The western margin of South America between 30ºS and 36ºS is seismically active. While the largest magnitude earthquakes are the interplate subduction zone events, the historically most devastating earthquakes have been the moderate-to-large magnitude earthquakes with depths < 35 km in the Andean back-arc. This region is characterized by accreted terranes later reactivated during Mesozoic extensional processes. Crustal seismicity in the back-arc is related to the thin-skinned Precordillera (PC) fold-thrust belt and the thick-skinned Sierras Pampeanas (SP) basement-cored uplifts overlying the flat slab segment. South of 33ºS, the active volcanic arc above the normally dipping subducted plate is also seismically active at crustal depths. In this study we combined historical and regional broadband seismic data to characterize moderate-to-large earthquakes and the crustal structure in this region. We have digitized and modeled teleseismic records of the 1944 and 1952 San Juan, Argentina PC earthquakes. Both events have shallow source depths, short duration of the source time functions with a thrusting focal solution for the 1944 (Mw 7.0) earthquake and a major strike-slip component in the 1952 (Mw 6.8) earthquake solution. By modeling regional broadband waveforms collected during the CHile-ARgentina Geophysical Experiment (CHARGE) during 2000 and 2002 we constrained the seismic moment tensor and improved focal depths for 27 crustal (3.5 < Mw < 5.1) earthquakes. We found predominantly thrust-fault focal mechanisms and focal depths of 10-26 km for earthquakes over the flat slab region; the eastern SP and active arc have earthquakes with strike-slip focal mechanisms and shallower depths. We used these same earthquakes to determine the crustal structure using raypaths that sample different geologic terranes. Our results indicate high Vp, low Vs for the northern Cordillera, PC and western SP thicker crust; low Vp, low Vs and a thinner crust beneath the arc (south of 33°S) consistent with a mafic composition and partial melt. The eastern SP basement shows low Vp, low Vs and thinner crust consistent with a more quartz-rich composition. These differences have an important control on the present day Andean earthquake deformation and the high seismic hazard posed in this region.

No description available.

Numerosos terrenos pré-cambrianos de origem enigmática são individualizados nas regiões do vale e serrania do Rio Ribeira e Planalto Alto Turvo (SP, PR), com base em histórias evolutivas contrastantes e diferentes padrões litotectônicos, metamórficos e estruturais. Esses terrenos suspeitos formam três grandes terrenos compostos justapostos no final do Ciclo Brasiliano: Terreno Apiaí, Terreno Curitiba e Terreno Luís Alves. A evolução geotectônica de uma área que abrange estes três terrenos compostos foi investigada por meio da integração de análises petrológicas, microestruturais e estruturais, apoiadas com trabalhos de mapeamento geológico e compilação e integração de dados geocronológicos disponíveis. Os estudos foram concentrados em unidades geológicas representativas de cada um dos três terrenos compostos. Análises petrológicas, estimativas geotermobarométricas e quantificações de trajetórias PT mostram que os terrenos estudados apresentam assinaturas metamórficas contrastantes, refletindo ambientes geotectônicos distintos. O Grupo Votuverava e a Seqüência Serra das Andorinhas (Terreno Apiaí) passaram por metamorfismo barroviano com caminhamento P-T horário sob pressões e temperaturas máximas ao redor de 8 kbar e 550-650ºC. Parte do Complexo Turvo-Cajati (Terreno Curitiba) apresenta gradiente metamórfico acima do barroviano, com pico metamórfico (650-800ºC) sob pressões relativamente altas (9-12 kbar). Parte desta unidade passou por uma trajetória horária com aquecimento isobárico até atingir o pico térmico, enquanto algumas rochas passaram por descompressão praticamente isotérmica. Datações químicas em monazita indicam que o pico metamórfico do Complexo Turvo-Cajati ocorreu entre 590 e 575 Ma, sendo consideravelmente posterior ao clímax metamórfico das unidades do Terreno Apiaí (>= 600-620 Ma). Trajetórias P-T estimadas para o Complexo Atuba (Terreno Curitiba) sugerem um caminhamento retrógrado com resfriamento praticamente isobárico de 750ºC até um reequilíbrio ao redor de 650-700ºC e 6-7 kbar; a união dos dados petrológicos, microestruturais e geocronológicos sugere que o pico metamórfico teria ocorrido no Paleoproterozóico e o reequilíbrio no Ediacarano. A Suíte Alto Turvo (Terreno Luís Alves) compreende granulitos máficos a intermediários formados no Paleoproterozóico sob temperaturas mínimas ao redor de 850ºC, parcialmente reequilibrados em condições de fácies xisto verde ainda neste período e marginalmente re-metamorfizados em condições de fácies xisto verde a anfibolito no Ediacarano, seguindo uma trajetória horária com pico metamórfico ao redor de 650ºC e 6 kbar. Os padrões estruturais do Terreno Curitiba na área estudada estão associados a uma tectônica de cavalgamentos para oeste e nappismo tardios em relação ao Ciclo Brasiliano e concomitantes com a atuação do sistema transcorrente destral regional na Faixa Ribeira. Os dados multidisciplinares disponíveis indicam que as relações espaciais atualmente observadas para os terrenos estudados não decorrem de relações genéticas e geográficas pretéritas. Os dados convergem para uma evolução geotectônica onde a acresção de diferentes terrenos suspeitos e, em alguns casos, exóticos teria ocorrido em posições diferentes das atualmente observadas, sendo que a justaposição final teria sido controlada por dispersão lateral ao longo das grandes zonas de cisalhamento transcorrentes em períodos tardi- a pós-metamórficos. / Numerous Precambrian terranes of enigmatic origin are recognized in the Ribeira Valley and Alto Turvo Plateau regions (Southeastern Brazil), based on contrasting evolutive histories and distinct lithotectonic, metamorphic and structural patterns. These suspect terranes form three major composite terranes juxtaposed during the late Brasiliano Cycle: Apiaí Terrane, Curitiba Terrane and Luís Alves Terrane. The geotectonic evolution of an area that covers these three composite units was investigated by the integration of petrological, microstructural and structural analysis supported by geological mapping and compilation and integration of available geochronological data. The studies were concentrated on representative geological units from the three composite terranes. Petrological analysis, geothermobarometric estimatives and P-T path quantifications show that the studied terranes exhibit contrasting metamorphic signatures, refleting distinct geotectonic environments. The Votuverava Group and the Serra das Andorinhas Sequence (Apiaí Terrane) underwent barrovian metamorphism with clockwise P-T paths under maximum pressures and temperatures at around of 8 kbar and 550-650ºC. A part of the Turvo-Cajati Complex (Curitiba Terrane) shows a metamorphic field gradient above the barrovian type, with metamorphic peak (650-800ºC) under relatively high pressures (9-12 kbar). A part of this unit underwent a clockwise path with isobaric heating until to reach the thermal peak, while some rocks underwent a near isothermal descompression. Chemical dating of monazite indicate that the metamorphic peak of the Turvo-Cajati Complex occurred between 590 and 575 Ma, a period significantly younger than the metamorphic climax of the Apiaí Terrane units (>= 600-620 Ma). P-T paths from rocks of the Atuba Complex (Curitiba Terrane) suggest a retrograde path following near isobaric cooling from 750ºC to a reequilibration at around of 650-700ºC and 6-7 kbar; the integration of petrological, microstructural and geochronological data suggests that the metamorphic peak would have occurred during the Paleoproterozoic and the metamorphic reequilibration during the Ediacaran. The Alto Turvo Suite (Luís Alves Terrane) comprises mafic and intermediate granulites formed in the Paleoproterozoic under minimum temperatures at about 850ºC, partially reequilibrated under greenschist facies conditions yet in the same period and marginally remetamorphosed from greenschist to amphibolite facies conditions during the Ediacaran, following a clockwise path with metamorphic peak at around of 650ºC and 6 kbar. The structural patterns of the Curitiba Terrane in the studied area are related to a thrust nappe tectonics with westward movement late in relation to the Brasiliano Cycle and concomitant with the activation of the regional dextral transcurrent system in the Ribeira Belt. The available multidisciplinary data indicates that the present spatial relationships between the studied terranes do not imply in previous genetic and geographic relations. The data suggest a geotectonic evolution where the accretion of distinct suspect terranes, and in some cases exotic terranes, would have occurred in different positions in relation to the present array, and the final terrane juxtaposition would have been controlled by lateral dispersion along the major transcurrent shear zones during late- to post-metamorphic periods.

Numerosos terrenos pré-cambrianos de origem enigmática são individualizados nas regiões do vale e serrania do Rio Ribeira e Planalto Alto Turvo (SP, PR), com base em histórias evolutivas contrastantes e diferentes padrões litotectônicos, metamórficos e estruturais. Esses terrenos suspeitos formam três grandes terrenos compostos justapostos no final do Ciclo Brasiliano: Terreno Apiaí, Terreno Curitiba e Terreno Luís Alves. A evolução geotectônica de uma área que abrange estes três terrenos compostos foi investigada por meio da integração de análises petrológicas, microestruturais e estruturais, apoiadas com trabalhos de mapeamento geológico e compilação e integração de dados geocronológicos disponíveis. Os estudos foram concentrados em unidades geológicas representativas de cada um dos três terrenos compostos. Análises petrológicas, estimativas geotermobarométricas e quantificações de trajetórias PT mostram que os terrenos estudados apresentam assinaturas metamórficas contrastantes, refletindo ambientes geotectônicos distintos. O Grupo Votuverava e a Seqüência Serra das Andorinhas (Terreno Apiaí) passaram por metamorfismo barroviano com caminhamento P-T horário sob pressões e temperaturas máximas ao redor de 8 kbar e 550-650ºC. Parte do Complexo Turvo-Cajati (Terreno Curitiba) apresenta gradiente metamórfico acima do barroviano, com pico metamórfico (650-800ºC) sob pressões relativamente altas (9-12 kbar). Parte desta unidade passou por uma trajetória horária com aquecimento isobárico até atingir o pico térmico, enquanto algumas rochas passaram por descompressão praticamente isotérmica. Datações químicas em monazita indicam que o pico metamórfico do Complexo Turvo-Cajati ocorreu entre 590 e 575 Ma, sendo consideravelmente posterior ao clímax metamórfico das unidades do Terreno Apiaí (>= 600-620 Ma). Trajetórias P-T estimadas para o Complexo Atuba (Terreno Curitiba) sugerem um caminhamento retrógrado com resfriamento praticamente isobárico de 750ºC até um reequilíbrio ao redor de 650-700ºC e 6-7 kbar; a união dos dados petrológicos, microestruturais e geocronológicos sugere que o pico metamórfico teria ocorrido no Paleoproterozóico e o reequilíbrio no Ediacarano. A Suíte Alto Turvo (Terreno Luís Alves) compreende granulitos máficos a intermediários formados no Paleoproterozóico sob temperaturas mínimas ao redor de 850ºC, parcialmente reequilibrados em condições de fácies xisto verde ainda neste período e marginalmente re-metamorfizados em condições de fácies xisto verde a anfibolito no Ediacarano, seguindo uma trajetória horária com pico metamórfico ao redor de 650ºC e 6 kbar. Os padrões estruturais do Terreno Curitiba na área estudada estão associados a uma tectônica de cavalgamentos para oeste e nappismo tardios em relação ao Ciclo Brasiliano e concomitantes com a atuação do sistema transcorrente destral regional na Faixa Ribeira. Os dados multidisciplinares disponíveis indicam que as relações espaciais atualmente observadas para os terrenos estudados não decorrem de relações genéticas e geográficas pretéritas. Os dados convergem para uma evolução geotectônica onde a acresção de diferentes terrenos suspeitos e, em alguns casos, exóticos teria ocorrido em posições diferentes das atualmente observadas, sendo que a justaposição final teria sido controlada por dispersão lateral ao longo das grandes zonas de cisalhamento transcorrentes em períodos tardi- a pós-metamórficos. / Numerous Precambrian terranes of enigmatic origin are recognized in the Ribeira Valley and Alto Turvo Plateau regions (Southeastern Brazil), based on contrasting evolutive histories and distinct lithotectonic, metamorphic and structural patterns. These suspect terranes form three major composite terranes juxtaposed during the late Brasiliano Cycle: Apiaí Terrane, Curitiba Terrane and Luís Alves Terrane. The geotectonic evolution of an area that covers these three composite units was investigated by the integration of petrological, microstructural and structural analysis supported by geological mapping and compilation and integration of available geochronological data. The studies were concentrated on representative geological units from the three composite terranes. Petrological analysis, geothermobarometric estimatives and P-T path quantifications show that the studied terranes exhibit contrasting metamorphic signatures, refleting distinct geotectonic environments. The Votuverava Group and the Serra das Andorinhas Sequence (Apiaí Terrane) underwent barrovian metamorphism with clockwise P-T paths under maximum pressures and temperatures at around of 8 kbar and 550-650ºC. A part of the Turvo-Cajati Complex (Curitiba Terrane) shows a metamorphic field gradient above the barrovian type, with metamorphic peak (650-800ºC) under relatively high pressures (9-12 kbar). A part of this unit underwent a clockwise path with isobaric heating until to reach the thermal peak, while some rocks underwent a near isothermal descompression. Chemical dating of monazite indicate that the metamorphic peak of the Turvo-Cajati Complex occurred between 590 and 575 Ma, a period significantly younger than the metamorphic climax of the Apiaí Terrane units (>= 600-620 Ma). P-T paths from rocks of the Atuba Complex (Curitiba Terrane) suggest a retrograde path following near isobaric cooling from 750ºC to a reequilibration at around of 650-700ºC and 6-7 kbar; the integration of petrological, microstructural and geochronological data suggests that the metamorphic peak would have occurred during the Paleoproterozoic and the metamorphic reequilibration during the Ediacaran. The Alto Turvo Suite (Luís Alves Terrane) comprises mafic and intermediate granulites formed in the Paleoproterozoic under minimum temperatures at about 850ºC, partially reequilibrated under greenschist facies conditions yet in the same period and marginally remetamorphosed from greenschist to amphibolite facies conditions during the Ediacaran, following a clockwise path with metamorphic peak at around of 650ºC and 6 kbar. The structural patterns of the Curitiba Terrane in the studied area are related to a thrust nappe tectonics with westward movement late in relation to the Brasiliano Cycle and concomitant with the activation of the regional dextral transcurrent system in the Ribeira Belt. The available multidisciplinary data indicates that the present spatial relationships between the studied terranes do not imply in previous genetic and geographic relations. The data suggest a geotectonic evolution where the accretion of distinct suspect terranes, and in some cases exotic terranes, would have occurred in different positions in relation to the present array, and the final terrane juxtaposition would have been controlled by lateral dispersion along the major transcurrent shear zones during late- to post-metamorphic periods.

L’analyse des données magnétiques et gravimétriques de la partie nord de la ceinture trans-saharienne a permis de proposer une carte de compartimentalisation géophysique et rhéologique des structures crustales et de visualiser les terranes du bouclier Touareg sur plus de 1000 km au nord, sous les bassins sédimentaires sahariens et plusieurs aspects ont pu être discutés. Un pseudo réseau de quatre générations successives de paléovallées et incisions a été mis en évidence dans la succession glaciaire de l’Ordovicien supérieur au NE du bassin d’Illizi sur la base des données sismiques de haute résolution. Pour chaque incision, la géométrie ainsi que les faciès sismiques de leur remplissage ont été déterminés. Un parallélisme entre la distribution de certaines paléovallées et l'orientation des anomalies magnétiques a été observé, mais aucune relation stratigraphique entre ces structures n'a été identifiée sur les sections sismiques. Un réseau complexe de vallées tunnel glaciaires du Pléistocène en mer du Nord a été identifié sur la base de données aéromagnétiques à haute résolution. Une analyse magnétique détaillée a été réalisée en combinant plusieurs méthodes magnétiques. A la fin, des modèles magnétiques synthétiques 2D ont été calculés pour les incisions ordoviciennes, appliqué pour le cas du bassin d’Illizi. Les résultats obtenus montrent que leur détection magnétique est possible, si toutes fois un levé magnétique à haute résolution serait disponible. / The magnetic and gravimetric data analysis of the northern part of the trans-saharan belt allowed to propose a geophysical and rheological compartmentalization map of its crustal structures and to visualize the Tuareg shield terranes over 1000 km to the north, under the saharan sedimentary basins and several aspects have been discussed. A pseudo network of four successive generations of paleovalleys and incisions has been identified on the upper Ordovician glacial succession in the north-eastern part of the Illizi basin on the basis of high-resolution seismic data. For each incision, the geometry and seismic facies of their filling have been determined. Parallelism between the distribution of some paleovalleys and magnetic anomaly orientations has been observed, but no stratigraphic relationship between them has been identified on seismic sections. A complex network of Pleistocene glacial tunnel valleys in the North Sea has been identified on the basis of high-resolution aeromagnetic data. A detailed magnetic analysis was performed by combining several magnetic methods. Finally, 2D synthetic magnetic models were calculated for Ordovician incisions, applied in the case of the Illizi basin. The results obtained show that their magnetic detection is possible, if a high-resolution magnetic survey would still be available.

Non-indigenous species have become a global issue of increasing importance in recent years, with many causing significant environmental and economic damage. Identifying locations vulnerable to invasion allows for focus of management efforts towards prevention of invasions at those locations. In order to determine whether constructed water bodies, such as reservoirs, ornamental lakes or retired mines, are more easily invaded environments than natural water bodies, owing to decreased biotic resistance, the distributions of native and non-indigenous freshwater calanoid copepod species in the North Island were examined. Calanoid copepods in ports and other coastal environments were also examined, in order to determine whether ports are more frequently invaded owing to increased propagule supplies from visiting ships and other sources. The distributions of the native freshwater calanoid copepod species Boeckella hamata, B. propinqua, B. delicata and B. tanea are confined in the North Island of New Zealand to specific technostratigraphic terranes when natural waters only are examined, and as such each species can be considered to have a native range. The recently colonised calanoid copepod species Boeckella minuta (6 locations), Skistodiaptomus pallidus (3 locations) and Sinodiaptomus valkanovi (2 locations) are to date confined to constructed water bodies. Boeckella symmetrica (2 locations) may be confined to constructed water bodies, but the status of one location is unclear. Boeckella triarticulata, a species common in the South Island, is known only from a single farm dam in the North Island. The native species Boeckella hamata, B. propinqua and B. delicata were found to occur in constructed waters, but only B. propinqua was found in constructed water bodies outside their natural ranges (9 locations). Calamoecia lucasi is found in lakes throughout most of the North Island, and is not confined to any one terrane. My results indicate that constructed water bodies are more easily invaded by non-indigenous species than natural water bodies, represents a potential pathway for future invaders to establish, and provides locations for species to spread. In order to determine whether recently established freshwater calanoid copepod species have the potential to spread from their present habitats into other water bodies, the prosomal lengths of non-indigenous calanoid copepod species were measured and compared with those for native species. The results suggest that dietary overlap should prevent the non-indigenous species present to date from spreading into any water bodies with established Boeckella populations, although Sinodiaptomus valkanovi and Boeckella triarticulata could potentially spread to lakes containing only Calamoecia lucasi. Data on the co-occurrences of native freshwater calanoid copepod species support the theory of dietary exclusion, as Boeckella species have not been found to coexist. In order to test whether New Zealand marine environments have been invaded by non-indigenous calanoid copepods, and whether ports have been more regularly invaded than non-port areas, calanoid copepods were sampled from various coastal locations around the North Island. With the possible exception of Sulcanus conflictus, no non-indigenous species were found, indicating that non-indigenous marine calanoid copepod species are not establishing in New Zealand despite a history of invasion elsewhere.

<p dir="ltr">The Intermontane terranes represent one of the largest composite accreted terranes that built the northern Cordillera. To better understand the interactions between the continental margin of Laurentia and the Intermontane terranes, this study analyzes twelve detrital zircon samples (n=3232) from a Neoproterozoic (?) to Cretaceous metasedimentary stratigraphic section exposed in central Alaska. Distinct detrital zircon populations have been identified and are interpreted to represent four stages in the geologic development of this part of western North America. Stage 1 extends from the Neoproterozoic (?) to the Early Paleozoic, and is characterized by Proterozoic and Archean detrital zircon populations that correlate with Laurentian sources of sediment. We interpret Stage 1 to represent deposition along the northwestern continental margin of Laurentia. Stage 2 extends from the Silurian (?) to the Devonian and is characterized by a dominant Devonian and Silurian detrital zircon population. We interpret Stage 2 to have been deposited in a backarc basin coeval with active volcanism as the Yukon-Tanana terrane was rifted away from the Laurentian continental margin as the Slide Mountain Ocean opened. Stage 3 extends from the Mississippian to the Jurassic and records a shift back to sediment sources with abundant Proterozoic and Archean zircon. We interpret this stage to represent deposition of Laurentian detritus along the eastern margin of the Slide Mountain Ocean basin. Stage 4 is represented by the Lower Cretaceous strata of the Manley basin that contain one major Late Triassic to Early Jurassic detrital zircon population. We interpret this population to be sourced from the syn-collisional and post-collisional Late Triassic to Early Jurassic plutons and related sedimentary basins of the Intermontane terranes that were exhumed and eroded during the closure of the Slide Mountain Ocean and the subsequent collision with the Laurentian continental margin. We interpret the Manley basin as a syn- to post-collisional extensional basin associated with regional detachment faults that formed because of crustal thickening in the collisional zone. From a regional perspective, an extensive clastic wedge prograded northward away from the zone of crustal thickening and can be identified in a series of Mesozoic sedimentary basins that are discontinuously exposed over 1500 km in southern Alaska. Results of our study better delineate the tectonic processes that set the framework for the construction of the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic Cordilleran orogen.</p>