成矿前景。珠穆朗玛峰位于该淡色花岗岩带的中部,其中大量的淡色花岗岩和伟晶岩出露,并成为珠穆朗玛重要的岩石组成部分。近期,我们在珠峰前进沟地区发现并采集了锂成矿伟晶岩,在手标本上可以清晰看到浅褐红色的铁锂云母。进一步的全岩地球化学以及矿物学研究表明,前进沟锂成矿伟晶岩为锂电气石-锂云母型伟晶岩,具有稀有金属元素（Be-Nb-Li）含量高、Rb/Sr比值高、Zr/Hf和Nb/Ta比值低等特征。所有的矿物学和地球化学特征都表明该伟晶岩经历了高度的岩浆分异作用。矿物成分上看,云母由铁锂云母演变为锂云母,电气石由黑电气石演变为锂电气石,Fe、Mg含量降低,Li含量升高,这一特征直接指示着演化过程中岩浆成分的变化。这次发现,是首次在该地区发现锂成矿作用,也是我国喜马拉雅首次报道锂电气石-锂云母型伟晶岩的存在。结合珠穆朗玛峰周围（普士拉、热曲）近期发现的锂辉石-透锂长石型伟晶岩,珠穆朗玛地区很可能成为我国重要的一个锂（Li）成矿远景区。

     

西藏吉隆地区高喜马拉雅新近纪冷却剥露 ——来自裂变径迹年龄的证据

裂变径迹年代学测试表明,吉隆地区高喜马拉雅约30km的南北剖面上锆石裂变径迹年龄介于13～2.4Ma之间,磷灰石裂变径迹年龄介于1.9～0.6Ma之间;在空间上,裂变径迹年龄与高程及纬度都具有正相关关系。综合区域热年代学资料,裂变径迹年代学数据揭示出研究区高喜马拉雅经历了3个阶段的冷却剥露过程:①中新世中期至约13Ma,藏南拆离系(STDS)大规模伸展拆离作用引发的高喜马拉雅岩石区域性的构造剥露;②中新世晚期伴随STDS韧性变形的结束,缓慢冷却剥露阶段;③上新世前后,5.8～2.7Ma以来,快速并不断加速的冷却剥露作用。综合对比研究区构造地貌特征及热年代学空间格局,提出上新世以来高喜马拉雅快速并加速的剥露作用,是由流域以河流切蚀为代表的地表作用过程驱动。     

Nature of fluids and regional implications for Lesser Himalayan carbonates and associated mineralization

Fluid inclusion data are presented for the successive stages of limestone, dolomite, magnesite and sulphide-bearing quartz veins in Proterozoic carbonate rocks of the Lesser Himalaya. Subsurface fluids were H₂O–NaCl–KCl ± MgCl₂ ± CaCl₂ and showed successive increase in salinity and temperature. The salinity of the pore fluid during limestone diagenesis was in the range of 7.5–15 eq wt.% NaCl and the magnesite-forming fluids had a salinity of about 9 to 19 eq wt.% NaCl. This progressive rise in salinity is attributed to a more saline fluid in the deeper zones. The inverse relation between homogenization temperatures and final melting temperatures suggests mixing of the fluids during diagenesis, and highly depleted δ¹⁸O values rule out participation of magmatic fluid in the mixing. A late stage carbonic fluid is linked with talc formation. The low temperature of sulphide-forming epigenetic solutions, as obtained from fluid inclusions, is also substantiated by the chemical data from these sulphides. δ³⁴S values in galena infer that magmatic sulphur was probably not involved, and the sulphur of the galena is derived from an isotopically heavy source.