Quaternary Time Research Articles

The Quaternary record of fossil bats in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands: Palaeobiogeographical changes and palaeoenvironmental implications

Bats are a highly diversified order of mammals found all over the world; however, their population size and distribution are decreasing rapidly in Europe nowadays. The study of ancient bat populations by means of their fossil record is a valuable source of contextual information for modern bat conservation studies. This paper is a comprehensive review of published bat records in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands through Quaternary times, representing the first attempt to update and standardize the knowledge of chiropters in southwestern Europe during this time period. The main goal is to identify changes in bat assemblages that might be correlatable to palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironmental changes. Our data show that the Quaternary record of bats in the area is fragmentary and strongly dependent on the presence of karstic cavities. Thus, a strong preservation bias towards colonial cave-dwelling bats exists, and species with alternative ecological requirements are under-represented. Nevertheless, this work reveals that most of the bats inhabiting the area today were already present in the region from at least the Middle Pleistocene. Interestingly, we observe a frequent association between certain cave-dwelling bats (i.e., Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis myotis and M. blythii) that is still observed in many caves today; this reflects a stable ecology that has remained undisturbed despite past climatic changes. Within the well-documented periods at the end of the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene, a reduction in some common components of Quaternary assemblages (Rhinolophus species and M. schreibersii) is observed, coinciding with the Late Glacial Maximum and the Northgrippian Neoglacial (a cooling event in the Holocene). Finally, the Balearic record shows interesting palaeobiogeographical characteristics, including some eastern taxa absent in the Iberian Peninsula (Rhinolophus variabilis and R. cf. blasii) as well as an unusual abundance of Rhinolophus hipposideros.

Editorial preface to special issue: Neogene-Quaternary changes of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool encompassing oceanic, hydrologic and carbon cycles, and their implications for future change

The Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP) is the primary supplier of heat and moisture to the global atmosphere, and exerts a significant impact on tropical and worldwide climate variability. This special issue expands our understanding of the paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic evolution of the IPWP since Neogene times with implications for understanding future change. It contains fifteen research articles addressing two primary themes: (1) Ocean-atmosphere coupled processes via the ocean water-column, sea surface, atmospheric evaporation/precipitation; and (2) Sediment source-to-sink and biogeochemical carbon-cycles, and their interactions with oceanographic, hydrological, tectonic and other factors. These contributions improve our understanding of thermocline temperature, salinity, oxygenation, hydrography, carbon cycle, biological productivity, and sedimentary response in the IPWP across Neogene and Quaternary time scales, as well as aiding in the forecast of future climate responses in the context of current global warming. The special issue will capture the attention of geologists, climatologists, and anybody else interested in global climate change.

Late quaternary morpho-stratigraphic record of diapir rise in the Cardona salt extrusion, NE Spain. Halokinetic sequences, raised terraces and uplift rates

Active diapirism has received very limited attention from the geomorphological and Quaternary Science perspective, despite the role played by this ground deformation process in the development of landforms and sedimentary environments, and the important practical implications associated with mobile salt structures (e,g., mining, hydrocarbon production, geostorage). The Cardona salt extrusion (NE Spain) was initiated in late Quaternary times from the post-shortening unroofing of the crest of a salt anticline by the entrenchment of the transverse Cardener River. Detailed mapping, outcrop analysis, geophysical data and trenching indicate that the diapir-flanking deposits show halokinetic complexes comprising two types of morpho-stratigraphic units: (1) an older flap of coarse-grained drapefolded colluvial deposits; and (2) younger lacustrine and fluvial deposits in peripheral depressions confined between the upturned colluvial flaps and the country rock slope. These synkinematic units record an overall relief inversion and correspond to the so-called wedge and hook halokinetic sequences, recording ratios between diapir rise rate and sedimentation rate lower and greater than 1, respectively. The radiocarbon ages obtained from several raised late Holocene strath terraces carved in the salt indicate uplift rates within the range of 36.5–12.1 mm/yr, consistent with geodetic data. The spatial variability of the uplift rates can be related to increasing flow rates towards the axis of the salt wall and potential along-strike variations. The relatively high diapir rise rates observed at Cardona diapir, unaffected by contractional displacement loading (tectonic squeezing), is attributed to the youthful stage of the salt extrusion and the low dynamic viscosity of the Cardona Saline Formation, with a low proportion of impurities and a significant amount of potash salts.

Geomorphological and geo/thermo-chronological responses of Indian plate’s deformation during neogene- quaternary time along the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis: Formation of Manabhum anticline

India-Eurasia and India-Burma collision systems encircle Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS) in the north and the southeast. The main active structure responsible for the uplift of the Quaternary and Neogene rocks in the easternmost part of the EHS is the NW-SE trending Mishmi Thrust (MT). The spectacular antiformal Manabhum Hill developed during the Quaternary as a ramp antiform over a splay of Mishmi Thrust in its foreland region. The current work presents the deformation scenario, uplift rate, and landform development along the Mishmi Thrust from the Neogene to the Recent for the first time. The surface deformation and the rock and sediment deformation histories have been interpreted from the geomorphology, structure and petrology of the rocks and sediments. We use new (U + Th + Sm)/He low-temperature thermochronology (LTT) of zircon and apatite and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dates to calculate the uplift rate for the Neogene to early Quaternary and late Quaternary time intervals, respectively. The Neogene uplift rate varies between 0.91 and 2.3 mm/yr, whereas the early Quaternary uplift rate is ∼3.1 mm/yr. The increased uplift rate during the Quaternary period with significant deformation of sediments indicates the non-rigid character of the Indian plate in this sector, which experienced compression and clockwise rotation.

Seismic damage in Quaternary fluvial gravels in low-seismicity thrust-and-fold-belts: Case study of the Outer Western Carpathians (Poland and Slovakia)

In this contribution, we propose a model of Quaternary seismicity in the Outer Western Carpathians. The model presents results of analysis of fractured clasts performed in 268 exposures of Quaternary fluvial gravels within the ca. 5,000 km2 large segment of the Outer Western Carpathians comprising: Outer Carpathian nappes, the innermost part of the Carpathian Foredeep, and two intramontane basins – the Orava-Nowy Targ Basin and the Nowy Sącz Basin. Moreover, to precise stratigraphic position of the host gravels we performed OSL dating in 16 exposures and 14C dating in 4 exposures. Outside the intramontane basins, seismic damage in Quaternary strata is largely focused along all major overthrusts and some of the large-scale strike-slip and normal faults, whereas, within the intramontane basins, the damage is dispersed within the whole basins. Our results show that seismic damage within Quaternary strata in the Outer Western Carpathians results both from co-seismic fault rupture and from seismic shaking. During Quaternary times, the Outer Western Carpathians have been affected by earthquakes since the Pleistocene until Present. Seismic damage in Quaternary strata results from light (Mw5-) earthquakes with the exception of hanging limbs of the normal faults bordering the Orava-Nowy Targ Intramontane Basin which have been affected also by moderate (Mw5+) earthquakes. Our model can be significant for understanding seismic hazards in low-seismicity thrust-and-fold belts. In the studied case, this is important as the densely populated intramontane basins show the largest seismic damage.

Buried River Valleys of the Neogene and Early Quaternary in the Middle Volga Region, European Russia

Buried river valleys from the Neogene–Quaternary time are widespread throughout the Middle Volga region of the Russian Plain. They have been studied for a long period, since the 1940s, with the last major generalizations dating back to the 1980s. This paper presents new results based on GIS mapping using materials from the state geological study of the region in 1960–1970, 1984–1996 and 2000–2002. On the whole, the pattern of the buried valley network is close to the modern valley network of the region. During the Quaternary, the right-sided displacement of the valley incisions prevailed. The incisions of modern river valleys are located above the Neogene (pre-Akchagyl) incisions almost throughout the entire territory. The vertical displacement amplitude ranges from 30 to 200 m. The morphometric characteristics of the paleovalleys (the depth and width of the incisions, as well as the gradients of the bottoms of the paleovalleys) exceeded modern ones. The maximum values were typical for the middle Paleo-Volga valley: the width of the valley reached 10 km, the incision depth was−201.4 m below sea level and the bottom gradient was 0.9–5.0 m/km. The most important factor that influenced the position of paleovalleys and their morphological appearance was fluctuations in the level of the Caspian paleowaterbody. According to this study, the development of paleovalleys began in the Miocene and ended in the Early Quaternary. The alluvial–lacustrine type of sedimentation was predominant. The results of this work contribute to the study of the paleogeography of the Cenozoic of the southeast of the Russian Plain.

Effects of chemical weathering on the exceptional preservation of mineralized insects from the Crato Formation, Cretaceous of Brazil: implications for late diagenesis of fine-grained Lagerstätten deposits

AbstractMany studies have improved our understanding of the mode of preservation at the Crato fossil Lagerstätte. The high degree of preservation of the Crato mineralized insects is thought to be a consequence of the diffusion of ions through carcasses and envelopment by bacteria that, in turn, created microenvironmental conditions that led to mineralization, mainly pyritization. Pyritized insects have been oxidized by in situ weathering to more stable oxide/hydroxy minerals during Quaternary time. This transformation is essential to maintain the palaeontological information acquired during microbially induced pyritization in an oxidizing atmosphere. However, intense weathering can diminish or obscure the morphological fidelity, and little attention has been paid to the post-diagenetic processes experienced by these fossils. Here, we aim to determine the degree of alteration undergone by Crato pyritized insects using the following combination of analytical tools: scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Our results show that well-preserved insects are preferentially replaced by haematite and poorly preserved fossils are replaced by goethite. In addition, we recorded three types of post-diagenetic alteration: insects with iron-oxide overgrowths; insects associated with black coatings, sometimes with the formation of dendrites; and insects preserved as an impression, where only the outline of the body remains. All of these alterations have the potential to distort or tarnish palaeontological information. Here, we measured the effects of such telodiagenetic alterations at macro and micro scales. Therefore, this taphonomic approach has wide applicability wherever fine-grained deposits bearing mineralized insects are found.

Stratigraphic Sequence and Structural Evolution of the Sana'a Basin

The stratigraphic sequence of the Sana'a basin ranges in age from Precambrian to Recent with some periods missing. Lithological outcrops of the Sana'a basin ranging in age from Jurassic to Quaternary, while the subsurface data reveals the occurrences of the Precambrian rocks. 
 Current research discusses the sedimentary and structural evolution of the Sana'a basin and indicates that significant tectonic phases occurred during the Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary periods. Structural effects of these tectonic phases include uplift and subsidence for several times. However, the Sana'a basin formed during the Jurassic time under an inherited and reactivated structural control from the old N-S trend. Field studies indicate that the Sana'a basin was subjected to compression stage during the Paleocene time which resulted in the formation of an anticline with N-S axis, and then at the end of the Paleocene the area is affected by extensional faults to form half grabens such as Wadi Dhahr, and Haddah half grabens.
 During the Tertiary Sana'a area has been affected by huge of volcanic activities especially in the southern part of the Sana' a basin to form the Yemen Plateau, then the major tectonic trends were reactivated by extensional stage which coincided with the NS - NW and ENE - WSW trend. However, most of these faults and fractures are filled by volcanic dykes of different composition. In Quaternary time another volcanic activity has occurred to form a lot of plugs and cones intruded into the old rock units.

Neotectonics of the Sarıköy-Đnova and Çan-Bayramiç-Ezine fault zones: basin formation, age and Slip Rates, NW Anatolia-Turkey

he Sarıköy-Đnova and the Çan-Bayramiç-Ezine fault zones (SIFZ, ÇBEFZ) comprise the southern strand of the North Anatolian Fault System in the Biga Peninsula. They are located in the area between Sarıköy to northeast and the Dalyan settlement around Bozcaada in the North Aegean Sea to southwest. Both of the fault zones are active. This is evidenced by the 6 March 1737 (Ms =7.0) Đnova, 1st February 1809 Hurma (Ms = 6.1), and the 8 February 1826 Güllüce (Ms = 6.2) historical earthquakes resulted from these fault zones. Maximum lengths of fault segments comprising the SIFZ and the ÇBEFZ are 14 km and 15 km, respectively. Based on the maximum lengths of fault segments, the magnitude of the peak earthquakes to be originated from these faults are Mw = 6.3 and 6.6, respectively. Based on both the geological and geographic markers, the total right lateral offsets accumulated on the SIFZ and ÇBEFZ are 12 km and 20 km, respectively. These offset values imply to the slip rates of 4.6 mm/yr and 7.7 mm/yr, respectively. Five pull-apart basins were developed on both fault zones. These are the Sarıköy, Đnova, Kazabat, Çan and Ezine-Bayramiç basins. The first three of them are pure strike-slip pull-apart basins, while the type of the rest basins is superimposed. The angular unconformity between the nondeformed basin fill of Quaternary age and the folded to thrust-faulted basement rocks of pre-Quaternary age reveals strongly that the pull-apart basins have formed during the Quaternary time. This relationship also reveals that the commencement age of the strike-slip neotectonic regime and formation of associated fault zones are the Early Quaternary.

Controls on Late Miocene to Early Quaternary continental sedimentation during the development of the Sohag basin, Nile Valley, Egypt

Sohag Basin is a Late Cenozoic rift basin that follows the course of the River Nile and contains a sequence of Early Miocene to Quaternary times. The present study outlines the impact of the allocyclic factors controlling a sequence of a fluvio-lacustrine succession dated from the Late Miocene to the Early Pleistocene and is subdivided into Units II and III. Unit II is made mostly of fluvial siliciclastic sediments (FA1), interpreted as channels and floodplains. Unit III consists of alluvial conglomerates (FA2) followed upwards by lacustrine carbonates (FA3) covering the whole basin. These two units are arranged in two depositional sequences (DSQ-1 and DSQ-2), bounded by sequence boundaries. Both sequences are composed of the Low- and High-Accommodation System Tracts (LAST, HAST), and they are distinguished primarily by the facies associations and the nature of the contacts that separate them. Allogenic controls strongly influenced the general evolution of the fluvio-lacustrine system. Tectonics determined the variations in thickness and lithofacies of Units II and III, where the basin was affected by the reactivation of basin-bounding faults, and suggested that the basin physiography changed from the full-graben to half-graben stage. The variation in the lacustrine facies associations and the pedogenic features show the response to tectonics and local climate conditions. Provenance played a role in the drainage pattern evolution. Using the Facies architecture and sequence stratigraphic framework, a depositional model was constructed and strongly influenced by tectonic subsidence and uplift of the basin concurrent with the reactivation of the Gulf of Suez-Red Sea rifting.

Groundwater Investigation by Combined Vertical Electrical Sounding and Magnetotelluric Sounding in Eastern Region of Mekong Delta, in the South of Vietnam

In the Eastern Region of Mekong Delta (South Vietnam) may contain brackish or saline water from land surface to great depth, both superficial Quaternary and deep Tertiary Alluvium. The combination of two geophysical methods, the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) for shallow investigation, and the Magnetotelluric Sounding (MTS) for deep investigation, provides a complete electrical image of the sedimentary series from the surface to the deep crystalline basement. It turns out very efficient to delineate the groundwater contamination in both superficial and deep aquifers. The combined results reveal a close correlation of the extent of the contamination with the paleogeomorphology of laterites, and subsequently with the paleorelief during the Tertiary and Quaternary times. Because this study area is very complicated hydrogeological structure, it is necessary to survey the current status of deep-water storage floors with geophysical measurement technologies to prevent groundwater pollution when exploiting groundwater here.

Fluvial and permafrost history of the lower Lena River, north‐eastern Siberia, over late Quaternary time

ABSTRACTArctic warming and permafrost thaw visibly expose changes in the landscape of the Lena River delta, the largest Arctic delta. Determining the past and modern river regime of thick deltaic deposits shaping the Lena River mouth in north‐eastern Siberia is critical for understanding the history of delta formation and carbon sequestration. Using a 65 m long sediment core from the delta apex a set of sedimentological techniques is applied to aid in reconstructing the Lena River history. The analysis includes: (i) grain‐size measurements and the determination of the bedload composition; (ii) X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray diffractometry, and magnetic susceptibility measurements and heavy mineral analysis for tracking mineral change; (iii) pH, electrical conductivity, ionic concentrations, and the δ18O and δD stable isotope composition from ground ice for reconstructing permafrost formation. In addition; (iv) total and dissolved organic carbon is assessed. Chronology is based on; (vi) radiocarbon dating of organic material (accelerator mass spectrometry and conventional) and is complemented by two infrared – optically stimulated luminescence dates. The record stretches back approximately to Marine Isotope Stage 7. It holds periods from traction, over saltation, to suspension load sedimentation. Minerogenic signals do not indicate provenance change over time. They rather reflect the change from high energy to a lower energy regime after Last Glacial Maximum time parallel to the fining‐up grain‐size trend. A prominent minimum in the ground ice stable isotope record at early Holocene highlights that a river arm migration and an associated refreeze of the underlying river talik has altered the isotopic composition at that time. Fluvial re‐routing might be explained by internal dynamics in the Lena River lowland or due to a tectonic movement, since the study area is placed in a zone of seismic activity. At the southern Laptev Sea margin, onshore continental compressional patterns are bordering offshore extensional normal faults.

Central Iranian playas: The first 3D near-surface model

Playas are a valuable tool for studying the climate of the past. In recent years, several studies have been conducted on Iranian playas, but there is a lack for subsurface models of playas. The aim of this research was to model the subsurface of playa to reconstruct the past climate. We employed the drilling cores of wells drilled in the two large playas in central part of Iran and created 3D models from near-surface structures. We obtained 3 models: an eight-layer model and a 4- layer model and a 2-layer models in 3 different parts. Based on the models, we have proposed a scenario for the evolution of central Iran playas. The 3D models show that the overlaying of the layers not only follows the morphology of the bedrock, but also that the mud layers sit exactly in the wet basins. In other words, layers of mud have formed in wetter-than-present surfaces. The 8-layers model suggest at least four periods of severe climate change had occurred in central Iran. Our 3D models are consistent with the reality of the climate change during Quaternary time scale in arid environment of central Iran.

Investigation of the main reservoir of the Tulehu geothermal system (Indonesia) using 3-D inversion of MT data

Tulehu geothermal prospect area is located in Maluku Province, Indonesia. The existence of the geothermal system in this area is recognized by the appearance of hot springs on the western side of Mt Eriwakang and the northern side of Mt. Huwe. Most of these hot springs occur along inferred geological structures. The geological conditions of this area are dominated by Quaternary volcanic rocks, limestone, alluvium, and metamorphic rocks. Several authors have conducted several studies to propose various geothermal conceptual models, from structurally controlled to volcanic-hosted geothermal systems. However, the geoscientific data supporting the hypotheses are not comprehensive yet. There are still gaps in the data coverage as well as in the interpretation of geological, geochemical, and geophysical data, so a comprehensive study should be done before deciding on further stages. Therefore, this paper proposes a new conceptual model of the Tulehu geothermal area by reducing the existing data gap. Interpretation of remote sensing data, geological field observations, age dating analysis, reanalysis of geochemical data, and additional MT data covering Mt. Eriwakang are conducted to reconstruct the conceptual model. Graben-like structures are identified based on the geological data where the product of Mt. Eriwakang is in the middle. Based on the age dating data, the product of Mt. Eriwakang erupted in the Quaternary time (413±6 kA), so it is still quite potential as a heat source. This indication is also supported by the trend of Cl, HCO3, and SiO2, which describe the possible flow from Mt. Eriwakang to the surrounding hot springs. Based on the Na-K-Mg and Silica geothermometers, the reservoir temperature is estimated at 210-240 °C. A three-dimensional (3-D) MT inversion was applied to all the existing and new MT data to obtain a 3-D subsurface resistivity model. The oceanic bathymetry data was also incorporated to mitigate the possible coastal effect from the surrounding seawater to the MT data. The new 3-D MT inversion results show a good agreement with the geological and geochemical indications. The updome-shaped pattern of the subsurface resistivity distribution beneath Mt. Eriwakang supports the geological and geochemical data analysis results concerning the indications of the prospects area around Mt. Eriwakang. These interpretations can strengthen the recommendation to focus on the area around Mt. Eriwakang for further development.

Late Quaternary geomorphic evolution of Teesta-Khangtse basin, north Sikkim

Quaternary climate change in eastern Himalaya is evidenced by a variety of glacial and fluvial landforms. In eastern Himalaya, the Teesta Khangtse glacier region located in the North District, Sikkim, has preserved many glacial and glacio-fluvial geomorphic features. The Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) geochronology of lateral, recessional and ground moraines has provided proper evidence of episodic deglaciation and corresponding landform evolution of the region. The field disposition ground moraines exhibit the existence of a vast glacier system before 52 ka and successive different stages of its recession in the Late Quaternary time. The thinning of the glacier system laid down a thick cover of the ground moraine. Data show that the major recession of the Teesta glacier system took place in the Upper Pleistocene at around 52 ± 3 ka. This was followed by many episodic deglaciations between 11.4 and 1.4 ka. The recessional phase, close to the beginning of the Meghalayan stages of Holocene at 3.4 ± 0.2 ka, has been marked by fluvial and aeolian activities.

Eocene to Quaternary Deformation of the Southern Puna Plateau: Thermochronology, Geochronology, and Structural Geology of an Andean Hinterland Basin (NW Argentina)

AbstractCordilleran orogens are complex tectonic systems, strongly influenced by lithospheric deformation and exhumation. However, in the type region of the Central Andes, the timing and mechanisms of deformation and mountain building remain poorly constrained, especially for the high‐elevation Puna Plateau of NW Argentina. We use geologic mapping, structural cross‐sections, low‐temperature thermochronology, and U‐Pb dating of ash and detrital zircons to elucidate the history and style of orogenic deformation in the Antofalla region of the Puna Plateau. Cooling ages of major reverse fault hanging walls and dated growth strata indicate that crustal shortening activated major reverse faults during the Eocene and continued out‐of‐sequence through the Early Miocene. This protracted period of shortening, which resulted in the filling of the Antofalla Basin, was followed by a transient episode of upper‐crustal E‐W extension on a major normal fault system during the Late Miocene. Pliocene to Quaternary time saw E‐W shortening return to the region. Our structural cross‐section permits only a low magnitude of shortening (∼15–25%), which stands in contrast to the 60‐km thick crust. Triassic to Cretaceous cooling ages from footwall rocks and minor structures indicate that the entire region experienced little exhumation or sedimentation during the Mesozoic, perhaps retaining a crust thickened during multiple episodes of Paleozoic orogenesis. The crust may also reflect lower‐crustal thickening due to the growth of a lithospheric drip during the Late Miocene.

Fault Rock Property Prediction on Jurassic Clastics of the Barents Sea, Norway

Summary We analyzed the fault rocks of a compartmentalized field in the Barents Sea, in an area with several tectonic elements, which formed at different tectonic events. Standard fault seal analysis (FSA) was conducted to predict the shale content of the fault rock (shale gouge ratio, SGR). A static cellular model based on well data, seismic data, and geological concepts served as input. The fault rock calibration workflow required various data acquired by different methods. We analyzed the Middle Triassic to Upper Jurassic clastic deposits to reconstruct the tectonic history. Apatite fission track (AFT) and (U-Th)/He thermochronology were used to determine the maximum burial depths and exhumation history. The results of high-resolution shale ductility analysis, a compaction trend study, kinematic analysis, and structural modeling (section balancing) served as additional input constraints for fault rock calibration. The interpretation of the results helped to reconstruct the following tectonic evolution. The orthogonal faults developed shortly after deposition, during Late Triassic to Early Jurassic times at relatively shallow depth, below 1000 m. Ongoing subsidence created accommodation space for Upper Jurassic to Cenozoic deposits with a maximum burial depth of 2000 m for the Middle Jurassic rocks. Exhumation of the area started around 10 Ma and continued through to Quaternary times. The predicted across-fault-flow values for fault rock permeability show a wide range when using poorly constrained input for fault rock calibration: 9.9E−15 to 9.9E−13 m² for SGR values around 0.08 at reservoir/reservoir juxtaposition. Fault rock calibration using elaborated results reduced the uncertainty of fault rock permeability estimates, and ultimately, for transmissibility multipliers (TMs). The reason for the sensitivity of the fault rock calibration is a combination of following factors: highly permeable reservoir sandstone, shallow depth of initial faulting, maximum burial depth and low shale content at the upper, main reservoir level. The study shows that an accurate reconstruction of the geohistory provides essential parameters for fault rock calibration and fault rock permeability prediction. The range of values can widely scatter if boundary conditions are not acknowledged. Well-constrained fault rock calibration reduces the uncertainty on possible flow scenarios, increases the reliability on production forecasts and helps determine the most efficient drainage strategy.

Heavy and Light Mineral Association of Late Quaternary Permafrost Deposits in Northeastern Siberia

We studied heavy and light mineral associations from two grain-size fractions (63–125 μm, 125–250 µm) from 18 permafrost sites in the northern Siberian Arctic in order to differentiate local versus regional source areas of permafrost aggradation on the late Quaternary time scale. The stratigraphic context of the studied profiles spans about 200 ka covering the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7 to MIS 1. Heavy and light mineral grains are mostly angular, subangular or slightly rounded in the studied permafrost sediments. Only grains from sediments with significantly longer transport distances show higher degrees of rounding. Differences in the varying heavy and light mineral associations represent varying sediment sources, frost weathering processes, transport mechanisms, and post-sedimentary soil formation processes of the deposits of distinct cryostratigraphic units. We summarized the results of 1141 microscopic mineral analyses of 486 samples in mean values for the respective cryostratigraphic units. We compared the mineral associations of all 18 sites along the Laptev Sea coast, in the Lena Delta, and on the New Siberian Archipelago to each other and used analysis of variance and cluster analysis to characterize the differences and similarities among mineral associations. The mineral associations of distinct cryostratigraphic units within several studied profiles differ significantly, while others do not. Significant differences between sites as well as between single cryostratigraphic units at an individual site exist in mineral associations, heavy mineral contents, and mineral coefficients. Thus, each study site shows individual, location-specific mineral association. The mineral records originate from multiple locations covering a large spatial range and show that ratios of heavy and light mineral loads remained rather stable over time, including glacial and interglacial periods. This suggests mostly local sediment sources and highlights the importance of sediment reworking under periglacial regimes through time, including for example the formation of MIS 1 thermokarst and thermo-erosional deposits based on remobilized MIS 3 and 2 Yedoma Ice Complex deposits. Based on the diverse mineralogical results our study supports the viewpoint that Yedoma Ice Complex deposits are mainly results of local and polygenetic formations (including local aeolian relocation) superimposed by cryogenic weathering and varying climate conditions rather than exclusive long distance aeolian transport of loess, which would have highly homogenized the deposits across large regions.

Late Cenozoic Extensional Formation of the Antofalla Depression, Southern Puna Plateau, Argentina: An Effect of Lithospheric Foundering?

AbstractDeformation within orogenic plateaus functions to establish a dynamic equilibrium between tectonic boundary stresses and plateau gravitational potential energy. Temporal changes in deformation kinematics record perturbations to boundary stresses or internal plateau processes, such as lithospheric foundering. We integrate new mapping, field observations, and geochronologic ages with published data to document complex late Cenozoic upper crustal deformation in the region of the Antofalla depression, a ∼125 km long, sublinear basin within the southern Puna orogenic plateau, Argentina. The juxtaposition of stratal ages across the depression requires >900 m vertical offset on a surface‐breaking fault. Regional geologic structure, basin geomorphology, and our observation of a breccia paralleling the depression margin suggest formation of the depression by normal faulting. We interpret published stratigraphic logs to suggest that the depression formed between ca. 16 and 11 Ma following Andean shortening. Folded Late Miocene to Quaternary strata on the eastern depression margin indicate that extension ended and shortening resumed before present, revealing toggling between extensional and contractional kinematic regimes. The kinematic evolution of the Antofalla depression contrasts with the rest of the southern Puna plateau, which underwent shortening until latest Miocene to Quaternary time, followed by extension and strike‐slip deformation. Taken together, the spatial and temporal variations in late Cenozoic deformation of the southern Puna plateau are inconsistent with mechanisms that would affect the entire orogen, such as slowing convergence, but are compatible with lithospheric foundering.

A new look at the origin of N-S trending young basins of western Anatolia

In the western Anatolia, the tectonic regime transitioned from crustal shortening to extension during Late Cenozoic time and evidence of this event was imprinted on basement lithologies and N-S and E-W oriented two distinct basin sub-types. Here, we examined the exhumation mechanism of the Menderes massif that forms the basement of these basins from a different perspective. The N-S oriented basins overlying different basement rock types were re-evaluated based on new evidence that has potential to put new constrains for interpreting the tectonic evolution of the area. Unroofing of the Menderes Massif must have developed due to compressional core complex. Per the model generated from our observations, we propose that the western Anatolia underwent a N-S contraction during the Early-Middle Miocene time. In this period from Marmara Sea at north to Mediterranean Sea at south, numerous basins, as in Gördes and Demirci, were bound by N-S oriented oblique faults. Evidence of contraction in the region during Early Middle Miocene time is understood by N-S oriented obique, strike-slip faults, folds, and reverse faults. Starting from the Plio-Quaternary time, the contractional regime was shifted to extension and ensuing E-W oriented grabens were formed in Gediz, Büyük Menderes, and Gökova. The structural deformation associated with these E-W oriented grabens are normal faults and related open folds. Geological evidence of multi-generation extension is recognized in the basins and basin-filling deposits throughout the Neogene to Quaternary time.