The Tahorakuri Formation was introduced as a stratigraphic term to simplify the sometimes complex and inconsistent naming conventions in subsurface deposits within the geothermal fields of the central Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ). It consists of all volcaniclastic and sedimentary deposits between the ~350 ka Whakamaru-group ignimbrites and the greywacke basement that cannot be correlated with known ignimbrites. As such, it represents a long period in which relatively little is known about the volcano-tectonic history of the TVZ. The thesis focuses on the Tahorakuri Formation at Ngatamariki and Rotokawa geothermal fields and the implications for the volcano-tectonic evolution of the TVZ. Drill cuttings from wells NM5 and NM6 are re-examined, and new U-Pb zircon dates from the Tahorakuri Formation are presented and implications discussed. Potassium feldspars identified in the drill cuttings from NM5 were examined by Raman spectroscopy and electron microprobe (EMP) analysis. Although petrographically many of the feldspars appear similar to sanidine, a primary volcanic mineral phase, this showed them to be adularia which formed during hydrothermal alteration. Raman spectroscopy was found to be ideal for analysing a large number of grains quickly, with the spectral peak at ~140 cm⁻¹ being particularly useful for identifying adularia as it is absent in sanidine. EMP analysis was found to be somewhat slower, but definitively identified the feldspars as adularia, with typical potassium-rich compositions of Or₉₄-Or₉₉. U-Pb dating shows that the Tahorakuri Formation formed over a very long time, with pyroclastic deposits ranging from 1.89 - 0.70 Ma. This was followed by a period with little or no explosive volcanism until ~0.35 Ma during which sediments were deposited at Ngatamariki. The periods at ~1.9 Ma and ~0.9 Ma were particularly active phases of pyroclastic deposition, with the second phase likely correlating with the Akatarewa ignimbrite. The oldest deposits overlie a large andesitic composite cone volcano. Significant subsidence of the andesite must have preceded emplacement of the silicic deposits, indicating that rifting within the central TVZ may have started earlier than previously thought. While the origin of the deposits is uncertain, the distribution of the oldest deposits outcropping at the surface, as well as the likely early initiation of rifting, would suggest a source within the TVZ is likely.

This thesis evaluates the nature, provenance, geometry and morphology of incised valley fills to test assumptions made by valley models using ancient examples from well exposed outcrops, in the late Turonian Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale Formation in southeastern Utah. The relevance of this work will have particular significance to long wavelength cycles of fluvial landscapes and valley morphology, non-marine reservoir characterization and significant implications for non-marine response to high frequency allogenic cycles such as climate change and changes in relative sea-level. This study illustrates the stratigraphic complexity of valley fill deposits at three levels of spatial resolution. At channel scale within the lower backwater, facies architecture and paleohydraulic analysis are used to predict the degree of shale drape coverage of point bars in a tidally-influenced incised channel. At channel belt scale the study documents a tidally incised, mudstone prone trunk-tributary valley fill and overlying highstand fluvial succession within a stratigraphic framework of fluvial aggragation cycles. 3D photogrammetry models and a high resolution GPS survey are used to restore the morphology of a trunk-tributary valley floor, revealing a surface of tidal ravinement and tidal drainage morphology. At a regional scale, this study radically revises the paleogeographic mapping of the Ferron trunk system, spanning over 1,600 km2. Provenance analysis reveals Ferron Notom trunk valleys were filled at times by sediment from the Mogollon Highlands of Arizona to the southwest, and alternately by sediment from the Sevier Thrust Front to the northwest. Evidence shows the Ferron trunk rivers, previously hypothesized to be an avulsive axial drainage, to be more analogous to Quaternary examples. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire ont pour but de mieux définir et quantifier lesprocessus d’érosion actuels en domaine glaciaire et proglaciaire. Le Glacier des Bossons,situé dans le massif du Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie, France), est un bon exemple de systèmenaturel non anthropisé permettant d’étudier cette thématique. Il repose sur deux lithologiesprincipales (le granite du Mont-Blanc et le socle métamorphique) et cette singularitépermettra de déterminer l’origine des sédiments glaciaires. Afin de comprendre lesmécanismes d’érosion mécanique et de transport particulaires en domaine glaciaire, lessédiments ont été prélevés à la surface du glacier, sous le glacier et dans les torrents sousglaciaires.L’étude des distributions granulométriques et des provenances des sédiments a étéeffectuée par une analyse lithologique à macro-échelle (à l’oeil nu) et géochimique à microéchelle(datation U-Pb sur zircons). Elles ont permis de préciser les caractéristiques del’érosion et du transport glaciaire. (1) la charge supra-glaciaire issue de l’érosion des versantsrocheux est essentiellement composée de sédiments grossiers et ne se mélange pas ou peu à lacharge sous-glaciaire, excepté au niveau de la langue terminale ; (2) les vitesses d’érosionsous-glaciaire ne sont pas homogènes, l’érosion sous la glace tempérée (0,4-0,8mm.an-1) estau moins seize fois supérieure à celle sous la glace froide (0,025-0,05mm.an-1) ; (3) lessédiments sous-glaciaires contiennent une fraction silteuse et sableuse résultant des processusd’abrasion et de crushing qui est évacuée par les torrents sous-glaciaires. L’acquisition hauterésolutiontemporelle de données hydro-sédimentaires durant la saison de fonte entre le 5 Maiet le 17 Septembre 2010 a permis de définir le comportement saisonnier des fluxhydrologiques et sédimentaires. La majeure partie des flux détritiques est concentrée sur lasaison de fonte, et une quantification de la quantité de sédiments exportés par le torrent desBossons complétée par une mesure régulière de l’évolution de la topographie du systèmefluvio-glaciaire permet d’effectuer un bilan global de l’érosion des domaines glaciaires etproglaciaires. Au cours de l’année 2010, près de 3000 tonnes de sédiments ont été érodés dont430 tonnes se sont déposeés sur le plan des eaux. Grâce à une analyse de l’évolution desconcentrations de matières en suspension en entrée et en sortie de la plaine alluviale fluvioglaciairedu torrent des Bossons, les composantes glaciaires et non-glaciaires de l’érosion ontpu être découplées. L’érosion des moraines dénudées encadrant le plan des eaux au cours desévénements orageux est responsable au minimum de 59% du flux de sédiments transporté parle torrent des Bossons, l’érosion glaciaire (41% du flux) est donc relativement moins efficace.L’évolution à long terme des systèmes glaciaires en période de réchauffement climatiquemontrerait donc une érosion soutenue des environnements proglaciaires (versants et moraines)récemment libéré des glaces et de ce fait une intensification des flux détritiques. Le glacierdes Bossons protège le sommet du Mont-Blanc, l’érosion différentielle entre les zones sous laglace et non-glaciaires pourrait mener à un accroissement de la différence d’altitude entre lesvallées et les sommets. / The study presented in this PhD memory aim at better define and quantify the present timeerosion processes in glacial and proglacial domain. The Glacier des Bossons, situated in theMont-Blanc massif (Haute-Savoie, France), is a good example of a natural and nonanthropizedsystem which allows us to study this topic. This glacier lies on two mainlithologies (the Mont-Blanc granite and the metamorphic bedrock) and this peculiarity is usedto determine the origin of the glacial sediments. The sediments were sampled at the glaciersurface and at the glacier sole and also in the subglacial streams in order to understand themechanisms of mechanical erosion and particle transportation in glacial domain. The study ofthe granulometric distribution and the origin of the sediments were performed by a lithologicanalysis at macro-scale (naked-eye) and a geochemical analysis at micro-scale (U-Pb datingof zircons). These analyses allowed specifying the characteristics of glacial erosion andtransport. (1) the supraglacial sediments derived from the erosion of the rocky valley sides aremainly coarse and the glacial transport does not mix these clasts with those derived from thesub-glacial erosion, except in the lower tongue; (2) the sub-glacial erosion rates areinhomogeneous, erosion under the temperate glacier (0,4-0,8mm.an-1) is at least sixteen timesmore efficient than the erosion under the cold glacier (0,025-0,05mm.an-1); (3) the sub-glacialsediments contain a silty and sandy fraction, resulting from processes of abrasion andcrushing, which is evacuated by sub-glacial streams. The high-resolution temporal acquisitionof hydro-sedimentary data during the 2010 melt season, between the May 5th and theSeptember 17th, allowed defining the seasonal behavior of the hydrologic and sedimentaryfluxes. The sediment exportation occurs mainly during the melt season therefore, quantify thesediment fluxes in the Bossons stream and measure regularly the topographic evolution of thefluvio-glacial system allows to perform a sedimentary balance of the erosion of glacial andnon-glacial domains. During the year 2010, about 3000 tons of sediments were eroded with430 tons settled on the fluvio-glacial system. By analyzing the evolution of suspendedparticulate matter concentrations in the Bossons stream upstream and downstream the fluvioglacialsystem, the part of glacial erosion and non-glacial denudation in the sedimentarybalance could be proportioned. The erosion during the stormy events of the uncoveredmoraines, confining the fluvio-glacial system of the Bossons stream, furnishes at least 59% ofthe sediments exported by the Bossons stream and glacial erosion (41 % of the flux) istherefore less efficient comparatively. The long-term evolution of the glacial systems inperiod of global warming would show a sustained erosion of proglacial environments(mountain sides and moraines) recently exposed and therefore an increasing of the detritalfluxes. The Glacier des Bossons protects the summit of the Mont-Blanc, the differentialerosion between zones under the ice and non-glacial could lead to an increase of thedifference of altitude between valleys and summits.

Os granitoides da Faixa Ribeira, sudeste do Estado de São Paulo, aparecem como complexas intrusões, aflorando em todos os \"domínios\" geológico-estruturais do embasamento paulista. Neste trabalho, foram avaliados os batólitos Cantareira, São Roque e Itaqui, os plútons Taipas e Tico-Tico, e os turmalina-granitos de Perus, no Domínio São Roque; o batólito Itu e a intrusão Terra Nova (Domínio Jundiaí); o Granito Itaquera (Domínio Embu); o granito da Ilha Anchieta e o charnockito Ubatuba (Domínio Costeiro). Este estudo observa os padrões de evoluções petrogenéticas nos granitoides, com utilização de determinações geoquímicas e isotópicas em rochas e em zircão. A espectrometria de massa (por quadrupolo) associada à ablação a laser (LAQ-ICPMS) foi aplicada para determinar elementos traço em zircão. Dados analíticos de materiais de referência (zircão 91500 e zircão GJ-1) são apresentados no capítulo sobre metodologias. Os dados lito-geoquímicos indicam que as amostras pertencem a linhagens metaluminosas a peraluminosas com elevados teores de K. Granitos metaluminosos (Cantareira, Itaqui, etc.) mostram elevados teores de Sr e da razão Sr/Y, sem anomalia de Eu, em magmas provavelmente formados em profundidade, com granada estável. Os demais granitos mostram-se compatíveis com origem a pressões menores, com plagioclásio estável (anomalia negativa de Eu, baixos teores de Sr). Os zircões, em geral, mostram teores elevados de ETR, Th e U. Os diagramas normalizados de ETR mostram anomalias positivas de Ce, geradas em ambiente oxidante. Os zircões das amostras Tico-Tico, Itu, Terra Nova, Ilha Anchieta, Itaquera, Perus e charnockito Ubatuba apresentam anomalias negativas de Eu, provavelmente determinada pela co-cristalização com plagioclásio. Os elevados teores de ETR e Y nos zircões indicam a atuação de reações acopladas tipo xenotima, com substituição de \'Si POT.4+\' por \'P POT.5+\' e de \'Zr POT.4+\' por\' ETR POT.3+\', \'Y POT.3+\'. O geotermômetro Ti-em-zircão (\'T ANTPOT.zir.\') rendeu, em geral, temperaturas de cristalização equivalentes às temperaturas de saturação de zircão e apatitas em magmas. Zircões com núcleos reabsorvidos e com reflexão escura em CL apresentaram Tzir não realistas, acima de 1000°C, devidas a incorporação exagerada de Ti junto com ETR e P, por influencia de fluidos hidrotermais, que transportam também outros elementos HFS (Nb, Ta, Mo). Os resultados de idades U-Pb em zircão destes granitóides levam a valores entre 580 a 603 Ma, 30 Ma mais jovens que os da literatura. As razões Lu-Hf mostram similaridade entre os protólitos dos granitos São Roque e Itaquera, com uma possível fonte Paleoproterozóica (~2.9 Ga) e com \'épsilon\'\'Hf de -22.8, de elevada residência crustal; as idades TDM (Sm-Nd) estão entre 2.2 e 2.5 Ga, possivelmente representando uma fonte crustal associada a Paleoplaca São Francisco. Para os demais granitoides (Domínios São Roque e Jundiaí) é necessária uma fonte mais radiogênica para os valores de \'épsilon\'Hf (-18 a -11) e \'épsilon\'\'Nd (-12 a -9). As idades TDM, e as mais antigas U-Pb obtidas em alguns núcleos herdados de zircão, indicam fonte constituída por crosta continental juvenil acrescida durante evento vulcânico (por rifteamento) em 1.75 Ga, dentro da placa tectônica, devido a abertura continental, ou mesmo durante eventos ocorridos cerca de 2.1 Ga dentro de Cráton São Francisco. / The granitoids of the Ribeira Belt, southeastern São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil, are found as complex intrusions spread out uniformly in all structural-geologic \"domains\" of the São Paulo basement area. In our work, samples were studied from the Cantareira, São Roque and Itaqui batholiths, the Taipas and Tico-Tico plutons and the Perus tourmaline granites (São Roque Domain), the Itu batholith and the Terra Nova intrusion (Jundiai Domain), the Itaquera granite (Embu Domain), the Ilha Anchieta granite and the Ubatuba charnockite (Costal Domain). This study aims to unravel the pattern of petrogenetic evolution in the granitoids, with the help of geochemical determinations in rocks and zircon crystals. Quadrupole mass spectrometry with laser ablation (LA-Q-ICPMS) was applied to determine trace elements contained in zircons. Analytical data for reference materials (zircons 911500 and GJ-1) are presented in the chapter on Methodology. The lithogeochemical data show that the granites represent meta-aluminous to peraluminous lineages, with significant potash contents. Meta-aluminous samples (Cantareira, Itaqui, etc.) are high in Sr, also with high Sr/Y ratios and no Eu anomalies, representing magmas probably formed at considerable depth, implying garnet stability. The other granites were formed from magmas at lower pressures (stable plagioclase; negative Eu anomaly; low Sr contents). Zircons from these granites contain high REE, U and Th abundances. Normalized REE diagrams present positive Ce anomalies, generated in oxidizing environments. Zircons from Tico-Tico, Itu, Terra Nova, Ilha Anchieta, Itaquera, Perus and the Ubatuba charnockite are characterized by negative Eu anomalies, probably controlled by co-crystallization with plagioclase. The high REE and Y contents in zircons are explained by coupled xenotimetype reactions, with substitution of \'Si POT.4+\' by \'P POT.5+\' and \'Zr POT.4+\' by \'REE POT.3+\', \'Y POT.3+\'. The Ti-in-zircon geothermometer (\'T ANTPOT.zir\') yields, in general, temperatures comparable to the ones obtained with the saturation temperatures of zircons and apatites in magmas. Zircons showing reabsorbed cores and dark reflection areas under CL yield unrealistic temperatures above 1000°C, explained by anomalous uptake of Ti, together with high REE and P contents, on account of hydrothermal fluid activity, also responsible for transporting other HFSE (Ta, Nb, Mo). Dating results with the U-Pb technique in zircons show values between 580 and 603 Ma, 30 Ma younger than results previously published. Lu-Hf ratios suggest similarities for the protoliths of the São Roque and Itaquera granites, with a possible Paleoproterozoic source (~2.9 Ga) and with \'épsilon\'\'Hf of - 22.8, indicating protracted crustal residence time. TDM ages (Sm-Nd) lie between 2.2 and 12.5 Ga, possibly representing a crustal source associated with the São Francisco paleoplate. For the other granitoids (São Roque and Jundiai domains), a more radiogenic source has to be considered, given the \'épsilon\'\'Hf (-18 to -11) and \'épsilon\' Nd (-12 to -9) values. TDM ages, and the older ages obtained with U-Pb on cores of some zircons, point to a source constituted by juvenile continental crust affected by a volcanic event (rifting) at 1.75 Ga, within the tectonic plate, forced by continental opening, or even during events that occurred close to 2.1 Ga within the São Francisco craton.

Os granitoides da Faixa Ribeira, sudeste do Estado de São Paulo, aparecem como complexas intrusões, aflorando em todos os \"domínios\" geológico-estruturais do embasamento paulista. Neste trabalho, foram avaliados os batólitos Cantareira, São Roque e Itaqui, os plútons Taipas e Tico-Tico, e os turmalina-granitos de Perus, no Domínio São Roque; o batólito Itu e a intrusão Terra Nova (Domínio Jundiaí); o Granito Itaquera (Domínio Embu); o granito da Ilha Anchieta e o charnockito Ubatuba (Domínio Costeiro). Este estudo observa os padrões de evoluções petrogenéticas nos granitoides, com utilização de determinações geoquímicas e isotópicas em rochas e em zircão. A espectrometria de massa (por quadrupolo) associada à ablação a laser (LAQ-ICPMS) foi aplicada para determinar elementos traço em zircão. Dados analíticos de materiais de referência (zircão 91500 e zircão GJ-1) são apresentados no capítulo sobre metodologias. Os dados lito-geoquímicos indicam que as amostras pertencem a linhagens metaluminosas a peraluminosas com elevados teores de K. Granitos metaluminosos (Cantareira, Itaqui, etc.) mostram elevados teores de Sr e da razão Sr/Y, sem anomalia de Eu, em magmas provavelmente formados em profundidade, com granada estável. Os demais granitos mostram-se compatíveis com origem a pressões menores, com plagioclásio estável (anomalia negativa de Eu, baixos teores de Sr). Os zircões, em geral, mostram teores elevados de ETR, Th e U. Os diagramas normalizados de ETR mostram anomalias positivas de Ce, geradas em ambiente oxidante. Os zircões das amostras Tico-Tico, Itu, Terra Nova, Ilha Anchieta, Itaquera, Perus e charnockito Ubatuba apresentam anomalias negativas de Eu, provavelmente determinada pela co-cristalização com plagioclásio. Os elevados teores de ETR e Y nos zircões indicam a atuação de reações acopladas tipo xenotima, com substituição de \'Si POT.4+\' por \'P POT.5+\' e de \'Zr POT.4+\' por\' ETR POT.3+\', \'Y POT.3+\'. O geotermômetro Ti-em-zircão (\'T ANTPOT.zir.\') rendeu, em geral, temperaturas de cristalização equivalentes às temperaturas de saturação de zircão e apatitas em magmas. Zircões com núcleos reabsorvidos e com reflexão escura em CL apresentaram Tzir não realistas, acima de 1000°C, devidas a incorporação exagerada de Ti junto com ETR e P, por influencia de fluidos hidrotermais, que transportam também outros elementos HFS (Nb, Ta, Mo). Os resultados de idades U-Pb em zircão destes granitóides levam a valores entre 580 a 603 Ma, 30 Ma mais jovens que os da literatura. As razões Lu-Hf mostram similaridade entre os protólitos dos granitos São Roque e Itaquera, com uma possível fonte Paleoproterozóica (~2.9 Ga) e com \'épsilon\'\'Hf de -22.8, de elevada residência crustal; as idades TDM (Sm-Nd) estão entre 2.2 e 2.5 Ga, possivelmente representando uma fonte crustal associada a Paleoplaca São Francisco. Para os demais granitoides (Domínios São Roque e Jundiaí) é necessária uma fonte mais radiogênica para os valores de \'épsilon\'Hf (-18 a -11) e \'épsilon\'\'Nd (-12 a -9). As idades TDM, e as mais antigas U-Pb obtidas em alguns núcleos herdados de zircão, indicam fonte constituída por crosta continental juvenil acrescida durante evento vulcânico (por rifteamento) em 1.75 Ga, dentro da placa tectônica, devido a abertura continental, ou mesmo durante eventos ocorridos cerca de 2.1 Ga dentro de Cráton São Francisco. / The granitoids of the Ribeira Belt, southeastern São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil, are found as complex intrusions spread out uniformly in all structural-geologic \"domains\" of the São Paulo basement area. In our work, samples were studied from the Cantareira, São Roque and Itaqui batholiths, the Taipas and Tico-Tico plutons and the Perus tourmaline granites (São Roque Domain), the Itu batholith and the Terra Nova intrusion (Jundiai Domain), the Itaquera granite (Embu Domain), the Ilha Anchieta granite and the Ubatuba charnockite (Costal Domain). This study aims to unravel the pattern of petrogenetic evolution in the granitoids, with the help of geochemical determinations in rocks and zircon crystals. Quadrupole mass spectrometry with laser ablation (LA-Q-ICPMS) was applied to determine trace elements contained in zircons. Analytical data for reference materials (zircons 911500 and GJ-1) are presented in the chapter on Methodology. The lithogeochemical data show that the granites represent meta-aluminous to peraluminous lineages, with significant potash contents. Meta-aluminous samples (Cantareira, Itaqui, etc.) are high in Sr, also with high Sr/Y ratios and no Eu anomalies, representing magmas probably formed at considerable depth, implying garnet stability. The other granites were formed from magmas at lower pressures (stable plagioclase; negative Eu anomaly; low Sr contents). Zircons from these granites contain high REE, U and Th abundances. Normalized REE diagrams present positive Ce anomalies, generated in oxidizing environments. Zircons from Tico-Tico, Itu, Terra Nova, Ilha Anchieta, Itaquera, Perus and the Ubatuba charnockite are characterized by negative Eu anomalies, probably controlled by co-crystallization with plagioclase. The high REE and Y contents in zircons are explained by coupled xenotimetype reactions, with substitution of \'Si POT.4+\' by \'P POT.5+\' and \'Zr POT.4+\' by \'REE POT.3+\', \'Y POT.3+\'. The Ti-in-zircon geothermometer (\'T ANTPOT.zir\') yields, in general, temperatures comparable to the ones obtained with the saturation temperatures of zircons and apatites in magmas. Zircons showing reabsorbed cores and dark reflection areas under CL yield unrealistic temperatures above 1000°C, explained by anomalous uptake of Ti, together with high REE and P contents, on account of hydrothermal fluid activity, also responsible for transporting other HFSE (Ta, Nb, Mo). Dating results with the U-Pb technique in zircons show values between 580 and 603 Ma, 30 Ma younger than results previously published. Lu-Hf ratios suggest similarities for the protoliths of the São Roque and Itaquera granites, with a possible Paleoproterozoic source (~2.9 Ga) and with \'épsilon\'\'Hf of - 22.8, indicating protracted crustal residence time. TDM ages (Sm-Nd) lie between 2.2 and 12.5 Ga, possibly representing a crustal source associated with the São Francisco paleoplate. For the other granitoids (São Roque and Jundiai domains), a more radiogenic source has to be considered, given the \'épsilon\'\'Hf (-18 to -11) and \'épsilon\' Nd (-12 to -9) values. TDM ages, and the older ages obtained with U-Pb on cores of some zircons, point to a source constituted by juvenile continental crust affected by a volcanic event (rifting) at 1.75 Ga, within the tectonic plate, forced by continental opening, or even during events that occurred close to 2.1 Ga within the São Francisco craton.

Les chaînes d'accrétion se développent au niveau des zones de subduction océanique et contribuent à la croissance de la croûte continentale. En Asie Centrale, le collage tectonique des Altaïdes comprend de nombreuses chaînes d'accrétion à l'origine de la formation de la croûte continentale asiatique au Paléozoïque. Basé sur l'approche combinée de données géochimiques, géochronologiques, paléomagnétiques et structurales, ce travail permet de caractériser l'architecture d'une chaîne d'accrétion (Junggar Occidental, nord-ouest Chine) et de déchiffrer les étapes de la croissance de la croûte continentale en Asie Centrale. L'étude des zircons détritiques indique une évolution géodynamique polycyclique du Junggar occidental. Le recyclage continu de la croûte juvénile accompagne le transfert épisodique de magmas mantelliques dans la croûte. Ces résultats suggèrent un contrôle de la croissance crustale par la géodynamique régionale. Le cycle paléozoïque inférieur correspond à la fermeture de deux domaines océaniques bordant des arcs intra-océaniques. La tectonique de nappes, la sédimentation syn-tectonique et le magmatisme alcalin intra-plaque caractérisent les collisions successives d'arc et de microcontinent à l'origine de l'arrêt de la subduction au Dévonien inférieur. La subduction des océans Ob-Zaisan au nord et Junggar-Balkash au sud entraîne le développement, de deux marges continentales actives au Dévonien moyen. L'accrétion de matériaux océaniques et terrigènes contribue à l'expansion des complexes d'accrétion. La formation de la virgation kazakh au Paléozoïque supérieur conduit à la subduction oblique de l'Océan Junggar-Balkash. Une déformation transpressive, marquée par des plis à axes verticaux affecte alors le complexe d'accrétion du Junggar Occidental. L'augmentation de la courbure de la virgation est à l'origine de décrochements qui accommodent le transport latéral des unités accrétées. Les rotations relatives entre les différents blocs se poursuivent au Mésozoïque suite à la réactivation intracontinentale de la chaîne.

Les chaînes d'accrétion se développent au niveau des zones de subduction océanique et contribuent à la croissance de la croûte continentale. En Asie Centrale, le collage tectonique des Altaïdes comprend de nombreuses chaînes d'accrétion à l'origine de la formation de la croûte continentale asiatique au Paléozoïque. Basé sur l'approche combinée de données géochimiques, géochronologiques, paléomagnétiques et structurales, ce travail permet de caractériser l'architecture d'une chaîne d'accrétion (Junggar Occidental, nord-ouest Chine) et de déchiffrer les étapes de la croissance de la croûte continentale en Asie Centrale. L'étude des zircons détritiques indique une évolution géodynamique polycyclique du Junggar occidental. Le recyclage continu de la croûte juvénile accompagne le transfert épisodique de magmas mantelliques dans la croûte. Ces résultats suggèrent un contrôle de la croissance crustale par la géodynamique régionale. Le cycle paléozoïque inférieur correspond à la fermeture de deux domaines océaniques bordant des arcs intra-océaniques. La tectonique de nappes, la sédimentation syn-tectonique et le magmatisme alcalin intra-plaque caractérisent les collisions successives d'arc et de microcontinent à l'origine de l'arrêt de la subduction au Dévonien inférieur. La subduction des océans Ob-Zaisan au nord et Junggar-Balkash au sud entraîne le développement, de deux marges continentales actives au Dévonien moyen. L'accrétion de matériaux océaniques et terrigènes contribue à l'expansion des complexes d'accrétion. La formation de la virgation kazakh au Paléozoïque supérieur conduit à la subduction oblique de l'Océan Junggar-Balkash. Une déformation transpressive, marquée par des plis à axes verticaux affecte alors le complexe d'accrétion du Junggar Occidental. L'augmentation de la courbure de la virgation est à l'origine de décrochements qui accommodent le transport latéral des unités accrétées. Les rotations relatives entre les différents blocs se poursuivent au Mésozoïque suite à la réactivation intracontinentale de la chaîne.

Thesis (M.S.)--Indiana University, 2008. / Department of Earth Sciences, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Kathy J. Licht, Andrew P. Barth, R. Jeffery Swope, Gabriel M. Filippelli. Includes vitae. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 182-191).

Stratigraphic successions of sedimentary rocks represent an important repository for signals pertaining to the history and evolution of Earth. Whereas the specific processes reflected by the stratigraphic record differ with respect to a given depositional environment, deposits in deep-marine settings, particularly passive margins, provide a unique, long-term record of paleoclimate, paleoceanography, and tectonics affecting the basin in question. Whereas deep-marine strata may be used to answer myriad of questions regarding the evolution and development of Earth systems, this dissertation narrowly targets two distinct aspects of sedimentation in deep-sea settings. The first two chapters focus on the utility of sortable silt in reconstructing bottom-current intensity linked to major shifts in climate. First, the relationship of sortable silt to flow velocity was tested under controlled conditions in a flow-through flume. This chapter investigates the correlation of sortable silt metrics across several experimental parameters, which is found here to dispute longstanding assumptions that multiple metrics must correlate to infer sediment sorting by deep currents. Additionally, the results are compared to calibrations from natural settings, where the correlation between the two datasets is remarkably similar, validating the relationship of sortable silt with current velocity in the deep ocean. Chapter two leverages sortable silt to investigate the long-term evolution of the Deep Western Boundary Current in the North Atlantic, targeting contourite drifts offshore Newfoundland to investigate the Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT), the most recent global greenhouse-to-icehouse transition. Results suggest that the Deep Western Boundary Current intensified gradually from 35-26 Ma, not abruptly at the EOT, and change consistent with deepening of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge and enhanced overflow of deep water into the North Atlantic. Chapter three utilizes detrital zircon U-Pb dating to characterize source-to-sink pathways and linkages during the rift-to-drift transition, in the Early Cretaceous, along the U.S. mid-Atlantic passive margin. This work shows that onshore and offshore system segments were initially disconnected, and progressively integrated over the course of ~45 Myr. Taken together, this work demonstrates a focused yet powerful example of how deep-marine sedimentary systems can be leveraged to robustly model major changes throughout Earth history. / Doctor of Philosophy / Sediments and sedimentary rocks deposited in the deep ocean house long-term signals pertaining to important Earth processes and properties. The nature of a given deposit, for example, can be the direct result of climatic conditions or tectonic development in adjacent mountainous and coastal environments. While the range of questions that can be answered using the sedimentary record is vast, this dissertation narrowly focuses on 1) how deep-ocean currents change over long periods of time, and 2) how onshore and offshore depositional environments correlate during the early phases of supercontinent break-up. To address the reconstruction of deep-ocean currents, laboratory experiments were performed to test how the sortable silt proxy – the 10-63 um fraction of a deposit – correlates with current velocity, the first controlled test of the proxy since its inception by paleoceanographers nearly three decades ago. Sortable silt is then applied to sediments of Eocene-Oligocene age, recovered from contourites offshore Newfoundland, Canada, to assess the long-term behavior of the Deep Western Boundary Current in the North Atlantic across the Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT). While the EOT, a major global cooling that occurred ~33.7 Ma, is well-studied with respect to Antarctica and its surrounding ocean basins, little is known about the paleoceanographic response of the North Atlantic. Grain-size records show a gradual increase in sortable silt before, during, and after the EOT, through entirety of the 9 Myr record. This trend is interpreted to reflect a long-term invigoration of the Deep Western Boundary Current in North Atlantic, likely due to progressive deepening of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge. The final chapter leverages detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology to compare sediment provenance of Early Cretaceous fluvial sandstones with coeval, distal turbidite sands. Results suggest that coastal rivers were fed by a single source terrane during the earliest Cretaceous, disconnected from the regional catchment feeding the submarine fan. By the Aptian-Albian, coastal rivers share a detrital zircon signature with turbidite strata, suggesting that rivers were progressively integrated into the sediment-routing system feeding the offshore margin.

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire ont pour but de mieux définir et quantifier lesprocessus d'érosion actuels en domaine glaciaire et proglaciaire. Le Glacier des Bossons,situé dans le massif du Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie, France), est un bon exemple de systèmenaturel non anthropisé permettant d'étudier cette thématique. Il repose sur deux lithologiesprincipales (le granite du Mont-Blanc et le socle métamorphique) et cette singularitépermettra de déterminer l'origine des sédiments glaciaires. Afin de comprendre lesmécanismes d'érosion mécanique et de transport particulaires en domaine glaciaire, lessédiments ont été prélevés à la surface du glacier, sous le glacier et dans les torrents sousglaciaires.L'étude des distributions granulométriques et des provenances des sédiments a étéeffectuée par une analyse lithologique à macro-échelle (à l'oeil nu) et géochimique à microéchelle(datation U-Pb sur zircons). Elles ont permis de préciser les caractéristiques del'érosion et du transport glaciaire. (1) la charge supra-glaciaire issue de l'érosion des versantsrocheux est essentiellement composée de sédiments grossiers et ne se mélange pas ou peu à lacharge sous-glaciaire, excepté au niveau de la langue terminale ; (2) les vitesses d'érosionsous-glaciaire ne sont pas homogènes, l'érosion sous la glace tempérée (0,4-0,8mm.an-1) estau moins seize fois supérieure à celle sous la glace froide (0,025-0,05mm.an-1) ; (3) lessédiments sous-glaciaires contiennent une fraction silteuse et sableuse résultant des processusd'abrasion et de crushing qui est évacuée par les torrents sous-glaciaires. L'acquisition hauterésolutiontemporelle de données hydro-sédimentaires durant la saison de fonte entre le 5 Maiet le 17 Septembre 2010 a permis de définir le comportement saisonnier des fluxhydrologiques et sédimentaires. La majeure partie des flux détritiques est concentrée sur lasaison de fonte, et une quantification de la quantité de sédiments exportés par le torrent desBossons complétée par une mesure régulière de l'évolution de la topographie du systèmefluvio-glaciaire permet d'effectuer un bilan global de l'érosion des domaines glaciaires etproglaciaires. Au cours de l'année 2010, près de 3000 tonnes de sédiments ont été érodés dont430 tonnes se sont déposeés sur le plan des eaux. Grâce à une analyse de l'évolution desconcentrations de matières en suspension en entrée et en sortie de la plaine alluviale fluvioglaciairedu torrent des Bossons, les composantes glaciaires et non-glaciaires de l'érosion ontpu être découplées. L'érosion des moraines dénudées encadrant le plan des eaux au cours desévénements orageux est responsable au minimum de 59% du flux de sédiments transporté parle torrent des Bossons, l'érosion glaciaire (41% du flux) est donc relativement moins efficace.L'évolution à long terme des systèmes glaciaires en période de réchauffement climatiquemontrerait donc une érosion soutenue des environnements proglaciaires (versants et moraines)récemment libéré des glaces et de ce fait une intensification des flux détritiques. Le glacierdes Bossons protège le sommet du Mont-Blanc, l'érosion différentielle entre les zones sous laglace et non-glaciaires pourrait mener à un accroissement de la différence d'altitude entre lesvallées et les sommets.