Local responses in 2D assemblies of elliptical rods when subjected to biaxial shearing

Acta Geotechnica - This study explored the characteristics of local responses in 2D assemblies of elliptical particles when subjected to shearing. A biaxial shearing system was designed for this...     

Production of carbonate and silica nano-particles in stirred bead milling

This paper presents the experimental results of the mechanical production of silica and carbonate colloidal particles below 100 nm using two types of stirred bead mills (i.e., DCP Superflow 12 and PML H/V). It is shown that the stirred bead mill with very small beads can be used as an efficient equipment for the production of the colloidal particles in nanoscale from the feed materials of several microns in sizes at high energy consumptions. The DCP Superflow mill with high power densities is superior for the effective size reduction and production rate, compared to the conventional PML H/V mill with lower power densities. The smaller particles could be produced by the DCP Superflow mill at the same level of high energy inputs as from the PML H/V mill. The “grinding limit” for the processes in the mills has been discussed.     

Geochemistry of dissolved and particulate elements in the major rivers of China (The Huanghe,Changjiang, and Zhunjiang rivers)

The relationship between the geochemistry of dissolved and particulate materials and geographic conditions was investigated. Samples of water and suspended particulate matter were collected from five locations in three of the major rivers of China (the Huanghe, Changjiang, and Zhunjiang rivers). Because these rivers generally flow parallel to latitudes and flow through diverse geologic and climate zones, they provide excellent opportunities for comparisons of solute transport. The geochemistry of these rivers is influenced strongly by climate. The low discharge of the Huanghe River influences the character of the major ionic materials (Cl^?+SO₄ ^2? and Na⁺+K⁺) as well as the high degree of mineralization within the system. Dissolved concentrations of both major ions and trace elements are lower in the southern reaches of the rivers. The highly mobile ions, such as, Na⁺ and Ca²⁺, are depleted from the suspended particulate material in the southern regions, while the relatively immobile ions of Al, Fe, Ti, Mn, and trace metals are concentrated within the suspended mateiral. The relative mobility of some elements as measured by the Dissolved Transport Index (DTI) changes with climate. The geology of the area drained by the rivers has a major influence on the geochemistry in areas of similar climate. Lowest leaching rates in the southern climates occur in areas dominated by granite, which is resistant to weathering. The composition of both cations and anions among the three tributaries of the Zhujiang River are dependent on the rocks that dominate each eregion. Some particulate forms of the rare earth elements are present in the highest concentrations in regions dominated by granite. The DTI calculated for the major rivers in China are much smaller than those computed for other major rivers of the world. The low concentration of heavy metals in the particulate material suggests that pollution in the rivers of China is less serious than in rivers of other industrialized countries.     

Structural kinematics,metamorphic P–T profiles and zircon geochronology across the Greater Himalayan Crystalline Complex in south‐central Tibet: implication for a revised channel flow

A specific question about the Himalayas is whether the orogeny grew by distributed extrusion or discrete thrusting. To place firm constraints on tectonic models for the orogeny, kinematic, thermobarometric and geochronological investigations have been undertaken across the Greater Himalayan Crystalline Complex (GHC) in the Nyalam region, south‐central Tibet. The GHC in this section is divided into the lower, upper and uppermost GHC, with kinematically top‐to‐the‐south, alternating with top‐to‐the‐north shear senses. A new thrust named the Nyalam thrust is recognized between the lower and upper GHC, with a 3 kbar pressure reversion, top‐to‐the‐south thrust sense, and was active after the exhumation of the GHC. Peak temperature reached ～749 °C in the cordierite zone, and decreased southwards to 633–667 °C in the kyanite and sillimanite‐muscovite zones, and northwards to greenschist facies at the top of the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS). Pressure at peak temperature reached a maximum value in the kyanite zone of 9.0–12.6 kbar and decreased northwards to ～4.1 kbar in the cordierite zone. Zircon U‐Pb ages of a sillimanite migmatite and an undeformed leucogranite dyke cutting the mylonitized rocks in the STDS reveal a long‐lived partial melting of the GHC, which initiated at 39.7–34 Ma and ceased at 14.1 Ma. Synthesizing the obtained and collected results, a revised channel flow model is proposed by considering the effect of heat advection and convection by melt and magma migration. Our new model suggests that distributed processes like channel flow dominated during the growth of the Himalayan orogen, while discrete thrusting occurred in a later period as a secondary process.     

罗布泊及邻近地区第四纪与湖泊发育史研究简况

罗布泊及邻近地区是指阿尔金山以北,库鲁克塔格和北山以南地区。本文主要是介绍罗布泊地区的第四纪地层和湖泊发育史。 罗布泊是千旱区最著名的湖泊之一。由于地处古丝绸之道要冲,所以百余年来广为学者们所关注。本区几经探险、考察,并有不少著述和短文,但有关第四纪方面的资料仍较缺乏,特别是在地层划分方面尚欠系统,有关罗布泊的形成、演化及其资源开发和利用方面的资料更是不足,这与当前大力开发西北的实际要求很不协调,为正确认识该区自然环境演化机制及其资源开发与利用,现将部分资料报道如下,不当之处,敬请批评指正。     

我国土壤热流场及与深层大地热流场的比较

本文提出岩石圈内的某些过程是气候变迁的重要原因之一。并依据对土壤热流、大地热流、地震和旱涝关系研究所得到的一些现象和结论,利用气象站地温资料计算了土壤热流,初步分析得到如下主要结论:(1)据线性热传导理论设计的热流的计算方法基本上可以满足多年平均土壤热流场计算精度的要求;(2)平均土壤热流场、深层大地热流场、地震带三者之间有很好的对应关系。平均土壤热流高值带一般都有大地热流高值带和地震带与之对应;(3)土壤热流距平场与汛期降水场有相似的分布形势,土壤热流距平的变化与强震也有一定的联系。     

Integrating hydrochemical and microbial methods to identify hydraulic connections between three saltworks in southern Laizhou Bay,China

Exploring hydraulic connections between brine mining wells is of great significance to the development of geological resources; however, there are still challenges to accurately identifying these connections. In this study, a combination of hydrochemical and biological analyses was used to investigate the hydraulic connections between three saltworks (Yangkou, Hanting, and Changyi) in southern Laizhou Bay, China. The results showed that the groundwater recharge sources at Yangkou saltworks, and therefore the associated salts and hydrochemical composition of the brine, were different from those of the other two saltworks. The diversity and composition of the microbial community among the three saltworks were identified based on a high-throughput DNA sequencing method. The brines of Hanting and Changyi saltworks had greater similarity in terms of microbial diversity and composition, which was consistent with the hydrochemical results. Based on microbial analysis combined with hydrochemistry, the depths of the mining wells at Hanting saltworks were identified, along with the hydraulic connection with Changyi saltworks. As a tool to judge the hydraulic connections of geological reservoirs, microbial analysis combined with hydrochemistry may be applicable to a wider range of subsurface resources, such as oil and gas, which will provide new ideas for the rational development of underground resources.

     

Modeling of the Correlation Between Mineral Size and Shale Pore Structure at Meso- and Macroscales

Mathematical Geosciences - Inorganic pore structures are critical to understand the oil and gas transport and storage properties of unconventional reservoirs. However, it can be difficult to...     

Adsorption of phenanthrene on Al (oxy)hydroxides formed under the influence of tannic acid

Although there has been substantial research done on adsorption of metals/metalloids by Al (oxy)hydroxides, little is known regarding the adsorption of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on Al (oxy)hydroxides, especially those formed in the presence of organic acid. This paper investigated the adsorption of phenanthrene on Al (oxy)hydroxides formed with initial tannate/Al molar ratios (MRs) 0, 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 (referred to MR0, MR0.001, MR0.01, and MR0.1, respectively) through batch adsorption experiments and FTIR study. The results showed that Al (oxy)hydroxides were important sorbents for phenanthrene. The adsorption kinetic data were fitted well with the pseudo-second-order equation. According to a modified Freundlich model, the adsorption capacities of Al (oxy)hydroxides followed a descending order of MR0.1 > MR0 ≥ MR0.01 > MR0.001, which was inconsistent with the organic carbon content in the Al (oxy)hydroxides. Adsorption capacity correlated with the specific surface area, micropore area, and micropore diameter of Al (oxy)hydroxides, yet the relationships were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). FTIR results showed that physical interaction was essential in phenanthrene adsorption onto the Al (oxy)hydroxides, which could be explained by an entropy-driven process. Surface hydrophobicity of Al (oxy)hydroxides played a key role in phenanthrene adsorption. Additional π–π electron donor–acceptor interaction of phenanthrene (acting as electron donor) with aromatic ring of tannic acid (electron acceptor) could be also important in phenanthrene adsorption by high MR Al (oxy)hydroxides, yet it needs further study. The findings obtained in the present study are of fundamental significance in understanding the mechanism of immobilization of PAHs in low organic matter but oxide-rich soils.