Metamorphic evolution of exhumed middle to lower crustal rocks in the Mojave Extensional Belt, southern California, USA

The Waterman Metamorphic Complex of the central Mojave Desert was exposed as a consequence of early Miocene detachment-dominated extension. However, it has evidence consistent with a more extensive geological history that involves collision of a crustal fragment(s), tectonic thickening by overthrusting and two periods of extension. The metamorphic complex contains granitoid intrusives and felsic mylonitic gneisses as well as polymetamorphic rocks that include marble, calc-silicate, quartzite. mafic granulite, pyribolite, amphibolite, migmatite and biotite schist. The latter group of rocks was affected by an initial series of high-grade metamorphic events (M1 and M2) and a localized lower grade overprint (M3). The initial metamorphism (M1) can be separated into two stages along its high-grade P–T path: M1a, a granulite facies metamorphism at 800–850° C and 7.5–9 kbar and Mlb, an upper amphibolite facies overprint at 750–800° C and 10–12 kbar. M1a developed mineral assemblages and textures consistent with granulite facies conditions at a reduced activity of H₂O and is associated with intense ductile deformation (D1) and minor local partial melting. M1b overprinted the granulite assemblages with a series of hydrous phases under conditions of increasing pressure and H₂O activity and is accompanied by little or no deformation. M2 developed at lower pressures and temperatures (650–750° C, 4.5–5.5 kbar) and is distinguished by a second local overprint of hydrous phases that reflects an input of aqueous fluids probably associated with the intrusion of a series of granitic dykes and veins. Effects of M3 are confined to the Mitchel detachment zone, an anastomosing early Miocene detachment fault, and are characterized by local ductile/brittle deformation (D2) of the pre-existing high-grade rocks and granitoid intrusives and by the production of mylonites and mylonitic gneisses under greenschist facies conditions (300–350° C, 3–5 kbar). The initial overprint (M1a) represents metamorphism, devolatilization and minor partial melting of supracrustal rocks under granulite facies conditions as a consequence of tectonic and, possibly, magmatic thickening. The increasing pressure transition of M1a to M1b reflects a period of continued compressional tectonism, thrusting and influx of H₂O, in part, locally related to crystallization of partial melts. The near isothermal decompression between M1b and M2 probably represents a pre-112-Ma extensional episode that may have been the result of a decompressional readjustment of a thickened crust. Following the initial extensional event, the metamorphic complex remained at depths of 10–17 km for at least 90 Ma until it was uplifted following Miocene extension. M3 develops locally in response to this second extensional period resulting from the early Miocene detachment faulting.     

Slumping and shallow faulting related to the presence of salt on the Continental Slope and Rise off North Carolina

Seismic reflection profiles and long- and medium-range sidescan sonar were used to investigate a salt diapir complex and area of slope instability near the base of the Continental Slope off North Carolina. Within the area of investigation three diapirs are bounded on their upslope side by a scarp 60 m high and 50 km long. The slope above the scarp is characterized by a series of shallow rotational normal faults. The bottom below the scarp is furrowed by slide tracks, which were probably carved by large blocks that broke off the scarp face and slid downslope leaving rubble and scree lobes.Extensive slumping in this area appears to be a result of uplift and faulting associated with salt intrusion, which has fractured and oversteepened the slope leading to instability and failure. Sharply defined slide tracks suggest that slope failure above the breached diapir complex is a continuing process, in contrast to much of the surrounding slope area where few instability features were observed.     

Sonar acoustic facies and sediment distribution on an area of the deep ocean floor

Long-range sidescan sonar can be used to map sediment distributions over wide expanses of deep ocean floor. Seven acoustic facies that arise from differing sediment or rock types have been mapped over the low-relief Saharan continental rise and Madeira abyssal plain. These have been calibrated with sampling, profiling and camera studies and the facies can be traced confidently on a regional scale using the sidescan data. The mapping of the sediment distribution shows that a complex interplay of turbidity current and debris flow processes can occur at a continental rise/abysaal plain transition over 1000 km from the nearest continental slope.     

The stable isotope signature of kilometre-scale fracturedominated metamorphic fluid pathways, Mary Kathleen, Australia

Abstract Large calcite veins and pods in the Proterozoic Corella Formation of the Mount Isa Inlier provide evidence for kilometre-scale fluid transport during amphibolite facies metamorphism. These 10- to 100-m-scale podiform veins and their surrounding alteration zones have similar oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios throughout the 200 × 10-km Mary Kathleen Fold Belt, despite the isotopic heterogeneity of the surrounding wallrocks. The fluids that formed the pods and veins were not in isotopic equilibrium with the immediately adjacent rocks. The pods have δ¹³C_calcite values of –2 to –7% and δ¹⁸O_calcite values of 10.5 to 12.5%. Away from the pods, metadolerite wallrocks have δ¹⁸O_whole-rock values of 3.5 to 7%. and unaltered banded calc-silicate and marble wallrocks have δ¹³C_calcite of –1.6 to –0.6%, and δ¹⁸O_calcite of 18 to 21%. In the alteration zones adjacent to the pods, the δ¹⁸O values of both metadolerite and calc-silicate rocks approach those of the pods. Large calcite pods hosted entirely in calc-silicates show little difference in isotopic composition from pods hosted entirely in metadolerite. Thus, 100- to 500-m-scale isotopic exchange with the surrounding metadolerites and calc-silicates does not explain the observation that the δ¹⁸O values of the pods are intermediate between these two rock types. Pods hosted in felsic metavolcanics and metasiltstones are also isotopically indistinguishable from those hosted in the dominant metadolerites and calc-silicates. These data suggest the veins are the product of infiltration of isotopically homogeneous fluids that were not derived from within the Corella Formation at the presently exposed crustal level, although some of the spread in the data may be due to a relatively small contribution from devolatilization reactions in the calc-silicates, or thermal fluctuations attending deformation and metamorphism. The overall L-shaped trend of the data on plots of δ¹³C vs. δ¹⁸O is most consistent with mixing of large volumes of externally derived fluids with small volumes of locally derived fluid produced by devolatilization of calc-silicate rocks. Localization of the vein systems in dilatant sites around metadolerite/calc-silicate boundaries indicates a strong structural control on fluid flow, and the stable isotope data suggest fluid migration must have occurred at scales greater than at least 1 km. The ultimate source for the external fluid is uncertain, but is probably fluid released from crystallizing melts derived from the lower crust or upper mantle. Intrusion of magmas below the exposed crustal level would also explain the high geothermal gradient calculated for the regional metamorphism.     

Reliability bearing capacity analysis of footings on cohesive soil slopes using RFEM

Reliability analysis of bearing capacity of a strip footing at the crest of a simple slope with cohesive soil was carried out using the random finite element method (RFEM). Analyses showed that the coefficient of variation and the spatial correlation length of soil cohesion can have a large influence on footing bearing capacity, particularly for slopes with large height to footing width ratios. The paper demonstrates cases where a footing satisfies a deterministic design factor of safety of 3 but the probability of design failure is unacceptably high. Isotropic and anisotropic spatial variability of the soil strength was also considered.     

松散堆积体工程边坡变形机理分析及支护对策研究

合理选择开挖坡比、正确认识变形破坏机理是影响松散堆积体边坡稳定性和施工安全的前提, 本文研究了西南地区某松散堆积体工程边坡的结构特征, 根据地形条件确定了合理的开挖坡比, 采用二维有限元研究了开挖边坡的变形机理并根据模拟结果确定潜在滑动面, 在此基础上, 提出支护对策。研究结果表明, 边坡由厚度达70m 的坡洪积、泥石流块碎石堆积体组成, 斜坡下部缓中部稍陡, 开挖平台位于缓坡部位, 根据地形条件结合坡体结构特征确定边坡开挖坡比为1: 0. 75; 数值模拟结果表明, 边坡变形开挖面附近及坡顶拉应力和坡体下部最大剪应力控制, 坡顶部位将首先产生拉张裂隙, 开挖边坡内部产生从坡脚部位向上发展的剪切变形, 滑面一旦与坡顶拉裂缝贯通, 边坡将产生整体失稳; 边坡采用锚拉桩、锚索框架、锚杆框架、排水相结合的综合治理措施进行支护。     

黄土斜坡地震动时程分析

应用地震危险性分析理论和地震动人工合成技术，给出Newmark法中所需的地震动时程，解决了斜坡稳定性分析Newmark法中难以选取合适地震动时程的难题。通过对黄土斜坡实例计算，给出了坡体中地震动峰值加速度与深度的关系；在计算坡体位移时，提出了等效峰值加速度的概念；对比了使用地面地震动时程和使用坡体内等效地震动时程的计算结果。     

柴北缘鱼卡地区中侏罗统石门沟组含煤层段沉积有机相分析

柴达木盆地北缘鱼卡地区中侏罗统石门沟组含煤段中发育有油页岩、煤、碳质泥岩和泥岩等富有机质细粒沉积.为了研究其沉积有机相的类型及煤和油页岩形成的控制因素,本文通过岩心观察、工业分析结合有机地球化学测试分析等方法将含煤段细粒沉积物划分为了类型A(三角洲平原沉积环境)、B(三角洲前缘-浅湖沉积环境)、C1(湖沼非油页岩亚相)及C2(湖沼油页岩亚相)四种类型,其中类型C1沉积物中发育煤,类型C2中发育油页岩,且煤较油页岩具有更高的含油率、水分、挥发分以及发热量值.有机质类型特征方面,沉积有机相类型A、B及C1沉积物有机质类型均为Ⅱ2-Ⅲ型、有机质来源均以陆源和混合来源两种有机质来源为主,而类型C2中主要为Ⅱ2型,以混合有机质来源为主;类型A及C2其沉积物有机质均处于未成熟阶段,而类型B和C1中有机质均处于未成熟-低成熟阶段;有机质保存条件方面,类型A沉积物主要形成于缺氧的淡水环境,类型B主要形成于贫氧-缺氧的淡水-半咸水环境,类型C1形成于贫氧-缺氧的淡水-半咸水环境,而类型C2则主要形成于缺氧的淡水-半咸水环境.其中类型B较类型A,类型C2较类型C1,其沉积物均形成于更为还原且盐度更高的水体环境中.石门沟组含煤段是煤和油页岩的形成层位,稳定的沉积环境、丰富的湖泊有机质来源、良好的保存条件及较少的陆源碎屑的稀释共同促进了类型C2中油页岩的形成,而丰富的陆源植物供给及良好的保存条件则促进了类型C1中煤层的形成.     

龙门山甘溪地区泥盆系碳酸盐与陆源碎屑混合沉积特征

结合地质剖面和薄片鉴定结果等资料,对龙门山地区泥盆纪埃姆斯期—吉维特早期混合沉积的岩石学特征、沉积特征、沉积相类型进行详细分析。基于研究区陆源碎屑沉积和碳酸盐沉积的2种相模式,总结了各类混合沉积的产出部位、沉积特征,归纳出龙门山地区甘溪泥盆系的混合沉积相模式,认为主控因素是由区域母源性质、构造作用、相对海平面变化等因素构成。