Signification des ferruginisations des formations néoprotérozoı̈ques du Nord-Burkina Faso (Afrique de l'Ouest)Meaning of ironstones in the sedimentary Neoproterozoic formations of the northern Burkina Faso (western Africa)

There are many small ferruginous outcrops of different facies, often breccia-like, in the Neoproterozoic sedimentary formations in northern Burkina. These outcrops are made up of goethite and quartz, and are often along with high grades of various elements. It could be a question of gossans. Their large distribution in this part of the Taoudéni Basin offers it prospects as a province geochemically rich in Cu, Pb, Zn, Mo, As, Cd, Co... This basin would be a geochemical bin for ancient formations, which would have been evacuated before the Neoproterozoic. The ironstones would be the mark of further concentrations. To cite this article: A. Blot, C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 909–915.     

Définition de la perméabilité équivalente des massifs fracturés par des méthodes d'homogénéisationDefinition of the permeability of fractured rock masses by homogenisation methods

In the methods used for determination of the hydraulic behaviour at large scale of fractured rock masses, based on the simulation of flow in a fracture network, the mean flux and the mean pressure gradient in the network are not rigorously determined. A method is given for deriving these quantities, in a heterogeneous permeable block, from pressure and flux values on the boundary of the block. A block conductivity tensor is then defined, based on the condition of linear variation of the pressure on the boundary of the block. It is shown that this conductivity tensor is symmetric and positive-definite. An example of application to a model of fractured medium is given. To cite this article: A. Pouya, A. Courtois, C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 975–979.     

Geological interpretation of Landsat TM imagery and aeromagnetic survey data, northern Precordillera region, Argentina

Este estudio de caso muestra una metodología para obtener el máximo valor geocientífico de datos aeromagnéticos regionales (espaciamiento entre líneas: 1000 m), a través de su integración con imágenes satelitarias de alta resolución. En este estudio, la interpretación litoestratigráfica de las imágenes Landsat TM a escala regional (1:100,000) ha sido llevada a cabo como precursor de la interpretación geofísica, proveyendo el marco geológico-estructural de base para el análisis de las imágenes geofísicas. Este marco geológico-estructural derivado de las imágenes Landsat muestra las posiciones y vergencias correctas de las estructuras mayores; en este marco, las ubicaciones de las anomalías aeromagnéticas mayores de origen somero relacionadas con rocas extrusivas y subvolcánicas intermedias/máficas, como así también de las estructuras que controlan estos eventos magmáticos de importancia económica, pueden ser correctamente interpretadas.Los resultados del estudio indican la existencia de un centro volcánico/subvolcánico no reconocido previamente, de edad post-pérmica y pre-miocena, probablemente asociado con fallamiento regional transcurrente sinistral desarrollado a lo largo de una sutura acrecional norte-sur reactivada y a una estructura preexistente del basamento precámbrico/paleozoico. El subsecuente evento de corrimientos de tipo ‘piel gruesa’ y vergencia oeste al que está asociado el ascenso del bloque precámbrico de la Sierra de Valle Fértil, desarrolló un distintivo juego de fallas transcurrentes de orientación NO–SE en el área del centro volcánico. Estas estructuras de orientación NO–SE cortan y rotan a estructuras miocenas tardías correspondientes a la tectónica de tipo ‘piel fina’ de la faja plegada y corrida de la Precordillera. Las rocas intrusivas asociadas con el centro volcánico de edad oligocena inferida, forman anomalías dipolares parcialmente remanentes fácilmente reconocibles, están asociadas con alteración y mineralización de oro (minas Cerro Guachi, El Pescado, Gral. Belgrano) y están ubicadas a lo largo de fallas ‘en cola de caballo’ sinistrales de orientación NO–SE. Este evento tectónico-magmático relacionado con la deformación transcurrente es considerado como oligoceno y puede estar relacionado con la convergencia oblicua oligocena y la mineralización de pórfiros de esta misma edad en Chile.     

Raman spectroscopy of natural silica in Chicxulub impactite,MexicoSpectroscopie Raman de silices naturelles dans l'impactite de Chicxulub,Mexique

A series of natural silica impactite samples from Chicxulub (Mexico) was investigated by Raman microprobe (RMP) analysis. The data yield evidence for high-pressure shock metamorphism in the rock. The impactite contains three polymorphs of silica: the original α-quartz, and two high-pressure varieties – coesite and disordered quartz representing various degrees of crystallinity. We found systematic changes in frequencies and half-widths of the Raman bands, caused by increasing irregularities of bond-lengths and bond-angles and a general breaking-up of the structure as a result of impact events. Therefore, RMP is an adequate tool for measuring the crystallinity of disordered quartz. The half-width Γ and the frequency ω of the symmetric SiOSi stretching vibrational band (A₁ mode) of the SiO₄ tetrahedra are the most amenable parameters for estimating the degree of crystallinity. In well-crystallized quartz, Γ=5 cm^?1 and ω=464 cm^?1, while in highly disordered quartz this line shifts up to ω=455 cm^?1 and broadens up to Γ=30 cm^?1. The Raman lineshapes appear to depend strongly on the degree of lattice disorder subsequent to impact events. To cite this article: M. Ostroumov et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 21–26     

Les « Porphyroı̈des » de Bretagne méridionale : une unité de HP–BT dans la chaı̂ne hercynienneEvidence for HP–LT Hercynian metamorphism within the ‘Porphyroı̈des’ of South Brittany (France)

The so-called ‘Porphyro??des’ Unit of South Brittany is located below units marked by an early HP–LT event (blueschists from the Île de Groix) and above units marked by Upper Carboniferous HT metamorphism. P–T estimates in the Porphyro??des (at Belle-Île-en-Mer), using the phengite–chlorite thermobarometer, indicate pressures around 8 kbar and temperatures of 350–400 °C. These new estimates suggest that the early tectonic history of the ‘Porphyro??des’ should be linked to that of the overlying Blueschists, and imply a much larger areal extension of the HP–LT domain in this part of the Hercynian Belt. To cite this article: F. Le Hébel et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 205–211.     

Objective classification of oceanic ridge-crest terrains using two-dimensional spectral models of bathymetry: Application to the Juan de Fuca Ridge

An important application of detailed bathymetric mapping is the interpretation of geological processes based on the nature of the fine-scale morphology of the seafloor. This interpretation is usually accomplished through qualitative analysis of contour maps. In this paper, an objective classification technique, based on a two-dimensional spectral model of bathymetry developed by Fox and Hayes (1985) is applied to detailed Sea Beam data from the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Parameters of the model can be directly related to seafloor properties corresponding to 1) isotropic (non-directionally dependent) roughness; 2) anisotropic (directionally dependent) roughness; 3) orientation of the anisotropic component; and 4) spectral rool-off ( fractal dimension), by fitting the model surface to two-dimensional amplitude spectra of bathymetry determined on a regular grid over the study area. A test area was selected which encompasses the southern volcanic rift zone of Axial Volcano and the northern terminus of the Vance Segment. Parameters of the model clearly define the contrast between the constructional volcanic terrain (rough, isotropic, with high fractal dimension) and the tectonic extensional terrain (smoother, anisotropic, with low fractal dimension). An agglomerative, hierarchical cluster analysis is applied to the data, independent of spatial information, to delineate groups of spectra with similar characteristics. Distinct, mappable regions, corresponding to volcanic and tectonic provinces, are objectively determined. Also, coherent sub-regions of consistent spectral properties occur within the larger volcanic/tectonic divisions. The classification is extended to the Juan de Fuca Ridge system from 44°30 N to 47°20 N through combining these results with an a priori technique (K-means clustering). Broad-scale physiographic regions of the Juan de Fuca Ridge are delineated by the technique, which may aid geologists in the interpretation of crustal accretion processes at seafloor spreading centers.The U.S. Government right to retain a non-exclusive royaltyfree license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Quaternary evolution of the Ría de Vigo, Spain

The seismic analysis of the sedimentary infill of the Ría de Vigo reveals that the infill comprises of a fifth order sequence (18 ky) bounded by a major discontinuity surface. Within the Holocene sequence, several seismic units have been identified; the oldest one originated after the Würm glaciation and the origin of its top discontinuity was eroded during the regression (sea level at − 120 m) of this last glacial episode (isotopic stages 2 to 4), 18 ky B.P.

In some places below this ría infill, another sequence can be identified. This older sequence is associated with the pre-existing faults and troughs in the deepest parts of the ría, and it was deposited during the Würm glaciation (Miocene–Pleistocene). Eroded sediments were moved from the rías area to deeper zones, where they accumulated in the lowstand system tract. The next sea level rise occured in two steps, producing two transgressive units separated by an hiatus surface. This cycle was interrupted by the next sea level fall (to − 55 m) marked on the seismic records by another recognizable boundary. The next sea level rise took place in several steps (back-stepping) with some stillstands, generating another transgressive system tract in the ría. From that time on, the relative sea level continued rising, depositing the most recent unit which represents the highstand system tract. Separating the highstand system tract and the transgresive unit below there is a consensed section.

The analysis of 29 cores provides groundtruthing for our hypothesis. The identified main lithologic units show a transgressive sequence: a granitic rock base, an overlying second unit-locally wedge shaped- and most recently, a marine muddy unit covering the present ría seafloor.     

First measurements from a deep-tow transient electromagnetic sounding system

An electromagnetic sounding system has been developed to map the shallow electrical conductivity structure of the deep sea floor. The instrument consists of a magnetic source and several colinear magnetic receivers forming an array which is towed along the seafloor. The source generates a time varying magnetic field; the shape of the resulting magnetic field waveform at the receivers depends on the electrical conductivity below the seafloor between the receivers and the source. The instrument can be towed systematically over a study area under acoustic transponder or GPS navigation to construct a map of the electrical conductivity. Towing speeds of greater than 1 m s^–1 (2 knots) can be achieved without adversely effecting data quality. The instrument is sufficiently robust to survive continual contact with thinly sedimented, abrasive basalt. We present the first results from a deployment in August, 1990 near the Cleft Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge along an 8 km track to the west of the spreading center. Unforeseen problems with the instrument restricted the utility of the measurements for constructing detailed vertical conductivity profiles, but the measurements were adequate to determine an average conductivity in the upper 25 m, at more than 70 stations. The conductivity was found to vary from 0.1 to 0.4 S/m along the track.     

Contrasting trace element geochemistry in two American and French salt marshes

Trace metals were analyzed in the bulk fine phase of two contrasting salt marsh cores on the North Atlantic east (Baie de l'Aiguillon, LaRochelle, France) and west (Lewes, DE, USA) coasts. The purpose is to gauge how the different clay mineral sources and surface sedimentary diagenetic conditions affect the respective trace element geochemistries. It has been established that there is considerably more clay mineral diagenesis at the zone of redox transition in the Delaware core than in the l'Aiguillon core. The Delaware core shows unweathered glacial sedimentary material directly deposited from the continental shelf whereas the l'Aiguillon core is formed from soil clays deposited after river and estuarine transport. Although there is strong Mn redox depletion in the Delaware salt marsh core, and enrichment in the French one at l'Aiguillon, transition elements seem to follow iron content in both cores. The trace pollutant elements Pb, Sn and Zn show pronounced depth profiles in both North Atlantic cores. The Pb, Sn and Zn appear to be carried by clay sources into the French marshes, while appearing to be largely deposited by atmospheric processes as well into the Delaware marsh.Upon deposition, the Zn appears to become decoupled from lead, which is probably more strongly fixed on clays. The Sn seems to be both air transported, and carried as well on non-clay phases contaminated by industrial organo-tins, including antifouling bottom paints. Copper while uniformly enriched in France, probably from use in regional vineyards, appears enriched only near the top at Delaware, suggesting diagenetic recycling in the more abundant peat in the surface. The Cs and Li appear to be tracers for specific soil-derived clay sources in the French core source materials. These observations suggest that clay is a very important carrier in fixing trace elements for historical records as salt marsh sediments.     

Carbon and oxygen isotopes of Maastrichtian–Danian shallow marine carbonates: Yacoraite Formation, northwestern Argentina

The Maastrichtian–Danian limestones of the Yacoraite Formation (northwestern Argentina) show carbon and oxygen isotopic values consistent with shallow marine conditions. The members of the formation respond to different sedimentary environments and are characterised by distinctive stable isotopes and geochemistry. The basal Amblayo Member is composed of high-energy dolomitic limestones and limestones with positive isotopic values (+2‰ δ¹³C, +2‰ δ¹⁸O). The top of the member reveals an isotopic shift of δ¹³C (−5‰) and δ¹⁸O (−10‰), probably related to a descent in the sea level. The sandy Güemes Member has isotopically negative (−2‰ δ¹³C, −1‰ δ¹⁸O) limestones, principally controlled by water mixing, decreased organic productivity, and compositional changes in the carbonates. The isotopically lighter limestones are calcitic, with a greater terrigenous contribution and different geochemical composition (high Si–Mn–Fe–Na, low Ca–Mg–Sr). These isotopic and lithological changes relate to the Cretaceous–Palaeogene transition. The Alemanía Member, composed of dolomitic limestones and pelites, represents a return to marine conditions and shows a gradual increase in isotopic values, reaching values similar to those of the Amblayo Member. The Juramento Member, composed of stromatolite limestones, shows isotopic variations that can be correlated with the two well-defined, shallowing-upward sequences of the member.