A re-examination of petrogenesis and 40Ar/39Ar systematics in the Chain of Ponds K-feldspar: “diffusion domain” archetype versus polyphase hygrochronology

K-feldspar (Kfs) from the Chain of Ponds Pluton (CPP) is the archetypal reference material, upon which thermochronological modeling of Ar diffusion in discrete “domains” was founded. We re-examine the CPP Kfs using cathodoluminescence and back-scattered electron imaging, transmission electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar stepwise heating experiments on different sieve fractions, and on handpicked and unpicked aliquots, are compared. Our results reproduce the staircase-shaped age spectrum and the Arrhenius trajectory of the literature sample, confirming that samples collected from the same locality have an identical Ar isotope record. Even the most pristine-looking Kfs from the CPP contains successive generations of secondary, metasomatic/retrograde mineral replacements that post-date magmatic crystallization. These chemically and chronologically distinct phases are responsible for its staircase-shaped age spectra, which are modified by handpicking. While genuine within-grain diffusion gradients are not ruled out by these data, this study demonstrates that the most important control on staircase-shaped age spectra is the simultaneous presence of heterochemical, diachronous post-magmatic mineral growth. At least five distinct mineral species were identified in the Kfs separate, three of which can be traced to external fluids interacting with the CPP in a chemically open system. Sieve fractions have size-shifted Arrhenius trajectories, negating the existence of the smallest “diffusion domains.” Heterochemical phases also play an important role in producing nonlinear trajectories. In vacuo degassing rates recovered from Arrhenius plots are neither related to true Fick’s Law diffusion nor to the staircase shape of the age spectra. The CPP Kfs used to define the “diffusion domain” model demonstrates the predominance of metasomatic alteration by hydrothermal fluids and recrystallization in establishing the natural Ar distribution among different coexisting phases that gives rise to the staircase-shaped age spectrum. Microbeam imaging of textures is as essential for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar hygrochronology as it is for U–Pb geochronology.     

Impact of solid second phases on deformation mechanisms of naturally deformed salt rocks (Kuh-e-Namak,Dashti, Iran) and rheological stratification of the Hormuz Salt Formation

Viscosity contrasts displayed in flow structures of a mountain namakier (Kuh-e-Namak - Dashti), between ‘weak’ second phase bearing rock salt and ‘strong’ pure rock salt types are studied for deformation mechanisms using detailed quantitative microstructural study. While the solid inclusions rich (“dirty”) rock salts contain disaggregated siltstone and dolomite interlayers, “clean” salts reveal microscopic hematite and remnants of abundant fluid inclusions in non-recrystallized cores of porphyroclasts. Although the flow in both, the recrystallized “dirty” and “clean” salt types is accommodated by combined mechanisms of pressure-solution creep (PS), grain boundary sliding (GBS), transgranular microcracking and dislocation creep accommodated grain boundary migration (GBM), their viscosity contrasts observed in the field outcrops are explained by: 1) enhanced ductility of “dirty” salts due to increased diffusion rates along the solid inclusion-halite contacts than along halite–halite contacts, and 2) slow rates of intergranular diffusion due to dissolved iron and inhibited dislocation creep due to hematite inclusions for “clean” salt types Rheological contrasts inferred by microstructural analysis between both salt rock classes apply in general for the “dirty” salt forming Lower Hormuz and the “clean” salt forming the Upper Hormuz of the Hormuz Formation and imply strain rate gradients or decoupling along horizons of mobilized salt types of different composition and microstructure.     

EXTENDED QMODEL—objective definition of external end members in the analysis of mixtures

Analysis of empirical data considered to be mixtures of a finite number of end members has been a topic of increasing interest recently. The algorithms EXTENDED CABFAC and QMODEL by Klovan and Miesch (1976) represent a satisfactory solution to this problem if pure end members are captured within the data set or if the composition of “true” end members are known a priori. Where neither condition is satisfied, the composition of “external” end members can, under certain conditions, be deduced from the structure of the data. Described herein is an algorithm termed EXTENDED QMODEL which defines feasible end members which are “closest” to the data envelope.     

一种面向对象的三维地下空间矢量数据模型

针对地下空间的真三维连续特性以及建模过程的动态交互编辑与分析要求,提出了一种新的三维地下空间矢量数据模型。该模型采用面向对象思想对地下各种空间对象进行抽象描述;利用模型中的线段要素增强几何元素之间拓扑连接关系的维持,为地质体的切割和地下工程体的开挖等分析提供了算法上的便利;引入拓扑面更好地表达了地下空间对象之间的拓扑邻接关系。该模型在三维地下空间数据的存储管理、查询分析以及实时逼真绘制等方面都表现出较好的性能,适用于地下勘探工程的建模与分析。     

Discrete multifractals

The concept of multifractal modeling has been used intensively in various fields of science for characterizing measures with self- similarity. It has been shown that multifractal modeling provides powerful tools for characterizing patterns in the spatial distribution of geological quantities and objects. Existing multifractal models were proposed for the purpose of handling spatially intertwined fractals with continuous fractal spectrum f(α) (or continuous codimension function C(γ)). In this paper, these conventional multifractals are termed “continuous multifractals” whereas multifractals with discrete fractal dimensions are termed “discrete multifractals.” The properties of discrete multifractals are investigated. It is shown by various artificial examples and a case study of stratigraphy of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) site 645 that spatially intertwined fractals/multifractals indeed can have discrete fractal dimensions. Histogram-and moment-based techniques are proposed for discrete multifractal modeling and illustrated using the artificial examples. The new concept of discrete multifractals and associated multifractal modeling yields not only techniques for characterizing multifractals with discrete fractal dimensions but it also provides insight into the relationships between fractals, bifractals, and multifractals.     

Fast Web - Based Data Transmission

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＩｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ,ａｇｌｏｂａｌｎｅｔｗｏｒｋｏｆｃｏｍｐｕｔｅｒｓｃｏｎｎｅｃｔｅｄｔｈｒｏｕｇｈｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｉｏｎｄｅｖｉｃｅｓ,ｐｒｏｖｉｄｅｓＧＩＳｕｓｅｒｓａｎａｃｃｅｓｓｔｏｒｅｍｏｔｅｇｅｏｇｒａｐｈｉｃｄａｔａ .Ｔｈｅｗｅｂ ｂａｓｅｄＧＩＳ ,ａｋｉｎｄｏｆｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ ｂａｓｅｄＧＩＳｔｏｏｌｆｏｒｔｈｅａｃｃｅｓｓｔｏｒｅｍｏｔｅｇｅｏｇｒａｐｈｉｃｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ ,ｉｓｐｒｏ ｐｏｓｅｄｉｎｔｈｉｓｐａｐｅｒ.Ｎｏｗａｄａｙｓ ,ｔｈｅｗｅ…     

层序地层学模拟研究进展及趋势

模拟层序地层学是层序地层学理论重要的研究手段之一,在国外该项技术较为成熟.层序地层计算机模拟软件采用的算法主要有扩散算法、流体流动算法、几何控制沉积算法、经验数值逼近算法、沉积物搬运的构造校正算法.目前,国外学者对以海平面升降、构造沉降和沉积物供应为主控因素的层序地层概念模拟的适用性提出了质疑,并对层序控制因素的多样性和不确定性进行了深入的研究.结合当前的研究进展,提出了层序控制因素的"多变量系统"观点,将层序的控制因素分为综合变量和独立变量,进一步指出如果假设综合变量为独立变量,则可以简化层序模拟,假设越多,模拟越简单,但模拟结果越粗略;要使模拟结果真实地反映实际地层特征,就要尽可能采用独立变量.     

Analytical solutions of tracer transport in fractured rock associated with precipitation-dissolution reactions

Precipitation-dissolution reactions are important for a number of applications such as isotopic tracer transport in the subsurface. Analytical solutions have been developed for tracer transport in both single-fracture and multiple-fracture systems associated with these reactions under transient and steady-state transport conditions. These solutions also take into account advective transport in fractures and molecular diffusion in the rock matrix. For studying distributions of disturbed tracer concentration (the difference between actual concentration and its equilibrium value), effects of precipitation-dissolution reactions are mathematically equivalent to a “decay” process with a decay constant proportional to the corresponding bulk reaction rate. This important feature significantly simplifies the derivation procedure by taking advantage of the existence of analytical solutions for tracer transport associated with radioactive decay in fractured rock. It is also useful for interpreting tracer breakthrough curves, because the impact of a decay process is relatively easy to analyze. Several illustrative examples are presented, which show that the results are sensitive to fracture spacing, matrix diffusion coefficient (fracture surface area), and bulk reaction rate (or “decay” constant), indicating that the relevant flow and transport parameters may be estimated by analyzing tracer signals.     

初论地质信息有序系列

信息有序系列（ＩＯＳ）是笔者提出的一个新概念，是指具有非随机性定义的信息、非周期性、存在于大量无序中的有序部分特征的有序性。ＩＯＳ的理论是应用基于较少假设的、较为简单的数字或几何模式去研究地质体客观存在的复杂性，减少类似概率分布、周期性、平稳性、遍历理论等假设要求。ＩＯＳ中的一组现象，表面上看类似于周期，但被广义地定义，它们不能被谱分析和统计分析发现。“系列”一词用以与“模型”相区别，其特点是仅在有限范围和短时间内存在，是不平稳和遍历的。“有序”一词是强调在混沌中存在的有序部分，可应用于预测目的。所以，ＩＯＳ是有序性中一部分。大地震、热点、超大型矿床、节理等时空分布表明了ＩＯＳ的客观存在。     

Analytical solution of electrohydrodynamic flow and transport in rectangular channels: inclusion of double layer effects

Upscaling electroosmosis in porous media is a challenge due to the complexity and scale-dependent nonlinearities of this coupled phenomenon. “Pore-network modeling” for upscaling electroosmosis from pore scale to Darcy scale can be considered as a promising approach. However, this method requires analytical solutions for flow and transport at pore scale. This study concentrates on the development of analytical solutions of flow and transport in a single rectangular channel under combined effects of electrohydrodynamic forces. These relations will be used in future works for pore-network modeling. The analytical solutions are valid for all regimes of overlapping electrical double layers and have the potential to be extended to nonlinear Boltzmann distribution. The innovative aspects of this study are (a) contribution of overlapping of electrical double layers to the Stokes flow as well as Nernst–Planck transport has been carefully included in the analytical solutions. (b) All important transport mechanisms including advection, diffusion, and electromigration have been included in the analytical solutions. (c) Fully algebraic relations developed in this study can be easily employed to upscale electroosmosis to Darcy scale using pore-network modeling.     

Ternary diffusion coefficients of the brine systems NaCl (0.5 M)-Na2SO4 (0.5 M)-H2O and NaCl (0.489 M)-MgCl2 (0.051 M)-H2O (seawater composition) at 25°C

Mutual diffusion coefficients have been measured by Rayleigh interferometry for two ternary brine compositions at 25°C: NaCl (0.5 M)-Na₂SO₄ (0.5 M)-H₂O and NaCl (0.489 M)-MgCl₂ (0.051 M)H₂O. The latter is a ternary analog of seawater. Four diffusion coefficients are required to characterize a ternary system. The data show that the cross term diffusion coefficients are significant, and cannot be neglected in accurate geochemical modeling. Since D₂₁ for NaCl-Na₂SO₄-H₂O is negative, a sufficient gradient of NaCl can cause Na₂SO₄ to move “uphill” against its own gradient. One of the cross term coefficients for NaClMgCl₂-H₂O is nearly as large as one of the main term coefficients.     

Matheronian geostatistics—Quo vadis?

Components of geostatistical estimation, developed as a method for ore deposit assessment, are discussed in detail. The assumption that spatial observations can be treated as a stochastic process is judged to be an inappropriate model for natural data. Problems of semivariogram formulation are reviewed, and this method is considered to be inadequate for estimating the function being sought. Characteristics of bivariate interpolation are summarized, highlighting kriging limitations as an interpolation method. Limitations are similar to those of inverse distance weighted observations interpolation. Attention is drawn to the local bias of kriging and misplaced claims that it is an “optimal” interpolation method. The so-called “estimation variance,” interpreted as providing confidence limits for estimation of mining blocks, is shown to be meaningless as an index of local variation. The claim that geostatistics constitutes a “new science” is examined in detail. Such novelties as exist in the method are shown to transgress accepted principles of scientific inference. Stochastic modeling in general is discussed, and purposes of the approach emphasized. For the purpose of detailed quantitative assessment it can provide only prediction qualified by hypothesis at best. Such an approach should play no part in ore deposit assessment where the need is for local detailed inventories; these can only be achieved properly through local deterministic methods, where prediction is purely deductive.     

深部变面长采场顶板破断演化的力学机制分析

不规则煤层开采容易引发顶板应力集中、矿压显现异常等问题,为探究变面长采场顶板破断规律与结构演化特征,针对工作面斜长由小变大的突变型采场不同开采阶段的几何特征与力学成因,运用小挠度薄板弯曲理论依次建立并解析4种边界条件的顶板结构模型。根据变面长采场顶板矿压分区显现特征,采用MATLAB与FLAC^3D数值模拟方法分析顶板破断规律与宏观力学响应。通过系统分析与总结归纳,构建了变长工作面“三场三区三结构”的覆岩结构传递演化模式,提出了“两场两规律”的顶板分区破断效应。并通过典型工程案例的矿压实测进行应用验证。结果表明：变面长采场分为小面采场、变面采场和大面采场,小面采场顶板为缓压型结构,发生的是传统“O-X”形破断;变面采场顶板为突变型结构,顶板断裂产生的延长形与漂移形“O-X”破断裂隙与大面采场增压型结构顶板的裂纹发育特征较为相似,故将二者整合为全大面采场;全大面采场顶板发生的是“X-O”形破断,裂纹继续发展产生延长形破断,形成“两场两规律”的顶板破断理论。研究结论为探明变面长采场的覆岩运移本质,加强深部复杂煤层赋存条件下的顶板灾害防控提供了重要依据。     

Deepwater Turbidite Lobe Deposits: A Review of the Research Frontiers

Deepwater/deep-marine turbidite lobes are the most distal part of a siliciclastic depositional system and hold the largest sediment accumulation on the seafloor. As many giant hydrocarbon provinces have been discovered within deepwater lobe deposits, they represent one of the most promising exploration targets for hydrocarbon industry. Deepwater exploration is characterized by high cost, high risk but insufficient data because of the deep/ultra–deepwater depth. A thorough understanding of the deepwater turbidite lobe architecture, hierarchy, stacking pattern and internal facies distribution is thus vital. Recently, detailed outcrop characterizations and high–resolution seismic studies have both revealed that the deepwater lobe deposits are characterized into four–fold hierarchical arrangements from "beds", to "lobe elements", to "lobes" and to "lobe complex". Quantitative compilations have shown that hierarchical components of lobe deposits have similar length to width ratios but different width to thickness ratios depending on different turbidite systems. At all hierarchical scales, sand–prone hierarchical lobe units are always separated by mud–prone bounding units except when the bounding units are eroded by their overlying lobe units thus giving rise to vertical amalgamation and connectivity. Amalgamations often occur at more proximal regions suggesting high flow energy. A mixed flow behavior may occur towards more distal regions, resulting in deposition of "hybrid event beds". These synthesized findings could(1) help understand the lobe reservoir distribution and compartmentalization therefore benefit the exploration and development of turbidite lobes within the deep marine basins(e.g. South China Sea) and(2) provide rules and quantitative constraints on reservoir modeling. In addition, the findings associated with deepwater turbidite lobes might be a good starting point to understand the sedimentology, architecture and hierarchy of turbidites in deep lacustrine environment.     

Parallel viewshed analysis on a PC cluster system using triple-based irregular partition scheme

Using digital elevation models (DEMs), viewshed analysis algorithms determine the visibility of each point on the terrain at a given location in space. As a data-parallel algorithm, real-time viewshed analysis from grid DEM poses a practical challenge to personal computer (PC) users, particularly when dealing with higher resolution and accuracy of large terrain data. Therefore, this paper presents a universal domain decomposition algorithm based on an equal-area strategy for the parallel viewshed analysis on a PC cluster system. The approach uses a scan-line filling method for data partitioning of the irregular bounding polygon of the terrain. The terrain data are divided into sectors of the same area that are connected by the viewpoint and the region vertices, ignoring the null value (or NODATA) points. Furthermore, each sector is assigned to one processor and is organized in the form of triples composed of location and elevation at one point. An index of triples is built to store all of the locations of terminal vertices row-by-row and thus the random access of any point is achieved by using the offsets in each row. Two commonly applied viewshed algorithms, namely, “reference plane” and “Xdraw” algorithms are employed to verify the performance. In addition, two experiments focus on evaluating the efficiency performance and comparing traditional implementation, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate a significant performance improvement compared with the sequential computing method. The memory usage gradually decreases as the number of processors increases. Based on the equal-area decomposition, partitions in terms of sectors can guarantee a suitable load balance. Additional benefits of the proposed solution also include high storage efficiency and program portability.     

基于改进的角度偏差法的采空区点云数据精简

在保证采空区几何特征不变的前提下,有必要对点云数据进行精简,提高三维建模及其应用的效率。介绍了点云数据精简算法的评价体系,探讨了空区探测系统扫测采空区的点云数据特点;在对比最小距离法、平均距离法、角度偏差法、弦高偏差法等采空区点云数据精简方法的基础上,提出了保留采空区几何特征更为有效的点云数据精简方法——改进的角度偏差法。通过对比精简前后的扫描线周长、面积及标准差等指标,认为该方法不但保持了扫描线的细节,而且使精简后扫描线上的点分布较均匀,为后续三维建模及应用打下良好基础。     

Metasomatic origin of garnet xenocrysts from the V. Grib kimberlite pipe,Arkhangelsk region,NW Russia

This paper presents new major and trace element data from 150 garnet xenocrysts from the V. Grib kimberlite pipe located in the central part of the Arkhangelsk diamondiferous province (ADP). Based on the concentrations of Cr₂O₃, CaO, TiO₂ and rare earth elements (REE) the garnets were divided into seven groups: (1) lherzolitic “depleted” garnets (“Lz 1”), (2) lherzolitic garnets with normal REE patterns (“Lz 2”), (3) lherzolitic garnets with weakly sinusoidal REE patterns (“Lz 3”), (4) lherzolitic garnets with strongly sinusoidal REE patterns (“Lz 4”), (5) harzburgitic garnets with sinusoidal REE patterns (“Hz”), (6) wehrlitic garnets with weakly sinusoidal REE patterns (“W”), (7) garnets of megacryst paragenesis with normal REE patterns (“Meg”). Detailed mineralogical and geochemical garnet studies and modeling results suggest several stages of mantle metasomatism influenced by carbonatite and silicate melts. Carbonatitic metasomatism at the first stage resulted in refertilization of the lithospheric mantle, which is evidenced by a nearly vertical CaO-Cr₂O₃ trend from harzburgitic (“Hz”) to lherzolitic (“Lz 4”) garnet composition. Harzburgitic garnets (“Hz”) have probably been formed by interactions between carbonatite melts and exsolved garnets in high-degree melt extraction residues. At the second stage of metasomatism, garnets with weakly sinusoidal REE patterns (“Lz 3”, “W”) were affected by a silicate melt possessing a REE composition similar to that of ADP alkaline mica-poor picrites. At the last stage, the garnets interacted with basaltic melts, which resulted in the decrease CaO-Cr₂O₃ trend of “Lz 2” garnet composition. Cr-poor garnets of megacryst paragenesis (“Meg”) could crystallize directly from the silicate melt which has a REE composition close to that of ADP alkaline mica-poor picrites. P-T estimates of the garnet xenocrysts indicate that the interval of ～60–110 km of the lithospheric mantle beneath the V. Grib pipe was predominantly affected by the silicate melts, whereas the lithospheric mantle deeper than 150 km was influenced by the carbonatite melts.     

A prospecting cost-benefit strategy for mineral potential mapping based on ROC curve analysis

A prospecting cost-benefit strategy is developed by quantitatively defining the prospecting cost and benefit in mineral potential mapping. Suppose that some mineral deposits have been discovered in a study area of a set of grid cells, the prospecting cost and benefit of a “unique” condition can be defined as the percentage of non-deposit-bearing and deposit-bearing cells within the “unique” condition, respectively. By replacing the false positive and true positive rates in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with the prospecting cost and benefit, the Youden index, likelihood ratio, and lift index can be computed and used to express the mineral potential of the “unique” condition. Thus, the mineral potential mapping in a study area can be implemented by identifying all the possible “unique” conditions and then computing their mineral potential indicators such as the Youden index, likelihood ratio, and lift index. By integrating an automatic “unique” condition searching algorithm with the techniques for computing the mineral potential indicators for each “unique” condition, the following prospecting cost-benefit strategy is developed for mineral potential mapping: (a) select map patterns closely associated with the discovered mineral deposits using their mineral potential indicators, (b) automatically search for all the possible “unique” conditions, (c) evaluate the mineral potential of each “unique” condition using its mineral potential indicators, and (d) assess mineral potential mapping performance using the mineral potential indicator diagrams. For demonstration purposes, the Baishan district in Southern Jilin Province in China, which has a complex geological setting, is chosen as a case study area. The weights of evidence (WofE) modeling posterior probability, Youden index, likelihood ratio, and lift index are applied in the mineral potential mapping and their performance are assessed using their ROC curves, cumulative lift charts, and Youden and likelihood ratio diagrams. The results show that (a) the likelihood ratio and lift index perform similarly well and (b) the posterior probability performs a little bit worse than the likelihood ratio and lift index while a little bit better than the Youden index. Therefore, the prospecting cost-benefit strategy provides a common paradigm for both mineral potential mapping and the performance assessment.     

颗粒物质在等比例应变加载下的分散性失稳模式

由地下水引起的静力液化可能是边坡失稳的隐含机制之一,松砂在不排水剪切条件下可能发生静力液化,密实的颗粒集合体在特定的应变路径下也会出现相似的现象,即试样整体发生急剧的失稳,应力状态尚处于峰值强度线以内。该种失稳模式称为分散性失稳,是为了强调失稳模式中没有出现应变局部化或者剪切带。采用连续-离散耦合分析方法,研究由不规则形状颗粒组成的密实集合体在等比例应变加载路径下的力学特性。根据Hill的材料失稳理论,当试样的应力增量 和应变增量 对应的2阶功 为负时,试样即发生不可逆的整体失稳破坏。以根据不同等比例应变路径得到 曲线为界,在 平面内将试样的应力状态分为剪缩区、剪胀-稳定区和剪胀-非稳定区,连接不同围压下试样发生分散性失稳时的应力状态形成失稳线发现,峰值强度线高于临界状态线,临界状态线高于失稳线。     

Simulation investigations of industrial waste migration in heterogeneously layered medium

A model of the mutual influence of macro- and micro salt diffusion upon migration of model industrial wastes in heterogeneously layered medium (sandy and clayey rocks alternation) is developed. We found that micro salt diffusion into blocks will be minimal, if it occurs under natural conditions. In the case of mutual diffusion and sorption of isotopes as one chemical agent, clayey blocks “shut” due to micro salt diffusion, and radionuclides do not penetrate into them.