The effects of clay minerals and organic matter on nanoscale pores in Lower Paleozoic shale gas reservoirs,Guizhou, China

In organic-rich gas shales, clay minerals and organic matter (OM) have significant influences on the origin, preservation, and production of shale gas. Because of the substantial role of nanoscale pores in the generation, storage, and seepage of shale gas, we examined the effects of clay minerals and OM on nanoscale pore distribution characteristics in Lower Paleozoic shale gas reservoirs. Using the Niutitang and Longmaxi shales as examples, we determined the effects of clay minerals and OM on pores through sedimentation experiments. Field emission–scanning electron microscopy combined with low-pressure N₂ adsorption of the samples before and after sedimentation showed significant differences in pore location and pore size distribution between the Niutitang and Longmaxi shales. Nanoscale pores mostly existed in OM in the Longmaxi shale and in clay minerals or OM–clay composites in the Niutitang shale. The distribution differences were attributed largely to variability in thermal evolution and tectonic development and might account for the difference in gas-bearing capacity between the Niutitang and Longmaxi reservoirs. In the nanoscale range, mesopores accounted for 61–76% of total nanoscale pore volume. Considerably developed nanoscale pores in OM were distributed in a broad size range in the Longmaxi shale, which led to good pore connectivity and gas production. Numerous narrow pores (i.e., pores?<?20 nm) in OM–clay composites were found in the Niutitang shale, and might account for this shale’s poor pore connectivity and low gas production efficiency. Enhancing the connectivity of the mesopores (especially pores?<?20 nm and those developed in OM–clay composites) might be the key to improving development of the Niutitang shale. The findings provide new insight into the formation and evolutionary mechanism of nanoscale pores developed in OM and clay minerals.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous intrusions related to some Au (Sb) deposits in southern Anhui: a case study and review

Some Au deposits in southern Anhui Province have recently been found to be closely associated with Late Mesozoic intrusions. Typical examples include the Huashan Au (Sb) deposit and Au deposits at Zhaojialing, Wuxi, and Liaojia. In order to understand the mechanisms that led the formation of these Au deposits, we make detailed reviews on the geological characteristics of these Au deposits. Specifically, we present new LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating, along with elemental and Hf isotopic data from the Huashan Au (Sb) deposit. Our data suggests that the Huashan ore-related intrusions were emplaced during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods (144–148 Ma). They are characterized by arc-magma features and high oxygen fugacity and are rich in inherited zircons. Zircon U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotopes from intrusions suggest that Proterozoic juvenile lithosphere is the main source of these intrusions. The regional geological history implies that lithosphere beneath southern Anhui was produced during a Proterozoic subduction and was fertilized with Au (Cu) in the process. Integrated with the results of previous studies, we inferred that Late Mesozoic intrusions formed by the remelting of the lithosphere could provide the metal endowment for the Au-rich deposits in southern Anhui.     

A Preliminary Study on the Soft–Sediment Deformation Structures in the Late Quaternary Lacustrine Sediments at Tashkorgan, Northeastern Pamir, China

This study identified soft–sediment deformation structures(SSDS) of seismic origin from lacustrine sediments in the late Quaternary paleo–dammed lake at Tashkorgan, northeastern Pamir. The observed deformation structures include sand dykes, liquefied diapir and convolute structures, gravity induced SSDS, and thixotropic pillar and tabular structures. We conducted a preliminary study on the morphology, formation and trigger mechanisms of pillar and tabular structures formed by liquefaction of underlying coarse sand and thixotropy of the upper silty clay. The regional tectonic setting and distribution of lacustrine strata indicate that the most probable trigger for the SSDS in lacustrine sediments was seismic activity, with an approximate earthquake magnitude of M6.0; the potential seismogenic fault is the southern part of the Kongur normal fault extensional system. AMS 14 C dating results indicate that the SSDS were formed by seismic events occurring between 26050±100 yr BP and 22710±80 yr BP, implying intense fault activity in this region during the late Pleistocene. This study provides new evidence for understanding tectonic activity and regional geodynamics in western China.     

广西平果县发现大面积富硒土壤与富硒火龙果

正1研究目的(Objective)元素硒(Se)是世界卫生组织(WHO)确定的人体必需微量元素。研究表明硒具有抗氧化、抗衰老、抗辐射、抗病毒、保护视力以及提高人体免疫力功能,还能预防和抑制镉、砷、汞等有毒重金属元素对机体的伤害。硒属于分散元素,其在大陆地壳中含量很低,且分布极不均匀。中国处于地球低硒带,全国72%国土面积存在不同程度的缺硒现象。     

钻井利器的故事之“铝合金钻杆”

地球科学的发展对地球深部数据的依赖程度越来越高,作为“入地”重要手段的科学超深井工程是研究深部地质学的重要方法,被誉为是“伸入地壳的望远镜”。与钢钻杆相比,铝合金钻杆以其独特的优越性(质量轻、比强度高、钻进深度深、所需能耗少),已成为难进入地区、大位移井、超深井等钻柱设计的优选方案。本文从科普的角度介绍了钻柱与钻杆的区别、钻柱的使用极限长度、铝合金钻杆的技术优势及其现存的不足之处,以此提高对铝合金钻杆的认识,促进铝合金钻杆的研究和发展。     

干湿循环作用下红土抗剪强度与微结构关系研究

针对云南红土型水库因水位升降引起库岸土体干湿循环的客观实际,研究干湿循环作用下库岸红土抗剪强度与其微结构的变化规律,揭示二者之间的内在联系,为研究红土型库岸失稳提供依据。通过红土试样的干湿循环试验,模拟水库蓄水和库水位反复升降引起的库岸红土干湿循环作用。结果表明:（1）在一定初始干密度条件下,红土的黏聚力、内摩擦角和抗剪强度均随干湿循环次数的增加而非线性减小,但在干湿循环次数约10次时趋于稳定。（2）干湿循环作用导致红土微结构发生变化。当初始干密度分别为1.2,1.3,1.4 g/cm3、干湿循环次数达10次时,试样红土颗粒数量降幅依次为45.4%,38.2%,35.7%;孔隙率增幅依次为52.6%,45.9%,40.4%;孔隙面积增幅依次为64.4%,58.2%,50.8%。（3）在干湿循环作用下,红土黏聚力与红土颗粒的定向度和平均圆形度呈正相关关系,相关系数R分别为0.985和0.923。内摩擦角与孔隙率和孔隙面积呈反相关关系,相关系数R分别为-0.936和-0.912。干湿循环作用导致红土微结构的改变,从而引起红土宏观力学性质的变化。     

深部地质钻探钻柱失效行为分析

国家的“三深一土”规划确定全面开展深地探测,而在深地探测中钻柱是最重要的连接纽带,其长期在充满钻井液的井眼内工作,受力十分复杂,且受腐蚀、磨损、温度等影响,极易发生钻柱失效事故,造成重大经济损失。研究发现,振动是引起钻柱失效的主要原因,但是深部地质钻探中除了振动引起钻柱失效外,还包括钻柱质量因素、人为因素、钻井质量、套管下入因素、测斜因素以及钻井液因素引起的钻柱失效,本文针对这些影响因素提出了对应的预防措施。同时随着地质钻探井深的不断加深,地质钻探钻柱动力学研究会变得越来越重要,这就需要地质钻探人员在充分考虑地质钻探钻柱失效影响因素的前提下,加大对地质钻探钻柱动力学的研究,以更好地保证深部地质钻探的顺利进行。     

A nonstationary parameter model for the sandstone creep tests

The rock masses of hydro-fluctuation belt experience seepage pressure following impoundment in the Three Gorges Reservoir; its creep behaviors are significant for reservoir bank slopes. To study the creep behaviors under seepage pressure (0, 1.45, and 1.75 MPa), we performed creep tests using representative landslide sandstone in the Three Gorges Reservoir and investigated the sandstone creep behaviors under the coupling effects of seepage pressure and stress. Previous researches on rocks have usually regarded the creep constitutive parameter as a constant; however, in this study, a nonlinear, nonstationary, plastic-viscous (NNPV) creep model which can describe the curve of sandstone creep tests is proposed. The rock-creep parameters under three levels of seepage pressure were identified, and theoretical curves using the NNPV model agreed well with the experimental data, indicating that the new model cannot only describe the primary creep and secondary creep stages under varying seepage pressures but also, in particular, perfectly describes the tertiary creep stage. Finally, the sensitivity of the NNPV model parameters is analyzed, and the result shows that the nonstationary coefficient α and the nonlinear coefficient m are main parameters affecting the tertiary creep stage.     

Assessing rockfall susceptibility in steep and overhanging slopes using three-dimensional analysis of failure mechanisms

Rockfalls strongly influence the evolution of steep rocky landscapes and represent a significant hazard in mountainous areas. Defining the most probable future rockfall source areas is of primary importance for both geomorphological investigations and hazard assessment. Thus, a need exists to understand which areas of a steep cliff are more likely to be affected by a rockfall. An important analytical gap exists between regional rockfall susceptibility studies and block-specific geomechanical calculations. Here we present methods for quantifying rockfall susceptibility at the cliff scale, which is suitable for sub-regional hazard assessment (hundreds to thousands of square meters). Our methods use three-dimensional point clouds acquired by terrestrial laser scanning to quantify the fracture patterns and compute failure mechanisms for planar, wedge, and toppling failures on vertical and overhanging rock walls. As a part of this work, we developed a rockfall susceptibility index for each type of failure mechanism according to the interaction between the discontinuities and the local cliff orientation. The susceptibility for slope parallel exfoliation-type failures, which are generally hard to identify, is partly captured by planar and toppling susceptibility indexes. We tested the methods for detecting the most susceptible rockfall source areas on two famously steep landscapes, Yosemite Valley (California, USA) and the Drus in the Mont-Blanc massif (France). Our rockfall susceptibility models show good correspondence with active rockfall sources. The methods offer new tools for investigating rockfall hazard and improving our understanding of rockfall processes.