The Abnormal Condition Analysis used to characterize weathered discard coals

Coal, by its nature, is unstable and weathers when exposed to moisture and oxygen. Weathering can result in a general decline on the commercial value and technological properties of coal. Coals of similar chemical properties have been shown to combust differently, and the differences can be attributed to petrographic composition variations, poor combustion environments, and weathered particles. Stockpiled and dumped discard coals have been targeted for use by a lower power utility, and a novel technique was developed to quantify and qualify the degree of weathering in these coals. The petrographic based Abnormal Condition Analysis (previously referred to as the Weathering Index Analysis) considers features not typically characterized during routine petrographic analyses, but which may have an impact on the technological properties of coals. Discard coals ranging in age from 5 to 40 years where characterized to determine the extent of secondary weathering. Eight secondary weathering features, clearly different from inherent weathering, were qualified and quantified. Margin effect appears to be an early microscopic indicator of weathering, followed by discoloration. Alteration minerals have only been observed in stockpiled and dumped coals and hence could be a useful feature to benchmark when considering whether or not a coal has been stored. Long-term stored coals have microcrack and fissure patterns clearly different from fresh coals. The length of exposure to weathering processes was determined to be proportional to the extent of weathering as determined petrographically. The Abnormal Condition Analysis should be used as a supplement to routine coal petrography as it can assist with the determination of anomalous behavior of coals.     

Chemical weathering and Rb-Sr whole rock ages

Weathered whole rock samples of five lithic units from Maine, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina were analyzed to evaluate the effect of chemical weathering on the Rb-Sr ages of the original rocks. Major element and turbidity analyses, as well as standard X-ray diffraction and petrographic studies were made on selected samples. All weathered granitic rocks are friable; several are almost saprolites. Volcanic rocks are powdery or are pitted as a result of the weathering of plagioclase phenocrysts. The weathering profiles studied all are young relative to the age of the unaltered rock. Considering the extent of weathering, however, ages of the weathered samples are remarkably close to the published ages for unaltered samples of the same units. Weathered samples have ages ranging from essentially the same as fresh samples to no more than 20% younger than the age obtained from the fresh samples. In one profile, we have attempted to quantify the extent of weathering: there is a positive correlation between our measure of the degree of weathering and per cent ‘lowering’ of the age. Weathering of plagioclase apparently has little effect on whole rock ages; ages are lowered significantly only where biotite and K-feldspar have undergone considerable alteration.     

The Influence of Weathering on the Engineering Properties of Dunites

Weathering processes cause important changes in the engineering properties of rocks. In this study, dunites in the Bursa region in western Turkey were investigated and the changes in engineering properties due to weathering were evaluated. The studies were initiated with field observations including measurement of the characteristics of discontinuities such as spacing, aperture, fill material, roughness, and Schmidt hammer rebound value. Subsequently, laboratory studies were conducted in two stages. The first stage comprised mineralogical, petrographic, and chemical analyses. The second stage included physicomechanical tests to determine specific gravity, unit weights, water absorption, effective porosity, uniaxial compressive strength, P-wave velocity, and slake-durability index. According to these evaluations, the changes in engineering properties were determined to be mostly related to serpentinization at every stage of weathering. The most suitable parameters for characterizing the degree of weathering of the studied dunites are loss-on-ignition values, specific gravity, unit weight, water absorption, and effective porosity.     

Effect of weathering on the geomechanical properties of andesite, Ankara – Turkey

Andesite exposed in different parts of Ankara has different weathering categories varying from fresh to residual soil. The geomechanical properties of the andesite are significantly affected by weathering. Buildings constructed especially in completely weathered and residual soil levels of the andesite have some geotechnical problems. In this study, the variation of the geomechanical properties of the andesite due to weathering is investigated in three selected sites of Ankara, through optical microscope, X-ray diffraction analyses, major element analyses, pressuremeter tests, physicomechanical tests, and seismic refraction method. The data gathered from the field and laboratory studies were used to assess the characteristics of the weathering zones. Based on the data obtained from this study, an idealized weathering profile is assessed. No bearing capacity and consolidation settlement problems exist in the area. However, care should be taken for immediate settlement of the buildings. Slopes with heights less than 8 m are not expected to cause any significant problems for buildings. There exists a ground amplification problem in the study area. The natural period of the building should not match that of the weathered rock. The ground response analyses reveal that the buildings with four to seven stories may be adversely affected from earthquakes due to resonance phenomenon. Therefore, this has to be taken into account when designing new buildings.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of chemical weathering,Butler Hill Granite,Missouri

Major element, Rb, Sr and Sr isotope abundances were examined in an ancient (Cambrian) weathering zone in the Butler Hill Granite, Missouri. Most of the major elements behaved predictably and systematically as a result of weathering intensity. MgO and the alkalis (Na₂O and K₂O) show highly erratic variations in both fresh and weathered rocks, suggesting considerable initial heterogeneity in the composition of biotite and feldspar. Rb predictably follows the behaviour of K during weathering (showing erratic variations similar to K), whereas Sr follows Ca (decreasing steadily as a result of weathering intensity). A method is postulated to date ancient weathering episodes using Rb-Sr data from a sequence of fresh to highly weathered samples. Data from the Butler Hill Granite (1185 m.y.) lend support to the proposed dating technique but show that more detailed sampling of the most intensely weathered regions is needed to produce more accurate results in future studies.     

The negative effect of environmental geological conditions of some geo-archaeological sites of North Coast and Alexandria

Three geo-archaeological sites at the North Coast and Alexandria, namely, the Alexandria wall (El Shalalat Park site), Abu Soir temple, and Marina excavations, were investigated to determine the negative impact of a salty environmental condition. The monuments suffer from rock decay of different rates. The geo-archaeological sites were built mainly from oolitic limestone blocks (i.e., the Alexandria wall at the El Shalalat Park site and Abu Soir temple) or excavated on them (i.e., Marina excavations). Field inspection and a lab analysis were carried out to understand the weathering mechanism. Salt weathering criteria such as disintegration, pitting, scaling, exfoliation, and honeycomb are observed on the Alexandria wall and upper parts of the Abu Soir temple, while dangerous cracks are detected on the Marina excavation tombs. The petrographic study of the oolitic limestone samples shows that they consist mainly of oolities and drusy sparite as a cement (oolitic grainstone). Some oolities have quartz grains as nuclei. Hydrochemical analysis shows that the total dissolved salts of extracted solutions of the North Coast quarry samples range from 539 to 686 ppm and dramatically increase (i.e., ten times) for extracted solutions from monument samples, ranging from 5395 to 6880 ppm. The dominant cation is sodium while the dominant anion is chlorine. Acid insoluble residue analysis shows that the carbonate content ranges from 89.2% to 96.4% for fresh samples from quarries and from 9.2% to 94.8% for weathered monument samples. The weight loss of the quarry oolitic limestone samples range from 30.7% to 32.7% and its physical and mechanical properties become worse after being subjected to 15 cycles of a durability simulation soundness test (using a sodium sulphate solution). Our main recommendations are to use suitable grouting for binding the cracks, high durability reconstruction rocks, and suitable cleaning methods to remove salts from the monuments.     

基于结构体的峨眉山玄武岩风化程度评价（Ⅳ）：风化指数FF

提要：岩石化学风化程度评价指标应该同时满足以下三个基本条件,即与风化程度之间的关系简单明确、对风化程度变化具有足够的敏感性和易于确定和不易受到人为因素影响。作为铁镁质岩石的主要代表,（峨眉山）玄武岩风化程度评价除考虑可引起组分淋失与富集的水解反应外,还应充分考虑二价铁的氧化反应。新鲜峨眉山玄武岩中并存的二价铁和三价铁的含量总体稳定,910个样品的FeO、Fe₂O₃平均含量分别为8.45%和5.15%,以均匀、随机的方式赋存于辉石、橄榄石、杏仁体中的绿泥石、磁铁矿及火山玻璃中。风化玄武岩、玄武岩斜坡地下水及新鲜玄武岩浸泡液的地球化学研究结果表明,FeO及Fe₂O₃含量对峨眉山玄武岩风化程度的敏感性明显高于其他组分,同时铁又是玄武岩风化过程中活动性最差的元素之一。三价铁和二价铁的摩尔数比值（FF）适合于峨眉山玄武岩整个风化过程的风化程度判别,比既有风化指数具有更高的分辨率,尤其是对风化初期玄武岩。     

Apport de l'analyse d'images dans l'étude de l'altération d'un basalte alcalin (Moyen Atlas, Maroc)Contribution of image analysis to the study of weathering process in alkaline basalt (Middle Atlas, Morocco)

Quaternary alkaline basalts of Middle Atlas, are weathered into spheroidal volumes organized into weathering cover. In the profile studied, the study of transformations from a fresh core basalt to the most weathered rinds, has been analysed using BESI images (backscattred electron image analysis). A part from the microscopic analysis of each weatherted basalt, proportions of primary minerals, clays and pore space has been quantified in different stages of weathering. Indeed, in fresh core basalt, weathering is characterized by a first dissolution of the glass, followed by feldspar transformations in twinning plans, cleavages and in micropores inherited from the magmatic and cristallographic history of the rock.

In most basaltic weathered rinds, pore spaces given by the dissolution of the glass, were filled by a mixture of clays and iron products. In these samples, feldspars are completely dissolved giving important porosity occupied by small quantity of halloysite and kaolinite. The olivine and pyroxene transformations are accompanied by weak pore space formation. At the bottom of the soil, this porosity decreases in response to filling by later secondary products which come from the upper part of the soil by weathering solutions.     

Weathering and mineralogical variation in gneissic rocks and their effect in Sangrumba Landslide,East Nepal

Sangrumba landslide is one of the largest and the most active landslides in Nepal Himalaya. Geologically the landslide belongs to the Higher Himalaya and consists of Pre-Cambrian biotite–garnet and sillimanite gneiss with some quartzite. The present paper aims at describing various degrees of rock weathering and their effect in Sangrumba landslide. Field study followed by mineralogical, geochemical and geotechnical analyses of the collected rock and soil samples from the landslide zone were used in characterizing weathering degree. The gneisses are intensely weathered while quartzite is unweathered. Petrographical and X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the rocks in the landslide zone had undergone weathering process with the formation of different types of clay minerals as kaolinite, vermiculite, smectite and chlorite. This was further confirmed by the Scan Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X-ray analyses. These clay minerals drastically reduced the rock strength facilitating the extensive failure of the Sangrumba landslide. The major and trace element composition of the rock and soil samples was calculated from the XRF analyses. The geochemical analyses and weathering indexes of rocks showed that they are significantly weathered and had a major influence in the formation of the Sangrumba landslide. In addition, mechanical strength measurement of rock/soil showed that the strength drastically decreases as the weathering intensity increases. Rainfall followed by the rock type are the most dominant parameters influencing the weathering process which leads to the formation of large landslide as the present one. These findings can be used in other areas with similar geological and topographical conditions.     

黄河拉西瓦水电站坝区花岗岩风化研究

风化作用对于岩体工程地质性能的降低不言而喻。研究探讨重大水电工程岩石风化作用机理对于工程区岩体风化带划分、风化渐进性分析、表征岩体风化特征指标的选择及力学性质参数取值等具有重要意义。文章从风化作用本质、化学元素迁移、风化作用类型等角度,对拉西瓦水电站坝区花岗岩风化作用机理进行了探讨。结合本区气候演化、岩石性质、地形条件等综合分析认为:在浅表河谷范围内,风化形式以岩石胀缩作用和冰劈作用为主,而化学风化作用并不强烈。论文采用量化指标对岩体进行风化带划分,选取的定量指标有平硐纵波速度Vp、钻孔RQD、裂隙间距与单元面积节理数等。在此基础上,利用电站20余a来丰富详实的地质、物探、岩体测试等大量资料,采用定性分析与定量划分相结合的研究方法,对黄河拉西瓦坝基花岗岩体进行风化分带,得出坝基岩体风化带总体空间布局。     

Quantification of weathering depths in slightly weathered tuffs

Slightly weathered white and pink tuffs of Midas monument have deterioration problems. In this study, depths of the weathering zones developed in the tuffs are investigated through optical microscopy, XRD, chemical analyses, SEM and some index parameters. By examining quantitative weathering indices and comparing them with thin section studies, it is found that thin section analyses of the phenocrysts, LoI and WPI are good indicators to quantify the depth of weathering for the tuffs. However, thin section studies have limited value for fine-grained tuffaceous matrix. The chemical weathering of the tuffs produces weathered zones that are 4.5 cm thick within the white tuff and 2.5 cm thick within the pink tuff. Physical weathering causes fracturing of feldspars along their cleavage planes. Variations of the index properties of the tuffs caused by weathering are not significant enough to quantify the weathering depths in the tuffs.     

Engineering aspects of weathered dolomite in an arid zone

Two bores were drilled in the weathered zone of a Precambrian dolomite at Fowler's Gap, 100 km N of Broken Hill, New South Wales. Five weathering units have been distinguished: fresh dolomite; weathered dolomite, type B; weathered dolomite, type A; ferricrete; and surface hardened dolomite. Physical and mechanical properties show variation throughout the weathering profile, and are related to the fabric of the rock, especially to the fracturing intensity, which is a function of degree of weathering; and to secondary surface silicification. A tentative engineering classification of the weathered dolomite is proposed.     

A new chemical index of weathering for metamorphic silicate rocks in tropical regions: A study from Sri Lanka

Weathered and fresh samples of metamorphic rocks from Sri Lanka were collected from various localities and analysed for major elements by XRF method (RIGAKU, KG-X System, Japan). The content of water was determined by the ignition method.

The XRF results, obtained from these samples form the basis of a new index of chemical weathering, particularly for Sri Lanka, which is named the Silica-Titania Index, and is calculated as follows: Silica-Titania Index = {(SiO₂/TiO₂)/[(SiO₂/TiO₂) × (Al₂O₃/TiO ₂) × (SiO₂/Al₂O₃)]} × 100(molecular proportions).

The index can be used to determine the degree of weathering in chemically weathered silicate rocks of other countries in tropical regions. A triangular diagram plots the position of this index. The point load strengths of fresh rocksand weathered rocks with different degrees of weathering were correlated with the values of this new chemical index. The relative variation in strengths of fresh rocks and weathered rocks clearly indicates its suitability and usefulness for engineering geologists.     

丹霞地貌砂岩的微观化学风化作用电子探针研究

利用偏光显微镜观察、电子探针分析等手段对江西龙虎山丹霞地貌崖壁砂岩的微观化学风化作用的发展过程进行了研究,重点观测黑云母蛭石化以及长石黏土化过程中矿物组分的变化,进而探讨丹霞地貌砂岩的微观化学风化作用机理。在微观化学风化下,强风化层胶结物中的方解石迅速分解流失,从而导致黑云母大量发生蛭石化和铁的氧化物在矿物边部富集;长石则大量发生黏土化而使高岭石、石英等矿物富集。研究表明丹霞地貌砂岩在微观化学风化作用下矿物分解以及新矿物的形成都破坏原来岩石中的力学平衡,因而风化作用在宏观上表现为岩面片状剥离和重力崩塌,据此推断更大尺度的风化作用可能与岩石中矿物的微观化学风化作用存在着密切联系,是微观化学风化作用长期累积后在宏观上的综合表现。      

Durability assessment of the Ala?at? tuff (Izmir) in western Turkey

Ala?at? tuff has been used extensively as a source of building stone for outdoor and indoor decorations since the historical times in and around the tourist town of Ala?at? (western Turkey). The use of the Alacati tuff in buildings has been made compulsory by the Ala?at? municipality, for preserving the historical appearance of the buildings, after 2005 in Ala?at?. It has been noticed that, evident deteriorations developed in tuff surfaces of the stone buildings and garden walls within 5?C6?years of their emplacement. Durability properties of the Ala?at? tuff are evaluated by determining the mineralogical, chemical, and physico-mechanical properties of the fresh tuff samples obtained from the only operative quarry in the area. Ageing tests such as Na₂SO₄ and MgSO₄ salt crystallization, freezing?Cthawing, and wetting?Cdrying were conducted on the fresh tuff samples to assess their durability. Additionally, the durability of the tuff is also evaluated by determining its average pore diameter, saturation coefficient, wet-to-dry strength ratio, static rock and slake-durability indices. Fresh Ala?at? tuff has high porosity and low unit weight and strengths and are classified to be very poor to moderately durable stone based on the test results of different durability assessment methods. Mineralogical and geochemical analyses have also been carried out on the deteriorated tuff samples collected from the surfaces of the stone buildings to determine the effect of weathering on tuff and the test results have been compared with those of the fresh tuff samples. There is no major difference observed between the mineralogy and chemistry of the fresh and weathered tuff samples thus, it has been concluded that physical weathering has been dominant in the area in deterioration of tuff.     

Petrographic properties of major coal seams in Turkey and their formation

Most types of coal in Turkey are generally low in rank: lignite, and subbituminous. Most of the coal was formed during the Miocene, Eocene, and Pliocene ages. There are only a few thin Jurassic-age coal occurrences in Turkey. Pennsylvanian age bituminous coal is found on the Black Sea coast. General implications of the petrographic properties of Turkey's coal seams and coal deposits have not yet been taken into consideration comparatively or as a whole.For this study, about 190 channel samples were collected from different locales. The composite profile samples of the seams were taken into considerations. The content and depositional properties as well as some chemical and physical properties of the main coal seams are compared. All coal samples tend to have similar coal petrographic properties and were deposited in intermontane lacustrine basins. Later, they were affected by faulting and post-depositional volcanic activity. As a result, there are variations in the properties and rank of the coal samples. The most abundant coal maceral group is huminite and the most abundant maceral is gelinite. The liptinite and inertinite contents of the coal are low and the maceral contents of the coals show great similarity. The depositional environments of the all coals are lacustrine dominated.     

How Do Surficial Lithic Assemblages Weather in Arid Environments? A Case Study from the Atacama Desert,Northern Chile

Archaeological sites composed only of surficial lithics are widespread in arid environments. Numerical dating of such sites is challenging, however, and even establishing a relative chronology can be daunting. One potentially helpful method for assigning relative chronologies is to use lithic weathering, on the assumption that the most weathered artifacts are also the oldest. Yet, few studies have systematically assessed how local environmental processes affect weathering of surficial lithics. Using macroscopic analyses, we compared the weathering of surficial lithic assemblages from seven mid‐to‐late Holocene archaeological sites sampled from four different microenvironments in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Changes in polish, texture, shine, and color were used to establish significant differences in weathering between two kinds of locations: interfluves and canyon sites. Lithics from interfluve sites were moderately to highly weathered by wind and possessed a dark coating, whereas canyon lithics were mildly weathered despite greater exposure to moisture, often lacked indications of eolian abrasion, and lacked dark coatings. Our results show that lithic weathering can be used as a proxy for relative age, but only after considering local environmental factors. The power of such chronologies can be improved by combining archaeological, paleoenvironmental, geomorphological, and taphonomic data.     

Mercury-binding forms in coals and their geological provenances in coals of different types

Mercury (Hg) is an element of environmental and geological significance. Quantification of different Hg-binding forms is crucial to understand geological Hg provenances and associated geochemical processes during coal formation. In this study, seven coal samples were selected, according to coal rank (i.e., middle volatile bituminous, C-3; low volatile bituminous, C-2; anthracite, C-1), chemical anomalies (high S coal, IBC-105; high Cl coal, C22650) and sampling environment (fresh coal, LH; weathered coal LHW), to determine their Hg-binding forms using well-established sequential extraction procedures coupled with sink–float experiment. In the thermally metamorphosed samples C-1 and C-2, a comparative enrichment of total Hg relative to C-3 is observed. Silicate- and organic-bound Hg are the dominant Hg-binding forms in C-1, suggesting possible Hg sources from magma silicate and secondary Hg enrichment by adsorption. Sulfide- and organic-bound Hg are the most abundant Hg-binding forms in IBC-105, whereas only organic-bound Hg dominates in CC22650. Weathering processes are suggested to transform the abundant sulfide-bound Hg in LH to silicate- and organic-bound Hg in its weathering product LHW.     

A petrologic method of analysis of nonmaceral microstructures in coal

The petrographic maceral composition and vitrinoid reflectance of bituminous coals have been correlated with their carbonization characteristics and are widely used to predict how coals will perform in the coking process and to calculate the strength of the resulting coke. As a result, there is a growing dependence on coal petrographic data in characterizing coals for cokemaking. In addition, there is a growing awareness that there are other nonmaceral microstructures in coal such as material size, shape, association, fracturing, and weathering which should permit better characterization of coals when properly interpreted. These nonmaceral microstructures also give an insight into the metamorphic history and changes due to burial and exhumanation.To expand the use of coal petrologic and petrographic data, a new analytical procedure has been developed that requires the microscopic determination of such nonmaceral microstructures as normal coal, coal fines, pseudovitrinoids, microbrecciation, oxidation, coarse mineral matter, miscellaneous materials, and contamination. The occurrence of one or more of these microstructures in coal, depending on their kind and abundance, may have a significant effect on the coal performance in various processes. This work has resulted in formulation of a technique for determining the nonmaceral microstructures in coal and, if applied as a supplement to the routine maceral analysis of coals, should help in explaining the anomalous behavior of some coals.     

承德避暑山庄砂岩文物的基本性质和风化机理

世界文化遗产地承德避暑山庄内有大量的砂岩文物。在长期风化作用下,很多砂岩文物发生了严重的风化病害,亟须保护。通过现场调查,发现避暑山庄砂岩文物的风化病害主要为开裂、剥落、粉化、生物寄生等。通过室内测试,得出了该砂岩的矿物学、岩石学性质和物理、力学性质。在此基础上,分析了该砂岩的风化机理,认为钙质胶结物的溶解、干湿交替和盐分结晶膨胀是造成该砂岩粉化、剥落风化的主要原因。相关研究为该砂岩文物的修复保护提供科学支撑。