(Table 1) Geochemical and geothermometry data from fibrous calcite vein fills in the Dabashan Fold Belt, China

Fibrous calcite veins with organic inclusions have been widely considered as indicators of oil and gas generation and migration under overpressure. Abundant fibrous calcite veins containing organic-bearing inclusions occur in faulted Lower Paleozoic through Triassic hydrocarbon source rocks in the Dabashan Foreland Belt (DBF). d13CPDB and d18OPDB values of the fibrous calcite range from - 4.8 to -1.9 to per mil and - 12.8 to - 8.4 per mil respectively, which is lighter than that of associated carbonate host rocks ranging from - 1.7 to + 3.1 per mil and - 8.7 to - 4.5 per mil. A linear relationship between d13CPDB and d18OPDB indicates that the calcite veins were precipitated from a mixture of basinal and surface fluids. The fibrous calcite contains a variety of inclusions, such as solid bitumen, methane bearing all-liquid inclusions, and vapor-liquid aqueous inclusions. Homogenization temperatures of aqueous inclusions range from 140 to 196° with an average of 179°. Salinities of aqueous inclusions average 9.7 wt% NaCl. Independent temperatures from bitumen reflectance and inclusion phase relationships of aqueous and methane inclusions were used to determine fluid pressures. Results indicate high pressures, elevated above typical lithostatic confining pressure, from 150 to 200 MPa. The elevated salinity and high temperature and pressure conditions of the fibrous calcite veins argue against an origin solely from burial overpressure resulting from clay transformation and dehydration reactions. Instead fluid inclusion P-T data and geochemistry results and regional geology indicate abnormally high pressures during fluid migration. These findings indicate that tectonic stress generated fracture and fault fluid pathways and caused migration of organic bearing fluids from the DBF during the Yanshan orogeny.

Seismic data from Colle Gnifetti glacie saddle around borehole KCI, Swiss Alps

Two seismic surveys were carried out on the high-altitude glacier saddle, Colle Gnifetti, Monte Rosa, Italy/Switzerland. Explosive and vibroseismic sources were tested to explore the best way to generate seismic waves to deduce shallow and intermediate properties (<100 m) of firn and ice. The explosive source (SISSY) excites strong surface and diving waves, degrading data quality for processing; no englacial reflections besides the noisy bed reflector are visible. However, the strong diving waves are analyzed to derive the density distribution of the firn pack, yielding results similar to a nearby ice core. The vibrator source (ElViS), used in both P- and SH-wave modes, produces detectable laterally coherent reflections within the firn and ice column. We compare these with ice-core and radar data. The SH-wave data are particularly useful in providing detailed, high-resolution information on firn and ice stratigraphy. Our analyses demonstrate the potential of seismic methods to determine physical properties of firn and ice, particularly density and potentially also crystal-orientation fabric.