Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer/Terra Scientific Publishing Company
Résumé : International audience
We report oil the discovery of magnetite nanoparticles ranging in size from 2 to 14 full in the mineralized zones of the Pena Colorada iron-ore deposit, southern Mexico. Micrometric scale magnetite was magnetically reduced and divided into distinct size ranges: 85-56 mu m, 56-30 mu m, 30-22 mu m, 22-15 mu m, 15-10 mu m, 10-7 mu m and 7-2 mu m. Nanometric-scale magnetite in the size range 2-14 nm was identified. The magnetite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmitted and reflected light microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high angle annular dark field, Mossbauer spectroscopy and its magnetic properties. Crystallographic identification of nanostructures Was performed using high-resolution TEM. Characteristic changes were observed when the particles make the size transition from micro- to nanometric sizes, as follows: (1) frequency-dependent magnetic Susceptibility percentage (chi FD%) measurements Show high Values (13%) for the 2-14 nm fractions attributed to dominant fractions of superparamagnetic particles; (2) variations of chi FD% < 4.5% in fractions of 56-0.2 mu m occur in association with the presence of microparticles formed by magnetite aggregates of nanoparticles (< 15 nm) embedded in berthierine; (3) Mossbauer spectroscopy results identified a superparamagnetic fraction; (4) nanometric and 0.2-3 mu m grain size magnetite particles require a magnetic field up to 152 mT to reach saturation during the isothermal remanent magnetization experiment; (5) coercivity and remanent magnetization of the magnetite increase when the particle size decreases, probably due to parallel Coupling effects; (6) two-magnetic Susceptibility versus temperature experiments of the same 2-14 nm sample show that the reversibility during the second heating is due to the formation of new magnetite nanoparticles and growth of those already present. during the first heating process.
ISSN: 1343-8832

hal-00413053
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00413053

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
A detailed rock-magnetic and archeointensity study was carried out on materials baked by a western Mexican artisan following traditional techniques to produce faithful reproductions of archeological pieces of the Michoacan region (Western Mesoamerica). The field strength at the site (41.0 +/- 0.51 mu T) was measured with a fluxgate magnetometer and the temperature of the furnace during the baking process was monitored continually by means of a thermocouple placed in the middle of the baking cavity.;Rock-magnetic experiments performed on the raw material (clay and paste) and on in situ prepared baked ceramics and bricks included measurement of thermomagnetic curves (susceptibility and strong-field magnetization versus temperature), first-order reversal curves (FORC), anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) and anisotropy of thermoremanent magnetization (A-TRM). Magnetite and probably hematite are present in the samples as carriers of the remanence. Hysteresis ratios suggest that the samples fall in the pseudo-single-domain grain size region, which may indicate a mixture of multidomain and a significant amount of single-domain grains.;Ceramic pieces and brick fragments were subjected to the Thellier-Coe archeointensity method and to an alternative paleointensity experiment, with a TRIAXE magnetometer, in order to check whether they are faithful recorders of the local geomagnetic field strength.;Mean raw-intensity of sample M1 (pottery) overestimates a 7% the expected site intensity, while those corresponding to the brick samples (LQ1 and LQ2) underestimate it 15%. Brick sample LNQ shows a slightly lower intensity (7%), but agrees with the expected site intensity within the experimental uncertainty. The intensity retrieved from the volcanic fragment also included closely reproduces the expected intensity. After A-TRM and cooling-rate corrections, all mean raw values move closer to the expected intensity.;Measurement of temperatures at different parts inside the kiln (bottom and upper parts of both central and peripheral parts) revealed the existence of significant thermal gradients, similar to those observed in ovens from other localities. Different cooling rates are then expected in a single oven.;The scatter in the intensity determinations observed in this study, retrieved from pieces elaborated together in the same oven, could arise from this differentiated cooling rate within the oven and thus, to an inappropriate cooling rate correction in the archeointensity protocol. As this situation was probably reproduced in the baking of ancient ceramic artifacts, a better knowledge of the temperature distribution inside these types of kiln would be desirable in order to choose the appropriate cooling rate correction.
ISSN: 0031-9201

hal-00644559
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00644559
DOI : 10.1016/j.pepi.2011.06.007

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
Mélange rocks outcrop widely in the central and western frontal sectors of the Betic Cordillera, as in many other collisional orogens where they form part of the accretionary wedges. Extrusion of Triassic plastic clays and evaporites was favored by the progressive accretion of the Betic External Zones, mixing rocks of different provenance and forming a synorogenic frontal mélange unit. MT data coupled with gravity data are a valid combined methodology to characterize the geometry of these mélange units, since the characterization of plastic rocks geometry is usually uncertain using seismic techniques. The results correlate well with known geological features (sedimentary basins, calcareous ranges, evaporitic rocks) and reveal the deep geometry. A resistive body, slightly dipping toward the SE, points to the continuity of the Iberian Massif below the Guadalquivir basin (2°) and the External Zones (6-8°). To the south, gravity models show the Iberian continental crust subducting below the Internal Zones with a roughly 20-35° slope. The main conductive bodies are related to the location of evaporitic rocks involved in the frontal mélange. They overlie the Iberian Massif and, southwards, the frontal Jurassic and Cretaceous limestone sequences of the External and Median Subbetics. In this setting, thick plastic rock units placed above the foreland could act as a lubricant facilitating continental subduction, and being progressively accreted toward a frontal mélange.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-00750364
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00750364
DOI : 10.1029/2012GC004153

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
New magnetotelluric and receiver transfer function studies provide insights from the upper to the lower crust of the eastern Betic Cordillera, which is deformed by large folds, normal faults, and a major transcurrent left-lateral fault, the Carboneras Fault Zone (CFZ). Receiver function analysis determines a NNW dipping Moho reaching 20 degrees that increases in depth, from 20 km south of the CFZ up to 34 km in the Sierra de Los Filabres. In addition, seismic discontinuities determined in the upper crust are interpreted as major contacts between metamorphic complexes that are detached and folded. The MT inversion model reveals a conductive zone, also representing a crustal seismic discontinuity, associated with the Alpujarride/Nevado-Filabride contact and fitting the N vergent geometry of the Sierra Alhamilla antiform. A small flexure at Moho coincides with the CFZ, as revealed by the Bouguer anomaly trend, in agreement with the receiver function results. Moreover, the Bahr strike and tipper angle at the stations placed closest to the CFZ clearly reveal the continuity of the CFZ at least down to approximately 15 km in depth, crossing all the detected crustal discontinuities up to the Moho. The lack of a clear Moho offset associated with the Carboneras Fault supports the idea that some large strike-slip faults tend to accommodate the deformation by a broadening fault zone at lower crustal levels. Its nucleation could occur at the base of a thin crust, where melting processes critically reduced the lithospheric strength during the late Miocene, to then propagate upward, reaching the topographic surface. Northward, the lithosphere comprised moderately larger strength, and the crustal discontinuities favored the development of larger folds with kilometric amplitude instead of strike-slip faults since the late Miocene.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-00671024
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00671024
DOI : 10.1029/2010GC003274

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer/Terra Scientific Publishing Company
Résumé : geomagnetism
International audience
Preface
ISSN: 1343-8832

hal-00413106
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00413106

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Résumé : International audience
The Atlas Mountains are characterized by high elevations and Quaternary volcanism. Long period magnetotelluric data acquired along a NNW-SSE transect reveal the presence of a conductive anomalous mantle below the High Atlas. Data dimensionality analyses show a preferent N80 degrees E strike of the deep resistivity structure in agreement with the induction vector alignment at long periods. Accordingly, a 2D inversion of the data set was carried out. Large resistive bodies at the crustal basement most likely correspond to batholiths emplaced in more conductive metapelites. They are covered by outcropping conductive sedimentary detritic and carbonate rocks. Lithospheric thinning producing anomalous mantle and basin development in the Atlas probably started during Triassic-Jurassic rifting. Inversion tectonics since the Oligocene produced low shortening on previous lithospheric weak zones, with thrusting of the Atlas above the stable African plate. Melting at the top of the anomalous mantle is connected with Quaternary basaltic volcanism in the Middle Atlas.
ISSN: 0278-7407

hal-00671017
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00671017
DOI : 10.1029/2010TC002859

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer/Terra Scientific Publishing Company
Résumé : International audience
We carried out a detailed paleomagnetic, rock-magnetic, and Thellier paleointensity study of all similar to 3.6 My Pliocene lava flow succession in southern Georgia. An earlier study (Camps et al., 1996) revealed that several consecutive lava flows record an intermediate polarity direction at the base of the section followed by a thick reverse polarity zone. The transitional field was interpreted as an excursion within chron 2Ar or all upper Cochiti-Gilbert reversal. New paleomagnetic data reported here have been obtained from nearby lava successions. In total, about 170 standard paleomagnetic cores belonging to 22 lava flows were collected during the 2005 sample collection campaign. Rock-magnetic experiments showed that the remanence is carried by Ti-poor titanomagnetite in most of the samples. The fraction of grains with multidomain magnetic structure does not seem to be important. Characteristic remanent magnetization was successfully determined oil all samples. The direct correlation with the original (Thoki) sequence, previous preliminary measurements of natural remanent magnetization (Sologashvili, 1986), and field observations allowed us to establish a new magnetic stratigraphy. The lower part of section is characterized by intermediate magnetic polarity followed by thick reversely magnetized lavas. The upper sequence, represented by 18 consecutive flows yielded normal magnetic polarity. The mean paleointensity of the intermediate field is drastically reduced with respect to the post-transitional field strength. Based on all available radiometric ages and new paleomagnetic data, it may be speculated that Gilbert-Gauss (R-N) reversal was recorded at the upper part of sequence. Lower intermediate polarity flows possibly represent a form of precursor of this reversal that is similar to the Matuyama-Brunhes geomagnetic transition.
ISSN: 1343-8832

hal-00413099
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00413099

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We report paleomagnetic results from four overlapping stratigraphic sections (55 flows) through the lava pile in Tjörnes peninsula (North Iceland). The initial aim of our study was to check the existence of intermediate directions previously interpreted as belonging to the Matuyama-Brunhes geomagnetic reversal (MBR), and complete this record with Thellier-Thellier paleointensity determinations and 40Ar/39Ar radioisotopic dating. The directional results corroborate the findings by Kristjánsson et al. (1988): a sequence of reversed, transitional, normal, and transitional polarity (R-T-N-T) is found in each section. The polarity change is characterized by a jump from reversed virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) to a quasi-cluster of transitional VGPs located over China, followed by a second jump to a cluster of normal polarity before moving again towards intermediate polarities. Reversely magnetized flows exhibit a magnetic mineralogy well suited for paleointensity determination. Of these 25 flows, 20 yielded paleointensity estimates of good quality. Unfortunately, the systematic presence of coarse multidomain (MD) titanomagnetite in the transitional and normal polarity flows hampered paleointensity estimates for these flows. The Virtual Dipole Moments (VDM) calculated for the reversed polarity flows vary from 4.9 to 7.0 × 1022 Am2 with an arithmetic mean value of 5.5 ± 0.8 × 1022 Am2. This value is identical to the mean VDM obtained for the 0.3-5 Ma time window and thus strengthens the conclusion that the recent geomagnetic field strength is anomalously high compared to that older than 0.3 Ma. 40Ar/39Ar isochron ages were obtained with the incremental heating technique on groundmass separates or phenocryst-poor whole rock samples. Six of the transitionally magnetized lavas yielded isochron ages that are indistinguishable from one another at the 95% confidence level. The weighted average age is 862 ± 51 ka. In the upper part of this volcanic sequence, the normally magnetized flows yielded a weighted average age of 787 ± 40 ka. This finding supports the conclusion that a geomagnetic excursion within the Matuyama chron is recorded in the lower part of the Tjörnes volcanic sequence, whereas only the latest portion of the MBR is recorded by flows in the upper part of the lava pile. This conclusion is supported via comparison of the VGPs obtained from the lavas with those predicted by a geomagnetic field model.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-00618515
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00618515
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00618515/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00618515/file/Camps-epsl2011.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2011.07.026