Première approche pour l'étude des bassins hydrogéologiques profonds du Sud-Ouest tunisien

Due to their high cost, a small number of deep wells cannot give a satisfactory image of the architecture of deep geological formations and their continuity. However, it is very important at an early stage of research to recognize the relations that can exist between the different compartments of the underground formations. Generally speaking, we usually deduce that the hydrodynamic and geochemical parameters can be generated by geological discontinuity. In southwestern Tunisia, the seismic and diagraphic data make it possible to get a satisfactory insight into the underground layers so as to identify the hydrogeological basins and the extension of their parameters. To cite this article: M. Chalbaoui, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

白城-通辽地区第三系地浸砂岩铀成矿后生氧化条件分析

通过对白城-通辽地区第三系后生氧化的空间形态、矿物组合、伴生元素分带及Fe^3＋/Fe^2＋比值等方面研究认为，泰康组主要发育潜水氧化，其中的铀矿化规模小、找矿意义不大；大安组主要发育层问氧化，所见铀矿化有层间氧化特点，具有形成大型地浸砂岩型铀矿床的前提，值得进一步加强找矿探索。     

天文地质年代表与旋回地层学研究进展

Rio等（2003）依据旋回地层学研究成果提出了“天文地质年代表”，旋回地层学研究是依据地层记录中的旋回与有关米氏旋回来确定地质时间。轨道（或天文）方法已被确定为建立2004年“国际地质年表”（由国际地层委员会确认）的重要方法之一（Gradstein等，2004）。我国在新近系、古近系、下侏罗统、二叠系等陆相沉积的旋回地层研究方面已取得一批成果。     

Estimating rupture scenario likelihood based on dynamic rupture simulations: the example of the segmented Middle Durance fault, southeastern France

The Middle Durance fault system, southeastern France, is a slow active fault that produced moderate-size historical seismic events and shows evidence of at least one   M _w ≳ 6.5  event in the last 29 000 yr. Based on dynamic rupture simulation, we propose earthquake scenarios that are constrained by knowledge of both the tectonic stress field and of the 3-D geometry of the Durance fault system. We simulate dynamic rupture interaction among several fault segmentations of different strikes, dips and rakes, using a 3-D boundary integral equation method. 50 combinations of reasonable stress field orientations, stress field amplitudes and hypocentre locations are tested. The probability of different rupture evolutions is then computed. Each segment ruptures mainly as a single event (44 per cent of the 50 simulations test in this paper). However, the probability that an event triggers simultaneously along three segments is high (26 per cent), leading to a potential rupture length of 45 km. Finally, 2 per cent of the simulations occur along four adjacent segments, producing the greatest total rupture length of 55 km. The simulation results show that the southernmost segment is most easily ruptured (40 per cent), because of its favourable orientation with respect to the tectonic stress and of its favourable location for interaction with the other segments. South-bound unilateral propagation is slightly preferable (41 per cent), compared to north-bound unilateral and bilateral propagation modes. Although, these rupture scenarios cannot be directly translated into probabilities of occurrence, they do provide a better insight as to which rupture scenarios are more likely, an important element to better estimate near-field strong ground motion and seismic hazard.     

Radiometric ages of the Fire Clay tonstein [Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous), Westphalian, Duckmantian]: A comparison of U–Pb zircon single-crystal ages and Ar/Ar sanidine single-crystal plateau ages

The Fire Clay tonstein [Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous), Westphalian Series, Duckmantian Stage]–a kaolinized, volcanic-ash deposit occurring in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Virginia–is the most widespread bed in the Middle Pennsylvanian of the central Appalachian basin, USA. A concordant single-crystal U–Pb zircon datum for this tonstein gives a ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 314.6 ± 0.9 Ma (2σ). This age is in approximate agreement with a mean sanidine plateau age of 311.5 ± 1.3 Ma (1σ, n = 11) for the Fire Clay tonstein. The difference between the two ages may be due to bias between the ⁴⁰K and ²³⁸U decay constants and other factors. The age of the Fire Clay tonstein has important implications for Duckmantian Stage (Westphalian Series) sedimentation rates, correlations with the Westphalian Series of Europe, Middle Pennsylvanian volcanic events, and the late Paleozoic time scale.     

Coeval biochemical and biophysical weathering processes on Quaternary sandstone terraces south of Rabat (Temara), northwest Morocco

Despite numerous investigations on substrate‐inhabiting microflora, especially lichens, very little is known about the colonization of coastal escarpments by lithobiontic micro‐organisms, inland of a retreating coastline in Africa. Reported herein are the results of a combined field observation and microscopy study focusing on the connection between microrelief of the substrate, colonies of lithobiontic micro‐organisms (in particular the lichen Xanthoria parietina) and microstructures of putative bacterial origin. The occurrence of weathering pits in which the early stages of the biotic development occurs, and the subsequent disintegration of the rock indicate that lichens, mosses and fungi act synergistically by alternating chemical and mechanical weathering. Penetration of grains by expansion and contraction of the hyphae depletes the rock matrix and contributes to the mechanical breakdown of the rock. Calcite rhombs on the weathered surfaces of the calcite‐cemented sandstones are severely etched with well‐developed rhomb‐shaped etch pits (‘spiky calcite’), holes, or has one or more of the faces removed, and their cores exposed and leached. Nanofilaments (c. 100–700 nm) and ‘nanomicrobial’ fruiting bodies (c. 250 nm) emanating from micropores appear to be common on affected crystalline structures. Weddellite present immediately below the thallus is a strong indicator of biomineralization. Quartz responds differently to chemical weathering by producing peeling structures and microbrecciation features. The dissolution of these crystals appears to be a surface reaction‐controlled process mediated by microbial microfilaments and nanofilaments. A model is proposed, firstly indicating early‐stage biochemical weathering, followed by biophysical weathering. Disintegration of the rock outcrops in due to a complex interplay of several events, probably beginning at the nanoscale with penetration of sites on crystal faces. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Age and petrogenesis of plagiogranite intrusions in the Ankara mélange, central Turkey

Abstract   The Ankara mélange within the Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan suture zone in north-central Turkey includes ophiolitic fragments that represent the remnants of an oceanic basement evolved between the Sakarya and Kirsehir continental blocks in the early Mesozoic. The serpentinized upper mantle peridotites and lower crustal rocks in these ophiolites are cross-cut by dolerite and plagiogranite dykes, which show mutually intrusive relations indicating their synchronous emplacement into the pre-existing oceanic lithosphere. Zircon dating (U–Pb) of a plagiogranite dyke has revealed a concordia age of ∼179 ± 15 Ma that is interpreted here as the crystallization age of this differentiated rock. A fourth fraction of the zircon separates from this rock has also shown an inherited component greater than 1.7 Ga, possibly derived from the Precambrian core of the Rhodope–Strandja Metamorphic Massif in the Balkan Peninsula. Models for plagiogranite formation were tested and it is concluded that a high extent (<70%) of anhydrous or water-undersaturated, early amphibole-free fractionation of a basaltic melt source may have readily produced the observed REE concentrations for the Ankara mélange plagiogranites. The trace element abundances and other geochemical features of the coeval dolerite dykes are similar to those of the plagiogranites, suggesting a common melt source. The Ta–Nb patterns shown by both the plagiogranite and dolerite dykes are typical of arc-related petrogenesis and can be explained by the addition of slab-derived components to a depleted mantle wedge. The Early Jurassic ophiolitic basement and the dyke intrusions were formed in a back-arc setting between the Paleo- and Neo-Tethyan domains in the eastern Mediterranean region. The Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan Sea developed in this back-arc environment and the related suture zone had a diachronous evolutionary history.