Deep structure of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano: Results of multidisciplinary seismic surveys

The paper presents the results of multidisciplinary seismic surveys carried out by refraction and reflection methods for compressional and shear waves on Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano. A large extinct (approximately 60–70 years ago) volcano was identified near the active volcano, and its structure was studied. It was found that the recognized intermediate fluid-bearing chambers correlate with the distinguished tectonic dislocations. A supposition was made that the mud volcanism is sequentially developed in the northeastern direction and related to the modern tectonics of the Central Sakhalin Fault.     

Cenomanian-lower coniacian radiolarian assemblages from the Naiba reference section (Sakhalin)

Reexamination of radiolarians from the Naiba and Bykovo formations of the Naiba reference section (West Sakhalin Mountains) is carried out. Distinguished in the section are the Cromyomma (?) nodosa-Amphipyndax sp. A (terminal early Cenomanian), Cuboctostylus kasinzovae-C. sakhalinensis (Middle Cenomanian), Cuboctostylus trifurcatus-Cassideus yoloensis (terminal middle-late Cenomanian), and Spongodiscus concentricus-Multastrum robustum (late Turonian to early Coniacian probably) assemblages. According to results of comparative analysis for North Pacific regions, concurrent radiolarian assemblages from the Naiba section and California contain up to 40% of species in common, whereas taxonomic similarity with assemblages from Japan is insignifican in contrast.     

俄罗斯库页岛潮间带沉积物可培养细菌的系统发育多样性

采用2216E、R2A、M1培养基,首次从俄罗斯库页岛潮间带沉积物样品中分离到82株可培养海洋细菌,经查重并菌后选取其中45株具有代表性的菌株进行了16S r RNA基因序列分析和多样性研究。结果发现,它们共分布于变形细菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)4个类群(分别占45株代表菌株的42.2%、20.0%、20.0%和17.8%),代表着6个纲、27个属、44个种;同时发现其中有8个潜在新种和1个潜在新属。本研究结果表明,俄罗斯库页岛潮间带沉积物可培养细菌的系统发育多样性非常高,大部分菌株与分离自日本和韩国近海的细菌物种在系统发育关系上高度同源,但也存在不少潜在的新物种。     

1995年5月27日俄罗斯萨哈林岛强烈地震概况

１９９５年５月２７日俄罗斯远东地区萨哈林岛发生７．５级强烈地震，造成生命和财产的严重损失，这是俄罗斯历史上受灾最严重的一次地震。本文概述了这次地震的情况，内容包括：震源参数，震灾情况，救援情况，地震成因和地震趋势，以及俄罗斯的地震研究情况等。     

1995年4－6月的全球地震动态

１９９５年第二季度，全球地震活动恢复到１９９４年的高水平态势：浅源地震频数猛增，并出现两次Ｍｓ７．７以上巨大地震。大洋岛弧带成为本季度地震活动中心。所罗门群岛有两次中强震。菲律宾萨马岛附近发生大震群。千岛群岛大震的余震未息。秘鲁北部和缅印边界各有一次中深源地震。希腊发生中强地震两次。萨哈林岛地震显示全球地震信息。     

Tertiary geodynamics of Sakhalin (NW Pacific) from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility fabrics and paleomagnetic data

Sakhalin has been affected by several phases of Cretaceous and Tertiary deformation due to the complex interaction of plates in the northwest Pacific region. A detailed understanding of the strain is important because it will provide constraints on plate-scale processes that control the formation and deformation of marginal sedimentary basins. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data were obtained from fine-grained mudstones and siltstones from 22 localities in Sakhalin in order to provide information concerning tectonic strain. AMS data reliably record ancient strain tensor orientations before significant deformation of the sediments occurred. Paleomagnetically determined vertical-axis rotations of crustal rocks allow rotation of the fabrics back to their original orientation. Results from southwest Sakhalin indicate a N035°E-directed net tectonic transport from the mid-Paleocene to the early Miocene, which is consistent with the present-day relative motion between the Okhotsk Sea and Eurasian plates. Reconstruction of early–late Miocene AMS fabrics in east Sakhalin indicates a tectonic transport direction of N040°E. In west Sakhalin, the transport direction appears to have remained relatively consistent from the Oligocene to the late Miocene, but it has a different attitude of N080°E. This suggests local deflection of the stress and strain fields, which was probably associated with opening of the northern Tatar Strait. A northward-directed tectonic transport is observed in Miocene sediments in southeast Sakhalin, mid-Eocene sediments in east Sakhalin, and in Late Cretaceous rocks of west and northern Sakhalin, which may be associated with northwestward motion and subduction of the Pacific Plate in the Tertiary period. The boundaries of the separate regions defined by the AMS data are consistent with present-day plate models and, therefore, provide meaningful constraints on the tectonic evolution of Sakhalin.     

Cenozoic Magmatism of the North-Eastern Eurasian Margin: The Role of Lithosphere Versus Asthenosphere

Sikhote-Alin and Sakhalin are located in the Russian Far Eastflank of the northernmost part of the Sea of Japan. Magmatismin this region preceded, was concurrent with, and continuedafter the extension and sea-floor spreading (25–18 Ma)that formed the Sea of Japan. Among the Sikhote-Alin and Sakhalinvolcanic suites, Eocene–Oligocene (55–24 Ma) lavasare characterized by greater large ion lithophile element andrare earth element enrichments compared with Early–Mid-Miocene(23–15 Ma) tholeiites, and also show a depletion in highfield strength elements (HFSE). The geochemical characteristicsof the Eocene–Oligocene and Early–Mid-Miocene basaltsare consistent with migration of the locus of magma generationbeneath the Sikhote-Alin and Sakhalin areas from subduction-modifiedlithospheric mantle into mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-sourceasthenosphere as spreading in the Sea of Japan progressed. Mid-Miocene–Pliocene(14–5 Ma) lavas, erupted following the opening of theSea of Japan, include alkaline and sub-alkaline basalts withwide ranges in trace-element abundances, varying between twodistinct end-members: (1) volumetrically minor alkaline basaltswith Zr–Nb and Sr–Nb–Pb isotope compositionssimilar to asthenosphere-derived, intra-plate–hotspotbasalts from eastern China; (2) more abundant, lithosphere-derived,low-alkali tholeiites depleted in HFSE. The similarity of isotopicsignatures coupled with systematically different rare earthelement (REE) abundances in the Mid-Miocene–Pliocene andChinese basalts are best modeled by similar extents of meltingof spinel lherzolite and garnet lherzolite, respectively. TheMid-Miocene–Pliocene alkali basalts were generated bysmall degrees of partial melting of hot asthenosphere beneatha thin lithospheric lid; the thin lithospheric mantle beneaththe Sikhote-Alin and Sakhalin region resulted from heating andextension associated with the opening of the Sea of Japan. KEY WORDS: north-eastern Eurasian margin; Sikhote-Alin–Sakhalin; Japan Sea opening; subcontinental lithosphere; asthenosphere     

Structure and peculiarities of the seismic regime in the source zone of the Takoe earthquake on September 1, 2001 (M W 5.2)

The Takoe earthquake (M _W 5.2) occurred between two en-echelon segments of the active Aprelovskii fault on September 1, 2001, and was accompanied by an earthquake swarm, which was successfully recorded by a local network of digital seismic stations located on the southern part of Sakhalin Island. Modern methods were applied to relocate the parameters of the sources for the earthquake swarm event and significantly specify their spatial distribution and relations to the structural-geological features of the complex system of interacting faults. New data on the correlation between the source mechanism and the modern geodynamic setting in the southern part of Sakhalin were obtained.     

Unusual eruption of the Main Pugachevo gas-water-lithoclastic (Mud) volcano in Sakhalin during the Winter of 2005

The examination of the Main Pugachevo gas-water-lithoclastic volcano during the summer of 2005 and GPS-controlled large-scale (1: 1000) mapping revealed its regular but rather peculiar eruption. It was the largest among the eruptions investigated since 1911 and produced a very unusual lithoclastic field with an area of about 100 000 m² and a volume of about 100 000 m³. The eruption occurred from three distinct active centers and began with a vigorous explosion-like gas burst from one center followed by the noncontemporaneous discharge of a gas-and water-saturated liquid lithoclastic mass from the three centers, which produced a number of flows of different directions and sizes. The flows almost completely covered the smoothed flat open area of the volcano and even invaded the larch forest surrounding the volcano, where they bent, overturned, broke, and occasionally uprooted and dragged over some distance some large trees. The analysis and comparison with all the previously documented eruptions of the Main Pugachevo gas-water-lithoclastic volcano revealed their fairly diverse, sometimes strongly variable character with respect to many parameters: the amount of ejected lithoclastic material; the number of eruption centers; and the proportions of the erupted gaseous, liquid, and solid components. In general, the eruptions show a distinctly multirank periodic character: relatively minor or small low-rank eruptions take place once every 1–2 yr, and large eruptions of a higher rank are much less frequent (supposedly, once in 70 years).     

New data on Maastrichtian-Paleocene foraminifers from the Sinegorsk Horizon of Southern Sakhalin

Data on planktonic foraminifers first found in the reference section of the Sinegorsk Horizon outcropping along the Naiba River are discussed. The lower part of this stratigraphic unit yields an assemblage of upper Maastrichtian low-latitude thermophilic species, while its upper layers contain upper Paleocene (Thanetian) taxa. Beds with different benthic foraminifers are also defined in the unit.