原状黄土显微结构特征与湿陷性状分析

基于原状黄土的显微结构扫描电镜及室内湿陷性试验,分析了黄土的微结构特性和不同压力不同含水量下黄土的湿陷性状及其之间的内在联系,结果表明:随着埋藏深度的增加,由支架大孔微胶结结构逐渐变为镶嵌微孔半胶结结构,支架大孔孔隙发育逐渐变为粒间孔隙发育,再为微孔孔隙发育;黄土在增湿情况下其湿陷系数-压力关系曲线由三部分组成,初始压缩变形阶段,是结构强度发挥阶段,变形较小,黄土微结构没有遭到破坏;曲线第一转折点s=0.015后,原有结构破坏,微结构发生变化,颗粒重新排列,湿陷速率增大,是湿陷变形主要阶段;达到峰值后,颗粒间形成了新的结构,湿陷变形幅度减小;随着骨架颗粒连接逐渐变为非架空的镶嵌排列,湿陷起始压力及峰值湿陷压力值随着埋藏深度的增加而增加,而峰值湿陷系数和湿陷变形量的压力范围随着埋藏深度的增加而变小;骨架颗粒特征和孔隙特征是黄土湿陷性的内在影响因素,而胶结物的多寡及胶结状态是黄土湿陷性强弱的主要影响因素之一。     

Preliminary assessments on the modes of instability of the Antalya (SW-Turkey) coastal cliffs

Cliff erosion and the consequent instabilities present a significant risk to Antalya city (SW-Turkey). Erosional processes include the chemical action of mixing zone water, the mechanical action of waves, salt erosion and biological degradation. The rock properties (lithology, stratification, strength, etc.) are the controlling factors to this erosion. The coastal cliffs of Antalya are composed of tufa type carbonate rocks which occur in a wide range, from collapsible soil to hard rock. The instability problems of the cliffs of Antalya tufa commonly involve: rock fall, cave collapse, raveling, washout of weakly lithified tufa, shear failure and secondary toppling. Secondary toppling type instabilities, Culmann type failures and complex failures, a combination of these two, are widespread on the cliffs. The occurrence of large failures are usually associated with heavy rainfall as heavy rainfall causes the saturation of pores, increases pore water pressures and reduces the strength of the rock. Comparison between aerial photographs and topographic maps of different dates, do not provide evidence of considerable retreat. According to the historical data there has been little or no cliff retreat for 2,000 years. Therefore the erosion rate of the Antalya tufa cliffs is said to be so very slow that retreat is valid only in a geological timescale. However in an engineering timescale these cliffs are subjected to instabilities and to local failures causing local retreats.     

Influence of Cyclic Wetting Drying on Collapse Behaviour of Compacted Residual Soil

The climatic zones where residual soils occur are often characterized by alternate wet and dry seasons. Laboratory studies of earlier workers have established that the alternate wetting and drying process affects the swell-shrink potentials, water content, void ratio and particle cementation of expansive soils. The influence of cyclic wetting and drying on the collapse behaviour of residual soils has not been examined. This paper examines the influence of alternate wetting and drying on the collapse behaviour of compacted residual soil specimens from Bangalore District. Results of such a study are useful in anticipating changes in collapse behaviour of compacted residual soil fills. Experimental results indicated that the cyclic wetting and drying process increased the degree of expansiveness of the residual soils and reduced their collapse tendency. Changes in the swell/collapse behaviour of compacted residual soil specimens from wetting drying effects are attributed to reduction in water content, void ratio and possible growth of cementation bonds.     

Geotechnical engineering practice for collapsible soils

Conditions in arid and semi-arid climates favor the formation of the most problematic collapsible soils. The mechanisms that account for almost all naturally occurring collapsible soil deposits are debris flows, rapid alluvial depositions, and wind-blown deposits (loess). Collapsible soils are moisture sensitive in that increase in moisture content is the primary triggering mechanism for the volume reduction of these soils. One result of urbanization in arid regions is an increase in soil moisture content. Therefore, the impact of development-induced changes in surface and groundwater regimes on the engineering performance of moisture sensitive arid soils, including collapsible soils, becomes a critical issue for continued sustainable population expansion into arid regions.In practicing collapsible soils engineering, geotechnical engineers are faced with (1) identification and characterization of collapsible soil sites, (2) estimation of the extent and degree of wetting, (3) estimation of collapse strains and collapse settlements, and (4) selection of design/mitigation alternatives. Estimation of the extent and degree of wetting is the most difficult of these tasks, followed by selection of the best mitigation alternative.     

New insights into biological influence on the geochemistry of freshwater carbonate deposits

Ambient temperature freshwater carbonates (“tufas”) have outstanding potential as palaeoclimate archives. However, it has proven difficult to constrain the behaviour of the geochemical parameters on which important proxy systems rely. Current thinking on the development of trace element ratios in tufa rests upon an assumption of precipitation driven by degassing of CO₂, with the final precipitate being in equilibrium with ambient river water. This study provides evidence that although supersaturation is largely regulated by degassing, precipitation in sterile flowing systems does not occur throughout the air-water interface, but only at lines of intersection between this interface and a solid surface. Precipitation at the bottom, as is normal in river sites, is not found to occur. However, when benthic microbial communities (“biofilms”) are present, extensive precipitation does occur within them in preference and/or addition to that at the air-water interface. Precipitation is therefore not purely a consequence of degassing, and some microbiological influence is necessary to generate precipitates analogous to nature.We further investigate whether these biofilms alter the behaviour of trace elements within tufa systems, in addition to modulating the sites and mechanisms of precipitation, via a series of experiments. Biofilms are shown to accumulate large inventories of calcium and other dissolved ions (Ba, Sr, and Mg), and we demonstrate that this process is chemoselective in favour of ions with low charge densities. These observations have consequences for interpretation of trace element records from tufas based on an assumption of equilibrium with river water, and also for other carbonate deposits associated with biofilm activity (travertines, marine stromatolites, lacustrine and soil carbonates, speleothems). Conversely, our study provides new insight into the reasons for discrepancy of tufa Mg/Ca ratios from expectation, and thus provides encouragement for the potential of Mg/Ca palaeothermometry in freshwater carbonate systems.     

碎石土湿陷性试验研究

采用不同工况的载荷试验、室内常规土工试验和易溶盐试验,分析了碎石土的荷载-沉降曲线特征,探讨了碎石土的湿陷性与湿陷机理。结果表明：碎石土在200 kPa稳定后浸水,再加荷到400 kPa,载荷试验荷载-沉降曲线呈折线型,明显分为三个阶段：压缩变形阶段,湿陷变形阶段,复合变形阶段。场地中4 m厚碎石土具有湿陷性,且湿陷性不均匀。 碎石土湿陷的机理在于其结构是疏松的单粒架空结构。骨架颗粒间存在架空孔隙,且部分架空孔隙由砂质颗粒集合体充填;骨架颗粒间呈点与点接触,或者主要通过黏粒、黏土矿物、易溶盐组成的胶结物而联结在一起;在浸水加荷过程中,黏粒周围薄膜水增厚、粘土矿物自身产生膨胀、易溶盐溶解,导致胶结物的胶结强度丧失,结构失稳,发生湿陷。     

Review of tufa deposition and palaeohydrological conditions in the White Peak,Derbyshire, UK: implications for Quaternary landscape evolution

This review considers the geological and geomorphological context of tufa barrages that occupy buried valley settings in the Wye catchment, Derbyshire. It describes the potential relationship of the tufa with locations of hypothesised river captures and inception horizon-guided groundwater flow paths. Tufa barrage development is associated with steps in the bedrock, which may be related to knick-point recession during river capture. Broad estimates of valley incision have been calculated from previously dated deposits. These support current interpretations of particularly significant effective base-level lowering during the Anglian and Devensian stages of the Quaternary and have the potential to add to the knowledge of regional uplift histories.     

Relationships between lithology and diagenesis in a limeston—marl facies transition: an electron microprobe study

A 3 km long lateral facies transition from Oligo-Miocene skeletal grainstones into packstones and mudstones displays systematic variation in carbonate skeletal fragment alteration and secondary carbonate mineral composition. Within the skeletal grainstone end-member all aragonitic grains have dissolved, all Mg-calcite skeletal fragments have altered to calcite, and calcite has been precipitated as both void-filling spar and as syntaxial overgrowths on echinoid fragments. Within the transitional grainstone-packstone lithologies some skeletal fragments show preservation of their original mineralogy, while calcite, ferroan calcite spar and dolomite have precipitated in void spaces. Within the packstone-mudstone end-member of the transition, aragonitic grains have been preserved and Mg-calcite skeletal fragments have retained most of their magnesium. Thin, originally porous grainstone layers within the pack-stone-mudstones contain sideroplesite and ferroan calcite spar in void spaces, and iron has been incorporated in skeletal fragments which were originally Mg-calcite. In these grains iron has been incorporated at the expense of magnesium until the grains approach the composition of the surrounding ferroan calcite cement. The lateral variation in diagenetic alteration across this facies transition is a function of differing groundwater movement and composition, controlled ultimately by the composition, porosity and permeability of the host lithologies.     

黄土的独立物性指标及其与湿陷性参数的相关性分析

黄土的湿陷性是其重要的工程特性,常用一维压缩应力条件下的湿陷系数、自重湿陷系数和湿陷起始压力等指标定量评价。影响黄土湿陷性的因素较多,包括土的粒度、密度、湿度等基本物理性质指标,且各因素之间并非完全独立,存在一定相关性。采用因子分析法,通过对西安地铁4号线黄土高台地和宝鸡-兰州高速铁路隧道黄土塬湿陷性黄土场地地层物性质指标的统计分析和相关性分析,首先确定了相对独立的含水比（含水率与液限之比）和孔隙比3个物性指标反映的两个因子。然后,依据湿陷性黄土场地的试验资料,通过多元线性回归分析,分别得到了两个场地黄土的自重湿陷系数、湿陷起始压力以及压缩模量与含水比和孔隙比之间的相关关系。最后,比较分析了两个场地黄土自重湿陷系数、湿陷起始压力和压缩模量计算值与实测值,验证了利用因子分析法寻找影响黄土湿陷性的独立因子,建立黄土湿陷性参数与独立影响因子之间相关关系的合理性和准确性。针对两个地区两类地貌单元湿陷性黄土场地,建立的黄土湿陷性参数的相关关系具有快速、准确的评价黄土湿陷性和黄土地基湿陷变形的实际意义。     

Petrography and textural development of inorganic and biogenic lithotypes in a relict barite tufa deposit at Flybye Springs, NT, Canada

A relict mound of Holocene barite (BaSO₄) tufa underlies the Flybye Springs, a small, barium‐rich, cold sulphur spring system in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The tufa is composed of relatively pure barite with ≤0·34 wt% Ca²⁺ and ≤0·77 wt% Sr²⁺. The mound is made up of coated bubble, raft, undulatory sheet, stromatolitic, coated grain and detrital conglomerate barite tufa. Although previously unreported in barite, these lithotypes are akin to facies found in many carbonate spring deposits. Raft and ooid‐coated grain tufa was formed via ‘inorganic’ barite precipitation in spring water ponds and tributaries where rapid oxidation of sulphide to sulphate established barite supersaturation. Undulatory sheet tufa may have formed by the reaction of dissolved barium with sulphate derived from the oxidation of extracellular polysaccharide‐rich colloidal sulphur films floating in oxygenated, barite‐saturated spring water ponds. Coated bubble, oncoid‐coated grain and stromatolitic tufa with filamentous microfossils was formed in close association with sulphur‐tolerant microbes inhabiting dysoxic and oxygenated spring water tributaries and ponds. Adsorption of dissolved barium to microbial extracellular polysaccharide probably facilitated the development of these ‘biogenic’ lithotypes. Detrital conglomerate tufa was formed by barite cementation of microdetrital tufa, allochthonous lithoclasts and organic detritus, including caribou hair. Biogenic textures, organic artefacts and microfossils in the Flybye barite tufa have survived diagenetic aggradational recrystallization and precipitation of secondary cements, indicating the potential for palaeoecological information to be preserved in barite in the geological record. Similarities between the Flybye barite tufa and carbonate spring deposits demonstrate that analogous textures can develop in chemical sedimentary systems with distinct mineralogy, biology and physiochemistry.     

Diagenesis or dire genesis? The origin of columnar spar in tufa stromatolites of central Greece and the role of chironomid larvae

Two Greek Pleistocene tufa stromatolites were examined petrographically and with stable isotope geochemistry to determine whether calcite spar is of primary or diagenetic origin. The younger (ca 100 ka) tufa from Zemeno primarily is micritic, with primary columnar calcite spar restricted to areas immediately above chironomid larval tubes. This relationship suggests that chironomid larval feeding behaviour is responsible for the development of Zemeno tufa columnar calcite, probably involving biological substances smeared onto the tufa surface. Most micritic crystals are not suitably oriented to allow later post‐depositional growth resulting in columnar fabrics. The older (ca 1 Ma) predominantly sparry tufa from Nemea contains some chironomid tubes and organic cyanobacterial filaments preserved in crystal fans but also contains many fabrics found in primary speleothem spar. Columnar spar here is unlikely to be the result of post‐depositional crystal growth. A comparison of stable isotopic trends between the two tufa deposits suggests that both contain interpretable seasonal trends and implies little or minor post‐depositional alteration of either tufa. Consequently, there is no basis for the common assumption that sparry tufa fabrics must be of diagenetic origin.     

A sedimentary facies model for stepped,fluvial tufa systems in the Iberian Range (Spain): the Quaternary Piedra and Mesa valleys

Stratigraphic and sedimentological analyses of the Quaternary tufa and associated deposits in the Piedra and Mesa river valleys allowed a number of stages of their sedimentary evolution to be characterized, and a depositional sedimentary model for this north‐central sector of the Iberian Range (Spain) to be established. The proposed sedimentary facies model may explain tufa arrangements in other medium to high gradient, stepped, fluvial tufa systems with narrow transverse profiles occurring in temperate, semi‐arid areas, in both recent and past scenarios. There are several tufa deposits within the Piedra and Mesa river valleys that, over a maximum thickness of about 90 m, record one or more stages of tufa deposition produced following the fluvial incision of the bedrock or previous tufa deposits. Each depositional stage begins with coarse detrital sedimentation. Six fundamental, vertical sequences of tufa facies with small amounts of detrital material reveal the sedimentary processes that occurred in different fluvial environments: channel areas with: (i) free‐flowing water; (ii) barrages and/or cascades; and (iii) dammed water and palustrine floodplains. The proposed sedimentary model involves narrow, stepped, fluvial valleys in which tufa cascades were common. Alternating intervals of bryophyte and stromatolite facies commonly formed at some cascades. Many of these represented barrage‐cascade structures that consisted of phytoclast rudstones, thick phytoherms of mosses and associated stromatolites, and curtain‐shaped phytoherms of stems. Upstream of these structures, dammed areas with bioclastic sands and silts developed and palustrine vegetation grew. The channel stretches between barrages and/or cascades were loci for extensive stromatolite growth in fast flowing water. The palustrine floodplain was home to pools and drainage channels. The model also explains the growth of some barrages in the River Piedra that surpassed the height of the divide, with the diffluence of the main channel into a secondary course forming other tufa deposits in the area. The distribution and abundance of certain types of tufa facies in fluvial basins may be an indicator of differences in their gradients. The facies studied in this work suggest that the gradient of the ancient River Piedra was steeper than that of the ancient River Mesa. Assuming similar scenarios for climate and hydrology, the depositional settings mentioned above and their dimensions would have been determined mainly by the gradient and width of the associated river valleys. This sedimentary model may also be useful for inferring variations in other river basin slopes, as well as accounting for the presence of tufas in areas that normally have no permanent water input.     

Exceptional silica speleothems in a volcanic cave: A unique example of silicification and sub‐aquatic opaline stromatolite formation (Terceira,Azores)

Silica stromatolites occur in a number of modern hydrothermal environments, but their formation in caves is very rare. The silica stromatolitic speleothems of the Branca Opala cave (Terceira Island, Azores), however, provide an excellent opportunity for their study. These formations may be analogous to ancient silica stromatolites seen around the world. Petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical analyses were undertaken on the silica speleothems of the above cave, and on the silica‐tufa deposits outside it, with the aim of understanding their genesis. The possible hydrothermal origin of their silica is discussed. X‐ray diffraction analyses showed opal‐A to be the sole silica phase. Negligible ordering of this opal‐A showed ageing to be insignificant, as expected for recent silica deposits. Most of the silica speleothems examined were definable as sub‐aquatic opaline stromatolites that are not currently growing. Optical microscopy clearly revealed a lower microlaminated, an intermediate and an upper microlaminated zone within the stromatolites. Stromatolite types (I, II and III) were classified with respect to their internal structure and distribution throughout the cave. Scanning electron microscopy showed silicified bacterial filaments within the stromatolites, the silicified plant remains and the silica‐tufa deposits. Bacteria therefore played a major role in the precipitation of the opal‐A. Plasma emission/mass spectrometry showed major, minor and rare earth elements to be present in only small quantities. The rare earth elements were mainly hosted within volcanic grains. Rapid silica precipitation from highly super‐saturated water would explain the intense silicification of the plant remains found inside and outside the cave. The opaline stromatolites, the silica‐tufa deposits and the above‐mentioned intense general silicification suggest a local hydrothermal source for the silica. Indeed, these deposits strongly resemble plant‐rich silica sinter associated with low‐temperature hot spring deposits that include bacterial filaments. However, no geochemical signals that might indicate a hydrothermal origin could be found.     

Collapse behaviour of a lateritic soil

Collapsible soils are problematic by nature. They undergo collapse or sudden settlement or subsidence under a given stress when their water content is increased. Collapse is characterised by collapse potential expressed as ΔH/H x 100, where ΔH is collapse compression. The amount of stress applied and the water content at the time of collapse govern the amount of collapse. In other words, collapse potential depends upon the amount of stress and the water content. Loess and other wind-blown silts are examples of collapsible soils. This paper presents a parametric study on the collapse behaviour of a lateritic soil. Remoulded specimens of a lateritic soil passing through a 425 µm sieve were compacted in 1-D consolidometer or oedometer at a density of 13 kN/m³ for studying collapse under varied initial moisture contents and initial surcharge pressures. Collapse compression of the samples was induced by saturating the specimens with water contents corresponding to 100% degree of saturation. After collapse occurred, the 1-D consolidation tests were continued up to an applied stress of 160 kPa. Collapse behaviour was studied for the applied initial pressures (σ_i) of 10, 20 and 40 kPa and for the initial water contents (w_i) of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. Collapse compression and collapse potential decreased with increasing w_i for all σ_i.     

Climatic variations in MIS 11 recorded by stable isotopes and trace elements in a French tufa (La Celle,Seine Valley)

Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 palaeoclimate has so far been documented in marine and ice sheet isotopic records. However, excepting some lacustrine pollen records, very little is known about palaeoclimatic conditions in continental areas. This study uses geochemical records in calcareous tufa deposits from rivers as a basis for reconstructing temperate palaeoclimatic conditions. Tufa deposits are now proven to record high‐quality palaeoclimatic information in recent to Holocene deposits. Work on older interglacial tufas is just starting and in this paper we present the first comprehensive results from a MIS 11 tufa. The tufa comes from the Seine Valley (La Celle, northern France). Geochemical data in the tufa calcite are interpreted to record primarily air temperature (δ¹⁸O) and humidity (δ¹³C and Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca). The combined data identify a warm and wet climatic optimum followed by two temperature decreases associated with oscillations in humidity. These marked climatic variations recorded through the La Celle profile are strongly coherent with the palaeoenvironmental reconstructions from malacological data. The abrupt climatic and environmental events recorded could be related to short‐term degradation of vegetation cover in Europe, which is itself controlled by global palaeoclimatic events. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Can 234U–230Th dating be used to date large semi‐arid tufas? Challenges from a study in the Naukluft Mountains,Namibia

The large, extensive tufa deposits of the semi‐arid Naukluft Mountains, Namibia are potentially important palaeoenvironmental indicators in an area with few proxy records. Tufas are reliable indicators of increased moisture availability, and have been shown to be amenable to ²³⁴U–²³⁰Th dating, although two challenges are detrital contamination and open‐system behaviour. Densely cemented tufa facies are good candidates for dating, minimising these problems. We report attempts to date five densely‐cemented units, which are only found rarely within the Naukluft deposits. We applied a detailed methodology using multiple subsample analysis, measurement of insoluble residues, application of ‘isochron’ mixing lines, and attempted open‐systems modelling, alongside observations of micromorphology and cathodoluminescence in order to assess the validity of any obtained dates. Surprisingly, densely cemented tufas were found not always to be suitable for dating. Two units contained detrital contamination, which could not be corrected for using a single leachate correction or ‘isochron’ methods. Two units contained ‘excess ²³⁰Th’. This could result under a closed‐system if initial (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) was sufficiently high. Alternatively this may be the result of open‐system behaviour, and loss of uranium, or incorporation of initial unsupported ²³⁰Th, which render samples unsuitable for ²³⁴U–²³⁰Th dating. Micromorphological appearance and cathodoluminescence behaviour are used to explore these possibilities. This study exemplifies the need for careful sample selection, and highlights the importance of analysing multiple subsamples from any tufa sample. The detailed methodology applied proves to be a powerful tool for identifying the range of problems that can be encountered when selecting suitable candidate samples for successful dating. It also shows that semi‐arid tufa sequences may contain very little material suitable for dating. A reliable age of c 80 ka was obtained for a banded unit within a large fluvial barrage, with less reliable dates suggesting tufa deposition during times since >350 ka through to the late Holocene. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palaeoenvironmental records in Holocene Spanish tufas: a stable isotope approach in search of reliable climatic archives

Tufa deposits are potential terrestrial archives of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic information. This study assesses the potential of stable isotopic archives from two closely juxtaposed Holocene tufa sites in SE Spain. The Ruidera site contains deep‐water lacustrine micrites and tufas, whereas the nearby Alcaraz site represents a shallow barrage tufa. Understanding site characteristics is critical to interpreting the stable isotopic variations. These Holocene lacustrine micrites have isotopic compositions consistent with modern European lake shore microbial carbonates, where the isotopic chemistry is strongly influenced by hydrological and residence time effects. All the lacustrine micrite δ¹³C values were influenced by microenvironmental microbial effects to some degree. Because of these effects, stable isotope data from lacustrine microbial micrites and tufas will not normally yield precise information on the isotopic composition of palaeoprecipitation, temperature or vegetation composition of an area. In contrast, Holocene tufas that formed in shallow, fast‐flowing riverine settings may contain valuable palaeoclimatic archives. The tufa deposits must be largely autochthonous, as at Alcaraz, where in situ reed stem encrustations are present. Records of relative change in air temperature and changes in the source of airmasses are potentially resolvable in the δ¹⁸O data. These interpretations can be verified by other independent climatic data where chronology is constrained. Variations in riverine tufa δ¹³C values probably record changes in local vegetation and/or soil respiration. Covariation between δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values may be intrinsically linked to climatic factors such as aridity. Tentative palaeoclimatic interpretations for the middle Holocene at Alcaraz based on the isotope data suggest warming (or increasing influence of Mediterranean‐sourced precipitation) between approximately 5000–3000 radiocarbon years BP, accompanied by increased aridity. These interpretations are consistent with the sparse independent palaeoclimatic data and climate modelling results for the Holocene of SE Spain. This study supports the growing evidence that well‐chosen tufa sites could yield valuable palaeoclimatic information.     

Sedimentology and geochemistry of fluvio-lacustrine tufa deposits controlled by evaporite solution subsidence in the central Ebro Depression, NE Spain

The Urrea de Jalón tufa deposits constitute the 20‐ to 50‐m‐thick caprock (0·3 km²) of an isolated mesa. They disconformably overlie horizontal strata of the Tertiary Ebro Basin (NE Spain), which contains a thick succession of lacustrine gypsum and marls, followed by limestones, marls and, locally, fluvial sandstones and mudstones. The tufa deposits show a complex, large‐scale framework of basin‐like structures with centripetal dips that decrease progressively from the base to the top of the tufa succession, and beds that thicken towards the centre of the structure (cumulative wedge‐out systems). These geometries reveal that the tufa deposits were affected by differential synsedimentary subsidence. Distinct onlapping depressions reflect time migration of the subsiding areas. The studied carbonates are composed mostly of low‐Mg calcite, with minor quartz. Some samples have anomalously high contents of Fe, Mn and Ba that may exceed 1% (goethite, haematite and barite are present). Carbonate facies are: (a) macrophyte encrustation deposits; (b) bryophyte build‐ups; (c) oncolite and coated grain rudstones; (d) non‐concentric stromatolite‐like structures; (e) massive or bioturbated biomicrites; and (f) green and grey marls. Facies a and c show a great variety of microbial‐related forms. These facies can be arranged in dm‐ to 2‐m‐thick vertical associations representing: (i) fluvial–paludal sequences with bryophyte growths; (ii) pond‐influenced fluvial sequences; and (iii) lacustrine–palustrine sequences. The Urrea de Jalón tufa deposits formed in a fluvio‐lacustrine environment that received little alluvial sediment supply. Isotope compositions (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) reveal meteoric signatures and accord with such a hydrologically open system of fresh waters. The Fe, Mn and Ba contents suggest an additional supply of mineralized waters that could be related to springs. These would have been discharge points in the Ebro Depression of a regional aquifer of the Iberian Ranges. Rising groundwater caused the solution of the underlying evaporites and the synsedimentary subsidence of the tufa deposits.     

郑西高速铁路豫西段黄土现场浸水自重湿陷特征研究

通过现场浸水试验,研究了郑西高速铁路豫西段典型黄土场地浸水后的自重湿陷特征,分析了湿陷土层深度随浸水时间的演化规律,判定了浸水水平向影响范围。研究表明：浸水边界对沉降的影响十分明显,浸水后的湿陷速率呈现出慢-快-慢直至稳定的特点,在浸水10 d后已完成总沉降量的60%,浸水30 d时完成总沉降量的约90%;该场地实测因地区土质而异的修正系数 为1.30,大于规范推荐的0.9,说明该地区黄土的湿陷程度比以往认识地更为强烈;该场地自重湿陷土层下限深度室内试验值是19 m,而现场实测值是16 m,前者是后者的1.2倍。通过综合判定,该场地浸水后的湿陷变形范围为距试坑边缘20 m,与试坑的直径相当,建议在郑西高速铁路沿线此类黄土场地,线路两侧20 m范围内不得积水。该研究成果已在郑西高速铁路建设中得到应用,也可为该地区类似工程提供参考。     

Large tufa mounds,Searles Lake,California

Mounds that have formed around spring vents occur in a variety of environmental settings, many at sites generally difficult or inaccessible for sampling. In contrast, over 500 tufa mounds occur in the dry bed of Searles Lake, California. The mounds range from minor features to 45 m in height; most are 5 to 12 m high. These mounds, composed of calcite and aragonite, formed associated with spring vents in the Pleistocene lake bottom. Thus, analyses of these mounds in Searles Lake provide a model with regard to the origin and architecture of tufa mounds. The mounds consist of four distinctive tufa facies. The initial deposits consist of porous tufa, including the innermost (porous 1) and the outermost (porous 2) deposits, followed by nodular tufa, then columnar tufa, and laminated crusts. There are two simple sequences of tufa deposition. The first sequence is from porous 1 to nodular to laminated crusts and, finally, to porous 2. A second sequence consists of: porous 1 to columnar to laminated crusts and, lastly, to porous 2. Facies changes are a response to changes in environmental conditions from deep water (porous 1 facies) to an essentially dry lake phase (during and after the formation of laminated crusts facies), to deep water (porous 2 facies) and, at the present time, totally dry. The primary constituents that comprise the tufa deposits include thin laminae, pisoids, spherulites, peloids and stromatolite‐like crusts. On the microscopic scale, these constituents dominantly make up nano‐spheres, micro‐rods and rod‐like crystals, as well as other calcified bodies. These constituents are interpreted to be the calcified remains of bacterial bodies. These findings suggest that microbial participation in the construct of other mounds should be a major concern of investigation, both for terrestrial and extraterrestrial spring‐fed mounds.