Phosphorus Mobilization at the Sediment–Water Interface in Softwater Shield Lakes: the Role of Organic Carbon and Metal Oxyhydroxides

The adsorption of phosphorus on natural diagenetic iron (Feox) and manganese (Mnox) oxyhydroxides was studied in deep and littoral zone sediments of mesotrophic Lac Saint-Charles (46°56 N, 71°23 W), using a Teflon sheet technique for collecting diagenetically produced metal oxyhydroxides. Collected metal oxide amounts were greater at the deep-water station, relative to littoral zone stations reflecting sediment and local diagenetic differences. Two-layer surface complexation modeling on iron oxyhydroxide was consistent with the measured total P/Fe molar ratios except for the upper mixed Mn–Fe oxide layer from the littoral stations, where measured phosphorus exceeded the modeled phosphorus by more than fivefold. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) exchange between oxyhydroxide samples and natural lake water in the laboratory revealed a labile phosphorus pool. Phosphorus determined on the Teflon sheets from the littoral zone stations appears to be related to a distinct non-humic organic carbon pool that readily exchanges SRP, while little exchange was observed from material collected from the deep-water station. We suggest that the enhanced SRP release from littoral zone sediments is due to an organic carbon and/or metal oxide-impoverished sediment matrix, limiting microbial oxide reduction and allowing phosphorus to be rapidly recycled at the sediment–water interface, instead of being slowly incorporated into humic material. The SRP fluxes revealed in our study, which originate from the solid phase at the sediment–water interface, would be difficult to resolve using interstitial pore-water samplers and might be a quantitatively important source of inorganic phosphorus in Shield lakes.     

Interpretation of Soil–Cement Properties and Application in Numerical Studies of Ground Settlement Due to Tunneling Under Existing Metro Line

Uncertainty of properties of improved soft ground with chemical grouting often results in discrepancy between simulated results and observed data and makes prediction for ground subsidence difficult. It also made practice usually adopts unconfined compressive strength of soil–cement mixtures as design control criterion. This paper presents a methodology to interpret the strength and deformation parameters from unconfined compressive strength of soil–cement mixtures for advanced numerical analysis which is widely used in reinforcing the soft ground and pre-supporting excavation. Observed data are used to compare with the simulated results and validate the interpretations. Numerical experiments with two-dimensional finite element model for covered undercutting of large cross-sectional twin tunnel under an existing subway station are presented. Issues with respect to design and construction of excavation that potentially affect the ground surface subsidence are explored. It was found that the ground subsidence caused by tunneling in soil–cement medium under existing subway station is similar to that in a greenfield site but with flatter settlement trough. Unconfined compressive strength of soil–cement mixtures ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 MPa can significantly reduce the settlement to an acceptable control criterion. Settlement magnitude is influenced by pillar width but not obviously by the location of umbrella arch installed in twin tunnels.     

Soil organic carbon quantity,chemistry and thermal stability in a mountainous landscape: A Rock–Eval pyrolysis survey

Mountain soils store huge amounts of carbon which may be highly vulnerable to the strong land use and climate changes that mountain areas currently experience worldwide. Here, we tested the Rock–Eval (RE) pyrolysis as a proxy technique to (i) quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, (ii) bring insights into SOC bulk chemistry and (iii) investigate biogeochemical stability at the landscape scale in a mountain area of the French calcareous Prealps. A total of 109 soils from 11 eco-units representing the variety of ecosystems of the study area were analyzed with RE pyrolysis. RE pyrolysis showed an excellent predictive performance (R² = 0.99) for SOC content even in calcareous soils. The technique revealed specific chemical fingerprints for some eco-units and soil types, with decreasing hydrogen index values from Anthroposols (425 ± 62 mg HC/g SOC) to Umbrisols, Leptosols (311 ± 49 mg HC/g SOC) and to Cambisols (278 ± 35 mg HC/g SOC), associated with an increase in SOC maturation. Newly developed RE pyrolysis indices revealed the high stability of SOC in most eco-units developed on Cambisols (acidic grasslands, alpine meadows, bushy facies) and a significantly lower stability of SOC in mountain ridges, sheepfold areas and coniferous forest soils. The persistence of SOC in this mosaic of ecosystems may depend not only on its chemistry or thermal stability, but also on local environmental factors such as climatic conditions or pH, especially for high altitude soils. Overall, RE pyrolysis appears as an appropriate tool for landscape scale carbon inventories and could become a standardized proxy for assessing the vulnerability of SOC stocks.     

Identification of Composite Rock Body in Dongguashan Copper (Gold) Deposit, Anhui Province

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Mining Sequence Deformation and Failure Behaviour Analysis in the hangingwall and Orebody Rock Formations; A Continuum Approach

In this study based on practical geological setting of the hangingwall, orebody and footwall. Two comprehensive evaluation models for selecting the underground mining method to extract the Nchanga Upper Orebody were proposed which constituted of six key attributes of technical economic, rock substance strength, production, orebody dip and thickness. These evaluation models are analyzed by the multiple attribute decision making methods based on eigenvalues, eigenvectors and fuzzy mathematics. In addition two different continuum numerical methods Examine^2D and RS³ are employed to simulate the mining process of the Upper Orebody and finally the optimal mining scheme is determined. By using analytical hierarchy process, Yager’s method and numerical modeling some useful conclusions for mining the highly folded Upper Orebody have been drawn, which will be beneficial to the Nchanga mine.     

Failure Mechanism of Soil Nail—Prestressed Anchor Composite Retaining Structure

Enhancing the strength of retaining structure with soil nails and prestressed anchors is a new technique that can be used in the excavation of deep foundation pit. Finite element analysis (FEA) based on ABAQUS is presented in this paper to investigate the failure mechanism of such retaining structure. The model used in the FEA is firstly validated by comparing the modelled results with field measurements for a specific case. The model is then extended to investigate the influence of the prestressed anchor on the (1) horizontal deformation of foundation pit and (2) the distribution of axial forces along the soil nails. It is found that the magnitude of anchor force is the key factor governing the performance of the entire retaining system. However, the influence of the prestressed anchor is sensitive to the rigidity of the concrete surface layer of the retaining structure. Based on the results of the modelling, the failure mechanism of soil nail—prestressed anchor composite retaining structure is discussed.     

Numerical Analysis of Infiltration in One-Dimensional Unsaturated Soil–Geotextile Column

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - Numerical modelling development for capillary barrier investigation considering unsaturated soil–geotextile interface has been studied and evaluated...     

Nd–Sr–Hf–O isotope provinciality in the northernmost Arabian–Nubian Shield: implications for crustal evolution

Multi-isotope study including whole-rock Nd–Sr, single zircon Hf, and SIMS δ¹⁸O analyses of zircons sheds light on magma sources in the northernmost Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) during ~820–570 Ma. Reconnaissance initial Nd and Sr isotope data for the older rocks (~820–740 Ma) reaffirms previous estimates that early crustal evolution in this part of the shield involved some crustal contamination by pre-ANS material. Prominent isotope provinciality is displayed by post-collisional calc-alkaline and alkaline igneous rocks of ~635–570 Ma across a NW-SE transect across basement of the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt) and southern Israel. Silicic rocks of the NW-region are characterized by lower εNd(T)–εHf(T) and higher Sr_i and δ¹⁸O compared with rocks of the SE-region, and the transition between the regions is gradual. Within each region isotope ratios are independent of the extent of magma fractionation, and zircon cores and rims yield similar δ¹⁸O values. Comparison with southern segments of the ANS shows that the source for most ~635–570 Ma rocks can be modeled as the isotopically aged lower-intermediate crust in the ANS core (SE-region) and its northern, more contaminated ANS margins (NW-region). Nevertheless, Nd–Sr isotope enrichment of the lithospheric mantle is indicated by some basic magmas of the NW-region displaying the most enriched Nd–Sr isotope compositions. Comparison of Nd and Hf depleted mantle model ages for rocks of the SE-region may indicate that crustal formation events in the ANS geographical core took place at 1.1–1.2 Ga and were followed by crustal differentiation starting at ~0.9 Ga.     

Environmental Geochemistry of Fluorine in the Rock—Soil—Water System in the Karst Region of Central Guizhou Province

Systematic determination of and adsorption experiment on fluorine in the carbonate rock-soil-water system in the karst region studied in Guzhou Province,in conjunction with the mineral surface and soil chemistry data,have revealed the geochemical characteristics of F and the mechanisms of its transport and entrichment in the rock-soil-water-system of the karst region central guizhou province,Deep-seated underground waters(-100m or lower)and soil layers in the karst region of central Guizhou are characterized by high-F anomalies whereas shallow-level underground and surface waters by low contents of F(mostly lower than 05mg/L).Fluorine in soil and water in the region studied comes largely from Triassic marine strata dominated by gypsum-bearing carbonate rocks.The special adsorption and desorption of F on the surface of geothite in soil layers are the important mechanisms of its transport and enrichment in the rock-soil-water system of the karst region studied.     

Numerical Analysis of Pile–Soil–Pile Interaction in Pile Groups with Batter Piles

Battered piles are usually used to counteract lateral forces in a pile group. As there is little spacing between piles, they are affected by one another, and there is interaction between them. In this study, pile–soil–pile interaction in a group of battered piles was numerically simulated using finite element analysis. Double and frictional pile groups under static lateral and axial loadings were analyzed separately. The effects of batter angle, slenderness ratio, spacing between piles, pile–soil stiffness ratio, and soil plasticity on interaction factors were computed and presented in curves.     

Ediacaran terrane accretion within the Arabian–Nubian Shield

The Ad Dawadimi Terrane is an Ediacaran basin of the Arabian Nubian Shield (ANS), Saudi Arabia. This basin terrane is situated in the far eastern part of the ANS and represents the youngest accretion event of the exposed ANS. Therefore, the timing of events within the basin is key to understanding both the closure of the Mozambique Ocean and the amalgamation of Gondwana along the northern East African Orogen. Here we present U/Pb detrital zircon data for the Abt Formation, the principle basin sediments of the Ad Dawadimi Terrane, along with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages on muscovite and whole rock Sm/Nd data. These data indicate that deep-water deposition in the Abt Basin did not end until after ca. 620 Ma and that deformation and greenschist-facies metamorphism of the Abt Formation occurred at 620 ± 3 (2σ) Ma along an active margin. This is the youngest terrane amalgamation event reported so far in the Arabian–Nubian Shield, but we suggest even younger sutures lie further east beneath the Phanerozoic cover of eastern Saudi Arabia. Our results suggest that the Ediacaran basins of the eastern ANS were not part of the Huqf basin in Oman, which was instead part of a passive margin of Neoproterozoic India, separated from the active margin of Africa by the Mozambique Ocean that probably did not close until the late Ediacaran or early Cambrian.     

Geochronological limits of subalkaline magmatism in the Ket-Kap–Yuna igneous province,Aldan Shield

Comparative U-Pb (zircon- and sphene-based, for the first time) and K-Ar (biotite-, amphibole, and whole rock-based) dating of monzonitoids and subalkaline granitoids of the Ket-Kap and Uchur volcanic-plutonic complexes (Ket-Kap-Yuna Igneous Province is one of the areas of tectonic-magmatic activation of the Aldan Shield), respectively, has been made.     

Rock slope stability and design in Arafat–Muzdalifa area,Saudi Arabia

The present contribution is a complete study extending before, during, and after the excavation of the mountain side that lying north of road 7. It includes slope stability analysis, rock cut design, and rockfall modeling for natural slope and rock cut face. Neoproterozoic granodiorite and biotite granite forming the slope body have medium to very high strengths. Mineral compositions and textures of these intact rocks control the strength values. These rocks are intensively dissected by fractures that are filled with montmorillonite and chlorite. The high plasticity and slippery nature of these filling materials represent the main problem that may face a rock cut designer because they damage the mechanical properties of these fractures. The problem begins with the selection of the rock mass classification that deals with the fracture fillings and extends during the stability analysis and the suggestion of mitigation and supporting measures. The rock masses building the natural slope are suffered by plane, wedge, and toppling failures. Therefore, two rock cut designs are suggested to avoid the hazards related to these failures and considering the construction cost as well. Rockfall modeling for the natural slope and rock cut designs was done to assess the hazards related to these falling of the blocks. The kinetic energy of falling blocks is represented on the roadway by the coverage distance and block rebound amplitude. Slope height has a positive effect on the values of these distance and amplitude, whereas the steepness of berm height has a negative effect on them. Coverage distance is a function to the location of rockfall barrier and to the width of road ditch, while the amplitude controls the barrier height.     

Soil discrimination using diffuse reflectance Vis–NIR spectroscopy in a local toposequence

Vis–NIR spectroscopy is nowadays presented as a possible routine method for soil sample analysis. However, there is still no consensus on which is the best multivariate statistical method to use. We propose to use principal component analysis to complete the spectral data treatment. The soil samples came from a pedological cover made up of red–yellow Latosols: 88 samples of 11 soil profiles on four toposequences were collected; clay, organic matter, silica, iron, aluminum and titanium total contents were determined; the contents of goethite, hematite, gibbsite, and kaolinite were calculated. Diffuse reflectance Vis–NIR spectroscopy at wavelengths from 400 to 2400 nm combined with principal component analysis (PCA) was sufficiently sensitive to discriminate different Latosols. Wavelengths of 700 nm and 2200 to 2300 nm were influenced by content ratios of organic matter and iron oxides (700 nm), and kaolinite and gibbsite absorption (2200 and 2300 nm). The spectral responses were affected not only by the content of these constituents, but also by the composition of the minerals, so that the same class of Latosol may have different or similar spectral responses. The role of microaggregation is discussed.     

Composition of Volatile Components in Mineral-Hosted Fluid Inclusions at Hydrothermal Deposits. Water–Rock–Gas Systems in Ore-Forming Processes

The paper presents data on the average analyzed concentrations of volatile components (CO₂, CH₄ and other hydrocarbons, N₂, and H₂S) in natural fluids producing hydrothermal Au, Sn, W, Mo, Cu, Pb, and Zn mineral deposits. Characteristics of the gas regime at these deposits are determined. Thermodynamic simulations are carried out to model how compounds with volatile components are formed when water interacts with silicic and mafic rocks within wide P–T ranges. The speciation of volatile components determined by direct analysis is in good agreement with numerical simulations of water–rock systems (for silicic and mafic rocks). More reduced species with volatile components are formed in mafic rocks.