Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer
Résumé : International audience
We present here a synthesis of the evolution of rifted continental margin systems in the Gulf of Aden. These margins are volcanic to the west of the Gulf of Aden, where they are influenced by the Afar hotspot, and non-volcanic east of longitude 46° E. The combined use of magnetics, gravity, seismic reflection, field observations (tectonic, stratigraphic and sedimentological) and oil well data allowed us to obtain better constraints on the timing of continental rifting and seafloor spreading. From the Permo-Triassic to the Oligocene, the Arabian-African plate was subject to distributed extension, probably due, at least from the Cretaceous, to tensile stresses related to the subduction of the Tethysian slab in the north. In Late Eocene-Early Oligocene, 34-33 Ma ago, rifting started to localise along the future area of continental breakup. Initially guided by the inherited basins, continental rifting then occurred synchronously over the entire gulf before becoming localised on the northern and southern borders of the inherited grabens, in the direction of the Afar hotspot. In the areas with non-volcanic margins (in the east), the faults marking the end of rifting trend parallel to the inherited grabens. Only the transfer faults cross-cut the inherited grabens, and some of these faults later developed into transform faults. The most important of these transform faults follow a Precambrian trend. Volcanic margins were formed in the west of the Gulf, up to the Guban graben in the southeast and as far as the southern boundary of the Bahlaf graben in the northeast. Seaward dipping reflectors can be observed on many oil industry seismic profiles. The influence of the hotspot during rifting was concentrated on the western part of the gulf. Therefore, it seems that the western domain was uplifted and eroded at the onset of rifting, while the eastern domain was characterised by more continuous sedimentation. The phase of distributed deformation was followed by a phase of strain localisation during the final rifting stage, just before formation of the Ocean-Continent Transition (OCT), in the most distal graben (DIM graben). About 20 Ma ago, at the time of the continental break-up, the emplacement of the OCT started in the east with exhumation of the subcontinental mantle. Farther west, the system was heated up by the strong influence of the Afar hotspot, which led to breakup with much less extension. In the Gulf of Aden (s.str), up to the Shukra El Sheik fracture zone, oceanic spreading started 17.6 Ma ago. West of this fracture zone, oceanic accretion started 10 Ma ago, and 2 Ma ago in the Gulf of Tadjoura. Post-rift deformation of the eastern margins of the Gulf of Aden can be seen in the distal and proximal domains. Indeed, the substantial post-rift uplift of these margins could be associated with either the continental break-up, or activity of the Afar hotspot and related volcanic/magmatic activity. Uplift of the northern proximal margin was still active (e.g. stepped beach rocks exposed at 60 m of 2 Ma; 30 m of 35,200 years; 10 and 2 m) and active volcanoes can be inferred at depths of between 70 and 200 km beneath the margin (at 5-10 km distance from the coast). On the distal margin, heat flow measurements show a high value that is associated with post-rift volcanic activity and the development of a volcano (with flows and sills) shortly after the formation of the OCT. The Afar hotspot is therefore important for several reasons. It allows the localisation of deformation along the Red Sea/Aden system and the rapid opening of the Gulf after the continental break-up; its influence also seems to persist during the post-rift period.
ISSN: 1866-7411

hal-01053089
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01053089
DOI : 10.1007/s12517-011-0475-4

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
The Socotra Island belongs to the southern rifted margin of the Gulf of Aden and occupied in Neoproterozoic times a key position to constrain the age and the nature of the largely hidden Neoproterozoic rocks of the Arabian plate. Our integrated field, petrographic, geochemical and geochrono- logical study in the Neoproterozoic rocks recognises three main successive events: (a) high-temperature ductile defor- mation and metamorphism forming probably in a compressive or transpressive regime; (b) mafic to intermediate intrusions as vertical sheets, kilometre-scale gabbro laccoliths, mafic dike swarm and lavas which present mainly a depleted arc signature with some evidences of evolution from an enriched-arc signature; (c) felsic intrusions mainly composed of highly potassic calc-alkaline and pinkish granites dated between 840 and 780 Ma. Relationships between the various petrographic types and U-Pb data suggest that these events occurred during a relatively short time span (80 Ma at max). Earlier high-temperature-low-pressure metamorphism stage as well as geochemical signature of mafic rocks show that development of Cryogenian formations of Socotra were controlled successively by an Andean-arc and a back-arc setting. These features cannot be easily reconciled with those of the Arabian-Nubian shield to the west of Socotra and of the Mozambique Belt to the south. We propose that the Socotra basement was developed at an active margin close to the India block in Cryogenian times.
Arabian Journal of Geoscience

hal-00647487
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00647487
DOI : 10.1007/s12517-011-0476-3

Éditeur(s) : Wiley-blackwell
Résumé : A new benthic dinoflagellate species, Prorocentrum bimaculatum sp. nov., is studied from Kuwaits marine sediments, based on detailed morphological and molecular data. Cells are large, oblong oval in shape. They are 49.955.3 mu m long and 38.443.2 mu m wide. The ornamentation of this new species is peculiar, and characterized by smooth valves with large pores (0.320.50 mu m) scattered on their surface, except in two circular patches of similar to 15 mu m in diameter, devoid of ornamentation and located on both sides of the valve centers. The periflagellar area is widely triangular, located in a moderate excavation of the right valve, and comprises nine platelets. The intercalary band of P. bimaculatum is smooth. The molecular phylogenetic position of this new taxon was inferred from SSU and LSU rDNA genes. In both phylogenetic analyses, P. bimaculatum branched with high support with Prorocentrum consutum and formed a clade sister to the one including P. lima and related species such as P. arenarium, P. belizeanum, P. hoffmannianum, and P. maculosum. From the phylogenetic study, since most species related to P. bimaculatum are known for their toxic effects and production of okadaic acid, this new species can be considered as a potential toxin producer, but this has to be analyzed.
Journal Of Phycology (0022-3646) (Wiley-blackwell), 2012-02 , Vol. 48 , N. 1 , P. 211-221

Droits : 2012 Phycological Society of America
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00066/17756/15698.pdf
DOI:10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.01102.x
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00066/17756/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
GPS measurements adjacent to the southern Red Sea and Afar Triple Junction, indicate that the Red Sea Rift bifurcates south of 17 degrees N latitude with one branch following a continuation of the main Red Sea Rift (similar to 150 degrees Az.) and the other oriented more N-S, traversing the Danakil Depression. These two rift branches account for the full Arabia-Nubia relative motion. The partitioning of extension between rift branches varies approximately linearly along strike; north of similar to 16 degrees N latitude, extension (similar to 15 mm/yr) is all on the main Red Sea Rift while at similar to 13 degrees N, extension (similar to 20 mm/yr) has transferred completely to the Danakil Depression. The Danakil Block separates the two rifts and rotates in a counterclockwise sense with respect to Nubia at a present-day rate of 1.9 +/- 0.1 degrees/Myr around a pole located at 17.0 +/- 0.2 degrees N, 39.7 +/- 0.2 degrees E, accommodating extension along the rifts and developing the roughly triangular geometry of the Danakil Depression. Rotating the Danakil Block back in time to close the Danakil Depression, and assuming that the rotation rate with respect to Nubia has been roughly constant, the present width of the Danakil Depression is consistent with initiation of block rotation at 9.3 +/- 4 Ma, approximately coincident with the initiation of ocean spreading in the Gulf of Aden, and a concomitant similar to 70% increase in the rate of Nubia-Arabia relative motion.
ISSN: 0094-8276

hal-00475536
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00475536
DOI : 10.1029/2009GL041127

Résumé : Les aciers inoxydables à haute teneur en molybdène présentent une excellente résistance à la corrosion et ont été récemment utilisés dans des applications marines. L'acier inoxydable de type 254 SMO contient du molybdène (6% Mo) et des quantités plus élevées en éléments d'alliages que les aciers inoxydables plus classiques tels que 304, 316 et 316L. Alors que Anees Uddin Malik et al. montrent que l’acier 254 SMO est moins sensible à la corrosion par piqûre en eau de mer du golfe persique, Abdulsalam et al. démontrent que bien que cet acier présente une bonne résistance à la corrosion, il reste encore sensible à une corrosion caverneuse (surtout en milieu à 16% en masse d’ion chlorure ou à plus de 30°C).La première partie de ce travail traite du comportement électrochimique de l’acier inoxydable 254 SMO immergé dans l’eau de mer naturelle en laboratoire. Ainsi deux sites de la Guyane ont été choisis pour effectuer des prélèvements d’eau. Des analyses physicochimiques de ces eaux sont réalisées et montrent que l’eau du site du Port Larivot contient une quantité en ions chlorures plus importante que celle de l’eau du site du Mahury. Une colonisation par des bactéries et crustacés (balanes) a été mise en évidence, à l’aide du microscope électronique à balayage environnemental. Les mesures électrochimiques, notamment la voltammétrie cyclique a montré l’existence d’une zone de passivation et l’augmentation du courant de passivation par un facteur de 10 en présence d’un biofilm pour l’acier inoxydable immergé en eau du Mahury durant 22 jours. La deuxième partie propose une étude approfondie du comportement de l’interface complexe métal/couche passive/biofilm. Trois différents coupons d’aciers inoxydables (brut, poli et grenaillé) ont été déposés sur site (in-situ) dans un premier temps. Dans une seconde étape, nous avons réalisé des expérimentations mixtes (incubation in-situ et croissance en laboratoire). L’évolution du potentiel d’abandon de ces aciers est très proche pour l’acier brut et l’acier poli. En revanche, celui de l’acier grenaillé, de par la présence des grains d’alumine à sa surface, affiche un comportement différent. Une étude comparative des deux expérimentations montre des différences concernant les paramètres électriques de l’interface complexe métal/couche passive/biofilm.
Stainless steels with high content in molybdenum present an excellent corrosion resistance and were recently used in marine applications. The stainless steel 254 SMO contains molybdenum (6 %) and higher amounts of alloying elements than conventional stainless steels such as 304, 316 and 316L. While Anees Uddin Malik et al. show that 254 SMO steel is less likely to be susceptible to pitting corrosion in Arabian Gulf sea water, Abdulsalam et al. demonstrate that although this steel has good resistance to corrosion, it remains still susceptible to crevice corrosion (especially in environment with 16 chloride percent weight or more than 30 ° C).The first part of this work deals with the electrochemical behaviour of stainless steel 254 SMO immersed in natural seawater at laboratory. Two sites in French Guyane were chosen to take samples of seawater. Physicochemical analyses of these waters are made and show than the in Port Larivot site seawater contains a higher quantity of chloride ion than to Mahury seawater. Colonization by bacteria and crustaceans (barnacles) was highlighted, using the environmental scanning electron microscope. The electrochemical measurements, including cyclic voltammetry showed the existence of a passivation region and increasing the passivation current by a factor of 10 in the presence of biofilm on stainless steel immersed in Mahury seawater during 22 days.The second part offers a detailed study of the behaviour of the interface metal/passive film/biofilm. Three different coupons of stainless steel (crude, polished and blasted) were deposited on the site (in-situ) in the first time. In a second step, we performed experiments mixed (in-situ incubation and growth in the laboratory). The evolution of the free potential of these steels is very close for crude steel and polished steel. Conversely, the blasted steel, by the presence of alumina grains on its surface, shows a different behaviour. A comparative study of those two experiments shows differences in the electrical parameters of the interface metal/passive film/biofilm.

http://www.theses.fr/2013AGUY0598/document

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé : The Oman-Emirates is the largest and best-exposed ophiolite; consequently, it has attracted significant interest among scientists, together with serious conflicts. Most geologists regard this ophiolite as having formed in an intra-oceanic subduction zone before being accreted to the Arabian continent. Here, we propose an alternative scenario, supported by detailed field observations and integrated geophysics. The smaller Emirates part of the ophiolite was forced into a nearby continent, in the pre-collision stage of Tethyan closure. The contraction led to the exhumation of the mantle floor of segmented basins accreted in a rifted system similar to the present-day Gulf of California. The implied high temperature–high pressure metamorphism and the range of geochemical signatures were introduced during the process of rifting, whereas the larger Oman ophiolite was emplaced by obduction onto and along the subducting continental shore. This Ridge–Trench–Transform system might call for a new process to obduct over continents in particular Tethyan ophiolites.
ISSN: 0954-4879

hal-01526919
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01526919
DOI : 10.1111/ter.12256