Commentary

This discussion on a report by Mascle and Mascle provides some information on the structure of the Apenninic orogenic belt. A number of structural scenarios can be recognized in the Apenninic fold belt; chaotic, melange-like, thrusted sheets are or are not associated with deeper compressional structures affecting coherent stratigraphic sequences at least as old as Trias. Variations and combinations of these structural frames cannot be simply summarized by a scheme, but can be used as basic category in a comparison of ocean ic-subduction complexes.     

About the specification of erosion flux for soft stratified cohesive sediments

The present paper deals with the specification of bed erosion flux that accounts for the effects of sediment-induced stratification in the water column. Owing to difficulties in measuring the bed shear stress _b and the erosive shear strength _s, we suggest a series of methods that combine laboratory and numerical experiments. A simplified turbulent transport model that includes these effects helps to quantify _b and _s. Focusing on soft stratified beds, the present study considers erosion rate formulas of the form =_f exp {[T_b-T_s]} where is a model constant (=1 for Gularte's (1978) formula and =1/2 for Parchure's (1984) formula). First, the bed erosive strength profile _s(Z) is adjusted by forcing the turbulent transport model with measured erosion rates. Second, three procedures are suggested to determine the erosion rate formula coefficients _f and : a global procedure and two different layer-by-layer procedures. Each procedure is applied to an erosion experiment conducted in a rotating annular flume by Villaret and Paulic (1986). The use of the layer-by-layer procedure based on a least squares fitting technique provides a closer fit than the global procedure. The present study points out the complementarity of experimental and numerical approaches and also suggests possible improvements in laboratory test procedures.     

3D numerical modelling of fluid flow in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district: major crustal shear zones drain fluids from overpressured vein fields

Fluid flow patterns have been determined using oxygen isotope isopleths in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district. 3D numerical modelling of fluid flow and oxygen isotope exchange in the vein field shows that the fluid flow patterns can be reproduced if the lower boundary of the model is permeable, which represents middle or lower crustal rocks that are infiltrated by a metamorphic fluid generated at deeper levels. This boundary condition implies that the major crustal faults so conspicuous in vein fields do not act as the only major channel for upward fluid flow. The upper model boundary is impermeable except along the trace of major crustal faults where fluids are allowed to drain out of the vein field. This upper impermeable boundary condition represents a low-permeability layer in the crust that separates the overpressured fluid from the overlying hydrostatic fluid pressure regime. We propose that the role of major crustal faults in overpressured vein fields, independent of tectonic setting, is to drain hydrothermal fluids out of the vein field along a breach across an impermeable layer higher in the crust and above the vein field. This breach is crucial to allow flow out of the vein field and accumulation of metals in the fractures, and this breach has major implications for exploration for mineral resources. We propose that tectonic events that cause episodic metamorphic dehydration create a short-lived pulse of metamorphic fluid to rise along zones of transient permeability. This results in a fluid wave that propagates upward carrying metals to the mineralized area. Earthquakes along crustal shear zones cause dilation near jogs that draw fluids and deposit metals in an interconnected network of subsidiary shear zones. Fluid flow is arrested by an impermeable barrier separating the hydrostatic and lithostatic fluid pressure regimes. Fluids flow through the evolving and interconnected network of shear zones and by advection through the rock matrix. Episodic breaches in the impermeable barrier along the crustal shear zones allow fluid flow out of the vein field.     

Mise au point d'un milieu de culture pour l'étude de l'altération de silicates en présence de Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The influence of microorganisms on mineral alteration is not easy to determine in environmental conditions, because of the difficulty to raise for comparison purposes an identical but abiotic system. Another problem in this context is the choice of reliable tracers to evaluate the alteration rate of materials during in vitro experiments. To face such difficulties, we elaborated a defined medium allowing both the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a precise measurement of the elements solubilized from the minerals. Thanks to this medium, we were able to quantitatively determine the amounts of major elements solubilized from the materials in the presence of bacterial growth, compared to a sterile system. Moreover, the analysis by ICP-MS of trace elements was possible after a chromatographic treatment, which selectively eliminated 99% of the sodium content of the medium. To cite this article: G. Aouad et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Chromite crystallization in a multicellular magma flow: Evidence from a chromitite dike in the Oman ophiolite

The investigated chromitite dike is located at the top of an upwelling mantle structure of the Oman ophiolite (Maqsad diapir), in undeformed dunites displaying evidence for magma impregnation and circulation, just below the paleo-ridge axis. The chromitite dike is undeformed, its shape is that of an upward widening tube. It exhibits an internal layering which is roughly perpendicular to the cavity axis and comprises a vertical succession of four main layers showing a graded-bedding. Chromitite magmatic structures are beautifully preserved and result from a progressive crystallization from small euhedral crystals to wide octahedron-shaped nodules; dissolution textures provide evidence for late magmatic desequilibrium; sedimentation structures include flattening of the largest nodules. The silicate matrix comprises poikilitic forsterite and a locally abundant association of primary pargasite and plagioclase and alteration minerals (vesuvianite-chlorite-dolomite); pargasite inclusions are very abundant in the chromite. Chromite composition changes from one layer to the other and from core to rim in the chromite nodules (chromium decreases and titanium increases); Ti contents are generally high (0.4 to 0.8 wt.% TiO₂) with respect to podiform chromites. Platinum-group elements are not abundant but they show a strong fractionation at the scale of the orebody and of the main graded-bedded layers (Pd/Ir ratio varies from 0.5 to 11.5). REE patterns of chromitite parallel to those of gabbros and furthermore display a sea water related hydrothermal alteration (Ce negative anomaly).

The chromitite dike of Maqsad provides evidence for the crystallization of chromitite bodies in subvertical magma conduits below oceanic ridges; it corroborates the model of Cassard et al. (1981) and Lago et al. (1982) concerning the formation of chromitite pods in ophiolites which were later deformed and transposed into the horizontal plane due to the plastic flow prevailing away from the paleo-axial zone. Layering and chromite compositional variations are ascribed to a multicellular convective system segregating various stocks of chromite particles either in the upwelling flow of fresh magma or in the convective cells of fractionated residual magma in the confined part of the cavity. The estimated life-time for the magma influx is very short (<2 months). The parent-magma was probably of MORB-type and already fractionated (Ti-rich and PGE-poor), which is consistent with the strong evidence of magma-peridotite interactions in the core of the Maqsad diapir. Hydrous fluids were present during chromite crystallization (pargasite inclusions) suggesting that fluid-rich melts occur in the upper mantle.     

Efficient propagation of error covariance matrices of gravitational models: application to GRACE and GOCE

We have applied efficient methods for computing variances and covariances of functions of a global gravity field model expanded in spherical harmonics, using the full variance–covariance matrix of the coefficients. Examples are given with recent models derived from GRACE (up to degree and order 150), and with simulated GOCE derived solutions (up to degree and order 200).     

Etude expérimentale du comportement de l'uranium dans les magmas: États d'oxydation et coordinance

Depending upon oxygen fugacity, uranium exists in three different oxidation states in magmatic silicate liquids. The hexavalent state, present as the uranyl group, UO²⁺₂, is stable under highly oxidizing conditions, but can still be detected in the presence of the NiNiO buffer. Under the same conditions the pentavalent state forms about 30–40% of total uranium and is also characteristic of relatively high oxygen fugacities. Optical absorption spectra obtained on granitic and basaltic glasses synthesized in the presence of the NiNiO buffer are very different: this is interpreted as being due to the presence of UO⁺₂ complexes in the former and 6-coordinated U(V) in the latter. The tetravalent state is the most stable under reducing conditions: at the FeFeO buffer, it is the only one present. An 8-coordinated U(IV) species seems the most probable, by comparison of the spectra with those of crystallized U(IV) compounds. The trivalent state was not detected, even under the most reducing conditions. Interpretation of the spectra obtained in the glasses in terms of coordination and bonding is however difficult, due to the lack of knowledge of 5f-systems in iono-covalent systems such as oxide glasses. The presence of the pentavalent state must be taken into account in discussing partition coefficients of uranium and trans-uranium compounds in natural and synthetic systems (because of the effect of oxygen fugacity and oxide ion activity on the U(IV) U(V) system). During postmagmatic hydrothermal processes U(V) is destroyed, resulting in the early precipitation of U(IV) containing minerals and possible migration of uranyl ions.     

喜马拉雅山北部地区的地壳结构模型和速度分布特征

本文根据1981年西藏南部喜马拉雅地区的人工地震测深资料进行了震相对比,分辨出t1、t2、t3、t4、t5和t6六组地壳中和莫霍界面的反射波,并用理论走时曲线、绘制速度曲线图、射线跟踪和综合地震图等方法得到了主测线（PP）上各地段的地壳结构模型。初步结果表明,该地区地壳西段较薄（约73公里）,东段稍厚（约77公里）,平均总厚度约为75公里。地壳的平均P波速度约为6.2—6.3公里/秒。 地壳为高低速相间的多层结构。在中上部有一低速层,其厚度为数公里,速度为5.6—5.7公里/秒,与上层速度差为0.5—0.6公里/秒。低速层在测线东段比较肯定,在西段则不甚明显。结合藏南定日、岗巴一线有强烈水热活动的事实,低速层的存在可能意味着地壳中存在部分熔融的高温物质。下部地壳的速度为6.7—6.8公里/秒,且比较均匀。从莫霍面反射波的特征来看,在紧靠其上方可能有一个速度反转带,其厚度亦为数公里。上部地壳的结构在横向上有较大的差异,这说明在地质历史上,西藏特提斯带曾经历过强烈的地壳变动。     

Sites occupancy of Fe3+ in Garfield Nontronite: A spectroscopic study

New data on the structure of Garfield nontronite have been produced by the use of different spectroscopic techniques: Mössbauer spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy, X-ray absorption edges and EXAFS and NMR. The tetrahedral iron content is found to be no higher than 1 percent. All iron atoms belong to the octahedral sheet excluding the possibility of the presence of non crystallized phases. Some ambiguities remain about the coherence of the octahedral sheet because of the presence of two doublets in the Mössbauer spectrum and at least two lineshapes in NMR spectra of OH which correspond to different environments.     

Sedimentary organic matter distributions,burrowing activity,and biogeochemical cycling: Natural patterns and experimental artifacts

The coupling between biogenic reworking activity and reactive organic matter patterns within deposits is poorly understood and often ignored. In this study, we examined how common experimental treatments of sediment affect the burrowing behavior of the polychaete Nephtys incisa and how these effects may interact with reactive organic matter distributions to alter diagenetic transport – reaction balances. Sediment and animals were recovered from a subtidal site in central Long Island Sound, USA. The upper 15 cm of the sediment was sectioned into sub-intervals, and each interval separately sieved and homogenized. Three initial distributions of sediment and organic substrate reactivity were setup in a series of microcosms: (1) a reconstituted natural pattern with surface-derived sediment overlying sediment obtained from progressively deeper material to a depth of 15 cm (Natural); (2) a 15 cm thick sediment layer composed only of surface-derived sediment (Rich); and (3) a 15 cm thick layer composed of uniformally mixed sediment from the original 15 cm sediment profile (Averaged). The two last treatments are comparable to that used in microcosms in many previous studies of bioturbation and interspecific functional interaction experiments. Sediment grain size distributions were 97.5% silt-clay and showed no depth dependent patterns. Sediment porosity gradients were slightly altered by the treatments. Nepthys were reintroduced and aquariums were X-rayed regularly over 5 months to visualize and quantify spatial and temporal dynamics of burrows. The burrowing behaviour of adult populations having similar total biovolume, biomass, abundance, and individual sizes differed substantially as a function of treatment. Burrows in sediment with natural property gradients were much shallower and less dense than those in microcosms with altered gradients. The burrow volume/biovolume ratio was also lower in the substrate with natural organic reactivity gradients. Variation in food resources or in sediment mechanical properties associated with treatments, the latter in part coupled to remineralization processes such as exopolymer production, may explain the burrowing responses. In addition to demonstrating how species may respond to physical sedimentation events (substrate homogenization) and patterns of reactive organic matter redistribution, these experiments suggest that infaunal species interactions in microcosms, including the absolute and relative fluxes of remineralized solutes, may be subject to artifacts depending on exactly how sediments are introduced experimentally. Nonlocal transport and cylinder microenvironment transport – reaction models readily demonstrate how the multiple interactions between burrowing patterns and remineralization rate distributions can alter relative flux balances, decomposition pathways, and time to steady state.