Three-dimensional forward and backward modelling of diapirism: numerical approach and its applicability to the evolution of salt structures in the Pricaspian basin

Numerical studies of ductile deformations induced by salt movements have, until now, been restricted to two-dimensional (2D) modelling of diapirism. This paper suggests a numerical approach to model the evolution of three-dimensional (3D) salt structures toward increasing maturity. This approach is also used here to restore the evolution of salt structures through successive earlier stages. The numerical methodology is applied to study several model examples. We analyse a model of salt diapirs that develop from an initial random perturbation of the interface between salt and its overburden and restore the evolved salt diapirs to their initial stages. We show that the average restoration errors are less than 1%. An evolutionary model of a 2D salt wall loaded by a 2D pile of sediments predicts a decomposition of the salt wall into 3D diapiric structures when the overburden of salt is supplied by 3D synkinematic wedge of sediments. We model salt extrusion feeding a gravity current over the depositional surface and estimate an average rate of extrusion and horizontal velocity of salt spreading. Faulting of the overburden to salt overhangs initiates new secondary diapirs, and we analyse the growth of these secondary diapirs. We also study how lateral flow effects the evolution of salt diapirs. The shape of a salt diapir can be very different if the rate of horizontal flow is much greater than the initial rate of diapiric growth solely due to gravity. We discuss the applicability of the results of the models to the evolution of Late Permian salt structures in the Pricaspian basin (Russia and Kazakhstan). These structures are distinguishable into a variety of styles representing different stages of growth: salt pillows, diapirs, giant salt massifs, 2D diapiric walls and 3D stocks complicated by large overhangs. The different sizes, shapes and maturities of salt structures in different parts of the Pricaspian basin reflect areal differences in salt thickness and loading history. Our results suggest that the numerical methodology can be employed to analyse the evolution of all salt structures that have upbuilt through younger ductile overburdens.     

Crustal thickening in an extensional regime: application to the mid-Norwegian Vøring margin

The structure of the mid-Norwegian volcanic Vøring margin at the onset of the Maastrichtian–Paleocene extension phase reflects the cumulative effect of earlier consecutive rifting events. Lateral structural differences present on the margin at that time are a consequence of migration of the location of maximum extension in time between Norway and Greenland. The most important imprints (Moho depth, thermal structure) of these events on the lithosphere are incorporated in a numerical simulation of the final extension phase. We focus on a possible mechanism of formation of the Vøring Marginal High and address the relationship between spatial and temporal evolution of crustal thinning and thickening, uplift of the surface and strength of the lithosphere.It is found that the Vøring Basin formed the strongest part of the margin which explains why the Maastrichtian–Paleocene rift axis was not located here but instead jumped westward with respect to the earlier rift axes locations. The modeling study predicts that local crustal thickening during extension can be expected when large lateral thermal variations are present in the lithosphere at the onset of extension. Negative buoyancy induced by lateral temperature differences increases downwelling adjacent to the rifting zone; convergence of material at the particular part of the margin is mainly taken up by the lower crust. The model shows that during the final phase of extension, the crust in the Vøring Marginal High area was thickened and the surface uplifted. It is likely that this dynamic process and the effects of magmatic intrusions both acted in concert to form the Marginal High.     

Low-frequency 3-D seismic survey of upper crustal magmatic intrusions in the northeastern Pannonian basin of Hungary

A specially designed 700-km² grid survey, deploying 1000 regularly distributed low-frequency seismic recording systems, successfully investigated one of the most complex geologic environments of the Pannonian basin. The wide-angle signals penetrated through over 1000 m of multi-phase igneous lithology and recognized, for the first time, the underlying enigmatic Permian to Early Triassic basement rocks. Tomographic inversion of the first arrival grid data resulted in determination of an accurate three-dimensional (3-D) velocity field, to a depth of 4 km. The anomalous changes of the spatial velocity data outline the regional extent of the Late Miocene magmatic intrusions, which are covered by over 2000 m of Mid-Miocene to Pleistocene clastics. Complex relationship was found between the surface potential data and the intrusive bodies. This multi-faceted geophysical data analysis established a functional technique for mapping a subsurface with intricate acoustic and structural complexity.     

Seafloor spreading, obduction and triple junction tectonics of the Mineoka Ophiolite, Central Japan

The Tertiary Mineoka ophiolite occurs in a fault zone at the intersection of the Honshu and Izu forearcs in central Japan and displays structural evidence for three major phases of deformation: normal and oblique-slip faults and hydrothermal veins formed during the seafloor spreading evolution of the ophiolite at a ridge-transform fault intersection. These structures may represent repeated changes in differential stress and pore-fluid pressures during their formation. The second series of deformation is characterized by oblique thrust faults with Riedel shears and no significant mineral veining, and is interpreted to have resulted from transpressional dextral faulting during the obduction of the ophiolite through oblique convergence and tectonic accretion. This deformation occurred at the NW corner of a TTT-type (trench–trench–trench) triple junction in the NW Pacific rim before the middle Miocene. The third series of deformation of the ophiolite is marked by contractional and oblique shear zones, Riedel shears, and thrust faults that crosscut and offset earlier structures, and that give the Mineoka fault zone its lenticular (phacoidal) fabric at all scales. This deformation phase was associated with the establishment and the southward migration of the TTT Boso triple junction and with the kinematics of oblique subduction and forearc sliver fault development. The composite Mineoka ophiolite hence displays rocks and structures that evolved during its complex geodynamic history involving seafloor spreading, tectonic accretion, and triple junction evolution in the NW Pacific Rim.     

塔里木盆地南缘历史时期气候环境变化的过程与特征

根据塔里木盆地南缘具较高分辨率的湖沼相沉积物碳酸盐δ^13C和粒度等记录，恢复出2162-850BC期间为一相对稳定的温暖干旱时期，之后迅速转冷湿，湿润程度呈持续、阶段式增加，50 BC至500 AD期间呈现的显著冷湿特征于550 AD之后突变转暖干而结束。550 AD和1000 AD前后的具突变性质的气候事件在南疆地区近2．0ka的气候变化中具有重要意义，反映气候状况有过重大调整。850—1300AD期间(相当于中世纪温暖期)冷暖、干湿多变，但温暖特征并不明显。特别是1100—1200AD期间气候快速、频繁变化之后，奠定了本地区现代稳定干旱环境特征。区域对比表明，尼雅剖面记录的气候变化具有广泛的区域一致性。     

汾河水库流域人工增雨可行性研究

本文通过对汾河流域40a气象、水文资料的分析,结合现阶段人工增雨技术的研究,以增加水库蓄水量为目的,设计科学可行的人工增雨方案,并对可能的投入和预期产生的效益进行分析研究,为通过人工增雨增加水库蓄水量提供科学依据。     

四川盆地潜在震源区的细致划分

四川盆地包括川中台拱和川东陷褶束的范围，具有相对稳定的大地构造环境.鉴于该地区地震活动水平相对较低、发震构造不甚明确的特点，在编制1990年版中国地震烈度区划图时，划分的潜在震源区面积也相对较大.本文在总结四川盆地中强地震（Ms=4.7-5.7）发震构造条件的基础上，用地震构造类比原则对四川盆地的潜在震源区进行了重新划分.确定潜在震源区边界时，充分考虑了背斜轴走向、背斜构造的影响带宽度、小震活动密集条带和余震的分布范围.得到了四川盆地更加细致的潜在震源区划分方案.这对于低地震活动水平地区的潜在震源区的细化研究具有一定参考意义。     

山西临汾盆地近期地震活动性分析

通过对临汾盆地内近期地震活动频度和地震活动图像的分析，认为未来中强地震最有可能发生在近期地震活动较稀少的地段，能量积累的优势层位为5km～15km。     

山西大同-阳高地震活动背景

通过对大同盆地历史地震活动及大同盆地历史地震活动与华北地震区、山西地震带强震活动的关系的研究，得出山西大同-阳高1989年6．1级地震活动是这一地区历史地震的延续，是华北北部中强地震活动的重要组成部分，具有广义前震的重要意义，其后对应发生的河北张北6．2级地震。标志着华北地震区的地震活动期已进入尾声。