The Philippine Sea Plate has been surrounded by subduction zones throughout Cenozoic time due to the convergence of the Eurasian, Pacific and Indian-Australian plates. Existing Philippine Sea Plate reconstructions have been made based primarily on magnetic lineations produced by seafloor spreading, rock magnetism and geology of the Philippine Sea Plate. This dissertation employs seismic tomography model to constraint the reconstruction of the Philippine Sea Plate. Recent seismic tomography studies show the distribution of high velocity anomalies in the mantle of the Western Pacific, and that they represent subducted slabs. Using these recent tomography data, distribution maps of subducted slabs in the mantle beneath and surrounding the Philippine Sea Plate have been constructed which show that the mantle anomalies can be related to the various subduction zones bounding the Philippine Sea Plate. The high velocity mantle anomalies are clearly coincident with Wadati-Benioff zones in the upper mantle. The lower mantle anomalies, although distributed in the “transition zone” (500-1000 km) as stagnant slabs in some cases, can clearly be mapped as continuations of upper mantle subduction zones. Reconstructing the subduction of the slabs now in the mantle best fits Philippine Sea Plate reconstructions that involve the minimal or simplest rotations. Northward movement of the Philippine Sea Plate, WNW subduction of the Pacific Plate since Eocene time (~50 Ma), and northward subduction of the Indian/Australian Plate along Indonesia best explain the subducted slab mantle anomalies. The origin of the eastern plate boundary was a transform zone that evolved into a subduction zone a few million years before the Pacific Plate changed its movement. In addition, the initiation of this subduction zone might possibly be one of the triggers of the Pacific Plate motion changes. The 90 degree rotation of the Philippine Sea Plate including southward plate subduction at its northern boundary proposed in the reconstruction by Hall (2002) is not supported by seismic tomography evidence for slab distribution in the mantle beneath the Philippine Sea region. A hypothesis of minimal rotation of the Philippine Sea Plate, supported by the seismic tomography, guides the reconstruction model presented.

Integrated interpretation of three-dimensional seismic and well-logging data reveals a prominent “pop-up” structure associated with the VLE 400 fault on the regional unconformity between the Eocene and Miocene in the VLE 196 field, Maracaibo basin, Venezuela. The VLE 400 fault family, an eastern splay of the left-lateral Icotea fault in the basin, played an important role in hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in the field. Hydrocarbons accumulated to the east of the fault but not to the west. The “pop-up” structure on the Eocene unconformity has a four -way dip closure, straddling the fault and extending to the west of the fault. Structures of the Misoa Formation, which is the main reservoir developed below the unconformity in the basin, differ from the structure of the unconformity. The structure of the Misoa Formation shows a tilted uplift of the eastern block of the fault dipping toward the east caused by thrust tectonic movements. Thrust movement and following strike-slip movements provided additional accommodation space to the west of the fault and generated expanded thickness of Eocene sediments compared to the area east of the fault. The thickness of the Misoa Formation east and west of the fault shows no significant changes. Expanded sediments overlie the Misoa Formation in the western block in lateral contact with Misoa sediments eastern block act as a lateral seal. Ductile movement of the Guasare Formation shale contributed to the lateral sealing of the fault against the reservoir rocks in the eastern block. Mobilization of the Guasare Formation modified the structure of overlying formations including the anticline of the Eocene unconformity. The growth strata provide useful information of reactivation of e xisting faults, especially subtle movements which are not recognized by conventional seismic interpretation. Growth strata isochrons shows subtle reactivation of the VLE 400 fault family during Miocene time.

Οι επαναλαμβανόμενες σεισμικές δονήσεις στη περιοχή, και ειδικότερα μετά τους σεισμούς στις 10/10/2001 (3,9 βαθμοί της κλίμακας Ρίχτερ) και στις 23/11/2011 (3,3 βαθμοί της κλίμακας Ρίχτερ), οι οποίοι προκάλεσαν εμφανείς ζημίες και οδήγησαν στο να κριθούν κτίρια της περιοχής ακατοίκητα, έγειραν το γεωλογικό ενδιαφέρον. Πιο συγκεκριμένα στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η χρήση μορφομετρικών δεικτών για τον υπολογισμό της ενεργότητας του ρήγματος. / Application of morphotectonic criteria for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the tectonic activity on the mountain range front segment, which is formed north – east of Arfara town, located in Messinia, southern – western part of Peloponnese.

Η παρούσα πτυχιακή εργασία πραγματεύεται την χαρτογράφηση της ευρύτερης περιοχής της Χερρονήσου της νήσου Σίφνου και την περιγραφή της δομής του τεκτονικού καλύμματος των κυανοσχιστολίθων. / This project deals with the mapping of wider region of Cherronisos of island Siphnos and the description of structure of Blueschist unit.

The Alexander terrane is an allochthonous terrane within the North American Cordillera. New structural mapping and geochronology within the southern Alexander terrane in the vicinity of Porcher Island provides evidence for two major tectonic events. The oldest is Late Silurian to Early Devonian magmatism and deformation assigned to the Klakas orogeny. The area has subsequently been affected by mid-Cretaceous conjugate shear zones potentially associated with tectonic escape. Northwest-striking sinistral shear zones characterize mid-Cretaceous deformation in the western Coast Belt south of Prince Rupert in north coastal British Columbia. Structurally focused mapping and geochronology has revealed a component of lateral extension to this deformation. General flow characteristics of the shear zones are identified by comparison of fabric patterns to published models for fabric development in shear zones. U-Pb ages from synkinematic dykes constrain motion on northwest-striking sinistral transpressional shear zones, including the Useless, Barrett and Salt Lagoon shear zones, to ca. 104 – 96 Ma, and dextral transpression on the north-striking Telegraph Passage shear zone to ca. 97.6 ± 0.2 Ma. The geometry, kinematics, and coeval nature of these shear zones suggests that they formed in part as a ductile conjugate set. The presence of similarly-oriented conjugate shear bands in the apex zone between sinistral and dextral shear zones further reinforces this interpretation. The orientation of these conjugate sets indicates a component of north-northwest east-southeast extension. The conjugate shear zones merge together into the Grenville Channel shear zone, a sinistral transpressional shear zone with high strike-parallel stretch. A U-Pb age of 103 ± 32 Ma from a synkinematic dyke in the Grenville Channel shear zone coincides with a previously published Lu-Hf age of 102.6 ± 3.7 Ma on synkinematic garnet. Overall, structural and geochronological data from Porcher Island and surrounding area in north coastal British Columbia indicate that mid-Cretaceous deformation was characterized by ENE-WSW (orogen normal) shortening and NNW-SSE (orogen parallel) extension. This local strain regime is consistent with large-scale mid-Cretaceous tectonic escape as proposed for the northern Cordillera at that time, expressed in coeval sinistral faulting in the Coast Belt and dextral faulting in the northern Omineca belt. The Late Silurian to Early Devonian Ogden Channel complex is a mafic to intermediate metaplutonic-metamorphic complex within the southern Alexander terrane on southern Porcher Island and adjacent Pitt Island in north coastal British Columbia. Lithological characteristics of the complex suggest that it represents the mid-crustal roots of a volcanic arc. An age of 413.3 ± 2.5 Ma from a comparatively weakly deformed quartz diorite dyke indicates that the synkinematic Ogden Channel complex is at least in part Early Devonian in age, corresponding to the Klakas orogeny that affected the Alexander terrane in southeast Alaska. Crosscutting relationships indicate that individual intrusions within the Ogden Channel complex were emplaced syn- to post-kinematically with respect to southwest-vergent sinistral reverse deformation (present coordinates). The structural and lithological characteristics of the Ogden Channel complex are consistent with the interpretation that this part of the Alexander terrane was located in the upper plate of a northeast-dipping subduction zone, which culminated in the Klakas orogeny.

The majority of economic gold deposits in NSW are associated with Ordovician-aged igneous rocks and are examples of the Cu-Au porphyry-skarn-epithermal association commonly developed in convergent margin to orogenic settings. They are among the oldest porphyry Cu-Au deposits in the Pacific Rim region. They are similar to younger deposits in terms of tectonic setting and structure, but the largest are chemically distinct, being associated with shoshonite magmas (Cadia, Ridgeway and Northparkes). The Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB) porphyries are subdivided into four sub-groups based mainly on their age relative to development of the Lachlan Transverse Zone (LTZ) structure. Two subgroups pre-date the LTZ, one group is syn�LTZ and one group post-dates the LTZ. No mineralisation has been found or reported among pre-I.TZ porphyries. but it is common in post- . l Z_ porphyries. Petrographic analysis and microprobe results establish a wide range of primary and secondary features within the Ordovician rocks examined in this study. Cale alkaline to shoshonitic affinities are supported by the variable abundance of primary K-feldspars. Primary mineral phases such as pyroxenes and igneous magnetite provide an indication of fractioning mineral assemblages responsible for igneous trends in magma chemistry. The hydrothermal mineral assemblages documented in these LFB study areas are characteristic of younger Cu-Au Porphyry style mineralisation. As expected, the most pervasive alteration is associated with highly mineralised shoshonitic Ordovician rocks at Ridgeway, and Cadia. the less strongly mineralised calc alkaline Ordovician rocks at Cargo. Copper Ilill and Fairholme. are correspondingly less strongly altered overall. although secondary mineral assemblages are locally abundant. Many varieties of oxides and carbonates are observed at the different study localities. Most of the studied samples conform to igneous chemical trends because they are weakly altered, although post magmatic processes, such as veining, are detectable in certain trends. The K2O enrichment of the studied samples is consistent with subductionmoditied mantle wedge sources. A few effects, such as the high Fe203 contents of some Ridgeway samples, probably reflect porphyry-style hydrothermal alteration processes. Host rocks at the Cadia and Ridgeway are entirely alkalic on the K2O versus SiO2 plot and shoshonitic on the Total Alkalies versus SiO2 plot. Igneous rocks at the other deposits display a range of compositions between low K tholeiites to shoshonites that in some cases reflects multiple igneous suites. The LREE and L1LE enrichments, and HFSE depletions (Nb, Ta and Ti) of the magmas associated with these deposits are characteristics of a subduction-related tectonic setting. They all fall in the volcanic-arc granite and syn-collisional granite field of the Nb-Y tectonic discrimination diagram. Several magma types are identified by differences in the HFSE and REE trends. Differences in the extent and style of magma fractionation are evident in the trace element data. The Ridgeway samples define a wider range of trace element concentrations than the Cadia samples that may indicate a greater extent of fractionation during emplacement of the Ridgeway magmas. Fairholme samples display a high Nh and /If trends that are distinct from the main fields on Zr variation diagrams. Compositional differences between larger Cu-Au deposits, Cadia-Ridgeway and smaller deposits, Copper Ifill, Cargo and Fairholme are evident in terms of Nb-Ta depletion and variation. The smaller deposits show constant Nb/Ta or negative Nb/Ta trends that extend to high Nb. The larger deposits display positive Nb/Ta trends that do not extend to high Nb. This distinction reflects a difference of preferential incorporation of Nb in a mineral phase (magnetite). Comparisons between Cadia-Ridgeway and other shoshonite (altered samples of Bajo de la Alumbrera, Argentina), calc alkaline magmas from New Zealand and rocks from other areas indicate that Nb/Ta is not directly correlated with the shoshonitic classification, K2O vs. SiO2, and that the Cadia-Ridgeway Nb and Ta variation is not the result of alteration. The fact that the weakly altered LFB Capertee shoshonites exhibit a narrow range of Nb and low Nb/Ta suggest the shoshonite trend for the LFB as a whole is a steep one on the Nb/Ta versus Nb plot. The results of this study could provide important information for exploration within the LFB. Only the Cadia and Ridgeway deposits display a wide range of Nb/Ta values and lack the near-horizontal trend seen for other localities associated with smaller deposits. The tectonic evolution of the LFB is a major factor contributing to occurrence of large porphyry Cu-Au deposits. The sequence of important events, however, commences with sub-crustal generation of oxidised magma and finishes with efficient Cu-Au accumulation by hydrothermal processes at favourable structural sites. The increase in Au-Cu deposit size from small (Copper Hill-Cargo) to world class (Cadia-Ridgeway) indicates the importance of magma composition during this process. The most obvious differences between the Cadia-Ridgeway and New Zealand rocks is that the latter are volcanic in origin and associated with an arc-back arc system. Therefore, they did not form in a tectonic regime suitable for the evolution of porphyries and the focussed movement of hydrothermal fluids during dilatant episodes. As a result, they are not linked to mineralisation despite having Nb-Ta and Nb/Ta variations that are typical of the high oxidation states in Au-prospective magmas of the LFB.

A área objeto da presente pesquisa encontra-se na parte centro-oeste de Moçambique, entre os paralelos 16 o e 20 o S e meridianos 33 o e 34 o E, e corresponde ao extremo sul do Cinturão de Moçambique. Inclui a borda leste do Craton do Zimbabwe e encontra-se limitada a leste pelas formações sedimentares Fanerozóicas do Karoo. A região tem uma importância geotectônica fundamental, por se localizar numa junção crítica entre as grandes unidades tectônicas Pan -Africanas dos cinturões de Moçambique e de Zambezi. Embora exista um controle geológico relevante, em virtude dos mapeamentos geológicos detalhados e das informações trazidas nos relatórios do Consórcio GTK, as relações entre as unidades tectônicas são muito complexas e o número de datações que se faziam disponíveis era pequeno e restrito às áreas limítrofes da borda do cráton Arqueano. Em vista disso, o objetivo principal deste trabalho foi o de efetuar um estudo geocronológico robusto, utilizando essencialmente monocristais de zircão, extraídos das rochas regionais, e produzir uma série de determinações de idade U-Pb, pelos métodos LA-ICP-MS e SHRIMP, com a finalidade de definir épocas precisas de cristalização de rochas magmáticas e de recristalização de rochas metamórficas, além de buscar elementos para estimar a proveniência e colocar limites temporais para as unidades metassedimentares. Em adição às datações U-Pb em zircão, foram realizados estudos básicos complementares de petrografia, bem como de datações K -Ar em minerais separados, datações Sm-Nd em granadas, estudos especiais de microssonda analítica para estudos geotermobarométricos, e de geoquímica isotópica de Nd e de Hf como indicadores de ambiente tectônico. As datações efetuadas nas rochas ortoderivadas confirmaram algumas idades obtidas anteriormente pelo Consórcio GTK, próximas de 1050 Ma para os granitóides do Complexo de Báruè e de 850 Ma para os da Suite de Guro. Além disso, datações em zircões detríticos de metassedimentos relacionados com o craton do Zimbabwe confirmaram a idade pelo menos Mesoproterozóica do Grupo Umko ndo, e a idade neoproterozóica do grupo Rushinga. Resultados inesperados foram encontrados para as rochas de alto grau, paragnaisses, granulitos e migmatitos dos Grupos Macossa, Chimoio e Mungari, para as quais as condições do metamorfismo foram estimadas entre 4-6 kbr e 700-800 o C, através de estudo geotermobarométrico. Os zircões detríticos dessas rochas indicaram idades máximas do Neproterozóico, demonstrando aloctonia e proveniência de Leste. Além disso, as idades do metamorfismo dessas unidades, a partir de isócronas Sm-Nd em granadas e datações U-Pb nas bordas metamórficas de cristais de zircão, revelaram-se muito jovens e muitas delas próximas de 500 Ma, já no Cambriano. Além disso, o evento tectono-termal Pan-Africano, entre ca. 500-600 Ma, superposto em toda região de estudo, foi registrado também por idades de resfriamento K-Ar abaixo de 500 Ma. Dos resultados obtidos foi possível estabelecer tentativamente uma história da evolução tectônica da região centro-oeste de Moçambique e considerá-la num contexto continental, como segue: Nos limites leste e norte do cráton do Zimbabwe ocorrem os grupos marginais tectonicamente autóctones de Umkondo (Mesoproterozóico) e Rushinga (Neoproterozóico). Mais para leste, as demais rochas compreendem terrenos alóctones formados por material de idade variada, em grande parte Mesoproterozóica, sotoposto a rochas supracrustais com zircões detríticos do Neoproterozóico (Macossa, Chimoio e Mungari). Tentativamente, duas grandes nappes estão sendo sugeridas, definindo contatos de justaposição tectônica com empurrões para Oeste, em direção ao Craton do Zimbabwe. Uma delas ao norte, denominada Nappe de Mungari, seria correlacionável com as unidades tectônicas da parte NW de Moçambique, com idades principalmente Mesoproterozóicas. A segunda, denominada Nappe Macossa-Chimoio, seria correlacionável com o Bloco de Nampula, que ocorre ao sul do Lineamento do Lúrio, no NE de Moçambique. A zona de contato tectônico entre as duas nappes e as rochas Arqueanas do craton, com direção aproximada N-S, representa a provável sutura principal do Cinturão de Moçambique na região estudada. / The study area is located in the central-western part of Mozambique, between 16 o - 20 o S latitude and 33 o - 34 o E longitude, and corresponds to the southernmost part of the Mozambique Belt. It includes the eastern border of the Zimbabwe Craton and it is limited towards the East by the Phanerozoic formations of the Karoo System. The region is fundamentally important for the African tectonic context, because it belongs to the critical junction among the very large Pan-African units of the Mozambique and Zambezi belts. Although a relevant geological control is available, due to the regional mapping done by the GTK Consortium, the tectonic relations within the area are complex, and the geochronological control was insufficient and restricted to the vicinity of the cratonic border. Because of this, the main objective of this work was to carry out a comprehensible and robust geochronological study, using zircon crystals and producing a series of U-Pb dates, by means of LA-ICP-MS or SHRIMP methods, in order to establish some precise magmatic crystallization or metamorphic recrystallization ages, as well as to estimate provenance and maximum ages for the meta-sedimentary units. In addition, some K-Ar ages on micas and some Sm-Nd ages on garnets were obtained, and a special Nd and Hf isotopic, and a few geothermobarometric studies were also made as indicators of the tectonic envi ronment. Some ages of orthogneisses confirmed some previously known results obtained by the GTK Consortium, near 1050 Ma for the granitoids of the Barue Complex and 850 Ma for those of the Guro Suite. Moreover, ages of detrital zircons of meta-sediments related to the Zimbabwe Craton confirmed at least a Mesoproterozoic age for the Umkondo Group and a Neoproterozoic age for the Rushinga Group. Unexpected ages were found for the high-grade rocks, paragneisses, granulites and migmatites of the Macossa, Chimoio and Mungari Groups, for which the P-T conditions were estimated between 4 - 6 kbr and 700 - 800 o C. Detrital zircons from these rocks indicated Neoproterozoic maximum ages of deposition, demonstrating allochthony and provenance from the East. Moreover, from U-Pb dating of zircon overgrowths, and Sm-Nd garnet-whole rock isochron dates, their age of metamorphism was found to be very young, about 500 Ma, already in the Cambrian. Finally, the Pan-African tectono-thermal event, which affected the entire area, yielded still younger K-Ar cooling ages, below 500 Ma. From the geochronological context, it was possible to make a preliminary tentative suggestion for the tectonic history of the central-western region of Mozambique, as follows: At the northern and western borders of the Zimbabwe Craton, the marginal sequences of Umkondo (Mesoproterozoic) and Rushinga (Neoproterozoic) occur. Towards the east, allochthonous terrains which include variable material of mainly Mesoproterozoic age are found, overlain by supracrustal rocks with Neoproterozoic detrital zircons of the Macossa, Chimoio and Mungari Groups. Two large nappes are envisaged, with tectonic juxtaposition towards the Zimbabwe Craton. The Mungari Nappe, in the north, would correlate with the tectonic units encountered in the NW portion of Mozambique. The Macossa-Chimoio Nappe, in the south, would correlate with the Nampula Block, which occurs to the south of the Lurio Belt in the NE portion of Mozambique. The tectonic contact between each one of the nappes a nd the Zimbabwe Craton is here considered as the probable principal suture of the Mozambique Belt in the studied region.

Comparisons are drawn of the effects of the Alpine orogeny on Mesozoic sediments and the underlying Hercynian massif basement rocks at the SW end of the Aar Massif. The study has also brought a clearer understanding of the pre-Permian geological history of the massif. The main lithological units in basement and cover are briefly described, and their mapping on 1 : 10,000 scale has shown large and medium scale structures. Deformation sequences have been established for the basement (D1b to D6b) and for the cover (D1c to D3c) and there is a clear correlation of Alpine st ructures (D1c to D3c equivalent to D4b to D6b). In the basement the late-Hercynian deformation of Upper Carboniferous metasediments is recognizable. These sediments were deposited on the older Altkristallin gneiss complex which had previously suffered the main Hercynian deformation and metamorphism. The trend of Alpine structures is subparallel to the trend of late-Hercynian structures, producing difficulties in discernment, and consolidating the regional NE-SW trend of basement structures. Alpine deformation was fairly simple, comprising one main deformation, followed by two weak phases producing only localized small-scale structures. Quantitative strain analysis for the main Alpine deformation investigates local situations and compares different types of strain marker. Incremental strains are recorded in curved pressure shadow quartz fibres in both basement and cover. These indicate early extension directions steeply plunging SE, later rotating through gentle plunge E, to subhorizontal NE and gentle plunge SW. Deformed Carboniferous pebbles, and cover ooids, intraclasts, faecal pellets, and ammonites have been analyzed, but all except faecal pellets suffer from the presence of initial preferred orientations and ductility contrasts with their matrix materials. Illite crystallinity studies show that the pelitic rocks investigated (basement and cover) reached a degree of Alpine metamorphism just inside low-grade as defined by WINKLER (1974) though the presence of graphite may have allowed this grade to be attained at relatively low temperatures. Further studies show this to have been a Barrovian-type syntectonic metamorphism. Generally similar finite Alpine deformation of basement and cover may be inferred from similar development of structures and similar quantitative strain estimates, but the very varied compositions and textures of rocks will have required somewhat different deformation mechanisms, and varied strain distribution.

Architecture exists where the world of ideas meets the world of materials. From its general scheme all the way to the joinery of the floorboards, the proposed building should serve a guiding idea. Otherwise, architecture is not architecture but simply functional construction. Theater exists within a similar framework, whereby the actor's work is a mundane manifestation of the elements extracted from the world of ideas, making it the perfect conduit to examine the reconciliation of these oppositions: the mundane and the ethereal, the quotidian and the philosophical, the earth and the heavens… By examining the dichotomous relationship between the tectonic and the stereotomic, the project proposed within these pages provides for a spatial experience that will aid its audience in shedding the entrapments of their daily lives as they proceed towards the auditorium to watch a play. As they move through the building, they will walk through six-foot thick brick walls of heavy stereotomy towards a lighter tectonic environment.  As they approach the architectonic auditorium, the horizon, which they could initially only see through small openings within the massive brick walls, becomes more prominent, reminding them of the spherical nature of our world and the existence of an entire universe outside of our frame of reference - a phenomenon which is symbolic of the world of ideas that provides us with theater and architecture. / Master of Architecture

We examine the transition between extension and strike-s lip in the San Felipe Hills, western Salton Trough, southern California using new and compiled geologic mapping, measured stratigraphic sections, magnetostratigraphy, and structural analysis. A 625 m measured section describes the Borrego, Ocotillo , and Brawley formations in the SE San Felipe Hills and constrains a regional disconformity and correlative angular unconformity at ~ 1 Ma. Sedimentation rates for the Brawley Formation above the disconformity range from 1.0 to 1.2 mm/yr, palcoflow was to the ENE. The Brawley Formation consists of three interbeddcd lithofac ics; (I) fluvial and fluvio-d eltaic, (2) lacustrinc, (3) and eolian depo sits. Changes in facies, provenance , and paleoflow , with deposition of Ocotillo and Brawley formations record onset and evolution of cross cutting strike- slip faults other than the San Jacinto fault zone in the western Salton Trough at ~ 1 Ma. Since deposition of the Brawley Formation (~ 0.5 Ma), rocks of the San Felipe hills have been uplifted and complexly deformed. new data suggest that strands of the Clark fault persist SE of its previously mapped termination, transferring slip into folded rocks in the central and southern San Felipe Hills. Equivalent right lateral slip form folding for the Clark fault in the San Felipe Hills is 5.6 km. Minimum slip rates for the Clark strand are between 9 and 11 mm/year. Since ~ 0.5 Ma, evolving strands of the San Jacinto fault zone, including the Coyote Creek and Clark faults, have deformed rocks of the San Felipe Hills.