ALBERT

Description: Global seismicity models provide scientific hypotheses about the rate, location and magnitude of future earthquakes to occur worldwide. Given the aleatory variability of earthquake activity and epistemic uncertainties in seismicity forecasting, the veracity of these hypotheses can only be confirmed or rejected after prospective forecast evaluation. In this study, we present the construction of and test results for two updated global earthquake models, aimed at providing mean estimates of shallow (d ≤ 70 km) seismicity for seismic hazard assessment. These approaches, referred to as the Tectonic Earthquake Activity Model (TEAM) and the World Hybrid Earthquake Estimates based on Likelihood scores (WHEEL) model, use the Subduction Megathrust Earthquake Rate Forecast (SMERF2), an earthquake-rate model for subduction zones constrained by geodetic strain measurements and earthquake-catalogue information. Thus, these global ensemble seismicity models capture two independent components necessary for long-term earthquake forecasting, namely interseismic crustal strain accumulation and sudden lithospheric stress release. The calibration period for TEAM and WHEEL extends from 1977 January 1 to 2013 December 31. Accordingly, we use m ≥ 5.95 earthquakes recorded during the 2014–2019 period to pseudo-prospectively evaluate the forecasting skills of these earthquake models, and statistically compare their performances to that of the Global Earthquake Activity Rate (GEAR1) model. As a result, GEAR1 and WHEEL are the most informative global seismicity models during the pseudo-prospective test period, as both rank with the highest information scores among all participant earthquake-rate forecasts. Nonetheless, further prospective evaluations are required to more accurately assess the abilities of these global ensemble seismicity models to forecast long-term earthquake activity.

Description: In this study, we investigate numerically the hydro-mechanical behavior of fractured crystalline rock due to one of the five hydraulic stimulations at the Pohang Enhanced Geothermal site in South Korea. We use the commercial code FracMan (Golder Associates) that enables studying hydro-mechanical coupled processes in fractured media in three dimensions combining the finite element method with a discrete fracture network. The software is used to simulate fluid pressure perturbation at fractures during hydraulic stimulation. Our numerical simulation shows that pressure history matching can be obtained by partitioning the treatment into separate phases. This results in adjusted stress-aperture relationships. The evolution of aperture adjustment implies that the stimulation mechanism could be a combination of hydraulic fracturing and shearing. The simulated extent of the 0.01 MPa overpressure contour at the end of the treatment equals to ∼180 m around the injection point.

Description: On October 9, 2014, a Mw 7.1–6.7 seismic doublet occurred at the Juan Fernández microplate, close to the triple junction with Pacific and Nazca plates. The Mw 7.1 earthquake is the largest earthquake ever to have been recorded in the region. Its thrust focal mechanism is also unusual for the region, although the northern part of the microplate is expected to undergo compression. The region is remote and seismological data is limited to a seismic station at ~600 km distance on Easter Island and teleseismic observations for the largest events. We use a combination of advanced seismological techniques to overcome the lack of local data and resolve earthquake source parameters for the doublet and its aftershock sequence, being able to reconstruct the chronology of the sequence and the geometry of affected fault segments. Our results depict a complex seismic sequence characterized by the interplay of thrust and strike-slip earthquakes along different structures, including a second, reversed strike slip-thrust seismic doublet in November 2014. Seismicity occurred within the microplate and only in the late part of the sequence migrated northward, towards the microplate boundary. The first largest doublet, whose rupture kinematic is well explained by stress changes imparted by the first subevent on the second one, may have activated unmapped E-W and NE-SW faults or an internal curved pseudofault, attributed to the long-term rotation of the microplate. Few large, thrust earthquakes are observed within the sequence, taking place in the vicinity of mapped compressional ridges. We suggest that compressional stresses in the northern part of the microplate and at its boundary are partially accommodated aseismically. However, the occasional occurrence of large, impulsive thrust earthquakes, with a considerable tsunamigenic potential, poses a relevant hazard for islands in the South Pacific region.

Description: The cubic diamond (Fd‐3m)group IVA element Si has been the material driver of the electronics industry since its inception. We report synthesis of a new cubic (Im‐3m) group IVA material, a GeSn solid solution, upon heating Ge and Sn at pressures from 13 to 28 GPa using double‐sided diamond anvil laser‐heating and large volume press methods. Both methods were coupled with in‐situ angle dispersive X‐ray diffraction characterization. The new material substantially enriches the seminal group IVA alloy materials landscape by introducing an eightfold coordinated cubic symmetry, which markedly expands on the conventional tetrahedrally coordinated cubic one. This cubic solid solution is formed, despite Ge never adopting the Im‐3m symmetry, melting inhibiting subsequent Im‐3m formation and reactant Ge and Sn having unlike crystal structures and atomic radii at all these pressures. This is hence achieved without adherence to conventional formation criteria and routes to synthesis. This advance creates fertile avenues for new materials development.

Description: On the basis of Monte Carlo simulations, configurations and pair and triplet correlation functions for a Lennard-Jones fluid are reported over a large range of densities and temperatures (0.002 ≤ ρ* ≤ 1.41 and 0.45 ≤ T* ≤ 25, dimensionless). In total, data for 27 615 ρ*–T*-state points including 750 configurations for each state point are used for the calculation of the pair and triplet correlation functions. For the pair configuration function, an approximation over the whole set of state points is provided, which reproduces the pair configuration with high accuracy (3σ 〈 0.0075). The results for the triplet configuration functions are compared to the Kirkwood superposition approximation. With the exception of low ρ* (〈0.3), the application of the Kirkwood superposition approximation seems not to be a proper choice, showing errors 〉20%. The configurations and pair and triplet correlation functions of all simulations are openly accessible and can be used as a reference for future theoretical developments of Lennard-Jones fluids and, especially, the liquid state.

Description: As society transitions to low-carbon, renewable energy resources, the demand for metals and minerals is set to increase. Massive quantities of base metals and mineral materials (for example, silica and concrete) along with smaller quantities of precious metals will be required for the construction of wind turbines, solar panels and battery storage facilities to meet the demands of the ‘Electric Planet’ of the future. Harnessing microbe-mineral-metal interactions may offer many opportunities to improve some mining practises and support the long-term sustainability of mining. As easily exploitable, high-grade deposits are becoming increasingly depleted there is a need for new technologies to improve exploration and mining strategies. Microorganisms are ubiquitous and diverse, surviving in almost all environments in the Earth's crust and recent advances in molecular techniques have enabled scientists to study these communities is extraordinary detail. Microorganisms also interact directly with their environment; both responding to and changing the environment around them. These responses and their influences on the surrounding environment are preserved within their genome (a complete set of the DNA of the microorganism). Here, we discuss using state-of-the-art sequencing techniques to identify key microbial genes that have been demonstrated to correlate with metal concentrations. These genetic-based bioindicators may provide additional tools to guide and improve the success rate of mineral exploration programmes. Advances in molecular techniques will also improve existing biohydrometallurgical techniques and expand the commodity range for which biohydrometallurgy are currently economically viable. Finally, microorganisms may be used in a number of strategies for mine remediation; specifically, we review in detail microbially accelerated carbon capture and storage strategies and mine waste stabilisation.

Description: In a joint project called OMEGA, between GFZ-Potsdam and the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), an experimental seismic monitoring system was installed in 2015 near the power plants of the geothermal area of Mt. Amiata (central Italy). The main objectives of this three-year experiment are: i) to monitor the seismic activity connected to any type of seismicity inside the geothermal field, ii) to verify if the low local seismicity rate near Mt. Amiata reported by the INGV bulletin is natural, or due to the sparse distribution of the INGV network, and iii) to discriminate natural from possibly induced seismicity. The eight-station network was extended by a sevenelement seismic array for the first four weeks. The aim of this paper is to present the first automatic hypocentre locations of the joint network/array analysis.

Description: Rare earths and yttrium (REY) distribution patterns of the hydrosphere reveal systematic correlations of Gd and Y anomalies besides the non-correlated redox-dependent Ce and Eu anomalies. Eu anomalies are inherited by dissolution of feldspars in igneous rocks, whereas Ce, Gd and Y anomalies develop in aqueous systems in contact with minerals and amorphous matter. Natural, positive Gd and Y anomalies in REY patterns characterize high-salinity fluids from the Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan, the Great Salt Lake, USA, the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan, ground- and surface water worldwide. Extreme Gd anomalies mostly originate from anthropogenic sources. The correlation of Gd and Y anomalies at low temperature in water bodies differ from geothermal ones. In nature, dynamic systems prevail in which either solids settle in water columns or water moves through permeable sediments or sedimentary rocks. In both cases, the anomalies in water develop due to repeated equilibration with solid matter. Thus, these anomalies provide information about the hydrological history of seawater, fresh groundwater and continental brines. When migrating, the interaction of aqueous phases with mineral surfaces leads to increasing anomalies because the more hydrophillic Gd and Y preferentially remain in the aqueous phase compared to their nearest neighbors. The correlation coefficients between Gd and Y anomalies in groundwater is 0.5–0.9. In lakes and oceans, it is about 0.1–0.8, under anomalous conditions it can increase to 1.