Aggregate production: Fines generation during rock crushing

The energy required to crush rocks is proportional to the amount of new surface area that is created; hence, a very important percentage of the energy consumed to produce construction aggregates is spent in producing non-commercial fines. Data gathered during visits to quarries, an extensive survey and laboratory experiments are used to explore the role of mineralogy and fracture mode in fines production during the crushing of single aggregates and aggregates within granular packs. Results show that particle-level loading conditions determine the failure mode, resulting particle shape and fines generation. Point loading (both single particles and grains in loose packings) produces clean fractures and a small percentage of fines. In choked operations, high inter-particle coordination controls particle-level loading conditions, causes micro-fractures on new aggregate faces and generates a large amount of fines. The generation of fines increases when shear is imposed during crushing. Aggregates produced in current crushing operations show the effects of multiple loading conditions and fracture modes. Results support the producers' empirical observations that the desired cubicity of aggregates is obtained at the expense of increased fines generation when standard equipment is used.     

青藏高原及邻区重要成矿带矿产资源基地调查与研究进展

西藏四大成矿带是特提斯洋漫长演化的产物,尤其近年来一系列超量富集铜金矿床的发现和勘查评价的成果,使得西藏不仅成为我国最重要的资源储备和开发基地之一,更是国家资源安全保障基地。然而,由于自然环境恶劣、地质工作艰辛、工作程度较低等原因导致带内众多关键地质问题仍未解决,尤其是被称为"世界屋脊的屋脊"的班公湖-怒江成矿带(简称班-怒带)的地质调查和矿产勘查评价工作受到严重制约。针对上述问题,由中国地质科学院矿产资源研究所牵头和主导的多个项目,与国内外12个高校、研究所、地勘单位、企业开展"产学研用"合作,以1∶5万区域(矿产)地质调查和综合研究为技术手段,以解决制约找矿突破的关键性科学问题为目标,取得了一系列重要认识:(1)从青藏高原中部构造、沉积、岩浆耦合等多方位出发,对晚三叠世-早白垩世的特提斯洋演化进行了深入的研究,提出了全新的认识,为找矿突破奠定了基础。(2)对多龙矿集区铜金矿床地质特征、矿床类型厘定、成矿动力学机制及矿床保存条件进行了细致的刻画,建立了斑岩-高硫化浅成低温热液型铜金矿的成矿模式和勘查模型,深化了多龙铜资源基地成岩成矿作用和成矿规律的认识,进一步指出多龙矿集区作为藏北"明珠"般地潜力及特色,做实了藏西国家级有色金属储备基地。(3)对班公湖-怒江成矿造山带野外填图工作方法进行了摸索,总结出一套符合班-怒混杂岩带的1∶5万岩性+构造填图理论和方法,并付诸实践。同时研发的"短红外光谱+高精度AMT+高精度磁法+土壤(岩石)地球化学测量"勘查技术方法组合在多个矿床的勘查评价中得到了有效的应用。(4)对班-怒带、冈底斯带新发现、新突破矿床的成岩成矿作用进行了深入研究,完善和丰富了大洋俯冲-大陆碰撞的矿床成矿系列,识别出多种新矿床类型,为西藏主要成矿带下一步找矿勘查工作指明了方向。     

Distribution and provenance of the Baginton Sand and Gravel in the Wreake Valley,northern Leicestershire,England: Implications for inter-regional correlation

The Baginton Sand and Gravel is traced along the lower Wreake Valley as a continuous water-laid stratum at the base of the drift succession. Its properties closely resemble those previously described from the proto-Soar valley, namely an upward fining sequence and a composition dominated by pebbles of Triassic and Carboniferous origin. Such a provenance is consistent with the idea that the proto-Soar once followed a route eastwards past Melton Mowbray, and that the drainage along the lower Wreake Valley has been reversed in the course of Pleistocene times. However, the slope of the sand and gravel train appears to be to the west rather than the east, and the rockhead relief is also inconsistent with an eastward-flowing proto-Soar. Until this enigma is resolved, it would be imprudent to use the Baginton Sand and Gravel as the basis for inter-regional correlations. The issue is further complicated by the preservation at Brooksby of earlier interglacial or interstadial deposits whose temporal affinities remain unclear.     

中国煤炭科学产能与资源保障程度分析

从煤炭资源、煤炭生产现状入手,按照煤炭资源区划,分析了我国煤矿现有产能及其分布,按照区域煤炭产能估算公式,测算我国已查明的资源储量仅能形成65亿t产能,其中东部地区仅为8亿t。对影响煤炭产能的水资源、生态环境、安全集约化生产、运输、大气环境等多种约束条件进行研究与评价,估算出我国煤炭科学产能为38亿t左右。通过煤炭资源保障程度的分析,认为我国煤炭资源总体保障程度高,但是东部地区煤炭供需矛盾突出,资源保障程度较低,主要炼焦配煤短缺局面仍未得到缓解,认为加强东部和稀缺煤种找矿力度,合理勘查开发周边国家煤炭资源,是缓解我国东部煤炭供应紧张局面的有效措施。     

冻土天然气水合物开采技术进展及海洋水合物开采技术方案研究

调查发现,陆域永久冻土层及海域都存在着天然气水合物资源。我国2007年和2008年先后在南海海域及祁连山木里地区发现水合物实物样品。中国地质调查局于2010年开始实施冻土水合物试采技术研究及现场开采试验,2017年将在我国南海海域实施海洋水合物试采,相关准备工作正在进行中。本文介绍了陆域水合物试采进展及海洋水合物试采技术方案的构思。     

The first deep Quaternary groundwater capture in Switzerland: combined use and environmental benefits

 Foresighted and determined local authorities, purposeful exploration (i.e. by seismic reflection) and extensive testing led to the discovery of a substantial groundwater resource near the community of Seon (Switzerland) at a depth of 268–305 m. Production tests revealed a hydraulic conductivity of ∼5.10–5 m/s, transmissivity of ∼5.10–4 m²/s and a storage coefficient of ∼2% in the aquifer. Pumping up to 1500 l/min is sustainable; the water quality complies chemically and bacteriologically with drinking-water requirements. The residence time of several 10³ years, determined by isotope techniques, guarantees protection from surface contamination. The elevated temperature of 19.5  °C of the produced water enables combined use for drinking water and space heating. The environmental benefits are substantial: the emission reduction amounts up to 780 tons/year CO₂ and 1 ton/year SO₂. Received: 21 September 1998 · Accepted: 10 February 1999     

Sand and gravel mining: effects on ground water resources in Hancock county,Maine, USA

Based on this preliminary study, existing sand and gravel mining regulations (in Maine, USA) can be inferred to provide some protection to water resources. Sand and gravel deposits are important natural resources that have dual uses: mining for construction material and pumping for drinking water. How the mining of sand and gravel affects aquifers and change aquifer vulnerability to contamination is not well documented. Mining regulations vary greatly by state and local jurisdiction. This study test metrics to measure the effectiveness of mining regulations. The sand and gravel aquifer system studied is covered with former and active gravel pits to nearly 25% of its areal extent. Data from homeowner interviews and field measurements found scant evidence of changes in water quantity. Water quality analyses collected from springs, streams, ponds and wells indicate that the aquifer was vulnerable to contamination by chloride and nitrate. However, water quality changes can not be related directly to mining activities.     

Three-dimensional sedimentary architecture of Quaternary sand and gravel resources: a case study of economic sedimentology (SW Germany)

Quaternary sands and gravels form important, yet often highly heterogeneous economic deposits. Detailed 3-D analysis of the sedimentary structure and stratigraphy of these deposits allows for an accurate estimation of exploitable material. This paper presents a case study in SW Germany reconstructing the 3-D distribution of glacial sediments based on a high-resolution, process-orientated sedimentary facies classification and lithostratigraphy integrated within the geo-modelling package gOcad. Situated along the maximal ice-extent of the Rhine glacier during the last glaciation, the study area is characterised by a morphologically prominent terminal moraine and its associated sandur, which form the stratigraphically youngest sediments of a glacial basin, partially exposed in two gravel pits. These outcrops helped to reconstruct the complex sedimentary architecture of the northern part of the glacial basin. The regional analysis is based on core data, as well as geoelectric and geomagnetic surveys. All data were integrated into km-scale, high-resolution geological 3-D models, depicting the large-scale dynamics of multiple glacier advances and retreats during the Early to Late Pleistocene. These models allow quantifying the thickness and volume distribution of exploitable sandy gravel and help to evaluate the occurrence of non-exploitable interbedded diamicton horizons. The high quality and quantity of gravels particularly north of the terminal moraine classifies the investigated area as very prospective for raw materials exploitation in the future.     

西南岩溶山区地下水资源承载能力评价——以贵州省七星关区为例

以国家扶贫攻坚重点地区——贵州乌蒙山七星关区为例,参考"全国地质资源环境承载能力评价与监测预警"形成的评价理论和方法,结合岩溶石山区地下水资源水文地质条件及开发利用实际,探索构建岩溶石山区县域范围内地下水资源承载能力评价方法。通过系统评价七星关区地下水资源承载能力,认为该区地下水资源承载能力较大,但资源、开采强度、劣质水分布不均,降低了部分区域地下水资源承载能力。评价结果为区域国土空间规划及"三区三线"划定提供了依据。同时,该评价方法亦为岩溶地区地下水资源承载能力评价提供了借鉴。     

Northern Greece's industrial minerals: production and environmental technology developments

This paper reviews the use of Greek industrial minerals into developing low-cost, high-tech solutions to remediate parts of the chemical pollution environmental problem. The remediation strategy, based on the application and implementation of the Greek industrial minerals potential, became a major line of investigation in projects to develop new environmental technologies. Although past and current experiments have been successful on a lab scale in a number of applications, the results have not always been implemented on industrial scales. Greek olivine has been successfully tested as neutralizing agent for acid wastes, co-producing exploitable amounts of silica gel, magnesium sulphate and magnetite. Vermiculite is currently tested as an environmental ‘cleanser' in a variety of applications, i.e. metalliferous mine seepage and processing waters, organically contaminated waste water from the textile/dye industry and absorption material for oil spills. Wollastonite will be applied as long-term fertiliser and dolomite, as a substitute of asbestos in brake linings, as pollution controller of heavy metal concentrations in waste waters and as a binder to stabilize waste solids. Magnesite has been successfully applied for neutralization of acid mine wastes produced from active sulphide deposits. Zeolites (fly ash and perlite converted to zeolites were also considered) is an objective for several environmental applications, i.e. as floating absorbent for waste water ponds, as drinking water purificator or as smell abatement.     

Geodynamic constraints on orebody localization in the Anqing orefield, China: Computational modeling and facilitating predictive exploration of deep deposits

The Anqing Fe–Cu skarn deposit, with an age of 134 to 142 Ma and resources of 62.4 Mt at 0.906% Cu and 32.2% Fe, is one of the most important deposits in the Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, East China. To better understand the localization of orebodies and thus facilitate predictive exploration of deep orebodies, computational modeling is used to simulate the coupled geodynamic processes during the syn-tectonic cooling of the ore-related intrusion, based on geological and geophysical investigations in the Anqing orefield.The occurrences of the ore veins and veinlets in diorite and skarn, as well as the sharp zigzag boundary of the orebody, indicate that the Cu ores were deposited after the solidification of the diorite and skarn formation, and were located in some tensional structural spaces that are unevenly distributed along the contact zone between the felsic intrusion and sedimentary carbonates. The locations of orebodies are closely associated with the contact zone shape. The computational results of two models with two typical contact-shapes show that pore fluid flow was focused into the dilation zones from different sources. All the significant dilation zones, in which the existing orebodies were located, are distributed in some specific places of the south contact zone of the intrusion. In addition, these dilation zones are closely related to the contact zone shape of the intrusion and can control the location of orebodies through the coupled mechano-thermo-hydrological processes during cooling of the intrusion in the extension setting. The skarns are not critical for controlling the localization of orebodies. This means that exploration for deep ore should target deep dilation zones close to the contact boundary of the intrusion. Such recognition may provide a useful guide in selecting exploration targets in the Anqing orefield. As a direct result of computational modeling, an orebody has been discovered in the deep dilation zone in this orefield. It demonstrates that computational modeling is a promising tool for understanding the metallogenic processes and for facilitating the deep exploration of hidden orebodies that are related to intrusions.     

Stiffness pathologies in discrete granular systems: Bifurcation,neutral equilibrium,and instability in the presence of kinematic constraints

The paper develops the stiffness relationship between the movements and forces among a system of discrete interacting grains. The approach is similar to that used in structural analysis, but the stiffness matrix of granular material is inherently nonsymmetric because of the geometrics of particle interactions and of the frictional behavior of the contacts. Internal geometric constraints are imposed by the particles' shapes, in particular, by the surface curvatures of the particles at their points of contact. Moreover, the stiffness relationship is incrementally nonlinear, and even small assemblies require the analysis of multiple stiffness branches, with each branch region being a pointed convex cone in displacement space. These aspects of the particle-level stiffness relationship give rise to three types of microscale failure: neutral equilibrium, bifurcation and path instability, and instability of equilibrium. These three pathologies are defined in the context of four types of displacement constraints, which can be readily analyzed with certain generalized inverses. That is, instability and nonuniqueness are investigated in the presence of kinematic constraints. Bifurcation paths can be either stable or unstable, as determined with the Hill–Bažant–Petryk criterion. Examples of simple granular systems of three, 16, and 64 disks are analyzed. With each system, multiple contacts were assumed to be at the friction limit. Even with these small systems, microscale failure is expressed in many different forms, with some systems having hundreds of microscale failure modes. The examples suggest that microscale failure is pervasive within granular materials, with particle arrangements being in a nearly continual state of instability.     

中国西部壳幔结构与动力学过程及其对资源环境的制约:"羚羊计划"研究进展

为系统、深入地研究中国西部盆(盆地)、山(山脉)、原(高原)的壳幔结构与深部动力学过程,2003年我们提出并领导实施了“羚羊计划”(ANTILOPE-Array Network of Tibetan International Lithospheric Observation and Probe Experiments),在青藏高原先后完成了羚羊-I(ANTILOPE-I)到羚羊-IV(ANTILOPE-IV)4条二维宽频带台阵剖面,而在青藏高原东西构造结则实施了羚羊-V和羚羊-VI两个三维宽频带台阵探测。另外,我们将前期在准噶尔盆地、天山造山带、塔里木盆地、阿尔金造山带和柴达木盆地开展的九条综合地球物理观测剖面也纳入羚羊计划的总体框架中来。 通过“羚羊计划”的实施,我们在中国西部(包括西北部的环青藏高原盆山体系以及西南部的青藏高原)取得了大量的、高质量的、综合的第一手观测数据,获得了中国西部盆、山、原精细的壳幔结构,系统地揭示了中国西部盆山原的深部地球动力学过程。主要结论总结如下:确定了准噶尔盆地基底的结构与属性,优化了盆地的基底构造格架;建立了天山造山带“层间插入削减”新的陆内造山模式,揭示了印欧碰撞在天山岩石圈缩短44%的去向以及由洋-陆俯冲到陆-陆碰撞俯冲的转换机制;揭示了塔里木盆地、阿尔金造山带和柴达木盆地的盆山接触关系;获得了塔里木盆地顺时针旋转的深部几何学、运动学和动力学证据;确定了青藏高原之下印度板块与欧亚板块的碰撞边界;发现目前的青藏高原由南部的印度板块、北部的欧亚板块和夹持于二者之间的巨型破碎区——西藏“板块”构成,首次确定了各自的岩石圈底边界;修正了高原变形的两个端员模型;建立了深部构造对地表地形的制约关系;系统地揭示了印度板块沿喜马拉雅造山带俯冲的水平距离与俯冲角度的变化规律与控制因素。 “羚羊计划”以其巨大的观测网络与综合地球物理探测技术,采用地球物理学、地质学、地球化学等不同学科相结合的分析方法,揭示了印度板块俯冲、西藏巨型破碎区发育、塔里木板块顺时针旋转、西部水汽通道提前关闭、中国西北部干旱、沙漠化提前这一深部结构、动力学过程及其对地表地形、油气资源和环境变化的制约关系,推动了青藏高原地球系统科学理论的发展。     

Intrusions and exclusions: Democratization in Thailand in the context of environmental discourses and resource conflicts*

This article sketches the process of democratization in Thailand, focusing on shifting relations between civil society and state actors. Environmental discourse and conflicts about natural resources, specifically forests, during the last two decades, have been one of the main fields of social controversy and change. In the context of these controversies, civil society actors, in resistance to and alliance with state agencies, drove forward democratization by intruding into power domains of the state. State agents, increasingly forced to justify their actions according to democratic norms in the expanding space of public debate, had to search for allies and majorities within civil society. The successful establishment of public debate as an integral part of political decision making, on the one hand, resulted in a diversification of civil society, on the other hand, forced powerful segments of society to organize and defend their interests within the new public political space. Strategies of exclusion, referring to nationalism and ethnicism, have become an important instrument to secure positions and power, threatened in the process of democratization and emancipation of discriminated social groups.     

澳大利亚兰杰一号铀矿之生命周期：地质、资源、生产与修复

兰杰一号铀矿及其所属的鳄鱼河铀矿田产于北澳太古宙克拉通内古元古代裂谷背景下发展起来的松溪造山带,矿体产于新太古代—古元古代结晶-变质基底/晚古元古代—中元古代康博尔吉红层建造不整合界面之下,铀矿化分3个时代,U_1为1720～1680Ma,U_2为1420～1040Ma,U_3为474±6Ma,U1是主矿化时代。该矿床于1969年后期通过航空放射性测量被发现,1970’s经勘探圈定了No.1和No.3两个铀矿体,总计资源储量124681t@0.23%U_3O_8。1980年10月正式露采,至2018年12月,总计生产了128739t U_3O_8。1985财年开始,ERA(澳大利亚能源资源有限责任公司)向世界核能市场共计销售了产于兰杰铀矿的119882t U_3O_8。2009年,发现了No.3深部矿,探明资源储量为43857t@0.22%U_3O_8,这部分资源将以地下开采方式利用。预计到2026年,采区地貌景观和生态环境将得到恢复。进一步讨论了澳北元古宙不整合面型铀矿找矿的方向,持续稳定的铀矿开采与生产的意义,以及投资澳大利亚铀矿业需要注意的政治与法律问题。这些内容可以为国内矿业企业及地勘单位合理部署澳洲铀矿勘查与开发提供参考。     

最大熵增地表蒸散模型:原理及应用综述

精确估算地表蒸散一直是地球系统科学中的难点问题。经典的蒸散模型大多建立在水汽输送及能量平衡约束等基础上,相关的基础理论研究进展缓慢。最大熵增地表蒸散(E-MEP)模型是在综合借鉴贝叶斯概率论、信息熵概念、非平衡态热力学理论和大气边界层湍流相似性理论的基础上,建立的全新地表蒸散理论框架,克服了经典模型的主要缺陷,包括:离散梯度模型不满足能量守恒条件,Penman模型针对饱和土壤,Penman-Monteith模型需要率定经验参数等。E-MEP模型具有3个显著特点:①同时给出地表(包括水面、雪面和冰面)蒸散量、感热通量和介质表面热通量,且在所有时间空间尺度上满足能量平衡方程;②模型公式中没有可调经验参数,不依赖于温度梯度和水汽梯度变量,不需要输入风速和表面粗糙度;③适用于任何土壤含水量和植被覆盖条件。由于E-MEP模型建立在坚实的数学物理基础上,并具有解析表达式,简单易用,其输入变量和模型参数少于传统蒸散模型使用。地表辐射、表面温度、表面比湿等模型输入变量易于实地观测获取,且可通过遥感反演获得。检验分析表明,E-MEP模型优于Penman和Penman-Monteith等传统蒸散模型。这一全新的地表蒸散模型已被用于大尺度地表水热的遥感反演和过程监测,并用于改进气候模式的参数化方案。     

The Maximum Entropy Production Approach for Estimating Evapotranspiration: Principle and Applications

This review introduces a novel method for modeling evapotranspiration and surface heat fluxes built on the theory of Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) as an application of the maximum entropy principle to non-equilibrium thermodynamic systems. The formulation of the MEP model uses the Bayesian probability theory, information theory through the concept of information entropy, and the similarity theory of the atmospheric boundary-layer turbulence. The MPE model provides simultaneous solution of latent, sensible and surface medium heat fluxes using only three input variables: net radiation, surface temperature and specific humidity. A unique feature of the MEP model is that the surface energy balance is closed at a range of space and time scales. The model does not require data of temperature and water vapor gradient, wind speed and surface roughness. It does not include empirical tunable parameters such as atmospheric and stomatal conductance. The MEP model is a promising new approach for the study of water and energy cycles of the Earth system across space-time scales.     

Lithium extraction from hard rock lithium ores (spodumene,lepidolite, zinnwaldite,petalite): Technology,resources, environment and cost

Lithium production in China mainly depends on hard rock lithium ores, which has a defect in resources,environment, and economy compared with extracting lithium from brine. This paper focuses on the research progress of extracting lithium from spodumene, lepidolite, petalite, and zinnwaldite by acid,alkali, salt roasting, and chlorination methods, and analyzes the resource intensity, environmental impact,and production cost of industrial lithium extraction from spodumene and lepidolite. It is fou...     

Elemental geochemistry and Nd isotopic characteristics of the metasedimentary rocks from the metamorphic belt in central Jiangxi： Provenance and tectonically environmental constraints

The metamorphic belt in central Jiangxi, located in the compound terrain within the Cathaysia, Yangtze Block and Caledonian fold zone of South China, is composed dominantly of meta-argillo-arenaceous rocks, with minor amphibolite. These rocks underwent amphibolite-facies metamorphism. The meta-argillo-arenaceous rocks show large variations in major element composition, but have similar REE patterns and trace element composition, incompatible element and LIE enrichments [ high Th/Sc (0.57-3.59) , La/Sc ( 1.46 - 12.4), La/Yb (5.84 - 19.0) ] and variable Th/U ratios, with ∑REE = 129-296μg/g, δEu =0.51 -0.86, and (La/Yb)N = 3.95 -12.9. The Nd isotopic model ages tDM of these rocks vary from 1597 to 2124 Ma. Their 143 Nd/144 Nd values are low [εNd (0) = - 11.4 to -- 15.8]. Some conclusions have been drawn as follows: (1) The metamorphic rocks in central Jiangxi Province are likely formed in a tectonic environment at the passive continental margin of the Cathaysia massif. (2) The metamorphosed argillo-arenaceous rocks are composed dominantly of upper crustal-source rocks (Al- and Krich granitic or/and sedimentary rocks of Early Proterozoic), which experienced good sorting, slow deposition and more intense chemical weathering. (3) According to the whole-rock Sm-Nd isochron ages (1113±49 to 1199 ± 26 Ma) of plagioclase-amphibole (schist) and Nd isotopic model age tDM ( 1597 - 2124Ma) of meta-argillo-arenaceous rocks, the metamorphic belt in central Jiangxi Province was formed during the Middle Proterozoic ( 1100 - 1600 Ma).     

资源再生型地区资源环境承载能力评价指标体系构建——以河南省洛宁县为例

为构建资源再生型地区资源环境承载能力评价指标体系,以河南省洛宁县为例,通过开展1:5万环境地质调查与地质环境背景资料收集,查明了该区资源环境禀赋条件和短板要素,并在地质环境承载能力、地下水资源承载能力和矿产资源承载能力评价的基础上,引入了矿山地质环境承载能力评价,创新性地构建了一套适用于资源再生型地区的资源环境承载能力评价指标体系。在完成实际验证评价的基础上,与通用资源环境承载能力评价指标体系进行了对比分析,结果发现,矿山地质环境承载能力评价结果与地质环境承载能力评价结果并不完全一致,且与矿产资源承载能力评价结果也有一定差异。研究表明,构建的资源再生型地区资源环境承载能力评价指标体系更适宜此类地区矿区分散分布且发展方式迥异的特点,能进一步突出地域主导特色,可为同类地区地质环境保护及资源开发规划提供参考。