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A lower Miocene coarse conglomerate that crops out in the Nepoui Peninsula does not represent the base of the marine transgression that followed obduction in New Caledonia. Instead, the conglomeratic alluvial fan that contains peridotite cobbles and reworked weathering products records a short-lived episode of terrestrial erosion intercalated between two intervals of subsidence marked by marine carbonate deposition. Considering the Miocene sea level evolution reported in the literature, it is concluded that neither lower Miocene transgression nor erosion were driven by sea level variation. In contrast, a southeastward propagating slab tear that initiated at the latitude of the high pressure/low temperature metamorphic complex of northern New Caledonia likely generated east to west tilting of New Caledonia, subsidence along the West Coast and hence fringing reef development together with moderate erosion of older regolith. Coincidence between conglomerate deposition and hence prominent erosion that closely followed emplacement of postobduction granitoids influenced by a slab window suggests a genetic link. Therefore, it is concluded that short-lived lower Miocene erosion was due to slab breakoff and subsequent uplift that occurred at ~ 22 Ma. Lower Miocene erosion profoundly dissected the Peridotite Nappe and in the northern half of New Caledonia only left isolated klippes along the West Coast.

International audience; A few sandstones occurring in Belgium, especially those from Paleogene strata, share many common features with pedogenic and groundwater silcretes documented in the Paris Basin in France, in South Africa and in Australia (e.g. Thiry, 1999; Summerfield, 1983; Webb & Golding, 1998,). Here we present a review of the criteria that may be used to assess the pedogenic (or "groundwater") origin for sandstones and silcretes. At field scale, pedogenic features in silcrete often consist in the development of vertical (columnar) or nodular structures and/or layers (horizons) due to vetical percolation (illuviation) and transformation of materials in the profile porosity and cracks. Groundwater silcrete often exhibit a typical mammilated surface (e.g. Nash & Ullyot, 2007). Root and rootlet casts, sometimes with silicified root or wood material, also indicate that the rock evolved at the surface or near-surface. At microscopic scale, illuviation of silt and clays in the vadose or water-table environment results in the formation of a series of finely-laminated coatings and infillings. These pedofeatures consist in "typic", "crescent", "capping", "pendent", "micropan" and "crust" coatings (Bullock et al., 1985). Irregular rounded structures or "glaebules" also develop as well as micro-columnar or prismatic textures. Many of them have been observed in pedogenic silcretes around the world (e.g. Thiry, 1999) but also in Paleogene silcrete in Belgium (e.g. Veldman et al., in review). Of particular importance is the concentration of fine-grained titanium-oxides in pedogenic silcrete. These Ti-oxides most probably originated from the weathering of clay material and were concentrated via the same pedogenic processes which concentrated silica in the silcrete profile (Thiry, 1997). In sandstones with a pure sand matrix, where no or few fine-grained material is available for illuviation, assessing the pedogenic origin for the silicification is much more difficult based solely on microtextural observations. New perspectives may arise from trace-element analysis in the quartz cement overgrowing the grains. For example, combining cathodoluminescence imaging (CL) and electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) allowed the detec on of abnormally-high concentration of Al and K in the quartz cement relative to the quartz grains in the Grandglise Thanetian sandstone in the Mons Basin (figure). This suggests that first the weathering of glauconite, which is actually observed here, is the likely source for silica and secondly, the evidence for aluminum migration would indicate strongly acidic conditions in the pore fluids.

Regolith formations are surficial fragmental and unconsolidated rocks whose genesis and properties result from successive periods of surface processes. They comprise:– autochthonous formations resulting directly from successive periods of surface weathering in the upper 200 metres of the Earth’s crust;– allochthonous formations in which the unconsolidated deposits result from weathering and transport and have not yet been affected by burial diagenesis.Regolith studies are currently at the crossroads of new scientific challenges and new environmental needs. Not only do regolith formations support a full spectrum of biological activity, including human activities, they also provide a source of extractable materials and form the substratum of soils. As such, they should be considered as a capital to be managed and protected. Historically, geological maps have focused mainly on substratum geology. Although the inclusion of regolith formations in the 1:50,000-scale geological map series of France since the 1980s has considerably increased our knowledge of France’s regolith, this is still is patchy and generally insufficient for applied uses despite increasing societal pressures demanding up-to-date regolith maps. To produce an updated map at the scale of France is an ambitious project that must necessarily begin with an inventory of existing geological cartographic data relating to regolith formations. A digital two-layered regolith map of France, representing both the allochthonous and autochthonous formations, was produced in 2009 at a scale of 1:1,000,000. Each layer is accompanied by a confidence index map, and a brief descriptive note of the mapped formations (in French) is also available. A critical analysis of the two map layers reveals not only the very uneven nature of our current knowledge in terms of data quantity and quality, but also its deficiency as regards the expectations of the public authorities. Today, therefore, we require surface studies combining geology, geophysics and geochemistry in order to enhance our understanding of the natural processes governing the distribution and evolution of subsoil formations. This approach is critical for developing appropriate guidance in the use and management of natural and groundwater resources. The 2009 map can be viewed and interrogated at http://infoterre.brgm.fr, and a “pdf” of the map and corresponding project report can be downloaded from http://www.brgm.fr/brgm/GEO/rego.htm. Le régolithe est défini comme l’ensemble des formations géologiques meubles ou consolidées dont la genèse ou les propriétés actuelles résultent de processus supergènes (interaction entre la lithosphère et l’atmosphère, l’hydrosphère et la biosphère), quel qu’en soit l’âge. Ces formations regroupent :– des formations autochtones issues de processus d’altération supergènes (meubles ou consolidées), d’âge variable, situées dans la frange supérieure de l’écorce terrestre (200 premiers mètres) ;– des formations allochtones qui regroupent l’ensemble des dépôts sédimentaires issus de processus de remaniement et de transport et n’ayant pas subi de diagénèse d’enfouissement.Les formations du régolithe sont le support de l’activité biologique dont les activités humaines. Elles sont la source de matériaux exploitables et forment le substrat des sols. Elles représentent donc un capital à gérer et à préserver. Historiquement, les cartes géologiques se sont focalisés sur la géologie du substratum. La connaissance que nous avons des formations du régolithe s’est considérablement accrue depuis les années 1980 grâce au levé des cartes géologiques de la France à l’échelle du 1/50 000e. Cependant, en regard de la pression sociétale, elle demeure inégale et incomplète. Une remise à jour des cartes du régolithe est aujourd’hui nécessaire. La production d’une carte des formations du régolithe à l’échelle de la France est un projet ambitieux qui débute par un inventaire des données géologiques cartographiques disponibles. Une carte numérique à deux couches des formations du régolithe de la France à l’échelle du millionième a donc été produite en 2009. Chaque couche est accompagnée d’une carte de qualité de la donnée. Une brève description des formations cartographiées est également disponible. Une analyse critique des deux cartes souligne l’hétérogénéité de notre connaissance aussi bien en terme de quantité et que de qualité de la donnée. L’analyse met également en évidence l’insuffisance de notre connaissance en regard des attentes de nos tutelles. Il est aujourd’hui important de développer des études sur la thématique des formations de surface en combinant géologie, géophysique et géochimie et ce afin d’améliorer notre compréhension des processus naturels gouvernant la distribution et l’évolution des formations qui sont le substrat de nos activités. Cette approche est aujourd’hui critique pour guider nos tutelles dans l’utilisation et la gestion de nos ressources. Les cartes peuvent être consultées et interrogées sur le site http://infoterre.brgm.fr. Les fichiers pdf des cartes et du rapport attaché peuvent être téléchargé à l’adresse suivante : http://www.brgm.fr/brgm/GEO/rego.htm.

International audience; Although the description of the emplacement (Cluzel et al., 2001) and the weathering (Trescases, 1975; Latham, 1986; Chevillotte et al., 2006) of the New Caledonia peridotites is well documented in the literature, the knowledge and the age of formation of the landsurfaces formed upon the ultrabasic massifs are poorly documented. Several surfaces have been recognised along the island but no reliable ages could be attributed to the associated regolith. In fact, the overthrust of the Ophiolitic Nappe in the South is stratigraphically constrained by a younger autochthonous olistostrom dated by Late Priabonian pelagic foraminifera (Cluzel et al., 1998). The supergene weathering being still active, the beginning of the ferruginisation of the various plateaux is not well constrained and estimated to have occurred between 34 Ma and Actual. The processes of absolute dating are not relevant to these weathering profiles (K-Mn oxides are poorly concentrated). Ferricretes and various ferruginous materials have the potential to record the ancient geomagnetic field providing means of age determination. In tropical soils, most of the primary remanence carring minerals are dissolved during weathering and secondary magnetic minerals, such as goethite and haematite, are formed in situ acquiring a crystallisation (or chemical) remanent magnetization (CRM). The paleomagnetic pole recovered by demagnetizing the CRMs are plotted on the local apparent polar wandering (APWP) reference curve providing an age for the different parts of the paleoweathering profiles. The data and interpretations we present here are based on paleomagnetic analysis of ferricretes of Goro and Tiebaghi. The preliminary results suggest, for the first time ever, well constrained ages between 20 and 25 Ma of major ferruginisation stages of the peridotites of New Caledonia.

International audience; Geological records of the history of ancient land surfaces are scarce and often fragmented by unconformities. Determining the age of these surfaces has long been the limiting factor in correlating continental paleosurfaces with marine basin deposits. Age determination of the weathering product of continental paleosurfaces as well as weathered material within the crystalline basement, is of prime importance for geodynamic reconstruction in general and more so for assessing differential dynamics between basin and basement areas, erosion rates, etc. In this paper, we examine layers of ferruginous kaolinitic paleoweathering products overlying the basement rocks of the French Massif Central. These layers, which are mainly formed in situ and are azoic (devoid of fossils), have been classically related to the "siderolithic" (Eocene-Oligocene) period because of their geographic ties with Tertiary deposits. The paleomagnetic ages of these paleoweathered surfaces have been obtained by comparing their acquired remanent magnetization, converted into paleomagnetic poles, with the APWP (apparent polar wander path) of the Eurasian plate. Recovered ages indicate late Jurassic to early Cretaceous ages (140-160 Ma with a confidence limit of 10 Ma) which are much older than the previously assumed Tertiary age. The ages obtained in this study considerably alter the present knowledge of the geodynamic evolution of the French Massif Central. Our results suggest a lack of sedimentary cover at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary. This implies that at the time of deposition of the siderolithic formations, the basement was cropping out and devoid of any Mesozoic cover. Furthermore, the profiles are not compacted, indicating that they have never been buried beneath a significant sedimentary cover. The obtained ages point to a great stability of French Massif Central throughout the Mesozoic, with very low ablation-erosion, while neighbouring basins (Aquitaine and Paris) were subsiding about 2000 m.

National audience; Les phénomènes d'altération supergène (météoriques) comptent parmi les processus les plus importants qui modifient la surface de notre planète. Les altérations sont le résultat des interactions entre géosphère, biosphère, hydrosphère et atmosphère.

Resume Introduction L’hydroxyuree est un antimetabolite utilise dans le traitement des maladies myeloproliferatives. Ses effets secondaires habituels sont principalement hematologiques, gastro-intestinaux, cutanes et une fievre. Plus rarement, des pneumopathies ont ete decrites. Observation Nous en rapportons un cas chez une patiente traitee pour polyglobulie primitive. Elle fut hospitalisee 20 jours apres l’instauration d’un traitement par hydroxyuree en raison d’une fievre elevee, d’une toux et expectorations muqueuses associees a des nausees. Le scanner thoracique retrouvait des opacites diffuses en verre depoli. Les recherches microbiologiques ont ete negatives. Le tableau a regresse en quelques jours apres l’arret du traitement. La reintroduction du medicament a entraine une recidive des symptomes. Conclusion Ce cas vient completer 15 cas de la litterature a propos de pneumopathies induites par l’hydroxyuree. Deux formes en ont ete decrites : aigue, febrile, dans le mois apres introduction de l’hydroxyuree ; et une forme chronique et apyretique. Il faut savoir evoquer cette complication rare de l’hydroxyuree.