Northeastern Flank Research Articles

Database of seismological observations in the Severomuysky region of the Baikal rift during the operation of the local network of stations

The Severomuysky region should be considered as one of the key areas of the northeastern flank of the Baikal rift zone. The most important infrastructure facilities of the Baikal-Amur Mainline, in particular the Severomuysky tunnel, require an objective assessment of the seismic hazard of this territory. The work on converting a unique set of seismological data obtained during the period of operation of the analog local network of seismic stations (1978-1993) into digital format was carried out at the BB GS RAS in order to ensure the safety of all primary seismological observation materials and comprehensive analysis. This information was presented in printed form only. A database has been developed. It provides a relational approach to storing and managing large volumes of data. The database contains complete information on 15,832 earthquakes with KP=4–13 (station information, catalogues, bulletins, etc.). A client application has been created for convenient work with the database. The article illustrates examples of working with a database when solving typical seismological problems. It is obvious that extensive seismological information presented in digital form is of great importance for assessment of seismic hazard of the study under region.

Conceptual groundwater model of the north-eastern flanks of Mount Kenya

Despite serious concerns over declining river flows and prolonged dry spells in the north-eastern region of Mount Kenya and the Ewaso Ng’iro River watershed many aspects of the groundwater system remain unexplored. In particular, the recharge-discharge dynamics of the Ewaso Ng’iro River have not been studied, and no conceptual groundwater model currently links the recharge areas in the high-elevation humid regions to the drier lowlands. This study aims to address this significant knowledge gap by assessing the recharge-discharge dynamics of the Ewaso Ng’iro River and identifying the relevant groundwater subsystems and the main flow paths within the various lava layers constituting the aquifer system. Hydrochemical and stable isotope analyses revealed three distinct subsystems with slightly different chemistries and different recharge zones, all of recent meteoric origin. Groundwater from Mt. Kenya is of the HCO3-Na-Mg-Ca type with no dominant cations, whereas groundwater from the Nyambene Range, the other surrounding volcanic hills in the area, is of the HCO3-Na type. Groundwater in the third subsystem in between is of the HCO3-Mg type and is confined or semi-confined. In this area, carbon-13 analysis showed a strong influence of mantle-derived CO2 on the groundwater chemistry (very high electrical conductivity and left-shifted oxygen-18 ratios). Finally, major ions and stable isotopes (ẟ18O and ẟ2H) confirmed that during the dry season, the river is entirely groundwater-fed, with the Mt. Kenya subsystem contributing half of the maximum river flow rate of 800 l/s.

TECTONOPHYSICAL ZONING OF ACTIVE FAULTS OF THE BAIKAL RIFT SYSTEM

Tectonophysical zoning of active faults of the Baikal rift system (BRS) was performed based on the degree of hazard caused by the generation of earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 and higher. The first basis for this procedure was the results of the natural stress state reconstruction, earlier performed from seismological indicators of rupture deformations (earthquake focal mechanisms). The second important element of fault zoning was electronic maps of active faults of Eurasia hosted on the GIN RAS sever. Within the algorithmic framework for Rebetsky’s method of cataclastic analysis, both of these datasets allowed calculating the Coulomb stresses for the segments of the BRS faults. During the study, a development of the cataclastic method has been carried out in using a diagram of brittle fracture as the Mohr–Coulomb model, considering a decrease in the range of positive Coulomb stress values with an increase in effective normal stress levels. Such an approach provides a more reliable identification of the fault segments with the maximum Coulomb stress levels. The performed calculations showed that in the BRS crust there are several up to 50 km long fault segments having critically high (80–100 % of the maximum) and high (40–80 % of the maximum) Coulomb stress levels. It is these corebased hazardous zones that are considered as places where seismogenic ruptures of future М>7.0 earthquakes may start. There have been distinguished three zones that present such hazard: 1) in the western segment of the BRS in the western part of the Tunka Valley in the Tunka, Khamardaban-Mondy and Baikal-Mondy fault systems; 2) in the Selenga River delta in the Proval, Delta, Ust-Selenga and Sakhalin-Enkhauk fault systems; 3) within the northeastern flank of the BRS on the fault system of the Muyakan basin (along the North Muya ridge). It is proposed to perform tectonophysical monitoring of changes in the stress state of these three zones and make observations of their surface motions using remote sensing methods.

Glacial sculpting of a martian cratered landscape on the northeastern flank of the Hellas basin

The interiors and exteriors of the >25 km diameter Batson, Nako, Salkhad, and Jori craters (and McCauley crater to a lesser degree) on the northeastern rim of Hellas basin, Mars, were extensively modified by glacio-fluvial and glacio-lacustrine activity during the Middle and Late Amazonian, from some time before 1.4 Ga to the present as revealed by CTX, HiRISE, and CaSSIS observations. This work presents extensive descriptions and discussions of individual candidate glacial and glaciofluvial landforms associated with cratered landscapes, as well as their spatial association. We also present absolute age dates and a relative sequence of events, followed by a possible environmental reconstruction, involving a regional ice cover, subglacial meltwater, and ice-covered lakes. On crater interiors, inferred glacial modification included dissection of interior rims, emplacement of depositional aprons with basinward scarps, remnant glaciers and associated fresh shallow valleys, supraglacial debris, and candidate moraines. On crater exterior rims and on the plateaus surrounding Batson crater we describe moderate incision and sedimentation, subglacial meltwater runoff through Navua A Valles, candidate eskers, valleys discordant with topography but concordant with inferred ice flow direction, and hummocky material, among others. Wet-based glaciation and subglacial runoff may have been favored due to a locally enhanced geothermal heating or strain heating on steep crater slopes. This work presents a comprehensive and detailed characterization of landforms interpreted as glacial in origin, which could be used to guide identifications of glacial landforms in other cratered regions of Mars.

Middle Jurassic deposits of Ulakhan-Sis Ridge (Sakha Republic): biostratigraphy, lithological features and depositional environments

The age and sedimentation conditions of the Middle Jurassic terrigenous deposits crowning the Mesozoic section of the northeastern flank of the Nagondzha terrane within the Ulakhan-Sis Ridge are discussed. Based on our own finds of retrocerams and analysis of biostratigraphic data of predecessors, we accept the age of the deposits as Bajocian–Middle Bathonian. Three lithologically different strata are identified in the section. Sandstones from the lower unit belong to feldspathic litharenites, and from the upper strata – to litharenites with a predominance of extrabasinal carbonate clastics (calklithites). Analysis of textural and structural features, mineralogical, petrographic composition and distribution of trace elements in litharenites suggests that all these strata had been accumulated in the shelf part of the paleobasin associated with an active volcanic island arc, which presumably existed from the Early Jurassic on the Omulevka craton terrane until the completion of the formation of Kolyma-Omolon microcontinent.

Satellite imagery reveals the nature of the Archaean granite-greenstone basement of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, including the newly discovered Olifants River Greenstone Belt

Abstract Archaean greenstone remnants comprising mainly metamorphosed basaltic lavas and lesser metasedimentary interlayers are components of the granite-gneiss-migmatite basement terrane of the central and northern parts of the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa’s premier wildlife nature reserve. Most of the greenstone remnants represent extensions into the Kruger Park of better developed and exposed greenstone belts that exist beyond the borders to the west, including the Giyani and Murchison greenstone belts. Geological mapping in the national park presents challenges as exposures are poor and discontinuous, with the dense bush and wildlife adding to the difficulties. Satellite remote sensing provided an ideal solution and in this study Google Earth imagery proved to be especially helpful. The imagery provides a synoptic overview of the terrane making it possible to establish the outline of greenstone remnants irrespective of the dense bush cover. Google Earth imagery furthermore provided a preliminary impression of a hitherto unknown, yet sizeable, greenstone belt remnant in a remote area south of the Olifants River in the central section of the KNP. Referred to as the Olifants River Greenstone Belt in this study the remnant occurs as a major Type 2 interference fold resembling a mushroom-shaped diapir with a broad bulbous core fringed by laterally flattened skirts. Images are presented that illustrate various components of this imposing structure. Google Earth images furthermore display the general character of the Archaean granite-greenstone basement and the Palaeo- and Mesoproterozoic intrusive dyke swarms on the northeastern flank of the Kaapvaal Craton.

Vertical distribution of epibenthic megafauna of a large seamount west of Cape Verde islands (tropical North Atlantic)

Seamounts are thought to function as hotspots of megafauna diversity due to their topology and environmental characteristics. However, assessments of megafauna communities inhabiting seamounts, including diversity and density, are scarce. In this study, we provide megafauna diversity and density estimates for a recently discovered, not yet characterized seamount region (Boetius seamounts) west of Cape Verde (N17° 16′, W29° 26′). We investigated the distribution of epibenthic megafauna over a large depth gradient from the seamount’s summit at 1400 m down to 3200 m water depth and provided qualitative and quantitative analyses based on quantified video data. In utilizing an ocean floor observation system (OFOS), calibrated videos were taken as a horizontal transect from the north-eastern flank of the seamount, differentiating between an upper, coral-rich region (−1354/−2358 m) and a deeper, sponge-rich region (−2358/−3218 m). Taxa were morphologically distinguished, and their diversity and densities were estimated and related to substrate types. Both the upper and deeper seamount region hosted unique communities with significantly higher megafauna richness at the seamount’s summit. Megafauna densities differed significantly between the upper (0.297 ± 0.167 Ind./m2) and deeper community (0.112 ± 0.114 Ind./m). The seamount showed a vertical zonation with dense aggregations of deep-sea corals dominating the seamount’s upper region and colonies of the glass sponges Poliopogon amadou dominating the deeper region. The results are discussed in light of detected substrate preferences and co-occurrence of species and are compared with findings from other Atlantic seamounts.

ОЦЕНКА ИНТЕНСИВНОСТИ СЕЙСМИЧЕСКИХ КОЛЕБАНИЙ НА БАЙКАЛО-ОЛЁКМИНСКОМ УЧАСТКЕ БАЙКАЛО-АМУРСКОЙ ЖЕЛЕЗНОДОРОЖНОЙ МАГИСТРАЛИ

In this study, we calculated seismic intensity for the Baikal-Olekma section of the Baikal-Amur railway based on the data on seismicity at the northeastern flank of the Baikal rift zone in 1985–2021. During the analysis of earthquakes with intensity at the epicenter higher than 4 (1 484 events), we selected from the total number of the recorded seismic events (more than 150 thousands of earthquakes with M ≥ 1.0) 270 earthquakes with MS = 2.1–6.6 whose calculated intensity exceeded 4 directly on the railway track. The highest intensity values (8–9) were obtained for the large earthquakes close to the Baikal-Olekma section of the Baikal-Amur railway (∆ < 10 km, MS = 6.1–6.2). Along the considered section of the railway, a recurrence interval of such seismic events is 20 to 60 years. The data obtained through calculations are in good agreement with the available macroseismic data which confirms the correctness of the results. At the same time, macroseismic effects from strong (МS ≥ 6.6) but remote earthquakes (∆ = 360–1000 km) were found to have no significant impact on the Baikal-Olekma section of the Baikal-Amur railway. The calculated values of intensity and recurrence intervals of earthquakes must be taken into account when designing, constructing and operating industrial and civil facilities within the study area.

SEISMICITY of the BAIKAL REGION and TRANSBAIKALIA in 2018–2019

We considered a character of the seismic process in the Baikal region and Transbaikalia in 2018–2019. During this time period, 14545 earthquakes with КR≥5.6 were registered. More than 94 % of the seismic events were localized in the Baikal rift zone. Within it, relatively strong earthquakes occurred in Khubsugul-Tunka area (March 29, 2019, Mw=4.8) and in the junction zone of the northeastern flank of the Baikal rift and the Olekma-Stanovoy orogenic system (September 28, 2019, Mw=5.1). 49 earthquakes caused felt macroseismic effects which most often manifested themselves in the settlements of the region with intensity of 3–4 and 4. Intensity of 5–6 was observed in few cases. Earthquake source parameters were determined for 81 seismic events with КR≥9.1. Most of them occurred in the seismotectonic regime of subhorizontal extension. 61 focal mechanisms were determined from P-wave first-motion polarities. Source parameters for 13 earthquakes were estimated using a joint inversion of P-wave first-motion polarities and surface wave amplitude spectra. In general, 2018–2019 are characterized by a moderate level of seismic activity.

SOURCES OF THE PALEOZOIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS IN THE NORA-SUKHOTINO TERRANE: RESULTS OF Sm-Nd ISOTOPIC-GEOCHEMICAL STUDIES

The paper presents the first results on Sm-Nd isotopic-geochemical studies of the Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the Nora-Sukhotino terrane at the northeastern flank of the South Mongolia-Khingan orogenic belt.According to the studies, the sedimentary rocks of the Zeya-Selemdzha and Amur fragments of the Nora-Sukhotino terrane are characterized by the two-stage Mesoproterozoic Nd-model age (TNd(DM2)=1.62–1.08 Ga) at negative εNd(0)=–9.5…–3.0 and εNd(T)=–5.8...–0.2. Based on previous geochemical and isotopic (U-Pb, Lu-Hf) studies of sedimentary rocks of the Nora-Sukhotino terrane, as well as on the available models for the formation of the South Mongolia-Khingan orogenic belt, it can be assumed that most of the Paleozoic sediments of the Nora-Sukhotino terrane were carried from the Mamyn terrane of the Argun superterrane with the participation of the island arc formations.

Source Determination of Debris Avalanche Deposit based on the Morphology and Distribution of Hummocky Hills on the Northeastern Flank of G. Sundoro and G. Sumbing, Central Java, Indonesia

The presence of hummocky hills as a typical product of debris avalanche deposits is prominently visible in the northeastern flank of G. Sundoro and G. Sumbing, Temanggung, Central Java. In an attempt to better understand the past behavior of both G. Sundoro and G. Sumbing, we identify the source of the debris avalanche deposit. Interpretation is performed on the basis of the assumption of two possible sector collapse sources, i.e., G. Sundoro and G. Sumbing. The Sumbing source scenario is assumed as freely spreading type considering 1) distribution of the hummocky hills are relatively on the northeastern flank of the volcano, and 2) the present crater structure on the summit of the volcano which is opening to the northeast. The Sundoro source scenario is assumed as valley-filling type considering the distribution of the hummocky hills are relatively on the eastern flank of Sundoro extended to the far distal area and bounded by older high topography of G. Sumbing and North Serayu Mountains. The source identification was done on the basis of field observation of the deposit lithological characteristics combined with image analysis, including hummocky hills morphometry, displacement angle, and spatial distribution. Image analysis identifies approximately 645 hummocky hills ranging from 1,851 mz to 623,828 mz and average of 23,482 m2. Petrographic analysis of 5 representative block lava samples shows variation of olivine basalt, pyroxene andesite, to hornblende andesite. The results show that big size hummocky hills dominate the western side, while small size on the east. Displacement angle varied following the valley orientation with typical downslope topography. These suggested that the hummocky hills were originated from G. Sundoro as a valley-filling debris avalanche deposit.

Variations in Summer Surface Air Temperature Over the Eastern Tibetan Plateau: Connection With Barents‐Kara Spring Sea Ice and Summer Arctic Oscillation

AbstractVariations in surface air temperature on the eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP‐SAT) during boreal summer, related to Barents‐Kara spring sea ice and summer Arctic Oscillation (AO), are investigated using observations and ERA‐5 reanalysis data during 1979–2018. Results show that the primary mode of summer eastern TP‐SAT (SAT_EOF1) is characterized by the consistent warming pattern with larger values over the northeastern TP, which is linked with the anticyclonic circulation located in the northeastern flank of the TP. This anticyclone enhances westward water vapor transport, warm temperature advection, and causes descending over the eastern TP, Descending further results in deceased middle level cloud cover and increased solar radiation, accordingly, favoring the eastern TP warming. Further statistical analysis reveals a robust connection between Barents‐Kara spring sea ice, summer AO and SAT_EOF1. Moreover, anticyclonic anomaly located in the northeastern region of the TP acts as an important driver of this consistent warming pattern over the eastern TP, which is modulated by two individual Rossby wave trains from the northwestern Russia and northwestern Atlantic. The spring sea ice in Barents‐Kara could cause decreased precipitation and reduced soil moisture in northwestern Russia during following summer, which further induces the Eurasian‐like teleconnection and affects the anticyclonic anomaly situated in the northeastern flank of the TP, thereby favoring eastern TP warming. In addition, from northwestern Atlantic to northeastern region of the TP, the Rossby wave train is mainly affected by summer AO, with positive AO causing anticyclonic anomaly over northeast of the TP, thus contributing to the TP warming.

Magnesian Andesites from Kibblewhite Volcano in the Kermadec Arc, New Zealand

Abstract Primary andesitic magmas could be an important component of arc magma genesis and might have played a key role in the advent of continents. Recent studies hypothesized that primary andesitic magmas occur in the oceanic arc, where the crust is thin. The Kermadec arc has the thinnest crust among all the studied oceanic arcs (<15 km in thickness); however, there are no studies that corroborate the formation of primary andesitic magmas in the arc. The aim of this study is to develop a better understanding of primary andesites in oceanic arcs through the petrology of the Kermadec arc. Here, we present the petrology of volcanic rocks dredged from the Kibblewhite Volcano in the Kermadec arc during the R/V SONNE SO-255 expedition in 2017. Magma types range from andesite to rhyolite at the Kibblewhite Volcano, but basalts dominate at the neighboring cones. This study focuses on magnesian andesites from the northeastern flank of this volcano. The magnesian andesites are nearly aphyric and plagioclase free but contain microphenocrysts of olivine (Fo84–86) and clinopyroxene (Mg# = 81–87). Using olivine addition models, the primary magmas were estimated to contain 55–56 wt % SiO2 and 10–12 wt % MgO, similar to the high-Mg andesites observed in other convergent plate margins, indicating the generation of primary andesitic magma beneath the Kibblewhite Volcano. The trace element and isotopic characteristics of the magnesian andesites are typical of volcanic rocks from the Kermadec arc. This indicates that the subduction of a young plate or melting of a pyroxenitic source is not necessary to produce magnesian andesites. Instead, we propose that the magnesian andesites were produced by the direct melting of the uppermost mantle of the Kermadec arc. The thin crust of the Kermadec arc should yield low-pressure conditions in the uppermost mantle, allowing the sub-arc mantle to generate primary andesitic melts. This study supports the hypothesis that primary andesitic magmas generate in the arc where the crust is thin and provides a new insight into the magma genesis of the Kermadec arc.

Seismic regime and features of geophysical fields in the epicentral area of the Andrey-Tas earthquake (seismotectonic zone of the Chersky Randge, northeast Yakutia)

This paper describes the strong Andrey-Tass earthquake (Mѡ=6.1), which occurred in 2008 on the northeastern flank of the seismotectonic zone of the Chersky Randge in the region of the interaction of the Eurasian and North American lithospheric plates. Geophysical fields were using to elucidate structural and tectonic features of the study area and their relationship with seismicity. Using data from digital maps of magnetic and gravity field anomalies, it was possible to clarify the kinematic parameters of the western end of the Ilin-Tas fault, where the epicenter of the Andrey-Tas earthquake occurred. This fault separates the Indigiro-Zyrian Trough from the Momskii Randge and Andrei Tas Locke elevations and is traced by gradient zones of transition from negative to positive ΔTa and Δg values. The main seismic shock is confining to thickening of Δg isoanomalies, which form a gravitational step, within which gravity values decrease from south to north. The entire epicentral field with aftershocks covers the western slope of the Andrei Tas Locke. The development of the seismic process during three stages was analyzed: 1963-2007 (before the event), 2008 (the event with aftershocks), 2009-2020 (after the event). We plotted the recurrence of the aftershocks of the Andrei Tas earthquake. Information obtained because of study of Andrei Tas earthquake aftershocks enables us to detail manifestations of local seismic activity.

Characterization of a complex sand-rich gas hydrate reservoir system in the Indian marine continental margin with downhole log and seismic data

Logging-while-drilling (LWD) and coring data were acquired in Areas A, B, C and E during the National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 02 (NGHP-02). At Sites NGHP-02-16, −17, −20, −23 and −24 of Area B in the Indian Krishna-Godavari Basin, the gas hydrate-bearing sand-rich reservoirs directly in contact with an underlying water-saturated sediment were revealed near the seismic-inferred bottom simulating reflector (BSR) along a large anticlinal structure. Lithofacies analysis of cores show that the lower gas hydrate-bearing reservoir section at these sites is an interbedded unit with thin fine-sand layers alternating with clay-rich layers. We reanalyzed the LWD data including resistivity, compressional-wave and shear-wave acoustic velocities to assess and compare the spatial variation of sand-hosted gas hydrate and possible related free-gas accumulations. The presence of free gas-bearing sediments in direct contact with gas hydrate-bearing sediments was confirmed at Sites NGHP-02-20 and −24 along the northeastern flank of the anticline. The sand-rich reservoirs associated with the Area B anticlinal feature reveal different pore-filling constituents and variable boundary conditions, including gas hydrate/water contacts and gas hydrate/free gas contacts. We infer that the sedimentary depositional history at Sites NGHP-02-20 and −24, may have resulted in an upward shift of the base of gas hydrate stability zone, that could have led to in situ gas hydrate dissociation and the accumulation of free gas and coexistence interval below the log-inferred gas hydrate-bearing reservoir sections. This study demonstrates that reservoir heterogeneity and fluid migration were major factors affecting the distribution of gas hydrate and free gas in the identified sand-rich reservoirs.

Synoptic-Scale Effects of Atmospheric Heat Source over Key Areas of the Tibetan Plateau on Its Downstream Rainfall in Summer

Abstract This study demonstrates the synoptic-scale relationship between the atmospheric heat source over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) (TP<Q1>) and summer rainfall in eastern China. The results show that the summer TP<Q1> has three key areas [eastern, western, and northeastern TP (TPE, TPW, TPNE, respectively)] and 3–8-day dominant oscillation periods on the synoptic time scale for each subregion. Analogously, on the synoptic scale, the downstream rainfall of the TP in China has six sensitive regions (zone I to zone VI), each with 3–8-day dominant periods. The TPE<Q1>, TPW<Q1>, and TPNE<Q1> lead rainfall by 4 days with a southeastward propagation pathway, by 5 days with both southeastward and northeastward propagation routes, and by 4 days with an eastward route, respectively. Mechanistically, when TP<Q1> lies in the positive-to-negative transition phase, the rainfall moves off the TP and reaches the maximum in its most inactive phase; the jet cores embedded in the subtropical westerly jet band and the trough from the region of the TP<Q1> lead the eastward movement of the rainfall by the propagation of the divergence center and generalized moist potential vorticity. Besides, the southwest vortex and northwest vortex generated at the southeastern and northeastern flank of the TP are the main cause for the southeastward and northeastward or eastward movement of the precipitation. Further internal atmospheric dynamic structures indicate that both the horizontal moisture advection and generalized moist potential vorticity advection act on the entire propagation processes of the synoptic-scale signals for each TP<Q1> key area. In conclusion, the study has obvious theoretical significance and application value for the development of plateau synoptics.

Anomalous position of Paleozoic faults of Western Donbas

Statement of the general problem. The oil and gas-bearing province of Eastern Ukraine is located in the Dnipro-Donetsk Basin (DDB). It covers the Paleozoic structural floor and is buried under younger sediments. The Paleozoic structural floor of the territory is represented as a long rift graben. The maximum thickness of the sedimentary cover in the graben is 15–17 km. According to geophysical data, the thickness of the earth's crust is 31–32 km under the axial part of the DDB and increases towards the sides. But according to the maximum thickness and facies characteristics of the Paleozoic deposits, the thickness of the Earth's crust below them could not exceed 20 km. The modern thickness is 1.5 times higher. Therefore, such a geological-geophysical model of the structure of the DDB is contradictory. Analysis of recent research and publications. The removal of the contradiction is possible due to the detection of a series of Hercynian thrusts with total amplitude of thrusts of the order of 50 km. Such thrusts began to be established on the northern and southern flanks of the DDB. Hercynian thrusts have a southwestern vergence. In the north, the Voronezh crystalline massif is pushed onto the DDB along the Noviy thrust with an amplitude of 9–10 km. In the south, the South Donbas melange zone is established, which pushes the folded Donbas onto the Ukrainian shield. On its continuation to the northwest is the southern side of the DDB - the so-called Southern monocline. The well-studied Pavlograd-Petropavlovsk coal mining district of Western Donbass with operating coal mines is located within its borders. An unsolved part of the overall problem. Numerous faults with relatively small amplitudes are established within the Paleozoic Southern Monocline. Together, they form a system of horsts and grabens with a north-western extension. But the bottom parts of the grabens are 1–3 km higher than the tops of the horsts. Such a geological situation is anomalous. This indicates the post-fault dislocation of the horst-graben system as a whole. The purpose of the article is identification of the causes of the anomalous structural position of the graben-horst system in the modern geological structure of the Southern Monocline and in the general model of the geological structure of Eastern Ukraine. Research materials and methods. Were involved more than 390 geological sections, constructed based on the data of more than 10,000 wells. Of them, 265 wells revealed the folds that are being analyzed. In addition, were used data of catagenetic transformations of the sedimentary section. Presentation of the main research material. The South Donbas mélange zone falls to the northeast and continues under the Southern Monocline. It is located in the upper block of this regional thrust structure and is in an allochthonous setting. According to geological data, the true amplitude of the thrust of Western Donbas on the Ukrainian shield is 15–20 km, and the vertical component of this amplitude exceeds 3 km. Such spatial parameters explain the abnormality of the structural position of the horsts and grabens of Western Donbass - their southwestern flanks were significantly raised relative to the northeastern flanks during thrusting. Scientific novelty. Therefore, in the modern geological structure, the Dnipro-Donetsk "basin" is not a rift, but a post-rift Hercynian folded region. It is formed by high-amplitude thrusts on the northern and southern flanks. The Hercynian fold region is buried under Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments and is further complicated by Laramian and Attic fold-thrust dislocations of lesser intensity. Conclusions. The thrust model brings the geophysical parameters into the correspondence with the geological data and is confirmed by the actual material.

Historical explosive activity of Mount Melbourne Volcanic Field (Antarctica) revealed by englacial tephra deposits

Five tephra layers named BRH1 to 5 were sampled in an ice cliff located on the north-eastern flank of Mount Melbourne (northern Victoria Land, Antarctica). The texture, componentry, mineralogy, and major and trace element compositions of glass shards have been used to characterize these layers. These properties suggest that they are primary fall deposits produced from discrete eruptions that experienced varying degrees of magma/water interaction. The major and trace element glass shard analyses on single glass shards indicate that Mount Melbourne Volcanic Field is the source of these tephra layers and the geochemical diversity highlights that the eruptions were fed by compositionally diverse melts that are interpreted to be from a complex magma system with a mafic melt remobilizing more evolved trachy-andesitic to trachytic magma pockets. Geochemical compositions, along with textural and mineralogical data, have allowed correlations between two of the englacial tephra and distal cryptotephra from Mount Melbourne, recovered within a marine sediment core in the Edisto Inlet (~ 280 km northeast of Mount Melbourne), and constrain the age of these englacial tephra layers to between the third and the fourth century CE. This work provides new evidence of the intense historical explosive activity of the Mount Melbourne Volcanic Field and better constrains the rates of volcanism in northern Victoria Land. These data grant new clues on the eruptive dynamics and tephra dispersal, and considerably expand the geochemical (major and trace elements) dataset available for the Mount Melbourne Volcanic Field. In the future, this will facilitate the precise identification of tephra layers from this volcanic source and will help define the temporal and spatial correlation between Antarctic records using tephra layers. Finally, this work also yields new valuable time-stratigraphic marker horizons for future dating, synchronization, and correlations of different palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic records across large regions of Antarctica.

Chemical composition of detrital chrome spinel and clinopyroxene from the Middle Eocene to lowermost Oligocene sandstones of central Iran (Nain area): Constraints on ophiolite provenance

Studies of relict Upper Cretaceous obducted ophiolites provide information on the evolution of the Neotethys suture belts in central Iran. Studies of the sediment derived from their erosion will complement this information by addressing questions related to sandstone provenance, ophiolite emplacement history, and, perhaps most importantly, the mode and timing of their erosion. The ca. 3200 m thick Middle Eocene to lowermost Oligocene fine- to medium-grained siliciclastic beds of the Akhoreh Formation are superbly exposed along the western border of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent. They cover the northeastern flank of the Cretaceous Nain ophiolite mélange massif and lie adjacent to the Paleogene Urmieh–Dokhtar Magmatic Arc. The common occurrence of chrome (Cr)-spinel in the sandstones indicates the presence of mafic to ultramafic rocks in the source region. However, the timing, extent and nature of contributions of the potential source rocks to the sedimentary succession are not well understood. We conducted a petrographic and chemical compositional study of Cr-spinel in samples of Akhoreh Formation sandstones to outline the type of ocean lithospheric source. Our results document variable Cr# (0.09 to 0.79) and Mg# (0.21 to 0.88) while Fe3+ and TiO2 (average 0.12 wt%) are generally low. The wide range of Cr# and Mg# indicates provenance from a variety of (ultra-)mafic rock types, including supra-subduction peridotites and partially volcanic rocks of an arc-forearc setting. Cr-spinels are chemically similar to those of the lherzolites, harzburgites and dunites of the Nain ophiolite. While 70 % of the Cr-spinel have Cr# > 0.6, suggesting a harzburgitic peridotite provenance, the minimum Cr# < 0.4, observed in the samples from the base of the succession, were likely sourced from lherzolite. The chemical composition of detrital clinopyroxene grains shows high SiO2 (52.76 wt%), CaO (20.15 wt%), and MgO (16.36 wt%), while FeO has moderate (6.03 wt%), Al2O3 has low (2.23 wt%), and TiO2 has very low (0.25 wt%) concentrations (commonly augite and diopside), indicative of crystallization from subalkaline magma in an arc setting. The provenance data trace the erosion history of the obducted ophiolite and indicate that the Nain supra-subduction ophiolite supplied detritus to the Akhoreh Basin northwards from the Middle Eocene to the earliest Oligocene.

Island formation adjacent to a large-scale slope failure in Central Peru: The Nazca Ridge subducted relief hypothesis

Vertical tectonics and mass wasting activity along convergent margins are geodynamic processes commonly associated with the subduction of oceanic plate structures. At the Central Peruvian margin, the connection of the small Hormigas de Afuera Islands (HAI) (12°S) with a large-scale slope failure suggests the surficial expression of the subducted relief of the Nazca Ridge. This hypothesis is supported by the idea that the Tuamotu Ridge relief on the Pacific Plate is the analog of the subducted roughness of the Nazca Ridge based on their mirror-image location relative to the East Pacific Rise. Here, we use bathymetry, multichannel seismic data, subbottom profiling data and published findings to analyze the massive slope collapse near the HAI. At the shelf break, the HAI reflect uplift of the metamorphic basement and mark a N-S transition between post-Pliocene onlapping sediments and seafloor erosion of an uplifted, tectonically deformed sequence. W of the shelf break, the HAI scar is a trench-parallel, two-horseshoe-shaped escarpment in the upper slope (1300 m high and 1690 km2 area) that has lost mass with a total volume of 810 km3. Within this large escarpment, two cliffs show differences in size, seafloor morphology, and basement uplift. An embayment at the base of the HAI scar aligns with a downslope mass of 285 km3 volume in the middle slope. A bathymetric bulge of 800 m height characterizes the toe of this mass deposit. When the HAI are projected onto the Tuamotu Ridge northeastern flank, a seamount-shaped platform-like feature of 12,000 km3 is found. Our study area coincides with the well-known and highly coupled segment of the Central Peru subduction, which suggests an association with the history of large megathrust earthquakes in this area such as the great 1746 MW 8.8 Callao-Lima earthquake. Based on these findings, we postulate that the formation and spatial association of the small HAI with the HAI mass wasting result from the tectonic control imposed by the subducted roughness of the Nazca Ridge.