Graduation date: 1992

This study presents the interpretation of Edo-Western and Sparker seismic geophysical data acquired on the northern KwaZulu-Natal upper continental margin by various organisations since 1981. Five seismic sequences are recognised and these are traceable across the entire length of the study area. The oldest is interpreted as a late Cretaceous marine sequence (Sequence A), probably the offshore equivalent of the St. Lucia Formation exposed onshore. This sequence is overlain by a progradational, probable late Tertiary shelf sequence (Sequence B) onlapping in places against the underlying marine sequence. The outer portion of this sequence on the upper continental slope is characterised by complicated reflection termination patterns indicating the possible presence of discreet sequences within this shelf and slope unit. These shelf and slope sediments are overlain by a thin (less than 20m) reworked and eroded Pleistocene shelf unit (Sequence C), itself overlain by linear Pleistocene aeolianites (Sequence D) in places. The youngest sequence observed is the Holocene unconsolidated sediment wedge (Sequence E) on the inner shelf, attaining thicknesses of greater than 20m in places. The various sequences were mapped out and sediment isopach maps were produced (wherever possible) as well as an overall geological subcrop map of the study area. 150 kilometres of shallow penetration Edo Western seismic records acquired off the Sodwana Bay continental shelf were interpreted. Two sediment types are recognised, namely consolidated beach rock/aeolianite and unconsolidated Quaternary shelf sand/bioclastic reef derived sediment. In places, accumulations of bioclastic sediment in subaqueous dune troughs which have been subsequently buried by migrating bedforms manifest themselves on seismic records as dark semi-continuous reflectors beneath the migrating bedform. Close inshore, seismic records show prominent reflectors interpreted as consolidated sediment beneath varying thicknesses of unconsolidated sediment. Close to the shelf break (occurring at approximately -60m), seismic interpretation indicates that thin beach rock developments perch directly upon unconsolidated shelf sand, with the beach rock having been eroded through in places to expose unconsolidated sediment beneath. A sediment thickness map for this area was compiled from the seismic data. The limited penetration of the Pinger system necessitated "greater-than" values being used in many areas. Greatest sediment thicknesses occur in subaqueous dune fields where unconsolidated sediment thickness is at least 11 m. In inshore areas absent of subaqueous dune fields, sediment thicknesses are typically low, varying between 1 and 3m. A prominent submerged dune ridge close inshore limits substantial unconsolidated sediment build-up to landward of this feature. On the seaward side substantial build-up is limited by the action of the Agulhas Current which is actively transporting sediment into the head of submarine canyons which incise the continental shelf at Sodwana Bay. This study shows that on the northern KwaZulu-Natal continental shelf where there is a dearth of unconsolidated Quaternary sediment, the Edo Western seismic system is a useful tool for discerning thin veneers of unconsolidated sediment less than 4m thick. When considering the overall low volumes of unconsolidated sediment present on the shelf, this hitherto unconsidered volume of sediment constitutes an important part of the shelf sediment budget. Submarine landslide features observed on sparker seismic records are described and discussed. Submarine landslides are present which affect a) Sequences A and B, b) Sequence B only and c) Sequence A only, ages of these sediment failures can thus be inferred as being either post- Late Cretaceous or post- Late Tertiary. Offshore Kosi Bay, submarine landslide features affecting Sequence A are buried by unaffected Sequence B sediments, indicating a post- Late Cretaceous to pre- Late Tertiary age of occurrence. Style of failure tends towards mass flow in those submarine landslides in which Sequence B only sediments are affected, while those in which Sequence A is affected exhibit some slide features indicating a greater degree of internal coherency of these sediments compared to Sequence B. Slope stability analysis of a submarine landslide feature offshore St. Lucia Estuary Mouth indicates the failed sediment mass would have been stable under static conditions and that external dynamic forces such as storm waves or seismic activity would have been necessary to induce failure. It is demonstrated that the Zululand earthquake of 1932 would have exceeded the intensity necessary to induce sediment failure and this event should therefore be considered as a possible cause. Seismic evidence of fluvial incision/subaerial exposure at the boundaries between Sequences A and B and C and E are further evidence of lowered sea-levels probably during the Oligocene and Late Pleistocene. The position of the incision into Sequence C relative the present course of the Mkuze River indicates the possibility that this incision could represent the palaeo-outlet of this river. Seismic expression of 3 submarine canyons in the study area indicate that they are currently undergoing active headward erosion, independent of any direct modern fluvial influence. In the case of Ntabende Canyon, a nearby continental shelf incision postulated to be the palaeo-Mkuze outlet indicates that provision of terrigenous material to this portion of the continental shelf could well have accelerated mass wasting processes within the canyon itself. This submarine canyon could therefore have progressed more rapidly to a relatively mature phase of development. Subsurface structure indicates the lack of any post- Late Tertiary fault features beneath the canyons, thus excluding faults active in post- Late Tertiary times as a developmental factor. It is shown that the overall, external morphology of the KwaZulu-Natal upper continental margin is strongly influenced by seismic stratigraphic relationships, with the main influencing factors being outcrop position of the various sequences and depositional angle of sediments of which a sequence is comprised. External morphology has also been greatly modified in places by mass-wasting processes. It is demonstrated also that relating the observed seismic stratigraphy to onshore geological cross sections is problematic due to the distances involved and lack of confident offshore dates for the seismic sequences observed. Seismic relationships observed contribute to an understanding of relative sea-level movements since the Late Cretaceous and the overall geological evolution of the northern KwaZulu-Natal upper continental margin, details of which are discussed. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1998.

Thesis (Sc.D.)--Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, 2004. / Existe aussi en ligne (cf. lien) Available in PDF format via the World Wide Web.

Evidence of mineral disequilibrium is presented for the Merensky Reef at Winnaarshoek in the eastern Bushveld Complex. Petrographic disequilibrium textures, disequilibrium in orthopyroxene, plagioclase and clinopyroxene mineral compositions as well as disequilibrium in Sm-Nd isotopic compositions of whole rock samples and coexisting plagioclase and orthopyroxene are presented. Disequilibrium textures presented include clinopyroxene exsolution lamellae in orthopyroxene; resorbed plagioclase in orthopyroxene or relict plagioclase; various inclusions such as orthopyroxene, plagioclase or clinopyroxene in larger oikocrysts of clinopyroxene or orthopyroxene; discontinuous rims of clinopyroxene surrounding orthopyroxene; resorbed orthopyroxene in clinopyroxene; and corona textures associated with olivine. These textures were used to derive a possible mineral crystallization sequence. At least two sequences of crystallization took place, both of which crystallized plagioclase first. One sequence then crystallized olivine which was then consumed to produce orthopyroxene which crystallized prior to late clinopyroxene. The other sequence indicates orthopyroxene crystallization after plagioclase crystallization, followed by crystallization of clinopyroxene. These sequences indicate at least two magmas were responsible for the genesis of the Merensky Reef and its hanging wall and footwall units. Compositionally, disequilibrium is evident in the range of compositions found in coexisting orthopyroxene, plagioclase and clinopyroxene with stratigraphic height, with particular reference to the change in mineral composition in each of the hanging wall, Reef and footwall units. Orthopyroxene compositions range in Mg numbers between 74.6 and 82.9 (77.4) in the hanging wall, 78.5 and 87.0 (avg. 81.1) in the Reef, and 77.9 and 84.1 (avg. 81.3) in the footwall. Plagioclase compositions range in An content between An64.9 and An82.3 (avg. An75.1) in the hanging wall, An56.8 to An70.8 (avg. An62.7) in the Reef, and An54.2 to An86.3 (avg. An73.2) in the footwall. In terms of Sm-Nd isotopic compositions, disequilibrium is evident between both whole rock samples and coexisting plagioclase and orthopyroxenes. Bulk rock Sm-Nd isotopic compositions show a range in ԐNd values between ԐNd (2.06 Ga) = -4.8 to -6.4 in the hangingwall, ԐNd (2.06 Ga) = -6.3 to -8.5 in the Reef, and ԐNd (2.06 Ga) = -4.5 to -6.3 in the footwall. Similar ԐNd values are present in the hanging wall and footwall units, with a clear “spike” in the Merensky Reef. ԐNd values in plagioclase are between ԐNd (2.06 Ga) = -5.8 and -7.8, while orthopyroxene isotopic Sm-Nd values are between ԐNd (2.06 Ga = -7.1 and -9.1. The mineral disequilibrium features presented within this study help elucidate the crystallization sequence of the magma as well as to constrain the contamination of the magma upon ascension and emplacement of the Merensky Reef. The results of this study favour a model where a mantle plume resulted in the ascent of a new magma which was contaminated by the assimilation of old, lower crust. Contamination took place prior to the possible lateral emplacement of the Merensky reef as a density current. 5-10% contamination of depleted mantle or a B2-“like” source by Archaean TTGs is modeled to achieve the contamination “spike” of ԐNd = -8.5 in the Merensky Reef.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Oceanography (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), February 2000. / "September 1999." / Includes bibliographical references. / Geochemical studies are fundamental for understanding how the dynamic Earth works and evolves. These studies place constraints on the composition, formation, age, distribution, evolution and scales of geochemically distinct reservoirs such as the Earth's crust, mantle and core. In this dissertation the strategy has been to work on a broad range of topics to evaluate crustal and mantle processes. This study presents Re-Os systematics to constrain the composition, formation and age of the lower continental crust and the mantle lithosphere, examines melt inclusion from oceanic island basalts to evaluate the scale of the mantle heterogeneities, and uses U-series isotope to constrain geodynamic parameters, such as the upwelling velocities and porosities of mantle plumes. The lower continental crust plays a pivotal role in understanding the composition and evolution of the continental crust and the petrogenesis of continental basalts. / by Alberto Edgardo Saal. / Ph.D.

Le système volcanique de La Réunion est formé de la coalescence des massifs du Piton des Neiges et du Piton de la Fournaise. Son édification, liée à l’activité d’un panache mantellique, est caractérisée par une phase de croissance sous-marine, puis subaérienne, suivie d’une période de dégénérescence, comme proposé classiquement pour les volcans boucliers océaniques d’Hawaii. De précédentes études ont montré que l’activité subaérienne de La Réunion aurait débuté il y a environ 2,2 Ma. Les analyses géochimiques menées jusqu’alors sur les produits associés à cette activité volcanique (subaérienne et sous-marine) ont montré un caractère chimique transitionnel avec une composition isotopique (87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd et 176Hf/177Hf) particulièrement homogène pour un volcanisme de point chaud. Dans cette étude, nous montrons que des laves sous-marines récemment identifiées sous la série basique du Piton de la Fournaise (au sein de la sur Rift Zone Nord-Est) ainsi que des laves subaériennes affleurant à la base de canyons incisés dans le massif (Série Différenciée de la Rivière des Remparts), présentent des caractéristiques ne s’inscrivant pas dans le modèle d’évolution proposé précédemment pour ce volcan. Se pose donc la question de la nature et de l’origine de ces laves, ainsi que de leur place et appartenance dans l’édification du système volcanique réunionnais. De nouvelles investigations pétro-géochimiques et géochronologiques ont été menées sur la partie sous-marine de l’édifice de La Réunion. Elles révèlent l’existence d’un groupe de laves exceptionnel. Leur composition se distingue clairement de celle des échantillons communément analysés à La Réunion et montre (1) un enrichissement en éléments incompatibles couplé isotopiquement à (2) un rapprochement vers un pôle mantellique enrichi de type EM. Ces particularités géochimiques démontrent que le panache mantellique possède (1) une source hétérogène affectée par (2) des taux de fusion variables. De plus, deux échantillons de ce nouveau groupe datés à 3,77 (0,08) et à 3,34 (0,07) Ma étendent considérablement la période d’activité connue de l’édifice. Ces âges remarquables font de ces laves les plus anciennes jamais datées à La Réunion. La nature géochimique ainsi que la position stratigraphique des laves de cette étude (échantillons subaériens et sous-marins des massifs du Piton des Neiges et du Piton de la Fournaise) impliquent une réinterprétation du schéma d’évolution global de l’île. Contrairement aux études précédentes, nos résultats sur ces laves montrent que : (1) Les laves différenciées de la Rivière des Remparts, qui sont des laves subaériennes, de part leur position stratigraphique et géographique sous-jacente au Piton de la Fournaise et par analogie avec le Piton des Neiges, ne peuvent être reliées à l’activité de la Fournaise, (2) Le signal isotopique du groupe de laves sous-marines de la Rift Zone Nord-Est de la Fournaise, révèlent l’hétérogénéité de la source du panache mantellique sous La Réunion, source que nous identifions comme des enclaves d’éclogite contenues dans une lherzolite à spinelle, (3) L’âge plus ancien de ces laves sous-marines et leur localisation sous le flanc Est de la Fournaise remet en questions le schéma jusqu’alors admis pour l’édification de l’île de La Réunion reposant sur la construction du Piton des Neiges puis celle, adjacente, du Piton de la Fournaise. En conséquence, nos données géochimiques et géochronologiques sont de nouveaux arguments en faveur de l’élaboration d’un modèle d’évolution plus complexe, suggérant l’existence d’un troisième massif volcanique. Il est en accord avec les précédents travaux de pétrologie et de géophysique suggérant l’existence d’un troisième édifice à l’Est de La Réunion, communément appelé le Volcan des Alizés. / The volcanic system of La Reunion is made of the coalescent Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise edifices. Its formation, associated with the activity of a mantle plume, is characterized by phases of submarine and subaerial growth, followed by a period of destruction, as described in the classical model proposed for Hawaiian Island volcanoes. Previous studies showed that the subaerial activity of La Reunion would have started around 2.2 Ma ago. Geochemical analyses carried out on the products associated with subaerial and submarine volcanism revealed their transitional chemical nature and their peculiar homogeneous isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd et 176Hf/177Hf) for a hotspot derived magmatism. In this study, we show that some unusual submarine lavas were recently identified below the basal series of Piton de la Fournaise volcano (dredged on the North-East Rift Zone of la Fournaise) and below the subaerial lavas outcropping at the base of the differentiated series of Rivière des Remparts, indicate that the evolution of La Reunion system is probably more complex than previously suggested. The question of the nature and origin of these lavas, together with their implication on the formation of La Reunion, is an issue of major interest in order to better constrain the global evolution of the volcanic system. As a consequence, new petrological, geochemical and geochronological investigations were conducted on the submarine part of La Reunion edifice. They revealed the existence of a geochemically exceptional group of lavas. Its composition is clearly different from common samples of La Reunion and presents (1) an enrichment in incompatible elements and (2) tends toward an enriched EM endmember. These chemical specificities reveal that the source of La Reunion magmatic products is (1) an heterogeneous source affected by (2) variable melting degrees. Moreover, two samples of this new group dated at 3.77 (0,08) and 3.34 (0,07) Ma extend considerably the period of activity of the island. These rocks are the oldest samples ever dated at La Reunion. The nature and stratigraphical location of subaerial and submarine samples from Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise imply a new interpretation of the global evolution of the island. Unlike previous studies, our results indicate that :(1) The differentiated subaerial lavas from Rivière des Remparts, due to their stratigraphical and geographical location underlying Piton de la Fournaise, and by analogy with the Piton des Neiges, cannot be linked to the activity of Piton de la Fournaise. (2) The isotope signature of the submarine lava group from the North-East Rift Zone of Piton de la Fournaise, reveals the heterogeneous character of the mantle source under La Reunion Island, that can be modelled as embedded eclogite in a matrix of spinel lherzolite, (3) The age of this submarine group and its location under the eastern flank of Piton de la Fournaise, imply a more complex model of evolution of La Reunion. Therefore, our geochemical and geochronological data are new arguments suggesting the existence of a third volcanic center on the island. This assumption confirms the previous petrological and geophysical evidence supporting the existence of this volcano at the East of La Reunion, commonly called Les Alizés volcano.

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Orientadores: Ticiano José Saraiva dos Santos, Eberhard Wernick / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T20:14:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Zincone_Stefano_M.pdf: 16857590 bytes, checksum: 4b0636005af48882fc3aafbbe07b1745 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A evolução magmática na porção norte da Província Borborema (NPB) está relacionada a amalgamação de Gondwana Ocidental e reflete parte do fechamento do paleo-oceano Farusiano, a subdução de litosfera oceânica, acresção de blocos continentais (Granja e Ceará Central-Rio Grande do Norte), colisão continental (cratons Amazonas, São Luiz- W. Africa e São Francisco-Congo) e magmatismo pós-orogênico. Esta evolução é sumarizada em cinco fases magmáticas que se interrelacionam com a trama estrutural-tectônica. A Fase Magmática Santa Quitéria (FMSQ) (658-606 Ma) é pré- a sin- empurrão e reúne três unidades magmáticas, todas fatiadas, deformadas e deslocadas por falhas inversas do Cinturão de Cavalgamento Ceará Central: (i) magmatismo félsico de monzogranito megaporfirítico, metaluminoso, magnesiano, cálcio-alcalino alto-K e shoshonítico, e que possui enclaves diorítico de afinidade shoshonítica e ultrapotássica; ii) magmatismo intermediário de clinopiroxênio hornblenda monzodioritos a monzogranitos melanocráticos, equigranulares, geneticamente relacionados a unidade félsica; iii) magmatismo máfico constituído por enclaves gabróicos esparsamente encontrados ao longo do Batólito Santa Quitéria (BSQ) e pelo complexo máfico de Malhada Grande, caracterizado por olivina gabro, afetado por metamorfismo sub-solidus de fácies granulito, cuja origem se relaciona a trinca da laje oceânica subduzida e consequente ascensão da astenosfera. A Fase Magmática Tamboril (FMT) é tardi- empurrão a sin- transcorrência e compreende duas unidades, sendo uma epizonal de granitos equigranulares rosa, ferroso, cálcio-alcalina de alto-K e shoshonítico e outra de migmatitos de injeção, cujas morfologias são controladas pela estrutura e composição das rochas invadidas, número de injeções e distância entre o pluton magmático e as rochas encaixantes. A FMT transgride o limite do BSQ e afeta o embasamento proterozóico e arqueano. A evolução magmática procede com as Fases Magmáticas Quixeramobim (FMQ), Seridó (FMS) e Bimodal Final (FMBF). A FMQ é controlada pela implantação (ca. 580 Ma) e reativação (ca. 530 Ma) das zonas de cisalhamento transcorrente. A FMS (ca. 520 Ma) corresponde ao magmatismo residual pegmatítico e a processos metassomáticos de alterações hidrotermais e pneumatolíticas, que culminaram na transformação de gabros em rochas calciossilicáticas, mineralizações e desvolatização da crosta continental espessada. Por fim, a FMBF (ca. 470 Ma) representa o magmatismo pluto-vulcânico, bimodal de alta temperatura, que está relacionada à implantação de calderas vulcânicas, complexos anelares e diques hipoabissais, originados em regime extensional sob litosfera continental cratônica e temporalmente associada à deposição dos primeiros estratos da Bacia do Parnaíba. Os dados isotópicos de Nd indicam que a gênese da FMSQ e FMT ocorreu pela mistura de um componente mantélico juvenil com rochas crustais em processo de interação manto-crosta. A FMQ e FMBF mostram maior sobreposição isotópica com as rochas do embasamento circundante, sugerindo processos de fusão intracrustal com menores incursões mantélicas. Os dados Nd de rochas do Arqueano ao Ordoviciano do NPB refletem a variação sistemática das características isotópicas em segmentos crustais sucessivamente mais jovens, que resulta na diferenciação progressiva e irreversível do fracionamento mantélico e crustal, assim como o aumento da diversidade e complexidade do componente crustal através do tempo / Abstract: The magmatic evolution observed in the northern Borborema Province (NBP) is related to West Gondwana amalgamation and reflects part of the closure of the paleocean Pharusian, subduction of oceanic lithosphere, accretion of cratonic blocks (Granja and Ceará Central-Rio Grande do Norte), continental collision (Amazonia, São Luiz-W. Africa, São Francisco-Congo), and post-orogenic magmatism. This evolution is summarized in five magmatic stages, which are interrelated with the development of the structural-tectonic fabric. Santa Quitéria Magmatic Stage (SQMS) (658-606 Ma) is pre- to syn- thrust and comprises three magmatic units, all sliced, displaced and deformed by reverse faults of Ceará Central Thrust Belt: (i) felsic unit represented by high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonite megaporphyritic monzogranites of metaluminous and magnesian affinity, associated to dioritic enclaves of shoshonite and ultrapotassic series; (ii) intermediate unit of equigranular, melanocratic monzodiorites to monzogranite with clinopiroxene and hornblende, which is genetically correlated with the felsic unit; the main textural feature corresponds to gabbro-diorite micro enclaves of shoshonite series; (iii) mafic unit consists of gabbroic enclaves sparsely found along the Santa Quitéria Batholith (SQB) and the mafic complex of Malhada Grande, which is composed of olivine gabbro affected by sub solidus metamorphism at granulite facies. The origin of this complex is interpreted as related to slab tearing and rise of the asthenosphere. Tamboril Magmatic Stage (TMS) is late thrust to syn transcurrence and comprises two units: an epizonal equigranular pink granitic unit of high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonite series of ferroan affinity and an injection migmatite unit whose morphologies are controlled by structure and composition of host rock, the distance of intrusive suite and the number of successive injections. The TMS transgress the limits of SQB and affects the Archean and Proterozoic basement. The magmatic evolution proceeds with Quixeramobim Magmatic Stage (QMS), Seridó Magmatic Stage (SMS) and Final Bimodal Magmatic Stage (FBMS). QMS is controlled by the onset (ca. 580 Ma) and reactivation (ca. 530 Ma) of transcurrent shear zones. SMS (ca. 520 Ma) corresponds to residual pegmatite magmatism and metassomatic process associated to hydrothermal and pneumatolytic alteration, which culminated in the transformation of gabbro to calc-silicate rocks and mineralization in a devolatized thickened continental crust. FBMS (ca. 470 Ma) represents the plutono-volcanic, bimodal, high temperature magmatism related to caldera volcanoes, ring complex and subvolcanic dyke swarms on extensional environment on the cratonic lithosphere, which is temporally associated with deposition of the first sediments of the Parnaíba Basin. Nd isotopic data indicate that the genesis of SQMS and TMS corresponds to a mixture of a juvenile mantle component and older crustal rocks during a process of mantle crust interaction. SMS and FBMS show isotopic overlapping with surround basement rocks, suggesting intracrustal melting with less mantle incursions. Nd data for Archean to Ordovician rocks of NBP reflect the evolution of continental crust and show a systematic change of isotopic characteristics at successively younger crustal segments, which must reflect the irreversible progressive mantle fractionation and the increasing diversity and complexity of the crustal component trough time / Mestrado / Geologia e Recursos Naturais / Mestre em Geociências

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