Genetic Analysis of Structural Styles in the Makran Accretionary Wedge–Insight from Physical Simulations

The Makran accretionary wedge has the smallest subduction angle among any accretionary prism in the world. The factors controlling the spacing and morphological development of its deep thrust faults, as well as the formation mechanism of shallow normal faults, remain unclear. Meanwhile, the factors affecting the continuity of plane faults must be comprehensively discussed. Clarifying the development characteristics and deformation mechanisms of the Makran accretionary wedge is crucial to effectively guide the exploration of gas hydrate deposits in the area. This study aims to interpret seismic data to identify typical structures in the Makran accretionary wedge, including deep imbricate thrust faults, shallow and small normal faults, wedge-shaped piggyback basins, mud diapirs with fuzzy and disorderly characteristics of reflection, décollements with a northward tilt of 1° – 2°, and large seamounts. Physical simulation-based experiments are performed to comprehensively analyze the results of the plane, section, and slices of the wedge. Results reveal that the distances between and shapes of thrust faults in the deep parts of the Makran accretionary wedge are controlled by the bottom décollement. The uplift of the thrust fault-related folds and the upwelling of the mud diapirs primarily contribute to the formation of small normal faults in the shallow part of the area. The mud diapirs originate from plastic material at the bottom, while those that have developed in the area near the trench are larger. Seamounts and mud diapirs break the continuity of fault plane distribution.

Pore-water geochemistry in methane-seep sediments of the Makran accretionary wedge off Pakistan:Possible link to subsurface methane hydrate

Cold seeps are pervasive along the continental margin worldwide,and are recognized as hotspots for elemental cycling pathway on Earth.In this study,analyses of pore water geochemical compositions of one-400 cm piston core(S3)and the application of a mass balance model are conducted to assess methane-associated biogeochemical reactions and uncover the relationship of methane in shallow sediment with gas hydrate reservoir at the Makran accretionary wedge off Pakistan.The results revealed that approximately 77%of sulfate is consumed by the predominant biogeochemical process of anaerobic oxidation of methane.However,the estimated sulfate-methane interface depth is-400 cm below sea floor with the methane diffusive flux of 0.039 mol/(m^(2)·a),suggesting the activity of methane seepage.Based on the δ^(13)C_(DIC) mass balance model combined with the contribution proportion of different dissolved inorganic carbon sources,this study calculated the δ^(13)C of the exogenous methane to be-57.9‰,indicating that the exogenous methane may be a mixture source,including thermogenic and biogenic methane.The study of pore water geochemistry at Makran accretionary wedge off Pakistan may have considerable implications for understanding the specific details on the dynamics of methane in cold seeps and provide important evidence for the potential occurrence of subsurface gas hydrate in this area.

The significance of cherts as markers of Ocean Plate Stratigraphy and paleoenvironmental conditions:New insights from the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Blovice accretionary wedge,Bohemian Massif

The Ediacaran to early Cambrian Blovice accretionary complex,Bohemian Massif,hosts abundant chert bodies that formed on an oceanic plate and were involved in subduction beneath the northern margin of Gondwana.Field relationships of cherts to their host,their microstructure and elemental as well as isotopic compositions revealed diverse processes of chert petrogenesis reflecting depositional environment and position on the oceanic plate.The deep-water cherts formed through a hydrothermal precipitation of silica-rich gels on outer trench swell of the subducted slab with none or only minor addition of terrigenous material.On the contrary,the shallow-water cherts formed in lagoons on seamount slopes,and at least some of them represent a product of hydrothermal replacement of former carbonate and/or evaporite precursors.For both chert types,the hydrothermal fluids were of low temperature and continuous pervasive hydrothermal alteration of oceanic crust,together with an elevated Si content in Neoproterozoic seawater,served as the major source of silica.On the other hand,minor carbon enrichment in chert is mostly linked to variable incorporation of organic matter that was deposited on the seafloor.Rare earth element(REE)systematics of the cherts indicate predominantly oxygenated environment for the shallow-water cherts whereas the deep-water cherts were deposited in diverse redox conditions,depending on their distance from hydrothermal vent.Using these data,we demonstrate that the cherts once formed a part of Ocean Plate Stratigraphy(OPS)now dismembered and mixed with terrigenous siliciclastic material to form OPS mélanges.Combining our data with those from the existing literature,we show that cherts can serve as significant markers of OPS since the Archean,recording a complex interplay between seafloor-related volcanic(production of MORB-and OIB-like magmas)and sedimentary processes,hydrothermal activity at mid-ocean ridges and seamount chains as well as at outer slopes of subducting slabs.However,the cherts also exhibit a secular change in composition and petrogenesis most profoundly affected by an overturn in seawater silica cycle across the Precambrian-Phanerozoic boundary.