The dispersion of magnetite bedload tracer across a gravel point-bar and the development of heavy-mineral placers

Economic concentrations of heavy-minerals are often associated with fluvial point-bars but prospecting models identifying the heaviest concentrations are poorly developed. Consequently, the dispersal and storage of a heavy-mineral bedload tracer–magnetite–across a rapidly evolving point-bar was studied using magnetic susceptibility as a surrogate measure of magnetite concentration. The bar-head was a preferential area for the development of a placer owing to a lag accumulation of magnetite over an armoured bed surface. In contrast, when viewed in plan, the bar-platform and bar-tail were regions of tracer dilution owing to downstream dispersion and mixing with shale in the vertical as the bar-top rapidly aggraded. However, in section, false-bottom placers developed along bedding planes were evident. The latter consisted of thin layers of concentrated magnetite resulting from the passage of bedload sheets, consisting of a mix of shale and magnetite, moving repeatedly from the bar-head to accrete over the bar-tail. Differential density-sorting of magnetite and shale occurred during transport and deposition, such that the heavier magnetite tended to accumulate as a visible concentrated bed-layer, later to be over-run by layers of shale-sediment in which magnetite was present diffusely. However, the placer thickness was greater than that visible because finer fractions of magnetite from each concentrated layer infiltrated the interstices of the top of the shale bed below. The placer thickness, the infiltration potential of the sediment bed and the actual rate of infiltration of the tracer were determined by fitting a mathematical function to measured variation in magnetic susceptibility with depth in the sediment body. Finally, a simple mathematical model, described in the literature as reproducing the plan-view of flow and topographic patterns in river bends, was found to reproduce patterns of depth, velocity, shear stress and competence in the point-bar environment which were in accordance with the interpretation of the field data. It was concluded that such a model when linked to entrainment functions for sediments of mixed density might be suitable for prospecting for economic heavy minerals in the point-bar environment.     

Measuring bedload in gravel-bed mountain rivers: averaging methods and sampling strategies

A dataset of more than 1,000 individual bedload samples coupled with hydraulic flow variables (water depth and velocity) was collected on two high mountain rivers the torrent de Saint Pierre, a proglacial gravel-bed river in the French Alps, in July 2002 and the Urumqi River, in the Chinese Tianshan mountains during summer 2005 and 2006.

Analysis of the dataset leads to question the usual section averaged sampling procedure of bedload using Helley-Smith type bedload sampler. It is shown that this procedure is inadequate to catch the full range of flow conditions. Comparison between moving averages on individual datasets and section averages furthermore show that this technique can lead to significantly different rating curves with predictions differing by more than an order of magnitude. Single point sampling is shown to be much more adequate than multiple point sampling and section averaging provided the dataset is sufficiently large.     

Gem corundum deposits of Madagascar: A review

Madagascar is one of the most important gem-producing countries in the world, including ruby and sapphires. Gem corundum deposits formed at different stages in the geological evolution of the island and in contrasting environments. Four main settings are identified: (1) Gem corundum formed in the Precambrian basement within the Neoproterozoic terranes of southern Madagascar, and in the volcano-sedimentary series of Beforona, north of Antananarivo. In the south, high-temperature (700 to 800 °C) and low-pressure (4 to 5 kbar) granulites contain deposits formed during the Pan-African orogenesis between 565 and 490 Ma. They accompany mafic and ultramafic complexes (ruby deposits of the Vohibory group), skarns at the contact between Anosyan granites and the Proterozoic Tranomaro group (sapphire deposits of the Tranomaro–Andranondambo district), and shear-zone corridors cross-cutting feldspathic gneisses, cordieritites and clinopyroxenites in the Tranomaro, Vohimena and Androyan metamorphic series (biotite schist deposits of Sahambano and Zazafotsy, cordieritites of Iankaroka and Ambatomena). The circulation of fluids, especially along discontinuities, allowed in-situ alkaline metasomatism, forming corundum host rocks related to desilicified granites, biotitites, “sakenites” and “corundumites”. (2) Gem corundum also occurs in the Triassic detrital formations of the Isalo group, as giant palaeoplacers in the Ilakaka–Sakaraha area. Here, sapphires and rubies may come from the metamorphic granulitic terranes of southern Madagascar. (3) Gem corundum deposits occur within the Neogene-Quaternary alkali basalts from Ankaratra (Antsirabe–Antanifotsy area) and in the Ambohitra Province (Nosy Be, Ambato and Ambondromifehy districts). Primary deposits are rare, except at Soamiakatra where ruby in gabbroic and clinopyroxenite xenoliths within alkali-basalts probably derive from mantle garnet peridotites. The blue-green-yellow sapphires typical of basaltic fields are always recovered in palaeoplacer (in karst formed upon Jurassic limestones from the Montagne d'Ambre, Antsiranana Province) and alluvial and soil placers (Ankaratra volcanic massif). (4) Deposits occur within Quaternary eluvial, colluvial and alluvial concentrations, such as high-quality rubies from the Andilamena and Vatomandry deposits.     

Bar-top hollows: A new element in the architecture of sandy braided rivers

Discrete hollows in the bar tops of the South Saskatchewan River are described that form a newly-recognized morphological element of sandy braided rivers. These bar-top hollows, which are up to 1.7 m deep and may extend for 10–30 m down and across flow, have a circular to ovoid planform and are shown, through use of ground penetrating radar, to be filled by a series of distinct, often angle-of-repose, foresets. The hollows form by both erosion and bar-top deposition and may be generated by bar-tail accretion, cross-bar channel cutoff and subsequent fill or lateral accretion at the bar-head. Bar-top hollows occur in the upper part of the bar depositional sequence and may thus prove useful indicators for braid bar reconstruction in ancient sediments, and should not be confused with channel scour.     

A quantitative, three-dimensional depositional model of gravelly braided rivers

A quantitative, three‐dimensional depositional model of gravelly, braided rivers has been developed based largely on the deposits of the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska. These deposits were described using cores, wireline logs, trenches and ground‐penetrating radar profiles. The origin of the deposits was inferred from observations of: (1) channel and bar formation and migration and channel filling, interpreted from aerial photographs; (2) water flow during floods; and (3) the topography and texture of the river bed at low‐flow stage. This depositional model quantitatively represents the geometry of the different scales of strataset, the spatial relationships among them and their sediment texture distribution. Porosity and permeability in the model are related to sediment texture. The geometry of a particular type and scale of strataset is related to the geometry and migration of the bedform type (e.g. ripples, dunes, bedload sheets, bars) associated with deposition of the strataset. In particular, the length‐to‐thickness ratio of stratasets is similar to the wavelength‐to‐height ratio of associated bedforms. Furthermore, the wavelength and height of bedforms such as dunes and bars are related to channel depth and width. Therefore, the thickness of a particular scale of strataset (i.e. medium‐scale cross‐sets and large‐scale sets of inclined strata) will vary with river dimensions. These relationships between the dimensions of stratasets, bedforms and channels mean that this depositional model can be applied to other gravelly fluvial deposits. The depositional model can be used to interpret the origin of ancient gravelly fluvial deposits and to aid in the characterization of gravelly fluvial aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs.     

Sandy gravel accumulation in a fluvial environment

Particle size, pebble shape, pebble fabric, discharge and flow velocity data are used to introduce a model of sandy gravel formation in Welsh gravel-bed rivers. The development of contact-imbrication of the typically very bladed and very platy cobbles and larger pebbles subsequently acts to significantly affect the depositional modes and patterns of small pebbles and sand particles. An important distinction is drawn between sand deposition, which can occur at or below the bed surface, and pebble and cobble deposition, which is merely a surface phenomenon.     

Using magnetic susceptibility to find Precambrian impact ejecta: A proposal

Layers with high magnetic susceptibility contain heavy minerals that are the most likely to preserve signatures of impact in metamorphosed Precambrian rocks. The following impact indicators are resistant to alteration and metamorphism and are likely to be found in heavy mineral layers: impact diamond, SiC, shocked zircon, high-pressure TiO₂ phases, reidite, and high-pressure chromite. Coesite and stishovite could also be present but are not likely to be preserved in rocks metamorphosed above the greenschist facies. Looking for layers with high magnetic susceptibility will also identify layers that might contain concentrations of zircon for dating.     

Sedimentary processes controlling ultralong cells of littoral transport: Placer formation and termination of the Orange sand highway in southern Angola

This study focuses on the causes, modalities and obstacles of sediment transfer in the longest cell of littoral sand drift documented on Earth so far. Sand derived from the Orange River is dragged by swell waves and persistent southerly winds to accumulate in four successive dunefields in coastal Namibia to Angola. All four dunefields are terminated by river valleys, where aeolian sand is flushed back to the ocean; and yet sediment transport continues at sea, tracing an 1800 km long submarine sand highway. Sand drift would extend northward to beyond the Congo if the shelf did not become progressively narrower in southern Angola, where drifting sand is funnelled towards oceanic depths via canyon heads connected to river mouths. Garnet–magnetite placers are widespread along this coastal stretch, indicating systematic loss of the low‐density feldspatho‐quartzose fraction to the deep ocean. More than half of Moçamedes Desert sand is derived from the Orange River, and the rest in similar proportions from the Cunene River and from the Swakop and other rivers draining the Damara Orogen in Namibia. The Orange fingerprint, characterized by basaltic rock fragments, clinopyroxene grains and bimodal zircon‐age spectra with peaks at ca 0·5 Ga and ca 1·0 Ga, is lost abruptly at Namibe, and beach sands further north have abundant feldspar, amphibole‐epidote suites and unimodal zircon‐age spectra with a peak at ca 2·0 Ga, documenting local provenance from Palaeoproterozoic basement. Along with this oblique‐rifted continental margin, beach placers are dominated by Fe–Ti–Cr oxides with more monazite than garnet and thus have a geochemical signature sharply different from beach placers found all the way along the Orange littoral cell. High‐resolution mineralogical studies allow us to trace sediment dispersal over distances of thousands of kilometres, providing essential information for the correct reconstruction of ‘source to sink’ relationships in hydrocarbon exploration and to predict the long‐term impact of man‐made infrastructures on coastal sediment budgets.     

江心洲平衡形态水动力条件的理论分析

江心洲在何种水动力条件下具有稳定的形态一直是河床演变学中的核心问题,采用河道形态变分分析方法,综合分析分汊型河流在水流连续方程、阻力方程、推移质输沙方程和总流能量方程控制下的自动调整机理。以长江中下游两汊不对称的江心洲为研究对象,将其形态概化为规则的等腰三角形,详细数理分析发现,主汊的分沙比大于分流比是这类江心洲达到平衡的必要条件。当分汊河道达到平衡状态时,江心洲的形态会随着汊道间水沙分配比例的调整而变化,且分流比与分沙比越接近,江心洲越窄长。另外,利用长江中游监利汊道的实测水沙资料对理论分析进行验证,结果表明,江心洲形态的理论计算值与相应的实测值符合程度较好,相对误差为9.0%左右。     

Trace element chemistry of major rivers in Orissa State, India

 Geochemical analyses of surface waters from rivers flowing through Orissa State, India, indicated that trace element concentrations were extremely variable and consistently higher than world river average. The Brahmani River was the most solute-rich river studied, followed by the Baitarani and Mahanadi Rivers. Although all three rivers drain similar geology, the Brahmani River catchment is heavily industrialized, and water samples collected upstream and downstream from industries indicated that anthropogenic activity directly influenced its chemical composition. Samples collected from several towns, in all three river systems, did not invariably show similar patterns, with various elements having higher dissolved concentrations upstream. Because the concentration of total solids increased downstream, this implied that some components of the sewage had effectively sequestered available elements from solution and converted them to particulate material. Although the impact of pollution is clearly recognizable in water samples collected in proximity to the anthropogenic source, there are only slight elemental accumulations in the lower reaches of the Mahanadi River, with no accumulation in the Brahmani River. Apparently for these large rivers, discharged effluent becomes rapidly diluted, while complexation and sedimentation further removes trace elements from the water column. However, in the less voluminous Baitarani River, elementar enrichment near the river's mouth suggests that in this secondary river, where dilution effects are less, the concerns over regional water quality may be more prevalent. Received: 1 April 1995 · Accepted: 30 August 1995     

Physical deposit measures and commercial potential: The case of titanium-bearing heavy-mineral deposits

Physical measures of mineral deposit characteristics, such as grade and tonnage, long have been used in both subjective and analytic models to predict favorability of areas for the occurrence of mineral deposits of particular types. After a deposit has been identified, however, the explorationist must decide whether to continue data collection, begin an economic feasibility study, or abandon the prospect. The decision maker can estimate the probability that a deposit will be commercial by examining physical measures. The amount of sampling data required before such a probability estimate can be considered reliable can be determined. A logit probability model estimated from onshore titanium-bearing heavy-mineral deposit data identifies and quantifies the relative influence of a deposit's physical measures on the chances of the deposit becoming commercial. A principal conclusion that can be drawn from the analysis is that, along with a measure of deposit size, the characteristics most important in predicting commercial potential are grades of the constituent minerals. Total heavy-mineral-bearing sand grade or even total titanium grade (without data on constituent mineral grades) are poor predictors of the deposit's commercial potential.     

河流污染混合区的解析计算方法

以顺直宽矩形明渠中垂向线源等强度排放物质浓度分布的解析解为基础,探讨了污染混合区的计算方法,推导了污染混合区最大长度、最大宽度与相应纵坐标、面积以及最大允许污染负荷的理论计算公式,进行了污染混合区的算例分析。其结果可以作为河流污染混合区允许范围和最大允许污染负荷的计算依据,解析计算方法比采用二维水质模型进行污染混合区的计算更加快捷灵活、方便实用。给出了非保守物质污染混合区最大长度的理论计算公式和忽略反应降解作用按保守物质处理的条件:降解数De≤0.027。     

Provenance of Cretaceous clastics in the Subhercynian Basin: constraints to exhumation of the Harz Mountains and timing of inversion tectonics in Central Europe

The Harz Mountains and the adjacent Subhercynian Cretaceous Basin figure as the most prominent surface representative for Late Cretaceous inversion structures in Central Europe. Facies, depositional architecture and provenance of the basin fill reflect mechanisms and timing of the exhumation of the Harz. From Hauterivian to Early Santonian there is no evidence for detrital input from the nearby Harz area. Sediments are mature quartzarenites derived from Paleozoic basement rocks and/or recycled Permian to Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. This situation changed drastically in Middle to Late Santonian when freshly exhumed and eroded Mesozoic sedimentary cover rocks of the Harz were delivered into the basin. Feldspar and lithoclasts reflect erosion of Triassic and, in places, Jurassic to Turonian strata. Apatite and garnet in heavy mineral spectra are derived from largely unweathered Lower Triassic Buntsandstein as indicated by apatite and garnet chemistry. In Early Campanian, Paleozoic lithoclasts indicate erosion cutting down into the basement of the Harz. Simultaneous strong decrease of feldspar, garnet and apatite suggest an almost complete removal of the 2–3 km thick Mesozoic cover of the Harz within only 2–4 Myr. This translates into an exhumation rate of approximately 1 mm/a consistent with apatite fission track data from granitoid rocks of the Harz Mountains.     

中国主要江河径流变化成因定量分析

变化环境下中国主要江河实测径流量发生了较为明显的变化,科学理清径流变化原因是流域水资源评价和管理的重要基础工作。基于中国七大江河代表性水文站1956—2018年的实测径流量资料,诊断了变化环境下水文序列的变异性特征;采用水文模拟途径,定量评估了不同驱动要素对径流变化的影响。结果表明:①淮河、长江和珠江实测径流量变异性特征不明显,相比而言,北方主要江河实测年径流量系列存在较为明显的突变性,但最显著的变异点发生时间存在差异,变异前后降水径流关系发生较大变化。②RCCC-WBM模型能够较好模拟中国南方湿润区和北方干旱区江河天然径流量过程,该模型可以用来还原人类活动影响期间的天然径流量。③总体来看,人类活动对中国北方江河径流量的影响大于气候变化的影响,气候变化是中国淮河及其以南江河径流变化的主要原因。     

沙质河床冲刷过程中床沙级配的模拟

研究了沙质河床冲刷过程中床沙级配的模拟方法。在该方法中采用了新的描述床沙级配变化的动力学方程和床沙级配在交换层内垂向变化与水流强度、河床冲刷强度的关系,反映了冲刷过程中交换层内向床面补充的物理过程。通过室内实验率定了相关参数,建立了床沙级配变化动力学方程的数值求解方法,模拟了床沙冲刷粗化。计算结果与室内实验结果符合较好,表明所建议的方法反映了河床冲刷中床沙级配变化的物理事实,可用于沙质河床冲刷粗化模拟。     

中国主要江河径流变化成因定量分析

变化环境下中国主要江河实测径流量发生了较为明显的变化，科学理清径流变化原因是流域水资源评价和管理的重要基础工作。基于中国七大江河代表性水文站1956—2018年的实测径流量资料，诊断了变化环境下水文序列的变异性特征；采用水文模拟途径，定量评估了不同驱动要素对径流变化的影响。结果表明：①淮河、长江和珠江实测径流量变异性特征不明显，相比而言，北方主要江河实测年径流量系列存在较为明显的突变性，但最显著的变异点发生时间存在差异，变异前后降水径流关系发生较大变化。② RCCC-WBM模型能够较好模拟中国南方湿润区和北方干旱区江河天然径流量过程，该模型可以用来还原人类活动影响期间的天然径流量。③总体来看，人类活动对中国北方江河径流量的影响大于气候变化的影响，气候变化是中国淮河及其以南江河径流变化的主要原因。     

中国跨境河流水化学特征及其控制因素

利用Gibbs图、三角图、非参数检验、主成分分析等方法对比研究中国主要跨境河流(雅鲁藏布江、怒江、澜沧江、伊犁河、额尔齐斯河、黑龙江、红河和狮泉河)的水化学特征, 探讨不同气候、岩性等条件下跨境河流河水中溶解性物质的主控因素及来源。结果表明: 河流pH范围为7.60±0.93~8.29±0.14, 呈弱碱性; 总溶解性固体(TDS)范围为139.14±106.58~238.03±85.47mg/L, 均高于世界河流平均值(100mg/L), 为弱矿化度水; 河水水化学组成中阳离子以Ca²⁺为主, 阴离子以HCO₃^-为主, 水化学类型为HCO₃^--Ca²⁺型。主要离子在河流间存在显著性差异, 对河流水化学而言, 岩性为第一级影响因子; 河水离子主要受碳酸与硫酸参与的碳酸盐矿物化学风化作用控制, 总体上, 碳酸盐岩以方解石的风化作用为主; 雅鲁藏布江、澜沧江、伊犁河、黑龙江和狮泉河水化学还受到人为活动影响; 主要离子浓度未超过中国生活饮用水标准及世界卫生组织推荐标准。本研究为后续跨境流域岩石化学风化引起的大气CO₂消耗这一地质碳汇提供依据。

     

太湖及其主要入湖河流沉积磷形态分布研究

选择了我国第三大浅水湖泊--太湖及其主要入湖河流进行沉积磷形态的连续提取研究.太湖湖区沉积磷中不稳态磷(LP)及铝结合态磷(Al-P)含量很低,其余形态磷为铁结合态磷(Fe-P)＜钙结合态磷(Ca-P)＜有机磷(Org-P).河流沉积物中有机磷的相对含量高于湖泊沉积物,绝对含量平均值约为湖泊沉积物的3.9倍,铁结合态磷的绝对含量约为湖泊沉积物的3/4,湖区沉积物Fe-P含量与水体中PO3-4-、Chla呈显著正相关关系,同时与间隙水的氧化性呈显著负相关关系.太湖各湖区沉积物的磷形态表现为空间差异较大,活性组分的差异性要大于活性较差的组分.总的来说北部湖区沉积物中Fe-P和Org-P含量高于其他湖区,这与太湖北部湖区水体高营养级和藻类爆发关系密切.湖区沉积磷的垂直分布规律较复杂,既有随深度增加的,也有随深度降低的,河流沉积物同样如此.这与太湖及河流生态条件、污染物排放以及沉积动力学条件不同有关.     

哈萨克斯坦阿尔泰戈尔诺耶古近纪砂金矿地质特征及成矿规律

阿尔泰造山带砂金矿资源丰富,前人对河流中的砂金矿进行了详细研究,而对山间盆地中赋存的砂金矿研究较少.本文对哈萨克斯坦阿尔泰造山带南缘最东侧的戈尔诺耶古近纪含砂金盆地进行了初步研究,通过地质、自然重砂测量圈定了砂金异常,经浅井和砂钻等工程深部查证,结果显示砂金主要赋存在古近纪粗粒的石英砾石层中,砂金形态以片状为主,是以微...     

Sedimentation in a meandering gravel-bed river: The River Tywi,South Wales

Previous studies of meandering gravel-bed rivers have illustrated a wide range of bar types. The River Tywi of South Wales shows that significant variations of accretionary style can also occur within a single river. There is a downstream decrease in the proportion of lateral bars to point bars and changes in the morphological characteristics of these point bars. Three types are recognized: simple, linguoid and multi-unit point bars. Sedimentation on the concave sides of meander bends is locally important. The changes of bar type are accompanied by different styles of channel behaviour. The River Tywi is interpreted to have deposited multilateral gravel sheets, composed of partially reworked and abandoned bars and dissected by palaeochannels and sloughs. Bar deposits consist of parallel-bedded gravel, inclined laterally-accreted gravel, local angle-of-repose foresets and inclined lenses of heterolithic beds. The proportion of the various sedimentary structures and the geometry of the abandoned bars varies along the Tywi valley because of the patterns of bar distribution and channel behaviour. The deposits of this river have strong affinities with Tertiary sequences in the Italian Apennines, previously interpreted as the deposits of meandering gravel-bed rivers. This type of river is not readily distinguished from ‘Scott type’ braided streams in the geological record, unless exposures are particularly good. In this respect, the presence of abundant, inclined heterolithic wedges and lenses may be a useful diagnostic criterion.