Investigation of a hybrid polygonal finite element formulation for confined and unconfined seepage

This study presents a formulation for field problems using hybrid polygonal finite elements, taking steady state seepage through a porous material as the focus. We make comparisons with a conventional finite element formulation based on a single primary variable, focussing on the advantages of the hybrid formulation in terms of flux field accuracy and extension to convex polygonal shaped elements. For the unconfined case, we adopt a head dependent hydraulic conductivity that does not require remeshing. The performance of the hybrid polygonal element formulation is demonstrated through a series of numerical examples. The results show a sensitivity of the location of the free surface in unconfined seepage to mesh configuration for hybrid quadrilateral meshes with various aspect ratios, but not for hybrid polygonal meshes with various orientations and irregularity. Examination of the free surface location results for several conforming shape function options shows an insensitivity to choice of interpolation function, provided that it conforms with the assumptions in the formulation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pb/Pb and U/Pb zircon dating of subvolcanic rhyolite as a time marker for Hercynian granite magmatism and Sn mineralisation in the Eibenstock granite, Erzgebirge, Germany: Considering effects of zircon alteration

Tin mineralisation is closely related to rhyolite stocks and dykes which occur in the endo- and exocontact of the Eibenstock granite, Erzgebirge, Germany. The same structures which cut the granite control the rhyolite emplacement and the location of ore-bearing greisen bodies. Albitisation and greisenisation related to tin mineralisation as well as sericitisation and argillic alteration may be traced by changes in chemical and mineralogical composition of both rhyolite and granite wall rock. Comprehensive zircon studies by scanning electron microscopy (secondary and backscattered electron as well as cathodoluminescence imaging; EDX measurements) reveal that zircon from rhyolite and from the enclosing granite shows significant changes in chemical composition and crystallinity, including distortion of the U-Pb isotope system when affected by greisenisation. Single evaporation analysis of zircon from rhyolite with little or no greisenisation gave a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 290±5 Ma, whereas zircon from little altered granite gave a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 320±8 Ma. The single evaporation age of zircon from rhyolite is confirmed by ²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb SHRIMP ages of 297±8 Ma. The significant time gap of at least 20 Ma between granite intrusion and rhyolite formation suggests that the late magmatic evolution of the Eibenstock granite cannot be regarded as a source for tin-ore forming fluids as previously assumed.     

Impact of tailings from the Kilembe copper mining district on Lake George, Uganda

The abandoned Kilembe copper mine in western Uganda is a source of contaminants, mobilised from mine tailings into R. Rukoki flowing through a belt of wetlands into Lake George. Water and sediments were investigated on the lakeshore and the lakebed. Metal associations in the sediments reflect the Kilembe sulphide mineralisation. Enrichment of metals was compared between lakebed sediments, both for wet and dry seasons. Total C in a lakebed core shows a general increment, while Cu and Co decrease with depth. The contaminants are predominant (> 65%) in the ≤ 63 μm sediment size range with elevated Cu and Zn (> 28%), while Ni, Pb and Co are low (< 18%) in all the fractions. Sequential extraction of Fe for lakeshore sediment samples reveals low Fe mobility. Relatively higher mobility and biological availability is seen for Co, Cu and S. Heavy metal contents in lake waters are not an immediate risk to the aquatic environment.     

Experimental study of mechanical and hydraulic properties of bedded rock salt from the Jintan location

A series of triaxial compression tests, triaxial extension tests, and triaxial compression creep tests were conducted to evaluate the strength, deformability, and permeability of rock salt from the Jintan location. Based on a previous analysis, the measured data can be physically modeled very well as shown by the constitutive model Hou/Lux and indicate that China’s representative bedded rock salt from the Jintan location is characterized by good ductility and deformation properties, similar to the European high-purity rock salt. Based on a comparison of compression as well as extension failure strength determined at rock salt from Jintan location, a similarity of compression and extension failure strength could be demonstrated. Permeation flow seems to be an anisotropic process because the permeability measured at samples prior to failure by compression tests differs to those measured at samples prior to failure by extension tests. The anisotropy of damage and destruction of rock salt has a significant influence on permeability. In case of triaxial compression tests, the measured permeability increases two to six orders of magnitude because of consistent direction of injection and cracks. In case of triaxial extension tests, however, the permeability increases less with a maximum of two orders in magnitude. The test results are significant for understanding the load-bearing behavior of rock salt from Jintan location and investigations with reference to the stability and tightness of underground caverns.     

Symplectite formation during decompression induced garnet breakdown in lower crustal mafic granulite xenoliths: mechanisms and rates

The complex microstructure of kelyphitic rims around garnet in lower crustal garnet granulite xenoliths from the Bakony–Balaton Highland Volcanic Field, Central Pannonian Basin has been studied in order to identify controls on garnet breakdown. Symplectites comprised of a vermicular intergrowth of submicron sized anorthite, orthopyroxene and spinel replace garnet at a sharp reaction front. Based on element distribution maps the transformation of garnet to symplectite is isochemical. Phase diagram calculations indicate that this reaction was induced by a pressure decrease and/or a temperature increase. In site-specific TEM foils prepared by focused ion beam technique and oriented parallel and perpendicular to the reaction front 200 nm wide rods of anorthite and 20 nm wide rods of spinel are identified. The rods are oriented approximately perpendicular to the replacement front and are embedded in an orthopyroxene matrix. The regular spacing of the symplectite phases along the reaction front suggests that their growth is controlled by diffusion. The kinetics of symplectite formation has been modelled based on irreversible thermodynamics. During interaction of the xenolith with the host basalt the microstructure and chemistry of the An–Opx–Spl symplectite was significantly modified and it was partially replaced by an olivine bearing symplectite. In contrast to primary symplectite formation, these processes were metasomatic in nature including addition of sodium, titanium and some trace elements from the basaltic melt and can clearly be discerned from the garnet breakdown. Based on these observations it is inferred that symplectite formation took place within the deep crust during the extension of the Pannonian Basin between 15 and 30 km depth at high temperature (850–1,050°C) prior to the volcanic transport to the surface.     

Reconstructing seawater δO from paired coral δO and Sr/Ca ratios: Methods, error analysis and problems, with examples from Tahiti (French Polynesia) and Timor (Indonesia)

We compare several statistical routines that may be used to calculate δ¹⁸O_sw and SSS from paired coral Sr/Ca and δ¹⁸O measurements. Typically, the δ¹⁸O_coral-SST relationship is estimated by linear regression of coral δ¹⁸O vs. SST. If this method is applied, evidence should be given that at a particular site SST and SSS do not co-vary. In the tropical oceans, SST and δ¹⁸O_sw (SSS) often co-vary, and this will bias the estimate of the regression slope of δ¹⁸O_coral-SST. Using a stochastic model, we show that covariance leads to a bias in the coefficients of the univariate regression equations. As the slope of the δ¹⁸O_coral-SST relationship has known, we propose to insert this value for γ₁ in the regression models. This requires that the constants of the regression equations are removed. To omit the constants, we propose to center the regression equations (i.e., to remove the mean values from the variables). The statistical error propagation is calculated to assess our ability to resolve past variations in δ¹⁸O_sw (SSS). At Tahiti, we find that the combined analytical uncertainties of coral δ¹⁸O and Sr/Ca equal the amplitude of the seasonal cycle of δ¹⁸O_sw (SSS). Therefore, we cannot resolve the seasonal cycle of SSS at Tahiti. At Timor, the error of reconstructed δ¹⁸O_sw (SSS) is lower than the magnitude of seasonal variations of δ¹⁸O_sw (SSS), and the seasonal cycle of δ¹⁸O_sw (SSS) can be resolved.     

Über die mineralischen,nichtkarbonatischen Bestandteile des Cenoman und Turon der mitteldeutschen Kreidemulden und ihre Verteilung

Zusammenfassung Die nichtkarbonatischen Bestandteile von 26 Kalkproben aus dem Cenoman und Turon der westfälischen und niedersächsischen Oberkreideablagerungen wurden qualitativ wie auch quantitativ auf ihre mineralische Zusammensetzung hin untersucht.Hierzu wurde der karbonatische Anteil in verdünnter Salzsäure gelöst und der unlösliche Rückstand mit Sieb, Atterberg-Zylinder und zum Teil auch mit der Zentrifuge in mindestens 6 Korngrößenklassen zerlegt. Diese wurden nun einzeln mit optischen, röntgenographischen und chemischen Verfahren untersucht; zur Erhärtung der Ergebnisse ist auch die Differentialthermoanalyse hinzugezogen worden. Weiterhin wurde diskutiert, ob sich der ursprüngliche Mineralbestand eventuell durch die Säurevorbehandlung verändert haben könnte und diesbezügliche Versuche ausgeführt.Die optischen Untersuchungen an den gröberen Fraktionen ergaben, daß diese verhältnismäßig eintönig aus - Quarz, Muskovit, Organismenresten und daneben zurücktretend aus Feldspat, Glaukonit und Limonit zusammengesetzt sind. Bei den röntgenographischen Untersuchungen der feinen Tonfraktionen wurde in allen Proben neben Quarz und Glimmer noch Montmorillonit oder Kaolinit gefunden, häufig auch beide Tonminerale zusammen. Allgemein jedoch ist der Montmorillonit weitaus reichlicher vertreten, die montmorillonitreichste Probe enthält 34% vom Kalkrückstand, während der Kaolinit im höchsten Falle etwa 6% erreicht. Einige Proben vom westlichen Eggegebirgsrand enthielten Wechsellagerungsstrukturen zwischen Illit und Montmorillonit.Eine qualitative Untersuchung von 2 Mergeln aus, dem Emscher und dem Mukronatensenon ergab als wesentlichen Anteil der feinsten Korngrößen ebenfalls Montmorillonit. In einem Grünsandstein der küstennahen Turonfazies am Haarstrang in Westfalen wurde dagegen; als Hauptkomponente der feinsten Fraktionen und als färbender Bestandteil ein eisenreicher Chlorit gefunden.Eine vergleichende Untersuchung der verschiedenen Proben ergab, daß für den genauer untersuchten Bereich Altenbeken-Neuenbeken-Lichtenau am Eggegebirgsrand zwar das Auftreten einer bestimmten Tonmineralfazies charakteristisch für einen stratigraphischen Horizont sein kann, in einem größeren Raum aber jede stratigraphische Beständigkeit der Tonmineralanteile aufhört. Nach rein mineralogischen Merkmalen lassen sich dagegen die hier untersuchten Sedimentationsräume des Cenoman und Turon unterscheiden. So zeichnen sich die Ablagerungen am Eggegebirge durch das fast völlige Fehlen von Feldspat, Biotit und Montmorillonit aus, weiterhin durch den relativ hohen Kaolinitgehalt und die niedrige Lichtbrechung ihrer Muskovite. Alle Proben aus den niedersächsischen Kreidemulden dagegen zeigen hohe Montmorillonit- und (mit einer Ausnahnie) sehr niedrige Kaolinitanteile; die Feldspäte sind hier ebenso wie die an sich in der oberen Kreide nur sehr seltenen Biotite am häufigsten und am besten erhalten. Die Proben aus der Umgebung von Lengerich am Nordostrand des Westfälischen Beckens weisen in vieler Hinsicht die Eigenschaften beider Ausbildungen auf. So kommt hier stets Kaolinit neben Montmorillonit vor, doch beide in relativ geringen Mengen. Der Feldspat ist in diesen Proben zwar nicht annähernd so selten wie in denen vom Eggegebirge, erreicht jedoch im allgemeinen auch nicht die Häufigkeit der Feldspäte in den niedersächsischen Kreidemulden.     

Long cores from small lakes—recovering up to 100 m-long lake sediment sequences with a high-precision rod-operated piston corer (Usinger-corer)

We present a unique, versatile piston corer for recovering continuous lake and bog sediment sequences with superior accuracy and quality. The main components of the system and their function are described, with special focus on measures for obtaining long, continuous lake sediment sections up to a current maximum length of 95 m. Examples of lake sediment profiles obtained with this system from different climatic zones are presented.     

Crowdsourcing urban form and function

Urban form and function have been studied extensively in urban planning and geographical information science. However, gaining a greater understanding of how they merge to define the urban morphology remains a substantial scientific challenge. Toward this goal, this paper addresses the opportunities presented by the emergence of crowdsourced data to gain novel insights into form and function in urban spaces. We are focusing in particular on information harvested from social media and other open-source and volunteered datasets (e.g. trajectory and OpenStreetMap data). These data provide a first-hand account of form and function from the people who define urban space through their activities. This novel bottom-up approach to study these concepts complements traditional urban studies to provide a new lens for studying urban activity. By synthesizing recent advancements in the analysis of open-source data, we provide a new typology for characterizing the role of crowdsourcing in the study of urban morphology. We illustrate this new perspective by showing how social media, trajectory, and traffic data can be analyzed to capture the evolving nature of a city’s form and function. While these crowd contributions may be explicit or implicit in nature, they are giving rise to an emerging research agenda for monitoring, analyzing, and modeling form and function for urban design and analysis.