A bounding surface model for anisotropically overconsolidated clay incorporating thermodynamics admissible rotational hardening rule

A bounding surface model is formulated to simulate the behavior of clays that are subject to an anisotropic consolidation stress history. Conventional rotational hardening is revisited from the perspective of thermodynamics. As the free energy cannot be accumulated infinitely upon critical state failure, the deviatoric back stress must vanish. This requires the rotated yield surface to be turned back to eventually align on the hydrostatic axis in the stress plane. Noting that most of the previous propositions violate this restriction, an innovative rotational hardening rule is formulated that is thermodynamically admissible. The bounding surface framework that employs the modified yield surface is applied to simulate elastoplastic deformations for overconsolidated clays, with which the overprediction of strength on the “dry” side can be greatly improved with reasonable results. Other important features, including contractive or dilative response and hardening or softening behavior, can also be well-captured. It has been shown that the model can simulate three types of reconstituted clays that are sheared with initial conditions over a wide range of anisotropic consolidation stress ratios and overconsolidation ratios under both triaxial undrained and drained conditions. Limitations and potential improvement of the model regarding the fabric anisotropy at critical state have been discussed.     

Thrombolite fabrics and origins: Influences of diverse microbial and metazoan processes on Cambrian thrombolite variability in the Great Basin,California and Nevada

Thrombolites are a common component of carbonate buildups throughout the Phanerozoic. Although they are usually described as microbialites with an internally clotted texture, a wide range of thrombolite textures have been observed and attributed to diverse processes, leading to difficulty interpreting thrombolites as a group. Interpreting thrombolitic textures in terms of ancient ecosystems requires understanding of diverse processes, specifically those due to microbial growth and metazoan activity. Many of these processes are reflected in thrombolites in the Cambrian Carrara, Bonanza King, Highland Peak and Nopah formations, Great Basin, California, USA; they comprise eight thrombolite classes based on variable arrangements and combinations of depositional and diagenetic components. Four thrombolite classes (hemispherical microdigitate, bushy, coalescent columnar and massive fenestrated) contain distinct mesoscale microbial growth structures that can be distinguished from surrounding detrital sediments and diagenetic features. By contrast, mottled thrombolites have mesostructures that dominantly reflect post‐depositional processes, including bioturbation. Mottled thrombolites are not bioturbated stromatolites, but rather formed from disruption of an originally clotted growth structure. Three thrombolite classes (arborescent digitate, amoeboid and massive) contain more cryptic textures. All eight of the thrombolite classes in this study formed in similar Cambrian depositional environments (marine passive margin). Overall, this suite of thrombolites demonstrates that thrombolites are diverse, in both internal fabrics and origin, and that clotted and patchy microbialite fabrics form from a range of processes. The diversity of textures and their origins demonstrate that thrombolites should not be used to interpret a particular ecological, evolutionary or environmental shift without first identifying the microbial growth structure and distinguishing it from other depositional, post‐depositional and diagenetic components. Furthermore, thrombolites are fundamentally different from stromatolites and dendrolites in which the laminae and dendroids reflect a primary growth structure, because clotted textures in thrombolites do not always reflect a primary microbial growth structure.     

Granitoid emplacement by multiple sheeting during Variscan dextral transpression: The Saint-Laurent – La Jonquera pluton (Eastern Pyrenees)

The structural study of the Saint-Laurent – La Jonquera pluton (Eastern Pyrenees), a Variscan composite laccolithic intrusion emplaced in metasedimentary and gneissic rocks of the Roc de Frausa dome, by means of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) technique has allowed the determination of the nature and orientation of its magmatic fabrics. The magmatic foliation has a predominant NE–SW strike and the mean lineation is also NE–SW trending with a shallow plunge. A strain gradient is measured so that the tonalites to granodiorites that form the basal parts of the pluton, and are intruded into amphibolite-facies metamorphic rocks, recorded the highest anisotropies, whereas the monzogranites and leucogranites, emplaced into upper crustal, low-grade metamorphic rocks, are weakly deformed. These results point to the synkinematic sequential emplacement of multiple granitoid sheets, from less to more differentiated magmatic stages, during the Late Carboniferous D₂ event characterized by an E–W-trending dextral transpression. The magmatic foliation appears locally disturbed by the effects of two tectonic events. The first of them (D₃) produced mylonitization of granitoids along NW–SE retrograding shear zones and open folds in the host Ediacaran metasediments of the Roc de Frausa massif, likely during late Variscan times. Interference between D₂ and D₃ structures was responsible for the dome geometry of the whole Roc de Frausa massif. The second and last perturbation consisted of local southward tilting of the granitoids coupled to the Mesozoic–Cenozoic cover during the Alpine.     

Paleomagnetism of the Carboniferous Rouchel Block,Tamworth Belt,and pole path revision for the New England Orogen,eastern Australia

Structural, magnetic and gravity trends of the southern New England Orogen (SNEO) indicate four oroclinal structures, none conclusively confirmed paleomagnetically. Curved structures of the Tamworth Belt (TB)—a continental forearc exposed across six tectono-stratigraphic blocks with interlinked Carboniferous stratigraphies and extensive ignimbritic rocks known to retain primary magnetisations despite prevalent overprinting—are prospective to oroclinal testing through comparison of Carboniferous pole paths for individual blocks. Pole paths (a) have been established for the Rocky Creek and Werrie blocks (northwestern/western TB), (b) are described herein for the Rouchel Block (southwestern TB), and (c) are forthcoming for the Gresford and Myall blocks (southern/southeastern TB). The Rouchel path derives from detailed paleomagnetic, rock magnetic and magnetic fabric studies. Thermal, alternating field and liquid nitrogen demagnetisations show a low-temperature overprint, attributed to late Oligocene weathering, and high-temperature (HT) primary and overprint components in both magnetite and hematite carriers, showing slight, systematic, directional differences with hematite providing the better cleaned site poles. Seven primary mean-site poles of Tournaisian and mainly Visean age and three overprint poles show six positive fold tests, five at 95% or higher confidence levels. Two dispersed groupings of intermediate (IT) and HT overprint site poles of Permian and Permo-Triassic age are attributed to early and late phases in oroclinal evolution of the SNEO. HT and IT/HT overprint site poles of mid-Carboniferous age are attributed to Variscan Australia–Asia convergence. Individual pole paths for the Rocky Creek, Werrie and Rouchel blocks show no noticeable rotation between them, indicating primary curvature for the southwestern TB. Their integrated SNEO pole path establishes a reference frame for determining rotations of the southern and southeastern TB.     

云南姚安铅银矿床假白榴石斑岩空间分布和组构特征

姚安铅银矿床位于金沙江-哀牢山断裂带东侧的富碱斑岩带内,主要发育正长斑岩、粗面岩、假白榴石斑岩、含斑正长细晶岩等一套杂岩体,其中正长斑岩为主要容矿围岩。通过野外地质勘查、显微镜鉴定、电子探针及X射线微区衍射分析,对假白榴石斑岩的空间分布、岩石矿物学特征进行了综合研究,结果表明,姚安铅银矿床假白榴石斑岩多以脉状、角砾状或呈小岩枝产出,出露在正长斑岩质火山角砾岩的外围,主要分布在角砾岩型铅银矿(化)体的南西侧、F4断裂的北东盘,在空间上与角砾岩筒及外围断裂有关;该矿床的假白榴石具两个世代,早期为灰绿色浑圆粒状假白榴石斑岩的假白榴石斑晶,富Al,晚期为灰-灰白色四角三八面体假白榴石斑岩的假白榴石斑晶,富Si、Na,二者均蚀变成钾长石、高岭石、石英等含水富硅矿物;姚安假白榴石斑岩形成于印度板块与欧亚大陆俯冲碰撞后的板内拉张环境;假白榴石斑岩形成晚于粗面岩、正长斑岩,早于含斑正长细晶岩;假白榴石斑岩与铅银矿(化)体无直接成因联系。     

南祁连拉脊山口增生楔的结构与组成特征

造山带内增生楔/增生杂岩结构与组成的精细研究可为古洋盆演化和古板块构造格局重建提供最直接证据。北祁连构造带发育多条增生杂岩带,记录了阿拉善和中祁连地块之间原特提斯洋的俯冲和闭合过程,然而南祁连构造带大地构造演化长期存在争议。地质填图结果表明,南祁连构造带拉脊山口地区存在一套强烈片理化的玄武岩、灰黑色和红色硅质岩、砂岩和泥岩组合,它们与一套呈现"块体裹夹于基质"结构特征的混杂岩共同构成了增生杂岩,发育双重逆冲构造、逆冲断层、无根褶皱、紧闭褶皱和透入性面理。该增生杂岩与蛇绿岩之间为断层接触,并位于断层下盘。混杂岩是由斜长花岗岩(561Ma)、斜长岩(507Ma)、辉绿岩、玄武岩、硅质岩和砂岩等外来或原地岩块与浊流成因的细碎屑岩基质共同组成;基质和砂岩块体均发育同沉积构造,呈现出滑塌堆积典型特征。空间上,拉脊山口增生杂岩与上覆蛇绿岩被断层所分割且共同仰冲于中祁连南缘青石坡组浊积岩之上,具有与东侧昂思多地区增生杂岩和蛇绿岩相似的岩石组成、构造变形和时空结构特征。它们与南侧的岛弧带共同构成了南祁连构造带寒武纪-早奥陶世沟-弧体系,指示了寒武纪-早奥陶世时期南祁连洋盆向南俯冲。     

敦煌造山带长山子地区变质演化及年代学研究

长山子地区位于敦煌造山带东北部,瓜州南部约100km处。该区主要出露一套中-高级变质表壳岩,主要岩石类型有长英质片麻岩、变泥质麻粒岩、高压基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪片麻岩。高压基性麻粒岩岩块、斜长角闪片麻岩岩块以构造透镜体或布丁(长度为0. 5~15m)的形式,被夹持于长英质片麻岩、变泥质麻粒岩组成的基质之中,呈现典型"基质夹岩块"的混杂带特征。高压基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪片麻岩、泥质麻粒岩中,普遍保留了二至三个阶段的变质矿物组合。进变质阶段矿物组合(M1)为石榴子石变斑晶中的细小矿物包裹体,变质高峰期矿物组合(M2)为石榴子石变斑晶和基质矿物,退变质阶段矿物组合(M3)主要为围绕石榴子石变斑晶边部发育的"白眼圈"状后成合晶。本区各类变质岩石均记录了顺时针型变质作用P-T轨迹,系典型俯冲-碰撞造山带变质作用特征。退变质阶段P-T轨迹属于西阿尔卑斯型,说明变质岩折返速率较快。变质高峰期(M2)属于中压变质相系,P-T条件分别为790~870℃/1.29~1.37GPa(高压基性麻粒岩)、680~685℃/0.89~0.97GPa(斜长角闪片麻岩)、860~880℃/0.90~1.14GPa(变泥质麻粒岩),它们之间存在大的差异。这说明,它们是形成于同一俯冲隧道内不同深度的变质岩石,在构造折返阶段才混杂在一起形成构造混杂岩。二次离子质谱(SIMS)锆石U-Pb定年表明,长山子地区变质杂岩记录了早泥盆世的俯冲事件(419~417Ma)。     

藏南泽当地区大反向逆冲断层变形研究——以磁组构与EBSD组构分析为例

仁布-泽当逆冲断层是喜马拉雅大反向逆冲断层（GCT）在藏南地区的重要延伸部分,也是喜马拉雅造山带北部边界新生代最为活动的构造单元之一。新生代以来特提斯喜马拉雅的构造变形组构特征的研究对于深入理解碰撞造山带演化与高原隆升具有重要构造意义。本文综合GCT泽当-琼结段断层的宏观与微观变形特征,对断裂带石英脉、围岩中石英和云母矿物的电子背散射（EBSD）组构及断层两侧岩石磁组构（AMS）特征进行对比分析。结果表明对AMS主要贡献来自顺磁性云母、绿泥石等,磁化率各向异性椭球体以压扁状为主,磁面理与构造面理（劈理、断层面）基本重合,显示较强的构造变形磁组构特征;磁线理优选方向近南北向,且与观测北向逆冲断层方向一致,揭示剪切作用在变形过程中的持续作用。研究发现泽当地区GCT附近石英微观结构从围岩至断层区,石英至少呈现3种不同类型的微观变形机制：围岩区溶解蠕变、断裂带石英以膨凸重结晶和亚颗粒旋转重结晶作用为主。断裂带石英的c轴EBSD组构指示变形为低温（300~400℃）环境,其中黑云母的结晶学优选（CPO）与磁组构主轴优选方向存在高度的一致性,进一步证实了顺磁性矿物黑云母对AMS的主要贡献。综合研究表明泽当地区GCT的韧性变形是断层处在中上地壳韧性带的活动阶段变形的结果,也代表了特提斯喜马拉雅在碰撞、高原隆升期的变形主要特征。     

黔中乌当盆地阶地沉积特征及其对盆地演化的指示

黔中乌当盆地是贵州省山间盆地的典型代表,四级河流阶地清晰地记录了新构造运动中区域地壳抬升和盆地演化。通过阶地沉积物砾组统计、粒度分析、光释光（OSL）测年,探讨盆地的发育和演化。结果显示,阶地砾石排列指示盆地水系古流向与现代河流基本一致,砾石磨圆度变化大,分选较差,岩性继承了区域地层。砾石组合特征反映了构造抬升期盆地内强烈的冲刷剥蚀。漫滩沉积物粒度表明盆地在稳定阶段河流水动力整体呈增大趋势。T4和T3发育阶段区域以冲刷剥蚀为主并塑造了盆地雏形。T2阶地沉积特征及测年结果（177.4 ka~87.6 ka）表明中更新世末期持续数万年的沉积夷平作用使盆地基本成型。T1阶地形成时代约25ka,指示了黔中地区最近一次构造抬升和盆地的最终定型。     

Sandy gravel accumulation in a fluvial environment

Particle size, pebble shape, pebble fabric, discharge and flow velocity data are used to introduce a model of sandy gravel formation in Welsh gravel-bed rivers. The development of contact-imbrication of the typically very bladed and very platy cobbles and larger pebbles subsequently acts to significantly affect the depositional modes and patterns of small pebbles and sand particles. An important distinction is drawn between sand deposition, which can occur at or below the bed surface, and pebble and cobble deposition, which is merely a surface phenomenon.