The importance of mineral and energy inventories

Based on the results of the Conference on Resource Assessment Techniques of IGCP Project 98 in Loen, Norway, 1976, the importance of mineral and energy inventories is demonstrated by their long-term objectives which aim at the solution of problems of quantitative and qualitative mineral and energy reserve and resource assessments, estimates of the exploration potential, supply analysis, future land-use planning, and national mineral policy. Prior to establishing a mineral and energy inventory it is essential to clearly define both the long-term and short-term objectives, because they control the scope of an inventory and determine the approach to and the method of constructing the data base. Only then can questions be answered as to the kind of data required, the advantages of regional-versus commodity-based inventories, the necessity of computer-processable data files, the availability of a user-oriented data base management system, and the usefulness of conducting a pilot project. Examples are given for simple and complex types of mineral and energy inventories. The “Mineral Deposit Inventory” of the Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany, serves mainly as an information and reference system, whereas the mineral inventory of “Project Manitoba” of the Geological Survey of Canada forms the base for reserve and resource assessment as well as land-use planning of that province. For developing and industrialized countries alike, mineral and energy inventories are appropriate tools in planning new exploration activities and decisions on future national mineral policy. Used by the Regional Mineral Resources Development Centers of ESCAP and ECA, the United Nations economic commissions in Asia and Africa, these tools could be of great advantage and mutual benefit to the developing countries of those regions. This paper was presented at the International Geological Correlation Program (IGCP) Project 98: “Standards for Computer Applications in Resource Studies” held at Taita Hills, Kenya, November 8–15, 1977.     

A computer-based system for processing geophysical data obtained from boreholes

A diverse set of computer programs has been developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)to process geophysical data obtained from boreholes. These programs support such services as digitizing analog records, reading and processing raw data, cataloging and storing processed data, retrieving selected data for analysis, and generating data plots on several different devices. A variety of geophysical data types are accommodated, including both wireline logs and laboratory analyses of downhole samples. Many processing tasks are handled by means of a single, flexible, general-purpose, data-manipulation program. Separate programs are available for processing data from density, gravity, velocity, and epithermal neutron logs. The computer-based storage and retrieval system, which has been in operation since 1973, currently contains over 4400 data files. Most of this data was obtained from the Nevada Test Site (NTS)in conjunction with the nuclear test program. Each data file contains a single geophysical parameter as a function of depth. Automatic storage and retrieval are facilitated by the assignment of unique file names that define the storage location of each data file. Files of interest to the user may be located and retrieved by means of a search program that examines the catalog. A convention recognized by all programs in the system is that of a zero ordinate denoting a gap in an otherwise continuous data trace. This convention provides a simple mechanism for editing and displaying data files in an automated and consistent manner.     

基于Visual Basic及 Access的工程资料档案管理系统开发

在社会日趋发展和信息技术取得巨大进步的今天,许多勘查设计单位原有的工程资料管理方法已不能完全满足社会各方面工程实践的要求,使用先进的工程资料管理系统是必不可少的.因此,工程资料档案管理系统是一个具有重要理论研究意义及广阔应用前景的研究课题.文章结合鹧鸪山隧道这-重大工程,利用Visual Basic和Access开发了一个适用于广大工程建设资料管理的软件.在系统开发过程中,解决了以下问题,即利用WinRAR软件实现文件的压缩及解压缩,利用SQL语言实现文件多种查询方法.通过调用文件存放地址实现文件的打开功能.工程资料档案管理系统的使用将解决工程实际中存放、保管资料的各种问题,消除了传统资料保存方式的弊端.工程资料档案管理系统具有使用方便、查询快捷等优点,具有实用价值和推广价值.     

Requirements of the data to be used for resource appraisal

General principles in evaluation and selection of data to be included in computer processible files intended for use in assisting regional resources appraisal are discussed against the background of activities related to file assembly at the Geological Survey of Canada. Some of the principles discussed are currently being implemented in the assembly of files at the GSC where they apply to the specific data being collected. Others are apparent from our analysis and would be applied if different data were being collected. The files currently being assembled at the Survey are intended to assist the commodity geologists in all project-related activities, one of which is regional resource appraisal. Prior to the commencement of data assembly, each data item considered for inclusion in the data files was scrutinized by members of the Economic Geology Subdivision in order to establish how it would contribute to the overall objectives of the file. At the same time strict definitions of each item were established. The main criteria applied to each data item considered for inclusion in the files were (a) the necessity of the item to satisfy the objectives of the file within the practical limitations of the resources available and (b) the general availability of the item. The characteristics found necessary to ensure integrity of the data files were (a) uniformity—the same definitions must apply to each item of similar type, (b) consistency—analytical results should be of the same method or differences noted in order that the data may be compared, and (c) mutual exclusiveness—especially when dealing with data referring to size. Such data should never be repeated in another part of the file or be included as part of another item.This paper was presented at the International Geological Correlation Program (IGCP) Project 98 entitled Standards for Computer Applications in Resource Studies held at Loen, Norway, September 27–October 1, 1976.     

基于Python的三维建模可视化系统的研究

将Python语言作为粘合剂,用wxPython做界面,实现了对Python自带一些计算模块的调用,同时也实现了通过Swig对C以及C++模块的调用。结合VTK以及PyOpenGL两个开源图形库,对复合三维可视化建模系统的建立进行了深入地研究,并且以Quad-Edge数据结构为原型,实现了拓扑结构更加紧凑、查询效率更高的一种数据结构模型。然后以此为基础,通过对投影面的设置,实现了空间离散点任意投影面的Delaunay三角剖分,并且充分利用此种数据结构的拓扑特性,实现了一种高效地检索任意约束影响域中的三角形、边、以及顶点的算法,最终实现了三角网任意约束的插入。到目前为止,系统已经初步实现了从DXF、Excel、TXT等文件以及Access和SQL Server数据库中读取相应模型几何数据、信息以及其他数据库相关操作的功能,还实现了空间点的距离反比、Kriging以及3次样条插值、离散点集的Delaunay三角剖分,任意形状约束的插入、两个TIN之间的互相切割等许多三维可视化建模的通用功能。     

Two GUIs-based analysis tool for spectroradiometer data pre-processing

A new graphical user interface (GUI) for pre-processing reflectance spectra, built using MATLAB and expressly designed for the ASD FieldSpec® spectroradiometer, was developed to solve problems that generally affect experimental ASD data. The GUI is characterised by an easily readable, graphic visualisation of spectra, from which the absorption band depth (ABD) can be obtained for a selected wavelength. The output format of the ASD data is a binary file with an .asd extension. The binary file, that provides a single spectrum, can be processed using a software functionality, by means of a GUI, that allows to select one or more binary files to produce a spectral library in a unique .txt file. The spectral reflectance is re-calibrated with the “convex-hull” methodology to eliminate the convex shape, which is typical of reflectance spectra. Different examples of the use of the new GUI are provided.     

基于MATLAB平台对V5-2000大地电磁测深仪TBL文件的分析与应用

在大地电磁法勘探中,为了快速从工区项目众多文件中选出与某一特定点位具有重叠采集时间的点位文件,并进行远参考处理或便捷地读取一些实测点位信息,常用的方法是利用SSMT2000处理软件,找出具有重叠采集时间的点位文件和从处理输出结果EDI文件中,逐一读取相应参数。如果采用编程的思想直接从原始TBL参数文件中读取相应参数,便可快速达到此目的。鉴于MATLAB语言最近在地学领域内越来越被广泛使用,这里利用MATLAB平台对V5—2000大地电磁测深仪TBL参数文件进行了分析,并给出相应读取程序,在提取所需信息后可以快速提高此类问题的工作效率。     

Analysis of geological events

Geological events, such as emplacement of granite or growth of slaty cleavage, may be ordered into a sequence by two methods. One is to assign each event a place in a time scale, such as years before the present, which amounts to assigning events an age designation from the set of real numbers. In ordering such a list, the algebra of real numbers applies. A second method is to determine the time relations of events in pairs, such as a fold is of type (S1, S2) or granite intrudes conglomerate. These binary relations between events may be used to order events into a sequence using the transitive properties of the relation “older than.” It is shown, however, that the binary relations between events do not follow the familiar rules for the algebra of real or integral numbers and it is necessary to erect a new system of relations called the “algebra of events.” The fundamental relation is “older than or equivalent to” and this may be used to define the relations “older than”, “younger than”, “equivalent to”, “incomparable to”, and “covers.” The essential difference from the algebra of integers is that the reflexive relation (“equal to”) is replaced by two such relations (“equivalent to” and “incomparable to”) in the algebra of events. A number of binary relations between events may be assembled into an event matrix which is basically a truth table for the relation “older than.” This may be ordered and stacked by operations termed ORDER and STACK. The relationship of each event to every other event may be determined by simple inspection of an ordered, stacked matrix, and from this a geological history may be assembled. If there are contradictions in the field data, ordering into a proper sequence is impossible and may be detected. If there are ambiguities in the field data, there are several different orders that are proper sequences so that the event matrix may be ordered. However, the ambiguities occur as voids in the stacked matrix.     

地震台站前兆数据转输的智能化

福建省地震局于2003年6月正式开通了FTP服务器,接受各台站上传前兆数据及下载地震资料。由于台站每天要上传的文件很多,而且要按文件类型分目录存放,操作起来步骤烦琐,还很容易漏传文件或传错目录。根据这种情况,本人在Window环境下利用VisualBasic6.0研制开发了地震前兆数据传输软件,该软件操作简单,容错功能好,可自动搜索指定日期应传输的所有文件,实现了前兆数据传输的智能化,确保地震前兆数据传输完整、准确、及时。本软件完全由本人自主开发,拥有完全的知识产权。     

利用三维地震勘探资料在GMS平台下实现地层实体建模的方法研究

三维地震勘探成果数据体包含丰富的地质信息，任意物性反射层均可作为钻孔地层划分的依据。物性反射层等深线数据文件与GMS中钻孔数据文件通过点的空间坐标相互关联，可高效地构建GMS中地层实体建模所需的虚拟钻孔。实践表明，该方法具有很高的地层建模精度，能成倍提高工作效率，同时也为三维地震勘探成果中其它物性特征的获取利用提供了一个可借鉴方式。     

GeoPyTool:A cross-platform software solution for common geological calculations and plots

GeoPyTool is an open source application developed for geological calculations and plots,such as geochemical classification,parameter calculation,basic statistical analysis and diagrams for structural geology.More than acting as a link from raw data stored in Microsoft Excel~(?)(MS Excel)files to vector graphic files,GeoPyTool includes recently developed routines that have not been included in previous software,such as the calculation of the Ce~((Ⅳ))/Ce~((Ⅲ))ratio for zircons as a method to examine the temporal evolution of oxygen fugacity in the magmatic source for igneous rocks,and the temperature calculator with titanium in zircon and zirconium in rutile.Besides these routines,GeoPyTool also allows users to load any figure from articles or books as a base map.As a Python-based crossplatform program,GeoPyTool works on Windows~(?),MacOS X~(?)and GNU/Linux.GeoPyTool can do the whole process from data to results without the dependence of Microsoft Excel~(?),CorelDraw~(?) and other similar software.It takes Excel~(?)XLSX and CSV(Comma Separated Value)as the formats of both the input data source files and the output calculation results files.The figures generated by GeoPyTool can be saved as portable network graphics(PNG),scalable vector graphics(SVG)or portable document format(PDF).Another highlight of GeoPyTool is the multilingual support,the official versio n of GeoPyTool supports both Chinese and English,and additional languages can be loaded through interface files.GeoPyTool is still in the development stage and will be expanded with further geochemical and structural geology routines.As an open source project,all source code of GeoPyTool are accessible on Github(https://github.com/GeoPyTool/GeoPyTool).Users with Python experience can join in the development team and build more complex functions expanding the capabilities of GeoPyTool.     

图形显示和比较古水流数据的一种软件(PC99):以青藏高原北部可可西里盆地新生代古水流数据为例

PC99是基于Windows 95 / 98/ 2 0 0 0版本操作系统的VisualBasic语言程序,以简单和友好界面图形显示、统计分析和比较古水流数据文件。这种软件支持的古水流数据显示方式包括玫瑰花图和环形图两种,玫瑰花图的花瓣宽度和半径比例尺的可调节性可以辅以解释古水流分布样式,环形图可以同时装载、显示和比较 10个单组或合成古水流数据文件。本文以青藏高原北部可可西里盆地新生代沉积的古水流数据为例,分析古水流方向的时空分布特征,表明PC99是图形显示和解释古水流数据的一种高效软件工具。     

A review of data processing in the earth sciences in Canada

Much effort is presently being given in Canada to the development of a national system for storage and retrieval of geologic data. Coordination of these efforts is directed by the secretariat of the National Institute for Geoscience Data under guidance of the Geological Survey of Canada. Most files are project oriented but archival files are justified for data whose observations cannot be repeated, such as those for mineral deposits. Presently, extensive file systems have been created for storage of information obtained in petroleum exploration and exploitation, mineral deposits, field mapping, and geochemistry and geophysics. A Canadian Index to Geoscience Data has been prepared and contains references to all maps and reports, published or unpublished, data banks, and all documents on open file for the federal and provincial agencies.SAFRAS, a general, self-adaptive free-format retrieval and storage system, is employed to retrieve data in plain language. Although geologists are using data systems, it will be the coming generation of geologists who will make maximum use of data processing in geology.presented to the Geological Society of Washington, 8 December 1969.     

沉积岩粒度分析专家系统

本文介绍了沉积岩粒度分析专家系统的构成和其知识库、信息库（包括数据库）、扩展表格条件、文本文件等，推理机及知识获取部分的特性。该系统建立在ＩＢＭ及其兼容微机上，模仿专家解答问题的方式，采用良好的人机交互界面，对沉积岩粒度分析结果进行综合分析。经该专家系统咨询后，用户能得出沉积岩的名称、沉积环境和沉积相。     

Estimating transmissivity using empirical and geostatistical methods in the volcanic aquifers of Upper Awash Basin, central Ethiopia

Transmissivity (T) is a basic hydraulic parameter of an aquifer that is utilized in most groundwater flow equations to understand the flow dynamics and is generally estimated from pumping tests. However, the cost of performing a large number of aquifer tests is expensive and time consuming. The fact that specific capacity (S _c) is correlated with hydraulic flow properties of aquifers simplifies parameter estimation mainly because specific capacity values are more abundant in groundwater databases than values of transmissivity and they offer another approach to estimate hydraulic parameters of aquifers. In this study, an empirical relation is derived using 214 pairs of transmissivity and specific capacity values that are obtained from pumping tests conducted on water wells penetrating the complex volcanic aquifers of Upper Awash Basin, central Ethiopia. Linear and logarithmic regression functions have been performed and it is found that the logarithmic relationship predicting transmissivity from specific capacity data has a better correlation (R = 0.97) than the linear relationship (R = 0.79). The two parameters are log-normally distributed, in which the logarithmic relation is also better statistically justified than the linear relation. Geostatistical estimations of the transmissivity were made using different inputs and methods. Measured and supplemented transmissivity data obtained from estimates using the derived empirical relation were krigged and cokrigged, spherical and exponential models were fitted to the experimental variograms. The cross-validation results showed that the best estimation is provided using the kriging procedure, the transmissivity field represented by the measured transmissivity data and the experimental variogram fitted with the exponential model. Based on the geostatistical approach, the transmissivity map of the aquifer is produced, which will be used for groundwater flow modeling of the study area that will follow this analysis.     

Design of geological data systems for developing nations

For analytical, inventory, and a variety of other basic types of geological data the main functions of an information management system can adequately be accommodated by simple systems in which comprehensiveness is compromised in favor of practicality and ease of implementation. Albeit possessing some shortcomings, such a strategy is likely to prove profitable particularly to geologists in developing nations who are confronted with the task of self-developing much needed geological data systems in the face of limited electronic data processing resources. Based on the experience of the Geological Survey of Israel, several considerations and practical guidelines for the design and implementation of such systems can be outlined. Data bases should be limited in their scope to specific subjects or projects, be designed to serve existing and only the more realistic foreseeable needs, and include provisions for merger and intelligent communication with related files. Such data bases typically contain logically simple-structured information and are small in size. Revision, deletion, and update transactions are infrequent; the search criteria for retrieval are for the most part predictable and a fast response time is not essential. These attributes prescribe a preference for simple fixed- or semi-free-format sequential files which, in turn, simplify appreciably the programming of the supporting software. Input forms should be meticulously planned with due consideration given to aspects of software compatibility, user convenience and acceptance, and efficiency in data gathering. The use of standard forms should be integrated into the institution's routine to facilitate direct data entry by each contributor, thereby improving and economizing the data collection process, and to secure data capture at its acquisition level (field, laboratory). The user's more immediate retrieval needs are adequately satisfied by a master list, documenting the entire data base and a number of external inverted index directories cross-referencing the master list according to the attributes by which the file is most likely to be searched. Further development of output capabilities should be directed to provide for flexible retrieval by multikey query functions and base map posting. For data files storing raw chemical analyses of rocks and water samples, the incorporation of processing capabilities to compute interpretative geochemical parameters as an integral part of the system's output is particularly useful. Paper presented at the 25th International Geological Congress, Section 16A, Sydney, Australia, August 1976.     

Characterisation of organic matter and microbial communities in contrasting arsenic-rich Holocene and arsenic-poor Pleistocene aquifers,Red River Delta,Vietnam

High concentrations of geogenic As in the groundwaters of south and SE Asia, which are used as drinking waters, are causing severe health impacts to the exposed human populations. It is widely accepted that As mobilisation from sediments into these shallow reducing groundwaters requires active metal-reducing microbes and electron donors such as organic matter (OM). Although OM in such Holocene aquifers has been characterised, there is a dearth of data on Pleistocene aquifers from the same areas. Reported here are preliminary studies of OM and microbial communities present in two aquifers, one of Pleistocene and one of Holocene age, with contrasting concentrations of As (viz. Pleistocene: low As <10 μg/L; Holocene: high As up to 600 μg/L) from Van Phuc village in the Red River Delta, Vietnam. Results revealed OM inputs from multiple sources, including potential contributions from naturally occurring petroleum seeping into the shallow aquifer sediments from deeper thermally mature source rocks. Although concentrations vary, no noticeable systematic differences in biomarker distribution patterns within the OM were observed between the two sites. Microbial analyses did not show a presence of microbial communities previously associated with As mobilisation. All clone libraries were dominated by α-, β-, and γ-Proteobacteria not known to be able to reduce Fe(III) or sorbed As(V). Furthermore, representatives of the Fe(III)-reducing genus Geobacter could only be detected at very low abundance by PCR, using highly selective 16S rRNA gene primers, supporting the hypothesis that metal reduction is not a dominant in situ process in these sediments. No correlation between As concentration in groundwater and OM composition nor microbial community in the host sediments was found. This suggests that either (i) As is not being significantly mobilised in situ in these sediments, instead As appears to be mobilised elsewhere and transported by groundwater flow to the sites or (ii) sorption/desorption processes, as implicated by geochemical data from the cores, play a critical role in controlling As concentrations at these sites.     

Activity cycles of M dwarfs

We have determined activity cycles for coolest M dwarfs using photometry from the ASAS survey. The time scales of brightness variations were determined for the program stars using calculated amplitude power spectra and wavelet spectra. Most of ther program stars display periodicities in their light-curve variations, with periods from hundreds of days to years. Analysis of diagrams plotting P _cyc/P _rot versus 1/P _rot in logarithmic coordinates shows that the data for all our program objects fit the general relation quite well. No differences in the activity cycles are found for our sample stars, which have different masses and thus internal structures, some having convective envelopes and others being totally convective. Our analysis indicates that the slope i of this relation is close to unity, regardless of whether it is determined from all data, from data for the shortest cycles, or from data for the longest cycles. This value of i differs from values in the literature for stars of other spectral types. Our analysis of the P _cyc-P _rot relation indicates that the activity cycles for the studied sample of M dwarfs do not depend on the rotation periods of these objects. The data for the studied objects do not agree with any of the relations for relatively young (active) stars or older (less active) stars. The studied M dwarfs probably form another branch of low-mass stars that display more random, irregular magnetic activity on their surfaces, which is generated and supported by the distributed dynamo mechanism or a small-scale dynamo mechanism.