Multiple P–T–d–t paths reveal the evolution of the final Nuna assembly in northeast Australia

The final assembly of the Mesoproterozoic supercontinent Nuna was marked by the collision of Laurentia and Australia at 1.60 Ga, which is recorded in the Georgetown Inlier of NE Australia. Here, we decipher the metamorphic evolution of this final Nuna collisional event using petrostructural analysis, major and trace element compositions of key minerals, thermodynamic modelling, and multi-method geochronology. The Georgetown Inlier is characterised by deformed and metamorphosed 1.70–1.62 Ga sedimentary and mafic rocks, which were intruded by c. 1.56 Ga old S-type granites. Garnet Lu–Hf and monazite U–Pb isotopic analyses distinguish two major metamorphic events (M1 at c. 1.60 Ga and M2 at c. 1.55 Ga), which allows at least two composite fabrics to be identified at the regional scale—c. 1.60 Ga S1 (consisting in fabrics S1a and S1b) and c. 1.55 Ga S2 (including fabrics S2a and S2b). Also, three tectono-metamorphic domains are distinguished: (a) the western domain, with S1 defined by low-P (LP) greenschist facies assemblages; (b) the central domain, where S1 fabric is preserved as medium-P (MP) amphibolite facies relicts, and locally as inclusion trails in garnet wrapped by the regionally dominant low-P amphibolite facies S2 fabric; and (c) the eastern domain dominated by upper amphibolite to granulite facies S2 foliation. In the central domain, 1.60 Ga MP–medium-T (MT) metamorphism (M1) developed within the staurolite–garnet stability field, with conditions ranging from 530–550°C at 6–7 kbar (garnet cores) to 620–650°C at 8–9 kbar (garnet rims), and it is associated with S1 fabric. The onset of 1.55 Ga LP–high-T (HT) metamorphism (M2) is marked by replacement of staurolite by andalusite (M2a/D2a), which was subsequently pseudomorphed by sillimanite (M2b/D2b) where granite and migmatite are abundant. P–T conditions ranged from 600 to 680°C and 4–6 kbar for the M2b sillimanite stage. 1.60 Ga garnet relicts within the S2 foliation highlight the progressive obliteration of the S1 fabric by regional S2 in the central zone during peak M2 metamorphism. In the eastern migmatitic complex, partial melting of paragneiss and amphibolite occurred syn- to post- S2, at 730–770°C and 6–8 kbar, and at 750–790°C and 6 kbar, respectively. The pressure–temperature–deformation–time paths reconstructed for the Georgetown Inlier suggest a c. 1.60 Ga M1/D1 event recorded under greenschist facies conditions in the western domain and under medium-P and medium-T conditions in the central domain. This event was followed by the regional 1.56–1.54 Ga low-P and high-T phase (M2/D2), extensively recorded in the central and eastern domains. Decompression between these two metamorphic events is ascribed to an episode of exhumation. The two-stage evolution supports the previous hypothesis that the Georgetown Inlier preserves continental collisional and subsequent thermal perturbation associated with granite emplacement.     

Proportional stress and strain paths in barodesy

Asymptotic behaviour of soil deserves particular attention: If soil is deformed with a proportional strain path, the resulting stress path approaches asymptotically a proportional stress path. In this arcticle, we review existing experimental evidence on this phenomenon and discuss it in the frame of barodesy. Here, the presented relation is a modification of a barodetic expression and includes Jáky's relation, inhibits tensile stress and is able to predict asymptotic stress ratios based on experimental findings. The proposed relation is compared with experimental data as well as with the so‐called stress‐dilatancy relations and other constitutive relations proposed so far. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tectonometamorphic evolution of an intracontinental orogeny inferred from P–T–t–d paths of the metapelites from the Rehamna massif (Morocco)

New petrographic and microstructural observations, mineral equilibria modelling and U/Pb (monazite) geochronological studies were carried out to investigate the relationships between deformation and metamorphism across the Rehamna massif (Moroccan Variscan belt). In this area, typical Barrovian (muscovite to staurolite) zones developed in Cambrian to Carboniferous metasedimentary rocks that are distributed around a dome‐like structure. First assemblages are characterized by the presence of locally preserved andalusite, followed by prograde evolution culminating at 6 kbar and 620 °C in the structurally deepest staurolite zone rocks. This Barrovian sequence was subsequently uplifted to supracrustal levels, heterogeneously reworked at greenschist facies conditions, which was followed locally by static growth of andalusite, indicating heating to 2.5–4 kbar and 530–570 °C. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U monazite age of 298.3 ± 4.1 Ma is interpreted as minimum age of peak metamorphic conditions, whereas the ages of 275.8 ± 1.7 Ma and 277.0 ± 1.1 Ma date decompression and heating at low pressure, in agreement with previous dating of Permian granitoids intruding the Rehamna massif. The prograde metamorphism occurred during thickening and associated horizontal flow in the deeper crust (S1 horizontal schistosity). The horizontally disposed metamorphic zones were subsequently uplifted by a regional scale antiform during ongoing N–S compression. The re‐heating of the massif follows late massive E–W shortening, refolding and retrograde shearing of all previous fabrics coevally with regionally important intrusions of Permian granitoids. We argue that metamorphic evolution of the Rehamna massif occurred several hundred kilometres from the convergent plate boundaries in the interior of continental Gondwanan plate. The tectonometamorphic history of the Rehamna massif is put into Palaeozoic plate tectonic perspective and Late Carboniferous reactivation of (Devonian)–Early Carboniferous basins formed during stretching of the north Gondwana margin and formation of the Palaeotethys Ocean. The inherited heat budget of these magma‐rich basins plays a role in the preferential location of this intracontinental orogen. It is shown that rapid transition from lithospheric stretching to compression is characterized by specific HT type of Barrovian metamorphism, which markedly differs from similar Barrovian sequences along Palaeozoic plate boundaries reported from Variscan Europe.     

Hydro‐mechanical response of collapsible soils under different infiltration events

The behavior of a partially saturated soil during surface‐water infiltration is analyzed by means of an elasto‐plastic constitutive model formulated in terms of effective stress and extended to unsaturated conditions. The model is calibrated considering laboratory‐scale experimental results under suction‐controlled conditions. The wetting process in two collapsing soils, initially loaded at in situ stresses, is simulated by imposing two different boundary conditions: surface ponding and water flow. The stress paths resulting from the imbibition process are analyzed at different points inside the layer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

甘肃某生活垃圾填埋场地下水污染特征及污染途径分析

依据实际调查数据,采用单因子污染指数分析法确定了生活垃圾填埋场地下水中主要污染物、污染程度和污染范围,并进行了土壤和地下水污染耦合性分析,研究结果表明：该生活垃圾填埋场地下水污染物主要为氨氮、总氮、高锰酸盐、锰、挥发酚和氟化物,其污染指数最大值分别为1 407.24、745.00、137.12、97.50、3.60和1.68,污染区总面积0.168 km²;填埋场下游沟谷纵向上,总氮、锰两项指标在土壤中的含量与地下水中浓度变化趋势一致;其污染途径主要为库区防渗层破损,渗滤液垂向沿基岩风化裂隙进入地下含水层,以连续渗漏的方式不断污染地下水,污染物在地下水径流作用下向拦挡坝下游不断迁移。     

穿过青藏高原的面波传播路径与速度结构

利用时频偏振分析技术分析穿过青藏高原不同地区的基阶Love波的偏振方向,确定不同周期的Love波到达台站的入射方向对于大圆的偏离．结果表明,在青藏高原内部传播的Love波传播路径基本不偏离大圆路径,穿过青藏块体及川滇西部低速区边界的Love波明显偏离大回路径低速区（青藏高原及川滇西部）的边界区域速度变化梯度大,对路径影响大．低速区内部路径偏离不明显,内部速度变化梯度比边界区域速度变化梯度小．低速区内大约在青藏高原中部位置是面波速度最低的地方．面波路径对于大圆路径的明显偏离,是由于速度结构的横向不均匀性造成的．利用已知的相速度分布,采用射线追踪方法正演计算的结果与实测结果在偏离方向上是一致的,但偏离角的值则比实测值小．     

贵州关岭大寨崩滑碎屑流灾害初步研究

2010年6月28日,贵州省关岭县岗乌镇大寨村发生特大型崩滑碎屑(石)流灾害,造成99人死亡或失踪。通过现场考察崩滑区的地质环境与斜坡岩体结构,认为斜坡体由似"干砌块石结构"的裂隙化岩体组成是发生崩溃式破坏的主要内在原因。超常暴雨(过程雨量237mm)条件下斜坡岩体后缘裂缝充水形成持续的"水楔作用"是斜坡岩体松动、倾倒垮塌的主要外部引发因素。碎屑(石)流块度的空间分布具有从源头向沟口逐次减小,碎屑(石)流运动冲击高度逐步降低,冲击速度逐步减小,并显示4个能级4个冲程的特点。根据动势能守恒定律,计算了每个冲程的最大速度,得出第1冲程为高速崩滑,其它冲程属于碎屑(石)流动冲击。未发现区域天然地震、光照水库诱发地震与外围历史采矿活动与本次事件相关的直接证据。由于滑坡后缘仍存在不稳定岩体,碎屑(石)流堆积体上多处分布直径3～5m的堰塞塘,说明碎屑(石)空隙的排泄能力不足,在未来暴雨条件下引发新的崩滑或形成沟谷型泥石流的可能性是存在的。     

The retrograde P–T–t path for low-pressure granulites from the Reynolds Range, central Australia: petrological constraints and implications for low-P/high-T metamorphism

Several aspects of the petrogenesis of low-pressure granulite facies rocks from the Reynolds Range (central Australia) are contentious, including: (a) the shape of the retrograde P–T –time path, and whether it is an artefact of repeated thermal events at different P–T conditions; (b) the type of regional metamorphism; and (c) the causes of metamorphism. Granulite facies rocks from the Reynolds Range Group experienced three major periods of mineralogical equilibration. Metapelitic rocks underwent dehydration-melting reactions to form migmatites under peak M2 P–T conditions of c. 5.0–5.3 kbar and c. 750–800 °C. Metapsammitic rocks that did not melt during M2 show spectacular garnet–orthopyroxene intergrowths that developed at c. 3.5–3.7 kbar and c. 700–750 °C after penetrative regional deformation, but prior to amphibolite facies rehydration in discrete strike-parallel zones. Rehydration occurred within the sillimanite stability field at P–T conditions close to the granite solidus (c. 3.2–3.4 kbar and 650–700 °C). Subsequently the terrane cooled into the andalusite stability field. Geochronological constraints suggest that: (a) peak-M2 conditions were reached at c. 1594 Ma; (b) the garnet–orthopyroxene intergrowths in unmelted metapsammites probably developed between c. 1594 Ma and c. 1586 Ma; and (c) upper amphibolite facies rehydration occurred between c. 1586 Ma and 1568 Ma. The lack of petrological evidence for multiple dehydration and rehydration of the rocks suggests that the three episodes of mineralogical recrystallization can be linked to yield a single continuous retrograde P–T–t path of minor initial decompression (c. 1.5 kbar) from the M2 peak, followed by cooling (c. 100 °C) to the granite solidus over a period of c. 26 Ma. Late kyanite-bearing shear zones that dissect the terrane are unrelated to this event and formed during the c. 300–400 Ma Alice Springs Orogeny. The shape of the P–T–t path and the duration of M2 metamorphism suggests that advective heating was not the major cause of high-grade metamorphism, and that some other, longer lived heat source, such as the burial of anomalously radiogenic, pre-tectonic granites, is required.     

Garnet growth during crustal thickening in the Cascades Crystalline Core,Washington, USA

Garnet Sm–Nd and zircon U–Pb ages, and pressure–temperature–time paths elucidate Late Cretaceous crustal thickening which occurred within magmatic arc rocks of the Insular Superterrane. Voluminous tonalitic magma of the Mount Stuart batholith intruded at <3 kbar into upper crustal sedimentary rocks between 96 and 91 Ma, with initial intrusion prior to garnet growth in the metasedimentary rocks. Arc plutonism then shifted northward as crustal thickening commenced. Initial garnet growth, locally with kyanite and staurolite replacing andalusite, at c. 91 Ma was directly associated with intrusion of granodiorite to tonalite sheets at 7 kbar, north of the Mount Stuart batholith, within the Nason Ridge Migmatitic Gneiss. Subsequent heating and garnet growth, which postdates emplacement of large plutons, occurred between 88 and 86 Ma. This late garnet growth occurred at pressures of 6–8 kbar. The history of garnet growth and intrusion indicates that initial garnet zone and higher temperature metamorphism was restricted to contact aureoles. However, later widespread garnet growth at higher pressure probably resulted from heating as the orogenic wedge approached thermal equilibrium after crustal thickening. We conclude that metasedimentary rocks outside narrow contact aureoles remained at temperatures significantly below those of garnet growth and that the growth of garnet lasted <6 Myr. Heating to temperatures that stabilized garnet after pluton emplacement is compatible with intrusion of arc plutons into an accretionary wedge (Chiwaukum Schist) which was tectonically thickened and/or overthrust causing loading and thermal relaxation.