scholarly journals Elastic anisotropies of deformed upper crustal rocks in the Alps

Solid Earth ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2303-2326
Author(s):  
Ruth Keppler ◽  
Roman Vasin ◽  
Michael Stipp ◽  
Tomás Lokajícek ◽  
Matej Petruzálek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Elastic Anisotropy ◽  
Crustal Rock ◽  
Tectonic Structures ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Model Average ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Sample Set

Abstract. The crust within collisional orogens is very heterogeneous both in composition and grade of deformation, leading to highly variable physical properties at small scales. This causes difficulties for seismic investigations of tectonic structures at depth since the diverse and partially strong upper crustal anisotropy might overprint the signal of deeper anisotropic structures in the mantle. In this study, we characterize the range of elastic anisotropies of deformed crustal rocks in the Alps. Furthermore, we model average elastic anisotropies of these rocks and their changes with increasing depth due to the closure of microcracks. For that, pre-Alpine upper crustal rocks of the Adula Nappe in the central Alps, which were intensely deformed during the Alpine orogeny, were sampled. The two major rock types found are orthogneisses and paragneisses; however, small lenses of metabasites and marbles also occur. Crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) and volume fractions of minerals in the samples were measured using time-of-flight neutron diffraction. Combined with single crystal elastic anisotropies these were used to model seismic properties of the rocks. The sample set shows a wide range of different seismic velocity patterns even within the same lithology, due to the microstructural heterogeneity of the deformed crustal rocks. To approximate an average for these crustal units, we picked common CPO types of rock forming minerals within gneiss samples representing the most common lithology. These data were used to determine an average elastic anisotropy of a typical crustal rock within the Alps. Average mineral volume percentages within the gneiss samples were used for the calculation. In addition, ultrasonic anisotropy measurements of the samples at increasing confining pressures were performed. These measurements as well as the microcrack patterns determined in thin sections were used to model the closure of microcracks in the average sample at increasing depth. Microcracks are closed at approximately 740 MPa yielding average elastic anisotropies of 4 % for the average gneiss. This value is an approximation, which can be used for seismic models at a lithospheric scale. At a crustal or smaller scale, however, local variations in lithology and deformation as displayed by the range of elastic anisotropies within the sample set need to be considered. In addition, larger-scale structural anisotropies such as layering, intrusions and brittle faults have to be included in any crustal-scale seismic model.

scholarly journals Elastic anisotropies of deformed upper crustal rocks in the Alps

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Keppler ◽  
Roman Vasin ◽  
Michael Stipp ◽  
Tomás Lokajícek ◽  
Matej Petruzálek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elastic Anisotropy ◽  
Crustal Rock ◽  
Upper Crust ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Model Average ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Collisional Orogens ◽  
Sample Set

Abstract. The upper crust within collisional orogens is very heterogeneous both in composition and grade of deformation, leading to very variable physical properties at small scales. This yields difficulties for seismic investigations of tectonic structures at depth since local changes in elastic anisotropy cannot be detected. In this study, we show elastic anisotropies of the range of typical lithologies within deformed upper crustal rocks in the Alps. Furthermore, we aim to model average elastic anisotropies for these rocks and their changes with increasing depth due to the closure of microcracks. We therefore sampled rocks in the Adula Nappe of the central Alps, which is typical for upper crust in collisional orogens. The two major rock types found are orthogneisses and paragneisses, however, small lenses of metabasites and marbles also occur. Crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) and volume fractions of minerals in the samples were measured using time-of-flight neutron diffraction. Combined with single crystal elastic anisotropies these were used to model seismic properties of the rocks. The sample set shows a wide range of different seismic velocity patterns even within the same lithology, due to the heterogeneity of deformed upper crust. To approximate an average for these upper crustal units, we picked common CPO types of rock forming minerals within the gneiss samples, which represent the most common lithology. These data were used to determine an average elastic anisotropy of a typical upper crustal rock within the Alps. Average mineral volume percentages within the gneiss samples were used for the calculation. In addition, ultrasonic measurements of elastic anisotropies of the samples at increasing pressures were performed. These measurements, as well as the microcrack pattern determined in thin sections of the samples were used to model the closure of microcracks in the average sample at increasing depth. At ≈740 MPa microcracks are assumed to be closed yielding average elastic anisotropies of 4 % for the average gneiss. This value is an approximation, which can be helpful for seismic models at a lithospheric scale. At a crustal or smaller scale, however, it is an oversimplification and local lithological as well as deformational changes shown by the range of elastic anisotropies within the sample set have to be considered.

Synconvergent and coherent (ultra)high-pressure crustal rock exhumation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo G. Candioti ◽  
Joshua D. Vaughan-Hammon ◽  
Thibault Duretz ◽  
Stefan M. Schmalholz
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Western Alps ◽  
Ultrahigh Pressure ◽  
Plate Motion ◽  
Crustal Rock ◽  
Plate Boundaries ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Natural Data ◽  
The Alps

<p>Ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) continental crustal rocks were first discovered in the Western Alps in 1984 and have since then been observed at many convergent plate boundaries worldwide. Unveiling the processes leading to the formation and exhumation of (U)HP metamorphic crustal rocks is key to understand the geodynamic evolution of orogens such as the Alps.</p><p> </p><p>Previous numerical studies investigating (U)HP rock exhumation in the Alps predicted deep (>80 km) subduction of crustal rocks and rapid buoyancy-driven exhumation of mainly incoherent (U)HP units, involving significant tectonic mixing forming so-called mélanges. Furthermore, these predictions often rely on excessive erosion or periods of divergent plate motion as important exhumation mechanism. Inconsistent with field observations and natural data, application of these models to the Western Alps was recently criticised.</p><p> </p><p>Here, we present models with continuous plate convergence, which exhibit local tectonic-driven upper plate extension enabling compressive- and buoyancy-driven exhumation of coherent (U)HP units along the subduction interface, involving feasible erosion.</p><p> </p><p>The two-dimensional petrological-thermo-mechanical numerical models presented here predict both subduction initiation and serpentinite channel formation without any a priori prescription of these two features. The (U)HP units are exhumed coherently, without significant internal deformation. Modelled pressure and temperature trajectories and exhumation velocities of selected crustal units agree with estimates for the Western Alps. The presented models support previous hypotheses of synconvergent exhumation, but do not rely on excessive erosion or divergent plate motion. Thus, our predictions provide new insights into processes leading to the exhumation of coherent (U)HP crustal units consistent with observations and natural data from the Western Alps.</p>

The petrology of the Mount Padbury mesosiderite and its achondrite enclaves

1966 ◽  
Vol 36 (276) ◽  
pp. 1029-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. H. McCall
Keyword(s):  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Host Material ◽  
Refractive Indices ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Varied Range ◽  
Optical Determination

SummaryThe petrography of the Mount Padbury meteorite, previously briefly recorded, is described in some detail. Both the metalliferous host material of the mesosiderite and the varied range of silicate-rich, virtually metal-free enclaves (including both familiar achondrite material and unfamiliar achondrite material) are described. Eucrite, brecciated eucrite, and a peculiar ‘shocked’ form of eucrite (resembling some terrestrial flaser-gabbros) are the calcium-rich achondrite types represented; hypersthene achondrite (including typical diogenite material and unfamiliar material) and olivine achondrite (granular aggregates of olivine not entirely similar to the unique chassignite and single crystals up to 4 in. in length) are the calcium-poor achondrite types represented. The eucrite displays more or less uniform mineralogy, but the mineral constituents are present in varying proportions, and there is a wide range of textural variations recognized. The silicate grain fragments enclosed in the metallic reticulation to form the mesosiderite host material are, significantly, entirely of minerals seen within the achondrite enclaves—plagioclase, hypersthene, pigeonite, olivine, and tridymite.These results include microscopic analysis of thin sections and polished sections, X-ray diffraction studies, optical determination of refractive indices using mineral grain mounts, and chemical analyses.The wider implications of this new and unique meteorite find are briefly considered.

scholarly journals Fertility of crustal rocks during anatexis

1996 ◽  
Vol 87 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Bruce Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Crustal Rock ◽  
Dehydration Melting ◽  
Specific Pressure ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Rock Types ◽  
Increasing Temperature ◽  
Low Pressures ◽  
Kbar Pressure ◽  
Melting Relations

ABSTRACT:After many years of systematic experimental investigations, it is now possible to quantify the conditions for optimum fertility to melt production of most common crustal rock types as functions of temperature and to about 30 kbar pressure. Quartzo-feldspathic melting produces steady increases in melt proportion with increasing temperature. The exact melt fraction depends on the mineral mode relative to quartz-feldspar eutectics and the temperatures of mica dehydration melting reactions. Mica melting consumes SiO2 from residual quartz during the formation of refractory Al2SiO5, orthopyroxene, garnet or cordierite.A simple graphical interpretation of experimental results allows a deduction of the proportions of mica and feldspar leading to optimum fertility. In effect, the mica dehydration melting reactions, at specific pressure and are superimposed on quartz-feldspar melting relations projected onto Ab-An-Or. Fertility to melt production varies with the mica to feldspar ratio and pressure. Pelites are more fertile than psammites at low pressures (e.g. 5 kbar), especially if they contain An40 to An50 plagioclase. At higher pressure (e.g. 10-20 kbar) and for rocks containing albitic plagioclase, psammites are more fertile than pelites. For a typical pelite (e.g. with An25 at 20 kbar), the cotectic with muscovite lies at higher (≍·) and XAb (≍0·42) than with biotite :≍0·35; XAb(≍·), thus dehydration melting of muscovite requires 10% more plagioclase for fertility than does biotite.The first melts from dehydration melting of muscovite (with Plg + Qtz) are more sodic and form at lower temperatures than the first melts from Bio + Plg + Qtz. With increasing pressure, to at least 30 kbar, granite minimum and mica dehydration melts become more sodic. This indicates that of such melts is greater than 0·3.

scholarly journals Fluid pressure diffusion effects on the excess compliance matrix of porous rocks containing aligned fractures

2020 ◽  
Vol 222 (1) ◽  
pp. 715-733
Author(s):  
Gabriel A Castromán ◽  
Nicolás D Barbosa ◽  
J Germán Rubino ◽  
Fabio I Zyserman ◽  
Klaus Holliger
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Fractured Rock ◽  
Finite Thickness ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Porous Rocks ◽  
Compliance Matrix ◽  
Pressure Diffusion ◽  
Reservoir Permeability ◽  
Wide Range

SUMMARY The presence of sets of open fractures is common in most reservoirs, and they exert important controls on the reservoir permeability as fractures act as preferential pathways for fluid flow. Therefore, the correct characterization of fracture sets in fluid-saturated rocks is of great practical importance. In this context, the inversion of fracture characteristics from seismic data is promising since their signatures are sensitive to a wide range of pertinent fracture parameters, such as density, orientation and fluid infill. The most commonly used inversion schemes are based on the classical linear slip theory (LST), in which the effects of the fractures are represented by a real-valued diagonal excess compliance matrix. To account for the effects of wave-induced fluid pressure diffusion (FPD) between fractures and their embedding background, several authors have shown that this matrix should be complex-valued and frequency-dependent. However, these approaches neglect the effects of FPD on the coupling between orthogonal deformations of the rock. With this motivation, we considered a fracture model based on a sequence of alternating poroelastic layers of finite thickness representing the background and the fractures, and derived analytical expressions for the corresponding excess compliance matrix. We evaluated this matrix for a wide range of background parameters to quantify the magnitude of its coefficients not accounted for by the classical LST and to determine how they are affected by FPD. We estimated the relative errors in the computation of anisotropic seismic velocity and attenuation associated with the LST approach. Our analysis showed that, in some cases, considering the simplified excess compliance matrix may lead to an incorrect representation of the anisotropic response of the probed fractured rock.

scholarly journals BARK ANATOMY OF LATE PERMIAN GLOSSOPTERID TREES FROM ANTARCTICA

IAWA Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 444-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Laure Decombeix ◽  
Edith L. Taylor ◽  
Thomas N. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Late Permian ◽  
Secondary Phloem ◽  
Outer Bark ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Bark Tissue ◽  
Bark Anatomy ◽  
Extinct Group ◽  
First Time

The Glossopteridales are an extinct group of seed plants that dominated Gondwanan floras during the Permian. Their remains are found across a wide range of habitats and paleolatitudes, and it is particularly interesting to understand the anatomical characteristics that might have enabled such an extensive distribution. Here, we document for the first time the bark anatomy of high-latitude glossopteridalean trees using peels and thin sections made from a Late Permian trunk from Skaar Ridge, Antarctica. The bark is 3 cm thick. The secondary phloem is composed of sieve cells, axial and ray parenchyma, and fibers arranged in discontinuous unicellular tangential layers. The outer bark is a rhytidome, with numerous alternating layers of periderm and non-conducting secondary phloem showing some proliferation of the axial parenchyma. Successive periderms mostly run parallel to the cambium, with some longitudinal undulation and rare connections between two periderms. A similar anatomy was observed in bark fragments found isolated in the matrix or closely associated with large glossopterid stems or roots. The anatomy of the Skaar Ridge specimens shows that Antarctic Glossopteridales had a relatively thick, probably stringy bark. The retention of a significant amount of insulating dead bark tissue on the trunk likely provided protection of the cambium, conducting secondary phloem, and potential latent buds against biotic and abiotic environmental hazards (fire, frost, scalding, insects, etc.) and may have contributed to the extensive paleolatitudinal distribution of the Glossopteridales during the Permian.

scholarly journals Type VI collagen in extracellular, 100-nm periodic filaments and fibrils: identification by immunoelectron microscopy.

1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
R R Bruns ◽  
W Press ◽  
E Engvall ◽  
R Timpl ◽  
J Gross
Keyword(s):  
Immunoelectron Microscopy ◽  
Polyclonal Antibodies ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Rabbit Antiserum ◽  
Type Vi Collagen ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Prolonged Incubation ◽  
Fibroblast Cultures ◽  
Band Region ◽  
Wide Range

Filaments and fibrils that exhibit a 100-nm axial periodicity and occur in the medium and in the deposited extracellular matrix of chicken embryo and human fibroblast cultures have been tentatively identified with type VI collagen on the basis of their similar structural characteristics (Bruns, R. R., 1984, J. Ultrastruct. Res., 89:136-145). Using indirect immunoelectron microscopy and specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, we now report their positive identification with collagen VI and their distribution in fibroblast cultures and in tendon. Primary human foreskin fibroblast cultures, labeled with anti-type VI antibody and studied by fluorescence microscopy, showed a progressive increase in labeling and changes in distribution with time up to 8 d in culture. With immunoelectron microscopy and monoclonal antibodies to human type VI collagen followed by goat anti-mouse IgG coupled to colloidal gold, they showed in thin sections specific 100-nm periodic labeling on extracellular filaments and fibrils: one monoclonal antibody (3C4) attached to the band region and another (4B10) to the interband region of the filaments and fibrils. Rabbit antiserum to type VI collagen also localized on the band region, but the staining was less well defined. Control experiments with antibodies to fibronectin and to procollagen types I and III labeled other filaments and fibrils, but not those with a 100-nm period. Heavy metal-stained fibrils with the same periodic and structural characteristics also have been found in both adult rat tail tendon and embryonic chicken tendon subjected to prolonged incubation in culture medium or treatment with adenosine 5'-triphosphate at pH 4.6. We conclude that the 100-nm periodic filaments and fibrils represent the native aggregate form of type VI collagen. It is likely that banded fibrils of the same periodicity and appearance, reported by many observers over the years in a wide range of normal and pathological tissues, are at least in part, type VI collagen.

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