Neotectonics and morphotectonics of the southern Almería region (Betic Cordillera-Spain) kinematic implications

Most previous studies related to the recent tectonic development of southeastern Betic Cordillera, and in particular the south of Almería, agree with the kinematic variety that can be observed in the post-Miocene structures at different scales. This variety is difficult to explain if we consider only the regional stress field related to the convergence of the Eurasian and African plates that remained relatively steady over the last 9 Ma. This work proposes a block tectonics with horizontal and vertical relative movements driven by strike-slip movements of major faults to explain the variety of kinematics observed in the area from Middle Miocene to present. The combined activity of the Alpujarras fault zone (dextral strike-slip) and the Carboneras fault zone (sinistral strike-slip) induces, within the major block bounded by them, the squeezing of minor pre-existing fault bounded crustal blocks. This process generates traction areas inside the escaping block, which are linked with the existence of gradients of westward movement rate. This tectonics can explain some of the structures related with the extensional tectonics predominant in the south of Almería province and the development of the minor and major morphostructures driven by faults with different kinematics. The tectonics of blocks proposed is useful to give a coherent interpretation of apparently incoherent local structural data into a regional and homogeneous compressional stress field.Sadly, Professor José L. Hernández Enrile died in April 2003, and thus this paper represents his last thoughts on the topic. Reviews were addressed by the first author; however, some of the suggested changes were discussed to preserve Professor Hernández Enriless thoughts.     

Pre-Middle Jurassic accretionary metamorphism in the southern Klamath Mountains of northern California, USA

Abstract High- P/T metamorphic parageneses are preserved within two late Palaeozoic to early Mesozoic assemblages of the southern Klamath Mountains that show contrasting structural styles and mineral parageneses reflecting formation in different parts of a subduction-zone regime. Blueschist facies tectonites of the Stuart Fork terrane represent a coherent subduction complex formed at relatively deep crustal levels, whereas the chaotic metasedimentary mélange of the eastern Hayfork terrane contains a diverse range of metamorphic parageneses reflecting complex structural mixing of metamorphic components at shallower levels. The convergent-margin-type accretionary metamorphism evident in both terranes pre-dates Middle Jurassic low- P/T metamorphism resulting from regional tectonic contraction and magmatism.
The epidote- to lawsonite-zone Stuart Fork blueschists (and eclogites locally) formed at pressures of about 6-11 kbar and temperatures of 250-400° C. Deformed matrix material of the eastern Hayfork mélange formed at similar temperatures but lower pressures, on the order of 3-6 kbar. The mélange contains a diverse assemblage of tectonic blocks that formed under a range of P-T conditions, including those of the blueschist, pumpellyite-actinolite, greenschist and upper greenschist to amphibolite facies.
The succession of mineral parageneses and inferred P-T conditions of the eastern Hayfork blocks reflect those of igneous protolith formation, structural mixing, subduction-zone metamorphism, olistolith transport, and tectonic and erosional denudation. Although temporal relations are not well constrained, the evolution of these terranes is consistent with formation within a single convergent-margin system.     

40Ar/39Ar geochronology and P-T-t paths from the Cordillera Darwin metamorphic complex, Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Abstract ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data collected from hornblende, muscovite, biotite and K-feldspar constrain the P-T-t history of the Cordillera Darwin metamorphic complex, Tierra del Fuego, Chile. These data show two periods of rapid cooling, the first between c. 500 and c. 325° C at rates ≥25° C Ma^-1, and the second between c. 250 and c. 200°C. For high-T cooling, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages are spatially disparate and depend on metamorphic grade: rocks that record deeper and hotter peak metamorphic conditions have younger ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages. Sillimanite- and kyanite-grade rocks in the south-central part of the complex cooled latest: ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar Hbl = 73–77 Ma, Ms = 67–70 Ma, Bt = 68 Ma, and oldest Kfs = 65 Ma. Thermobarometry and P-T path studies of these rocks indicate that maximum burial of 26–30 km at 575–625° C may have been followed by as much as 10 km of exhumation with heating of 25–50° C. Staurolite-grade rocks have intermediate ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages: Hbl = 84–86 Ma, Ms = 71 Ma, Bt = 72–75 Ma, and oldest Kfs = 80 Ma. Thermobarometry on these rocks indicates maximum burial of 19–26 km at temperatures of 550–580° C. Garnet-grade rocks have the oldest ages: Ms = 72 Ma and oldest Kfs = 91 Ma; peak P-T conditions were 525–550° C and 5–7 kbar. Regional metamorphic temperatures for greenschist facies rocks south of the Beagle Channel did not exceed c. 300–325° C from 110 Ma to the present, although the rocks are only 2 km from kyanite-bearing rocks to the north. One-dimensional thermal models allow limits to be placed on exhumation rates. Assuming a stable geothermal gradient of 20–25° C km^-1, the maximum exhumation rate for the St-grade rocks is c. 2.5 mm yr^-1, whereas the minimum exhumation rate for the Ky + Sil-grade rocks is c. 1.0 mm yr^-1. Uniform exhumation rates cannot explain the disparity in cooling histories for rocks at different grades, and so early differential exhumation is inferred to have occurred. Petrological and geochronological comparisons with other metamorphic complexes suggest that single exhumation events typically remove less than c. 20 km of overburden. This behaviour can be explained in terms of a continental deformation model in which brittle extensional faults in the upper crust are rooted to shallowly dipping ductile shear zones or regions of homogeneous thinning at mid- to deep-crustal levels. The P-T-t data from Cordillera Darwin (1) are best explained by a ‘wedge extrusion’model, in which extensional exhumation in the southern rear of the complex was coeval with thrusting in the north along the margin of the complex and into the Magallanes sedimentary basin, (2) suggest that differential exhumation occurred initially, with St-grade rocks exhuming faster than Ky + Sil-grade rocks, and (3) show variations in cooling rate through time that correlate both with local deformation events and with changes in plate motions and interactions.     

Evaluation and validation of landslide-susceptibility maps obtained by a GIS matrix method: examples from the Betic Cordillera (southern Spain)

This work presents the results of applying the matrix method in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to the drawing of maps of susceptibility to slope movements in different sectors of the Betic Cordillera (southern Spain). In addition, the susceptibility models built by the matrix method were compared with a multivariate statistical method, and the first method gave the best results. The susceptibility maps drawn by the GIS matrix method were validated by calculating the coefficients of association with the degree of fit between recent slope movements registered in 1997 and the different levels of susceptibility of previously drawn maps (1995–1996) in different representative zones of the Betic Cordillera (southern Spain). The first sector studied showed excellent degrees of fit, with an error of less than 10% for all the slope failures and 3% when considering only failures of natural origin. In the second sector, the relative errors were less than 5%. In the third sector, the error hardly exceeded 6%. The results are discussed in the different zones and for each type of slope movement. In any case, these results evidence the predictive capacity of susceptibility maps drawn in GIS by the matrix method, for a great number of slope movements.     

Concentrations and distribution of elements in milled-coal, power plant ashes and stack-emitted materials in a Western Canadian coal-fired power plant

The focus of this study is to determine the concentrations and the distributions of elements of prime environmental concern （As, Cd, Cr, Cu Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se and V） and other elements of environmental interest （B, Ba, Be, Co, Mn, U） in milled coals, power plant ashes, and stack-emitted materials from a Western Canadian power plant using bituminous coal. The concentrations of elements were determined using neutron activation analysis （NAA）, Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy （ICPES）, and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass spectroscopy （ICP-MS） for most elements, Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption （GFAA） for Pb, and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption （CVAA） for Hg. The result of the study shows that the total rate of input is 423.5 kg/d for elements of prime environmental concern and 280 kg/d for elements of environmental interest. The concentrations of most elements in milled coal are low as compared to world coals and other Canadian milled coals. The total output of these two groups of elements is 2.9 kg/d and 110.4 kg/d, respectively. This indicates that only a small amount of the total input elements from the milled coal is emitted. Most of it is captured by the bottom and ESP ashes with the exception of the highly volatile As Hg, F, Br, and Cl. The element with highest rate of emission for elements of prime environmental concern is Se （0.73 kg/d） and B （95 kg/d） for the elements of some environmental interest.     

Structure and tectonics of the central segment of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia

In the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, a new structural model constrained by field data, paleontologic determinations, and interpretations of seismic reflection profiles is proposed. The model implies 70 km of shortening, including reactivation of basement structures as inverse faults in both flanks of the chain. These faults propagated within the lower Cretaceous strata, inducing passively rooted and transported thrust sheets as the successive basement faults were reactivated. Two structural styles are identified in the western flank: (1) positive flower structures in a transpressive regime, which affected rocks older than upper Paleocene and were unconformably covered by post–late Paleocene sediments, and (2) compressive structures during the late Miocene–Recent Andean phase. Presently, WNW-ESE compression reactivates Late Paleocene structures, which locally affect Andean trends. In the western margin of the Eastern Cordillera, the Cambao thrust takes up most displacement, whereas the Bituima fault takes only a minor part. To the south, this relationship reverses, suggesting complementary behavior by the Bituima and Cambao faults, as well as a transfer zone. This suggestion explains the southward termination of the Guaduas syncline as a structure related to the Cambao fault, whereas the Bituima fault increases its displacement southward, generating the Girardot foldbelt that takes over the structural position of the Guaduas syncline.     

Analysis of flute forming conditions using ice sheet reconstructions and field techniques

Basal shear stress and sediment strength associated with the development of glacial flutes exposed during the 20th century in the Saskatchewan Glacier Valley Alberta, Canada, were determined by comparing reconstructed ice thicknesses, basal shear stresses, and field properties of sediments with the morphologically similar Kiwa Glacier Valley, British Columbia, Canada, where flutes are absent. Reconstructed subglacial conditions in these two valleys were compared to understand why flutes were developed in the former and not the latter. Using an existing topographic map of each glacier, equations for a series of longitudinal profile lines were determined to represent the existing ice surface. A previous ice surface, identified by trimlines along the valley walls, was reconstructed by applying the equations of longitudinal profile lines from the existing ice surface to a previous terminus between 5 and 10 km downvalley. After subtracting the elevation of the land surface (determined from topographic maps) from the reconstructed glacier surface, and calculating former ice surface slope, ice thickness and basal shear stress distributions were determined. Sediment texture and the location of flutes on a morainal topographic high, downglacier from a proglacial lake basin, allowed high porewater pressures to develop as glaciers extended to terminus positions in the Saskatchewan Glacier Valley. Sediment strength was reduced sufficiently below values of reconstructed shear stress plots to allow deformation creating flutes. The absence of a similar topographic high and different sediment textural characteristics in the Kiwa Glacier Valley resulted in lower porewater pressures and consequently less reduction in sediment strength preventing the development of glacial flutes despite higher shear stress values here. Results indicate that the degree to which sediment characteristics and porewater pressure allow reduction of subglacial sediment strength relative to basal shear stress is important in determining conditions when flutes may develop.     

Timing the tectonic mingling of ultramafic rocks and metasediments in the southern section of the coastal accretionary complex of central Chile

Uranium-lead ages are reported for zircons from ultramafic bodies and metamorphic host rocks of the Western Series that outcrop at La Cabaña, in the southern section of the coastal accretionary complex of central Chile. Metasedimentary mica schists hosting the ultramafic bodies contain a main detrital zircon population of Devonian age (365–380 Ma) clustering around ~368 Ma, differing significantly from neighbouring areas where Devonian zircons are scarce. Zircons from the metasomatic reaction zones (albitites and chloritites), formed during the emplacement and alteration of the ultramafic bodies, are mainly Ordovician (~478 Ma) and lack Devonian zircons, resembling a typical detrital zircon pattern from other locations in the Western Series. Zircons from the chloritite reaction zone of the Lavanderos serpentinite, the easternmost ultramafic body in La Cabaña, are in textural equilibrium with metamorphic ilmenite. Some of these zircons yield an average age of 283.4 ± 7 Ma (n = 6) which is identical, within error, to a previously reported K-Ar fuchsite cooling age of 282 ± 6 Ma from the reaction zone. Most zircons extracted from chromitite boulders have euhedral oscillatory-zoned growth patterns with a similar range of ages than those reported for the Western Series (324–1090 Ma; n = 12), except for two zircons with cloudy appearance and high U/Th ratios which yielded an average age of 285.5 ± 7 Ma. The presence of Early Permian zircons (~280–290 Ma) in all studied rocks suggests remobilization of Zr, possibly triggered by metasomatic fluids released during the disequilibrium reaction associated with the tectonic emplacement of the ultramafic rocks into the metasedimentary rock. Simultaneously with the formation of metasomatic zircons, Palaeozoic and Mesoproterozoic zircons from the metasedimentary rocks were mechanically incorporated into the ultramafic rocks, thus providing a record of the timing of crustal emplacement of the ultramafic rocks into the accretionary complex.     

Sediment provenance,sediment-dispersal systems,and major arc-magmatic events recorded in the Mexican foreland basin,North-Central and Northeastern Mexico

ABSTRACT

The Late Cretaceous-Paleogene Mexican foreland basin (MFB), defined herein, represents the southern continuation of the late Mesozoic Cordilleran foreland basin. Sandstone petrography, new detrital-zircon (DZ) U-Pb geochronology, and paleocurrent data indicate that much of the sedimentary fill of the basin was derived from an active Late Cretaceous-Paleogene magmatic arc, termed here the Mexican Cordilleran arc, on the western continental margin of Mexico. The oldest known strata of the proximal foreland basin in the Mesa Central consist of Cenomanian-Turonian turbidites. Sampled sandstones are compositional volcanic litharenites with abundant neovolcanic grains and a dominant, approximately syndepositional DZ age group ranging ~98–92 Ma that records a major magmatic event in the Mexican Cordilleran arc. Santonian-Campanian strata in the distal MFB consist of carbonate pelagites with abundant interbedded tuffs and tuffaceous sandstones. Represented by the Caracol and San Felipe formations deposited in the forebulge and back-bulge depozones, respectively, these strata form an arcuate outcrop belt ~700 km in length. DZ ages ranging ~85–74 Ma in the arc-derived tuffaceous strata record a second prominent magmatic event.

Two principal transport mechanisms delivered volcanogenic sediment to the MFB from multiple, simultaneously active arc sources during Late Cretaceous time: (1) Cenomanian-Turonian east-directed transverse fluvial systems transported volcanic-lithic sand rich in young zircon grains; and (2) airborne ash clouds transported Santonian-Campanian zircon grains to the distal foreland basin in prevailing Late Cretaceous northwesterly winds. Axial transport of sediment derived from active arc sources, Proterozoic basement and derivative sedimentary rocks in northwestern Mexico, in addition to transverse transport from the thrust orogen itself, represents a younger sediment-routing system, modified by advance of the foreland fold-thrust belt, to the Maastrichtian-Paleogene foreland of northeastern Mexico.     

Geochemical constraints on blueschist- and amphibolite-facies rocks of the Central Cordillera of Colombia: the Andean Barragán region

Subduction zones are one of the most characteristic features of planet Earth. Convergent plate junctions exert enormous influence on the formation and recycling of continental crust, and they are also responsible for major mineral resources and earthquakes, which are of crucial importance for society. A subduction-related geologic unit containing high-pressure rocks occurs in the Barragán area (Valle del Cauca Department) on the western flank of the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes. Blueschists and amphibolites, serpentinized meta-ultramafic rocks, graphite-chlorite-muscovite-quartz schists, protocataclasites, and graphite-chlorite-andalusite-andesine-garnet-muscovite?± titanite schists are exposed in this region. In spite of the petrotectonic importance of blueschists, the high-pressure metamorphism of the Central Cordillera of Colombia has been rarely studied. New geochemical data indicate that protoliths of the blueschist- and amphibolite-facies rocks possessed normal mid-ocean ridge basalt bulk compositions. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology for a metapelite rock associated with the blueschists shows a plateau age of ～120 million years. We suggest that high-P/T conditions were present from ～150 to 125 Ma, depending on the model of generation and exhumation considered.