Fluid inclusions in upper mantle xenoliths from Northern Patagonia,Argentina: Evidence for an upper mantle diapir

Summary Three generations of fluid inclusions can be recognized in upper mantle xenoliths from alkali basalts of the Somoncura Massif, Northern Patagonia, Argentina. The first (early, primary) one consists of dense CO₂ inclusions which were trapped in the mantle-crust boundary zone (22–36 km minimum trapping depth). Their co-genetic relationship with silicate melt inclusions enables us to constrain their minimum trapping temperature at 1200°C, indicating a high temperature event in a cooler environment. The late (pseudosecondary and secondary) generations of fluid inclusions were classified in accordance with their homogenization temperature to liquid CO₂ (L1) and vapor CO₂ (L2) phase. The minimum trapping depth for the first of the late inclusions (L1) is about 16 km. In spite of the uncertainties related to this value, L1 inclusions indicate that the upper mantle rocks, of which samples were delivered by the basalts, had some residence time in the middle crust where they experienced a metasomatic event. The fact that this event did not destroy the earlier inclusions, places severe constraints on its duration. The second late inclusions (L2) are low-pressure CO₂ inclusions with a minimum trapping depth of only 2 km, presumably a shallow magma chamber of the host basalts. The succession of fluid inclusions strongly points toward a fairly fast uprising upper mantle underneath Northern Patagonia. The petrology and mineral chemistry of the peridotitic xenoliths support this view. Extensive partial melting and loss of these melts is indicated by the preponderance of harzburgites in the upper mantle underneath Northern Patagonia, a fairly unusual feature for a continental upper mantle. That depletion event as well as several metasomatic events — including those which left traces of fluid inclusions — are possibly related to a high-speed diapiric uprise of the upper mantle in this area. The path can be traced from the garnet peridotite stability field into the middle crust, a journey which must have been unusually fast. Differences in rock, mineral, and fluid inclusion properties between geographic locations suggest a diffuse and differential type of diapirism. Future studies will hopefully help to map the full extent and the highs and lows of this diapir and elucidate questions related to its origin and future.

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Fluid-Einschlüsse in Erdmantel-Xenolithen von Nord-Patagonien: Evidenz für einen Diapir im oberen Erdmantel

Zusammenfassung Erdmantel - Xenolithe in Alkali-Basalten des Somoncure Massivs, Nord-Patagonien, Argentinien, führen drei Generationen von Fluid-Einschlüssen. Die erste (frühe, primäre) Generation besteht aus dichten CO₂-Einschlüssen, welche offenbar in der Mantel-Kruste Grenzzone (22–36 km Minimum-Tiefe) eingeschlossen wurden. CO₂-Einschlüsse sind kogenetisch mit Silikat-Schmelzeinschlüssen. Dies erlaubt die Abschätzung der Einschließ-Temperatur mit minimal 1200°C, was auf ein Hochtemperatur-Ereignis in einer deutlich kühleren Umgebung hinweist. Die späten (pseudosekundäre und sekundäre) CO₂- Fluid-Einschlüsse bilden zwei Generationen von denen die eine in die flüssige (L1), die andere in die Dampfphase (L2) homogenisieren. Die minimale Einschließ-Tiefe für die L1 Generation ist etwa 16 km. Dies bedeutet - auch bei Berücksichtigung der mit diesem Wert verbundenen Ungenauigkeit - daß diese Erdmantel-Gesteine einige Zeit in der mittleren Erdkruste verbrachten und ein metasomatisches Ereignis erlebten, bevor sie von den Basalten zur Erdoberfläche gebracht wurden. Die Tatsache, daß dieses Ereignis die frühen Einschlüsse nicht zerstörte, kann nur bedeuten, daß es von kurzer Dauer war. Die L2-Generation besteht aus Niedrigdruck CO₂-Einschlüssen mit einer Minimum-Einschließtiefe von nur 2 km. Dies könnte in einer seichten Magmakammer des Wirt Basaltes geschehen sein.Die Abfolge von Fluid-Einschlüssen deutet auf einen relativ schnell aufsteigenden oberen Erdmantel unterhalb von Patagonien hin. Die Petrologie und Mineralchemie der peridotitischen Xenolithe unterstützen das. Die Vorherrschaft von Harzburgiten im Erdmantel unterhalb von Nord-Patagonien deutet auf umfangreiche Bildung partieller Schmelzen und deren Abfuhr hin — eine für einen kontinentalen Mantel ungewöhnliche Situation. Sowohl die Verarmungsereignisse, als auch die metasomatischen Veränderungen (einschließlich jene, welche Spuren in Form von Fluid Einschlüssen hinterließen) machen das Vorhandensein eines schnell aufsteigenden Daipirs im oberen Erdmantel dieser Gegend wahrscheinlich. Der Aufstieg kann vom Stabilitätsbereich der Granat-Peridotite bis in die mittlere Kruste verfolgt werden und muß daher relativ schnell erfolgt sein. Unterschiede in Gesteins-, Mineral und Fluid-Eigenschaften zwischen verschiedenen Lokalitäten legen einen diffusen und differenziellen Diapirismus nahe. Zukünftige Studien sollten es ermöglichen, das Gesamtausmaß und die unterschiedlichen Aufstiegshöhen des Diapirs zu kartieren und Hinweise auf seine Entstehung und zukünftige Entwicklung zu erhalten.

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With 5 Figures     

Effects of forest roads on the hydrological response of a small‐scale mountain watershed in Greece

The effects of land use changes on the ecology and hydrology of natural watersheds have long been debated. However, less attention has been given to the hydrological effects of forest roads. Although less studied, several researchers have claimed that streamflow changes related to forest roads can cause a persistent and pervasive effect on hillslope hydrology and the functioning of the channel system. The main potential direct effects of forest roads on natural watersheds hydrologic response are runoff production on roads surfaces due to reduced infiltration rates, interruption of subsurface flow by road cutslopes and rapid transfer of the produced runoff to the stream network through roadside ditches. The aforementioned effects may significantly modify the total volume and timing of the hillslope flow to the stream network. This study uses detailed field data, spatial data, hydro‐meteorological records, as well as numerical simulation to investigate the effects of forest roads on the hydrological response of a small‐scale mountain experimental watershed, which is situated in the east side of Penteli Mountain, Attica, Greece. The results of this study highlight the possible effects of forest roads on the watersheds hydrological response that may significantly influence direct runoff depths and peak flow rates. It is demonstrated that these effects can be very important in permeable watersheds and that more emphasis should be given on the impact of roads on the watersheds hydrological response. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SEPARATION OF REGIONAL AND RESIDUAL ANOMALIES BY LEAST-SQUARES ORTHOGONAL POLYNOMIAL AND RELAXATION TECHNIQUES: A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION1

The performances of least-squares orthogonal polynomial and relaxation techniques in the separation of regional and residual anomalies have been evaluated with a view to minimizing personal biasing. The advantage of orthogonal over nonorthogonal polynomials is their ability to estimate an optimum order of polynomial to represent the predominant regional trend in the data using an approximate 2D difference table, the Z-matrix. The correlation coefficients between residuals of two consecutive orders also give the same result. In the relaxation technique, a linear trend is assumed within each cell of the mesh of a square grid. A set of such linear segments can approximate any complicated regional trend. The performances of these two techniques have been evaluated using simulated gravity anomalies produced by 2D and 3D complex regional structures superimposed on residual fields due to cylinders and prismatic bodies, as well as three field examples taken from the published literature. The analyses have revealed that the relaxation technique produces excellent results when an optimum polynomial order rather than an arbitrary fixed one is used for computing the boundary conditions along the periphery of the map. Analyses have revealed that such boundary conditions provide minimum distortion near the two ends of the profile.     

Multiple Enrichment Processes and their Relationships in the Subcrustal Lithosphere Beneath the Eifel (Germany)

Three types of enrichment processes may be distinguished inspinel peridotite mantle xenoliths from the West Eifel (Germany):

1. Enrichmentof light rare earth elements (LREE) occurs in wholerocks andclinopyroxenes in conjunction with the formation ofTi-pooramphiboles (<0•5%) in a low-tempetature suite(900C).
2. Enrichment in high field strength elements (HFSE; Ti and Hf)is associated with strong zoning of TiO₂ in amphibole adjacentto mica hornblendite veins. A reheating from 900 to 1050C associatedwith this vein formation is reflected by the zoning profilesin orthopyroxenes with Ca, Al, and Cr increasing from core torim.
3. Moderate enrichment of LREE without amphibole formationin ahigh-temperature suite (1125C) is observed at the contactofperidotites to pyroxenite veins yielding the same temperature.
4. Based on geochemical and isotopic evidence, enrichment process(1) is inferred to be due to interaction of peridotites fromthe subcrustal lithosphere with low-density fluids. Process(2) represents a subsequent interaction of amphibole-bearingperidotites formed during the first process with basic meltsmoving through a system of cross-cutting dykes and veins. Processes(2) and (3) are linked to the Quaternary West Eifel volcanism.Geothermobarometry of the xenoliths shows that these processesare related to different depth regimes of the lower lithosphere.

     

Depleted lithosphere from the mantle wedge beneath Tres Lagos, southern Patagonia, Argentina

Anhydrous spinel lherzolite and harzburgite xenoliths from Tres Lagos, situated inboard of the Volcanic Arc Gap (VAG) in southernmost Patagonia, are samples of a depleted lithospheric mantle and can be divided into two major groups: metasomatized and non-metasomatized. Metasomatized samples, which are the minority, are partly mylonitized and their metasomatism is related to this tectonic process. A group of non-metasomatized samples have enriched whole rock LREE-abundances that are not consistent with the depleted LREE-abundances in their clinopyroxenes. Intergranular host basalt infiltration could be responsible for the whole rock LREE enrichments. Their Sr- and Nd-isotopic ratios have also been affected by host basalt infiltration, whereas their high Sr-isotopic ratios point to subsequent contamination by ground-water and/or Ca-rich surface solutions. Similar contamination is thought to cause the decoupling of Sr- and Nd-isotopes (high Sr- and Nd-isotopic ratios) observed in the non-metasomatized samples with depleted whole rock LREE. A two-stage partial melting process could be responsible for the origin of the Tres Lagos xenoliths. Model calculations have shown that in the first stage, 2% of batch melting took place in the garnet peridotite field and subsequently the residue experienced 2–8% batch melting in the spinel peridotite field. The Tres Lagos peridotites have not been affected by subduction-related metasomatic processes and they could represent an old lithospheric mantle.     

陕西省略阳县杨家坝多金属矿区成矿作用地球化学示踪

本文以陕西省略阳县杨家坝多金属矿区为例,通过对该矿区岩(矿)石和各类脉体的岩相学、稀土和微量元素及流体包裹体地球化学示踪发现,多金属中重晶石的形成及硅化、碳酸盐化、滑石化、纤闪石化、绢云母化和绿泥石化和透闪石岩的含氟浅闪石及隐晶硅质玻璃和微晶硅质,这表明与成矿蚀变有关的热液流体是一种不同于一般地壳流体的富硅、钛、铁、碱质和挥发份,并具备熔体性质的成矿流体。各类样品的稀土元素配分模式明显富集LREE,在Ce、Eu、Yb异常的组合上也各具特征。LREE富集是地幔流体作用的显著特征之一;矿石和脉体的负Ce、正Eu和负Yb异常以及流体包裹体中H2O-C6H6成分,是高温还原地幔流体的重要标志;正Ce和负Eu异常的出现,以及Ce、Eu、Yb异常的减弱和消失则是壳幔混染叠加改造的显示。综合研究表明:矿区成矿过程可能统一受制于秦岭地区碰撞造山背景下具高温还原性质的地幔流体作用,且由此引发壳幔强烈混染的叠加改造作用在成矿过程中发挥了重要作用。     

EQUATIONS D'ONDE ET MODELES *

The method of finite differences is applied to the computation of multi-dimensional synthetic seismograms. This paper gives a study of the mathematical and numerical formulations of the problem, the boundary conditions, the convergence conditions and how to simulate the source in both one solid or a liquid. It is shown that the numerical formulation chosen is valid both for direct and inverse problems (i.e. for modeling and migration). This formulation makes it possible to use the normal incidence reflection coefficients for P and S waves, whether they travel horizontally or vertically. The examples shown have been chosen on purpose in order to be easily interpreted. They do not give a full idea of the possibilities of the algorithm which allows to consider non-planar interfaces, except close to the vertical axis.     

A NOTE ON THE INTERPRETATION OF MAGNETIC ANOMALIES OF INFINITE THIN SHEETS BY USING RELATION FIGURES*

The concept of relation figures is utilized in the case of a thin infinite sheet for identification and determination of the causative source geometry, and its various parameters. The plot of ?T versus ?V is a conic, the plots between the respective symmetric components and the respective asymmetric components are straight lines, and the resulting diagram between the first horizontal versus the first vertical derivative of either ?T or ?V is a cardioid. The authors are grateful to Shri V. Babu Rao and Dr R. K. Verma for their encouragement. They would like to thank the Director of the N. G. R. I. for permission to publish this paper. The neat drawing of Sri P. Sundara Rao is appreciated.