The Southeast France basin during Late Cretaceous times: The spatiotemporal link between Pyrenean collision and Alpine subduction

We present and discuss the Late Cretaceous evolution of the Southeast France Basin (SEFB) owing to the Pyrenean and Alpine belts. The available geological data (isopachs maps, boreholes and field data) were integrated in 3D GeoModeller software to build a 3D model of the geometry of the Cenomanian to Campanian sedimentary series of the Late Cretaceous period. Maps, 3D block diagrams and cross-sections extracted from the 3D model reveal a significant eastward marine regression during the Late Cretaceous with an average velocity of 0.5 to 1 cm per year. According to the location of the Late Cretaceous depocenters, two sub-basins are recognized in the SEFB and correspond to “en-échelon” synclines filled by syn-buckling sediments. These events are related to the sub-meridian “Pyrenean-Provence” crustal shortening. During Campanian time, the deepening and the tilting of the SEFB are interpreted as a consequence of the subduction of the Alpine Tethys. The Late Cretaceous SEFB is the prolongation on the European foreland of the Alpine subduction trench.     

Reassessment of the structural framework of western Provence (France): consequence on the regional seismotectonic model

Reprocessing and interpretation of the petroleum seismic profile 81SE5b, located between the Luberon Massif and the Arc Basin, have provided new data on the Pyrenean and Alpine thrusting in western Provence. Among the principal results, it is shown that a) the repetition of the Mesozoic succession observed in the Eguilles1 borehole is due to a north-dipping south-verging thrust, and b) the Trévaresse and Aix-Eguilles thrusts are deep structures rooted in the Triassic at a depth of between 7 and 8 km.

The implication of this new knowledge on the seismotectonic model of western Provence is that the front of the Alpine deformation between the Aix-en-Provence and Salon-Cavaillon fault systems, which acted as lateral ramps, lies some 7 km farther south near the northern limb of the Arc syncline. In addition, it is seen that the Alpine-Provence thrusts, considered as still active (having given rise to the 1909 earthquake with an epicentral intensity of VIII-IX), are not shallow reverse faults but correspond to major tectonic structures affecting the full thickness of the Meso-Cenozoic cover.     

南盘江-红水河(中段)的河流地貌特征与地壳变形

珠江作为亚洲的一条重要河流,它的中上游南盘江-红水河(中段)流经右江-南盘江被动陆缘造山带的西北段.研究南盘江-红水河(中段)的河流地貌是了解老造山带内部新构造活动情况和考察青藏高原新生代构造活动远程效应的重要手段.经过调查发现,南盘江-红水河(中段)所属的亚流域Ⅱ出现左右岸流域严重不对称,亚流域Ⅱ南部隆林至天峨一线出现近东西向弧形分水岭.隆林附近的坝索至纳贡一带,南盘江河道出现裂点段落,小流域(RN3)出现“反S”形河网,且其北边界发生地貌跃迁.该河段附近的北东向和近东西向弧形断层发育,并有弧形支流出现.天峨附近红水河河道有反向裂点出现,天峨附近的布柳河呈北东向弧形展布.文章引入了向形构造体系和旋块构造体系对上述地貌现象和构造活动特征进行解释.研究表明,南盘江-红水河(中段)的流域不对称、近东西向的弧形分水岭分布、北东向和近东西向弧形断层以及弧形支流展布受控于先存构造形成的向形构造系统.在先存的向形构造系统中,隆林一带河流的裂点、地貌跃迁和“反S”形河网等河流地貌现象是对后期构造体系活动的响应,后期构造活动继承了早期向形构造体系的格局,以祥播块体(A)为旋转中心,带动了周边构造变形,形成旋块构造体系.天峨反向裂点是上下游水利条件差异与构造抬升共同作用的结果.但旋块构造体系活动的启动和分期活动的时代仍未有合理的时间约束.亚洲大陆逃逸为旋块构造体系活动提供了一种可能的动力学解释.     

哈萨克斯坦B区块三叠系储层沉积相研究

通过收集整理各种分析测试资料、钻井岩芯资料,结合前期研究成果,对测井资料和地震资料进行综合研究,从岩石学、测井相、地震相等几个具体方面来对沉积相进行分析和研究。得出工区内部以间歇性物源为主,主要来自下区内各个盐构造高部的沉积物源体系,即盐构造的持续隆升活动是区内物源体系的主导因素。同时,综合地震属性分析、地震－岩相分析等资料,明确了研究区内主要发育了冲积扇、冲积平原和间歇性河流等沉积相     

Mesoproterozoic arc magmatism in SE India: Petrology,zircon U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes of the Bopudi felsic suite from Eastern Ghats Belt

The southern segment of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) in India was an active convergent margin during Mesoproterozoic, prior to the final collision in Neoproterozoic during the assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent. Here we present mineralogical, whole-rock geochemical, zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data from a granitoid suite in the Bopudi region in the EGGB. The granitoid complex comprises quartz monzodiorite with small stocks of rapakivi granites. The monzodiorite, locally porphyritic, contains K-feldspar megacrysts, plagioclase, quartz, biotite and ortho-amphibole. The presence of mantled ovoid megacrysts of alkali feldspar embaying early-formed quartz, and the presence of two generations of the phenocrystic phases in the rapakivi granites indicate features typical of rapakivi granites. The K-feldspar phenocrysts in the rapakivi granite are mantled by medium-grained aggregates of microcline (Ab₇ Or₉₃), which is compositionally equivalent to the rim of Kfs phenocryst and Pl (An_23–24 Ab₇₅). The geochemistry of both the granitoids shows arc-like features for REE and trace elements. LA-ICP-MS zircon analyses reveal ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 1582 (MSWD = 1.4) for the rapakivi granite 1605 ± 3 Ma (MSWD = 3.9) for the monzodiorite. The zircons from all the granitoid samples show high REE contents, prominent HREE enrichment and a conspicuous negative Eu anomaly, suggesting a common melt source. The zircons from the monzodiorite have a limited variation in initial ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios of 0.28171–0.28188, with εHf(t) values of −2.2 to +2.8. Correspondingly, their two-stage Hf isotope model ages (T_DM2) ranging from 2.15 to 2.47 Ga probably suggest a mixed source for the magma involving melting of the Paleoproterozoic basement and injection of subduction-related juvenile magmas. The prominent Mesoproterozoic ages of these granitoids suggest subduction-related arc magmatism in a convergent margin setting associated with the amalgamation of the Columbia-derived fragments within the Neoproterozoic Rodinia assembly.     

Two‐dimensional finite element analysis of gravitational and lateral‐driven deformation in sedimentary basins

The paper deals with the modeling of some aspects, such as the formulation of constitutive equations for sediment material or finite element approach for basin analysis, related to mechanical compaction in sedimentary basins. In addition to compaction due to gravity forces and pore‐pressure dissipation, particular emphasis is given to the study of deformation induced by tectonic sequences. The numerical model relies upon the implementation of a comprehensive constitutive model for the sediment material formulated within the framework of finite poroplasticity. The theoretical model accounts for both hydromechanical and elasticity–plasticity coupling due to the effects of irreversible large strains. From the numerical viewpoint, a finite element procedure specifically devised for dealing with sedimentary basins as open systems allows to simulate within a two‐dimensional setting the process of sediment accretion or erosion. Several basin simulations are presented. The main objective is to analyze the behavior of a sedimentary basin during the different phases of its life cycle: accretion phase, pore‐pressure dissipation phase and compressive/extensional tectonic motions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geological observations in high‐grade mid‐Proterozoic rocks from Else Platform,northern Prince Charles mountains region,east Antarctica

Granulite facies rocks on Else Platform in the northern Prince Charles Mountains, east Antarctica, consist of metasedimentary gneiss extensively intruded by granitic rocks. The dominant rock type is a layered garnetbiotite‐bearing gneiss intercalated with minor garnet‐cordierite‐sillimanite gneiss and calc‐silicate. Voluminous megacrystic granite intruded early during a mid‐Proterozoic (ca 1000 Ma) granulite event, M₁, widely recognized in east Antarctica. Peak metamorphic conditions for M₁ are in the range of 650–750 MPa at ～800°C and were associated with the development of a gneissic foliation, S₁ and steep east‐plunging lineation, L₁. Strain partitioning during progressive non‐coaxial deformation formed large D₂ granulite facies south‐dipping thrusts, with a steep, east‐plunging lineation. In areas of lower D₂ strain, large‐scale upright, steep east‐plunging fold structures formed synchronously with the D₂ high‐strain zones. Voluminous garnet‐bearing leucogneiss intruded at 940 ±20 Ma and was deformed in the D₂ high‐strain zones. Textural relationships in pelitic rocks show that peak‐M2 assemblages formed during increasing temperatures via reactions such as biotite + sillimanite + quartz ± plagioclase = spinel + cordierite + ilmenite + K‐feldspar + melt. In biotite‐absent rocks, re‐equilibration of deformed M₁ garnet‐sillimanite‐ilmenite assemblages occurred through decompressive reactions of the form, garnet + sillimanite + ilmenite = cordierite + spinel + quartz. Pressure/temperature estimates indicate that peak‐M₂ conditions were 500–600 MPa and 700±50°C. At about 500 Ma, north‐trending granitic dykes intruded and were deformed during D₃‐M₃ at probable upper amphibolite facies conditions. Cooling from peak D₃‐M₃ conditions was associated with the formation of narrow greenschist facies shear zones, and the intrusion of pegmatite. Cross‐cutting all features are abundant north‐south trending alkaline mafic dykes that were emplaced over the interval ca 310–145 Ma, reflecting prolonged intrusive activity. Some of the dykes are associated with steeply dipping faults that may be related to basin formation during Permian times and later extension, synchronous with the formation of the Lambert Graben in the Cretaceous.     

Ages of internal granitoids in the Southern Cross region,Yilgarn Craton,Western Australia,and their crustal evolution and tectonic implications

Southern Cross, where gold deposits are sited in narrow greenstone belts surrounding granitoid domes, was one of the earliest gold mining centres in Western Australia. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon and Pb‐isotope studies of the largest granitoid dome, the Ghooli Dome (80 × 40 km), provide important constraints on the crustal evolution and structural history of the central part of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, which includes Southern Cross. The north‐northwest‐south‐southeast‐oriented ovoid Ghooli Dome has a broadly concentric foliation that is subhorizontal or gently dipping in its central parts and subvertical along its margins. Foliated granitoids in the dome are dated at ca 2724 ± 5 and 2688 ± 3 Ma using the SHRIMP U–Pb zircon and Pb–Pb isochron methods, respectively. These new data, together with the published SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age of 2691 ± 7 Ma at another locality, 20 km from the centre of the Koolyanobbing Shear Zone, suggest that the Ghooli Dome was emplaced at ca 2.72–2.69 Ga. Because the Ghooli Dome and the other domes, which are enveloped by narrow greenstone belts, are cut by the >650 km‐long and 6–15 km‐wide Koolyanobbing Shear Zone, the ca 2.69 Ga age is interpreted as the maximum age of the last major movement on this structure. The pre‐2.69 Ga history, if any, of the shear zone remains unknown. The shear zone is intruded by an undeformed porphyritic granitoid which has a SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age of 2656 ± 4 Ma. This age is, thus, the minimum age of major movement along this shear zone. Post‐gold mineralisation pegmatitic‐leucogranite from the Nevoria gold mine has a SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age of 2634 ± 4 Ma, with xenocrystic zircon cores of ca 2893 ± 6 Ma, constraining the minimum age of gold mineralisation there to ca 2.63 Ga. The ca 2.72–2.69 Ga granitoids also contain ca 2.98 and 2.78 Ga xenocrystic zircon cores, suggesting an extensive crustal prehistory for their source. Whereas there is a general temporal relationship between the periods of older (ca 3.0 Ga) and younger (ca 2.80 and 2.73 Ga) volcanism and the older (2.98, 2.78 and 2.72–2.69 Ga) granitoid intrusions, there is no known volcanism temporally associated with the 2.65–2.63 Ga granitoid intrusions in the Yilgarn Craton. Other heat sources and/or tectonic processes, required for the generation of these intrusions, are interpreted to be related to a lithospheric delamination event related to continental collision.     

Why are the continents just so…?

Variations in gravitational potential energy contribute to the intraplate stress field thereby providing the means by which lithospheric density structure is communicated at the plate scale. In this light, the near equivalence in the gravitational potential energy of typical continental lithosphere with the mid‐ocean ridges is particularly intriguing. Assuming this equivalence is not simply a chance outcome of continental growth, it then probably involves long‐term modulation of the density configuration of the continents via stress regimes that are able to induce significant strains over geological time. Following this notion, this work explores the possibility that the emergence of a chemically, thermally and mechanically structured continental lithosphere reflects a set of thermally sensitive feedback mechanisms in response to Wilson cycle oscillatory forcing about an ambient stress state set by the mid‐ocean ridge system. Such a hypothesis requires the continents are weak enough to sustain long‐term (10⁸ years) strain rates of the order of ～10^?17 s^?1 as suggested by observations that continental lithosphere is almost everywhere critically stressed, by estimates of seismogenic strain rates in stable continental interiors such as Australia and by the low‐temperature thermochronological record of the continents that requires significant relief generation on the 10⁸ year time‐scale. Furthermore, this notion provides a mechanism that helps explain interpretations of recently published heat flow data that imply the distribution of heat‐producing elements within the continents may be tuned to produce a characteristic thermal regime at Moho depths.     

Petrographic and seismic evidence for the depositional setting of giant turbidite reservoirs and the paleogeographic evolution of Campos Basin,offshore Brazil

The paleogeographic evolution of Campos Basin, a major oil province of Brazil, during the deposition of its giant turbidite reservoirs, was reinterpreted based on the integration of quantitative sandstone petrography and structural analysis of regional 3D seismic data. The major detrital compositional trends indicate that the geodynamic evolution of the continental margin, rather than global eustatic sea-level fluctuations, has exerted the main control on sand supply to the deepwater systems. This control was imposed by the interaction of three geodynamic processes: (i) escarpment retreat of the coastal mountain ridges, (ii) mantle plume-related dynamic uplift and magmatic activity, and (iii) tectonic reactivation of major basement fault-zones. The pattern of distribution of compositional and textural parameters within the turbidite sequences indicated that the sand supply to deepwater was also constrained by high-frequency stratigraphic processes of the climate Milankovitch band. This new approach to the controls on the formation of the sand-rich, deepwater systems in Campos Basin has a key importance for the generation of realistic models for the exploration of new turbidite reservoirs and for the optimized development of producing turbidite oilfields in such a world-class hydrocarbon province. The proposed integrated methodology can help to unravel the controls on the deposition of deepwater sand-rich, deepwater reservoirs in other divergent margin settings.