Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Seismic tomography and high surface heat flow models indicate an anomalously thin and hot lithospheric mantle beneath the Canadian Cordillera. To understand the thermal and deformational history of the lithospheric mantle under these conditions, we performed a study of the microstructures, crystal preferred orientations (CPO), and seismic anisotropy of mantle xenoliths collected in the Summit Lake volcano in the southern Canadian Cordillera. The xenoliths vary in composition between spinel lherzolites, cpx-rich lherzolites, and wehrlites. All samples are coarse-grained and show clear evidence for annealing, but deformation microstructures are well-preserved in the spinel lherzolites. Olivine CPO is characterized by a strong point-maximum of [100] and by a girdle distribution of [010[ and [001] axes normal to it; CPO strength is variable, spinel-lherzolites have the strongest CPO. Some samples show a weak orthopyroxene CPO consistent with the olivine one. However most pyroxenes have random CPO, interstitial shapes and undeformed appearance, which suggest a secondary origin by reactive melt percolation under static conditions, leading to crystallization of cpx + sp +/- opx at the expenses of olivine, followed by crystallization of cpx + sp +/- ol at the expenses of opx to produce the wehrlites. The studied xenoliths have typical upper mantle seismic properties patterns with fastest propagation of P-waves and polarization of S-waves parallel to the olivine [100] maxima. Maximum P- and S-waves anisotropy for lherzolites are 8 and 5% respectively. Dispersion of the olivine CPO due to neocrystallization of olivine results in weaker anisotropies (6.5 and 3.5%) in wehrlites. Seismic velocities calculated using a geotherm consistent with the equilibrium temperatures of the Summit Lake xenoliths are 3-4% lower than those expected in a normal, 100 km-thick lithosphere, consistent with seismic tomography models for the region. This high geothermal gradient may be partially explained by considering the anisotropy of thermal conductivity of olivine and subhorizontal foliations in the lithospheric mantle, which result in a decrease by up to 15% of the thermal conductivity in the vertical direction.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00618332
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00618332
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2011.04.014

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Talc is a hydrous magnesium rich layered silicate that is widely disseminated in the Earth from the seafloor to over 100 km depth, in ultra-high pressure metamorphism of oceanic crust. In this paper we determine the single crystal elastic constants at pressures from 0 to 12 GPa of talc triclinic (C 1¯) and monoclinic (C2/c) polytypes using ab initio methods. We find that talc has an extraordinarily high elastic anisotropy at zero pressure that reduces with increasing pressure. The exceptional anisotropy is complemented by a negative Poisson's ratio for many directions in crystal space. Calculations show that talc is not only one of very few common minerals to exhibit auxetic behaviour, but the magnitude of this effect may be the largest reported so far for a mineral. The compression (Vp) and shear (Vs) wave velocity anisotropy is 80% and 85% for the triclinic polytype. At pressures where talc is known be stable in the Earth (up to 5 GPa) the Vp and Vs anisotropy is reduced to about 40% for both velocities, which is still a very high value. Vp is slow parallel to the c-axis and fast perpendicular to it. This remains unchanged with increasing pressure and is observed in both polytypes. The shear wave splitting (difference between fast and slow S-wave velocities) at low pressure has high values in the plane normal to the c-axis, with a maximum near the alow asterisk-axis in the triclinic and the b-axis in the monoclinic polytype. The c-axis is the direction of minimum splitting. The pattern of shear wave splitting does not change significantly with pressure. The volume fraction of talc varies between 11 and 41% for hydrated mantle rocks, but the lack of data on the crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) precludes a detailed analysis of the impact of talc on seismic anisotropy in subduction zones. However, it is highly likely that CPO can easily develop in zones of deformation due to the platy habit of talc crystals. For random aggregates of talc, the isotropic Vp, Vs and Vp/Vs ratio have significantly lower values than those of antigorite and may explain low-velocity regions in the mantle wedge. Vp/Vs ratios are more complex in anisotropic media because there are fast and slow S-waves, resulting in Vp/Vs1 and Vp/Vs2 ratios for every propagation direction, making interpretation difficult in deformed polycrystalline talc with a CPO. Talc on the subduction plate boundary can strongly influence guided wave velocity as CPO would develop in this region of intense shearing. The very low coefficient of friction (< 0.1) of talc above 100 °C could also explain silent earthquakes at shallow depths (ca 30 km) along the subduction plate boundaries, frequently responsible for tsunami.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-00411481
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00411481
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.07.047

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Analog sandbox models have been set up to study the impact of syntectonic erosion on thrust wedges with one and two decollement levels. Different accretion mechanisms are activated depending on interactions between surface processes and wedge mechanics: frontal accretion, backthrusting, underthrusting and underplating due to decollement induced duplex formation at depth. These mechanisms may function simultaneously, being located at different parts across the wedge. For all the experiments, a high friction is imposed at the base of models and the volume of eroded material remains equal to the volume of newly accreted material, maintaining a constant surface slope during the shortening. Erosion limits the forward propagation of thrust wedges and favors the underthrusting of basal layers allowing duplex formation. Erosion promotes development of major backthrusts in the thrust wedges without or with one decollement, but no backthrusts was formed in the wedges with two decollements. Slow erosion allows lower extent of basal underthrusting in comparison with regular-rate erosion. Variations in the erosion taper lead to changes in duplex geometry and exhumation rate in thrust wedges with one or two decollements. The 6 degrees erosion taper promotes formation of antiformal stack at the rear part of thrust wedge, high rate of basal underthrusting and high extent of erosional removal. The cover layers are nearly completely eroded above the antiformal stack and form the synformal klippe in frontal part of thrust wedges. The 8 degrees erosion taper allows development of individual ramp-anticlines and active forward thrusting of cover layers above the decollement and low rate of basal underplating below it, with consequent low extent of erosional removal. The results of our experiments support the observations on structural evolution and erosion in the Alberta Foothills of the Canadian Rockies.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00617769
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00617769
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2011.01.020

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
Two types of olivine occur in kimberlites from Greenland, Canada and southern Africa. The first, xenocrystic olivine, displays several different forms. Most distinctive are 'nodules', a term we use to describe the large (1-5 mm), rounded, single crystals or polycrystalline aggregates that are a common constituent of many kimberlites. Olivine compositions are uniform within single nodules but vary widely from nodule to nodule, from Fo81 to 93. Within many nodules, sub- to euhedral asymmetric tablets have grown within larger anhedral olivine grains. Dislocation structures, particularly in the anhedral grains, demonstrate that this olivine was deformed before being incorporated into the kimberlite magma. Olivine grains in the kimberlite matrix between the nodules have morphologies similar to those of the tablets, suggesting that most matrix olivine grains are parts of disaggregated nodules. We propose that a sub- to euhedral form is not sufficient to identify phenocrysts in kimberlites and provide some criteria, based on morphology, internal deformation and composition, that distinguish phenocrysts from xenocrysts. The second type of olivine is restricted to rims surrounding xenocrystic grains. Only this olivine crystallized from the kimberlite magma. Major and trace element data for the rim olivine are used to calculate the composition of the parental kimberlite liquid, which is found to contain between about 20 and 30% MgO. The bulk compositions of many kimberlites contain higher MgO contents as a result of the presence of xenocrystic olivine. The monomineralic, dunitic, character of the nodules, and the wide range from Fo-rich to Fo-poor olivine compositions, provide major constraints on the origin of the nodules. Dunite is a relatively rare rock in the mantle and where present its olivine is persistently Fo-rich. The dunitic source of the nodules in kimberlites lacked minerals such as pyroxene and an aluminous phase, which make up about half of most mantle-derived rocks. It appears that these minerals were removed from the mantle peridotite that was to become the source of the nodules, and the Fo content of the retained olivine was modified during interaction with CO2-rich fluids whose arrival at the base of the lithosphere immediately preceded the passage of the kimberlite magmas. Fragments of the resultant dunite were entrained into the kimberlite, where they were retained both as intact nodules and as disaggregated grains in the matrix.
ISSN: 0022-3530

insu-00543321
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00543321
BIBCODE : 10.1093/petrology/egp080
DOI : 10.1093/petrology/egp080

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
The purpose of this study is to identify links between the geothermal context and the conceptions in different initial teachers training, from the Caribbean and North America. The Caribbean Islands are located in a subduction zone, creating a great potential for geothermal energy. In Guadeloupe, this potential has been harnessed and a geothermal power plant produces about 5% of the local demand for electricity. It is called high temperature geothermy. In Quebec the bedrock mainly consists of ancient Precambrian rocks from the Canadian Shield, which does not allow for electricity production. The geothermal heat is used to regulate the temperature in buildings, to create spars, to grow crops and other purposes. It is called low temperature geothermy. This design-based research (Sandoval, W. et Al., 2004) takes part in the contextualization of sciences education research works (Blanchet, P. et Al., 2009, Anciaux, F. et Al., 2013) and in the continuation of the Gounouy project (Fecil, S. et Al., 2014). A project-based learning on geothermal energy has been set up with two groups of initial teachers training from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and from the French West Indies University (UA). The purpose is to create collaborations between each group in order to enable them to encounter, recognize and formulate their conceptions. Further, they will collectively elaborate a more complex understanding of conceptions about geothermy. More specifically, the design used in this experiment aims to highlight context effects (Merlo-Leurette, S., Forissier, T., 2009). Context effects are pedagogical events occurring when there is a clash between the different conceptions of students, observed uring courses regarding different problematics related to geothermal energy. Communications via videoconferences were arranged so that the counterpart teams may discuss their investigative findings. Videos from the exchanges have been collected, as well as weekly summaries about student’s accomplishment, ideas, questions and feelings. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires on geothermal energy were submitted at the beginning and at the end of the project, to compare conceptions before and after the learning process. Collected data enables to bring out the student’s contextuality. Therefore, they highlight context effects, due to the differences between the geothermal contexts in Guadeloupe and in Montreal.This study is supported by the Geotref project.
CARIBBEAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 20 th GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND BIENNAL MEETING
Dehaies, Guadeloupe, France

hal-01534665
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-01534665