Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
Rifting in a cratonic lithosphere is strongly controlled by several interacting processes including crust/mantle rheology, magmatism, inherited structure and stress regime. In order to better understand how these physical parameters interact, a 2 yr long seismological experiment has been carried out in the North Tanzanian Divergence (NTD), at the southern tip of the eastern magmatic branch of the East African rift, where the southward-propagating continental rift is at its earliest stage. We analyse teleseismic data from 38 broad-band stations ca. 25 km spaced and present here results from their receiver function (RF) analysis. The crustal thickness and Vp/Vs ratio are retrieved over a ca. 200 × 200 km2 area encompassing the South Kenya magmatic rift, the NTD and the Ngorongoro-Kilimanjaro transverse volcanic chain. Cratonic nature of the lithosphere is clearly evinced through thick (up to ca. 40 km) homogeneous crust beneath the rift shoulders. Where rifting is present, Moho rises up to 27 km depth and the crust is strongly layered with clear velocity contrasts in the RF signal. The Vp/Vs ratio reaches its highest values (ca. 1.9) beneath volcanic edifices location and thinner crust, advocating for melting within the crust. We also clearly identify two major low-velocity zones (LVZs) within the NTD, one in the lower crust and the second in the upper part of the mantle. The first one starts at 15–18 km depth and correlates well with recent tomographic models. This LVZ does not always coexist with high Vp/Vs ratio, pleading for a supplementary source of velocity decrease, such as temperature or composition. At a greater depth of ca. 60 km, a mid-lithospheric discontinuity roughly mimics the step-like and symmetrically outward-dipping geometry of the Moho but with a more slanting direction (NE–SW) compared to the NS rift. By comparison with synthetic RF, we estimate the associated velocity reduction to be 8–9 per cent. We relate this interface to melt ponding, possibly favouring here deformation process such as grain-boundary sliding (EAGBS) due to lithospheric strain. Its geometry might have been controlled by inherited lithospheric fabrics and heterogeneous upper mantle structure. We evidence that crustal and mantle magmatic processes represent first order mechanisms to ease and locate the deformation during the first stage of a cratonic lithospheric breakup.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-01622078
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622078
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622078/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622078/file/plasmanGJI2017.pdf
DOI : 10.1093/gji/ggx177

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : A differential effective medium (DEM) model is used to predict elastic properties for a set of porous and anisotropic aggregates, comprised of mixtures of calcite and muscovite. The DEM takes into consideration an anisotropic background medium with triclinic or higher symmetry, in which inclusions of idealized ellipsoidal shape are added incrementally. In general, the calculated elastic properties of a solid that contains inclusions representing "dry" pores/cracks are strongly dependent on the orientation and aspect ratio of the inclusions. Aspect ratios of inclusions in the synthetic aggregates, which consist of air-filled pores, are estimated from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of samples whose pore space has been impregnated with a colloidal ferrofluid. The AMS derived pore shape geometry is used as an input value for inclusions in the DEM. Modeling results are compared with laboratory determined elastic properties, measured with ultrasonic waves. Calculated shear wave velocities agree in general well with laboratory measured S wave velocities, whereas calculated P wave velocities are typically 0.5-1.1 km/s higher than measured values. Differences between calculated and measured P wave velocities are attributed mainly to incomplete and biased ferrofluid saturation of pores. Spherical pores are preferably filled during imbibition, in comparison to thin cracks, which leads to overprediction of the calculated P wave velocities. The amount of ferrofluid that fills the pore space is dependent on the ratio of calcite to muscovite and the load used for compaction during sample synthesis. The permeability decreases with increasing muscovite content and increasing compaction load. Incomplete saturation of samples with high-muscovite content is confirmed by X-ray microtomography density contrast imaging of dry and ferrofluid saturated specimens.
ISSN: 0148-0227

hal-00617717
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00617717
DOI : 10.1029/2010JB007750

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
In the South Tien Shan range (Kyrgyzstan), the Late Paleozoic geodynamic evolution remains debated especially to the west of the Talas-Fergana fault (TFF) fault where suture-related high-pressure (HP) rocks are scarce. We provide new petrological and geochronological data on garnet amphibolites from the Chatkal range, to the west of the TFF, northwest of the South Tien Shan suture. These rocks are retrogressed eclogites. We used a micro-mapping approach combined with forward modeling and empirical thermobarometry to decipher the P–T path of these amphibolitized eclogites. The metamorphic peak conditions culminated at 490 ± 50 °C and 18.5 ± 2 kbar and were followed by higher temperature retrogression (∼560 °C at 11–7 kbar). In order to constrain the age of the HP stage, we dated allanite crystals texturally coeval to the HP mineral assemblage. Allanite grains dated in situ with a U–Pb LA-ICPMS methodology yield an age of 301 ± 15 Ma. Compared with previously published data for the east of the TFF, these P–T constraints allow improving the understanding of the Late Paleozoic geodynamic evolution of the South Tien Shan. To the east of TFF, the Turkestan Ocean closed around 320 Ma with the collision of the Tarim Craton with the Kazakh microcontinent. To the west of TFF, the Turkestan Ocean closed around 300 Ma, when the Alai block collided with the Kazakh microcontinent. This later collision involved nappe-stacking and intense subvertical folding in the western South Tien Shan. This complex folding explains the S-shape of the suture to the west of the TFF that cannot be observed in the eastern part. These new data allow us to propose a distinct tectonic evolution of the two sides of the TFF, which suggests that this fault was a major transform fault before being a strike-slip intra-continental fault.
ISSN: 0264-3707

hal-01347171
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01347171
DOI : 10.1016/j.jog.2015.06.005

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
Probabilistic seismic hazard analyses (PSHA) are commonly based on frequency magnitude statistics from 50-100 yearlong earthquake catalogs, assuming that these statistics are representative of the longer-term frequency of large earthquakes. We test an alternative PSHA approach in continental western Canada, including adjacent areas of northwestern U. S. A., using regional strain rates derived from 179 Global Positioning System (GPS) horizontal velocities. GPS strain rates are converted to earthquake statistics, seismic moment rates, and ground shaking probabilities in seismic source zones using a logic-tree method for uncertainty propagation. Median GPS-based moment rates and shaking estimates agree well with those derived from earthquake catalogs in only two zones (Puget Sound and mid-Vancouver Island). In most other zones, median GPS-based moment rates are 6-150 times larger than those derived from earthquake catalogs (shaking estimates 2-5 times larger), although the GPS-based and catalog estimates commonly agree within their 67% uncertainties. This discrepancy may represent an under-sampling of long-term moment rates and shaking by earthquake catalogs in some zones; however a systematic under-sampling is unlikely over our entire study area. Although not demonstrated with a high confidence level, long-term regional aseismic deformation may account for a significant part of the GPS/catalog discrepancy and, in some areas, represent as much as 90% of the total deformation budget. In order to integrate GPS strain rates in PSHA models, seismic versus aseismic partitioning of long-term deformation needs to be quantified and understood in terms of the underlying mechanical processes.
ISSN: 0148-0227

hal-00689004
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00689004
DOI : 10.1029/2011JB008213

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The Blake excursion was among the first recognized with directional and intensity behavior known mainly from marine sediment and Chinese loess. Age estimates for the directional shifts in sediments are poorly constrained to about 118−100 ka, i.e., at the marine isotope stage (MIS) 5e/5d boundary. Moreover, sediments at Lac du Bouchet maar, France and along the Portuguese margin reveal what may be a "post-Blake" excursion at about 105−95 ka. The excursional directions are associated with a prominent paleointensity minimum between about 125 and 95 ka in global stacked records. Lava flow recordings of the Blake excursion(s) have, however, been questionable because precise ages required for correlation with these sediment records are lacking. To establish new, independent records of the Blake excursion, and link these into a larger Quaternary GITS, we have undertaken 40Ar/39Ar incremental heating and unspiked K-Ar experiments on groundmass from the transitionally magnetized Inzolfato flow on Lipari Island. We also obtained 40Ar/39Ar incremental heating results for a lava flow on Amsterdam Island originally thought to record the Mono Lake excursion and from the transitionally magnetized El Calderon basalt flow, New Mexico that was K-Ar dated by Champion et al. (1988) at 128 ± 66 ka. Unspiked K-Ar ages of four samples from the Inzolfato flow are 102.5 ± 4.7, 101.3 ± 3.3, 97.1 ± 2.6, and 96.8 ± 3.1 ka and thus indistinguishable from one another. 40Ar/39Ar results are more complex, with three samples yielding discordant age spectra. Based on incremental heating data obtained in both the UW-Madison and Gif-sur-Yvette 40Ar/39Ar laboratories, a fourth sample yields six concordant age plateaus and a weighted mean age of 105.2 ± 1.4 ka that we take as the best estimate of time since the flow erupted. Five 40Ar/39Ar incremental heating experiments on the Amsterdam Island lava yield a plateau age of 120 ± 12 ka, whereas ages from two sites in the Calderon flow are 112 ± 23 and 101 ± 14 ka, together giving a weighted mean of 104 ± 12 ka. The age of 120 ± 12 ka from Amsterdam Island, though imprecise, correlates with the Blake excursion. In contrast, the 104-105 ka age obtained from both Lipari and New Mexico indicates that these lavas record a younger period of dynamo instability, most probably associated with the post-Blake excursion. These radioisotopic ages are consistent with the astronomical ages of two paleointensity minima in the PISO-1500 global stack. Our findings indicate that the Blake and post-Blake excursions are both global features of past geodynamo behavior and support the hypothesis that Brunhes chron excursions are temporally clustered into two groups of at least a half-dozen each spanning over 220 to 30 ka and 720 to 520 ka.
ISSN: 1871-1014

hal-01054336
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01054336
DOI : 10.1016/j.quageo.2012.12.005

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Résumé : International audience
We studied the patterns, rates and evolution of fluvial terraces and fault system during the building process of an intracontinental transpressional mountain in the Gobi-Altay (Mongolia). By analyzing incisions and offsets of fluvial terraces and alluvial fans, we show that the massif has grown by outward migration of thrust faults through time. On the northern flank, the present bounding thrust fault began its activity ~600 ka ago, while a more internal sub-parallel fault was still active until ~200-100 ka. Vertical offset of an alluvial fan abandoned ~100 ka ago allows an estimate of 0.1 mm/yr Upper Pleistocene - Holocene uplift rate. The morphology of the catchment-piedmont system strongly suggests a periodical formation of the alluvial surfaces, controlled by the climatic pulses, at the beginning of the wet interglacial periods. The abandonment of the alluvial terraces lags by several thousand years the abandonment of the alluvial fans, showing a diachronous incision propagating upstream. The incision rate deduced from the different elevations of straths exceeds of one order of magnitude the rock uplift rate. This excess is mostly due to ongoing drainage network growth at the core of the massif, and incision due to alluvial apron entrenchment near the outlet. This implies that fluvial response is mainly controlled by drainage growth, interaction with piedmont and cyclic climatic variations, rather than by rock uplift.
ISSN: 0278-7407

hal-00323558
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00323558
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00323558v2/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00323558/file/Vassallo2007.pdf
DOI : 10.1029/2006TC002081

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : The territory of Armenia was located in the collision zone between Arabia and Eurasia, and is the seat of active intercontinental deformations, which was attested by the many historical earthquakes that have occurred in this region. All these destructive earthquakes show a strong regional seismic activity, and therefore it is important to evaluate the seismic hazard associated with active structures that generates this seismicity.This study presents the results of the analysis of the active tectonics within the northwestern and southeastern extensions of the Pambak-Sevan-Syunik fault (PSSF), a major right-lateral strike-slip fault cutting through Armenia (NW - SE). Quantifying the deformations in terms of geometry, kinematics, slip rates and earthquake activity, using cosmogenic 3He, OSL/IRSL and radiocarbon dating techniques, reveal different behaviors between the two regions.Within the northwestern extension, in the region of Amassia, the PSSF bends to the west and splits into two main WNW-ESE trending reverse faults defining a compressional pop-up structure. We estimate an uplift rate and a shortening rate of 0.5 ± 0.1 mm/y and 1.4 ± 0.6 mm/y, respectively. This suggests that most of the ~2 mm/y right lateral movement of the PSSF seems to be absorbed within the Amasia pop-structure.Within the southeastern extension, in the region of Tsghuk volcano, the PSSF shows signs of dying out at the southernmost tip of the Syunik graben. A very slow NS trending normal faulting associated with a slight right-lateral movement characterizes the tectonic activity in the region of Tsghuk volcano. We estimate vertical slip rates, EW stretching rate, and right-lateral slip rate of ~0.2 mm/y, ~0.1 mm/y and ~0.05 mm/y, respectively. These results lead to the conclusion that the right lateral movement observed further north along the PSSF is mainly transferred within other active faults further west within the Karabagh (Hagari fault or other structures further northwestwards).
L’Arménie se situe dans la zone de collision entre Arabie et Eurasie et est le siège d’une déformation intracontinental active comme l’atteste les nombreux tremblements de terre historiques qui s’y sont produits. Tous ces séismes, destructeurs, attestent d’une forte activité sismique régionale, et il est par conséquent important d'évaluer l’aléa sismique associé aux structures actives qui génère cette sismicité.Le travail présenté ici, expose les résultats de l’analyse de la tectonique active au niveau des terminaisons nord-ouest et sud-est de la faille de Pambak-Sevan-Syunik (PSSF), une des failles décrochant majeure qui traverse l'Arménie du NW au SE. La quantification des déformations en termes de géométrie, cinématique, vitesse de glissement et paléosismicité, en utilisant les méthodes de datation 3He cosmogénique, OSL/IRSL et radiocarbone, révèlent des comportements différents entre les deux régions.Au niveau de la terminaison nord-ouest, dans la région d’Amassia, la faille PSSF s’incurve vers l'ouest et se subdivise en deux branches de direction WNW-ESE, et de cinématique inverse, définissant une structure en pop-up. Nous estimons une vitesse de soulèvement de 0.5 ± 0.1 mm/an et une vitesse de raccourcissement NNE-SSW de 1.4 ± 0.6 mm/an. Ces résultats suggère que l’essentiel des ~2 mm/an de mouvement dextre estimés le long de la faille de PSSF sont absorbés au niveau du pop-up d’Amassia.Au niveau de la terminaison sud-est, dans la région du volcan Tsghuk, la faille PSSF semble disparaitre. Le peu d’activité tectonique est caractérisée par des failles normales sub-méridiennes associées à une légère composante décrochant dextre. Nous déterminons une vitesse de glissement vertical de ~0,2 mm/an, une vitesse d’extension ~EW de ~0,1 mm/an associée à une composante dextre de ~0,05 mm/an. Ces résultats suggèrent que le mouvement dextre observé le long de la faille de PSSF plus au nord, a été transféré sur d'autres failles plus à l'ouest dans le Karabakh (faille Hagari ou autres structures situés encore plus au NW).
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01621440

NNT : 2016MONTT152
tel-01621440
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01621440
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01621440v2/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01621440/file/2016_MKRTCHYAN_archivage.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Optimizing the resource extraction and limiting the environmental constraint motivate to accurately characterize reservoirs. The extraction of resources induces volume change of the reservoir causing displacements in the surrounding medium up to the surface. The resulting surface deformation is usually significant enough to be measurable by geodetic instruments (GPS, satellites, tiltmeters, strainmeters). However, the data needs to be associated to a reservoir model using an inverse scheme to allow the estimation of physical properties of the reservoir. Complete geodetic data including InSAR, GPS, tilt, strain and gravimetric data are uncommon for conventional, unconventional or mining exploitations. In this study, we work on the one site that gathers a wide range of geodetic data: the salt exploitation of Vauvert, France, operated by KemOne. Our approach aims at estimating the volume changes of the cavities created by the extraction combining all the available geodetic data. To do so, we minimize a global functional including weighting factors for each data type. The weighting factors are optimally estimated for our study and can be adapted depending on the issue. Hence, an optimal distribution of data can be suggested for a specific reservoir characterization.
79th EAGE Conference
Paris, France

Droits : http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/licences/copyright/
hal-01575426
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01575426
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01575426/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01575426/file/reservoir-characterization-inversion.pdf
DOI : 10.3997/2214-4609.201700987

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We present the 1998-2009 GPS-derived velocity field for the Armenia region based on a survey-mode observation network of 31 GPS sites.We combine our results with previous GPS studies of the region to better assess the deformation of the Lesser Caucasus and Kura basin region. The results show that the Kura basin and the Lesser Caucasus regions are two different blocks, and that the main fault (Pambak-Sevan-Sunik) between these two regions has a right-lateral slip rate of 2±1 mm/yr. This is consistentwithmorphotectonic estimates and suggests a fairly constant slip rate over the last 120-300 ka. The right-lateral slip rate on one of the southern branch of the Pambak-Sevan-Sunik fault is lower than 1 mm/yr and the good agreementwith a geologically estimated slip rate suggests a constant slip rate over the last 1.4 Myr. The Sardarapat and Akhurian faults experience some shortening. This shortening is consistentwith someindependent geological estimates and shows the Arabian push.However, NNW-SSE-orientated faults have an extensional fault normal component instead of the expected shortening due to the Arabia-Eurasia convergence. This substantial extensive strain, and the sharp azimuth change of the velocity vectors between the Arabia promontory and the Lesser Caucasus suggest that processes other than "extrusion", possibly related to old subduction or delamination, contribute to the geodynamics of the region.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00812623
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00812623
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2013.02.002

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : Approximately 4 yr of campaign and continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements across the Dead Sea fault system (DSFS) in Lebanon provide direct measurements of interseismic strain accumulation along a 200-km-long restraining bend in this continental transform fault. Late Cenozoic transpression within this restraining bend has maintained more than 3000 m of topography in the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges. The GPS velocity field indicates 4-5 mm yr(-1) of relative plate motion is transferred through the restraining bend to the northern continuation of the DSFS in northwestern Syria. Near-field GPS velocities are generally parallel to the major, left-lateral strike-slip faults, suggesting that much of the expected convergence across the restraining bend is likely accommodated by different structures beyond the aperture of the GPS network (e.g. offshore Lebanon and, possibly, the Palmyride fold belt in SW Syria). Hence, these geodetic results suggest a partitioning of crustal deformation involving strike-slip displacements in the interior of the restraining bend, and crustal shortening in the outer part of the restraining bend. Within the uncertainties, the GPS-based rates of fault slip compare well with Holocene-averaged estimates of slip along the two principal strike-slip faults: the Yammouneh and Serghaya faults. Of these two faults, more slip occurs on the Yammouneh fault, which constitutes the primary plate boundary structure between the Arabia and Sinai plates. Hence, the Yammouneh fault is the structural linkage that transfers slip to the northern part of the transform in northwestern Syria. From the perspective of the regional earthquake hazard, the Yammouneh fault is presently locked and accumulating interseismic strain.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-00406620
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00406620
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.03328.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We develop a block model for the Aegean and surrounding areas, constrained by Global Positioning System (GPS), in order to investigate the degree of coupling on the Hellenic subduction interface (i.e., the fraction of the motion across the plate boundary accommodated by elastic strain accumulation). We use previously published models, and seismicity to define the geometry of the interface separating the down-going Nubian slab from the overriding Aegean. This model provides a good fit to the GPS observations; for the ∼200,000 km2 Aegean block the wrms of the residual velocities is 1.4 mm/yr for 80 GPS velocity estimates, approximately the 95% level of the GPS velocity uncertainties. We investigate the degree of coupling on the seismically active plate interface, the Hellenic trench splay fault (believed to be the source of the 365 AD Great Crete Earthquake and Tsunami), and the Kephalonia transform fault by comparing the modeled GPS residual velocity field for a range of coupling values. The GPS observations are almost insensitive to coupling on the Kephalonia transform fault, because of the vertical dip of the fault that creates interseismic deformation only close to the fault where few GPS sites exist. The absence of resolvable shortening of the leading edge of the Aegean Plate precludes coupling of more than 0.2 (20% of the full Nubia-Aegean convergence rate) on the modeled plate interface. Because of the shallow dip of the plate interface and trench splay fault, and high rate of convergence, if these boundaries were fully coupled, high elastic strain rates would be expected to extend well into the overriding Aegean plate. Based on our preferred value for the degree of coupling (0.1), and assuming characteristic earthquake behavior, we estimate a recurrence time for great earthquakes with slip similar to that for the 365 Crete event of 5700-8300 yr, consistent with the absence of subsequent great earthquakes on this segment of the subduction zone.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-01053486
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01053486
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2013.10.018

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Mylonite-bearing crustal shear zones are exhumed extensions at depth of (potentially seismogenic) brittle faultsat shallow structural level. By concentrating deformation, shear zones play a major role in the rheology and mechanicalbehavior of the continental crust. Analysis of shear zone geometry and microstructures is a useful toolto decipher deformation kinematics, though finite strain estimation is still relatively qualitative. Timing of thedeformation has also been the focus of numerous studies using the complete spectrum of geochronometers. However,only rare examples provide geochronological data that can be unambiguously linked with deformation. Thus,time-scales over which major mylonite zones develop and remain active under ductile conditions as well as theirstrain rates often remain poorly documented. Several sections across the South Armorican Shear Zone (SASZ),a crustal-scale, several km-thick dextral shear zone were investigated by structural, petrological and Ar/Ar radiochronologicalmethods. Finite strain profiles on these sections showed a strong deformation partitioning towardsthe ultramylonite core of the SASZ, with a decrease, of both the C’/S mean angle (from ca. 45 to less than5) and the Quartz grain-size (from ca. 150 to 5 m). In parallel, conventional and in-situ Ar/Ar datings on thefabric-forming white micas were performed on compositionally complex white-micas. Inherited magmatic muscovitescarried by the foliation and newly-formed, syn-tectonic substituted phengites located along the shear bandsyielded 2 age groups for the less deformed samples. Along the shear zone cross-section, the difference betweenthese two ages evolves from 10-15 Ma in weakly deformed domains to zero toward the SASZ core. In addition, thevery fine-grained syn-tectonic phengites yielded the same ca. 300-298 Ma age irrespectively of their distance to thecore of the shear zone, even in slightly deformed rocks distant by several km. These results support a new modelof crustal-scale shear zone activity, where the whole body of the shear zone is active throughout its history, i.e.the actively deforming zone does not get progressively narrower. The strain distribution nevertheless evolves withtime, with an increasingly larger fraction partitioned in the ultramylonitic core. Besides, combination of the finitestrain estimations and the Ar/Ar ages enables us to assess the range of strain rates associated with mylonitization.
EGU General Assembly 2014
Vienne, Austria

insu-01565057
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01565057

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union (AGU) AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
To study how an impacting plume modifies the mantle lithosphere, we analyzed the microstructures and crystal preferred orientations (CPO) of 29 peridotites and 37 pyroxenites that sample the mantle root of the Ontong Java Plateau (OJP) from 60 to 120 km depth. The peridotites show a strong compositional variability, but homogeneous coarse granular to tabular microstructures, except for those equilibrated at the shallowest and deepest depths, which are porphyroclastic. All peridotites have clear olivine CPO, with dominant fiber-[010] patterns. Low intragranular misorientations and straight grain boundaries in olivine suggest that, above 100 km depth, annealing often followed deformation. Calculated density and P wave velocities of the peridotites decrease weakly with depth. S wave velocities decrease faster, resulting in increasing Vp/Vs ratio with depth. Calculated densities and seismic velocity profiles are consistent with those estimated for normal mantle compositions under a cold oceanic geotherm. Enrichment in pyroxenites may further increase seismic velocities. The calculated seismic properties cannot therefore explain the low S waves velocities predicted by Rayleigh wave tomography and ScS data in the mantle beneath the OJP. Calculated P and S waves anisotropy is variable (2–12%). It is higher on average in the deeper section of the lithosphere. Because olivine has dominantly [010]-fiber CPO patterns, if foliations are horizontal, vertically propagating S waves and Rayleigh waves will sample very weak anisotropy in the OJP mantle lithosphere. Moreover, if the orientation of the lineation changes with depth, the anisotropy-induced contrast in seismic properties might produce an intralithospheric reflector marking the stratification of the OJP mantle root.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-01116428
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01116428
DOI : 10.1002/2014GC005452

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag (Germany) Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Recent mathematical calculations allow us to define set fracture intensity (I), i.e., the amount of rock mass affected by fracture sets, independently of the investigation mode. This parameter, characteristic of each rock mass, is of much interest to describe the mechanical response of the rock mass to external influences. The aim of this work is to apply these mathematical equations on one site using measurements of three distinct fracture sets: (1) on a plane surface, (2) along a scanline, and (3) using borehole imaging, in order to evaluate and explain variability in collected data. Even if the three types of measurements give differences on absolute intensity values, they still define similar trends, i.e., the order of the fracturing impact of joint sets is the same from the three measurement methods, irrespective of the fact that obtained values are quite different from one survey method to another. We discuss the possible origins of these biases.
ISSN: 1435-9529

hal-01121556
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01121556
DOI : 10.1007/s10064-014-0572-1

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Lead in homes is a well-known source of childhood lead exposure,which is still of concern due to the health effects of low lead doses. This study aims to describe lead contamination in the homes of children aged 6 months to 6 years in France (without overseas). Between October 2008 and August 2009 ,484 housing units were investigated. Lead in tap water and total and leachable lead levels from floor dust, outdoor soils and paint chips were measured. X-ray fluorescence measurements were carried out on non-metallic and metallic substrates. Nationwide results are provided. The indoor floor dust lead (PbD) geometric mean (GM) was 8.8 microg/m2 (0.8 microg/ft2) and 6.8 mmicrog/m2 (0.6 mg/ft2) for total and leachable lead respectively; 0.21% of homes had an indoor PbD loading above 430.5 microg/m2 (40 microg/ft2). The outdoor play area concentration GM was 33.5microg/kg and 21.7microgkg in total and leachable lead respectively; 1.4% of concentrations were higher than or equal to 400microg/kg. Outdoor floor PbD GM was 44.4 mg/m2 (4.1 mg/ft2) that was approximately 3.2 times higher than the GM of indoor PbD. Lead-based paint (LBP) was present in 25% of dwellings, LBP on only non-metallic substrates was present in 19% of homes and on metallic substrates in 10% of dwellings. The GM of lead concentrations in tap water was below 1 microg/L; 58% of concentrations were lower than 1 microg/L and 2.9% were higher than or equal to 10 mg/L. The age cut-off for homes with lead would be 1974 for paint and 1993 for indoor floor dust. This study provides, for the first time, a look at the state of lead contamination to which children are exposed in French housing. Moreover, it provides policy makers an estimate of the number of French dwellings sheltering children where abatement should be conducted.
Environmental Research

hal-00714516
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00714516

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : The Earth's magnetic field shows a large range of temporal variations from the year to several million years. I studied during my PhD thesis several aspects of these fluctuations, from recent secular variations to reversals. The first part of my manuscript deals with archeomagnetism, a discipline that allows to track the temporal variations of the Earth's magnetic field through millennia, mainly from archeological materials. I studied two sets of samples , one from Greece (Neolithic period 6800-3200 B.C.) and the other from Mexico (Palenque, Maya Classic period 320-840 A.D.), to acquire new archeointensity data in order to better constrain the secular variation of the geomagnetic field. By comparing my data with those available in the literature and with the various global and regional models, I showed that the secular variations during the Neolithic in Greece and during the first millennium in Central America are poorly defined. My data suggest that local components, not described by global models, may exist in these regions. They reinforce the importance of developing specific regional models. As a consequence, the acquisition of new high quality data is of main importance. The second part presents the description of a geomagnetic field reversal. This work was based on two points : first by studying transitional directions to provide new constraints on the possible preferred longitudinal paths of virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) and second by checking transitional paleointensities obtained on a volcanic sequence in Akaroa volcano (New Zealand). Indeed the transitional field intensity is significantly higher than the field intensity before and after the reversal. We re-sampled this sequence, and the directional results show a complex sequence of N-T-R-T-N-T-R polarity. The transitional VGPs obtained are clustered in two longitudinal bands through Australia and America. This observation seems to reinforce the assumption of a core-mantle interaction over several million years. Following a rock magnetic study, I selected samples that could provide a value for the Thellier and multispecimen paleointensity methods. The obtained paleointensity are relatively low (about 20 μT) during the polarity change and strong at the end of the sequence. Based both on the field strength values and on the radiochronological ages, showing that the sequence was erupted in a very short time, I suggest that only the C4AR.1n-C4Ar.1r reversal was recorded in this sequence. In this assumption, the reversal shows a complex path comparable to other reversals recorded in the northern hemisphere (for example the Steens Mountain ), including a rebound before stabilizing. Finally the last part is devoted to the development of a new methodology and a new apparatus to determine absolute paleointensity. Following the low success rate of paleointensity experiments from the previous study, I decided to test the multispecimen protocol, which can be applied to samples yielding a predominant multidomaine behavior. The main technical drawback of this method lies in the application of the laboratory field along the natural remanent magnetization, a difficult task to perform accurately in standard paleointensity ovens. Thus, we decided to adapt sample holders from our standard oven in order to allow the sample orientation in space and to develop an ultra-fast heating oven prototype particularly well-suited for this method, allowing to apply the laboratory field in the 3 dimensions. I checked the different multispecimen protocols on historical lavas from Reunion and Etna volcano, yielding very different magnetic mineralogies. For all flows, I obtained paleointensities very close from the expected values, regardless from the magnetic mineralogy, revealing the feasibility of our apparatus and the promising interest of the method. The application of various corrections on the statistical estimation of the intensity value or on the cooling rate had no significant impact on my results.
La première partie de ma thèse porte sur l'archéomagnétisme, discipline qui permet de retracer l'évolution temporelle du champ magnétique terrestre au travers des derniers millénaires, principalement à partir des matériaux archéologiques. J'ai étudié deux jeux d'échantillons provenant pour l'un de la Grèce (période néolithique, 6800-3200 avant J.C.) et pour l'autre du Mexique (Palenque, période Maya Classique 320-840 après J.C.), dans le but d'acquérir de nouvelles données d'archéointensité et de mieux contraindre la variation séculaire du champ magnétique terrestre. La comparaison de mes données avec celles disponibles dans la bibliographie et avec les différents modèles globaux et régionaux a mis en évidence que les variations séculaires au Néolithique en Grèce et au cours du premier millénaire en Amérique Centrale sont très mal définies. Mes données suggèrent que des composantes locales, non prisent en compte dans les modèles globaux peuvent exister au niveau de ces régions. Elles renforcent l'intérêt de développer des modèles régionaux précis. Pour ce faire, l'acquisition de nouvelles données de haute qualitéest un élément majeur. La deuxième partie traite de la description d'un renversement du champ magnétique terrestre. Cette étude a été basée sur deux points précis : étudier les directions transitionnelles afin d'apporter de nouvelles contraintes sur le possible confinement longitudinal des pôles géomagnétiques virtuels (PGV) d'une part, et d'autre part vérifier des paléointensités transitionnelles obtenues sur la séquence volcanique d'Akaroa (Nouvelle Zélande), dont l'intensité est significativement supérieure à celles des intensités avant et après le renversement. Nous avons ré-échantillonné cette séquence, et l'évolution directionnelle obtenue pour ce renversement est une succession complexe de polarités N-T-R-T-N-T-R. Les PGV obtenus semblent se regrouper sous deux bandes longitudinales sous l'Australie et l'Amérique, ce qui renforce l'hypothèse d'une interaction entre le manteau et le noyau sur plusieurs millions d'années. Suite à une étude de minéralogie magnétique, j'ai sélectionné les échantillons susceptibles de fournir une valeur de paléointensité par les méthodes de Thellier et du multispecimen. Les paléointensités obtenues sont relativement faibles (environ 20 μT) au cours du changement de polarité et forte à la fin de la séquence. Mon interprétation, basée à la fois sur les valeurs de l'intensité du champ et sur les données radiochronologiques montrant que la séquence s'est mise en place très rapidement, est de considérer que seul le renversement C4Ar.1n-C4Ar.1r a été enregistré dans cette séquence. Dans cette hypothèse, le renversement montre un cheminement complexe comparable à d'autres renversements enregistrés dans l'hémisphère nord (comme celui de la Steens Mountain par exemple), incluant un phénomène de rebond avant de se stabiliser. La troisième partie de ma thèse est consacrée au développement d'une nouvelle méthodologie et d'un nouvel appareillage pour déterminer des paléointensités. Le faible taux de réussite des expériences de paléointensité de l'étude précédente m'a poussé à m'intéresser au protocole multispecimen, qui peut s'appliquer aux échantillons possédant un comportement polydomaine. L'inconvénient technique majeur de cette méthode réside dans l'application du champ le long de l'aimantation naturelle, difficile à réaliser avec précision dans les fours standards. Pour ce faire, nous avons décidé de développer des porte-échantillons permettant d'orienter les échantillons dans l'espace pour le four standard et un prototype de four à chauffage ultra-rapide particulièrement bien adapté avec la possibilité d'orienter le champ appliqué dans les 3 dimensions. J'ai testé les différents protocoles de la méthode sur des laves historiques de la Réunion et de l'Etna, possédant des minéralogies très différentes. Pour l'ensemble des coulées étudiées, j'ai obtenu des paléointensités très proches des valeurs attendues, et ce indépendamment de la minéralogie, révélant ainsi le faisabilité de notre appareillage et le côté prometteur de la méthode. L'application de diverses corrections sur la statistique d'estimation de la valeur de l'intensité ou sur le taux de refroidissement n'ont eu aucun impact notable sur mes résultats.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00719380

tel-00719380
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00719380
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00719380/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00719380/file/thesefanjat2012.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Résumé : The role of the Karakorum fault zone (KFZ) is debated. South of 33°N, ongoing dextral-oblique slip along the SW edge of the Gar basin exhumes metamorphic and magmatic rocks of the Ayilari range. Minerals have recorded a continuum of deformation from temperatures >600–400°C down to <250_C. The 40Ar/39Ar ages, the oldest being 21.2 ± 1.0 Ma, yield minimum estimates for the initiation of the KFZ. These are in agreement with the U-Th/Pb ages constraining the onset of deformation at ca 25–22 Ma. Thermochronologic results show slow cooling for the period ca 21– 14 Ma, followed by rapid cooling between 14 and 4 Ma. These data demonstrate that right-lateral motion was in progress in the early Miocene and that shear continued at least until 4 Ma, pointing to >20 Ma of deformation along the fault. Greenschist facies deformation superimposed upon the medium- to high-grade deformation marks a kinematic change from pure dextral to dextral-normal motion associated with the onset of rapid cooling. At the regional scale, the coexistence of transtension in the Gar basin with transpression documented along the Pangong range farther north suggests another example of the ‘‘zipper tectonics'' model developed along the Red River fault. The kinematic shift induced the rise of the Ayilari range starting at 16–12 Ma and the incision of major river courses. The Indus River might have become captive of the relief at this time. The river's 120 km of apparent offset implies dextral motion at a long-term rate of ca 8.5 ± 1.5 mm/yr.
ISSN: 0278-7407

hal-00197561
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00197561
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00197561/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00197561/file/Valli_Karakorum_thermochron_Tectonics_07_pre_print.pdf
DOI : 10.1029/2005TC001913

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD EDP Sciences
Résumé : Cette communication présente les principaux résultats du projet ExtraFlo sur l'estimation des pluies et crues extrêmes. A partir d'un jeu de données conséquent de plusieurs milliers de stations, une procédure d'inter-comparaison a permis d'évaluer les performances d'une trentaine d'implémentations différentes issues de différentes combinaisons (modèle probabiliste, méthode d'estimation, cadre local / régional / mixte local et régional). Le projet ExtraFlo a permis de mettre en évidence le manque de robustesse des approches basées sur le traitement statistique d'une série de quelques dizaines d'années d'observation. Des alternatives intéressantes existent, basées sur l'exploitation des records de pluie et de débit à l'échelle d'une région, de la collecte de données historiques quand cela est possible, de méthodes de simulation basées sur le couplage d'un générateur d'averses avec un modèle hydrologique pour la transformation des pluies en débit, ou des traces morphologiques laissées par les crues anciennes.
ISSN: 0018-6368

hal-01054313
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01054313
DOI : 10.1051/1hb/2014010

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The oxygen fugacity and therefore the iron redox state of a melt is known to have a strong influence on the liquid line of descent of magmas and thus on the composition of the coexisting melts and crystals. We present a new method to estimate this critical parameter from electron probe microanalyses of two of the most common minerals of basaltic series, plagioclase and clinopyroxene. This method is not based on stoichiometric calculations, but on the different partitioning behaviour of Fe3+ and Fe2+ between both minerals and a melt phase: plagioclase can incorporate more Fe3+ than Fe2+, while clinopyroxene can incorporate more Fe2+ than Fe3+. For example, the effect of oxidizing a partly molten basaltic system (Fe3+ is stabilized with respect to Fe2+) results in an increase of FeOtotal in plagioclase, but a decrease in the associated clinopyroxene. We propose an equation, based on published partition coefficients, that allows estimating the redox state of a melt from these considerations. An application to a set of experimental and natural data attests the validity of the proposed model. The associated error can be calculated and is on average <1 log unit of the prevailing oxygen fugacity.;In order to reduce the number of different variables influencing the Fe2+/Fe3+ mineral/melt equilibrium, our model is restricted to basaltic series with SiO2<60% that have crystallized at intermediate to low pressure (<0.5 GPa) and under relatively oxidizing conditions (Delta FMQ>0; where FMQ is the fayalite-magnetite-quartz oxygen buffer equilibrium), but it may be parameterized for other conditions. A spreadsheet is provided to assist the use of equations, and to perform the error propagation analysis.
ISSN: 0377-0273

hal-00475550
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00475550
DOI : 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2009.11.023

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
In this paper we investigate finite-frequency effects in crustal tomography. We developed an inversion procedure based on an exact numerical computation of the sensitivity kernels. In this approach we compute the 3D travel-time sensitivity kernels by using (1) graph theory and an additional bending to estimate accurately both rays and travel-times between source/receiver and diffraction points and (2) paraxial ray theory to estimate the amplitude along theses rays. We invert both the velocity and the hypocentre parameters, using these so-called banana-doughnut kernels and the LSQR iterative solver. We compare the ray-theoretical and the finite-frequency tomography to image the intermediate structures beneath the Gulf of Corinth (Greece), which has long been recognized as the most active continental rifting zone in the Mediterranean region. Our dataset consists of 451 local events with 9233 P- firstarrival times recorded in the western part of the Gulf (Aigion area) in the framework of the 3F-Corinth European project. Previous tomographic images showed a complex velocity crustal model and a low-dip surface that may accommodate the deformation. Accurate velocity models will help to better constrain the rifting process, which is still a subject of debate. The main results of this study show that finite-frequency tomography improves crustal tomographic images by providing better resolved images of the 3D complicated velocity structure. Because the kernels spread the information over a volume, finite-frequency tomography results in a sharpening of layer boundaries as we observed for the shallower part of the crust (down to 5 km depth) beneath the Gulf of Corinth.
ISSN: 0016-8025

insu-00354702
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00354702
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-2478.2007.00683.x