ALBERT

Beschreibung: The study of shock pressure indicators can provide important clues for understanding the cratering process, though the estimation of shock pressures in weakly shocked rocks is commonly difficult. In this study, we selected a very young and well-preserved impact structure, the Lonar crater in India. The crater, devoid of any tectonic overprint, can be assumed as pristine. We used a combination of rock magnetic and microfracture studies to estimate shock pressure in the crater rim. On the basis of present results, the magnetic fabrics are interpreted to be of magmatic origin related to the Deccan basalt emplacement. The high-coercivity component of the natural remnant magnetization in the crater rim basalt is similar to that in the unshocked basalt. The lack of any shock-related magnetic overprint on the crater rim basalt is, therefore, evident in the Lonar crater. In contrast, radial and concentric microfractures observed in basalts at the crater rim and farther away show symmetric distribution with respect to the crater. The concentric microfractures consistently overprint the radial microfractures. We infer that the radial and concentric microfractures were developed during propagation of the early compressional and the late decompressional shock wave components, respectively. The results of our rock magnetic and microfracture studies, when interpreted in light of published experimental and numerical simulation studies on the Lonar basalt, reveal that the shock pressure in the Lonar crater rim was less than 0.5 GPa but greater than 0.2 GPa. This shock pressure was high enough to produce fractures but too low to affect the magnetic fabrics. These results give new information on the relationship between shock pressure and resulting microfractures.

Beschreibung: We present evidence for an extrusion wedge in the Scandian fold-thrust belt of the central Scandinavian Caledonides (Seve nappe complex). Rb-Sr multimineral geochronology in synkinematic assemblages indicates simultaneous movements at the normal-sense roof shear zone and at the reverse-sense floor shear zone between 434 Ma and 429 Ma. A Sm-Nd age of 462 Ma from a mylonitic garnet mica schist documents prograde garnet growth and possible incipient subduction. Pressure-temperature pseudosection calculations provide evidence for eclogite facies metamorphic conditions and nearly isothermal decompression at ~670 ± 50 °C from 17.5 to 14.5 kbar in garnet-kyanite mica schists during reverse-sense shearing, and from 15 to 11 kbar in garnet mica schists during normal-sense shearing. These data and the presence of decompression-related pegmatites dated at 434 Ma and 429 Ma indicate that the Seve nappes form a large-scale extrusion wedge. This wedge extends along strike for at least 150 km and marks an early stage of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism, exhumation, and orogenic wedge formation in this part of the Scandinavian Caledonides predating the major, post–415 Ma ultrahigh-pressure exhumation processes in southwestern Norway.

Beschreibung: Analysis of the time series of coordinates is extremely important in geodynamic research. Indeed, the correct interpretation of coordinate changes may facilitate an understanding of the diverse geophysical processes taking place in the earth’s crust. At present, when rigorously processing global navigation satellite system (GNSS) observations, the influence of deformations in the surface of the earth’s crust is not considered. This article presents signal modelling for the influence on the analysis of noise occurring in the time series of GNSS station coordinates. The modelling of coordinate time series was undertaken using the classic least-squares estimation (LSE) method and the inverse continuous wavelet transform (CWT). In order to determine the type of noise character, the coefficient spectral index was used. Analyses have demonstrated that the nature of noise in measurement data does not depend on the signal estimation method. The differences between classic modelling (LSE) of the time series with annual and semiannual oscillation and signal reconstruction are very small ( Δ κ = 0.0 ÷−0.2).

Beschreibung: An up to 2-cm thick Chicxulub ejecta deposit marking the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary (the "K-T" boundary) was recovered in six holes drilled during ODP Leg 207 (Demerara Rise, tropical western Atlantic). Stunning features of this deposit are its uniformity over an area of 30 km2 and the total absence of bioturbation, allowing documentation of the original sedimentary sequence. High-resolution mineralogical, petrological, elemental, isotopic (Sr-Nd), and rock magnetic data reveal a distinct microstratigraphy and a range of ejecta components. The deposit is normally graded and composed predominantly of rounded, 0.1- to max. 1-mm sized spherules. Spherules are altered to dioctahedral aluminous smectite, though occasionally relict Si-Al-rich hydrated glass is also present, suggesting acidic precursor lithologies. Spherule textures vary from hollow to vesicle-rich to massive; some show in situ collapse, others include distinct Fe-Mg-Ca-Ti-rich melt globules and lath-shaped Al-rich quench crystals. Both altered glass spherules and the clay matrix (Site 1259B) display strongly negative epsilon-Nd (T=65Ma) values (-17) indicating uptake of Nd from contemporaneous ocean water during alteration. Finally, Fe-Mg-rich spherules, shocked quartz and feldspar grains, few lithic clasts, as well as abundant accretionary and porous carbonate clasts are concentrated in the uppermost 0.5-0.7 mm of the deposit. The carbonate clasts display in part very unusual textures, which are interpreted to be of shock-metamorphic origin. The preservation of delicate spherule textures, normal grading with lack of evidence for traction transport, and sub-millimeter scale compositional trends provide evidence for this spherule deposit representing a primary air-fall deposit not affected by significant reworking. The ODP Leg 207 spherule deposit is the first known dual-layer K-Pg boundary in marine settings; it incorporates compositional and stratigraphic aspects of both proximal and distal marine sites. Its stratigraphy strongly resembles the dual-layer K-Pg boundary deposits in the terrestrial Western Interior of North America (although there carbonate phases are not preserved). The occurrence of a dual ejecta layer in these quite different sedimentary environments - separated by several thousands of kilometers - provides additional evidence for an original sedimentary sequence. Therefore, the layered nature of the deposit may document compositional differences between ballistic Chicxulub ejecta forming the majority of the spherule deposit, and material falling out from the vapor (ejecta) plume, which is concentrated in the uppermost part.