Effects of size and strain rate on the mechanical behaviors of rock specimens under uniaxial compression

Size and strain rate are two key factors that dramatically influence the estimation of rock mechanical behaviors. To better understand the effects of size and strain rate on measured rocks, rock specimens with six different sizes were tested at six different strain rates under uniaxial compression using the MTS 815 Rock Mechanics Test System. Having determined that the size and strain rate significantly affect the peak strain, peak stress, elastic modulus, acoustic emission (AE), and failure pattern of the rock specimens, the relation was established between the strength and the size and strain rate of red sandstone. And the variation was revealed among the size and strain rate, the AE, and the failure pattern. It turned out that the peak stress was negatively correlated with the rock size and was positively correlated with the strain rate. When the length to diameter ratio (L/D) of the rock specimen was less than 2.0, the AE appeared mildly. The AE quantities gradually increased before the peak stress, and then sharply decreased after the peak stress. The failure pattern of the rock specimen was relatively complicated, with a fracture plane appearing along the axial direction. Conical failure type was also presented. When the L/D ratio of the specimen was greater than 2.0, the AE characteristics of red sandstone showed the radical model. There were relatively few AE rings before the peak stress. But the AE rings increased suddenly and dramatically during the peak stress. The rock specimens primarily failed with a single shear plane. Moreover, with an increase in the strain rate, the AE activities were enhanced and the AE quantities increased. When the strain rate of the rock specimen was less than 5.0?×?10^?4/s, the rock specimen failed with a shear or tensile-shear pattern. And when the strain rate was greater than 5.0?×?10^?4/s, the rock specimen tended to fail in a conical pattern.     

Assessing groundwater storage changes in the Nubian aquifer using GRACE data

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) level two (L2) data is used in estimating the groundwater storage changes (GWSC) in the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS). This set of data consists of spherical harmonics coefficients with specific degree and order. The GRACE data is de-correlated using a sixth degree polynomial in order to reduce the effect of the noise error resulting from the correlation between the spherical harmonics coefficients with the same degree parity. The GRACE estimates of GWSC are smoothed using Gaussian filter with half width of 1000 km. This half width is chosen in order to maximize the correlation between the GRACE estimates of GWSC and previous modeling results of the NSAS. The loss in groundwater storage occurring in each of the four countries sharing the NSAS is calculated to assess the sustainability of using the NSAS as a water resource in each country. The overarching finding in this study is that NSAS is losing its groundwater storage at a very high rate. Also, it is found that Egypt is the fastest in losing its groundwater storage from the NSAS. This loss of groundwater storage in Egypt may not necessarily be resulting from in-country extractions because of the trans-boundary nature of this aquifer. The GRACE-based estimates are found to be close to available data and previous modeling results of the NSAS.     

The geochemistry of uranium occurrences and speciation in groundwater of Chinnar sub basin,South India

An attempt has been made in Chinnar sub basin of Dharmapuri district, South India to isolate the geochemistry of uranium occurrences in groundwater. The geology of the area is mainly of charnockite and granite gneiss. Groundwater samples were collected for two different seasons post and pre monsoon in two different litho units (granite gneiss and charnockite) and analysed for major, minor and uranium concentrations. Higher uranium (18.45 μg L^?1) has been recorded during pre monsoon season in granite gneiss with increasing pH. The saturation index calculation for the groundwater isolated minerals like uaraninite, coffinite, haiweeite and soddyite to be precipitating and uranium oxides like UO_2.25, UO_2.25beta, UO_2.33beta as oversaturated. The Eh-pH diagram attempted represents solubility of uraninite within the pH range of 6.0 to 8.0. The study isolate uranium in groundwater of the study area is controlled by the presence of (U₄O₉) uranium oxide.     

Structural setup of Ras Banas area,Red Sea,Egypt, as inferred from aeromagnetic data

This study deals with the evaluation of the structural setup of the Ras Banas area on the northwestern part of the Red Sea by using magnetic data. Different analyzing techniques were applied to achieve this goal including regional-residual separation, trend analysis, depth estimation, Euler deconvolution, horizontal gradient, analytic signal, and magnetic modeling. The results of these techniques were used to construct a deep-seated structural feature map.Lineament analysis indicates that the area was mainly affected by the NW, WNW, and NE tectonic trends. The magnetic modeling was performed along four profiles supported by Euler deconvolution, horizontal gradient, and analytic signal profiles. The modeled profiles show that the basement rocks composed of uplifted and down-faulted blocks at different depths as well as step-like structure. The basement rocks seem to be acidic in nature intruded by basic/ultrabasic dikes. Generally, the magnetic susceptibility ranges from 0.0003 to 0.04 cgs indicating acidic to basic/ultrabasic rock composition. The basement relief map shows an irregular basement surface, which varies greatly in depth from 1 to 5.6 km below sea level. The deep-seated structure map shows that the basement was highly affected by two main fault trends in the NW and NNE directions. The NW trending structures were intersected by younger left lateral NNE transform faults. These cross-faults dissect the area into a number of alternated and elongated blocks.     

Hydrogen sites in the dense hydrous magnesian silicate phase E: a pulsed neutron powder diffraction study

Hydrogen site positions and occupancy in the crystal structure of dense hydrous magnesium silicate (DHMS) phase E were determined for the first time by pulsed neutron powder diffraction. A fully deuterated pure phase E powder sample, which had space group \(R\overline{3} m\) and lattice parameters of a = 2.97065(8) Å and c = 13.9033(4) Å, was synthesized at 15 GPa and 1100 °C. Through quantitative evaluation of refined structure parameters obtained with sufficient spatial resolution and very high signal-to-background ratio, we conclude that the O–D dipoles in the refined phase E structure are tilted by 24° from the direction normal to the layers of edge-shared MgO₆ octahedra (octahedral layers). The tilted dipole structure of phase E is in remarkable contrast to that of brucite, Mg(OH)₂, which has dipoles exactly normal to the octahedral layer. This contrast exists because the O–Si–O bonding unique in the phase E structure connects two adjacent octahedral layers and thereby reduces the interlayer O···O distance. This shrinkage of the interlayer distance induces the tilting of the O–D dipole and also generates unique O–D···O hydrogen bonding connecting all the layers in the phase E structure.     

Ionic conductivity in gem-quality single-crystal alkali feldspar from the Eifel: temperature,orientation and composition dependence

We measured the ion conductivity of single-crystal alkali feldspar originating from two different locations in the Eifel/Germany, named Volkesfeld and Rockeskyller sanidine and having potassium site fractions \(C_\mathrm{K}\) of 0.83 and 0.71, respectively. The dc conductivities resulting from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy over the temperature range of 300–900 \(^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) show a weak composition dependence but pronounced differences between the b-direction [\(\perp (010)\)] and \(c^{*}\)-direction [\(\perp (001)\)] of the monoclinic feldspar structure. Conductivity activation energies obtained from the observed linear Arrhenius plots are close to 1.2 eV in all cases, which is closely similar to the activation energies of the \(^{22}\mathrm{Na}\) tracer diffusivity in the same crystals. Taking into account literature data on K tracer diffusion and diffusion correlation effects, the present results point to a predominance of the interstitialcy mechanism over the vacancy mechanism in mass and charge transport on the alkali sublattice in potassium-rich alkali feldspar.     

Phase relation of CaSO<Subscript>4</Subscript> at high pressure and temperature up to 90 GPa and 2300 K

Calcium sulfate (CaSO₄), one of the major sulfate minerals in the Earth’s crust, is expected to play a major role in sulfur recycling into the deep mantle. Here, we investigated the crystal structure and phase relation of CaSO₄ up to ~90 GPa and 2300 K through a series of high-pressure experiments combined with in situ X-ray diffraction. CaSO₄ forms three thermodynamically stable polymorphs: anhydrite (stable below 3 GPa), monazite-type phase (stable between 3 and ~13 GPa) and barite-type phase (stable up to at least 93 GPa). Anhydrite to monazite-type phase transition is induced by pressure even at room temperature, while monazite- to barite-type transition requires heating at least to 1500 K at ~20 GPa. The barite-type phase cannot always be quenched from high temperature and is distorted to metastable AgMnO₄-type structure or another modified barite structure depending on pressure. We obtained the pressure–volume data and density of anhydrite, monazite- and barite-type phases and found that their densities are lower than those calculated from the PREM model in the studied P–T conditions. This suggests that CaSO₄ is gravitationally unstable in the mantle and fluid/melt phase into which sulfur dissolves and/or sulfate–sulfide speciation may play a major role in the sulfur recycling into the deep Earth.     

Geochronological and isotopic records of crustal storage and assimilation in the Wolverine Creek–Conant Creek system,Heise eruptive centre,Snake River Plain

Understanding the processes of differentiation of the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain (YSRP) rhyolites is typically impeded by the apparent lack of erupted intermediate compositions as well as the complex nature of their shallow interaction with the surrounding crust responsible for their typically low O isotopic ratios. A pair of normal-δ¹⁸O rhyolitic eruptions from the Heise eruptive centre in eastern Idaho, the Wolverine Creek Tuff and the Conant Creek Tuff, represent unique magmatic products of the Yellowstone hotspot preserving abundant vestiges of the intermediate differentiation steps leading to rhyolite generation. We address both shallow and deep processes of magma generation and storage in the two units by combining high-precision ID–TIMS U–Pb zircon geochronology, trace element, O and Hf isotopic studies of zircon, and Sr isotopic analyses of individual high-Mg# pyroxenes inherited from lower- to mid-crustal differentiation stages. The zircon geochronology confirms the derivation of both tuffs from the same rhyolitic magma reservoir erupted at 5.5941 ± 0.0097 Ma, preceded by at least 92 ± 14 ky of continuous or intermittent zircon saturation approximating the length of pre-eruptive magma accumulation in the upper crust. Some low-Mg# pyroxenes enclosing zircons predate the eruption by at least 45 ± 27 ky, illustrating the co-crystallisation of major and accessory phases in the near-liquidus rhyolitic melts of the YSRP over a significant period of time. Coeval zircon crystals are isotopically heterogeneous (two populations at εHf ~?5 and ?13), requiring the assembly of isotopically distinct melt pockets directly prior to, or during, the eruption. The primitive Mg# 60–90 pyroxenes are out of isotopic equilibrium with the host rhyolitic melt (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i = 0.70889), covering a range of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i = 0.70705–0.70883 corresponding to ratios typical of the most radiogenic YSRP basalts to the least radiogenic YSRP rhyolites. Together with the low εHf in zircon, the Sr isotopic ratios illustrate limited assimilation dominated by radiogenic Archean crustal source materials incorporated into variably evolved YSRP melts as they progress towards rhyolitic compositions by assimilation–fractional crystallisation.     

A three dimensional perspective on the evolution of Archaean crust: LITHOPROBE seismic reflection images in the southwestern Superior province

15011993

Abstract

In 1990–1991 the LITHOPROBE project completed 450 km of seismic reflection profiles across the late Archaean crust of the southwestern Superior province. The results define a broad three-fold division of crust: upper crust in the Abitibi greenstone belt is non-reflective and is a 6–8 km veneer of volcanic and plutonic supracrustal rocks, whereas, in the sediment-gneiss dominated Pontiac subprovince, upper crust comprises shallow northwest-dipping turbidite sequences; mid-crust, in both the Abitibi and the Pontiac subprovinces, is interpreted as imbricate sequences of metasedimentary and metaplutonic rocks; lower crust in both subprovinces has a horizontal layer parallel strycture which may represent interleaved mafic-intermediate gneisses. The seismic signature of the northern Abitibi greenstone belt may be represented in an exposed 25 km crustal section in the Kapuskasing stuctural zone.

Preliminary tectonic models based on the seismic data are consistent with a plate-tectonic scenario involving oblique subduction and imbrication of sedimentary, plutonic and volcanic sequences. The northern Abitibi supracrustal sequences either represent an allochthon, or overlie an allochthonous underthrust metasedimentary and plutonic sequence which may be equivalent to a metasedimentary subprovince such as the Pontiac or Quetico.

Seismic velocities have yet to be defined. However, crustal thicknesses are relatively constant at 35–40 km. The thinnest crust is adjacent to the Grenville Front where Moho is very well defined.     

Characteristics of deuterium excess parameters for geothermal water in Beijing

This study investigates the characteristics of geothermal water in 10 geothermal fields in Beijing. The relationships between the deuterium excess parameter (d) and temperature, depth, age of geothermal groundwater, groundwater flow field, and Eh were investigated using geothermal groundwater samples. Results showed that (1) the average d value of geothermal water is 5.4, whereas that of the groundwater in normal temperature is 6.04. The differences are induced by the oxygen isotope exchange during the water–rock interaction, which may be more easily completed in geothermal water than in cold groundwater. (2) The d value increases remarkably with the age of the geothermal groundwater. The d value increases from 11.2 to 14.6 when the age of the geothermal water is 12,760 ± 130 a and 38,960 ± 630 a, respectively. Moreover, the isotope heat exchange for composition of the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in the geothermal groundwater proceeds sufficiently with time. (3) The d value decreases from 5.72 to 3.03 when the depth increases from 125.13 to 3221 m. Generally, in the same area, the d value decreases with depth because the temperature is increasing. (4) The d value of the groundwater gradually reduces from the northern recharge area to the southern discharge area. The average d value is 7.31 in the northern recharge area and 5.68 in the middle Beijing Depression, whereas the d value in the southern area of Fengheying is ?9.20. The larger difference in d values between the recharge and discharge areas is due to the slower velocity of underwater flow, which induces longer time for oxygen exchange. (5) The relationship between the d and Eh is complex. When Eh is <200 mV, the d value of the geothermal water decreases with the decrease in Eh. When Eh is higher than 200 mV, the d value increases slightly with the decrease in Eh. The study of the characteristics of deuterium excess parameters for geothermal water could provide a scientific isotopic evidence for assessment and exploitation measures in geothermal groundwater systems.