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Recent drilling of the first Collisional Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides scientific borehole (COSC-1) near Åre, Sweden permitted a laboratory investigation of seismic anisotropy on high metamorphic grade and highly deformed core samples. The 2.5 km deep borehole crosscuts the amphibolite-grade Lower Seve Nappe and intersects a high-strain shear zone in the lowermost 800 m. Measurements of ultrasonic compressional ( V p ) and shear ( V s ) velocities are conducted at room temperature and pressures ranging from room conditions up to 260 MPa on six core sections that represent the most abundant lithologies in the borehole. The core sections consist of two amphibolites, a calc-silicate gneiss, a felsic gneiss, an amphibole-rich gneiss, and a garnet-bearing micaschist from the shear zone. Three mutually perpendicular samples were taken to characterize the anisotropy induced by the clear foliation and lineation. The intrinsic (crack-free velocities) V p 0 and V s 0 in the direction perpendicular to foliation ranges from 5.51 to 6.67 km/s and 3.31 to 4.13 km/s, respectively. In the direction parallel to foliation the V p 0 and V s 0 ranges from 6.31 to 7.25 km/s and 3.53 to 4.35 km/s, respectively. V p anisotropy ranges from 3% in the calc-silicate gneiss to 19% in the micaschist. In the upper crustal seismic reflection survey around the COSC-1 borehole, reflection coefficient analysis suggests that reflectors occur due to impedance contrast between commonly occurring amphibolites and gneisses in the upper 1800 m and the micaschists below. When extrapolated to mid-crustal levels the analysis indicates that both rock types can produce reflection coefficients between adjacent lithologies in excess of 0.1. Similarities in lithologies, shear zone thickness, and reflectivity pattern in the Central Scandinavian Caledonides compared to other orogens (e.g., the Himalaya) demonstrate the importance of these measurements as a proxy for in-situ strongly anisotropic shear zones in the middle crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melt generation in the continental crust is thought to significantly influence seismic bulk velocities and anisotropy, although existing laboratory data provide limited constraints on such seismic attributes. In this study we measured ultrasonic compressional wave speeds (Vp) and anisotropy during sample compaction, mica-breakdown and melt-generation in synthetic, foliated quartz–muscovite aggregates. Measurements were performed at peak conditions of 300 MPa hydrostatic confining pressure and 750 °C, over a six hour time period, for three separate samples where wave propagation directions were aligned at 0°, 45° and 90° with respect to the foliation plane. The experiments are initially marked by sample compaction and rapid reduction in porosity (from 25% to <2 vol%), with a corresponding increase in Vp. During initial stages of the experiment Vp ranges from 4.65 to 5.45 km/s, depending on the direction of the P wave propagation, resulting in up to ∼16% anisotropy, which originates mainly from the preferred orientation of muscovite and possible incipient melt lenses oriented parallel to foliation. As the experiment progresses the bulk Vp decreases gradually and Vp anisotropy drops from ∼16% to ∼2% after five hours into the experiment. The drop in anisotropy is caused by muscovite-breakdown and increasing amount of partial melting of the aggregate. The bulk velocities are considerably lower than predicted for a mixture of muscovite and β -quartz (stable at 300 MPa and 750 °C). Thermodynamic modeling indicates that mica breakdown and production of melt with ∼2 wt% dissolved water in the aggregate can explain the low Vp, even though β -quartz is stable; the modeled Vp is ∼4.75 km/s at 300 MPa and 750 °C. These ultrasonic attributes signify movement of the melt to fill vacant pores and coating grain boundaries, effectively connecting melt films and reducing seismic anisotropy. The results may apply to regions where crustal melting is on-going, in particular regions of elevated temperature that are only weakly deforming, with coupled anomalously low bulk velocities and seismic anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructural and textural measurements from two Ordovician shale units (Goldwyer and Bongabinni formations) within the Palaeozoic–Mesozoic Canning Basin indicate that the former unit was affected by mechanical compaction and clay mineral transformation whereas the latter preserves an early fabric due to syn-depositional precipitation of authigenic dolomite and anhydrite. Conventional petrographic analysis coupled with quantitative mineralogy, electron micro probe analyses, X-ray Texture goniometry (XTG) and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy of core samples were used to decipher the post-depositional evolution of marine and supratidal facies in the Goldwyer and Bongabinni formations, respectively. Differences in diagenesis are strongly reflected in the orientation of clay minerals as quantified by XTG: in both cases the c-axes of illite diffract strongest normal to the bedding plane but the measurements clearly illustrate that shale in the Goldwyer Formation has a stronger preferred orientation relative to the Bongabinni Formation, with multiple of random distributions (m.r.d.) values of 5.77 and 2.54, respectively. Laboratory measurements conducted at 10 MPa effective stress also indicate distinct rock physics signatures: the Bongabinni Formation shows very low anisotropy, whereas the Goldwyer Formation displays a higher degree of elastic anisotropy in terms of both P- and S- waves. The crystallographic preferred orientation of illite, highlighted by the XTG, is likely to contribute to the significant difference in elastic anisotropy observed in the two units. Therefore, the Bongabinni Formation is mechanically stronger and stiffer than the Goldwyer Formation, likely due to the early dolomite and anhydrite cementation of the former providing a rigid microstructure framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclination shallowing of detrital remanent magnetization in sedimentary strata has solely been constrained for the mechanical processes associated with mud deposition and shallow compaction of clay-rich sediment, even though a significant part of mud diagenesis involves chemical compaction. Here we report, for the first time, on the laboratory simulation of magnetic assemblage development in a chemically compacting illite shale powder of natural origin. The experimental procedure comprised three compaction stages that, when combined, simulate the diagenesis and low-grade metamorphism of illite mud. First, the full extent of load-sensitive mechanical compaction is simulated by room temperature dry axial compression. Subsequently, temperature controlled chemical compaction is initiated by exposing the sample in two stages to amphibolite or granulite facies conditions (temperature is 490 to 750°C and confining pressure is 170 or 300 MPa) both in the absence (confining pressure only) and presence of a deformation stress field (axial compression or confined torsion). Thermodynamic equilibrium in the last two compaction stages was not reached, but illite and mica dehydroxylation initiated, thus providing a wet environment. Magnetic properties were characterized by magnetic susceptibility and its anisotropy (AMS) in both high- and low-applied field. Acquisition of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), stepwise three-component thermal de-magnetization of IRM and first-order reversal curves were used to characterize the remanence-bearing minerals. During the chemical compaction experiments ferrimagnetic iron-sulphides formed after reduction of magnetite and detrital pyrite in a low sulphur fugacity environment. The degree of low-field AMS is unaffected by porosity reduction from 15 to ∼1 per cent, regardless of operating conditions and compaction history. High-field paramagnetic AMS increases with compaction for all employed stress regimes and conditions, and is attributed to illite transformation to iron-bearing mica. AMS of authigenic iron-sulphide minerals remained constant during compaction indicating an independence of ferrimagnetic fabric development to chemical compaction in illite shale powder. The decoupling of paramagnetic and ferrimagnetic AMS development during chemical compaction of pelite contrasts with findings from mechanical compaction studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been measured with low- and high-field methods, in deformed carbonate rocks along the Morcles nappe shear zone (Helvetic Alps). High-field measurements at room temperature and 77 K enable the separation of the ferrimagnetic, paramagnetic and diamagnetic anisotropy. The ferrimagnetic sub-fabric is generally insignificant in these rocks, contributing less than 10% to the total AMS. AMS results for both the separated diamagnetic and paramagnetic subfabrics are consistent with the regional shear movement in the late-stage formation of the Helvetic nappes, as seen in the Morcles nappe, whose inverted limb indicate shear displacement towards the northwest. The diamagnetic anisotropy correlates well quantitatively with the calculated magnetic anisotropy based on the calcite texture. There is a gradational change in the degree of anisotropy related to the strain gradient along the shear zone. A more complex magnetic fabric, resulting from partial overprinting due to displacement along the Simplon–Rhône fault, is evident at one site near the root zone of the nappe. Partial overprinting of the magnetic fabric appears to have taken place in two locations farther up the shear zone as well. This late phase deformation is associated with recent exhumation of the Mont Blanc and Belledonne external massifs and orogen parallel extension, and is reflected by the AMS. Rocks with bulk susceptibility ∼0 SI, and simple mineral compositions are ideal for low temperature high-field torque, as this method helps to enhance the paramagnetic susceptibility and anisotropy, which may otherwise be masked by the mixed magnetic contributions of the composite magnetic fabric. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) measured with high fields, at ambient and low temperatures (77 K), has been used to separate ferromagnetic (sensu lato), paramagnetic and diamagnetic sub-fabrics for deformed limestones located in a nappe structure from southwest Switzerland. The magnetic fabrics are dominantly controlled by paramagnetic and diamagnetic minerals, and ferromagnetic minerals contribute significantly only at two of the eight study locations. Separation of the magnetic sub-fabrics is possible in the root zone and overturned limb of the Morcles Nappe, which contains a high ratio of diamagnetic matrix calcite to paramagnetic secondary phases. Each of the sub-fabrics displays a relationship with structural cleavage and the crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of calcite in the root zone and overturned limb. The maximum axis of the paramagnetic AMS ellipsoid (k max) lies close to the pole to cleavage, with the intermediate (k int) and minimum (k min) axes near the cleavage plane. Conversely, the diamagnetic k min lies close to the pole to cleavage with k max and k int axes near the cleavage plane. Slight offsets in the poles to cleavage and in the principal AMS directions are observed. They are interpreted to be the consequence of a second phase deformation event, affecting only the CPO but not the macroscopic structural elements. The diamagnetic sub-fabric reflects the CPO of calcite, produced through recrystallization during nappe deformation. Iron-rich calcite appears to control the paramagnetic sub-fabric. Susceptibility ellipsoids approach oblate shapes for the diamagnetic sub-fabric, with the most extreme shapes reaching susceptibility differences (Δk = k max − k min) close to that of single crystal calcite, whereas the paramagnetic sub-fabric is represented mainly by prolate shape ellipsoids. The low-field AMS ellipsoids show mixed oblate and prolate shapes, without consistency within or between sites. It is evident that, when the magnetic sub-fabrics of the root zone and overturned limb are separated, their individual shapes and distribution of principal directions mirror the developed CPO. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]