Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : The activity of the Damavand volcano (Central Alborz, northern Iran) began 1.8 Ma ago and continued up to 7 ka BP. Although the volcanic suite is clearly of shoshonitic affinity, only two petrographic types can be distinguished in the studied lavas: (1) weakly differentiated absarokites (49 < %SiO2 < 51), scattered around the volcano but with a regional extension, (2) highly differentiated banakites (59 < %SiO2 < 63), which form the bulk of the 4,000 m thick volcanic pile. All lavas are alkalic (3.7 < %K2O < 5), REE and LILE-rich (e.g., 85 < La < 148 ppm; 9 < Th < 32 ppm) and show highly fractionated REE patterns (69 < La/Yb < 115) and pronounced Nb-Ta negative anomalies. The absarokites are characterised by Sr (0.7045-0.7046) and Nd (0.51266-0.51269) isotope compositions close to the Bulk Earth values, and distinct from those of the banakites (0.7047 < Sr-87/Sr-86 < 0.7049, 0.51258 < Nd-143/Nd-144 < 0.51262). The Pb isotope ratios are also slightly lower in the absarokites than in the banakites (18.71 < Pb-206/Pb-204 < 18.77, 15.62 < Pb-207/Pb-204 < 15.63, 38.85 < Pb-208/Pb-204 < 38.91, and 18.77 < Pb-206/Pb-204 < 18.84, 15.62 < Pb-207/Pb-204 < 15.64, 38.94 < Pb-208/Pb-204 < 39.06, respectively). Overall, there is a clear tendency towards higher Sr, Pb and lower Nd isotope ratios with increasing degree of differentiation. This study suggests that the absarokites result from a low degree of partial melting (similar to 5%) of a highly metasomatized mantle source, which inherited its characteristics from an old subduction setting. The initiation of volcanic activity 1.8 Ma ago results from variations in the lithospheric thermal regime, probably related to lithospheric delamination as proposed for Anatolia (Pearce et al. 1990). The banakites are mainly generated by extensive fractional crystallisation (similar to 70%) of the absarokitic magma, with a limited amount (a few percents) of assimilation of an old crustal component, in the form of bulk assimilation or AFC processes, which both can explain the Sr, Nd and Pb isotope data.
ISSN: 1437-3254

hal-00411553
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00411553
DOI : 10.1007/s00531-006-0159-6

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
In this paper, we present new data from 226Ra–230Th dating and archaeomagnetism with the aim of improving the knowledge of the flank eruptions that occurred at Mt Etna during the Greek–Roman and Early Medieval periods, as defined in the new geological map of the volcano. The combination of the two dating techniques demonstrates that three major flank eruptions occurred on the lower north and west flanks during Greek–Roman epochs, producing large scoria cones and extensive lava flows. In particular, the Mt Ruvolo and Mt Minardo events highly impacted the territory of the west flank, notably by damming the Simeto River. The new data of the Millicucco and Due Monti lava flows, on the lower north–east flank, indicate a younger age than their stratigraphic ages quoted in the 2011 geological map, since they occurred around 700 and 500 AD, respectively. None of the large flank eruptions occurring on the lower slopes of Etna during the Early Medieval age are reported in the historical sources. Overall, our paper shows that a comprehensive assessment of eruptions at Mount Etna in the last three millennia can only be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach.
ISSN: 0377-0273

hal-01277929
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01277929
DOI : 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2015.09.002

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
A new portable sampling system was developed to extract Radium isotopes from large volumes (up to 300 L) of fresh surface- and ground-waters of low Ra-activities (<5 mBq/L). Ra is quantitatively adsorbed on a small amount (6.5 g) of MnO2-coated acrylic fibers, which are then dried and burned at 600 °C in the laboratory. The resulting Mn-oxide powder (about 2 cm3 when compacted) is then analyzed through gamma-ray spectrometry which allows measurement of the whole Ra quartet (226Ra, 228Ra, 224Ra and 223Ra) in a single counting of a few days. The usual relative standard combined uncertainties (1σ) are 2–3% for 226Ra, 228Ra and 224Ra; and less than 10% for 223Ra. This method was applied to the analysis of Ra in karstic waters of the Lez aquifer, and surface- and ground-waters of the upper and middle Vidourle watershed (South of France). The analyzed waters have relatively low 226Ra activities (1–4 mBq/L) in both cases, regardless of the contrasted geology (Mesozoic limestone vs crystalline Variscan basement), but clearly distinct (228Ra/226Ra) ratios in agreement with the differences in Th/U ratios of the two drained areas. Short-lived Ra isotopes (224Ra and 223Ra) appear to be mainly influenced by near-surface desorption/recoil processes for most of the sampling sites.
ISSN: 0969-8043

hal-01491281
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01491281
DOI : 10.1016/j.apradiso.2016.12.010

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The present study reports data on CO2-rich geothermal waters and their associated carbonate deposits from the SW part of the Permian Lodève Basin (South of France). Both waters and carbonates are enriched in 226Ra, with activities up to 2.2 Bq/L and 3.5 Bq/g respectively. A series of carbonate samples precipitated around the studied wells since 1990 were dated through the 226Ra-210Pb and 228Ra-228Th methods, and the results are discussed in a new Concordia diagram. While both methods give comparable dates for many samples, Ra-Pb ages are sometimes much older than Ra-Th ages. We propose that these discrepancies result from the adsorption of 222Rn daughter nuclides in such a Rn-rich environment. The (228Ra/226Ra)0 activity ratios calculated at the time of deposition are remarkably constant for about 12 years, suggesting the presence of a steady-state aquifer. The low (228Ra/226Ra)0 ratios (0.348 ± 0.008) are best explained if most of the Ra derives from the Cambrian carbonate series (mainly dolostone) underlying the Permian Basin, which have low Th/U and similar (228Ra/226Ra) ratios. This study suggests that Ra and other alkaline-earth elements do not necessarily originate from the rocks surrounding the deep geothermal reservoir, but rather may be introduced into the CO2-rich water during its transfer towards the surface and interaction with carbonate rocks.
ISSN: 0009-2541

hal-01053715
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01053715
DOI : 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.02.008

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Excess gas phase in magmas erupting explosively is well known worldwide. However, the origin of this gas phase, in excess of what can be dissolved in the erupting magma at depth, and the rate of gas accumulation is less well defined. The 2010 mildly explosive eruption at Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland, produced mingled tephra of benmoreitic and trachytic composition whereas alkali basalt was emitted during preceding flank eruption. Tephra of the first explosive phase are composed of three glass types, alkaline rhyolite, mixed benmoreite, and basalt, which suggests that the basaltic magma intruded a pre-existing rhyolitic magma chamber, and ultimately triggered the eruption. The mixed benmoreitic tephra (erupted on 15 and 17 April 2010) had large 210Po in excess of 210Pb View the MathML source[(Po210/Pb210)0=1.88] at the time of eruption, and possibly a small 210Pb excess over its parent 226Ra. In contrast, the preceding flank eruption produced basalt with View the MathML source(Po210)0=0, upon eruption, and the final trachyte had lost most of its 210Po during open-system degassing. The 210Po excess in the first erupted benmoreites is interpreted to result from 210Po degassing of basaltic magma and the accumulation of 210Po-enriched gas, either in the upper part of the basaltic intrusion, below the rhyolite–basalt interface, or in the pre-existing residual rhyolitic magma chamber. From a simple model of radon and polonium accumulation in the rhyolitic reservoir, the ratio of the mass of basalt magma degassing over the mass of magma accumulating the excess gas decreased from 20 to 15 over 2 days, implying zoned magma reservoir, with the uppermost and gas-richest part erupting first. The duration of pre-eruptive gas accumulation in this model is approximately one year. This corresponds closely to the initiation of a seismic swarm beneath Eyjafjallajökull, early June 2009, which was the first pre-eruptive signal detected. The coincidence between initiation of gas accumulation at relatively shallow depth and deeper seismicity strongly suggests that the excess gas phase originated from a basalt magma batch intruded at depth, and that this gas phase reached the surface approximately a year later.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-01217142
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01217142
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2015.06.054

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The behaviour of the four Ra isotopes (measured by gamma spectrometry) and 222Rn (measured with an AlphaGUARD ionisation chamber) has been investigated in NaCl-rich thermal waters of Balaruc-les-Bains on the Mediterranean coast (South of France). This study allows identification of the deep thermal water signature and reveals the influence of seawater or karst water inflows on Ra isotopes and 222Rn. The deep thermal water has 226Ra and 222Rn activities of 840 and 1900 mBq/l, respectively, a (228Ra/226Ra) activity ratio of 0.59, and low (224Ra/228Ra) and (223Ra/226Ra) ratios of 0.67 and 0.025, respectively. Several arguments suggest a dominant role of radioactive decay for short-lived Ra isotopes and Rn during the relatively rapid ascent of thermal water through wide open fractures and drains. The low (223Ra/226Ra) ratio constrains the maximum ascent velocity of thermal water to 8-10 m/h. Seawater inflow into the hydrothermal system results in an enrichment in short-lived Ra isotopes and 222Rn. The high (223Ra/226Ra) ratio (0.23) suggests that 223Ra, 224Ra and 222Rn produced by alpha-recoil in the upper-Jurassic limestone are entrained by seawater percolation through the coastal basement, due to active pumping in one of the near shore production well. This process would be enhanced by a low water/rock ratio (i.e. in a low-porosity, micro-fractured limestone). Mixing of this enriched seawater with thermal water induces barite precipitation with co-precipitation of a large fraction of Ra. Short-lived Ra isotopes may thus be useful tracers of seawater flux towards the continent. Conversely, the inflow and mixing of karst groundwater result in a general dilution of all dissolved elements, only a small enrichment in 224Ra and 223Ra, but a large enrichment in 222Rn (up to 26 Bq/l). The combination of Ra isotopes and 222Rn data provides a good way to trace the dynamics of different water masses along coastal areas.
ISSN: 0016-7037

hal-00795512
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00795512
DOI : 10.1016/j.gca.2012.09.010

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Our method for the simultaneous determination of the four natural Ra isotopes (Ra-226, Ra-228, Ra-224 and Ra-223) in thermal waters involves a separation of Ra on a selective filter (3 M EMPORE (TM) Radium Rad disk), and a single counting using a broad-energy HPGe detector (BE Ge manufactured by CANBERRA (TM)). The calculation of Ra-223 and (228)a activities requires interference and cascade summing corrections. The Ra-226 activities in CO2-rich thermal waters of the Lodeve Basin (South of France) range from 530 to 2240 mBq/l. The low (Ra-228/Ra-226) activity ratios (0.19-0.29) suggest that Ra is mostly derived from the aquifer carbonates. The short-lived Ra-224 and Ra-223 are probably added to the water through recoil or desorption processes from Th-enriched coatings on the fracture walls.
ISSN: 0969-8043

hal-00475587
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00475587
DOI : 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.10.056

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Finding records of past catastrophic storm events is essential to evaluate the long term climatic evolution in a given coastal area. This question has been addressed by the study of sediment cores sampled in a small coastal lagoon of the French Mediterranean coast (Pierre Blanche lagoon). Two cores were studied in detail and revealed the presence of three main storm events. The sedimentation rates calculated using the CFCS Pb-210 model, in agreement with Cs-137 data, are 3 +/- 0.4 and 4.2 +/- 0.7 mm y(-1) near the border and in the center of the lagoon respectively. This suggests that the 0.6 m deep lagoon could be filled with sediments over the next 150 yr. Our study shows that storm events can be characterized in sedimentary sequences identified by facies, grain size and faunal assemblages (lagoonal and marine species). Comparison of Pb-210, C-14 chronology and historical accounts suggest that the three identified storm events took place in 1742, 1839 and 1893 A.D. (i.e. about one catastrophic event per century).
ISSN: 0025-3227

hal-00411189
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00411189
DOI : 10.1016/j.margeo.2008.03.001

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Several nuclides of the ;238;U (;234;U, ;230;Th, ;226;Ra, ;210;Pb) and ;235;U (;231;Pa, ;227;Ac) decay series have been measured through gamma spectrometry in the U-bearing episyenites of the Bernardan mine (northwest Massif Central, France), in order to study recent mobilizations in the U-deposit and their time-scales. (;230;Th/;238;U) and (;231;Pa/;235;U) ratios show that U has been little affected during the last 350 ky, especially in the U-rich samples. In contrast, ;226;Ra was subjected to a general redistribution, with a clear tendency for Ra to be lost from the U-rich samples and added to U-poor samples. The highest Ra excesses are present in low-U samples, and are related to adsorption onto iron hydroxides. Ra appears to have been redistributed within the mineralised episyenitic bodies, which seem to remain in ;226;Ra–;238;U radioactive equilibrium, a result consistent with the earlier study of Leroy [1984. Episyénitisation dans le gisement d'uranium du Bernardan (Marche): Comparaison avec des gisements similaires du Nord-Ouest du Massif Central français. Miner. Depos. 19, 26–35]. As shown by the ;226;Ra and ;210;Pb data, the Ra redistribution was very active between 8 and 0.1 ky, and this might be a consequence of the hydrological changes in groundwater circulation accompanying the Holocene climate warming.
ISSN: 0009-2541

hal-00407600
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00407600
DOI : 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2007.06.020

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : The effects of climate change on extreme events are difficult to assess because extremes present large variability and consequently, it is difficult to identify significant trends in relation to the lack of instrumental long time series. Here we present a record of these extreme storm events in the French Mediterrannean coast over the past 7000 years based on a long sediment core from lagoonal environment in Gulf of Lions. Using a high resolution multiproxies approach on core associating grain size, faunal to reconstruct Mid to Late Holocene history of backbarrier deposits in relation to landfalling activity. Even if change in lagoon geomorphological setting over the Holocene does not allow to compare storm events in terms of intensity trough time, we have recorded six periods of increase in storm activity at 6200, 5500, 4400, 3200, 1500 yr cal B.P. and over the LIA (450 and 100 yr cal B.P.). These evidences of changes in coastal hydrodynamic, inversely correlated to periods of aridification in Western Mediterranean region, are in phase with those observed over the North Atlantic and correspond to Holocene cooling events. This increase in storm activity during Holocene cold events over Mediterranean region was probably due to thermal gradient increase leading to enhanced lower tropospheric baroclinicity over a large Central Atlantic-European domain. This study demonstrates that temperatures in North Atlantic region influence the severe storm activity and therefore the Mediterranean climate at Holocene timescale.
Les effets du changement climatique sur les événements extrêmes sont difficiles à estimer car ces phénomènes présentent une large variabilité, et par conséquent il est délicat d'identifier des tendances significatives compte tenu de l'absence de longues séries de données instrumentales. Dans cette étude, nous présentons un enregistrement de ces tempêtes extrêmes sur la côte Méditerranéenne française au cours des 7000 dernières années à partir de carottes sédimentaires prélevées dans un système lagunaire du Golfe du Lion. L'utilisation d'une approche multi-traceur à haute résolution avec des analyses granulométriques, faunistiques, géochimiques (XRF), en minéraux argileux associées à des données chronologiques de radiocarbone et de 210Pb, 137Cs ; nous a permis de reconstruire l'histoire, au cours de l'Holocène, des dépôts lagunaires en relation avec l'activité des tempêtes. Bien que les paramètres morphologiques de cet environnement lagunaire aient changé durant l'Holocène, ne permettant pas de comparer ces événements au cours du temps en terme d'intensité, nous enregistrons six périodes d'augmentation de l'activité des tempêtes datées à 6200, 5500, 4400, 3200, 1500 an cal B.P. et durant le Petit Age Glaciaire (de 450 à 100 an cal B.P.). Ces changements de l'activité hydrodynamique côtière, en antiphase avec les périodes d'aridifications en Méditerranée de l'Ouest, sont corrélées avec celles observées dans le bassin Nord Atlantique et correspondent aux événements de refroidissement Holocène. L'augmentation de l'activité des tempêtes dans la cette région de la Méditerranée durant les périodes froides, associée à une diminution des températures au pôle Nord, est probablement liée à l'augmentation du gradient thermique qui, par interaction barocline, favorise les cycles d'évolution des tempêtes dans toute l'Europe et la Méditerranée de l'Ouest. Cette étude démontre ainsi que la température dans la région Nord Atlantique influence l'activité des tempêtes extrêmes et donc du climat Méditerranéen à l'échelle de l'Holocène.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00437757

tel-00437757
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00437757
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00437757/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00437757/file/Sabatier_these.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : This work deals with the dating of Mount Etna lava flows and eruptive fissure deposits to the last four millennia following field investigations and stratigraphic data (BRANCA et alii, 2011a). We have studied 24 of these volcanic products, including 301 large samples, through high precision archeomagnetic dating checked by 226Ra-230Th radiochronology, thus providing additional material to the previous paper by TANGUY et alii (2007). In most cases our results allow attributing ages to the historical period, although two flows are shown to be prehistoric. For the historic lavas, archeoma - gnetic ages can be defined within decades, except for three of them that erupted during a time span (Greco-Roman epoch) when the geomagnetic field underwent little variation. Although 60% of these volcanics exhibit ages comprised between 700 AD and 1850, only one (1285) is mentioned by contemporary written accounts. We conclude that i) historical documents alone are insufficient to reconstruct a coherent sequence of eruptions, and ii) a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to obtain a comprehensive eruptive history of such a very active volcano, useful for both scientific and civil protection purposes, even for such a geologically recent period as that of the last 10 or 20 centuries. Thanks to these new archeomagnetic and 226Ra-230Th data coupled with stratigraphic data, a comprehensive volcanic history of the still-outcropping Mount Etna volcanics is now available for the last 2,400 years. KEY WORDS: Etna volcano, archeomagnetic dating, 226Ra- 230Th dating, stratigraphy, historical account.
Italian Journal of Geosciences

hal-00758077
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00758077
DOI : 10.3301/IJG.2012.01

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We present in this study the first data on Ra isotopes, 222Rn, and 210Pb in waters from the Lez karst system, one of the main ground-water resources in the South of France. The low Ra isotope activities of the Lez system waters (from 0.35 to 3.45 mBq/L of 226Ra) were measured by gamma spectrometry using the method developed in our previous work. Our data reveal the coherent behavior of 226Ra in Lez spring waters, well correlated to other major and trace elements, like Cl, Na, K, Mg, Li, Rb and Ba. The (228Ra/226Ra) ratios are distinct between the Lez spring (0.60 to 0.72) and two neighboring springs (0.52 to 0.65), showing the spatial variability in karst systems. In spite of their small variations in the Lez spring, it was possible to trace different water components and mixing processes from Lower-Cretaceous, Upper-Jurassic and Middle Jurassic end-members, in agreement with previous studies based on major and trace elements. Data obtained on waters derived from the Upper-Jurassic karst reveal that their (228Ra/226Ra) ratios are not related to the Th/U ratio of the Jurassic limestone, but are rather influenced by the soil and alterite cover of the recharge area.222Rn activities in the Lez spring are relatively low (0.5 to 3.7 Bq/L) compared to other karst regions. The highest 222Rn activities are found in diluted waters following heavy rainfall episodes, suggesting a subsurface origin of Rn. Soil and alterite samples that have much higher 226Ra activities (from 51 to 130 Bq/kg), compared to those from the main aquifer rocks (from 2.9 to 16 Bq/kg), are probably the main source of Rn, rather than the rocks of the karst itself. The study of several flood episodes reveals the correlation between Rn peak-values or total activity discharged at the spring with cumulative rainfall. Finally, 222Rn dissolved in water decays to 210Pb, and our data show that constraints on transfer times of underground waters can potentially be obtained from their coupled measurement.
ISSN: 0009-2541

hal-01622749
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622749
DOI : 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.06.022

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We present results of a geomorphological and morphotectonic analysis of the northeastern part of the Rif. We show that the present day kinematics of the Rif is characterized by active deformation along the Trougout and Nekor faults in the North-East. Digital Elevation Models of offset drainage features (streams, fluvial terraces) allow determining a normal-left-lateral motion along the Trougout fault and a left-lateral strike-slip motion along the Nekor fault. Preliminary 3He cosmogenic dates of tectonic markers yield vertical and horizontal slip rates of ∼0.9 mm/yr and ∼0.5 mm/yr, respectively along the Trougout fault. The present-day localized transtension seen in the north-eastern Rif morphology (Ras Tarf) is coeval with uplifted marine terraces near the Al Hoceima Bay. U/Th dating of shells yield an average uplift rate of ∼0.2 mm/yr during the past 500 ka. These data show that active transtension in the northeastern Rif is also associated with uplift. These new morphotectonic constraints are consistent with the GPS measurements showing southwestward overall motion of most of the Rif belt with respect to stable Africa.
ISSN: 0264-3707

hal-01053492
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01053492
DOI : 10.1016/j.jog.2014.01.004

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Société géologique de France
Résumé : International audience
The central part of the Gulf of Lions shoreline is characterized by many coastal wetlands that resulted from the interaction between a process of shoreline regularization by migrations of littoral barriers and a slow filling of the back-barrier areas by the riverine and marine inputs. Analyses of Late-Holocene deposits with a very high-resolution multi-proxy study of two sediment cores, allow us to reconstruct the evolution of this coastal system. Two main Holocene sediment units are identified overlying a Pliocene carbonate continental formation. The lower unit consists of sandy and pebbly marine sediments deposited around 7800 B.P., during the final stand of the last sea level rise. Just above, the upper unit displays lagoonal grey clay silts with shells and some intercalated layers of silty sands related to paleostorm events. The age model was established from radiocarbon dating, for the oldest part of the core. Over the last century, sedimentation rates were calculated using the CFCS Pb-210 model, together with Cs-137 data. Radiocarbon data show an increase in he accumulation rate from the base to the top of cores. Marine sand units related to the last transgressive deposit allow to refine the curve of Holocene post-glacial sea level rise. Sedimentological and faunal analyses associated with chronological data provide a means for reconstructing the Late-Holocene paleoenvironments along this part of the coast and suggest that the final closure of the coastal lagoon by the sandy barrier occurred at around 730 +/- 120 yr cal B.P. The beginning of this closure, together with the progradation of the coastal plain, could be responsible for the decline in economic activity of the Lattara harbour during the Roman period.
La partie centrale du littoral du golfe du Lion est caractérisée par de nombreuses lagunes qui résultent de l'interaction entre un processus de régularisation du trait de côte par migration de barrières littorales et d'un lent remplissage des zones situées en arrière des barrières par des apports continentaux et marins. Les analyses des dépôts tardi-holocènes avec une étude multi-traceurs à très haute résolution de deux carottes sédimentaires nous permettent de reconstruire l'évolution de ce système côtier. Deux unités sédimentaires holocènes sont identifiées recouvrant une formation pliocène carbonatée. L'unité inférieure est constituée de sables et de galets d'origine marine déposés vers 7800 B.P., durant les stades ultimes de la dernière remontée marine. Audessus, l'unité supérieure montre des dépôts d'argile et de silt gris coquilliers d'origine lagunaire, dans lesquels sont intercalés des niveaux de sable silteux révélant la présence d'événements de tempêtes. Le modèle d'âge est établi à partir de dates radiocarbones pour les parties les plus anciennes des archives sédimentaires, tandis que pour le dernier siècle, les taux de sédimentation sont calculés en utilisant le modèle CFCS pour le 210Pb, associé aux données de 137Cs. Les données 14C montrent une augmentation du taux d'accumulation depuis la base jusqu'en surface des carottes. Les unités de sables marins liées aux dépôts de la dernière transgression marine permettent de préciser la courbe post-glaciaire de remontée du niveau marin. Les analyses sédimentologiques et faunistiques associées aux données chronologiques fournissent une méthode permettant de reconstituer les paléoenvironnements littoraux tardi-holocènes dans la zone d'étude et suggèrent que la fermeture finale de ces lagunes par le cordon sableux survient autour de 730 ± 120 ans cal B.P. Le début de cette fermeture, associée à la une progradation deltaïque, pourrait être responsable du déclin des activités économiques du port de Lattara durant la période Romaine.
EISSN: 1777-5817

halshs-00740923
https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-00740923
DOI : 10.2113/gssgfbull.181.1.27

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag (Germany) Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
We report here U-series and trace element data for an olivine-melilitite lava flow, erupted in 1957 in the Virunga volcanic field and known as the Mugogo eruption. Petrological and geochemical data show that the Mugogo magma represents a primary mantle melt, derived from a low degree of melting of a metasomatised mantle source. It is highly enriched in very incompatible trace elements (e.g. more than 300-fold compared to primitive mantle for Th), with a distinctly lower enrichment in Rb, Ba and Sr. The high Th/U and low (230Th/232Th) ratios (4.4 and 0.750, respectively, with a (230Th/238U) ratio of 1.09) are close to the values found for the Nyamuragira basanites. But the most striking feature is the very low (226Ra/230Th) ratio of 0.48, the lowest ever measured in a mafic volcanic rock. The most probable origin of this Ra deficit is the presence of phlogopite (having a high Ra partition coefficient) in the lithospheric mantle, either as a residual phase during low-degree isobaric melting (in batch-melting or a diffusion-controlled melting models), or in a phlogopite-bearing upper mantle through which the melt migrates and equilibrates (in an equilibrium porous flow model commonly used to describe adiabatic melting). The disequilibrium pattern (230Th) > (238U) > (210Pb) ≫ (226Ra), reversed compared to the pattern observed in the Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite, suggests that a carbonatite melt might have been involved to explain the Ra deficit. We thus discuss the possibility of an early separation of a Ra-enriched carbonate melt either from the olivine-melilitite melt or from a carbonated mantle source, followed by the production of a low-degree melt of olivine-melilitite composition, but the lack of available experimental, petrological and geochemical evidences makes this process somewhat speculative at present. Further studies of recent (<5 ky) olivine-melilitites are needed to check whether the large Ra deficit is a general characteristic of this type of magma that can be used to constrain models of its formation.
ISSN: 0010-7999

hal-01174173
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01174173
DOI : 10.1007/s00410-015-1124-9

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Abstract A careful re-examination of the well-known written documents pertaining to the 2,750-year-long historical period of Mount Etna was carried out and their interpretation checked through the high-accuracy archeomagnetic method (>1,200 large samples), combined with the 226Ra-230Th radiochronology. The magnetic dating is based upon secular variation of the direction of the geomagnetic field (DGF) and estimated to reach a precision of  ±40 years for the last 1,200 years, and ±100 to 200 years up to circa 150 B.C. Although less precise, the 226Ra-230Th method provides a unique tool for distinguishing between historic and prehistoric lavas, which in some cases might have similar DGFs. We show that despite the abundance of details on ancient historical eruptions, the primary sources of information are often too imprecise to identify their lava flows and eruptive systems. Most of the ages of these lavas, which are today accepted on the geological maps and catalogues, were attributed in the 1800s on the basis of their morphology and without any stratigraphical control. In fact, we found that 80% of the “historically dated” flows and cones prior to the 1700s are usually several hundreds of years older than recorded, the discrepancies sometimes exceeding a millennium. This is proper the case for volcanics presumed of the “1651 east” (actually ∼1020), “1595” (actually two distinct flows, respectively, ∼1200 and ∼1060), “1566” (∼1180), “1536” (two branches dated ∼1250 and ∼950), “1444” (a branch dated ∼1270), “1408” (lower branches dated ∼450 and ∼350), “1381” (∼1160), “1329” (∼1030), “1284” (∼1450 and ∼700), “1169 or 812” (∼1000) eruptions. Conversely, well-preserved cones and flows that are undated on the maps were produced by recent eruptions that went unnoticed in historical accounts, especially during the Middle Ages. For the few eruptions that are recorded between A.D. 252 and 750 B.C., none of their presumed lava flows shows a DGF in agreement with that existing at their respective dates of occurrence, most of these flows being in fact prehistoric. The cinder cones of Monpeloso (presumed “A.D. 252”) and Mt. Gorna (“394 B.C.”), although roughly consistent magnetically and radiochronologically with their respective epochs, remain of unspecified age because of a lack of precision of the DGF reference curve at the time. It is concluded that at the time scale of the last millennia, Mount Etna does not provide evidence of a steady-state behavior. Periods of voluminous eruptions lasting 50 to 150 years (e.g., A.D. 300–450, 950–1060, 1607–1669) are followed by centuries of less productive activity, although at any time a violent outburst may occur. Such a revised history should be taken into account for eruptive models, magma output, internal plumbing of the volcano, petrological evolution, volcano mapping and civil protection.
Bulletin of Volcanology / Bull Volcanic Eruptions

hal-00315967
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00315967
DOI : 10.1007/s00445-007-0121-x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : While most rocks from active volcanoes display ((210)pb/Ra-226) activity ratios lower than or close to the equilibrium value of 1, several other have ratios much higher than 1. Transfer of Rn-222 by magmatic volatiles has often been advocated to explain both Pb-210 deficits and excesses. We develop here a model to account for Pb-210 excesses through Rn-222 accumulation. We show that large Pb-210 excesses can be readily obtained, even for moderate ratios of degassing magma over accumulating magma, in a closed-system model where the Rn-222 atoms produced by decay of Ra-226 in the degassing magma are continuously extracted by a gas phase. For a given duration of volatile transfer, relative Pb-210 excesses are expected to be much larger than Pb-210 deficits. This model is applied to samples from Santorini (Aegean arc) and Surtsey (Iceland) both of which show high ((210)pb/Ra-226) ratios of 6.7 and 2.3 respectively at the time of eruption. The agreement with field data suggests that Rn-222 accumulation leading to Pb-210 excesses might be a rather common process in zoned magma chambers as well as in individual lava flows, and that it can be described by a closed-system model.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-00496398
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00496398
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2010.02.048