Landsliding triggered by reservoir operation: a general conceptual model with a case study at Three Gorges Reservoir

The Three Gorge Reservoir, one of the largest civil engineering projects in human history, dams the Yangtze River to form a 660-km-long and 1.13-km-wide reservoir. Today, although the project has been completed and is in normal operation, the on-going landslide initiation and movement in response to the reservoir operating is one of the main geologic hazards. The Huangtupo (meaning “yellow soil slope” in Chinese) Slope typifies such on-going landslides along the reservoir. Observations from a multi-year monitoring program conducted on this slope indicate that there are multiple slides on the reservoir banks that move episodically into the reservoir and their movements appear to be highly correlated with the initial and seasonal changes in the reservoir pool level. A hydro-mechanical numerical model is constructed to investigate the quantitative links among the episodic movements and the variations in pore water pressure, suction stress, hydrostatic reservoir water loading, and slope self-weight induced by the fluctuating water levels. Modeling results identify regions within the variably saturated slope where significant changes in stress occur during the periods of the initial impoundment that raised water levels from 68 to 135 m and that occur in response to seasonal fluctuations of the reservoir pool level between 145 and 175 m. We find that the rise or decline of reservoir pool level can either increase or decrease the stability of landslide. In general, hydrostatic reservoir water loading has positive correlation with the stability; pore water pressure and suction stress have negative correlation with the stability; and the effects of slope self-weight depend on the dip angle and mechanical properties of sliding surface.     

Anisotropic shear strength characteristics of a tailings sand

The deposition process of tailings in a tailings dam may lead to the anisotropy of mechanical properties of tailings. To investigate the anisotropic shear strength characteristics of a tailings sand, samples deposited under gravity were sheared in a modified direct shear apparatus along different orientations of the shear planes relative to the bedding plane. The experimental results reveal that the anisotropy has a substantial effect on the peak shear strength of the tailings sand, leading to a variation in peak friction angle of 10°. It is found that the effect of anisotropy on the peak shear strength of the tailings sand is mainly attributed to the effect of anisotropy on soil dilatancy. On the other hand, the effect of anisotropy on the residual friction angle of the tailing sand is relatively smaller, likely due to the partial erasure of anisotropy at large shear deformation. The degree of anisotropy is reduced by an increase in normal stress. To achieve more accurate stability analysis of tailings dams, it is suggested to take into account the shear strength anisotropy of tailings soils.     

Seawater intrusion and coastal aquifer management in China: a review

Seawater intrusion has been an important topic in hydrogeology in China in recent decades. The rapid growth of the population and economy in the coastal regions has been consuming a tremendous amount of groundwater resources and has increased the extent of seawater intrusion. The spatial discrepancy of water resource distribution has caused the studies of seawater intrusion into China to mainly be concentrated on the area around the Bohai Sea in the northern part of China. The total area of seawater-intruded land due to excessive groundwater utilization in the area was estimated to be approximately 2,457 km² in 2003. Great efforts have been made to mitigate the extent of seawater intrusion and to secure more freshwater resources, including building monitoring networks, subsurface barrier and groundwater reservoirs, and artificial infiltration facilities. Management projects over the years were evaluated to satisfy the objectives and to provide valuable experiences for future research and planning. It is expected that the coastal groundwater conditions of the northern region will improve through the development of a national water resource plan, such as the ongoing south-to-north water diversion project.     

Modeling the risk of nitrate leaching and nitrate runoff loss from intensive farmland in the Baiyangdian Basin of the North China Plain

The water movement and soil nitrogen cycle of the Baiyangdian Basin were simulated, and the risk of nitrate leaching and nitrate runoff loss from intensive farmland was assessed by using the distributed hydrological soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) in this study. The model assessment showed that SWAT was able to simulate water and nitrate movement in the region with satisfactory results. The modeling analysis indicated that fertilizer application was the overriding source of soil nitrogen and might result in a large amount of nitrate accumulation in soils; this nitrate might be lost by leaching or runoff driven by water movement. In 2009, nitrate nitrogen leaching represented 19.5 % of the total amount of nitrogen fertilizer application, while nitrate nitrogen runoff represented 1.7 % only. Thus, it showed that the nitrate leaching was the main approach of soil nitrogen movement in farmland because of strong percolation. It also showed a significant variation of nitrate leaching from different soil depths, with the largest amount leached from surface soil layers and the smallest amount leached from lower soil layers. Therefore, it could be further revealed that the nitrate concentration was very low at soil layers lower than the root zone of crops (1.2 m). Validated by groundwater observations, groundwater pollution by nitrate derived from fertilizers was not serious because of the deep groundwater level in the study plain. However, the risk of groundwater pollution would increase significantly if precipitation increased.     

Impact of impoundment on groundwater seepage in the Three Gorges Dam in China based on CFCs and stable isotopes

It is a common concern that the groundwater flow field caused by the Three Gorges Dam changes the regional seismic activity and environment. The changes in the seepage region could be effectively reflected through the analysis of the groundwater age using chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)-based techniques. In this study, the influences of the reservoir water on groundwater and the seepage region boundary of the reservoir were investigated using CFCs, stable isotopes, and water level in groundwater, reservoir water, and spring water during the water storage process of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The results show that the water supplied by the groundwater is older, whereas the water supplied by the reservoir and the springs is younger. With an increase in the water level of the reservoir, the water in well W3, which is located at the vice dam of the head region, becomes older due to the reservoir loading effect, whereas the water in well W4 become younger due to the lateral seepage of reservoir water. This finding indicates that the groundwater seepage regions in wells W3 and W4, which are located at upstream of the reservoir, are all influenced by the Three Gorges Reservoir. In contrast, the sampling points in the northern section of the Xiannvshan fault zone, which is farther from the dam, did not exhibit any direct hydraulic connection between the groundwater and the reservoir water; thus, the reservoir seepage effects may not affect the northern part of the Xiannvshan fault zone. These research results provide important reference data that can be used to analyze the effects of the Three Gorges reservoir storage on the regional environment.     

汉江流域硫铁矿区厚子河支流水质评价研究

为查明厚子河不同区域河水受硫铁矿污染的程度,在厚子河支流4个典型河流断面采集水样,开展水质全分析测试,并采用单因子评价法和综合水质标识指数法进行评价分析。研究结果表明: (1)运用单因子评价法对硫铁矿区厚子河水质评价的结果无差异,均为劣Ⅴ类水; 而运用综合水质标识指数法的评价结果显示,距离硫铁矿开采区由近及远的4个断面HZ001、HZ002、HZ003、HZ004的综合水质标识指数逐渐下降,水质类别分别为劣Ⅴ类且黑臭、劣Ⅴ类但不黑臭、Ⅳ类、Ⅲ类,符合现场调查的实际情况,能够反映距离污染源越远时河水水质趋好的总体态势; (2)综合水质标识指数法不仅可以客观反映同一河流各个断面所处的综合水质类别、同一水质类别中受污染的不同程度以及与水环境功能区类别的比较结果,而且能够实现对劣V类水质污染程度的精细划分,相较于单因子评价法更加客观、科学、全面,适用于矿山开采等重污染区域河流断面水质污染情况的研判。     

基于地层结构组合的第四纪地质单元划分研究——以皖江经济带沿江丘陵平原区为例

为支撑地质条件复杂地区的水文地质、工程地质和环境地质调查研究,在皖江经济带沿江丘陵平原区通过系统分析第四纪地层的岩性、结构、构造等组合,以地貌以及第四系成因、沉积相和沉积物物源为指标,结合已有区域第四纪研究成果以及年代地层和岩石地层划分标准,进行皖江沿江丘陵平原区“第四纪地质单元”划分,共划分出冲积-湖积平原地质单元、洪积-坡积岗地地质单元和残积-剥蚀丘陵地质单元3个一级地质单元,总结了7种类型第四纪地层结构组合及其特征,为区域水文地质和工程地质调查与研究奠定了基础。     

云南省江城地区盐盆地重力勘探与深部找钾启示

云南省江城勐野井钾盐矿是目前我国发现的唯一固体钾盐矿。该地区地质构造复杂,近几年通过野外地质、地球物理及钻井勘探 ,认为钾盐来自深部侏罗系,并沿断裂构造带挤压塑流到表层,可能在深部还存在大面积的“盐源”。为实现找矿突破,亟须了解控制盐矿形成的构造及围岩的三维结构特征。通过对江城地区高精度重力数据位场分离、边缘检测、3D物性反演的地球物理处理与解释,获得了勐野井地区江城湖盆的基底变化、断裂展布等地质信息,确定了研究区构造格架、地下密度体的三维分布与岩盐矿的关系,推断在勐野井矿区西北深部可能还有侏罗系盐岩甚至钾盐的存在,该地区将是未来找矿工作的重点。研究成果为江城地区下一步钾盐矿勘查提供了线索和依据。     

Vanadium and niobium behavior in rutile as a function of oxygen fugacity: evidence from natural samples

Vanadium occurs in multiple valence states in nature, whereas Nb is exclusively pentavalent. Both are compatible in rutile, but the relationship of V–Nb partitioning and dependence on oxygen fugacity (expressed as fO₂) has not yet been systematically investigated. We acquired trace-element concentrations on rutile grains (n = 86) in nine eclogitic samples from the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) and combined them with published results in order to assess the direct and indirect effects of oxygen fugacity on the partitioning of V and Nb into rutile. A well-defined negative correlation between Nb (7–1,200 ppm) and V concentrations (50–3,200 ppm) was found, documenting a competitive relationship in the rutile crystal that does not appear to be controlled by bulk rock or mineral compositions. Based on the published relationship of ^RtD_V and V valence with ?QFM, we suggest that the priority order of V incorporation into rutile is V⁴⁺ > V³⁺ > V⁵⁺. The inferred Nb–V competitive relationship in rutile from the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt could be explained by decreasing fO₂ due to dehydration reactions involving loss of oxidizing fluids during continental subduction: The increased proportion of V³⁺ (expressed as V³⁺/∑V) and attendant decrease in ^RtD_V is suggested to lead to an increase in rutile lattice sites available for Nb⁵⁺. A similar effect may be observed under more oxidizing conditions. When V⁵⁺/∑V increases, ^RtD_V shows a dramatic decline and Nb concentration increases considerably. This is possibly documented by rutile in highly metasomatized and oxidized MARID-type (MARID: mica–amphibole–rutile–ilmenite–diopside) mantle xenoliths from the Kaapvaal craton, which also show a negative V–Nb covariation. In addition, their Nb/Ta covaries with V concentrations: For V concentrations <1,250 ppm, Nb/Ta ranges between 35 and 45, whereas for V > 1,250 ppm, Nb/Ta is considerably lower (5–15). This relationship is mainly controlled by a change in Nb concentrations, suggesting that the indirect dependence of ^RtD_Nb on fO₂, which is not mirrored in ^RtD_Ta, can exert considerable influence on rutile Nb–Ta fractionation.     

Paragenesis and geochemistry of ore minerals in the epizonal gold deposits of the Yangshan gold belt,West Qinling,China

Six epizonal gold deposits in the 30-km-long Yangshan gold belt, Gansu Province are estimated to contain more than 300 t of gold at an average grade of 4.76 g/t and thus define one of China's largest gold resources. Detailed paragenetic studies have recognized five stages of sulfide mineral precipitation in the deposits of the belt. Syngenetic/diagenetic pyrite (Py₀) has a framboidal or colloform texture and is disseminated in the metasedimentary host rocks. Early hydrothermal pyrite (Py₁) in quartz veins is disseminated in metasedimentary rocks and dikes and also occurs as semi-massive pyrite aggregates or bedding-parallel pyrite bands in phyllite. The main ore stage pyrite (Py₂) commonly overgrows Py₁ and is typically associated with main ore stage arsenopyrite (Apy₂). Late ore stage pyrite (Py₃), arsenopyrite (Apy₃), and stibnite occur in quartz ± calcite veins or are disseminated in country rocks. Post-ore stage pyrite (Py₄) occurs in quartz ± calcite veins that cut all earlier formed mineralization. Electron probe microanalyses and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses reveal that different generations of sulfides have characteristic of major and trace element patterns, which can be used as a proxy for the distinct hydrothermal events. Syngenetic/diagenetic pyrite has high concentrations of As, Au, Bi, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn. The Py₀ also retains a sedimentary Co/Ni ratio, which is distinct from hydrothermal ore-related pyrite. Early hydrothermal Py₁ has high contents of Ag, As, Au, Bi, Cu, Fe, Sb, and V, and it reflects elevated levels of these elements in the earliest mineralizing metamorphic fluids. The main ore stage Py₂ has a very high content of As (median value of 2.96 wt%) and Au (median value of 47.5 ppm) and slightly elevated Cu, but relatively low values for other trace elements. Arsenic in the main ore stage Py₂ occurs in solid solution. Late ore stage Py₃, formed coevally with stibnite, contains relatively high As (median value of 1.44 wt%), Au, Fe, Mn, Mo, Sb, and Zn and low Bi, Co, Ni, and Pb. The main ore stage Apy₂, compared to late ore stage arsenopyrite, is relatively enriched in As, whereas the later Apy₃ has high concentrations of S, Fe, and Sb, which is consistent with element patterns in associated main and late ore stage pyrite generations. Compared with pyrite from other stages, the post-ore stage Py₄ has relatively low concentrations of Fe and S, whereas As remains elevated (2.05～3.20 wt%), which could be interpreted by the substitution of As^? for S in the pyrite structure. These results suggest that syngenetic/diagenetic pyrite is the main metal source for the Yangshan gold deposits where such pyrite was metamorphosed at depth below presently exposed levels. The ore-forming elements were concentrated into the hydrothermal fluids during metamorphic devolatilization, and subsequently, during extensive fluid–rock interaction at shallower levels, these elements were precipitated via widespread sulfidation during the main ore stage.