Cone Sheets Research Articles

Diversification inside a lamprophyric dyke and cone sheet complex converging onto a hidden carbonatite centre (Frederikshåbs Isblink, SW Greenland)

AbstractBoth radiating dykes and proximal cone sheets converge onto a positive aeromagnetic anomaly of an inferred carbonatitic centre, hidden beneath a retreating edge of the Frederikshåbs Isblink glacier. This convergence, together with sub-parallel incompatible element patterns by all intrusions, suggests a cogenetic relationship that warrants investigation into potential diversification processes. More primitive high- and low-Mg damtjernites, which for three dykes conform to more porphyritic dyke cores and aphyric margins, respectively, can be explained by high-Mg trends being controlled by the fractionation/accumulation of mainly augite and olivine (or other mafic phases), while discordant low-Mg trends require additional decoupled magnetite fractionation. It is proposed that each dyke intrusion tapped the differentiated top of a central magma chamber, occasionally followed by an unconsolidated mafic cumulate mush, excluding denser magnetites, with in situ flow segregation playing a subordinate additional role. Beyond the most differentiated damtjernite, more evolved phonolitic nephelinites to carbonaceous alnöites split into bulk rock geochemical T-trends that can only relate to late-stage segregations into magmas with varying proportions of interstitial igneous (not secondary) analcime and carbonate – collectively increasing in volume with differentiation. While the analcime component also appears to segregate more readily into veins and ocelli than carbonatite, it is speculated if such low viscosity, density and liquidus rest melts, inside igneous centres, more efficiently aggregated into voluminous, buoyant analcime caps above slightly denser carbonatites. Similar converging plumbing systems and diversification processes are proposed for other complexes, where kimberlitic parents were simply extracted from deeper mantle sources.

Impact of Transverse Acoustic Excitation and Air Swirl on a Confined Hollow Cone Sheet

Abstract This study investigates the effect of imposing symmetric transverse acoustic excitation and counter-rotating air swirl flow on a confined hollow cone spray sheet. We study the impact of these forcing conditions on two unstable modes—sheet flapping and sinuous wave growth modes—and their phasic relationship. We used the shadowgraphy technique, and only the sheet edges were analyzed using the method of snapshot proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). In this study, we used postprocessing techniques to estimate the nondimensional breakup length, phase averaged cone angle, and continuous wavelet transform (CWT) frequency. Results show that imposing acoustic excitation alone causes the sheet edges to flap, axisymmetrically, at the pressure antinode, while at the pressure node and base flow condition, the asymmetric sinuous wave mode is dominant. At the pressure intermediary, we find the possible dominance of both modes. While the dominant effect of air swirl alone was difficult to ascertain, results from CWT analysis show that POD mode 1 and mode 3 have very similar spectral content, with mode 3 showing a flapping mode. Finally, air swirl flow has a more dominant effect than acoustics in causing sheet breakup.

A preliminary study of the rare earth element-enriched Twyfelskupje carbonatite complex, southern Namibia

AbstractThe Twyfelskupje carbonatite complex, Southern Namibia, exhibits the typical igneous emplacement structures of carbonatites, including plugs, cone sheets and dyke stockworks. The excellent exposure allows for detailed studies of the high-level geochemical and structural evolution of the carbonatite, and the nature of the concomitant rare earth element mineralization. Radiogenic isotope analyses (Sr, Nd, Pb) reveal that, in common with many other carbonatites, the Twyfelskupje carbonatite complex appears to be predominantly derived from mixing between HIMU and EM1 mantle end-members. Following partial melting of these mantle sources, the geochemical and structural evolution of the Twyfelskupje carbonatite complex proceeded by a staged process involving separate magma pulses, a series of emplacement structures, sub-solidus crystallization, fractionation and low-temperature hydrothermal alteration. The dominant rare earth element minerals in the Twyfelskupje carbonatite complex are fluorcarbonates and monazite, and are characterized by variable Ca, high F and light rare earth elements in the order Ce>La>Nd. Comparison between the rare earth element concentrations of the whole rocks, dominant rare earth element minerals and carbonates suggests that ∼95 % of the total rare earth element abundance of the Twyfelskupje carbonatite complex is contained within fluorcarbonates and monazite. Overall, the early calcio-carbonatite plugs are rare earth element enriched (mean 4.47 wt % rare earth oxides) relative to the magnesio-carbonatite cone sheets (mean 2.51 wt % rare earth oxides).

Geology of a Neogene caldera cluster in the Borgarfjörður eystri–Loðmundarfjörður area, Eastern Iceland

The Borgarfjörður eystri–Loðmundarfjörður area in Eastern Iceland hosts several volcanic centres in a relatively small area. Large volumes of silicic, as well as an unusual amount of intermediate rocks, occur in this area, alongside other volcanic and sub-volcanic features that formed in the Miocene between 14 and 12:2 Ma. We compiled the first comprehensive geological map of the area and summarise the geology based on more than 40 years of fieldwork. We identify regionally extensive marker horizons that comprise intermediate (icelandite) and mafic (olivine basalt and porphyritic basalt) lavas. These marker horizons, along with new paleomagnetic data and some previous radiogenic dating, allow us to bracket a phase of magmatic activity that is one of the oldest in Eastern Iceland. We describe the prominent features of the volcanic centres, including remnants of collapse calderas in Njarðvík, Dyrfjöll, Breðuvík and other ignimbrite-producing vent structures in Kækjuskörð and Herfell. Notably, the area also contains extremely well exposed examples of volcanic vents, cone sheets, and unique caldera-lake sediments. We conclude with open questions to inspire future research on this understudied area.

Late- to post-Variscan tectonics and the kinematic relationship with W–Sn vein-type mineralization: evidence from Late Carboniferous intramontane basins (Porto–Sátão syncline, Variscan Iberian belt)

Many studies have constrained that late-Variscan buckling produced the arcuate geometry of the Ibero-Armorican belt. Nonetheless, debate remains on the associated geodynamic framework. Poorly studied Late Carboniferous intramontane basins offer an excellent framework to decipher the timing and kinematics of the late- to post-Variscan tectonics. Understanding the latter also helps constrain the structural emplacement mode of contemporaneous W–Sn–Nb–Ta–Li mineralization. In Iberia, the Porto–Sátão syncline is an example of such a Late Carboniferous intramontane basin. We present a structural analysis of the syncline, its basement and the associated W–Sn deposits. The regional structure is dictated by the Alcudian angular unconformity, caused by Cadomian tectonics (575–555 Ma) and separating tilted Ediacaran and subhorizontal Lower Paleozoic formations. Superimposed Variscan deformation led to F 1 –F 3 folds with steep and gentle plunges, respectively. The late-orogenic D 3 fabric is locally affected by post-orogenic F 4 kink folds and an S 4 crenulation cleavage. W–Sn-bearing vein systems occur along granite-hosted cone sheets, or exploit cross-fold joints associated with the F 3 and F 4 fold generations, revealing a close kinematic relationship between granite-related mineralization and the late- to post-Variscan deformation style. This structural history is interpreted as a plate-scale geodynamic change from Late Carboniferous north–south (D 3 ) to Early Permian WNW–ESE (D 4 ) convergence.

As–Co–Ni sulfarsenides in Palaeogene basaltic cone sheets as sources of groundwater arsenic contamination in co. Louth, Ireland

Elevated arsenic concentrations (up to 19 μg L−1) occur in private groundwater wells in fractured bedrock aquifers close to the contact between Silurian greywackes of the Longford-Down Terrane, and the Palaeogene Slieve Gullion and Carlingford igneous complexes in NE Ireland. Palaeogene basaltic intrusions intersected in two drill cores were found to contain up to 80 mg kg−1 arsenic; concentrations that are elevated compared with the global averages for basalt. Fine grained (c. 5 μm) disseminated sulfarsenides, associated with cobalt and nickel were identified in the basalts as the primary sources of groundwater arsenic in this fractured bedrock aquifer system. Many of the high-As waters exhibit relatively high pH, arguing against a simple single-stage sulphide oxidation model for arsenic solubilisation. This observation coupled with the widespread presence of iron oxyhydroxide coatings on natural rock fractures intersected in the drill cores suggests a multi-stage As mobilisation process. This interpretation envisages sulfarsenide mineral oxidation, adsorption of dissolved As to iron oxyhydroxide mineral surfaces, and finally desorptive release of oxyanion As species from these surfaces as waters evolve to higher pH as a result of water-rock reactions.

Evolution of the Alu-Dalafilla and Borale volcanoes, Afar, Ethiopia

The Danakil depression marks a progressive change from continental rifting in Afar to seafloor spreading further north in the Red Sea. Extension and volcanism in this incipient spreading centre is localised to the ~70-km-long, 20-km-wide active Erta Ale volcanic segment. Here, we combine remote sensing and major element geochemical analysis to determine the structure and composition of three volcanoes on the Erta Ale Volcanic Segment: the Alu dome, the Dalafilla stratovolcano and the Borale stratovolcano. We investigate the evolution and compositional variation within and between these volcanic complexes. Our results show that most flows are sourced from scoria cones and fissures, representing in total 15 phases of volcanism that occurred within four major eruptive stages, most likely occurring in the last 80 thousand years (kyr). The first stage represents large-scale fissure volcanism, comprising submarine basaltic phases. Stage two involves basaltic fissure volcanism around Alu. The third stage is dominated by trachy-andesite to rhyolitic volcanism from the volcanic edifices of Alu, Dalafilla and Borale and the fourth by a resumption of small-scale basaltic/trachybasalt fissure systems. Geochemical modelling indicates a paucity of crustal assimilation and mixing within the sub-volcanic magmatic system. Spatial analysis of volcanic cones and fissures within the area indicate the presence of a cone sheet and ring faults. The fissures are likely fed by sills connecting the magma source with the volcanic edifices of Alu and Borale. Our results reveal the cyclic nature of both eruption style and composition of major volcanic complexes in rift environments, prior to the onset of seafloor spreading.

Borophosphene: A New Anisotropic Dirac Cone Monolayer with a High Fermi Velocity and a Unique Self-Doping Feature.

Two-dimensional (2D) Dirac cone materials exhibit linear energy dispersion at the Fermi level, where the effective masses of carriers are very close to zero and the Fermi velocity is ultrahigh, only 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than the light velocity. Such Dirac cone materials have great promise in high-performance electronic devices. Herein, we have employed the genetic algorithm methods combined with first-principles calculations to propose a new 2D anisotropic Dirac cone material, an orthorhombic boron phosphide (BP) monolayer named borophosphene. Molecular dynamics simulation and phonon dispersion have been used to evaluate the dynamic and thermal stability of borophosphene. Because of the unique arrangements of B-B and P-P dimers, the mechanical and electronic properties are highly anisotropic. Of great interest is the fact that the Dirac cone of the borophosphene is robust, independent of in-plane biaxial and uniaxial strains, and can also be observed in its one-dimensional zigzag nanoribbons and armchair nanotubes. The Fermi velocities are ∼105 m/s, on the same order of magnitude as that of graphene. By using a tight-binding model, the origin of the Dirac cone of borophosphene is analyzed. Moreover, a unique feature of self-doping can be induced by the in-plane biaxial and uniaxial strains of borophosphene and the curvature effect of nanotubes, which is greatly beneficial for realizing high-speed carriers (holes). Our results suggest that the borophosphene holds great promise for high-performance electronic devices, which could promote experimental and theoretical studies for further exploring the potential applications of other 2D Dirac cone sheets.

Lamprophyre-Carbonatite Magma Mingling and Subsolidus Processes as Key Controls on Critical Element Concentration in Carbonatites—The Bonga Complex (Angola)

The Bonga complex is composed of a central carbonatite plug (with a ferrocarbonatite core) surrounded by carbonatite cone sheets and igneous breccias of carbonatitic, fenitic, phoscoritic and lamprophyric xenoliths set in a carbonatitic, lamprophyric or mingled mesostase. To reconstruct the dynamics of the complex, the pyrochlore composition and distribution have been used as a proxy of magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of the complex. An early Na-, F-rich pyrochlore is disseminated throughout the carbonatite plug and in some concentric dykes. Crystal accumulation led to enrichment of pyrochlore crystals in the plug margins, phoscoritic units producing high-grade concentric dykes. Degassing of the carbonatite magma and fenitization reduced F and Na activity, leading to the crystallization of magmatic Na-, F- poor pyrochlore but progressively enriched in LILE and HFSE. Mingling of lamprophyric and carbonatite magmas produced explosive processes and the formation of carbonatite breccia. Pyrochlore is the main Nb carrier in mingled carbonatites and phoscorites, whereas Nb is concentrated in perovskite within mingled lamprophyres. During subsolidus processes, hydrothermal fluids produced dolomitization, ankeritization and silicification. At least three pyrochlore generations are associated with late processes, progressively enriched in HFSE, LILE and REE. In the lamprophyric units, perovskite is replaced by secondary Nb-rich perovskite and Nb-rich rutile. REE-bearing carbonates and phosphates formed only in subsolidus stages, along with late quartz; they may have been deposited due to the release of the REE from magmatic carbonates during the hydrothermal processes.

An Inside Perspective on Magma Intrusion: Quantifying 3D Displacement and Strain in Laboratory Experiments by Dynamic X-Ray Computed Tomography

Magma intrusions grow to their final geometries by deforming the Earth’s crust internally and by displacing the Earth’s surface. Interpreting the related displacements in terms of intrusion geometry is key to forecasting a volcanic eruption. While scaled laboratory models enable us to study the relationships between surface displacement and intrusion geometry, past approaches entailed limitations regarding imaging of the laboratory model interior or simplicity of the simulated crustal rheology. Here we apply cutting-edge medical wide beam X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) to quantify in 4D the deformation induced in laboratory models by an intrusion of a magma analogue (golden syrup) into a rheologically-complex granular host rock analogue (sand and plaster). We extract the surface deformation and we quantify the strain field of the entire experimental volume in 3D over time by using Digital Volume Correlation (DVC). By varying the strength and height of the host material, and intrusion velocity, we observe how intrusions of contrasting geometries– cryptodomes, cup shapes, cone sheets and dikes – grow, and induce contrasting strain field characteristics and surface deformation in 4D. We observe dominantly mixed-mode (opening and shear) fracture localisation in low-cohesion material overburden versus opening-mode fracture localisation in high-cohesion material overburden. The results demonstrate how the combination of CT and DVC can greatly enhance the utility of optically non-transparent crustal rock analogues in obtaining insights into shallow crustal deformation processes. This unprecedented perspective on the spatio-temporal interaction of intrusion growth coupled with host rock deformation provides a conceptual framework that can be tested by geological field observations at eroded volcanic systems and by the ever increasing spatial and temporal resolution of geodetic data at active volcanoes.

Coulomb failure of Earth's brittle crust controls growth, emplacement and shapes of igneous sills, saucer-shaped sills and laccoliths

Tabular intrusions are common features in the Earth's brittle crust. They exhibit a broad variety of shapes, ranging from thin sheet intrusions (sills, saucer-shaped sills, cone sheets), to more massive intrusions (domed and punched laccoliths, stocks). Such a diversity of intrusion shapes reflects different emplacement mechanisms caused by contrasting host rock and magma rheologies. Most current models of tabular intrusion emplacement assume that the host rock behaves purely elastically, whereas numerous observations show that shear failure plays a major role. In this study, we investigate the effects of the host rock's Coulomb properties on magma emplacement by integrating (1) laboratory models using dry Coulomb granular model hosts of variable strength (cohesion) and (2) limit analysis numerical models. Our results show that both sheet and massive tabular intrusions initiate as a sill, which triggers shear failure of its overburden along an inclined shear damage zone at a critical sill radius, which depends on the emplacement depth and the overburden's cohesion. Two scenarios are then possible: (1) if the cohesion of the overburden is significant, opening of a planar fracture along the precursory weakened shear damage zones to accommodate magma flow, leads to the formation of inclined sheets, or (2) if the cohesion of the overburden is negligible, the sill inflates and lifts up the overburden, which is dissected by several faults that control the growth of a massive intrusion. Finally, we derive a theoretical scaling that predicts the thickness-to-radius aspect ratios of the laboratory sheet intrusions. This theoretical prediction shows how sheet intrusion morphologies are controlled by a mechanical equilibrium between the flowing viscous magma and Coulomb shear failure of the overburden. Our study suggests that the emplacement of sheet and massive tabular intrusions are parts of the same mechanical regime, in which the Coulomb behavior of the Earth's brittle crust plays an essential role.

The impact of unloading stresses on post-caldera magma intrusions

Calderas represent morphological depressions several kilometers in diameter, and the unloaded crustal stresses they produce can form rapidly (e.g. Pinatubo, 1990) or slowly (e.g. Hawaii, 2018). Active calderas are known as sites of persistent magma intrusions, and yet the dynamics of their shallow plumbing system is not well constrained. We use scaled laboratory experiments to study how experimental intrusions are created beneath a caldera by injecting dyed water (magma analogue) into the base of an elastic gelatin solid (crust analogue) with a cylindrical cavity in its surface to mimic a caldera-like topography. The evolving dike geometry and stress field were qualitatively determined using polarized light, and digital image correlation allowed the incremental and total strain to be quantified by tracking passive-tracer particles in the gelatin that fluoresced in a thin 2D vertical laser sheet. Our results show that the unloaded stress field from a caldera can cause a divergence of vertical dikes, and leads to circumferential dikes and cone sheets. When the caldera was large the initially vertical dike became arrested, then grew laterally via circumferentially-propagating en echelon segments; these eventually joined to complete a cone sheet that was parallel to, but extended outside and beneath, the large caldera. When the caldera was small, a circumferential dike erupted, producing a short fissure which was outside, but parallel to, the caldera. We suggest that the distinct curved geometry, velocity, strain and stress characteristics of circumferential dikes and cone sheets can be used to interpret the origin and growth of post-caldera magmatism and the likelihood of eruption in caldera systems.

Shear Versus Tensile Failure Mechanisms Induced by Sill Intrusions: Implications for Emplacement of Conical and Saucer‐Shaped Intrusions

AbstractSills, saucer‐shaped sills, and cone sheets are fundamental magma conduits in many sedimentary basins worldwide. Models of their emplacement usually approximate the host rock properties as purely elastic and consider the plastic deformation to be negligible. However, many field observations suggest that inelastic damage and shear fracturing play a significant role during sill emplacement. Here we use a rigid plasticity approach, through limit analysis modeling, to study the conditions required for inelastic deformation of sill overburdens. Our models produce distinct shear failure structures that resemble intrusive bodies, such as cone sheets and saucer‐shaped sills. This suggests that shear damage greatly controls the transition from flat sill to inclined sheets. We derive an empirical scaling law of the critical overpressure required for shear failure of the sill's overburden. This scaling law allows to predict the critical sill diameter at which shear failure of the overburden occurs, which matches the diameters of natural saucer‐shaped intrusions' inner sills. A quantitative comparison between our shear failure model and the established sill's tensile propagation mechanism suggests that sills initially propagate as tensile fractures, until reaching a critical diameter at which shear failure of the overburden controls the subsequent emplacement of the magma. This comparison also allows us to predict, for the first time, the conditions of emplacement of both conical intrusions, saucer‐shaped intrusions, and large concordant sills. Beyond the application to sills, our study suggests that shear failure significantly controls the emplacement of igneous sheet intrusions in the Earth's brittle crust.

Intrusion of Magmatic Bodies Into the Continental Crust: 3‐D Numerical Models

AbstractMagma intrusion is a major material transfer process in the Earth's continental crust. Yet the mechanical behavior of the intruding magma and its host are a matter of debate. In this study we present a series of numerical thermomechanical simulations on magma emplacement in 3‐D. Our results demonstrate the response of the continental crust to magma intrusion. We observe change in intrusion geometries between dikes, cone sheets, sills, plutons, ponds, funnels, finger‐shaped and stock‐like intrusions, and injection time. The rheology and temperature of the host are the main controlling factors in the transition between these different modes of intrusion. Viscous deformation in the warm and deep crust favors host rock displacement and plutons at the crust‐mantle boundary forming deep‐seated plutons or magma ponds in the lower to middle crust. Brittle deformation in the cool and shallow crust induces cone‐shaped fractures in the host rock and enables emplacement of finger‐ or stock‐like intrusions at shallow or intermediate depth. Here the passage of magmatic and hydrothermal fluids from the intrusion through the fracture pattern may result in the formation of ore deposits. A combination of viscous and brittle deformation forms funnel‐shaped intrusions in the middle crust. Intrusion of low‐density magma may more over result in T‐shaped intrusions in cross section with magma sheets at the surface.

Deformation of volcanic materials by pore pressurization: analog experiments with simplified geometry

The pressurization of pore fluids plays a significant role in deforming volcanic materials; however, understanding of this process remains incomplete, especially scenarios accompanying phreatic eruptions. Analog experiments presented here use a simple geometry to study the mechanics of this type of deformation. Syrup was injected into the base of a sand medium, simulating the permeable flow of fluids through shallow volcanic systems. The experiments examined surface deformation over many source depths and pressures. Surface deformation was recorded using a Microsoft® Kinect™ sensor, generating high-spatiotemporal resolution lab-scale digital elevation models (DEMs). The behavior of the system is controlled by the ratio of pore pressure to lithostatic loading $(\lambda =p/\rho g D)$ . For $\lambda <10$ , deformation was accommodated by high-angle, reversed-mechanism shearing along which fluid preferentially flowed, leading to a continuous feedback between deformation and pressurization wherein higher pressure ratios yielded larger deformations. For $\lambda >10$ , fluid expulsion from the layer was much faster, vertically fracturing to the surface with larger pressure ratios yielding less deformation. The temporal behavior of deformation followed a characteristic evolution that produced an approximately exponential increase in deformation with time until complete layer penetration. This process is distinguished from magmatic sources in continuous geodetic data by its rapidity and characteristic time evolution. The time evolution of the experiments compares well with tilt records from Mt. Ontake, Japan, in the lead-up to the deadly 2014 phreatic eruption. Improved understanding of this process may guide the evolution of magmatic intrusions such as dikes, cone sheets, and cryptodomes and contribute to caldera resurgence or deformation that destabilizes volcanic flanks.

Gravimetric and magnetic fabric study of the Sintra Igneous complex: laccolith-plug emplacement in the Western Iberian passive margin

The geometry and emplacement of the ~ 96 km2, Late Cretaceous Sintra Igneous complex (SIC, ca. 80 Ma) into the West Iberian passive margin is presented, based on structural data, gravimetric modeling, and magnetic fabrics. A granite laccolith (~ 76 km2, < 1 km thick, according to gravimetric modeling) surrounds a suite of gabbro–diorite–syenite plugs (~ 20 km2, ~ 4 km deep) and is encircled by cone sheets and radial dykes. Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility was interpreted from 54 sites showing fabrics of para- and ferro-magnetic origin. Most fabrics can be interpreted to have a magmatic origin, according to the scarcity of solid-state deformation in most part of the massif. Magnetic foliations are shallowly dipping in the granite laccolith and contain a sub-horizontal ENE–WSW lineation. The gabbro–syenite body displays concentric magnetic foliations having variable dips and steeply-plunging lineations. The SIC can be interpreted to be intruded along an NNW–SSE, 200 km-long fault, perpendicular to the magnetic lineation within the laccolith, and was preceded by the intrusion of basic sills and plugs. The SIC intruded the Mesozoic series of the Lusitanian Basin during the post-rift, passive margin stage, and its geometry was only slightly modified during the Paleogene inversion that resulted in thrusting of the northern border of the intrusion over the country rocks.

Dynamics of Sill and Laccolith Emplacement in the Brittle Crust: Role of Host Rock Strength and Deformation Mode

AbstractIgneous intrusions in sedimentary basins exhibit a great diversity of shapes from thin sheets (e.g., dikes, sills and cone sheets) to massive intrusions (e.g., laccoliths and plugs). Presently, none of the established models of magma emplacement have the capability to simulate this diversity because they account for either purely elastic or purely plastic or purely viscous host rocks, whereas natural rocks are complex visco‐elasto‐plastic materials. In this study, we investigate the effects of elasto‐plastic properties of host rock on magma emplacement using laboratory experiments made of dry granular materials of variable cohesion. Our results show how the deformation mechanism of the host rock controls the emplacement of magma: thin sheet sills form in high‐cohesion materials, which dominantly deform by elastic bending, whereas massive intrusions such as punched laccoliths form in low‐cohesion materials, which dominantly deform by shear failure. Our models also suggest that combined elastic/shear failure deformation modes likely control the emplacement of cone sheets. Our experiments are the first to spontaneously produce diverse, geologically relevant intrusion shapes. Our models show that accounting for the elasto‐plastic behavior of the host rock is essential to filling the gap between the established elastic and plastic models of magma emplacement, and so to reveal the dynamics of magma emplacement in the Earth's brittle crust.

Dynamics of Surface Deformation Induced by Dikes and Cone Sheets in a Cohesive Coulomb Brittle Crust

AbstractThe analysis of surface deformation associated with intruding magma has become an established method to study subsurface processes and intrusion architecture. Active subsurface magmatism induces deformation that is commonly modeled using static elastic models. To what extent, Coulomb failure of the crust affects surface deformation remains, so far, largely unexplored. In this contribution we present quantitative laboratory results of surface deformation induced by the emplacement of simulated dikes and cone sheets in a cohesive Coulomb material. The analysis of the experimental surface deformation shows that these intrusion types produce distinct and characteristic surface deformation signatures, which reflect the evolution of the intrusion at depth. Generally, dikes show a two‐phase evolution while cone sheets develop gradually. In comparison, cone sheets induce larger uplifted areas and volumes than dikes relative to the depth of the injection source. Dike formation is, in turn, is likely accommodated, to a larger degree than cone sheets, by lateral opening of the host consistent with our current understanding of dike emplacement mechanics. Notably, only surface uplifts develop above the experimental dikes, consistent with aviscous indenterpropagation mechanism, that is, a dike pushing ahead. The measured surface deformation patterns associated with dikes starkly contrast with established static, elastic models that predict local subsidence above the tip of a dike. This suggests that Coulomb failure of crustal rocks may considerably affect surface deformation induced by propagating igneous intrusions. This is especially relevant when a relatively high viscosity magma intrudes a weak host, such as unconsolidated sedimentary and volcaniclastic rocks.

B15 コーンシート貫入による母岩の変形構造 : 大峠環状火山岩体に伴なわれるドーム状隆起構造の成因

B15 コーンシート貫入による母岩の変形構造 : 大峠環状火山岩体に伴なわれるドーム状隆起構造の成因

A volcano under China's Great Wall

Cone sheets are rare in China but are found in the Houshihushan sub‐volcanic Ring Complex (HRC) near the town of Shanhaiguan, Hebei Province. The HRC rises above a narrow coastal plain as the Houshihushan mountain massif (Fig. ) in a scenic region about 400 km ENE of Beijing by the Bohai Gulf, where the Great Wall reaches the sea. It has a discontinuous outer ring‐dyke of porphyritic quartz syenite, separated from an inner stock of alkaline granite by a discontinuous screen of pyroclastic rocks down‐faulted to the present erosion level by caldera subsidence. The pyroclastic rocks, which have similar petrographic and geochemical characteristics to intrusive rocks of the ring‐dyke, cone‐sheets and central stock, were erupted from the same volcano and subsequently foundered during caldera subsidence.