February Geology and GSA Today media ...(Pages 131-134. Active fluid release o...)

Active fluid release occurs through numerous vents located within an elliptical depression developed over the crest of an anticline associated with the active Pede-Apennine thrust front of the Northern Apennines (Italy). Bonini interprets this depression as a caldera collapse structure that may have developed in response to the deflation of a shallow mud chamber, triggered by eruption and sediment fluid evacuation events. Bonini concludes that the mud volcano caldera reflects the regional tectonic stress axes, and exhibits mechanical similarities to the igneous homologues.

Volcanic and impact deposits of the Moon's Aristarchus Plateau: A new view from Earth-based radar images
Bruce Campbell et al., National Air and Space Museum, MRC 315, 4th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20560, USA. Pages 135-138.

Ancient volcanic eruptions on the Moon produced deposits of fine-grained, often glass-rich, pyroclastic material. In some places, like the Aristarchus Plateau, these deposits can be 20-30 meters thick. The pyroclastics are of interest for their association with early lunar volcanic processes, and as possible sources of materials for lunar outposts. Campbell et al. used new radar images from Earth-based radio telescopes that penetrate the mantling layers to "see" the underlying terrain, to reveal details of the geologic events that shaped the Aristarchus Plateau. Radar data at longer wavelengths show the extent of lava flows that cover a significant portion of the plateau. When struck by relatively small meteorites, these lava flows are broken up into rocks and mixed into the fine-grained layers above. Such abundant rocks might complicate the use of the pyroclastics as a resource for future lunar explorers. The new radar data can be used to identify thick, rock-poor areas of the pyroclastic deposits best suited for resource recovery.