New Paper on Richat Dome, Mauretania in Geology

Paul H bristolia at yahoo.com
Thu Jul 21 13:19:36 EDT 2005

Guillaume Matton and Michel Jébrak, 2005,
Resolving the Richat enigma: Doming and
hydrothermal karstification above an alkaline
complex. Geology. vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 665–668.

http://www.gsajournals.org/gsaonline/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1130%2FG21542.1

The abstract concluded:

"The circular Richat structure and its breccia
core thus represent the superficial expression
of a Cretaceous alkaline complex with an
exceptionally well preserved hydrothermal
karst infilling at its summit."

Other web pages:

August GEOLOGY media highlights
I-Newswire.com, Press Release, July 19, 2005
http://i-newswire.com/pr37017.html

"A model is proposed in which the intrusion
of an underlying magmatic body resulted in
the bulging of the overlying crust and
production of fluids, thus creating a favorable
setting for the dissolution of sedimentary
rocks. Formation of voids has led to the
collapse and brecciation of overlying units.
Thus, Matton et al. suggest that this unique
structure had a terrestrial origin, ultimately
forming from the effects of an intrusion
originating from Earth's mantle."

Richat Structure in Mauritania
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=10789
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/Images/aster_richat_lrg.jpg

Astronomy Picture of the Day
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980105.html

Yours,

Paul