Search results for "LITHOSPHERE"
showing 10 items of 96 documents
Continental collision and the dynamic and thermal evolution of the Variscan orogenic crustal root — numerical models
2001
Abstract Orogeny is modelled numerically by treating continental collision within full convection solutions, in order to better understand some aspects of the Variscan structures and processes. Three different approaches are taken: (1) collision where one ‘continental plate’ is ‘pushed’ against another across a zone of weakness; (2) gravitational instability of a lithospheric mantle root leading to delamination, slab break-off and crustal root reduction; (3) melting in the lower part of a crustal orogenic root. The first approach demonstrates that thick (but in the models: cool) roots can accumulate, in which upper crustal rocks are carried to great depth and mantle material may be carried …
The importance of iron speciation (Fe+2 /Fe+3 ) in determining mineral assemblages: an example from the high-grade aluminous metapelites of southeast…
2012
Metapelitic granulites from the Anosyen domain of southeastern Madagascar are exposed in three intercalated formations: the Amparihy, Bakika and Ihosy formations. Although mineralogically distinct from each other, the rocks from these formations show very similar bulk-rock compositions when measured on a FeT basis. The preserved mineral assemblages thus do not reflect differences in the ratios of the main rock-forming oxides (i.e. Al2O3:FeT:MgO), but instead reflect variations in the pre-metamorphic oxidation state of the protolith rocks. These differences in oxidation state are manifested via differences in iron speciation – either Fe+2 or Fe+3. The relatively reduced rocks of the Amparihy…
Lithosphere Structure, Heat Flow, Gravity, and Other Geoparameters in Central Europe
1991
To clarify structure and evolution of Central European lithosphere, an approach is taken which combines several methods: multivariate statistical data analysis and modelling of data sets, as geology, crustal structure, seismic travel times, heat flow, gravity, geoid heights, topography, vertical motions and unloading affects.
Seismic Network Evaluation through Simulation: An Application to the Italian National Seismic Network
2011
Abstract A properly organized seismic network is a valuable tool for monitoring seismic zones and assessing seismic hazards. In this paper we propose a new method (seismic network evaluation through simulation, SNES) to evaluate the performance of hypocenter location of a seismic network. The SNES method gives, as a function of magnitude, hypocentral depth, and confidence level, the spatial distribution of the number of active stations in the location procedure and their relative azimuthal gaps, along with confidence intervals in hypocentral parameters. The application of the SNES method also permits evaluation of the magnitude of completeness ( M C ), the background noise levels at the sta…
Zr- Hf Fractionation During Water-Rock Interaction
2017
International audience; Zr and Hf are two elements having same ionic charge and similar ionic size at a given coordination number. Despite the Zr/Hf ratio is considered to be quite constant in meteorites and lithospheric rocks, seawaters collected from the surface down to varying depths of several Pacific Ocean stations reveal that the Zr/Hf ratio increases by one order of magnitude. Very recent studies have shown that, in both ground waters and lake waters, the Zr/Hf ratio is either higher or lower compared to the interacting minerals displaying a large variability in the distribution of these twin elements. In this communication the possible processes responsible for such a large fraction…
Shear heating induced lithospheric-scale localization: Does it result in subduction?
2012
Abstract Even though it is a well-established fact that the Earth is currently in a plate-tectonics mode, the question on how to “break” lithospheric plates and initiate subduction remains a matter of debate. Here we focus on shear heating as a potential mechanism to cause lithospheric shear localization and subsequent subduction initiation in oceanic plates. It is shown that shear heating under some conditions (i) facilitates the formation of a lithospheric-scale shear zone and (ii) is capable of stabilizing a lithospheric-scale shear zone, thus creating the necessary condition for subduction initiation to occur. Furthermore, we demonstrate that not only the localization process is of impo…
Trench-parallel spreading ridge subduction and its consequences for the geological evolution of the overriding plate: Insights from analogue models a…
2018
A series of 3-D asthenospheric-scale analogue models have been conducted in the laboratory in order to simulate the arrival of a spreading ridge at the trench and understand its effect on plate kinematics, slab geometry, and on the deformation of the overriding plate. These models are made of a two-layered linearly viscous system simulating the lithosphere and asthenosphere. We reproduce the progressive decrease in thickness of the oceanic lithosphere at the trench. We measure plate kinematics, slab geometry and upper plate deformation. Our experiments reveal that the subduction of a thinning plate beneath a freely moving overriding continent favors a decrease of the subduction velocity and…
Tectonique et architecture des bassins intracratoniques Paléozoïques : impact sur l’enregistrement sédimentaire et la géométrie des réservoirs associ…
2019
The Paleozoic Saharan platform including the peri-Hoggar Basins (i.e. Murzuq, Illizi, Mouydir, Ahnet, Reggane and Tim Mersoï basins) are defined as intracraonic basins. Their histories have been dominated by slow long-wavelength vertical motions leading to overall low subsidence rate (i.e ca. 10 m/Ma to 50 m/Ma) and accumulation of an extensive cover of platformal sediments (i.e. shallow deposits environments), rhythmed by pulsatile periods of increasing and decreasing rate probably triggered by regional geodynamic events. The vertical motions of the platform produced several arches also called domes, swells, highs, ridges (e.g. the Tihemboka, Amguid El Biod, Arak-Foum Belrem and Azzel Matt…
Petrogenesis of Mediterranean lamproites and associated rocks: The role of overprinted metasomatic events in the post-collisional lithospheric upper …
2021
High-MgO lamproite and lamproite-like (i.e. lamprophyric) ultrapotassic rocks are recurrent in the Mediterranean and surrounding regions. They are associated in space and time with ultrapotassic shoshonites and high-K calc-alkaline rocks. This magmatism is linked with the geodynamic evolution of the westernmost sector of the Alpine-Himalayan collisional margin, which followed the closure of the Tethys Ocean. Subduction-related lamproites, lamprophyres, shoshonites and high-K calc-alkaline suites were emplaced in the Mediterranean region in the form of shallow level intrusions (e.g. plugs, dykes and laccoliths) and small volume lava flows, with very subordinate pyroclastic rocks, starting fr…
Geodynamic inversion to constrain the non-linear rheology of the lithosphere
2015
A common method to determine the strength of the lithosphere is through estimating its effective elastic thickness from the coherence between gravity and topography. This method assumes a priori that the lithosphere is a thin elastic plate floating on a viscous mantle. Whereas this seems to work well with oceanic plates, it has given controversial results in continental collision zones. Usually, continental collisions zones are well-studied areas for which additional geophysical datasets such as receiver functions and seismic tomography exist that constrain the geometry of the lithosphere and often show that it is rather complex. Yet, lithospheric geometry by itself is insufficient to under…