Geodynamics of oroclinal bending: Insights from the Mediterranean

The Alpine Orogen in the Mediterranean region exhibits a series of orogenic curvatures (oroclines). The evolution of these oroclines is relatively well constrained by a plethora of geophysical and geological data, and therefore, their origin can inform us on the fundamental processes controlling oroclinal bending. Here, a synthesis of the geometry of Mediterranean oroclines, followed by a discussion on their geodynamic origin is presented. The geometrical synthesis is based on a new classification of Mediterranean oroclines, which defines a first-order orocline (Adriatic Orocline) by the general northward-convex shape of the Alpine Orogen from Cyprus to Gibraltar. Superimposed on the limbs of this orocline, are second-, third- and fourth-order oroclines. The major process that led to the formation of the Adriatic Orocline is the indentation of Adria into Europe, whereas second- and third-order oroclines (e.g., Western Mediterranean and Gibraltar oroclines, respectively) were primarily controlled by a combination of trench retreat and slab tearing. It appears, therefore, that the geodynamics of Mediterranean oroclines has been entirely dependent on plate boundary migration and segmentation, as expressed in the interlinked processes of indentation, trench retreat and slab tearing. The relative contribution of specific geodynamic processes, and their maturity, could be inferred from geometrical characteristics, such as the amplitude-to-width ratio, the orientation of the curvature (convex or concave) relative to the convergence vector, and their geometrical relationship with backarc extensional basins (e.g., in the concave side of the orocline). Based on the information from the Mediterranean oroclines, it is concluded that oroclinal bending commonly involves lithospheric-scale processes, and is not restricted to thin-skinned deformation. However, contrary to previous suggestions that assume that the whole lithosphere can buckle, there is no clear evidence that such processes occur in modern tectonic environments.     

Manila clam Venerupis philippinarum as a biomonitor to metal pollution

The Manila clam Venerupis philippinarum is a good biomonitor/bioindicator to marine metal pollution and is frequently used in aquatic toxicology. Two dominant pedigrees (white and zebra) of clam are distributed in the Bohai Sea; however, little attention has been paid to potential biological differences between these two pedigrees. In this study, we tested the sensitivity of both pedigrees to marine metal (cadmium and zinc) pollution biomonitoring and marine environmental toxicology. Results demonstrate significant biological differences in gills of white and zebra clams based on metabolic profiles and antioxidant enzyme activities. In addition, we found that hypotaurine, malonate and homarine were relatively high in white clam gills, while alanine, arginine, glutamate, succinate, 4-aminobutyrate, taurine and betaine were high in zebra clam gills. Zebra clam gills were also more sensitive to a mixture of Cd and Zn, as shown by antioxidant enzyme activities and metabolic profiles, but white clam gills could accumulate more Zn. Therefore, we suggest that the white pedigree can be used as a biomonitor to marine Zn pollution, whereas the zebra pedigree can be used for toxicology studies on Cd and Zn mixed pollution.     

海斗深渊沉积物组成特征及其物质来源研究进展

海斗深渊是海洋中最深的区域,由水深范围在6000～11000 m范围内的深部海沟组成,以极端的物理化学条件为特征,其沉积物以深海黏土为主。基于目前关于马里亚纳海沟及其沉积物的研究进展,总结了海斗深渊的地貌、物理化学和水动力等方面的特征;归纳了海斗深渊沉积物的粒度特征、矿物组成和古生物特征;探讨了海斗深渊沉积物的物质来源及主要分析方法。海斗深渊沉积物的物质来源具有多源性,综合多种方法示踪是准确揭示其物质物源的关键。     

西太平洋暖池核心区新不列颠海沟有机质来源及碳酸盐含量变化

深海有机质的来源与演化及其碳酸盐含量变化是碳循环的重要环节之一。通过分析新不列颠海沟水深3908 m采集的柱状沉积物总有机碳(TOC)和总氮(TN)的含量、有机碳的δ¹³C值和AMS-¹⁴C定年以及CaCO_3含量变化,探讨该海区的有机质来源与演化及碳酸盐含量变化与控制因素。研究发现:(1)该地区的有机质主要来源于海洋自生有机质,但受到陆源有机质输入的影响,其中在末次冰消期和全新世早期,海平面相对较低,但海平面逐渐上升会带来部分侵蚀的陆源土壤输入,而且作为降水带的赤道辐合带(ITCZ)位置偏南引起的陆源剥蚀物质输入增强,使陆源有机质贡献比例较高,主要来自巴布亚新几内亚森林土壤的有机质贡献;(2)该地区的CaCO_3含量在末次冰消期以来呈现出末次冰消期和全新世中晚期较低,而全新世早中期较高的特征,其变化主要受海平面变化和ITCZ迁移引起的陆源碎屑物质输入强弱的影响。     

福建永安-晋江断裂带东南段探槽剖面研究

分析断裂的地表出露特征,对北西向永安-晋江断裂带东南段的隐伏断裂,进行探槽开挖和地层年代学测试。通过对官前主干断裂进行探槽开挖,揭露出北西向官前主干断裂没有向上错断上覆第四系,探槽揭示的最老第四系年龄为距今45.69±3.88 Ka,表明了官前主干断裂在更新世晚期以来已不再活动,为永安-晋江断裂带东南段的断裂活动性研究奠定了可靠基础。     

Trench effects on lateral p-y relations for pipelines embedded in stiff soils and rocks

Existing relationships for lateral backfill pressures on pipelines assume that the trench is adequately wide to contain the failure surface. This condition is commonly violated in design and construction practice, putting at risk the pipeline safety. In this context, size and shape effects for trenches excavated in stiff soils and rocks, are numerically investigated, through experimentally-calibrated parametric analyses. It is shown that, for narrow trenches, ultimate pressures and yield displacements may increase up to an order of magnitude compared to “infinite-trench” values, while excavation of inclined walls reduces the above detrimental effects. Simplified relations are developed to aid pipeline design.     

Variable microstructure of peridotite samples from the southern Mariana Trench: Evidence of a complex tectonic evolution

We retrieved samples of peridotite from a dredge haul (KH92-1-D2) collected during Cruise KH92-1 undertaken by the research vessel (R/V) Hakuho in 1992 at the landward trench slope of the southern Mariana Trench (11°41.16′N, 143°29.62′E; depth 6594–7431 m), which is the deepest ocean in the world. Ten of 30 retrieved samples possessed both a foliation and lineation, as assessed from 46 thin sections of various orientations and observations of hand samples. The samples showed marked variation in microstructure, ranging from coarse (> 5 mm) equigranular and intensely elongated textures to finer (< 1 mm) porphyroclastic and fine-grained equigranular textures. Olivine fabrics also varied among the different samples, with (010)[100] and (010)[001] patterns (termed A- and B-type, respectively) observed in samples with coarse textures and no clear patterns observed in samples with fine textures. Even though the peridotite samples were retrieved from a single dredge site, some contain primary tectonic microstructures and some contain secondary microstructures. Recent bathymetric and topographic analyses indicate that the lithosphere in this region is as thin as 20 km. Such a thin lithosphere may have been intensely deformed, even perhaps in the ductile regime, during fore-arc extension; consequently, the observed variations in microstructure within the peridotite samples probably reflect the complex tectonic evolution of the southern Mariana region.     

罗山东麓断裂全新世古地震研究

罗山东麓断裂全新世活动强烈,古地震现象丰富。探槽揭露出晚更新世末或全新世初以来,已发生过5次7级左右的古地震事件,除最早的一次时间不明外,其它4次分别发生在距今约8400年、5400—5020年、3900年和2260年。全新世早期古地震重复间隔在3000年左右,晚期为1500年左右。     

Annual variations of biogenic element contents of manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) bottom-cultivated in Jiaozhou Bay,China

Manila clam(Ruditapes philippinarum) was monthly sampled from its benthic aquaculture area in Jiaozhou Bay from May 2009 to June 2010. The annual variations of major elemental composition, organic content, fatness and element ratio of Manila clam were examined. The element removal effect of clam farming in Jiaozhou Bay was analyzed based on natural mortality and clam harvest. The results indicated that the variation trend of carbon content in shell(Cshell) was similar to that in clam(Cclam). Such a variation was higher in summer and autumn than in other seasons, which ranged from 9.10 ± 0.13 to 10.38 ± 0.09 mmol g-1 and from 11.28 ± 0.29 to 12.36 ± 0.06 mmol g-1, respectively. Carbon content of flesh(Cflesh) showed an opposite variation trend to that of shell in most months, varying from 29.42 ± 0.05 to 33.64 ± 0.62 mmol g-1. Nitrogen content of shell(Nshell) and flesh(Nflesh) changed seasonally, which was relatively low in spring and summer. Nshell and Nflesh varied from 0.07 ± 0.009 to 0.14 ± 0.009 mmol g-1 and from 5.46 ± 0.12 to 7.39 ± 0.43 mmol g-1, respectively. Total nitrogen content of clam ranged from 0.50 ± 0.003 to 0.76 ± 0.10 mmol g-1 with a falling tend except for a high value in March 2010. Phosphorus content of clam(Nclam) fluctuated largely, while phosphorus content of shell(Pshell) was less varied than that of flesh(Pflesh). Pshell varied from 0.006 ± 0.001 to 0.016 ± 0.001 mmol g-1; while Pflesh fluctuated between 0.058 ± 0.017 and 0.293 ± 0.029 mmol g-1. Pclam ranged from 0.015 ± 0.002 to 0.041 ± 0.006 mmol g-1. Carbon and nitrogen content were slightly affected by shell length, width or height. Elemental contents were closely related to the reproduction cycle. The removal amounts of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus from clam harvest and natural death in Jiaozhou Bay were 2.92×104 t, 1420 t and 145 t, respectively. The nutrient removal may aid to reduce the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, the main causes of eutrophication, and to maintain the ecosystem health of Jiaozhou Bay.     

Geodynamics of the Amirante Ridge and Trench Complex,Western Indian Ocean

The formation and evolution of the ～600 km long arcuate Amirante Ridge and Trench Complex (ARTC) is a significant geomorphic–structural feature in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The WIO contains evidence of at least two major magmatic episodes followed by continental rifting within the span of a little more than 20 million years. This involved the splitting of Madagascar from India at around 85 Ma and then separation between India and the Seychelles at 64–63 Ma as a possible consequence of two powerful volcanic eruptions from the Marion and Reunion hot spots, respectively. Formation and evolution of the ARTC represents this tumultuous period in the Indian Ocean, approximately between 85 and 60 Ma (Late Cretaceous–Early Tertiary).

We integrated geophysical, palaeomagnetical, and petrological data to examine three existing models that attempt to explain the formation of ARTC. In contrast, our study hints at several stages of extension and compression responsible for its formation. Our integrated data also suggest that the Carlsberg Ridge may have played a prominent role in the evolution of the ARTC that seems to have formed through a ridge-jump process after the conjugate spreading centres – Mascarene and Palitana ridges formed earlier during the India–Madagascar separation – ceased spreading because of violent eruption of the Reunion hot spot at around 65 Ma. The eruption disturbed the plumbing system of magma ascent, resulting in cessation of spreading along the conjugate spreading centres, forcing a ridge jump.

A collage of seismic refraction and reflection, free-air gravity, magnetic anomaly data, and Ar dating of rocks indicates that as the Carlsberg Ridge swept the Seychelles towards south, the crust between Madagascar and the Seychelles was increasingly compressed, with the abandoned northern Mascarene spreading centre absorbing the maximum stress. With continued compression, the western limb of the abandoned spreading ridge was thrust below the eastern limb to a limited degree. This partial subduction agrees with the gravity and seismic results. Our new study also accounts for the anomalous presence of 14 km-thick oceanic crust beneath the ARTC and its characteristic difference in petrology with other established subduction zones in the world.