Observations on the geology of the country around Chalfont St Giles,Buckinghamshire

This paper presents new field observations from the area around Chalfont St Giles and relates them to existing information from the wider Chiltern Hills region on lithostratigraphy, structural geology, geomorphological and karstic features, and landscape development. In this area the NW-SE aligned valley of the River Misbourne, an internationally rare chalk stream, and flanking interfluve plateaus form a transition zone on the chalk dipslope between the lowest elevations of outcropping chalk around Denham and the characteristic chalk valleys and clay-with-flints capped upland present from Amersham northwards. The area straddles the northernmost extent of both the Paleogene strata, represented by Lambeth Group outliers, and SW–NE aligned pre-Anglian palaeo-Thames River Terrace deposits, and contains an anomalous Lambeth Group, Quarrendon Gap, mid-slope platform. Ground investigations carried out for HS2 have helped substantiate other evidence for significant faulting across the area, with intermittent movement episodes dating from the Mid- to Late Cretaceous onwards, which have affected both the Chalk and Paleogene strata and had a major influence on shaping the valley network and wider landscape. Karstic features are widespread, including contemporary interfluve plateau level streams sinks around the Lambeth Group outliers forming active dolines, together with many concealed chalk dissolution related features. There are numerous, generally small scale, clay, chalk, sand and gravel workings most of which are long abandoned but still provide useful insights into the near surface geology.     

The lithostratigraphy of the English Chalk Rock

The Upper Turonian Chalk Rock occurs within a nodular unit within the otherwise generally soft, white chalk that dominates the English Upper Cretaceous. The nodular unit is condensed, and contains a number of hardgrounds that are designated here as the Chalk Rock Formation. The Chalk Rock contains some seven or eight hardgrounds, most of which are lithologically distinctive and can be traced over distances of up to 250 km. Nine beds within the Chalk Rock are named, comprising six hardgrounds and three marl seams. The lowermost widespread hardground appears to be more or less equivalent to the “Spurious Chalk Rock” of the south coast of England. In two areas the thickness of the Chalk Rock is greatly diminished. The most marked area, in west Wiltshire, is located close to the Palaeozoic Mendip Hills and indicates that the Mendip structure has influenced Turonian sedimentation. The other region of thinning is a platform-like area in the eastern Chiltern Hills WNW of London.     

A conceptual model for loess in England: Principles and applications

PTD, an acronym for Provenance - Transport - Deposition, is a multilayer geomorphotechnical system, the combination of geomorphology, Quaternary Sciences, and geotechnical consequences of its implementation in groundworks and other crosscutting disciplines. Embedded in its three layers are geographical, geochemical, geophysical, mineralogy, dating, lithological and geotechnical inputs. In this state-of-the-art review contribution and for Loess in England, Syngenetic and Epigenetic mechanisms are drawn out and used to generate the three constitutive layers for three conceptual PTD models and the interrelationships among them. The developed models are then deployed to inform earthworks design for three HS2 embankments in Chiltern Hills.     

Strength and stiffness of compacted chalk putty–cement blends

Chalk breaks easily when subjected to human action such as mechanical handling, earthworks operations or pile installation. These actions break the cemented structure of chalk, which turns into a degraded material known as putty, with lower strength and stiffness than the intact chalk. The addition of Portland cement can improve the behaviour of chalk putties. Yet, there are no studies determining the tensile strength of chalk putty–cement blends, the initial stiffness evolution during the curing time and other design parameters such as friction angle and cohesion of this material. This paper addresses this knowledge gap and provides an interpretation of new experimental results based on the dimensionless index expressed as the ratio between porosity and volumetric content of cement (η/C_iv) or its exponential modification (η/C_iv^a). This index aids the selection of the amount of cement and density for key design parameters of compacted chalk putty–cement blends required in geotechnical engineering projects such as road foundations and pavements, embankments, and also bored concrete pile foundations.

     

北京西山侏罗纪煤田矿震与地质灾害的关系

北京西山侏罗纪煤田开采中常产生强烈的破坏性冲击地压，是各煤矿生产中严重的井下安全隐患，成为本市十大工业灾害之一。本文作者在多年的地质灾害调查和对京西煤炭开采历史进行分析的基础上，结合西山地质构造特点提出，冲击地压发生时常伴随明显的矿震，矿震的强度受煤质和煤层顶底板性质、地质构造和区域应力场、煤田开采技术和开采深度等因素制约。破坏性矿震除直接对矿山安全生产和矿工生命造成直接的危害外，还常与采矿有关的矿山塌陷等地质灾害相伴发生，对地面居民地建筑物和居民的生命财产安全构成威胁，认为各井田以保安煤柱（或煤带）为采掘对象的生产活动是促发矿震的主要人为扰动因素，建议在有计划的搬迁地表居民地后规划开采，否则应立即强令禁止。     

Combined climatic and geological forcings on the spatio-temporal variability of piezometric levels in the chalk aquifer of Upper Normandy (France) at pluridecennal scale

The temporal variability of water-level fluctuations in the chalk aquifer of Upper Normandy, France is constrained by natural climate fluctuations and is closely linked to the regional geological patterns. The chalk plateaus are covered with 5–50 m thick semi-permeable surficial formations; the thickness of the underlying chalk aquifer varies from 50 to 300 m. The relationship among climate oscillations, piezometric levels, and geologic structure were investigated by correlation, Fourier spectral, and continuous wavelet analyses of selected piezometric time-series data. Analysis focused on two piezometers located on the uplifted side of a major fault and two piezometers on the downthrown side. After generalization to other piezometers in the region, it was deduced that, in the downthrown compartments, a substantial aquifer and surficial formations thickness would imply a strong attenuation of annual variability, while multi-year variability is clearly expressed. Conversely, in the uplifted compartments, a thin layer of surficial formations and small thickness of the chalk authorizes strong variations on the annual mode with respect to the contribution of long-term climatic oscillations (multi-year variability). The results then demonstrated—and proposed a spatial determination of—the differential influence of geological patterns on the filtering of climate-induced oscillations in piezometric variability.     

Charnockite composition in relation to the tectonic evolution of East Antarctica

Charnockitic suites in central Dronning Maud Land (DML), Mac.Robertson Land (MRL), and the Bunger Hills area are compositionally varied and probably include both mantle and lower-crustal components. In this paper we present new geological and geochemical data on the DML charnockitic rocks, and compare their geochemistry with that of charnockitic rocks from several other Antarctic high-grade terranes, particularly MRL and the Bunger Hills. These areas have different geological histories and one of the main aims of this study is to investigate possible links between charnockite composition and the tectonic history of their host terranes. Antarctic charnockitic rocks form two distinct compositional groups. 510 Ma DML charnockites are relatively alkalic and ferroan, with high K₂O, Zr, Ga, Fe / Mg, and Ga / Al, and very low MgO, characteristic of A-type (alkaline, commonly anorogenic) granitoids. The more mafic DML rocks, at least, were derived by fractionation of a relatively alkaline high-P–Ti ferrogabbro parent magma. Most other early Palaeozoic charnockitic rocks in Antarctica are of similar composition. In contrast, MRL (c. 980 Ma) and Bunger Hills (c. 1170 Ma) charnockites are mainly calc-alkalic or calcic and magnesian, and the associated mafic components are tholeiitic. MRL and Bunger Hills charnockites are late-orogenic, whereas DML charnockites are post-orogenic, and appear to have been emplaced after post-collision extension and decompression. These two mineralogically and geochemically distinct charnockite groups may thus reflect a compositional trend in an evolving orogen, either accretional or collisional, respectively.     

北京西山煤炭采空区“井筒型”塌陷灾害及成因

20世纪80年代以来，在北京西山开展的灾害地质调查中，“井筒型”塌陷坑的成因引起的争论较多。本文根据该类塌陷的地质特征，从当地的地质、水文、气候等条件的分析入手，提出煤炭采空是其形成的主要原因，地表水的下渗和矿震是其重要的诱发因素。     

Characterization by electrical and electromagnetic geophysical methods of the shallow hydrogeological system at Hebron (West Bank,Palestine) in a semi-arid zone

Multi-electrode geo-electrical and transient electromagnetic surveys were carried out to characterize the nature of the subsurface infiltration zones (5 to 20 m) related to a series of groundwater outlets, and to reveal the geometry of the different aquifers at Bani-Naim, in the south-eastern foothills of the Hebron area, West Bank, Palestine. The purpose of the surveys was to understand the link between water storage/transfer and the characteristics of the geological formations. The strata in this semi-arid region are composed of alternate layers of chalky limestone, hard limestone, marl and chalk. A total of 30 ERT and 15 TDEM were conducted at Bani Naim-Jahir and Bani Naim-Birein. A correlation between the results indicates various infiltration pathways: fractures, feature heterogeneities, and porous chalk. The local heterogeneity on the eastern side were the major pathways for the water infiltration, whereas the thick marl layer underneath acts as a natural impermeable barrier preventing water from infiltrating deeper. A combination of the different geophysical results identified conductive features that correspond to the infiltration zones supplying the dug wells with water. Furthermore, it was established that the fractured chalk and porous chalky limestone act as an aquifer. A three-dimensional visualization of the resistivity allowed a useful reconstruction of the shallow hydrogeological system. Consequently, these studies contribute to regional sustainable development projects in this semi-arid region.     

北京地区基础地质研究史

北京素有“中国地质工作摇篮”之称,是中国最早开展地质调查的地方,从1863年9月美国学者庞培莱调查京西地质开始,已有150多年的历史。中国学者编写了第一部基础地质专著《北京西山地质志》;民国时期“燕山运动”的提出和“北京猿人”的发现成为影响全国乃至世界的基础地质重大成果;解放后,地质工作者在北京率先实现1∶5万区域地质调查的全覆盖,出版了《北京市区域地质志》和《北京猿人遗址综合研究》;在唐山大地震后,开展北京平原基础地质的综合研究,提升北京区域地质研究程度。北京现在和将来的城市地质调查应立足于基础地质研究。     

Improved groundwater vulnerability mapping for the karstic chalk aquifer of south east England

The Cretaceous age Chalk of south east England forms an important aquifer. Within chalk the storage and transmission of groundwater is enhanced by subsurface karstic weathering. The case study presented in this paper demonstrates that current approaches to assessing groundwater vulnerability to pollution and delineating source protection zones are flawed, as they do not take proper account of the karstic nature of chalk.Improved techniques, based on understanding the geological and geomorphological controls of karst development in chalk, are proposed to overcome the shortcomings of published groundwater vulnerability maps. The results also demonstrate the inadequacies of current groundwater modelling approaches for defining source protection zones. The techniques follow European Commission research recommendations by taking account of recharge, presence of overlying cover deposits, the nature of chalk karst and the way in which it influences the flow of groundwater. The approach described allows for better informed decisions to be made about chalk aquifer management to ensure adequate protection and conservation of groundwater. For example, the published groundwater vulnerability map shows Lambeth Group deposits classified as being a minor aquifer of low groundwater vulnerability in the chosen study area. However, by applying the new techniques, they are classified as having an Aquifer Vulnerability Rating of moderate to very high, when taking the karstic development of the underlying chalk into account.     

History of scoria-cone eruptions on the eastern shoulder of the Kenya–Tanzania Rift revealed in the 250-ka sediment record of Lake Chala near Mount Kilimanjaro

Reconstructions of the timing and frequency of past eruptions are important to assess the propensity for future volcanic activity, yet in volcanic areas such as the East African Rift only piecemeal eruption histories exist. Understanding the volcanic history of scoria-cone fields, where eruptions are often infrequent and deposits strongly weathered, is particularly challenging. Here we reconstruct a history of volcanism from scoria cones situated along the eastern shoulders of the Kenya–Tanzania Rift, using a sequence of tephra (volcanic ash) layers preserved in the ~250-ka sediment record of Lake Chala near Mount Kilimanjaro. Seven visible and two non-visible (crypto-) tephra layers in the Lake Chala sequence are attributed to activity from the Mt Kilimanjaro (northern Tanzania) and the Chyulu Hills (southern Kenya) volcanic fields, on the basis of their glass chemistry, textural characteristics and known eruption chronology. The Lake Chala record of eruptions from scoria cones in the Chyulu Hills volcanic field confirms geological and historical evidence of its recent activity, and provides first-order age estimates for seven previously unknown eruptions. Long and well-resolved sedimentary records such as that of Lake Chala have significant potential for resolving regional eruption chronologies spanning hundreds of thousands of years.     

Diagenetic history of a North Sea chalk

A study of the petrofabrics of Danian and uppermost Maastrichtian chalk from the North Sea was undertaken to investigate its particulate components and diagenetic history. Danian and Maastrichtian chalks are intensely mottled and burrowed globi-gerinid lime mudstones. The Danian chalk matrix is composed of coccolith and thoracosphaerid debris, whereas the Maastrichtian chalk matrix contains mainly coccoliths. The lower part of the Danian is often argillaceous. Three modes of lithification are evident—a spot-welding of adjacent grains (important in Danian chalk), selective overgrowths (prolific in Maastrichtian chalk), and a sparry calcite pore filling associated with Maastrichtian stylolitization. Not only does the scant cementation of chalk stem from an inadequate source of metastable calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite, but also indirectly in that extensive pressure-solution is impeded by certain pore fluid compositions. Pressure-solution can occur only at point contacts where a threshold linear pressure is exceeded and so allows an increase in calcite solubility. It is proposed that through the formation of spot-welds an initial rigid intergranular framework is constructed in chalk relatively early during diagenesis. Subsequent increases in overburden eventually permit extensive stylolitization and the late diagenetic reprecipitation of a sparry calcite pore filling adjacent to stylolites. The time and genesis of selective overgrowths is less clear.     

Cryogenic powderization of Triassic dolostones in the Buda Hills, Hungary

Disintegration of dolostones to dolomite powder (powderization) was a widespread phenomenon in Triassic dolostones of the Buda Hills, where the areal extent of powdered dolostones is large compared to similar occurrences elsewhere in the world. In the Buda Hills, dolostone disintegration proceeded in four stages that correspond to a gradual decrease in particle size, that is, from the parent dolostone to (1) crackle breccia; via (2) mosaic breccia (diameter <2 cm); via (3) mosaic breccia blocks ‘floating’ in dolomite powder; to (4) dolomite powder (diameter 100–300 μm). Stable isotope ratios and trace element compositions of dolomite remained constant throughout these stages, and there are no indications of dissolution in most locations, suggesting that disintegration was predominantly a mechanical process. Combining these findings with the geological history of the region, and supported by a simple freezing/thawing experiment and pertinent experimental studies on weathering of building stones, it appears that powderization in the Buda Hills was caused by repeated freeze–thaw cycles during and/or after the Pleistocene glaciations. Subaerial exposure under cold climate conditions involves multiple freeze–thaw cycles that create mechanical stresses in the rock framework related to the opposing thermal expansion of rock and water that freezes and of ice that liquefies. This process is herewith called ‘cryogenic powderization’. Our data further suggest that the synergy of four factors promoted dolostone powderization in the Buda Hills: (1) tectonics, which created a pervasive fracture network; (2) intercrystalline porosity of the dolostone; (3) relatively high water saturation; and (4) subaerial exposure under cold climate conditions.     

Deformation Behavior of Chalk Studied Close to In Situ Reservoir Conditions

A laboratory test program, which simulated reservoir conditions of pressure and temperature, was conducted on outcrop and reservoir chalk samples of various porosities. All the samples experienced a stress path following uniaxial strain condition K ₀ that led to compaction failure, i.e. pore collapse. The experiments were loaded by depletion of pore pressure conducted under load controlled conditions. This depletion phase was followed by a creep period, where time-dependent deformation was monitored. The intention of creating such reservoir condition in these laboratory experiments was to gain knowledge of the nature of chalk compaction. Chalk is an important reservoir rock for the oil and gas industry with unique storage capability with porosities up toward 50%. However, this rock is also very weak which has resulted in significant reservoir compaction and in turn severe seabed subsidence and casing failure. Mapping of the mechanical behavior of chalk in terms of deformation is thus decisive for a proper understanding of these reservoirs. The results of this study show that chalk is indeed a rate-dependent material under laboratory loading conditions as time effects were revealed as the loading rate was varied. However, the results raise uncertainty about the importance of rate dependency for chalk under completely drained conditions. Further, such high-porosity chalk suffers for substantial plastic strains and obvious strain hardening. Indeed, a relation between deformation/porosity and hardening is proposed by the introduction of real-time modulus values. Time-dependent deformation, also called creep was influenced by the depletion phase, as consolidation or transient creep influenced the deformation response for as much as 175 h after a change in load. This indicates that transient creep is dependent on the stress history. However, observations suggest the existence of a universal mechanism for steady state creep, governed by neither the initial porosity nor the stress history or chalk type, which thus seems to be an independent strain contributor. Finally, time dependence is found on the K ₀ development for chalk tested at typically laboratory rates, which has been discussed as a reflection of the nature of the grain re-arrangement during failure and plastic deformation. Ultimately, such time dependence of the K ₀ may contribute to the understanding of stress path data deduced from field data.     

Emplacement of the Monteregian Hills of Quebec; Geophysical evidence

Constraints are placed on the shape of intrusions of the Monteregian Hills and a model of their emplacement is proposed. Integrated geophysical data (magnetic, gravimetric and seismic reflection) and drainage pattern information indicate that the Monteregian Hills are shallow intrusives having the form of saucers nourished by thin planar feeders. These feeders are apparently tectonically controlled by steeply dipping normal faults in the crystalline basement and intermediate to low-angle thrust faults in the overlying Lower Paleozoic sequence. Field geological evidence, geochemical and geophysical data indicate a slow ascending motion of the cooling magma and a sub-vertical rather than sub-horizontal injection mode. In view of the relatively cold state of the intruded magma and paleomagnetic data, partial and progressive melting of an olivine basalt magma is a more acceptable origin for the Monteregian Hills than a continental hot spot theory.     

An investigation of subglacial shear zone processes from Weybourne,Norfolk, UK

The glacial sediments of north Norfolk are a type site for subglacial deforming bed sediments. This investigation focussed on subglacial shear zone process at the field and thin section scale, in order to understand subglacial processes, as well as considering the implications for regional stratigraphies. The sandy and chalky tills from three sites (within 1 km) at Weybourne, Norfolk, showed evidence for subglacial deformation associated with simple shear, producing extension, compression and rotation. It was demonstrated how these processes interacted to cause chalk fragmentation and predictable fabric strengths (dependant on sorting and grain size). It is suggested that the ‘Marly Drift’ is a diachronous unit, and the resultant stratigraphy at Weybourne reflects one deformation till, resulting from a series of ice advances, but with a lithology derived from the local chalk bed rock (with some far travelled erratics), which have undergone different degrees of chalk fragmentation reflecting the nature and duration of the subglacial deformation.     

东南极古陆核的研究现状、问题与设想

东南极地盾(克拉通)中的太古宙陆核主要分布在面向印度洋扇区的内皮尔山、南查尔斯王子山、赖于尔群岛和西福尔丘陵,在面向澳大利亚、非洲和太平洋扇区只零星出露。这些古陆核被早元古代—早古生代(泛非期)造山带所分割,它们具有不同的早期演化历史和后期改造过程,并且产于不同扇区的陆核与相邻冈瓦纳陆块具有密切的亲缘关系。对东南极古陆核开展系统的冰上和冰下地质调查以及岩石地球化学综合研究,查明太古宙岩石(物质)的时空分布、岩石成因、源区性质、构造属性及其变质改造历史,进而构建东南极古大陆从初始成核到最终聚陆的历史框架,这将弥补地球早期演化研究领域的南极短板,同时也必将促进地球早期演化研究领域的发展。      

Zircon—Earth's timekeeper

One of the earliest written references to zircon is from Lydgate's edition of Aesop's Fables from c.1400 where a zircon was found ‘hid in the dunghill’. Since the humble surroundings of this early record, zircon has become a popular and important mineral. The name zircon is believed to have derived from the Persian words ‘zar’ and ‘gun’ meaning gold and colour respectively. During the Middle Ages, it was believed that wearing zircon jewellery was a cure against insomnia and protected against disease. In more modern times, zircon has found uses in industrial processes and is a key mineral for geologists investigating the geological history of the Earth. It can incorporate uranium which undergoes radioactive decay to lead at a constant rate. By measuring the ratios of uranium and lead isotopes, geologists can calculate the age at which zircons formed. Physical and chemical durability makes zircon able to survive for long periods of geological time and record information about hallmark geological events in Earth history, including early crustal formation, mountain‐building events and mass extinctions. Indeed, the oldest known material on the planet is a zircon from Jack Hills in Western Australia, dated at 4.4 billion years old, a mere 0.15 billion years after the formation of the Earth. This remarkable durability has also led to zircon finding commercial applications in high‐temperature industrial processes, such as brick foundries, while its chemical inertness makes it a potential material for testing the impact of the radioactive products of nuclear waste on mineral structures.