About geological theory

Abstract

The author’s advection-polymorphic hypothesis of deep processes in the tectonosphere is based on V.V. Belousov’s system of endogenous regimes, a certain source of energy (radioactive decay in crustal and upper mantle rocks), and the method of energy transfer (advection). Elementary volumes of transported material have been termed «quanta of tectonic action» (QTA) with the diameter of about 50―70 km. The physical reality of such objects is proved. The choice of endogenous regime is related to the type of the preceding thermal model. The mechanism of the tectonosphere’s «heat machine», which relies firmly established facts and quantitatively explains the main events of geological history within the energy conservation law, has been substantiated. For any period, from the Early Archaean to our time, it is possible to numerically justify the pattern of heat and mass transfer, to select the endogenous regimes, and construct a non-stationary heat model and variation in time of the distribution of physical properties of rocks. By using the findings and solving only direct problems, one can determine the geological manifestations of the process and the anomalies of the physical fields. The results are compared with the observed ones (without fitting), and the discrepancies do not exceed the values due to the observation and calculation errors. Pursuant to the advection-polymorphic hypothesis, it became possible for the first time to predict: 1. The emergence of quanta of tectonic action. 2. Stability of parameters (depth and temperature) of magma chambers in the mantle in the history of the Earth. 3. Existence of the global asthenosphere (depth about 700―1000 km). 4. Velocity distribution of longitudinal seismic waves in the upper mantle of regions with all types of endogenous regimes. 5. The difference in the nature of earthquakes at various depths in the focal zones. Successful verification of predictions transfers the hypothesis into the rank of theory. The theory is used to explain the following at the quantitative level: dating of active processes on all platforms of the Earth, temperature distribution in the crust and upper mantle of platforms and active regions, sediment thickness in geosynclines and post-rift depressions, changes in mass flow in geological history, heat flow and gravitational field anomalies. Several applications of the theory to studies of seismicity and UHP-blocks problems and prospecting for mineral deposits (hydrocarbons, hydrothermal sulfide ores, diamonds, and geothermal energy resources) have been considered.