GIS and ANN coupling model: an innovative approach to evaluate vulnerability of karst water inrush in coalmines of north China

Evaporites, including rock salt (halite) and gypsum (or anhydrite), are the most soluble among common rocks; they dissolve readily to form the same types of karst features that commonly are found in limestones and dolomites. Evaporites are present in 32 of the 48 contiguous states in USA, and they underlie about 40% of the land area. Typical evaporite-karst features observed in outcrops include sinkholes, caves, disappearing streams, and springs, whereas other evidence of active evaporite karst includes surface-collapse structures and saline springs or saline plumes that result from salt dissolution. Many evaporites also contain evidence of paleokarst, such as dissolution breccias, breccia pipes, slumped beds, and collapse structures. All these natural karst phenomena can be sources of engineering or environmental problems. Dangerous sinkholes and caves can form rapidly in evaporite rocks, or pre-existing karst features can be reactivated and open up (collapse) under certain hydrologic conditions or when the land is put to new uses. Many karst features also propagate upward through overlying surficial deposits. Human activities also have caused development of evaporite karst, primarily in salt deposits. Boreholes (petroleum tests or solution-mining operations) or underground mines may enable unsaturated water to flow through or against salt deposits, either intentionally or accidentally, thus allowing development of small to large dissolution cavities. If the dissolution cavity is large enough and shallow enough, successive roof failures can cause land subsidence and/or catastrophic collapse. Evaporite karst, natural and human-induced, is far more prevalent than is commonly believed.     

Subsidence hazards due to evaporite dissolution in the United States

Evaporites, including gypsum (or anhydrite) and salt, are the most soluble of common rocks; they are dissolved readily to form the same type of karst features that typically are found in limestones and dolomites, and their dissolution can locally result in major subsidence structures. The four basic requirements for evaporite dissolution to occur are: (1) a deposit of gypsum or salt; (2) water, unsaturated with CaSO₄ or NaCl; (3) an outlet for escape of dissolving water; and (4) energy to cause water to flow through the system. Evaporites are present in 32 of the 48 contiguous states of the United States, and they underlie about 35–40% of the land area. Karst is known at least locally (and sometimes quite extensively) in almost all areas underlain by evaporites, and some of these karst features involve significant subsidence. The most widespread and pronounced examples of both gypsum and salt karst and subsidence are in the Permian basin of the southwestern United States, but many other areas also are significant. Human activities have caused some evaporite–subsidence development, primarily in salt deposits. Boreholes may enable (either intentionally or inadvertently) unsaturated water to flow through or against salt deposits, thus allowing development of small to large dissolution cavities. If the dissolution cavity is large enough and shallow enough, successive roof failures above the cavity can cause land subsidence or catastrophic collapse.     

成都市白垩系灌口组富膏盐红层溶蚀特征与机理

成都市白垩系灌口组近地表红层富膏盐地层因富含膏盐、钙芒硝等易溶矿物普遍发育红层类岩溶现象,制约着地下空间的开发利用.为梳理出成都市域灌口组富膏盐红层溶蚀规律与机理,防范红层硫酸盐岩溶相关的工程地质问题,综合利用钻孔岩芯、物探、测井、物性测试、溶解实验等资料,分析区域内富膏盐地层的分布规律、富膏盐红层溶蚀特征、溶蚀发育的...     

盐岩储气库适用性评价标准的研究

目前国内还没有对盐岩储气库的适用性提出全面的评价标准。在研究地下储气库失事案例之后,提出了储气库适用性评价标准（ESAGSRS）。该标准分为稳定性和密闭性两方面。稳定性从储气库顶和底板的性质、盐岩层及夹层的性质、夹层与盐岩层交界面的性质、溶腔最大与最小运行压力及注采速率、溶腔形状及矿柱距离5方面进行评分;密闭性则从储气库的固井技术、套管的性能、套管阀门的性能、溶腔压力、顶板性质、夹层性质、盐岩的渗透条件、夹层与盐岩层交界面的刚度比,地质构造条件等方面进行评分。将稳定性与密闭性的得分按比例相加,用所得总分来评价储气库的适用性。该标准较为全面地考虑了各种因素,可为工程实践提供一定的参考价值和理论支持。     

Influence of longwall support on the occurrence of roof cavities

Summary The forming of roof cavities in longwall faces is a complicated process. A likely explanation for this process is the presence of relaxed zones in the first beds of the roof above and ahead of the support. If existing or potential fissures are allowed to open through insufficient constraint, the block of roof delimited by these fissures will collapse. An increasing unsupported distance, an increasing distance between the face and the first row of legs, a lower vertical bearing force and a lower support pressure on the roof will increase the extent of the relaxed zones. These effects are investigated through underground observations and numerical modelling.Supplementary to this local influence, there is also a spatial relation between the support characteristics of one element in one coal step and the occurrence of fall outs in the roof uncovered by the next coal steps (3 on average) and above the neighbourhood elements (2 to 4 on average). It is probable that, once a cavity is formed, it is extended easily (in the two directions), until appropriate measures are taken.     

Halite karst geohazards (natural and man-made) in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, Permian and Triassic halite (rock salt) deposits have been affected by natural and artificial dissolution producing karstic landforms and subsidence. Brine springs from the Triassic salt have been exploited since Roman times or possibly earlier, indicating prolonged natural dissolution. Medieval salt extraction in England is indicated by the names of places ending in "wich", indicating brine spring exploitation at Northwich, Middlewich, Nantwich and Droitwich. Later, Victorian brine extraction in these areas accentuated salt karst development, causing severe subsidence problems which remain a legacy. The salt was also mined, but the mines flooded and consequent brine extraction caused the workings to collapse, resulting in catastrophic surface subsidence. Legislation was enacted to pay for the damage and a levy is still charged for salt extraction. Some salt mines are still collapsing, and the re-establishment of the post-brine extraction hydrogeological regimes means that salt springs may again flow, causing further dissolution and potential collapse.     

Origin and mixing history of brines,Palo Duro Basin,Texas, U.S.A.

Formation waters in the Palo Duro Basin, Texas, U.S.A. fall into four major groups based on integrated chemical and isotopic characteristics: (1) interbed brines within the major Permian evaporite aquitard; these are the most chemically concentrated and¹⁸O-rich fluids in the basin, and are interpreted as evaporatively concentrated sea water which has been hydrologically isolated since the Permian; (2) brines below the salt on the eastern side of the basin have ClBr, divalent cation, and isotopic systematics indicating a mixture of evaporatively concentrated sea water and meteoric water of δD= −20‰; (3) brines below the salt on the western side of the basin have chemical and isotopic systematics suggesting a mixture of two pulses of meteoric water, one with δD= −20‰ and the other with δD= −55‰; and (4) waters above the salt have the isotopic composition of meteoric waters. Diagenetic alteration of the cation chemistry has occurred for brines within and below the salt. Aquifers below the salt on the eastern side are interpreted as having been charged with dense Permian evaporite brines which subsequently mixed in various amounts with a basin-wide pulse of Triassic meteoric water. On the western side the descending Triassic meteoric waters became saline by dissolution of halite and are currently mixing with a Tertiary pulse of meteoric water initiated by the Laramide uplift to the west. The hydrochemistry suggests flow on the western side of the basin and static conditions on the eastern side. An unrecognized, approximately N-S permeability restriction, or discontinuity in the potentiometric flow surface, is inferred for major aquifers in the central area of the basin.     

Criteria for the recognition of salt-pan evaporites

Layered evaporites can accumulate in: (1) ephemeral saline pans, (2) shallow perennial lagoons or lakes, and (3) deep perennial basins. Criteria for recognizing evaporites deposited in these settings have yet to be explicitly formulated. The characteristics of the ephemeral saline pan setting have been determined by examining eight. Holocene halite-dominated pans (salt pans) and their deposits (marine and non-marine) from the U.S., Mexico, Egypt and Bolivia. These salt pans are typified by alternating periods of flooding, resulting in a temporary brackish lake, evaporative concentration, when the lake becomes saline, and desiccation, which produces a dry pan fed only by groundwater. The resulting deposits consist of alternating layers (millimetres to decimetres) of halite and mud. The layers of halite are characterized by: (1) vertical and horizontal cavities, rounded crystal edges and horizontal truncation surfaces, due to dissolution during flooding; (2) vertical ‘chevrons’ and ‘cornets’ grown syntaxially on the bottom during the saline lake stage; (3) halite cements (overgrowths and euhedral cavity linings) and disruption of layering into metre-scale polygons, produced during the desiccation stage. The muddy interbeds are characterized by displacive growth of halite during the desiccation stage. Immediately below the surface of the pan the halite layers are ‘matured’ by repeated episodes of dissolution and diagenetic crystal growth. This results in porous crusts with patches of ‘chevron’ and ‘cornet’ crystals truncated by dissolution, clear diagenetic halite cement, and internal sediment. These layers of ‘mature’ halite closely resemble the patchy cloudy and clear textures of ancient halite deposits. Holocene salt-pans are known to cover thousands of square kilometres and cap halite deposits hundreds of metres thick, so they are realistic models for ancient evaporites in scale, e.g. Permian Salado Formation of New Mexico-Texas, which preserves many primary salt-pan features.     

Evaporite karst in Sicily

Karst areas are distributed over most of Sicily. The most widespread karst rocks are carbonates, particularly limestones, but karst phenomena can also be seen in evaporites and particularly in salt mines. This report provides an overview of evaporite karst in Sicily, along with a “case history” that shows some of the evaporite karst risks to the environment. In the centre and south of Sicily, a thick sequence of Messinian evaporite rocks are subject to dissolution from meteoric and formation waters. In areas where potassium salts and rock salts are being mined, some geomorphologic changes result from the drilling of boreholes and the collapse of underground mines, thus lowering or collapsing the land surface. An example is the old salt mine “Muti-Coffari”, situated in the commune of Cammarata, where there is a modification of the surface flow of the River Platani. Meteoric waters and runoff flow down through a borehole, enter the underground mine cavity and dissolve the salts, and then the resulting brine flows into a branch of the river, making it salty. Field investigations showed the presence of salt along the edges and on the bed of the stream where it comes out of the cave. Therefore, interventions for risk mitigation are necessary since the old mine constitutes a serious danger for damage or collapse of nearby infrastructures, and can lead to degradation of the river ecosystem and the natural environment.     

塔里木盆地热液活动地质地球化学特征及其对储层影响

塔里木盆地二叠纪时发生了强烈的岩浆-火山作用,与之相关的热液流体沿着断裂、裂缝以及不整合面活动,并与所经碳酸盐岩围岩发生反应,使围岩发生不同程度的溶蚀改造,主要表现在:1热液溶蚀和热褪色现象显著;2沉淀生成多种热液矿物组合,如萤石-石英组合、闪锌矿-绿泥石-方解石组合,重晶石-石英-黄铁矿-菱铁矿组合等;3热液作用区域碳酸盐岩成分发生了明显的变化,主要表现为Fe、Mn、Si等元素含量的升高,比正常灰岩高出几倍至几十倍。上述特点与岩溶作用和成岩溶蚀作用特征明显不同。对典型钻孔碳酸盐岩储层研究表明,无论灰岩还是白云岩,在热液作用下都会产生大量的微小溶蚀孔洞,储层物性得到明显的改善,因此热液作用是影响储层物性不可忽视的重要因素。     

Variations in stratigraphic and reservoir properties adjacent to the Mid-Paleocene sequence boundary, Campo section, Pyrenees, Spain

The Paleocene of the Campo section, Spain has different sedimentological characteristics above and below the Mid-Paleocene Unconformity. Beneath the unconformity sediments are dominated by evaporitic carbonates and collapse breccias. Above it they are characterized by continental detrital beds alternating with paleosols. Different subaerial features are observed and correspond to different porosity values, pore–throat sizes and micrite morphologies. Unexposed or intertidal facies have low porosity, low throat–pore size (mesoporosity) and well preserved rhombic crystals. Intermediate exposed facies (paleosols) possess medium porosity, medium pore–throat size (microporosity) and mainly micro-rhombic crystals. Finally, the facies corresponding to high exposure intensity and to evaporitic original facies presents high porosity, permeability, large pore–throat size and rounded micritic crystals. These observations show that the emersion phase caused important dissolution, especially when associated with an easily dissolved original lithofacies.     

Solution-collapse breccias of the Minkinfjellet and Wordiekammen Formations, Central Spitsbergen, Svalbard: a large gypsum palaeokarst system

Large volumes of carbonate breccia occur in the late syn-rift and early post-rift deposits of the Billefjorden Trough, Central Spitsbergen. Breccias are developed throughout the Moscovian Minkinfjellet Formation and in basal parts of the Kazimovian Wordiekammen Formation. Breccias can be divided into two categories: (i) thick, cross-cutting breccia-bodies up to 200 m thick that are associated with breccia pipes and large V-structures, and (ii) horizontal stratabound breccia beds interbedded with undeformed carbonate and siliciclastic rocks. The thick breccias occur in the central part of the basin, whereas the stratabound breccia beds have a much wider areal extent towards the basin margins. The breccias were formed by gravitational collapse into cavities formed by dissolution of gypsum and anhydrite beds in the Minkinfjellet Formation. Several dissolution fronts have been discovered, demonstrating the genetic relationship between dissolution of gypsum and brecciation. Textures and structures typical of collapse breccias such as inverse grading, a sharp flat base, breccia pipes (collapse dolines) and V-structures (cave roof collapse) are also observed. The breccias are cemented by calcite cements of pre-compaction, shallow burial origin. Primary fluid inclusions in the calcite are dominantly single phase containing fresh water (final melting points are ca 0 °C), suggesting that breccia diagenesis occurred in meteoric waters. Cathodoluminescence (CL) zoning of the cements shows a consistent pattern of three cement stages, but the abundance of each stage varies stratigraphically and laterally. δ¹⁸O values of breccia cements are more negative relative to marine limestones and meteoric cements developed in unbrecciated Minkinfjellet limestones. There is a clear relationship between δ¹⁸O values and the abundance of the different cement generations detected by CL. Paragenetically, later cements have lower δ¹⁸O values recording increased temperatures during their precipitation. Carbon isotope values of the cements are primarily rock-buffered although a weak trend towards more negative values with increasing burial depth is observed. The timing of gypsum dissolution and brecciation was most likely related to major intervals of exposure of the carbonate platform during Gzhelian and/or Asselian/Sakmarian times. These intervals of exposure occurred shortly after deposition of the brecciated units and before deep burial of the sediments.     

Facies changes and diagenetic processes across the Permian–Triassic boundary event horizon, Great Bank of Guizhou, South China: a controversy of erosion and dissolution

The Permian–Triassic boundary interval in shallow shelf seas of South China shows Upper Permian limestones overlain by lowermost Triassic microbialites. Global sea‐level rose across the Permian–Triassic boundary, but an irregular top‐Permian erosion surface across a 10 km north–south transect of the Great Bank of Guizhou contains evidence of sea‐level fluctuation. The surface represents the ‘event horizon’ of mass extinction, below the biostratigraphic Permian–Triassic boundary defined by first appearance datum of conodont Hindeodus parvus. An Upper Permian foraminiferal grainstone beneath this surface contains geopetal sediments, etched grains, and pendent and meniscus cements interpreted here as vadose. However, these latter diagenetic processes occurred before the event horizon and were followed by erosion of the final Permian surface. This erosion cuts previous fabrics but lacks evidence of weathering or bioerosion. A few centimetres below is an earlier grainstone that was also eroded but lacks proof of sub‐aerial processes. Samples therefore reveal one, or possibly two, small‐scale relative sea‐level changes before the Triassic transgression in this area, and these may relate to local tectonics. The final Permian surface is subject to at least four interpretations: (i) sub‐aerial physical erosion and dissolution by carbon dioxide‐enriched fresh water or carbon dioxide‐enriched mixed water, prior to Triassic transgression; (ii) sub‐aerial physical erosion overprinted by dissolution related to carbon dioxide‐enriched sea water in the Early Triassic transgression; (iii) submarine dissolution affected by acidified sea water due to rapid increase in volcanically‐derived carbon dioxide and oxidized methane released from marine clathrates; (iv) submarine dissolution due to acid anoxic waters rising across the continental shelf, unrelated to atmospheric carbon dioxide or oxidized methane. Field and petrographic evidence suggests that (i) is the simplest option; and it is possible that (ii) and (iii) occurred, but none are proved. Option (iv) is unlikely given the evidence and modelling of supersaturation of upwelled waters with respect to bicarbonate.     

Geochemistry of the waste isolation pilot plant (WIPP) site, southestern New Mexico, U.S.A.

An extensive geochemical data base, including analyses of major and minor solutes, mineralogical studies of core samples, and isotopic studies of waters, carbonates and sulfates, has been assembled for evaporites and related rocks in the northern Delaware Basin of southeastern New Mexico. These data were compiled for the geological and hydrological characterization of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), which is excavated in the evaporites of the Salado Formation. These data were evaluated in order: (1) to determine the stability of the evaporite mineralogy over geological time; (2) to compare the aqueous geochemistry with host rock mineralogy; (3) to delineate the nature and timing of water-rock interactions, such as dissolution and recrystallization; (4) to determine the geological and climatic conditions that have governed groundwater recharge. The resulting synthesis of data and current hypotheses concerning the origin, composition and history of waters in the evaporite rocks and related units of the Delaware Basin provides a tentative conceptual model for the behavior of the water-rock system since the deposition of the evaporites in the Permian. Essential components of this model include: (1) widespread Late Triassic/Early Jurassic evaporite recrystallization; (2) accumulation of deep-basin brines isolated from meteoric recharge; (3) evaporite dissolution by meteoric waters flowing in carbonates and sulfates interbedded in the uppermost Permian section and at the basin margin; (4) lateral rather than vertical infiltration of pre-Holocene meteoric waters in the uppermost Permian section; and (5) climatic conditions presently less conducive to recharge than in the Late Pleistocene.     

山东省平邑左庄石膏矿区非采空致塌机理与治理方法

平邑左庄石膏矿区曾发生过3次地面塌陷,但井下实地调查发现,该矿区地面塌陷并非地下采空塌陷波及地表后而引发的地面塌陷。根据矿区地质环境条件、采矿方法及井巷工程布置等因素,分析认为地面塌陷原因是矿山布置的第一开采中段未预留出足够的顶柱厚度,致使井下回采时揭穿矿房顶柱接触到上覆第四纪松散盖层,第四纪孔隙水携带泥砂泄入矿坑发生潜蚀作用,在矿房顶柱与第四纪松散盖层之间形成“天窗式”砂漏,第四纪松散盖层中逐渐形成土洞,土洞扩大并塌陷后引发地面塌陷。     

滇东南南洞地下河系统源区洞穴特征及其成因演化机制

滇东南岩溶地貌发育,岩溶洞穴是该区典型空洞体系。文章以滇东南南洞地下河系统源区典型岩溶洞穴为研究对象,基于地学理论和地球化学分析,对该区地貌特征、成因及演化机制开展科学研究。研究表明,NW向的张性断裂、区内可溶部分最高个旧组碳酸盐岩以及杨柳河向西流动的水动力作用是南洞地下河系统源区洞穴发育的主要成因;全新世中期6 kaBP以来,该地区洞穴演化过程经历了三个阶段,其中,主体形成时间为6~4 kaBP;此外,建立石洞洞穴与地下河发育模式。本次研究对南洞地区地下水资源评价具有实际意义。      

Prediction of underground cavity roof collapse using the Hoek–Brown failure criterion

Preventing roof collapse in underground cavities is a challenge to geotechnical engineering. In this study, three independent methods have been used to evaluate the roof collapse of underground rectangular cavities for a range of geometries and rock properties. The rock mass strength has been described by the Hoek–Brown failure criterion. The results of the analysis allow for prediction of roof collapse and to determine whether the failure surface that develops in the rock mass remains localised or extends through the full depth of cover. This is of significance if there are overlying cavities and when estimating surface subsidence.     

潘集煤矿二叠纪主采煤层中微量元素亲和性研究

安徽淮南煤田位于华北地台南端 ,发育了华北地区二叠纪含煤岩系中层位最高的可采煤层。采用仪器中子活化分析法 (INAA)测试了淮南煤田潘集煤矿二叠纪主采煤层 13个样品的 36个微量元素的浓度分布 ,并对其共生组合特点、地球化学特征及稀土元素配比模式作了初步分析 ,结果表明 ,煤中不同微量元素显示出不同的亲和性质。元素Br,As ,Sb ,Ni和Co等趋于在煤中富集 ,其中Br的有机亲和性最大。元素Na ,K ,Rb ,Th ,Hf,Zr ,Ta和REE则在煤层与顶底板接触带的碳质泥岩中富集 ,表现出与细粒陆源碎屑物更强的亲和性。其它元素倾向性不甚明显 ,但Fe ,Ca ,Sr ,HREE等元素在海水影响强度增大的煤层中含量增加。元素As,Cs,Ni,Fe和Ca在煤层中含量变化较大 ,其变异系数大于 1,其它元素则相对稳定 ,表明同一矿区煤层中微量元素含量在不受其它地质作用明显叠加影响时具有一定的稳定性。本区煤层稀土元素配比模式与华北其它地区C—P纪煤基本类似 ,普遍存在Eu亏损现象。 ∑REE在煤中分布范围为30× 10 -6～ 95× 10 -6,在顶板泥岩中超过 2 0 0× 10 -6。煤层中部 ∑REE降低 ,HREE相对富集。聚类分析表明 ,元素As ,Se ,Ag和Fe关系密切 ,这与煤中黄铁矿等成岩矿物有直接关系 ,泥炭沼泽演化期间或之后海水的直接或间接影响会促使这     

贵州武陵山区中二叠统崩塌地质灾害形成机理研究

为掌握贵州武陵山区中二叠统地层崩塌地质灾害发生机理,通过实地调查,结合原有地质资料,发现中二叠统主要分布在乌江及其支流两岸,典型的河谷地形为地层崩塌提供条件。分析认为,卸荷作用导致河谷岩体形成垂向的卸荷裂隙,卸荷裂隙在自重、水的侵蚀及溶蚀等外力的共同作用下,不断扩展,形成危岩体的边界,同时卸荷裂隙与层面、节理等结构面将岩体切割成独立的危岩体,从而导致崩塌灾害发生。指出该区域内二叠系中统三种崩塌破坏模式:卸荷—拉裂—倾倒式、卸荷—拉裂—滑移式、卸荷—拉裂—坠落式,而研究区内主要破坏方式为卸荷—拉裂—倾倒式。      

矿井陷落柱勘查中的电测深技术应用

从矿井陷落柱的数值模拟出发，结合实际施工经验给出了实用的矿井陷落柱井下直流电法勘探施工技术以及资料解释方法，取得了较好的应用效果。