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Shear Zones (shear + zone)
Kinds of Shear Zones Selected AbstractsPrehistoric gold markers and environmental change: A two-age system for standing stones in western IrelandGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2006K.R. Moore The Murrisk Peninsula in southwest County Mayo is a major target for gold exploration in Ireland. The most productive areas include the Cregganbaun Shear Zone and Cregganbaun Quartzite Belt on Croagh Patrick, both geologically related to Iapetus closure, and gold is concentrated in alluvial deposits of river systems draining these areas. A comparison of gold occurrences with the location of prehistoric stone monuments reveals that simple standing-stone monuments, though isolated from other monument types, correlate with alluvial gold. South of the Murrisk Peninsula in Connemara, isolated standing stones are associated with a wide range of mineral resources and with other monuments. Dating of the stones relative to blanket-bog expansion and coastal landform changes indicates that standing stones were raised as markers of gold placer deposits before a climatic deterioration at 1200 B.C. Late Bronze Age monuments with a ceremonial purpose are more complex and include stone alignments. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Three-dimensional models of elastostatic deformation in heterogeneous media, with applications to the Eastern California Shear ZoneGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2009Sylvain Barbot SUMMARY We present a semi-analytic iterative procedure for evaluating the 3-D deformation due to faults in an arbitrarily heterogeneous elastic half-space. Spatially variable elastic properties are modelled with equivalent body forces and equivalent surface traction in a ,homogenized' elastic medium. The displacement field is obtained in the Fourier domain using a semi-analytic Green function. We apply this model to investigate the response of 3-D compliant zones (CZ) around major crustal faults to coseismic stressing by nearby earthquakes. We constrain the two elastic moduli, as well as the geometry of the fault zones by comparing the model predictions to Synthetic Aperture Radar inferferometric (InSAR) data. Our results confirm that the CZ models for the Rodman, Calico and Pinto Mountain faults in the Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ) can explain the coseismic InSAR data from both the Landers and the Hector Mine earthquakes. For the Pinto Mountain fault zone, InSAR data suggest a 50 per cent reduction in effective shear modulus and no significant change in Poisson's ratio compared to the ambient crust. The large wavelength of coseismic line-of-sight displacements around the Pinto Mountain fault requires a fairly wide (,1.9 km) CZ extending to a depth of at least 9 km. Best fit for the Calico CZ, north of Galway Dry Lake, is obtained for a 4 km deep structure, with a 60 per cent reduction in shear modulus, with no change in Poisson's ratio. We find that the required effective rigidity of the Calico fault zone south of Galway Dry Lake is not as low as that of the northern segment, suggesting along-strike variations of effective elastic moduli within the same fault zone. The ECSZ InSAR data is best explained by CZ models with reduction in both shear and bulk moduli. These observations suggest pervasive and widespread damage around active crustal faults. [source] Granulite facies thermal aureoles and metastable amphibolite facies assemblages adjacent to the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss in southwest Fiordland, New ZealandJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 5 2009A. H. ALLIBONE Abstract In southwest New Zealand, a suite of felsic diorite intrusions known as the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss (WFO) were emplaced into the mid to deep crust and partially recrystallized to high- P (12 kbar) granulite facies assemblages. This study focuses on the southern most pluton within the WFO suite (Malaspina Pluton) between Doubtful and Dusky sounds. New mapping shows intrusive contacts between the Malaspina Pluton and adjacent Palaeozoic metasedimentary country rocks with a thermal aureole ,200,1000 m wide adjacent to the Malaspina Pluton in the surrounding rocks. Thermobarometry on assemblages in the aureole indicates that the Malaspina Pluton intruded the adjacent amphibolite facies rocks while they were at depths of 10,14 kbar. Similar P,T conditions are recorded in high- P granulite facies assemblages developed locally throughout the Malaspina Pluton. Palaeozoic rocks more than ,200,1000 m from the Malaspina Pluton retain medium -P mid-amphibolite facies assemblages, despite having been subjected to pressures of 10,14 kbar for > 5 Myr. These observations contradict previous interpretations of the WFO Malaspina Pluton as the lower plate of a metamorphic core complex, everywhere separated from the metasedimentary rocks by a regional-scale extensional shear zone (Doubtful Sound Shear Zone). Slow reaction kinetics, lack of available H2O, lack of widespread penetrative deformation, and cooling of the Malaspina Pluton thermal anomaly within c. 3,4 Myr likely prevented recrystallization of mid amphibolite facies assemblages outside the thermal aureole. If not for the evidence within the thermal aureole, there would be little to suggest that gneissic rocks which underlie several 100 km2 of southwest New Zealand had experienced metamorphic pressures of 10,14 kbar. Similar high- P metamorphic events may therefore be more common than presently recognized. [source] A comparative U,Th,Pb (zircon,monazite) and 40Ar,39Ar (muscovite,biotite) study of shear zones in northern Victoria Land (Antarctica): implications for geochronology and localized reworking of the Ross OrogenJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 6 2007G. DI VINCENZO Abstract Mylonitic granites from two shear zones in northern Victoria Land (Antarctica) were investigated in order to examine the behaviour of the U,Th,Pb system in zircon and monazite and of the 40Ar,39Ar system in micas during ductile deformation. Meso- and micro-structural data indicate that shear zones gently dip to the NE and SW, have an opposite sense of shear (top-to-the-SW and -NE, respectively) and developed under upper greenschist facies conditions. In situ U,Pb dating by laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry of zircon areas with well-preserved igneous zoning patterns (c. 490 Ma) confirm that granites were emplaced during the Early Cambrian to Early Ordovician Ross,Delamerian Orogeny. Monazite from the Bier Point Shear Zone (BPSZ) mainly yielded U,Th,Pb ages of c. 440 Ma, in agreement with in-situ Ar laserprobe ages of syn-shear muscovite and with most Ar ages of coexisting biotite. The agreement of ages derived from different decay schemes and from minerals with different crystal-chemical features suggests that isotope transport in the studied sample was mainly controlled by (re)crystallization processes and that the main episode of ductile deformation in the BPSZ occurred at c. 440 Ma. Cathodoluminscence imaging showed that zircon from the BPSZ contains decomposed areas with faint relics of oscillatory zoning. These areas yielded a U,Pb age pattern which mimics that of monazite but is slightly shifted towards older ages, supporting previous studies which suggest that ,ghost' structures may be affected by inheritance. In contrast, secondary structures in zircon from the Mt. Emison Shear Zone (MESZ) predominantly consist of overgrowths or totally recrystallized areas and gave U,Pb ages of c. 450 and 410 Ma. The c. 450-Ma date matches within errors most monazite U,Th,Pb ages and in-situ Ar ages on biotite aligned along the mylonitic foliation. This again suggests that isotope ages from the different minerals are (re)crystallization ages and constrains the time of shearing in the MESZ to the Late Ordovician. Regionally, results indicate that shear zones were active in the Late Ordovician,Early Silurian and that their development was partially synchronous at c. 440 Ma, suggesting that they belong to a shear-zone system formed in response to ,NE,SW-directed shortening. Taking into account the former juxtaposition of northern Victoria Land and SE Australia, we propose that shear zones represent reactivated zones formed in response to stress applied along the new plate margin as a consequence of contractional tectonics associated with the early stages (Benambran Orogeny) of the development of the Late Ordovician,Late Devonian Lachlan Fold Belt. [source] Timing and nature of fluid flow and alteration during Mesoproterozoic shear zone formation, Olary Domain, South AustraliaJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 3 2005C. CLARK Abstract The development of shear zones at mid-crustal levels in the Proterozoic Willyama Supergroup was synchronous with widespread fluid flow resulting in albitization and calcsilicate alteration. Monazite dating of shear zone fabrics reveal that they formed at 1582 ± 22 Ma, at the end of the Olarian D3 deformational event and immediately prior to the emplacement of regional S-type granites. Two stages of fluid flow are identified in the area: first an albitizing event which involved the addition of Na and loss of Si, K and Fe; and a second phase of calcsilicate alteration with additions of Ca, Fe, Mg and Si and removal of Na. Fluid fluxes calculated for albitization and calcsilicate alteration were 5.56 × 109 to 1.02 × 1010 mol m,2 and 2.57 × 108,5.20 × 109 mol m,2 respectively. These fluxes are consistent with estimates for fluid flow through mid-crustal shear zones in other terranes. The fluids associated with shearing and alteration are calculated to have ,18O and ,D values ranging between +8 and +11,, and ,33 and ,42,, respectively, and ,Nd values between ,2.24 and ,8.11. Our results indicate that fluids were derived from metamorphic dehydration of the Willyama Supergroup metasediments. Fluid generation occurred during prograde metamorphism of deeper crustal rocks at or near peak pressure conditions. Shear zones acted as conduits for major crustal fluid flow to shallow levels where peak metamorphic conditions had been attained earlier leading to the apparent ,retrograde' fluid-flow event. Thus, the peak metamorphism conditions at upper and lower crustal levels were achieved at differing times, prior to regional granite formation, during the same orogenic cycle leading to the formation of retrograde mineral assemblages during shearing. [source] The influence of pool length on local turbulence production and energy slope: a flume experimentEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 11 2004Douglas M. Thompson Abstract The in,uence of pool length on the strength of turbulence generated by vortex shedding was investigated in a 6 m long recirculating ,ume. The experiment utilized a 38% constriction of ,ow and an average channel-bed slope of 0·007. The base geometry for the intermediate-length pool experiment originated from a highly simpli,ed, 0·10 scale model of a forced pool from North Saint Vrain Creek, Colorado. Discharge in the ,ume was 31·6 l/s, which corresponds to a discharge in the prototype channel of 10 m3/s. Three shorter and four longer pool lengths also were created with a ,xed bed to determine changes in turbulence intensities and energy slope with pool elongation. Three-dimensional velocities were measured with an acoustic Doppler velocimeter at 31,40 different 0·6-depth and near-bed locations downstream of the rectangular constriction. The average velocity and root mean square (RMS) of the absolute magnitude of velocity at both depths are signi,cantly related to the distance from the constriction in most pool locations downstream of the constriction. In many locations, pool elongation results in a non-linear change in turbulence intensities and average velocity. Based on the overall ,ow pattern, the strongest turbulence occurs in the center of the pool along the shear zone between the jet and recirculating eddy. The lateral location of this shear zone is sensitive to changes in pool length. Energy slope also was sensitive to pool length due to a combination of greater length of the pool and greater head loss with shorter pools. The results indicate some form of hydraulic optimization is possible with pools adjusting their length to adjust the location and strength of turbulent intensities in the center of pools, and lower their rate of energy dissipation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Flow velocities of active rock glaciers in the Austrian AlpsGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2006Karl Krainer ABSTRACT. High surface flow velocities of up to 3 m a,1 were measured near the front of three active rock glaciers in the western Stubai Alps (Rei-chenkar) and Ötztal Alps (Kaiserberg and Ölgrube) in Tyrol (Austria) using differential GPS technology. Flow velocities have increased since about 1990. The highest velocities were recorded in 2003 and 2004, but showed a slight decrease in 2005. At the Reichenkar rock glacier, flow rates are constant throughout the year, indicating that meltwater has no significant influence on the flow mechanism. At Ölgrube rock glacier, flow velocities vary seasonally with considerably higher velocities during the melt season. Meltwater is likely to influence the flow of Ölgrube rock glacier as evident by several springs near the base of the steep front. Because the high surface velocities cannot be explained by internal deformation alone on Reichenkar rock glacier, we assume that horizontal deformation must also occur along a well defined shear zone within a water-saturated, fine-grained layer at the base of the frozen body. The increased surface flow velocities since about 1990 are probably caused by slightly increased ice temperature and greater amounts of meltwater discharge during the summer, a product of global warming. [source] On the use of dislocations to model interseismic strain and stress build-up at intracontinental thrust faultsGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2001J. Vergne Summary Creeping dislocations in an elastic half-space are commonly used to model interseismic deformation at subduction zones, and might also apply to major intracontinental thrust faults such as the Main Himalayan Thrust. Here, we compare such models with a more realistic 2-D finite element model that accounts for the mechanical layering of the continental lithosphere and surface processes, and that was found to fit all available constraints on interseismic and long-term surface displacements. These can also be fitted satisfactorily from dislocation models. The conventional back-slip model, commonly used for subduction zones, may, however, lead to a biased inference about the geometry of the locked portion of the thrust fault. We therefore favour the use of a creeping buried dislocation that simulates the ductile shear zone in the lower crust. A limitation of dislocation models is that the mechanical response of the lithosphere to the growth of the topography by bending of the elastic cores and ductile flow in the lower crust cannot be easily introduced. Fortunately these effects can be neglected because we may assume, to first order, a stationary topography. Moreover, we show that not only can dislocation models be used to adjust surface displacements but, with some caution, they can also provide a physically sound rationale to interpret interseismic microseismicity in terms of stress variations. [source] Hydraulic pathways in the crystalline rock of the KTBGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2000Günter Zimmermann Fracture systems and fluid pathways must be analysed in order to understand the dynamical processes in the upper crust. Various deterministic as well as stochastic fracture networks in the depth section of the Franconian Lineament (6900 to 7140 m), which appears as a brittle ductile shear zone and prominent seismic reflector, were modelled to simulate the hydraulic situation at the two boreholes of the Continental Deep Drilling Program (KTB). They led to estimations of the hydraulic permeability in crystalline rock. The geometrical parameters of the fractures, such as fracture locations and orientations, were determined from structural borehole measurements, which create an image of the borehole wall. The selection of potentially open fractures was decided according to the stress field. Only fractures with the dip direction (azimuth) of the fracture plane perpendicular to the maximum horizontal stress field were assumed to be open. The motivation for this assumption is the fact that the maximum horizontal stress is higher than the vertical stress from the formation, indicating that the state of stress is a strike-slip faulting. Therefore, the probability of open fractures due to this particular stress field at the KTB sites is enhanced. Length scales for fracture apertures and extensions were stochastically varied and calibrated by hydraulic experiments. The mean fracture aperture was estimated to be 25 ,m, assuming an exponential distribution, with corresponding permeability in the range of 10,16 m2. Similar results were also obtained for log-normal and normal distributions, with a variation of permeability of the order of a factor of 2. The influence of the fracture length on permeability of the stochastic networks was also studied. Decreasing the fracture length beyond a specific threshold of 10 m led to networks with vanishing connectivity and hence vanishing permeability. Therefore, we assume a mean fracture length exceeding the threshold of 10 m as a necessary assumption for a macroscopic hydraulically active fracture system at the KTB site. The calculated porosity due to the fracture network is of the order of 10,3 per cent, which at first sight contradicts the estimated matrix porosity of 1 to 2 per cent from borehole measurements and core measurements. It can be concluded from these results, however, that if the fluid transport is due to a macroscopic fracture system, only very low porosity is needed for hydraulic flow with permeabilities up to several 10,16 m2, and hence the contribution of matrix porosity to the hydraulic transport is of a subordinate nature. [source] Non-uniqueness with refraction inversion , the Mt Bulga shear zoneGEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 4 2010Derecke Palmer ABSTRACT The tau-p inversion algorithm is widely employed to generate starting models with many computer programs that implement refraction tomography. However, this algorithm can frequently fail to detect even major lateral variations in seismic velocities, such as a 50 m wide shear zone, which is the subject of this study. By contrast, the shear zone is successfully defined with the inversion algorithms of the generalized reciprocal method. The shear zone is confirmed with a 2D analysis of the head wave amplitudes, a spectral analysis of the refraction convolution section and with numerous closely spaced orthogonal seismic profiles recorded for a later 3D refraction investigation. Further improvements in resolution, which facilitate the recognition of additional zones with moderate reductions in seismic velocity, are achieved with a novel application of the Hilbert transform to the refractor velocity analysis algorithm. However, the improved resolution also requires the use of a lower average vertical seismic velocity, which accommodates a velocity reversal in the weathering. The lower seismic velocity is derived with the generalized reciprocal method, whereas most refraction tomography programs assume vertical velocity gradients as the default. Although all of the tomograms are consistent with the traveltime data, the resolution of each tomogram is comparable only with that of the starting model. Therefore, it is essential to employ inversion algorithms that can generate detailed starting models, where detailed lateral resolution is the objective. Non-uniqueness can often be readily resolved with head wave amplitudes, attribute processing of the refraction convolution section and additional seismic traverses, prior to the acquisition of any borehole data. It is concluded that, unless specific measures are taken to address non-uniqueness, the production of a single refraction tomogram that fits the traveltime data to sufficient accuracy does not necessarily demonstrate that the result is either correct, or even the most probable. [source] Numerical studies of shear banding in interface shear tests using a new strain calculation method,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 12 2007Jianfeng Wang Abstract Strain localization is closely associated with the stress,strain behaviour of an interphase system subject to quasi-static direct interface shear, especially after peak stress state is reached. This behaviour is important because it is closely related to deformations experienced by geotechnical composite structures. This paper presents a study using two-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) simulations on the strain localization of an idealized interphase system composed of densely packed spherical particles in contact with rough manufactured surfaces. The manufactured surface is made up of regular or irregular triangular asperities with varying slopes. A new simple method of strain calculation is used in this study to generate strain field inside a simulated direct interface shear box. This method accounts for particle rotation and captures strain localization features at high resolution. Results show that strain localization begins with the onset of non-linear stress,strain behaviour. A distinct but discontinuous shear band emerges above the rough surface just before the peak stress state, which becomes more expansive and coherent with post-peak strain softening. It is found that the shear bands developed by surfaces with smaller roughness are much thinner than those developed by surfaces with greater roughness. The maximum thickness of the intense shear zone is observed to be about 8,10 median particle diameters. The shear band orientations, which are mainly dominated by the rough boundary surface, are parallel with the zero extension direction, which are horizontally oriented. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Granulite facies thermal aureoles and metastable amphibolite facies assemblages adjacent to the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss in southwest Fiordland, New ZealandJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 5 2009A. H. ALLIBONE Abstract In southwest New Zealand, a suite of felsic diorite intrusions known as the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss (WFO) were emplaced into the mid to deep crust and partially recrystallized to high- P (12 kbar) granulite facies assemblages. This study focuses on the southern most pluton within the WFO suite (Malaspina Pluton) between Doubtful and Dusky sounds. New mapping shows intrusive contacts between the Malaspina Pluton and adjacent Palaeozoic metasedimentary country rocks with a thermal aureole ,200,1000 m wide adjacent to the Malaspina Pluton in the surrounding rocks. Thermobarometry on assemblages in the aureole indicates that the Malaspina Pluton intruded the adjacent amphibolite facies rocks while they were at depths of 10,14 kbar. Similar P,T conditions are recorded in high- P granulite facies assemblages developed locally throughout the Malaspina Pluton. Palaeozoic rocks more than ,200,1000 m from the Malaspina Pluton retain medium -P mid-amphibolite facies assemblages, despite having been subjected to pressures of 10,14 kbar for > 5 Myr. These observations contradict previous interpretations of the WFO Malaspina Pluton as the lower plate of a metamorphic core complex, everywhere separated from the metasedimentary rocks by a regional-scale extensional shear zone (Doubtful Sound Shear Zone). Slow reaction kinetics, lack of available H2O, lack of widespread penetrative deformation, and cooling of the Malaspina Pluton thermal anomaly within c. 3,4 Myr likely prevented recrystallization of mid amphibolite facies assemblages outside the thermal aureole. If not for the evidence within the thermal aureole, there would be little to suggest that gneissic rocks which underlie several 100 km2 of southwest New Zealand had experienced metamorphic pressures of 10,14 kbar. Similar high- P metamorphic events may therefore be more common than presently recognized. [source] Petrology of corundum-spinel-sapphirine-anorthite rocks (sakenites) from the type locality in southern MadagascarJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 6 2008M. M. RAITH Abstract ,Sakenites' constitute a unique association of corundum-, spinel- and sapphirine-bearing anorthitic to phlogopitic rocks, first described in rocks from an exposure along the beds of the Sakena river to the NW of Ihosy, south Madagascar. The exposure has been revisited and subjected to a detailed petrological and geochemical study. The aluminous anorthitic rocks occur as boudinaged bands and lenses, closely associated with corundum-, spinel- and sapphirine-bearing phlogopitites, diverse calcsilicate rocks and marbles within a series of biotite-sillimanite-cordierite gneisses of the Ihosy granulite unit in the NW of the Pan-African Bongolava-Ranotsara shear zone. Bimineralic anorthite + corundum domains preserve the earliest record of a polyphasic evolutionary history that includes two distinct metasomatic episodes. Probable protoliths of these bimineralic rocks were kaolinite-rich sediments or calcareous bauxites that were altered by Ca or Si infiltration-metasomatism prior to or coeval with the development of the anorthite-corundum assemblage. P,T pseudosection modelling of metapelitic gneisses suggests peak-conditions around 800 °C and 6,7 kbar for the regional high-grade metamorphism and deformation in the NW part of the Bongolava-Ranotsara shear zone. The well-annealed granoblastic-polygonal textures indicate complete chemical and textural re-equilibration of the foliated bimineralic rocks during this event. Subsequently, at somewhat lower P,T conditions (750,700 °C, 6 kbar), the influx of Mg-, Si- and K-bearing fluids into the anorthite-corundum rocks caused significant metasomatic changes. In zones infiltrated by ,primary' potassic fluids, the bimineralic assemblage was completely replaced by phlogopite and Mg-Al minerals, thereby producing corundum-, spinel- and sapphirine-bearing phlogopitites. Further advance of the resulting ,residual' Mg- and Si-bearing fluids into anorthite-corundum domains led to partial to complete replacement of corundum porphyroblasts by spinel, spinel + sapphirine or sapphirine, depending on the activities of the solutes. The static textures developed during this second metasomatic episode suggest fluid influx subsequent to intense ductile deformation in the Bongolava-Ranotsara ductile shear zone c. 530,500 Ma ago. [source] Nucleation and growth of myrmekite during ductile shear deformation in metagranitesJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 7 2006L. MENEGON Abstract Myrmekite is extensively developed along strain gradients of continuous, lower amphibolite facies shear zones in metagranites of the Gran Paradiso unit (Western Alps). To evaluate the role of stress, strain energy and fluid phase in the formation of myrmekite, we studied a sample suite consisting of weakly deformed porphyric granites (WDGs), foliated granites (FGs) representative of intermediate strains, and mylonitic granites (MGs). In the protolith, most K-feldspar is microcline with different sets of perthite lamellae and fractures. In the WDGs, abundant quartz-oligoclase myrmekite developed inside K-feldspar only along preexisting perthite lamellae and fractures oriented at a high angle to the incremental shortening direction. In the WDGs, stress played a direct role in the nucleation of myrmekites along interfaces already characterized by high stored elastic strain because of lattice mismatch between K-feldspar and albite. In the FGs and MGs, K-feldspar was progressively dismembered along the growing network of microshear zones exploiting the fine-grained recrystallized myrmekite and perthite aggregates. This was accompanied by a more pervasive fluid influx into the reaction surfaces, and myrmekite occurs more or less pervasively along all the differently oriented internal perthites and fractures independently of the kinematic framework of the shear zone. In the MGs, myrmekite forms complete rims along the outer boundary of the small K-feldspar porphyroclasts, which are almost completely free of internal reaction interfaces. Therefore, we infer that the role of fluid in the nucleation of myrmekite became increasingly important as deformation progressed and outweighed that of stress. Mass balance calculations indicate that, in Al,Si-conservative conditions, myrmekite growth was associated with a volume loss of 8.5%. This resulted in microporosity within myrmekite that enhanced the diffusion of chemical components to the reaction sites and hence the further development of myrmekite. [source] Up-temperature flow of surface-derived fluids in the mid-crust: the role of pre-orogenic burial of hydrated fault rocksJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 5 2006C. CLARK Abstract The Walter-Outalpa shear zone in the southern Curnamona Province of NE South Australia is an example of a shear zone that has undergone intensely focused fluid flow and alteration at mid-crustal depths. Results from this study have demonstrated that the intense deformation and ductile shear zone reactivation, at amphibolite facies conditions of 534 ± 20 °C and 500 ± 82 MPa, that overprint the Proterozoic Willyama Supergroup occurred during the Delamerian Orogeny (c. 500 Ma) (EPMA monazite ages of 501 ± 16 and 491 ± 19 Ma). This is in contrast to the general belief that the majority of basement deformation and alteration in the southern Curnamona Province occurred during the waning stages of the Olarian Orogeny (c. 1610,1580 Ma). These shear zones contain hydrous mineral assemblages that cut wall rocks that have experienced amphibolite facies metamorphism during the Olarian Orogeny. The shear zone rock volumes have much lower ,18O values (as low as 1,) than their unsheared counterparts (7,9,), and calculated fluid ,18O values (5,8,) consistent with a surface-derived fluid source. Hydrous minerals show a decrease in ,D(H2O) from ,14 to ,22,, for minerals outside the shear zones, to ,28 to ,40,, for minerals within the shear zones consistent with a contribution from a meteoric source. It is unclear how near-surface fluids initially under hydrostatic pressure penetrate into the middle crust where fluid pressures approach lithostatic, and where fluid flow is expected to be dominantly upward because of pressure gradients. We propose a mechanism whereby faulting during basin formation associated with the Adelaidean Rift Complex (c. 700 Ma) created broad hydrous zones containing mineral assemblages in equilibrium with surface waters. These panels of fault rock were subsequently buried to depths where the onset of metamorphism begins to dehydrate the fault rock volumes evolving a low ,18O fluid that is channelled through shear zones related to Delamerian Orogenic activity. [source] Dating metamorphic reactions and fluid flow: application to exhumation of high- P granulites in a crustal-scale shear zone, western Canadian ShieldJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 3 2006K. H. MAHAN Abstract The Legs Lake shear zone is a crustal-scale thrust fault system in the western Canadian Shield that juxtaposes high-pressure (1.0+ GPa) granulite facies rocks against shallow crustal (< 0.5 GPa) amphibolite facies rocks. Hangingwall decompression is characterized by breakdown of the peak assemblage Grt + Sil + Kfs + Pl + Qtz into the assemblage Grt + Crd + Bt ± Sil + Pl + Qtz. Similar felsic granulite occurs throughout the region, but retrograde cordierite is restricted to the immediate hangingwall of the shear zone. Textural observations, petrological analysis using P,T/P,MH2O phase diagram sections, and in situ electron microprobe monazite geochronology suggest that decompression from peak conditions of 1.1 GPa, c. 800 °C involved several distinct stages under first dry and then hydrated conditions. Retrograde re-equilibration occurred at 0.5,0.4 GPa, 550,650 °C. Morphology, X-ray maps, and microprobe dates indicate several distinct monazite generations. Populations 1 and 2 are relatively high yttrium (Y) monazite that grew at 2.55,2.50 Ga and correspond to an early granulite facies event. Population 3 represents episodic growth of low Y monazite between 2.50 and 2.15 Ga whose general significance is still unclear. Population 4 reflects low Y monazite growth at 1.9 Ga, which corresponds to the youngest period of high-pressure metamorphism. Finally, population 5 is restricted to the hydrous retrograded granulite and represents high Y monazite growth at 1.85 Ga that is linked directly to the synkinematic garnet-consuming hydration reaction (KFMASH): Grt + Kfs + H2O = Bt + Sil + Qtz. Two samples yield weighted mean microprobe dates for this population of 1853 ± 15 and 1851 ± 9 Ma, respectively. Subsequent xenotime growth correlates with the reaction: Grt + Sil + Qtz + H2O = Crd. We suggest that the shear zone acted as a channel for fluid produced by dehydration of metasediments in the underthrust domain. [source] Deformation-enhanced metamorphic reactions and the rheology of high-pressure shear zones, Western Gneiss Region, NorwayJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 1 2006M. P. TERRY Abstract Microstructural and petrological analysis of samples with increasing strain in high-pressure (HP) shear zones from the Haram garnet corona gabbro give insights into the deformation mechanisms of minerals, rheological properties of the shear zone and the role of deformation in enhancing metamorphic reactions. Scanning electron microscopy with electron backscattering diffraction (SEM,EBSD), compositional mapping and petrographic analysis were used to evaluate the nature of deformation in both reactants and products associated with eclogitization. Plagioclase with a shape-preferred orientation that occurs in the interior part of layers in the mylonitic sample deformed by intracrystalline glide on the (0 0 1)[1 0 0] slip system. In omphacite, crystallographic preferred orientations indicate slip on (1 0 0)[0 0 1] and (1 1 0)[0 0 1] during deformation. Fine-grained garnet deformed by diffusion creep and grain-boundary sliding. Ilmenite deformed by dislocation glide on the basal and, at higher strains, prism planes in the a direction. Relationships among the minerals present and petrological analysis indicate that deformation and metamorphism in the shear zones began at 500,650 °C and 0.5,1.4 GPa and continued during prograde metamorphism to ultra-high-pressure (UHP) conditions. Both products and reactants show evidence of syn- and post-kinematic growth indicating that prograde reactions continued after strain was partitioned away. The restriction of post-kinematic growth to narrow regions at the interface of garnet and plagioclase and preservation of earlier syn-kinematic microstructures in older parts layers that were involved in reactions during deformation show that diffusion distances were significantly shortened when strain was partitioned away, demonstrating that deformation played an important role in enhancing metamorphic reactions. Two important consequences of deformation observed in these shear zones are: (i) the homogenization of chemical composition gradients occurred by mixing and grain-boundary migration and (ii) composition changes in zoned metamorphic garnet by lengthening diffusion distances. The application of experimental flow laws to the main phases present in nearly monomineralic layers yield upper limits for stresses of 100,150 MPa and lower limits for strain rates of 10,12 to 10,13 s,1 as deformation conditions for the shear zones in the Haram gabbro that were produced during subduction of the Baltica craton and resulted in the production of HP and UHP metamorphic rocks. [source] Evolution of a crustal-scale transpressive shear zone in the Albany,Fraser Orogen, SW Australia: 2.JOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 8 2004Mawson cratons, Tectonic history of the Coramup Gneiss, a kinematic framework for Mesoproterozoic collision of the West Australian Abstract Within the Albany,Fraser Orogen of southwestern Australia, the Coramup Gneiss is a NE,SW trending zone of high-strain rocks that preserves a detailed record of orogenesis related to Mesoproterozoic convergence of the West Australian and Mawson cratons. New structural, metamorphic and U,Pb SHRIMP zircon age data establish that the Coramup Gneiss underwent high-grade tectonism during both Stage I (c. 1290 Ma) and Stage II (c. 1170 Ma) of the Albany,Fraser Orogeny. Stage I commenced with c. 1300 Ma high- T, low- P M1a metamorphism during extension, and the formation of small-scale ptygmatic folds within a subhorizontal S1a gneissosity. High- P M1b metamorphism at c. 1290 Ma was accompanied by the transposition and shearing of S1a into a composite, shallow SE-dipping S1b foliation, and the development of tight recumbent F1b folds with S1-parallel axial surfaces and asymmetries indicating NW-directed thrusting. The preservation of a similar P,T,time record in the Fraser Complex (NE of the Coramup Gneiss) is consistent with large-scale, NW-directed Stage I thrusting of the Mawson Craton margin over the south-eastern edge of the West Australian Craton. Stage II tectonism in the western Coramup Gneiss involved high- T, low- P M2a metamorphism and the formation of subvertical SE-dipping D2 shear zones, shallow SW-plunging L2 mineral stretching lineations, and NW-verging F2 folds with S2-parallel axial surfaces. A synkinematic pegmatite dyke emplaced into a D2 shear zone yielded a U,Pb SHRIMP zircon age of 1168 ± 12 Ma. Kinematic indicators suggest a combination of pure shear flattening perpendicular to S2, and dextral simple shear. However, contemporaneous structures elsewhere in the Albany,Fraser Orogen are consistent with continued NW,SE convergence at craton-scale during Stage II, and oblique compression in the Coramup Gneiss is attributed to the arcuate geometry of the orogen-scale deformation front. [source] Vertical extrusion and middle crustal spreading of omphacite granulite: a model of syn-convergent exhumation (Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic)JOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 3 2004típská Abstract The exhumation of eclogite facies granulites (Omp,Plg,Grt,Qtz,Rt) in the Rychleby Mts, eastern Czech Republic, was a localised process initiated by buckling of crustal layers in a thickened orogenic root. Folding and post-buckle flattening was followed by the main stage of exhumation that is characterized by vertical ductile extrusion. This process is documented by structural data, and the vertical ascent of rocks from a depth of c. 70 to c. 35 km is documented by metamorphic petrology. SHRIMP 206Pb/238U and 207Pb/206Pb evaporation zircon ages of 342 ± 5 and 341.4 ± 0.7 Ma date peak metamorphic conditions. The next stage of exhumation was associated with sideways flat thrusting associated with lateral viscous spreading of granulites and surrounding rocks over indenting adjacent continental crust at a depth of c. 35,30 km. This stage was associated with syntectonic intrusion of a granodiorite sill at 345,339 Ma, emplaced at a crustal depth of c. 25 km. The time required for cooling of the sill as well as for heating of the country rocks brackets this event to a maximum of 250 000 years. Therefore, similar ages of crystallization for the granodiorite magma and the peak of eclogite facies metamorphism of the granulite suggest a very short period of exhumation, limited by the analytical errors of the dating methods. Our calculations suggest that the initial exhumation rate during vertical extrusion was 3,15 mm yr,1, followed by an exhumation rate of 24,40 mm yr,1 during further uplift along a magma-lubricated shear zone. The extrusion stage of exhumation was associated with a high cooling rate, which decreased during the stage of lateral spreading. [source] Deformation, mass transfer and mineral reactions in an eclogite facies shear zone in a polymetamorphic metapelite (Monte Rosa nappe, western Alps)JOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 2 2004L. M. Keller Abstract This study analyses the mineralogical and chemical transformations associated with an Alpine shear zone in polymetamorphic metapelites from the Monte Rosa nappe in the upper Val Loranco (N-Italy). In the shear zone, the pre-Alpine assemblage plagioclase + biotite + kyanite is replaced by the assemblage garnet + phengite + paragonite at eclogite facies conditions of about 650 °C at 12.5 kbar. Outside the shear zone, only minute progress of the same metamorphic reaction was attained during the Alpine metamorphic overprint and the pre-Alpine mineral assemblage is largely preserved. Textures of incomplete reaction, such as garnet rims at former grain contacts between pre-existing plagioclase and biotite, are preserved in the country rocks of the shear zone. Reaction textures and phase relations indicate that the Alpine metamorphic overprint occurred under largely anhydrous conditions in low strain domains. In contrast, the mineralogical changes and phase equilibrium diagrams indicate water saturation within the Alpine shear zones. Shear zone formation occurred at approximately constant volume but was associated with substantial gains in silica and losses in aluminium and potassium. Changes in mineral modes associated with chemical alteration and progressive deformation indicate that plagioclase, biotite and kyanite were not only consumed in the course of the garnet-and phengite-producing reactions, but were also dissolved ,congruently' during shear zone formation. A large fraction of the silica liberated by plagioclase, biotite and kyanite dissolution was immediately re-precipitated to form quartz, but the dissolved aluminium- and potassium-bearing species appear to have been stable in solution and were removed via the pore fluid. The reaction causes the localization of deformation by producing fine-grained white mica, which forms a mechanically weak aggregate. [source] Chemical and physical responses to deformation in micaceous quartzites from the Tauern Window, Eastern AlpsJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 4 2003J. Selverstone Abstract Micaceous quartzites from a subvertical shear zone in the Tauern Window contain abundant quartz clasts derived from dismembered quartz-tourmaline veins. Bulk plane strain deformation affected these rocks at amphibolite facies conditions. Shape changes suggest net shortening of the clasts by 11,64%, with a mean value of 35%. Quartz within the clasts accommodated this strain largely via dislocation creep processes. On the high-stress flanks of the clasts, however, quartz was removed via solution mass transfer (pressure solution) processes; the resulting change in bulk composition allowed growth of porphyroblastic staurolite + chlorite ± kyanite on the clast flanks. Matrix SiO2 contents decrease from c. 83 wt% away from the clasts to 49,58% in the selvages on the clast flanks. The chemical changes are consistent with c. 70% volume loss in the high-stress zones. Calculated shortening values within the clast flanks are similar to the volume-loss estimates, and are greatly in excess of the shortening values calculated from the clasts themselves. Flow laws for dislocation creep versus pressure solution imply large strain-rate gradients and/or differential stress gradients between the matrix and the clast selvages. In a rock containing a large proportion of semirigid clasts, weakening within the clast flanks could dominate rock rheology. In our samples, however, weakening within the selvages was self limiting: (1) growth of strong staurolite porphyroblasts in the selvages protected remaining quartz from dissolution; and (2) overall flattening of the quartz clasts probably decreased the resolved shear stress on the flanks to values near those of the matrix, which would have reduced the driving force for solution-transfer creep. Extreme chemical changes nonetheless occurred over short distances. The necessity of maintaining strain compatibility may lead to significant localized dissolution in rocks containing rheologic heterogeneities, and overall weakening of the rocks may result. Solution-transfer creep may be a major process whereby weakening and strain localization occur during deep-crustal metamorphism of polymineralic rocks. [source] Borehole deformation measurements and internal structure of some rock glaciers in SwitzerlandPERMAFROST AND PERIGLACIAL PROCESSES, Issue 2 2002Lukas Arenson Abstract In order to understand the mechanical processes that influence the deformation patterns of active rock glaciers, information about local horizontal and vertical deformations as well as knowledge of the internal structure and the temperature distribution is necessary. Results from borehole deformation measurements of three sites in the Swiss Alps show that despite different internal structures, similar phenomena can be observed. In contrast to temperate glaciers, permafrost within rock glaciers has distinct shear zones where horizontal and vertical differential movements are concentrated. In addition, a reduction in volume can be caused by compressive flow due to the presence of air voids within the permafrost. The flow velocity depends on the temperature, the surface and bedrock slopes of the rock glacier, and the composition of the ice-rich frozen ground. Within degrading permafrost, the ice content decreases, the creep velocity increases and the shear zone rises towards the surface, where seasonal temperature changes and the presence of liquid water might also influence deformation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Yield stress and rheological characterization of the low shear zone of an epoxy molding compound for encapsulation of semiconductor devicesPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 4 2008Masaki Yoshii In encapsulation molding of IC packages, the melt flow inside the cavity is generally controlled in a low shear to prevent wire sweep, and other molding defects. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the rheological properties of epoxy molding compounds (EMC) in a low shear zone including determining the yield stress. In this study, a newly specialized Parallel-Plate Plastometer for EMCs was built up. Using this plastometer, the yield stress and its temperature dependence were clarified, and the rheological properties in the low shear zone were evaluated. As a result, the rheological properties in a low shear zone of 0.1,10 s,1 were characterized using the Herschel,Bulkley viscosity model which introduced the yield stress, the Castro,Macosko equation as a dependency model of cure, and the WLF equation as a dependency model for temperature. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Comparison of structure development in injection molding of isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylenesPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 8 2002Dongman Choi A comparative study of the crystallization and orientation development in injection molding isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylenes was made. The injection molded samples were characterized using wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) techniques and birefringence. The injection molded isotactic polypropylene samples formed well-defined sublayers (skin, shear and core zones) and exhibited polymorphic crystal structures of the monoclinic ,-form and the hexagonal ,-form. Considerable amounts of ,-form crystal were formed in the shear and core zones, depending on the injection pressure or on the packing pressure. The isotactic polypropylene samples had relatively high frozen-in orientations in the skin layer and the shear zone. The injection molded syndiotactic polypropylene exhibited the disordered Form I structure, but it did not appear to crystallize during the mold-filling stage because of its slow crystallization rate and to develop a distinct shear zone. The core zone orientation was greatly increased by application of high packing pressure. The isotactic polypropylene samples exhibited much higher birefringence than the syndiotactic polypropylene samples at the skin and shear layers, whereas both materials exhibited similar levels of crystalline orientation in these layers. [source] Fluid Evolution and Metallogenic Dynamics during Tectonic Regime Transition: Example from the Jiapigou Gold Belt in Northeast ChinaRESOURCE GEOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Jun Deng Abstract The Jiapigou gold belt, one of the most important gold-producing districts in China, is located in the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). The tectonic evolution of the gold belt is closely related to the Siberian Plate (SP) in the north, Yangtze Craton (YC) in the south and Pacific Plate in the east. In order to investigate the nature of the tectono-fluid-metallogenic system, the authors investigated the relationships among the tectonic regimes, fluid evolution and metallogenesis. This paper examined the corresponding spatial,temporal relationship between the ore-controlling tectonic regime and hydrothermal fluid evolution in the Jiapigou gold belt. There are two types of gold mineralization: disseminated ores that are distributed within the NW-trending main ductile shear zone and gold-bearing quartz veins and minor disseminated ores that are distant to the ductile shear zone. The fluid inclusions in quartz contain a large amount of CO2. Metamorphic fluids of middle to high temperatures and pressures and meteoric waters of low temperatures and pressures mixed together during mineralization. A proposed ore-forming model is as follows: in the pre-ore phase, the collision of SP and NCC resulted in the NS-trending compression of the ore belt. This formed the NE-trending and NW-trending shear faults and EW-trending folds. During the ore-forming phase, the collision of YC and NCC resulted in dextral shearing of the NW-trending Jiapigou fault and the NE-trending Green faults. High-pressure fluids caused by the compression flowed into the dilatant zone. This may have caused both phase separation of CO2 -bearing fluids and the mixing of meteoric waters, metamorphic waters and magmatic source fluids and finally resulted in the disequilibrium of the ore fluids and precipitation of ore minerals. [source] Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Qolqoleh Deposit, Northwestern IranRESOURCE GEOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Farhang Aliyari Abstract The Qolqoleh gold deposit is located in the northwestern part of the Sanandai-Sirjan Zone, northwest of Iran. Gold mineralization in the Qolqoleh deposit is almost entirely confined to a series of steeply dipping ductile,brittle shear zones generated during Late Cretaceous,Tertiary continental collision between the Afro-Arabian and the Iranian microcontinent. The host rocks are Mesozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences consisting of felsic to mafic metavolcanics, which are metamorphosed to greenschist facies, sericite and chlorite schists. The gold orebodies were found within strong ductile deformation to late brittle deformation. Ore-controlling structure is NE,SW-trending oblique thrust with vergence toward south ductile,brittle shear zone. The highly strained host rocks show a combination of mylonitic and cataclastic microstructures, including crystal,plastic deformation and grain size reduction by recrystalization of quartz and mica. The gold orebodies are composed of Au-bearing highly deformed and altered mylonitic host rocks and cross-cutting Au- and sulfide-bearing quartz veins. Approximately half of the mineralization is in the form of dissemination in the mylonite and the remainder was clearly emplaced as a result of brittle deformation in quartz,sulfide microfractures, microveins and veins. Only low volumes of gold concentration was introduced during ductile deformation, whereas, during the evident brittle deformation phase, competence contrasts allowed fracturing to focus on the quartz,sericite domain boundaries of the mylonitic foliation, thus permitting the introduction of auriferous fluid to create disseminated and cross-cutting Au-quartz veins. According to mineral assemblages and alteration intensity, hydrothermal alteration could be divided into three zones: silicification and sulfidation zone (major ore body); sericite and carbonate alteration zone; and sericite,chlorite alteration zone that may be taken to imply wall-rock interaction with near neutral fluids (pH 5,6). Silicified and sulfide alteration zone is observed in the inner parts of alteration zones. High gold grades belong to silicified highly deformed mylonitic and ultramylonitic domains and silicified sulfide-bearing microveins. Based on paragenetic relationships, three main stages of mineralization are recognized in the Qolqoleh gold deposit. Stage I encompasses deposition of large volumes of milky quartz and pyrite. Stage II includes gray and buck quartz, pyrite and minor calcite, sphalerite, subordinate chalcopyrite and gold ores. Stage III consists of comb quartz and calcite, magnetite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and gold ores. Studies on regional geology, ore geology and ore-forming stages have proved that the Qolqoleh deposit was formed in the compression,extension stage during the Late Cretaceous,Tertiary continental collision in a ductile,brittle shear zone, and is characterized by orogenic gold deposits. [source] Rare Earth Element and Trace Element Features of Gold-bearing Pyrite in the Jinshan Gold Deposit, Jiangxi ProvinceACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 3 2010Guangzhou MAO Abstract: Jinshan gold deposit is located in northeastern Jiangxi, South China, which is related to the ductile shear zone. It has a gold reserve of more than 200 tons, with 80% of gold occurring in pyrite. The ,REE of gold-bearing pyrite is as higher as 171.664 ppm on average, with relatively higher light rare earth elements (LREE; 159.556 ppm) and lower HREE (12.108 ppm). The ,LREE/,HREE ratio is 12.612 and (La/Yb)N is 11.765. These indicate that pyrite is rich in LREE. The (La/Sm)N ratio is 3.758 and that of (Gd/Yb)N is 1.695. These are obvious LREE fractionations. The rare earth element (REE) distribution patterns show obvious Eu anomaly with average ,Eu values of 0.664, and ,Ce anomalies of 1.044. REE characteristics are similar to those of wall rocks (regional metamorphic rocks), but different from those of the Dexing granodiorite porphyry and Damaoshan biotite granite. These features indicate that the ore-forming materials in the Jinshan gold deposit derived from the wall rocks, and the ore-forming fluids derived from metamorphic water. The Co/Ni ratio (average value 0.38) of pyrite suggests that the Jinshan gold deposit formed under a medium,low temperature. It is inferred from the values of high-field strength elements, LREE, Hf/Sm, Nb/La, and Th/La of the pyrite that the ore-forming fluids of the Jinshan gold deposit derived from metamorphic water with Cl>F. [source] Geology, Geochemistry and Minerogenesis of the Shijuligou Zinc,Copper Deposit in Gansu, ChinaACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 6 2009LI Wenyuan Abstract: The Shijuligou deposit was separated by an arcuate ductile shear zone cross the center of the deposit region, resulting in the difference between the southern and northern ore bodies. The lead (Pb) isotopic data of ores of the Shijuligou copper deposit have averages of 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb in 17.634, 15.444, and 37.312, respectively. It has been shown that ore-forming metals originated from intrusive and extrusive rocks in the upper part of ophiolites. The sulfur isotopic data of pyrite and chalcopyrite in the northern part change from +7.61, to +8.09, and +4.95, to +8.88, in the southern part. Isotopes of ,18O in the Shijuligou copper deposit are between +11.1, and +18.6,, with the calculated ,18OH2O at +0.65,. It is suggested that the mineralized fluid is a mixture of magma fluid, meteorological water, and seawater through circulating and leaching metals from the volcanic rocks. The zircon uranium-lead (U,Pb) dating of gabbro is 457.9±1.2 Ma, and the lower crossing age of the discordant and concordia curves of pyroxene spilite of zircon is 454±15 Ma. It is indicated that the Shijuligou deposit formed in a new ocean crust (ophiolite) of the back-arc basin in the late Ordovician. Mineralization should occur in the intermittence period after strong volcanic activity, and the age should be the late Ordovician. Moreover, the mineralization of ophiolite-hosted massive sulfide deposits in the ancient orogenic belt of the late Ordovician in the northern Qilian Mountains was controlled by the primary fault/fracture, with the forming of a metallogenic hydrothermal system by a mixture of volcanic magma fluid and seawater, which circularly leached the metallogenic metals from the volcanic rocks, resulting in their accumulation. The ore bodies were transformed with morphology and metallogenic elements. Jasperoid is an important sign for prospecting such deposits. There were many island arcs in the continent of China. This study provides evidence for understanding and exploration of ophiolite-hosted massive sulfide deposits in western China, especially in the area of northern Qilian Mountains. [source] Application of General Shear Theory to the Study of Formation Mechanism of the Metamorphic Core Complex: A Case Study of Xiaoqinling in Central ChinaACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 1 2000ZHANG Jinjiang Abstract: The kinematic vorticity number and strain of the mylonitic zone related to the detachment fault increase from ESE to WNW along the moving direction of the upper plate of the Xiaoqinling metamorphic core complex (XMCC) and the geometry of quartz c -axis fabrics changes progressively from crossed girdles to single girdles in the same direction. Therefore, pure shear is dominant in the ESE part of the XMCC while simple shear becomes increasingly important towards WNW. However, the shear type does not change with the strain across the shear zone, thus the variation of shear type is of significance in indicating the formation mechanism. The granitic plutons within the XMCC came from the deep source and their emplacement was an active and forceful upwelling prior to the detachment faulting. The PTt path demonstrates that magmatism is an important cause for the formation of the XMCC. The formation mechanism of the XMCC is supposed to be active plutonism and passive detachment. Crustal thickening and magmatic doming caused necking extension with pure shear, and magmatic heating and doming resulted in detachment extension with simple shear and formed the XMCC. [source] Real-time mud gas logging and sampling during drillingGEOFLUIDS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2006J. ERZINGER Abstract Continuous mud gas loggings during drilling as well as offline mud gas sampling are standard procedures in oil and gas operations, where they are used to test reservoir rocks for hydrocarbons while drilling. Our research group has developed real-time mud gas monitoring techniques for scientific drilling in non-hydrocarbon formations mainly to sample and study the composition of crustal gases. We describe in detail this technique and provide examples for the evaluation of the continuous gas logs, which are not always easy to interpret. Hydrocarbons, helium, radon and with limitations carbon dioxide and hydrogen are the most suitable gases for the detection of fluid-bearing horizons, shear zones, open fractures, sections of enhanced permeability and permafrost methane hydrate occurrences. Off-site isotope studies on mud gas samples helped reveal the origin and evolution of deep-seated crustal fluids. [source] | ||||||||||||||||