Drinking water quality in villages of southwestern Haryana,India: assessing human health risks associated with hydrochemistry

The chemical quality of groundwater of western Haryana, India was assessed for its suitability for drinking purposes. A total of 275 water samples were collected from deep aquifer based hand-pumps situated in 37 different villages/towns of Bhiwani region. The water samples were analyzed for different physico-chemical properties, e.g., pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total harness (TH), total alkalinity (TA), calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride and fluoride concentrations. In this study, the average TDS content was greater ranging 1,692 (Bhiwani block) to 2,560 mg l⁻¹ (Siwani block), and other important parameters of water, e.g., TA (442–1,232 mg l⁻¹), TH (437–864 mg l⁻¹) and bicarbonate (554–672 mg l⁻¹), were also higher than maximum permissible limit by WHO or BIS. The fluoride appeared as a major problem of safe drinking water in this region. We recorded greater fluoride concentration, i.e., 86.0 mg l⁻¹ from Motipura village that is highest fluoride level ever recorded for Haryana state. The average fluoride concentration ranged between 7.1 and 0.8 mg l⁻¹ in different blocks of western Haryana. On the basis of fluoride concentration, Siwani block showed the maximum number of water samples (84% of total collected samples) unsuitable for drinking purposes (containing fluoride >1.5 mg l⁻¹) followed by Charki Dadri block (58%), Bhiwani block (52%), Bawani Khera block (33%) and Loharu block (14%). This study clearly suggest that some health deteriorating chemicals in drinking water were at dangerous level and; therefore, water quality could be a major health threat for local residents of western Haryana. The high fluoride level in drinking water has posed some serious dental health risks in local residents.     

3D DEM simulation of principal stress rotation in different planes of cross-anisotropic granular materials

Three-dimensional Discrete Element Method simulations have been performed to study the deformation of cross-anisotropic granular materials under principal stress rotation (PSR), for rotation planes oriented at different angles θ with respect to the bedding plane. The simulations have been conducted with a novel technique for applying specified stresses at three-dimensional boundaries. The results are qualitatively in agreement with experimental results from literature. Cumulative volume contraction is always observed under continuous PSR and increases with increasing θ. The dilatancy rate decreases with increasing number of PSR cycles, tending to zero. The noncoaxiality angle between the strain increment and the stress in the PSR plane increases with increasing number of cycles, reaching the same asymptotic value for samples of various densities and for various θ. Periodic oscillations of the dilatancy rate and noncoaxiality angle within each PSR cycle are observed with an increasing oscillation magnitude with increasing θ, due to the larger fabric anisotropy within the PSR plane. When θ = 30 or 60°, significant noncoaxial strain accumulation occurs in the plane perpendicular to the PSR plane due to the oblique angle between the PSR plane and the bedding plane, echoing the major principal fabric direction's being neither parallel nor perpendicular to the PSR plane. The macroscopic behavior of the samples is related to the microscopic parameters including coordination number and fabric anisotropy. With increasing number of cycles, the difference between normalized stress/strain/fabric increment tensors tends to become constant, with only a small lag between each pair, irrespective of θ.     

Taphonomic expressions of sedimentary hiatuses: field observations on bioclastic concentrations and sequence anatomy in low,moderate and high subsidence settings

Field studies of post-Palaeozoic siliciclastic records reveal a strong concordance between different types of bioclastic concentrations and discontinuity surfaces within third-order sequences ( 1 My duration), supporting the use of taphonomic criteria in establishing the relative magnitudes of sedimentary hiatuses. Comparison of records across a spectrum of subsidence rates, however (from 10 m to > 1 km/My), shows that, along with appreciable changes in sequence anatomy, the nature of surface-mantling bioclastic concentrations also changes. The most significant surfaces (second- and third-order sequence boundaries, surfaces or intervals of maximum transgression, transgressive surfaces) tend to be either bare or mantled with taphonomically complex hiatal and lag concentrations. These were more consistently encountered in low subsidence than in moderate subsidence records. In high subsidence records, major surfaces were more often mantled by composite or event concentrations, if they were bioclastic at all. In all subsidence settings, comparatively minor surfaces (parasequence boundaries, bed set boundaries and bedding planes) were bare or mantled with relatively simple event and composite concentrations. Although all fossil assemblages are biased taphonomically to some degree, relative degrees of bias should almost certainly vary among discontinuities as a general rule, suggesting specific adjustments in sampling strategies for evolutionary studies.     

Use of Spherical Trigonometry to Compute Near-Well Flow through Irregular Grid Block Boundaries

This paper concerns the computation of near-well flow in numerical reservoir simulation with unstructured grids. In particular, it uses spherical trigonometry to derive analytical expressions for the flow towards a well modeled as either a number of point sources or a constant-flux line source. The expression for the point source representation is based on projections of the grid block boundaries on spheres with unit radius around the sources. The expression for the line source is based on projection on a prolate spheroid. The computation of the surface area is done through transformation to prolate spheroidal coordinates and subsequent projection on a sphere at infinity. The point source expression for a single source is exact for grid block boundaries with straight edges; the line source expression is an approximation. Both representations are fully volume conserving, such that the sum of the fluxes through the grid block boundaries surrounding a source adds up exactly to the total source flow rate. Both representations can be used to accurately model complicated wells in the form of segments. The point source representation is simpler to implement and not necessarily less accurate than the line source representation.     

From geometry to dynamics of microstructure: using boundary lengths to quantify boundary misorientations and anisotropy

The microstructure of a quartzite experimentally deformed and partially recrystallised at 900 °C, 1.2 GPa confining pressure and strain rate 10⁻⁶/s was investigated using orientation contrast and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Boundaries between misoriented domains (grains or subgrains) were determined by image analysis of orientation contrast images. In each domain, EBSD measurements gave the complete quartz lattice orientation and enabled calculation of misorientation angles across every domain boundary. Results are analysed in terms of the boundary density, which for any range of misorientations is the boundary length for that range divided by image area. This allows a more direct comparison of misorientation statistics between different parts of a sample than does a treatment in terms of boundary number.The strain in the quartzite sample is heterogeneous. A 100×150 μm low-strain partially recrystallised subarea C was compared with a high-strain completely recrystallised subarea E. The density of high-angle (>10°) boundaries in E is roughly double that in C, reflecting the greater degree of recrystallisation. Low-angle boundaries in C and E are produced by subgrain rotation. In the low-angle range 0–10° boundary densities in both C and E show an exponential decrease with increasing misorientation. The densities scale with exp(−θ/λ) where λ is approximately 2° in C and 1° in E; in other words, E has a comparative dearth of boundaries in the 8–10° range. We explain this dearth in terms of mobile high-angle boundaries sweeping through and consuming low-angle boundaries as the latter increase misorientation through time. In E, the density of high-angle boundaries is larger than in C, so this sweeping would have been more efficient and could explain the relative paucity of 8–10° boundaries.The boundary density can be generalised to a directional property that gives the degree of anisotropy of the boundary network and its preferred orientation. Despite the imposed strain, the analysed samples show that boundaries are not, on average, strongly aligned. This is a function of the strong sinuosity of high-angle boundaries, caused by grain boundary migration. Low-angle boundaries might be expected, on average, to be aligned in relation to imposed strain but this is not found.Boundary densities and their generalisation in terms of directional properties provide objective measures of microstructure. In this study the patterns they show are interpreted in terms of combined subgrain rotation and migration recrystallisation, but it may be that other microstructural processes give distinctive patterns when analysed in this fashion.     

Rheological properties of the upper mantle of Northern Eurasia and nature of regional boundaries according to the data of long-range seismic profiles

Deep seismic investigation carried out in Russia in long-range profiles with peaceful nuclear explosions allowed clarifying in details the structure of the upper mantle and the transition zone down to the depth of 700 km within the huge territory of old and young platforms of Northern Eurasia. Variability of horizontal heterogeneity of the upper mantle depending on the depth serves to qualitative estimation of its rheological properties. The upper part of the mantle to the depth of 80–100 km is characterized by the block structure with significant velocity steps of seismic waves at the blocks often divided by deep faults. This is the most rigid part of lithosphere. Below 100 km horizontal heterogeneity is insignificant, i.e., at these depths the substance is more plastic and not capable to retain block structure. On the lithosphere bottom at the depth of 200–250 km plasticity increase is observed as well but the zone of the lower velocities that might have been bound with the area of partial melting (asthenosphere) has not been found. These three layers with different rheological properties are divided by seismic boundaries presented by thin layering zones with alternating higher and lower velocities. At the specified depths any phase boundaries have been distinguished. These thin layering zones are assumed to form due to higher concentration of deep fluids at some levels of depths where mechanical properties and permeability of substance change. Insignificant number of fluids may result in appearance of streaks with partial or film melting at relatively low temperature—to the rise of the weakened zones where subhorizontal shifts are possible. According to seismic data in many world regions seismic boundaries are also observed at the depth of about 100 and 200 km; they may be globally spread. There are signs that areas of xenoliths formation and earthquake concentration, i.e., zones of high deformations, are confined to these depths.     

Some garnet microstructures: an illustration of the potential of orientation maps and misorientation analysis in microstructural studies

The microstructures of two contrasting garnet grains are mapped using automated electron backscatter diffraction. In both cases there is a very strong crystallographic preferred orientation, with measurements clustered round a single dominant orientation. Each garnet grain is divided into domains with similar orientations, limited by boundaries with misorientations of 2° or more. In both samples most of misorientation angles measured across orientation domain boundaries are significantly lower than those measured between random pairs of orientation domains. One sample is a deformed garnet that shows considerable distortion within the domains. Lines of orientation measurements within domains and across domain boundaries show small circle dispersions around rational crystallographic axes. The domain boundaries are likely to be subgrain boundaries formed by dislocation creep and recovery. The second sample is a porphyroblast in which the domains have no internal distortion and the orientation domain boundaries have random misorientation axes. These boundaries probably formed by coalescence of originally separate garnets. We suggest that misorientations across these boundaries were reduced by physical relative rotations driven by boundary energy. The data illustrate the potential of orientation maps and misorientation analysis in microstructural studies of any crystalline material.     

Diffusion along interphase boundaries and its effect on retrograde zoning patterns of metamorphic minerals

In this study we use two dimensional chemical patterns and numerical modeling to estimate the relative rates of chemical transport along interphase boundaries (ib) and through grain (s) interiors during retrograde Fe–Mg exchange between garnet and biotite at a garnet–biotite–quartz triple junction. We demonstrate that systematic variations in garnet–rim compositions, which are frequently observed along garnet–quartz interfaces, and deviations from concentric retrograde zoning patterns start to develop when chemical transport along the interphase boundaries becomes slow during cooling. The capacities for chemical transport along an interphase boundary depend on the product D ^ib K ^ib/s a, where D ^ib is the diffusion coefficient of the exchangeable components within the interphase boundary medium, K ^ib/s is the equilibrium partitioning coefficient between the cation exchange partners and the interphase boundary medium and a is the interphase boundary width. The model is applied to analyze the retrograde zoning patterns in garnets from the Mozambique belt (SE-Kenya), which cooled from 820°C at a rate of ca. 2°C/my. It is found that non-equilibrated compositions in garnet along garnet/quartz interphase boundaries started to develop below 700°C due to insufficient rates of chemical transport along these boundaries. The transport capacities of garnet/quartz interphase boundaries was estimated to have been between about 1E-23 cm³/s (575°C) and 1E-20 cm³/s (700°C) from modeling the observed X _Fe pattern in garnet close to a garnet–quartz–biotite triple junction and relying on published data on the diffusivity of Fe²⁺ in garnet. Similar transport capacities are obtained; when the interphase boundary is assumed to be filled with a material that has the transport properties and chemical composition of a free melt in equilibrium with garnet, biotite and quartz at the respective conditions. In contrast, if the transport properties of the interphase boundary medium are related to the diffusivities and solubility of Fe²⁺ and FeOH⁺ within a free aqueous solution, chemical transport along the interphase boundaries would be much more efficient, and exchange equilibrium would have been maintained during the entire cooling history of the rocks. The observation of systematic deviations from local equilibrium along the garnet–quartz interphase boundaries leads us to exclude the presence of an aqueous fluid along the interphase boundary at any time during cooling.     

Orogenic gold mineral systems of the Western Lachlan Orogen (Victoria) and the Hodgkinson Province (Queensland): Crustal metal sources and cryptic zones of regional fluid flow

Orogenic gold mineral systems in the Western Lachlan Orogen (Victoria) and the Hodgkinson Province (Queensland) produced gold provinces characterised by vastly different scales of gold endowment and strongly uneven distribution of gold mineralisation within each province. The volume of hydrous pyrite-bearing rocks undergoing metamorphic devolatilisation during thermo-tectonic events driving orogenic gold mineral systems represents a fundamental first-order constraint on the total gold endowment and its broad spatial distribution, both between and within the provinces. Most of the largest gold deposits in both regions occur in linear, richly-endowed metallogenic zones, oblique to the dominant regional structures and related to deep crustal domain boundaries. These boundaries, with only subtle surface expressions, were the major regional structural controls which promoted focused near-vertical flow of mineralising metamorphic fluids above the outer margins of cratonic blocks in the lower crust. Recognised major faults represented only more local scale and often indirect controls on the focused fluid flow, particularly effective above the deep cratonic block boundaries overlain by relatively thick crustal source rocks.     

High-resolution magnetostratigraphy and micropalaeontology across the J/K boundary strata at Brodno near ilina, western Slovakia: summary of results

This study summarizes the final results of magnetostratigraphic and micropalaeontological investigations of the Tithonian/Berriasian boundary (J/K) limestones at the locality of Brodno near ilina, Western Carpathians, West Slovakia. The aim is to prepare the background for correlation of a Late Tithonian and Early Berriasian biostratigraphic zonation with global magnetoevents (manifested in detailed magnetostratigraphic profiles) between the Tethyan realm and other regions, particularly the Boreal and Pacific realms. Suitable physical properties of the limestones studied, a favourable geological setting and rich microfossil assemblages (calpionellids) at Brodno (magnetozones M21r to M18r) allowed a systematic collection of new data on the original synoptic section, which now has the character of a high-resolution profile across the J/K boundary. Two reverse subzones detected within magnetozones M20n and M19n are named ‘Kysuca Subzone’ and ‘Brodno Subzone’, respectively. Both can be correlated with analogous subzones in the M-sequence of marine anomalies. Their existence can also be confirmed in the Bosso Valley section in Umbria, central Italy. A detailed study of the interval between magnetozones M20n and M17r in the Bosso Valley profile is presently in its final stage. Both magnetostratigraphic profiles, from the Brodno and Bosso Valley localities, were thoroughly investigated in the intervals close to the J/K boundary and are still unique among continent-based profiles in the detection and precise definition of both reverse subzones within M20n and M19n. Samples collected from the boundary strata of the reverse Kysuca Subzone at Brodno indicated a transition from N (R) to R (N) polarity of the Earth's palaeomagnetic field within a time interval of c. ±5 ka. Limestone samples (total number N=368) were subjected to progressive thermal demagnetization in 10–12 thermal fields and to subsequent multi-component analysis of remanence. The C-component, as the carrier of palaeomagnetic directions, was determined in the temperature interval of 300° to 540°, or possibly 580°C. Magnetomineralogical analyses of pilot samples and unblocking temperatures determined for all samples showed that magnetite is the carrier of remanent magnetization. The positions of the individual events of calpionellid stratigraphy relative to the global magnetic polarity timescale are precisely defined. The base of the Calpionella Standard Zone, which is considered a provisional J/K boundary indicator in ammonite-free sections in the Tethyan realm, lies within magnetozone M19n at the level of 35% of its local thickness. None of the boundaries in the calpionellid zonation coincides precisely with any of those in the palaeomagnetic zonation, but the first appearance ofCalpionella grandalpina , indicating the base of the Intermedia Subzone, lies in close proximity to the base of magnetozone M19r.     

Differential tectonic movements in the confluence area of the Huang Shui and Huang He rivers (Yellow River), NE Tibetan Plateau,as inferred from fluvial terrace positions

In the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau (NETP), the courses of the Huang Shui and Huang He near their confluence are characterized by alternating gorges and wide depressions, segmenting the fluvial systems. The river valleys have developed terrace staircases, which are used to infer relative tectonic motions between the segments. The terrace staircases are correlated by means of relative height and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. At least eight terraces are present, two of which have been dated by OSL (the sixth and the third ones; c. 70 and c. 24 ka, respectively). The correlated longitudinal terrace profiles show no distinct relative tectonic movements within the confluence area, demonstrating that this area behaved as one tectonic block. The correlation of the terrace staircase of this block with areas upstream (Xining area) and downstream (eastern Lanzhou area) indicates relative tectonic movements, which therefore represent different tectonic blocks. The fluvial incision rate since c. 70 ka was much higher in the confluence area than in the blocks upstream and downstream, possibly indicating relative uplift. This relatively strong uplift provided more space for differentiation within the terrace staircase as a result of climatic changes, leading to six terraces formed as a response to minor climatic fluctuations (10³–10⁴ year timescale) since the last interglacial. This may indicate that the stronger the tectonic movement the better the climatic imprint as expressed in the form of terrace development. Over a shorter timescale, two accumulation terraces with thick stacked deposits (>18 m) may indicate relative subsidence in the confluence, occurring sometime between 20 and 70 ka. This indicates changes in relative vertical crustal motions at timescales of tens of thousands of years. We speculate that the inferred tectonic motions are related to transpression movements in the NETP as a result of the collision of the Indian and Asian plates.     

The abundance and distribution of uranium in some oceanic,continental ultramafic inclusions and host basalts

The abundance and distribution of uranium in various continental and oceanic ultramafic inclusions and host basalts are reported. Uranium was determined by neutron activation (fission products, fission tracks and delayed-neutron methods) and alpha-particle autoradiography; data is also reported for the uranium content of various USGS standard rock powders. The concentration of uranium in both oceanic and continental samples is similar, levels are controlled by mineral compositions, and their relative abundance in different rock types. Highest levels are found in feldspathic and lowest in olivine rich inclusions. Uranium is enriched in mylonitised samples and along some inter-crystal boundaries. With the exception of some apatites, highest levels of uranium are in clinopyroxenes (chrome) and lowest in olivines; no enrichment of uranium in orthopyroxenes was observed. Attention is drawn to the problem of obtaining representative samples from the sea floor which have not been altered by saline solutions and the identification of uranium and daughter products present along inter-crystal boundaries. Differences in observed heat flow between continental and oceanic areas may reflect inadequate sampling of representative rock types present below the sea floor and lack of information for the true abundance and distribution of uranium in such rocks.     

A palynological biozonation for the Maastrichtian Stage (Upper Cretaceous) of South Carolina, USA

Three palynological biozones are proposed for the Maastrichtian Stage of South Carolina. In ascending stratigraphic order, the biozones are the Carolinapollis triangularis (Ct) Interval Biozone, the Holkopollenites chemardensis (Hc) Interval Biozone, and the Sparganiaceaepollenites uniformis (Su) Interval Biozone. Integration of the biostratigraphy with lithologic and geophysical log data suggests that within the study area, the upper and lower boundaries of each zone are bounded by regional unconformities, and that a three-fold subdivision of the Maastrichtian Stage is warranted. The biozonation is based on the analysis of 114 samples from 24 subsurface and three outcrop sections from the Coastal Plain of South Carolina; samples from an additional seven subsurface and 18 outcrop sections from North Carolina and Georgia were examined to evaluate the geographic extent of the biozones. One new genus and five new species of pollen are described, and emendations are presented for two genera and one species of pollen.     

孕震构造块体与相应地震区划分方法

可靠地划分地震区可奠定地震预测与地震危险性评价的地质基础,具有十分重要的意义。笔者等通过研究分析指出板内孕震构造块体侧向边界可由区域性大断层或由区域性大断层与板块边界界定,底边界为康拉德面或低速高导层;板间孕震构造块体为俯冲板块,可由区域性大断层和(或)板块边界约束;在同一个孕震构造块体和同一轮地震周期的地震具有内在联系。因此,地震区可定义为代表相应孕震构造块体地震活动的区域,其可表征该块体内源自锁固段破裂的地震活动。基于笔者等提出的孕震构造块体和相应地震区边界确定原则,把全球两大地震带(环太平洋地震带和欧亚地震带)划分为62个地震区;每个地震区的分区方案均通过了多锁固段脆性破裂理论的检验,这说明方案可靠。进而,笔者等归纳总结了地震区划分方法。     

Distribution of the glass phase in hot-pressed,olivine-basalt aggregates: An electron microscopy study

Samples of olivine mixed with small amounts of tholeiitic basalt which were hot-pressed above the solidus temperature were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Two sets of samples were compared. One set was hot-pressed for approximately 1 h near 1,300° C at 0.2 GPa, and the other set was held for approximately 200 h near 1,250° C at 1.0 GPa. SEM observations reveal that, in samples which were hot-pressed for 1 h, the glass phase occurs in irregular pockets surrounded by four or five olivine grains as well as in triple junctions. The crystal-glass interfaces show both positive and negative curvature. These observations and the presence of voids suggest that the microstructure is far from textural equilibrium. In contrast, in samples which were hot-pressed for 200 h, glass is largely confined to triple junctions of uniform size and the crystal-glass interfaces have uniform curvature indicating a much greater degree of textural equilibrium. TEM images reveal layers of glass 10–50 nm thick along most of the grain boundaries in the samples annealed for short times. However, within the limit of resolution, 2 nm, virtually all of the grain boundaries in the samples hot-pressed for long times appear to contain no glass. These observations indicate that segregation of melt from grain boundaries to triple junctions is an integral part of the process of textural equilibration.     

Application of turning bands technique to simulate values of copper ore deposit parameters in Rudna mine (Lubin-Sieroszowice region in SW part of Poland)

ABSTRACT

The turning bands simulation is a valuable and highly useful tool in solving various geological-mining, environmental and geological-engineering problems when it is essential to determine the uncertainty of the estimates of simulated values Z_s (realizations) and assess the risk. This paper presents an investigative methodology and the results of calculations connected with the use of conditional turning bands simulation and bundled indicator kriging, making it possible to analyse the risk at different levels of uncertainty in the solution of optimization of the exploitation problems encountered in the mining of the polymetallic copper ore deposits in the Lubin-Sieroszowice region (Foresudetic monocline, the SW part of Poland). Examples of the evaluation of simulated values Z_s and probability P average values Z* of the deposit parameters within the block located in the Rudna Mine (the block R-3) area are provided.     

Antigorite polysomatism: behaviour during progressive metamorphism

Antigorite forms a polysomatic series of discrete compositions that are chemographically colinear with chrysotile/lizardite, Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ and talc, Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂. The compositional variations of antigorite correspond to discrete changes in the lattice parameter, a. A complete suite of antigorites, collected from a cross-section representing increasing metamorphic grade through the Swiss and Italian Alps, has been studied by optical and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The specimens within this suite range from those formed near the lower stability limit of antigorite (250 °C) through to those formed near its breakdown temperature (550 °C). The lower grade samples belong to the regionally metamorphosed upper Pennine Ophiolites of the Oberhalbstein-Malenco area, while higher grade antigorites were obtained from regionally metamorphosed Malenco serpentinites. The highest grade samples are also from Malenco. They underwent a later contact metamorphism within the thermal aureole of the Bregaglia Intrusive. The lattice parameter a of antigorites evolves from longer (60 Å) to shorter (35 Å) values with increasing metamorphic grade. However, individual antigorites almost invariably show a heterogeneous distribution of a periodicities with higher values close to grain boundaries or reaction fronts and lower values towards the grain centers. The crystal-chemical evolution of antigorite, expressed by reduction in a, is usually accompanied by increased crystallinity. With the TEM, this is seen as an increase in crystallite size and a decrease in the number of crystal defects (twinning, polysomatic disorder, modulation dislocations, wobbling, offset). The structural and compositional evolution of antigorite requires intracrystalline diffusion and reconstructive transformations at relatively low temperatures. Therefore, the process of evolution is sluggish. Equilibrium is frequently not attained, and relics of longer a periodicities can be observed. In addition, relics of chrysotile may be observed in high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Malenco area, in which antigorite coexists with new-formed olivine. Only at one locality is there evidence of equilibrium: antigorite formed at 435 °C has a=43 Å; it shows very little variation in the a periodicity, and it is characterized by a homogeneous annealing texture. A geothermometer based upon a periodicities, as proposed by Kunze (1961) has limited practical applicability.     

Water assisted dynamic recrystallization and weakening in polycrystalline bischofite

Artificially prepared specimens of bischofite (MgCl₂-6H₂O) have been experimentally deformed at temperatures between 20 and 100°C, strain rates between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻⁸⁸ s⁻¹, and confining pressures between 0.1 and 28 MPa. Development of microstructure with strain was studied by in-situ deformation experiments, and results of these were correlated with observations made on thin sections of deformed samples.In a first series of experiments the effect of grain size, impurity content and water content on the flow behaviour was investigated. Addition of about 0.1 wt.% water to dry samples was found to decrease the flow stress by a factor of 5. This effect was found to be associated with the formation of a thin fluid film on grain boundaries, strongly enhancing dynamic recrystallization due to the movement of high-angle grain boundaries, and possibly also to enhanced intracrystalline plasticity due to excess water present in the lattice. In a second series of experiments the strain-rate sensitivity of the flow stress of selected samples was investigated. Two regimes could be distinguished: one with a stress exponent n = 4.5 in the power law creep equation for values of the differential stress above 2.0 MPa, and one with n = 1.5 for stresses below this value.The main deformation mechanisms were intracrystalline slip, twinning, and grain-boundary sliding. Recrystallization occurred by subgrain rotation and high-angle grain-boundary migration. The rates of grain-boundary migration fell into two different regimes, one regime being distinguished by extremely fast migration rates. The applicability of the experimentally found flow law to the behaviour of bischofite rocks in nature is discussed.     

Petrographic variations within thick turbidite sequences: an example from the late Palaeozoic of eastern Australia

The subdivision of thick sequences of turbidite sediments has been problematical because of the monotonous nature of the units. One method, of using detailed detrital petrography for a large number of specimens, has delineated variations with a sequence of Late Palaeozoic age in eastern Australia. The rocks occur within a single structural block and are all members of one sedimentary petrographic province. They have been subdivided into three stratigraphic units (Moombil Beds, Brooklana Beds and Coramba Beds) and greywackes from these units are quartz-poor to quartz-intermediate, feldspathic or volcanolithic types. Dacitic volcanism has provided most of the detritus and the contribution from non-volcanic sources is small. The Coramba Beds are further subdivided into four petrographic units which are parallel to the stratigraphic boundaries. These lithostratigraphic units are based on the presence or absence of detrital hornblende, and the relative ratio of volcanic lithic fragments to feldspar. Vertical petrographic variations within the entire sequence indicate that although the acid volcanic source was predominant throughout the time of deposition, there is a noticeable increase in the contribution from intermediate-volcanic, acid-plutonic, low-grade metamorphic and sedimentary sources towards the top of the sequence. Detrital hornblende is also present in the upper parts of the sequence.