Accurate hypocentre determination in the seismogenic zone of the subducting Nazca Plate in northern Chile using a combined on-/offshore network

The coupled plate interface of subduction zones—commonly called the seismogenic zone—has been recognized as the origin of fatal earthquakes. A subset of the after-shock series of the great Antofagasta thrust-type event (1995 July 30; M _w = 8.0) has been used to study the extent of the seismogenic zone in northern Chile. To achieve reliable and precise hypocentre locations we applied the concept of the minimum 1-D model, which incorporates iterative simultaneous inversion of velocity and hypocentre parameters. The minimum 1-D model is complemented by station corrections which are influenced by near-surface velocity heterogeneity and by the individual station elevations. By relocating mine blasts, which were not included in the inversion, we obtain absolute location errors of 1  km in epicentre and 2  km in focal depth. A study of the resolution parameters ALE and DSPR documents the importance of offshore stations on location accuracy for offshore events. Based on precisely determined hypo-centres we calculate a depth of 46  km for the lower limit of the seismogenic zone, which is in good agreement with previous studies for this area. For the upper limit we found a depth of 20  km. Our results of an aseismic zone between the upper limit of the seismogenic zone and the surface correlates with a detachment zone proposed by other studies; the results are also in agreement with thermal studies for the Antofagasta forearc region.     

中生代东亚大陆边缘构造演化

摘　要　根据东亚陆缘增生带生物古地理、放射虫时代研究的进展并结合同位素年代及东亚 地区火山活动、构造演化探讨了中生代东亚大陆与古太平洋板块之间的运动学关系及俯冲带 后退特征。中、晚三叠世那丹哈达岭、美浓等地体还位于北纬１２°以内及赤道附近,晚侏罗世 到达中高纬度。东亚活动大陆边缘开始于中侏罗世末,在此之前属转换大陆边缘。洋壳板块 向大陆下俯冲之后,由于地体拼贴引起俯冲带快速、长距离后退。     

雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩的形成与日喀则弧前盆地沉积演化

雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩被时代连续的日喀则群沉积覆盖及其形成时代(120-110Ma)与冈底斯弧开始发育的时代(115-100Ma)十分相近的事实使人们有理由提出:雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩是否代表着印度板块与拉萨地块间的特提斯-喜玛拉雅洋残迹的疑问。根据近期的研究,笔者认为雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩不是形成于三叠纪的特提斯-喜玛拉雅洋的残迹,而是特提斯-喜玛拉雅洋向拉萨地块俯冲的初期(阿普第-阿尔必期),由俯冲作用在冈底斯弧前地区引发的海底扩张作用形成的一种俯冲带上叠型蛇绿岩(supra-subduction zone ophiolites).至森诺曼期,弧前海底扩张作用停止,雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩开始向南仰冲,在其南侧形成增生杂岩楔。仰起的蛇绿岩开始向日喀则弧前盆地提供蛇绿质碎屑,如冲堆组。森诺曼期-土仑期,盆地接受了一套深水复理石沉积,沉积物源部分来自南部边缘脊的蛇绿质碎屑,而大部分则来自北侧的弧火山岩和岩浆岩碎屑。森诺期-路坦丁期,盆地逐渐变浅,接受了浅海-滨海沉积,物源均来自北部的岩浆弧。至始新世末期,发育在盆地南侧的增生杂岩楔与印度板块发生碰撞,日喀则弧前盆地闭合。     

Tectonic Evolution of the Lufilian Arc (Central Africa Copper Belt) During Neoproterozoic Pan African Orogenesis

The Lufilian arc of Central Africa (also called Katangan belt or Copperbelt) is a zone of low to highgrade metasedimentary (and subsidiary igneous) rocks of Neoproterozoic age hosting highgrade CuCoU and PbZn mineralizations. The Lufilian arc is located between the Congo and Kalahari cratons and defines a structure which is convex to the north. Three major phases of deformation characterize the construction of the Lufilian arc. The first phase (D1) called the “Kolwezian phase” developed folds and thrust sheets with a northward transport direction. D1 deformation occurred in the Lufilian arc between ca. 800 and 710 Ma, with a peak in the range 790–750 Ma. It is here correlated with the main deformation in the Zambezi belt. Southward-verging folds with the same trends as the D₁ structures were previously linked to a second tectonic event named Kundelunguian phase of the Lufilian orogeny. We show in this paper that they are backfolds developed during D1 along Katangan ramps and especially along the Kibaran foreland. The second phase (D2) of the Lufilian orogeny is the “Monwezi phase” including several large leftlateral strikeslip faults which have been activated successively. During this deformation phase, the eastern block of the belt rotated clockwise, giving the present day NWSE trend of D1 structures in this part of the Lufilian arc, and generating its convex geometry. The Mwembeshi dislocation, the major transcurrent shear zone separating the Zambezi and Lufilian arc, was mostly active during the D2 deformation phase. D2 deformation occurred between ca. 690 and 540 Ma. Such a long time interval is attributed to the migration of strikeslip faults developed sequentially from south to north, and probably to a slow convergence velocity during the collision between the Congo and Kalahari cratons. The third phase (D3) of the Lufilian orogeny is a late event called the “Chilatembo phase”, marked by structures transverse to the trends of the Lufilian arc. This deformation and the post-D_2′ uppermost Kundelungu sequence (Ks3 Plateaux Group), are younger than 540 Ma and probably early Paleozoic.     

Thermal structure and paleo-heat flow in the Shimanto accretionary prism, Southwest Japan

Abstract Thermal structural analysis and paleo-heat flow estimation provide clues to understanding the thermal evolution of the accretionary complex. The thermal structure and heat flow in the Jurassic Chichibu and Cretaceous to Tertiary Shimanto accretionary complex, Southwest Japan, have been investigated by vitrinite reflectance measurement and fluid inclusion analysis. As a result, the local and multistage metamorphisms were recognized as follows. First, the Tertiary complex around the Miocene Ashizuri granite underwent exposure to extra-high temperatures. Second, the Okitsu Melange underwent exposure to higher temperatures than the surrounding strata and was formed concurrently with the Kula-Pacific ridge subduction beneath the Japanese Islands in the Eocene. Finally, the thermal structure of most of the Cretaceous and southern Jurassic complexes is independent of the geologic structure, indicating that these areas suffered thermal overprint. Regional radiometric dating studies show that most of the Cretaceous Shimanto complex was heated in the Eocene; the thermal overprint might have occurred as a result of ridge subduction. The heat flow during peak heating was estimated to be 95–120 mW/m² except for the Cretaceous Okitsu melange and the Cretaceous Nonokawa formation, north of the Okitsu Melange; a much higher value of heat flow of ~200 mW/m² was estimated in the Okitsu Melange. An estimation of heat flow failed for the non-okawa formation because thermal equilibrium between the fluid and rocks has not yet been reached. It is probable that the southern strata underwent a higher heat flow. Such a trenchward increase in heat flow resembles the present situation of the Nankai Trough, although the heat flow in the Eocene was much higher.     

钙碱性火山岩构造背景的研究进展

通过对钙碱性火山岩的岩石学、地球化学、同位素及其构造背景的研究表明,钙碱性火山岩的形成不一定仅限于板块俯冲过程,在不具备板块俯冲的其它构造环境下也能够形成。     

The Japan Sea Intermediate Water; Its Characteristics and Circulation

In the southern Japan Sea there is a salinity minimum layer between the Tsushima Current Water and the Japan Sea Proper Water. Since the salinity minimum corresponds to the North Pacific Intermediate Water, it is named the Japan Sea Intermediate Water (JIW). To examine the source and circulation of JIW, the basin-wide salinity minimum distribution was investigated on the basis of hydrographic data obtained in 1969. The young JIW, showing the highest oxygen concentration and the lowest salinity, is seen in the southwestern Japan Sea west of 133°E, while another JIW with lower oxygen and higher salinity occupies the southeastern Japan Sea south of the subpolar front. Since the young JIW shows high oxygen concentrations, high temperatures and low densities, the source of the water is probably in the surface layer. It is inferred that the most probable region of subduction is the subarctic front west of 132°E with the highest oxygen and the lowest salinity at shallow salinity minimum. In addition, property distributions suggest that JIW takes two flow paths: a eastward flow along the subarctic front and an southward flow toward the Ulleung Basin. On the other hand, a different salinity minimum from JIW occupies the northern Japan Sea north of the subarctic front, which shows an apparently higher salinity and high oxygen concentration than JIW. However, this salinity minimum is considered not to be a water mass but to be a boundary between overlying and underlying water masses. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Deformation history of the ophiolite sequence from the Balagne Nappe,northern Corsica: insights in the tectonic evolution of Alpine Corsica

In Alpine Corsica, the Jurassic ophiolites represent remnants of oceanic lithosphere belonging to the Ligure‐Piemontese Basin located between the Europe/Corsica and Adria continental margins. In the Balagne area, a Jurassic ophiolitic sequence topped by a Late Jurassic–Late Cretaceous sedimentary cover crops out at the top of the nappe pile. The whole ophiolitic succession is affected by polyphase deformation developed under very low‐grade orogenic metamorphic conditions. The original palaeogeographic location and the emplacement mechanisms for the Balagne ophiolites are still a matter of debate and different interpretations for its history have been proposed. The deformation features of the Balagne ophiolites are outlined in order to provide constraints on their history in the framework of the geodynamic evolution of Alpine Corsica. The deformation history reconstructed for the Balagne Nappe includes five different deformation phases, from D1 to D5. The D1 phase was connected with the latest Cretaceous/Palaeocene accretion into the accretionary wedge related to an east‐dipping subduction zone followed by a Late Eocene D2 phase related to emplacement onto the Europe/Corsica continental margin. The subsequent D3 phase was characterized by sinistral strike‐slip faults and related deformations of Late Eocene–Early Oligocene age. The D4 and D5 phases were developed during the Early Oligocene–Late Miocene extensional processes connected with the collapse of the Alpine belt. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

冲绳海槽现代张裂的地球物理特征

位于东海陆架与琉球岛弧之间的冲绳海槽为板块俯冲作用形成的弧后断陷盆地,具有独特的构造地貌特征。自中新世末以来历经了4个强烈拉张的演化时期,目前已达到张裂的高级阶段。地球物理资料显示,海槽中的现代拉张作用仍在进行,表现在海槽轴部快速沉降形成地堑槽,对称分布的张性断裂,晚更新世—全新世以来的岩浆活动,从老至新排列的磁异常务带以及高地热流、频繁的地震活动等,充分体现了冲绳海槽的现代扩张特点。     

Strength and deformation behavior of the Shimanto accretionary complex across the Nobeoka thrust

A rapid reduction in sediment porosity from 60 to 70 % at seafloor to less than 10 % at several kilometers depth can play an important role in deformation and seismicity in the shallow portion of subduction zones. We conducted deformation experiments on rocks from an ancient accretionary complex, the Shimanto Belt, across the Nobeoka Thrust to understand the deformation behaviors of rocks along plate boundary faults at seismogenic depth. Our experimental results for phyllites in the hanging wall and shale‐tuff mélanges in the footwall of the Nobeoka Thrust indicate that the Shimanto Belt rocks fail brittlely accompanied by a stress drop at effective pressures < 80 MPa, whereas they exhibit strain hardening at higher effective pressures. The transition from brittle to ductile behavior in the shale–tuff mélanges lies on the same trend in effective stress–porosity space as that for clay‐rich and tuffaceous sediments subducting into the modern Nankai subduction zone. Both the absolute yield strength and the effective pressure at the brittle–ductile transition for the phyllosilicate‐rich materials are much lower than for sandstones. These results suggest that as the clay‐rich or tuffaceous sediments subduct and their porosities are reduced, their deformation behavior gradually transitions from ductile to brittle and their yield strength increases. Our results also suggest that samples of the ancient Shimanto accretionary prism can serve as an analog for underthrust rocks at seismogenic depth in the modern Nankai Trough.