Time-space distribution of silicic plutonism in a gneiss dome of the Iberian Variscan Belt: The Évora Massif (Ossa-Morena Zone, Portugal)

In the Iberian Variscan Belt, polyphasic deformation has been recognized as comprising an early phase of crustal thickening, followed by an intermediate phase of crustal extension and doming, and a later phase of shortening. The Évora Massif is a gneiss dome of the westernmost domains of the Ossa-Morena Zone (SW Iberia), which provides a remarkable insight into the late Paleozoic deep crustal structure of the Variscan continental crust of northern Gondwana. In this study, we bring new structural and geochronological U-Pb data for the northern hanging-wall of the Évora Massif. We describe the existence of low-dipping D2 extensional shear zones associated with Buchan-type metamorphism (M2); this enables three tectono-metamorphic units to be distinguished: the Lower Gneiss Unit, the Intermediate Schist Unit, and the Upper Slate Unit. D2-M2 structures experienced sub- horizontal shortening (D3) and were transposed by low-plunging folding, thrusting and strike-slip faulting. Zircon grains extracted from Pavia quartz-feldspathic gneiss of the Lower Gneiss Unit yielded a crystallization age of ca. 521 Ma (Cambrian Stage 2–3), which establishes a correlation with tectono-metamorphic units of the footwall and southern hanging-wall of the Évora Massif. U-Pb zircon dating of Divôr foliated quartz-diorite (339 ± 7 Ma), Malarranha weakly foliated biotite-rich granite (322 ± 3 Ma), and undeformed porphyritic granite of the Pavia pluton (314 ± 4 Ma) constrain the timing of emplacement of granitic magmas synchro- nously with doming. Carboniferous magmatism initiated with doming (ME1 - ca. 343–335 Ma), continued through D2-M2 (ME2 - ca. 328–319 Ma), and lasted until the waning stage of crustal extension (ME3 - ca. 317–313 Ma). The Évora Massif gneiss dome probably formed as result of the combined effect of gravitational collapse of the thickened crust and buoyancy-driven gravitational instability developed in the partially molten continental crust influenced by the transfer of heat from rising mantle-derived (i.e. dioritic-gabbroic) magmas rocks found in the footwall of the Évora Massif

Age of the basement beneath the Mesozoic Lusitanian Basin revealed by granitic xenoliths from the Papôa volcanic breccia (West Iberia)

The dyke of the Papôa volcanic breccia cross-cutting the Lower Jurassic sequence of the Lusitanian Basin (West Iberia) contains granitic xenoliths. In this study, for the first time, U-Th-Pb zircon analysis of two xenoliths yielded 298 ± 4 Ma for biotite granite and of 292 ± 2 Ma for two-mica granite, indicating that the pre-Mesozoic basement of the Lusitanian Basin includes Permian intrusions. These ages are close within the margin of error of the age of the Late Carboniferous granites of the Berlengas isle that with the Late Devonian high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Farilhões isles, located northwest of the study area, which form the pre-Mesozoic basement of the Lusitanian Basin. These new geochronological findings enable it to be established that Permo-Carboniferous magmatism lasted at least 13 Ma, in this region of the Appalachian-Variscan belt. Furthermore, a comparison with available data from Paleozoic tectonic units of the Appalachian-Variscan belt located both in the Iberian Massif and outside it enables the suggestion to be made that the Lusitanian Basin (Peniche) most probably rests on the South Portuguese Zone, which may also be correlated with the Rhenohercynian Zone present in southwest England, and the Meguma terrane of Nova Scotia

Age of the basement beneath the Mesozoic Lusitanian Basin revealed by granitic xenoliths from the Papôa volcanic breccia (West Iberia)

The dyke of the Papôa volcanic breccia cross-cutting the Lower Jurassic sequence of the Lusitanian Basin (West Iberia) contains granitic xenoliths. In this study, for the first time, U-Th-Pb zircon analysis of two xenoliths yielded 298±4Ma for biotite granite and of 292±2Ma for two-mica granite, indicating that the pre-Mesozoic basement of the Lusitanian Basin includes Permian intrusions. These ages are close within the margin of error of the age of the Late Carboniferous granites of the Berlengas isle that with the Late Devonian high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Farilhões isles, located northwest of the study area, which form the pre-Mesozoic basement of the Lusitanian Basin. These new geochronological findings enable it to be established that Permo-Carboniferous magmatism lasted at least 13Ma, in this region of the Appalachian-Variscan belt. Furthermore, a comparison with available data from Paleozoic tectonic units of the Appalachian-Variscan belt located both in the Iberian Massif and outside it enables the suggestion to be made that the Lusitanian Basin (Peniche) most probably rests on the South Portuguese Zone, which may also be correlated with the Rhenohercynian Zone present in southwest England, and the Meguma terrane of Nova Scotia

Revisiting the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary in the Ossa-Morena Zone (SW Iberia)

Some of the best outcrops of Iberia to study the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary are located in the Ossa- Morena Zone. In the Crato-Campo Maior region (SW Iberia, Portugal), this stratigraphic boundary is marked by an angular unconformity (Gonçalves, 1971). The Ediacaran sedimentary rocks of the Série Negra Group (maximum depositional age of c. 545 Ma; Linnemann et al., 2008) are overlain by Early Cambrian strata. A folded foliation has been recognized in the Ediacaran metagreywackes, metapelites, black metachert, marbles and metabasic rocks (Pereira & Silva, 2002). This deformation event is previous to the intrusion of c. 526-525 Ma granitic rocks (Barquete and Barreiros plutons; Pereira et al., 2011; Sánchez-García et al., 2013), and is not represented in the unconformable overlying Early Cambrian strata including sandstone (maximum depositional age of c. 532 Ma; Pereira et al., 2011). At the base of the lower Cambrian stratigraphic section there is the Freixo-Segóvia volcanosedimentary complex consisting of felsic tuff interbedded with conglo-merate and rhyolitic-dacitic lava flow (Pereira et al., 2006). The conglomerate is composed of pebbles of volcanic rock (basalt, rhyolite, dacite and mafic and felsic tuff), granitic rocks, chert, quartzite, arkosic sandstone, greywacke and shale in a tuffaceous sandy matrix. This volcano-sedimentary complex is overlain by a sequence of sandstone and shale passing vertically to limestone beds which have been attributed to the lower Cambrian (Pereira et al., 2006) (see Fig. 12). An ongoing research project intends to date the volcanic rocks of the volcano-sedimentary complex using U-Pb zircon geochronology. The absolute dates determined from these volcanic rocks will provide the time framework for the calibration of the existing stratigraphic scheme based on regional correlation

Hybrid molecular dynamic Monte Carlo simulation and experimental production of a multi-component Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W alloy

ABSTRACT: High-entropy alloys are a class of materials intensely studied in the last years due to their innovative properties. Their unconventional compositions and chemical structures hold promise for achieving unprecedented combinations of mechanical properties. The Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W multicomponent alloy was studied using a combination of simulation and experimental production to test the possibility of formation of a simple solid solution. Therefore, Molecular Dynamics and hybrid Molecular Dynamic/Monte Carlo simulations from 10K up to the melting point of the alloy were analyzed together with the experimental production by arc furnace and powder milling. The Molecular Dynamics simulations starting with a bcc type-structure show the formation of a singlephase bcc solid solution type-structure, whereas using Monte Carlo one, generally produced a two-phase mixture. Moreover, the lowest potential energy was obtained when starting from a fcc type-structure and using Monte Carlo simulation giving rise to the formation of a bcc Fe-Mo-W phase and a Cu-Ni fcc type-structure. Dendritic and interdendritic phases were observed in the sample produced by arc furnace while the milled powder evidence an separation of two phases Cu-Fe-Ni phase and W-Mo type-structures. Samples produced by both methods show the formation of bcc and a fcc type-structures. Therefore, the Monte Carlo simulation seems to be closer with the experimental results, which points to a two-phase mixture formation for the Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W multicomponent system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Magnetotelluric Imaging of the Lithosphere Across the Variscan Orogen (Iberian Autochthonous Domain, NW Iberia)

A new magnetotelluric (MT) survey comprising 17 MT soundings throughout a 30 km long N30°W transect in the Iberian autochthons domain of NW Iberia (Central Iberian Zone) is presented. The 2-D inversion model shows the resistivity structure of the continental crust up to 10 km depth, heretofore unavailable for this region of the Variscan Orogen. The MT model reveals a wavy structure separating a conductive upper layer underlain by a resistive layer, thus picturing the two main tectonic blocks of a large-scale D2 extensional shear zone (i.e., Pinhel shear zone). The upper layer represents a lower grade metamorphic domain that includes graphite-rich rocks. The lower layer consists of high-grade metamorphic rocks that experienced partial melting and are associated with granites (more resistive) emplaced during crustal thinning. The wavy structure is the result of superimposed crustal shortening responsible for the development of large-scale D3 folds (e.g., Marofa synform), later deflected and refolded by a D4 strike-slip shear zone (i.e., Juzbado-Penalva do Castelo shear zone). The later contribution to the final structure of the crust is marked by the intrusion of postkinematic granitic rocks and the propagation of steeply dipping brittle fault zones. Our study demonstrates that MT imaging is a powerful tool to understand complex crustal structures of ancient orogens in order to design future prospecting surveys for mineral deposits of economic interest

New WC-Cu thermal barriers for fusion applications: high temperature mechanical behaviour

ABSTRACT: The combination of tungsten carbide and copper as a thermal barrier could effectively reduce the thermal mismatch between tungsten and copper alloy, which are proposed as base armour and heat sink, respectively, in the divertor of future fusion reactors. Furthermore, since the optimum operating temperature windows for these divertor materials do not overlap, a compatible thermal barrier interlayer between them is required to guarantee a smooth thermal transition, which in addition may mitigate radiation damage. The aim of this work is to study the thermo-mechanical properties of WC-Cu cermets fabricated by hot pressing. Focus is placed on the temperature effect and composition dependence, as the volume fraction of copper varies from 25 to 50 and 75 vol%. To explore this behaviour, fracture experiments are performed within a temperature range from room temperature to 800 degrees C under vacuum. In addition, elastic modulus and thermal expansion coefficient are estimated from these tests. Results reveal a strong dependence of the performance on temperature and on the volume fraction of copper and, surprisingly, a slight percent of Cu (25 vol%) can effectively reduce the large difference in thermal expansion between tungsten and copper alloy, which is a critical point for in service applications. The thermal performance of these materials, together with their mechanical properties could indeed reduce the heat transfer from the PFM to the underlying element while supporting the high thermal stresses of the joint. Thus, the presence of these cermets could allow the reactor to operate above the ductile to brittle transition temperature of tungsten, without compromising the underlying materials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Damage threshold of CuCrFeTiV high entropy alloys for nuclear fusion reactors

A CuCrFeTiV high entropy alloy was prepared and irradiated with swift heavy ions in order to check its adequacy for use as a thermal barrier in future nuclear fusion reactors. The alloy was prepared from the elemental powders by ball milling, followed by consolidation by spark plasma sintering at 1178 K and 65 MPa. The samples were then irradiated at room temperature with 300 keV Ar+ ions with fluences in the 3 × 1015 to 3 × 1018 Ar+/cm2 range to mimic neutron-induced damage accumulation during a duty cycle of a fusion reactor. Structural changes were investigated by X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy, both coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. Surface irradiation damage was detected for high fluences (3 × 1018 Ar+/cm2) with formation of blisters of up to 1 μm in diameter. Cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of intergranular cavities only in the sample irradiated with 3 × 1018 Ar+/cm2, while all irradiation experiments produced intragranular nanometric-sized bubbles with increased density for higher Ar+ fluence. The Williamson-Hall method revealed a decrease in the average crystallite size and an increase in residual strain with increasing fluence, consistent with the formation of Ar+ bubbles at the irradiated surface.publishedVersio

Behavior of Cu-Y2O3 and CuCrZr-Y2O3 composites before and after irradiation

ABSTRACT: The Cu-Y2O3 and CuCrZr-Y2O3 materials have been devised as thermal barriers in nuclear fusion reactors. It is expected that in the nuclear environments, the materials should be working on extreme conditions of irradiation. In this work the Cu-Y2O3 and CuCrZr-Y2O3 were prepared and then irradiated in order to understand the surface irradiation resistance of the material. The composites were prepared in a glove box and consolidated with spark plasma sintering. The microstructures revealed regions of Y2O3 dispersion and Y2O3 agglomerates both in the Cu matrix and in the CuCrZr. The irradiated samples did not show any surface modification indicating that the materials seem to be irradiation resistant in the present situation. The thermal conductivity values for all the samples measured are lower than pure Cu and higher than pure W, however are higher than those expected, and therefore, the application of these materials as thermal barriers is compromised.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improvement of Mechanical Properties with Non-Equimolar CrNbTaVW High Entropy Alloy

ABSTRACT: CrNbTaVWx with (x = 1 and 1.7) high entropy alloys have been devised for thermal barriers between the plasma-facing tungsten tiles and the copper-based heat sink in the first wall of fusion nuclear reactors. These novel materials were prepared by ball milling and consolidated by Upgrade Field Assisted Sintering Technology at 1873 K under an applied pressure of 90 MPa for 10 min. In this work, the structural and mechanical properties of these materials were evaluated. Consolidated samples presented a major phase with a bcc-type structure with lattice parameter value of 0.316 nm for CrNbTaVW and CrNbTaVW1.7 compositions. Moreover, observation of the microstructures evidences also two minor phases: Ta-Nb-Cr and Ta-V rich (in which carbon is detected). Despite the similarity in the structural properties of these two alloys, their mechanical properties are distinct. The flexural stress for the sample with higher amount of W (CrNbTaVW1.7) is higher by 50% in the 298-873 K range, with an increased strain to fracture, which can be associated with reduced brittleness caused by the additional W incorporation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio