Petrophysical properties of rocks in seismogenic crustal blocks of the southeastern Greater Caucasus and their geological and geophysical interpretation

The elastic and density properties of rocks of the Shamakha-Ismailly seismogenic blocks are studied by the ultrasonic pulse method in quasi-hydrostatic high pressure apparatuses. An attempt is made to more accurately determine the upper crustal lithology of these blocks. The observed values of the elastic and density characteristics of the rocks at high pressures suggest that the upper layers in the Ismailly and Shamakha blocks can consist of sedimentary carbonate rocks such as marls, sandstones, mudstones, and limestones. The middle layers apparently consist of volcaniclastic rocks: lithoclastic tuffs, andesites, etc. The lower layer (basement) in both blocks is likely composed of basic rocks such as basalts, trachybasalts, etc. According to the values of elastic wave velocities and densities, gabbroid rocks may compose the fourth layer of the Buinuz intrusion, identified from seismic data.     

Springflow hydrographs: eogenetic vs. telogenetic karst

Matrix permeability in the range of 10(-11) to 10(-14) m(2) characterizes eogenetic karst, where limestones have not been deeply buried. In contrast, limestones of postburial, telogenetic karst have matrix permeabilities on the order of 10(-15) to 10(-20) m(2). Is this difference in matrix permeability paralleled by a difference in the behavior of springs draining eogenetic and telogenetic karst? Log Q/Q(min) flow duration curves from 11 eogenetic-karst springs in Florida and 12 telogenetic-karst springs in Missouri, Kentucky, and Switzerland, plot in different fields because of the disparate slopes of the curves. The substantially lower flow variability in eogenetic-karst springs, which results in the steeper slopes of their flow duration curves, also makes for a strong contrast in patterns (e.g., "flashiness") between the eogenetic-karst and telogenetic-karst spring hydrographs. With respect to both spring hydrographs and the flow duration curves derived from them, the eogenetic-karst springs of Florida are more like basalt springs of Idaho than the telogenetic-karst springs of the study. From time-series analyses on discharge records for 31 springs and published time-series results for 28 additional sites spanning 11 countries, we conclude that (1) the ratio of maximum to mean (Q(max)/Q(mean)) discharge is less in springs of eogenetic karst than springs of telogenetic karst; (2) aquifer inertia (system memory) is larger in eogenetic karst; (3) eogenetic-karst aquifers take longer to respond to input signals; and (4) high-frequency events affect discharge less in eogenetic karst. All four of these results are consistent with the hypothesis that accessible storage is larger in eogenetic-karst aquifers than in telogenetic-karst aquifers.     

Recharge,storage and discharge of groundwater in some sandstone areas in Central Europe

Recharge curves in relation to precipitation and altitude (temperature) are derived from evapotranspiration data and compared with the results of other methods to determine groundwater replenishment in areas of strongly and moderately cemented sandstones as well as of loose sands (e.g. lysimeters). Infiltration and percolation of groundwater from a sandy cover into jointed sandstones, and discharge of groundwater into influent streamlets as intermittent subsurface flow, rapidly fluctuating discharge of contact springs, and comparatively constant base flow into effluent watercourses is demonstrated by a simplified model using average permeabilities.     

Analysis of groundwater exchange for a large plains river in Colorado (USA)

Complete daily water budget information was assembled for a 105 km segment of the South Platte River in the plains region below Denver, CO, for the period 1983–1993. The data were used in testing the possibility that dependence of alluvial exchange mechanisms on stage height, as shown by models of alluvial exchange, allows alluvial exchange to be predicted continuously over a given reach through use of statistical information on river discharge. The study segment was divided into an upper and a lower reach; daily alluvial exchanges for each reach were estimated by the method of residuals. The two reaches show small (15%) but statistically significant annual differences in rates of exchange. For each reach, there is a seasonal pattern (2·5‐fold oscillation) in alluvial discharge to the channel, reflecting seasonality in recharge of the alluvium by irrigation. At discharges up to 40 m³/s (82nd percentile), alluvial discharge to the channel occurs at a rate independent of river discharge. Above 40 m³/s, net alluvial discharge into the channel is progressively reduced; at 60 m³/s (92nd percentile) there is no net alluvial exchange. At still higher river discharges, water is lost to the alluvium through bank storage at a rate that is linearly related to the logarithm of discharge. Annually, alluvial discharge accounts for 15–18% of water entering the study segment, and alluvial recharge through bank storage accounts for 2–4% of water leaving the segment. Alluvial recharge through bank storage at the highest discharges can, however, exceed low‐flow alluvial discharge rates by five‐fold over short intervals. Even though daily alluvial exchanges vary widely, they can be estimated at r² values above 80% on the basis of reach, season, and river discharge. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perennial springs provide information to predict low flows in mountain basins

A new method for estimating low flows in ungauged rivers from minimum discharge of perennial springs is proposed. This spring-based approach (SBA) is tested in 21 catchments from the northern Apennines, Italy. First, the hydrogeological behaviour of each geological formation and superficial deposit is related to the spatial distribution and discharge of perennial springs in a test area using a Bayesian approach, weight of evidence (WoE). Second, the observed river flow exceeded for 95% of the observation period is related to the type of geological formations outcropping within the catchment. Finally, the q95 low flows are estimated from the WoE weights. The SBA performance is assessed by leave-one-out cross-validation and compared with the results of a multiple regression (MR) model that accounts for selected catchment characteristics, but no springs. The results show that the SBA outperforms MR. The better performance of the SBA may be related to its ability to capture bedrock characteristics, which are the main controls of low flows in the study area.     

Remagnetization mechanism of Lower Cretaceous rocks from the Organyà Basin (Pyrenees,Spain)

Widespread Cretaceous remagnetization is documented in several Mesozoic basins in North Central Spain. Organyà Basin (South Central Pyrenean foreland) is atypical in the sense that the lower part of the rock sequence (Berriasian-Barremian limestones) is remagnetized while the upper portion (Aptian-Albian marls) is not (Dinarès-Turell and García-Senz, 2000). Here, this view is confirmed by the analysis of 41 new paleomagnetic sites over the entire basin, so that a 3D view is obtained. Thermoviscous resetting of the natural remanent magnetization can be ruled out, hence the remagnetization is chemical in origin. A positive breccia-test on remagnetized strata constrains the remagnetization age to older than the Paleocene-Eocene, when the backthrust system was active. The remagnetization is argued to have occurred early in the geological history of the Organyà Basin either in the elevated geothermal gradient regime during the syn-rift extension or at the earliest phase of the later compression. Burial is considered the most important cause combined with the lithological effect that limestones are more prone to express remagnetization than marls. The observed pressure solution in the remagnetized limestone is likely associated with the remagnetization, whereas it is unlikely that externally derived fluids have played an important role.     

Marine and human activity influences on the groundwater quality of southern Korinthos area (Greece)

In this paper the groundwater quality of the southern part of Korinthos region (north‐east Peloponnese) is discussed. The geology is characterized by a thick sequence of Neogene marls alternating with sandstones, overlain by superficial Quaternary deposits. The latter consist of a mixture of loose materials such as conglomerates, marly sandstones, sands and clay to silty sands. The area is crossed by a fault system parallel to the coastline, and the Quaternary sediments have formed extended Tyrrhenian marine terraces. Two aquifers have been identified in the area. The first is unconfined and occurs within the Quaternary sediments whereas the other is a deep confined aquifer occurring within the underlying Neogene marl series. Analysis of hydrochemical evolution over the past 30 years has indicated significant deterioration of quality owing to seawater intrusion and nitrate pollution. The various sources of pollution have rendered, to a large extent, shallow groundwater unsuitable not only for potable water supply but also for irrigation purposes. However, this is not the case for the deeper confined aquifer. Statistical analysis was used to explore the evolution of salinization during the years 1968 and 1998. In view of the alarming conditions caused by the documented groundwater quality deterioration, the need for integrated water resources management is stressed to maintain the socio‐economic growth of the region studied. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics of preferential flow and groundwater discharge to Shingobee Lake,Minnesota, USA

Small‐scale heterogeneities and large changes in hydraulic gradient over short distances can create preferential groundwater flow paths that discharge to lakes. A 170 m² grid within an area of springs and seeps along the shore of Shingobee Lake, Minnesota, was intensively instrumented to characterize groundwater‐lake interaction within underlying organic‐rich soil and sandy glacial sediments. Seepage meters in the lake and piezometer nests, installed at depths of 0·5 and 1·0 m below the ground surface and lakebed, were used to estimate groundwater flow. Statistical analysis of hydraulic conductivity estimated from slug tests indicated a range from 21 to 4·8 × 10^?3 m day^?1 and small spatial correlation. Although hydraulic gradients are overall upward and toward the lake, surface water that flows onto an area about 2 m onshore results in downward flow and localized recharge. Most flow occurred within 3 m of the shore through more permeable pathways. Seepage meter and Darcy law estimates of groundwater discharge agreed well within error limits. In the small area examined, discharge decreases irregularly with distance into the lake, indicating that sediment heterogeneity plays an important role in the distribution of groundwater discharge. Temperature gradients showed some relationship to discharge, but neither temperature profiles nor specific electrical conductance could provide a more convenient method to map groundwater–lake interaction. These results suggest that site‐specific data may be needed to evaluate local water budget and to protect the water quality and quantity of discharge‐dominated lakes. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling discharge through artesian springs based on a high‐resolution piezometric network

Artesian springs are localized aquifer outlets that originate when pressurized ground water is allowed to rise to the surface. Computing artesian discharge directly is often subject to practical difficulties such as restricted accessibility, abundant vegetation or slow flow rates. These circumstances call for indirect approaches to quantify flow. This paper presents a method to estimate ground water discharge through an upwelling spring by means of a three‐layer steady‐state groundwater flow model. Model inputs include on‐site measurements of vertical sediment permeability, sediment temperatures and hydraulic gradients. About 70 spring bed piezometers were used to carry out permeability tests within the spring sediments, as well as to quantify the hydraulic head at different depths below the discharge point. Sediment temperatures were measured at different depths and correlated to permeabilities in order to demonstrate the potential of temperature as a substitute for cumbersome slug tests. Results show that the spatial distribution of discharge through the spring bottom is highly heterogeneous, as sediment permeability varies by several orders of magnitude within centimetres. Sensitivity analyses imply that geostatistical interpolation is irrelevant to the results if field datasets come from a sufficiently high resolution of piezometric records. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alluvial sediment sources in a glaciated catchment: The voidomatis basin,Northwest Greece

X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the fine matrix component of four alluvial units and modern channel sediments in the Voidomatis River Basin of northwest Greece shows that fine sediment sources have changed considerably during the late Quaternary. The matrix fraction of the modern channel sediments is derived predominantly from erosion of local flysch rocks and soils. During the last glaciation, however, the fine sediment load of the Voidomatis River was dominated by glacially-ground, finely comminuted limestone materials. Limestone-derived fine sediment is not produced in significant amounts under modern climatic conditions. By combining this XRD work with a detailed programme of clast lithologic 1 analysis we have reconstructed former bedload and fine sediment load composition. The lithological properties of both the coarse (8-256 mm) and fine (< 63 μm) elements of the sediment load have varied markedly during the late Quaternary. A simple, semiquantitative assessment of fine sediment mineralogy, using diffractogram peak-height data, has provided a valuable complement to the information gathered from more traditional clast lithological techniques. Together, in favourable geological settings, fine fraction mineralogy and clast lithological analysis can provide a valuable tool for the reconstruction of late Quaternary alluvial environments.     

Preservation of extraterrestrial 3He in 480-Ma-old marine limestones.

We have measured the helium abundance and isotopic composition of a suite of Lower Ordovician marine limestones and associated fossil meteorites from Kinnekulle, Sweden. Limestone 3He/4He ratios as high as 11.5 times the atmospheric value in fused samples and up to 23 times atmospheric in a single step-heat fraction indicate the presence of extraterrestrial helium, and demonstrate that at least a fraction of the extraterrestrial 3He carried by interplanetary dust particles must be retained against diffusive and diagenetic losses for up to 480 Ma. The carrier phase has not been identified but is not magnetic. Extrapolation of high-temperature 3He diffusivities in these sediments is consistent with strong retention of extraterrestrial 3He under ambient Earth-surface conditions. Combination of the observed helium concentrations with sedimentation rates estimated from conodont biostratigraphy suggest that the flux of extraterrestrial 3He in the Early Ordovician was about 0.5 x 10(-12) cm3 STP cm-2 ka-1, ignoring potential post-deposition helium loss. This value is indistinguishable from the average 3He flux estimated for the Cenozoic Era. In contrast, previous studies of fossil meteorites, Ir abundances, and Os isotopic ratios in the limestone suggest that the total accretion rate of extraterrestrial material during the studied interval was at least an order of magnitude higher than the Cenozoic average. This disparity may reflect significant post-depositional loss of 3He from IDPs within these old limestones; if so, the match between the Ordovician flux and the Cenozoic average would be fortuitous. Alternatively, the size distribution of infalling objects during the Early Ordovician may have been enriched only in extraterrestrial material too large to retain 3He during atmospheric entry heating (> approximately 30 micrometers). The fossil meteorites themselves also preserve extraterrestrial helium. Meteorite 3He concentrations of 2 to 9 x 10(-12) cm3 STP g-1 are several orders of magnitude lower than found in most modern meteorites, suggesting very substantial helium loss (probably >99.9%) from these chemically altered objects. The Meteorites carry 3He concentrations only a factor of a few higher than the host limestones. The meteorites themselves cannot be the source of the extraterrestrial 3He observed in the limestones.     

EFFECTIVE DISCHARGE CALCULATION GUIDE

1 mTRonvcnox: moareS Aun CoxcmSAJluvial rivers have the pOtenhal to adjust their shaPe and dimensions to all flows that tranSPOrtsediment, but Inglis (l94l) suggested that, for rivers that are in regime, a single steady flow could beidenhfied which would Produce the same bankfll dimensions as the natural sequence of events. Hereferrd to this now as the dondnan discharge.Wolman and Mller (l960) idenhfied that the flow doing most bed material transPort over a period ofyears may be taken tO…     

Interpretation of spring recession curves

Recession curves contain information on storage properties and different types of media such as porous, fractured, cracked lithologies and karst. Recession curve analysis provides a function that quantitatively describes the temporal discharge decay and expresses the drained volume between specific time limits (Hall 1968). This analysis also allows estimating the hydrological significance of the discharge function parameters and the hydrological properties of the aquifer. In this study, we analyze data from perennial springs in the Judean Mountains and from others in the Galilee Mountains, northern Israel. All the springs drain perched carbonate aquifers. Eight of the studied springs discharge from a karst dolomite sequence, whereas one flows out from a fractured, slumped block of chalk. We show that all the recession curves can be well fitted by a function that consists of two exponential terms with exponential coefficients alpha1 and alpha2. These coefficients are approximately constant for each spring, reflecting the hydraulic conductivity of different media through which the ground water flows to the spring. The highest coefficient represents the fast flow, probably through cracks, or quickflow, whereas the lower one reflects the slow flow through the porous medium, or baseflow. The comparison of recession curves from different springs and different years leads to the conclusion that the main factors that affect the recession curve exponential coefficients are the aquifer lithology and the geometry of the water conduits therein. In normal years of rainy winter and dry summer, alpha1 is constant in time. However, when the dry period is longer than usual because of a dry winter, alpha1 slightly decreases with time.     

The integration of thermal infrared imaging,discharge measurements and numerical simulation to quantify the relative contributions of freshwater inflows to small estuaries in Atlantic Canada

Nutrient fluxes from developed catchments are often a significant factor in the declining water quality and ecological functioning in estuaries. Determining the relative contributions of surface water and groundwater discharge to nutrient‐sensitive estuaries is required because these two pathways may be characterized by different nutrient concentrations and temporal variability, and may thus require different remedial actions. Quantifying the volumetric discharge of groundwater, which may occur via diffuse seepage or springs, remains a significant challenge. In this contribution, the total discharge of freshwater, including groundwater, to two small nutrient‐sensitive estuaries in Prince Edward Island (Canada) is assessed using a unique combination of airborne thermal infrared imaging, direct discharge measurements in streams and shoreline springs, and numerical simulation of groundwater flow. The results of the thermal infrared surveys indicate that groundwater discharge occurs at discrete locations (springs) along the shoreline of both estuaries, which can be attributed to the fractured sandstone bedrock aquifer. The discharge measured at a sub‐set of the springs correlates well with the area of the thermal signal attributed to each discharge location and this information was used to determine the total spring discharge to each estuary. Stream discharge is shown to be the largest volumetric contribution of freshwater to both estuaries (83% for Trout River estuary and 78% for McIntyre Creek estuary); however, groundwater discharge is significant at between 13% and 18% of the total discharge. Comparison of the results from catchment‐scale groundwater flow models and the analysis of spring discharge suggest that diffuse seepage to both estuaries comprises only about 25% of the total groundwater discharge. The methods employed in this research provide a useful framework for determining the relative volumetric contributions of surface water and groundwater to small estuaries and the findings are expected to be relevant to other fractured sandstone coastal catchments in Atlantic Canada. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

羌北地块中-晚侏罗世雁石坪群古地磁新结果

本文报道青藏高原羌北地区中-晚侏罗世雁石坪群古地磁新结果.对采自青海省格尔木市唐古拉山乡雁石坪剖面(33.6°N, 92.1°E)11个灰岩采点(118块)和10个碎屑岩采点(99块)定向样品系统古地磁学研究表明,大部分样品的退磁曲线具有双分量特征.低温分量方向在地理坐标系下较为集中,应该为地层褶皱之后的黏滞剩磁.高温特征剩磁分量方向可分为两类:(1)索瓦组(J₃s)和布曲组(J₂b)灰岩,以磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物,高温特征剩磁分量(D_s=355.7°,I_s=42.1°,k=58.2,α₉₅=6°)可通过99%置信度的褶皱检验.(2)雪山组(J₂x)和雀莫错组(J₂q)碎屑岩,以赤铁矿、磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物,高温特征剩磁分量(D_s=3.3°,I_s=28.9°,k=30.7,α₉₅=8.9°)可通过95%置信度的倒转检验和99%置信度的褶皱检验.两组分量都应该是岩石形成时的原生剩磁信息.碎屑岩组的磁倾角比灰岩组偏低13°左右,其剩磁方向很可能存在着与压实作用相关的剩磁倾角变浅的状况.本文取灰岩组平均磁化方向作为雁石坪群的原生剩磁分量,获得羌北地区雁石坪群古磁极位置:80.0°N,295.2°E(dp/dm=7.4/4.5).古地磁结果表明,羌北-昌都地区晚石炭-晚二叠世期间位于南纬中低纬度地区,早三叠世以后开始大规模北向漂移,至中-晚侏罗世已到达24.3°N.其快速北向运动主要发生在早三叠至早侏罗世期间(3500 km左右),与现今位置相比中晚侏罗世之后的北向迁移总量为900 km左右.     

High flow events and sediment transport in small streams in the ‘tertiary basin’ area in piedmont (Northwest Italy)

Rainfall, peak discharges, and suspended sediment transport were surveyed for 280 events in three small (0.8 to 10 km²) catchments in a hilly area derived from Neogene marls, silts, and sands. Under similar hydrological input conditions, stream flow behaviour and sediment delivery differed considerably from one catchment to another, depending on topography, lithology, land use, and especially sediment availability. Analytical treatment of data showed a good fit between sediment yield and peak flow discharge. Less good, although still significant, was the correlation between sediment concentration and discharge values for different flow stages. Rainfall peak/basin lag time and rainfall/discharge showed poor or no correlation, mainly due to strong variations in rainfall distribution. Sediment concentration in the catchments varied enormously according to season, from zero up to 334 g 1^?1; sediment yield was 160-900 tonnes km^?2 yr^?1 in the two major catchments, and over 5200 tonnes km^?2 yr^?1 in the headwater catchment, stressing the importance of small tributaries not only in inducing floods in downstream channels, but also in sediment supply.     

Microzonation of Lisbon: 1-D Theoretical Approach

—?The geology of Lisbon is very diversified, with a predominance of cretaceous rocks (basalt and limestone) in the western zone, while east and south it is covered by progressively thicker Tertiary deposits with diverse lithologies (sands, clays, silts, sandstones and limestones) and different geotechnical properties. Lisbon also contains several narrow long valleys, filled with thin alluvial deposits. A set of new geological profiles was drawn, along the east–west direction, 500 meters spaced. These profiles were based on the existing geological maps and complemented with new information collected from recent geotechnical boreholes. Theoretical modeling, using the Thomson–Haskell 1-D approach, was performed for 314 geological columns chosen from these profiles according to a regular grid 500 meters long. The physical parameters were obtained from specialized literature, seismic experiments and laboratory tests. The results are presented as contour maps for the peak frequencies and for the corresponding amplification factors. These results are compared with the microzonation map obtained by microtremor analysis and with the damage distribution observed in past earthquakes.     

A BME solution of the stochastic three-dimensional Laplace equation representing a geothermal field subject to site-specific information

This work develops a model of the geothermal field in the Nea Kessani region (Greece) by means of the Bayesian maximum entropy (BME) method, which describes the temperature variations across space in the underground geological formations. The geothermal field is formed by a thermal reservoir consisting of arcosic sandstones. The temperature distribution vs depth was first investigated by the Greek Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) using measurements in a set of vertical drill holes. These measurements showed that hot fluids rising from the deep enter the reservoir in a restricted area of the field and flow towards local thermal springs. The field modelling, which was based on the powerful BME concept, involves the solution of a stochastic partial differential equation that assimilates important site-specific information. The stochastic three-dimensional steady-state Laplace equation was considered as general knowledge and the drilling exploration data were used to construct the specificatory knowledge base in the BME terminology. The produced map is more informative and, in general, it gives higher temperature estimates compared to previous studies of the same region. This is also in agreement with the quartz geothermometry analysis carried out by IGME.     

Relationships between water flow rate and geophysical measurements in an alluvial aquifer

Our study focuses on the potential usefulness of surface geophysical data to constrain the water content within an alluvial aquifer. On a study area where two wells have been drilled, we have performed several geophysical measurements, including ground penetrating radar, DC resistivity prospecting, seismic refraction survey and magnetic resonance soundings. From these data, we estimated several parameters, namely, the water height in the deposits, the effective porosity, the water content, the permeability, and the transmissivity of alluvial deposits. These physical parameters allow us to characterize the alluvial deposits in order to constrain the estimation of the potential water flow. The lithology and water flow rate known from the wells enabled us to compare geophysical results obtained in a high water flow rate zone to those in a low water flow rate zone. Correlation has been found between the water flow rate observed in both wells and the geophysical data obtained in the vicinity of these wells.