Smectite suspension structural behaviour

Smectite suspensions, at low solids contents, are known to be naturally high in volume with diverse structural properties. The changing structural properties of smectite aqueous suspensions in the absence and presence of calcium ions were investigated using an acoustosizer and an advanced cryo-SEM technique to further understand and thereby control their environmental impact.In the absence of Ca(II) ions, smectite particles are present as a colloidally stable sol due to electrical double layer repulsion of the negatively charged platelets. The smectite network is observed to be extended throughout the suspension via clay platelets networking with an edge–edge (EE) orientation due to high basal surface repulsion. After the initial addition of Ca(II) ions, the smectite negative zeta potential reduces and the smectite platelets coagulate forming 2 µm aggregates. The platelets are randomly orientated, lettuce-like, coagulated aggregates with a high presence of both edge–edge (EE) and edge–face (EF) orientations. After equilibration, the smectite platelets forming an orientated honeycomb cellular structure comprised of face–face (FF) multiply sheet aggregates. The voids in the cellular structure are larger than prior to Ca(II) addition, measured at 2–8 µm.The changing structural properties of a smectite suspension in the absence and presence of Ca(II) greatly influence smectite stability and in turn, mineral processing and/or environmental management. Adequate time is required to allow suppression of the initial swelling of the smectite, full Ca(II) exchange and platelet aggregation.     

Multi‐transient electromagnetic repeatability experiment over the North Sea Harding field‡

We present results of synthetic time‐lapse and real repeatability multi‐transient electromagnetic surveys over the North Sea Harding field. Using Archie's law to convert porosity and fluid saturation to resistivity we created 3D isotropic models of the reservoir resistivity at different stages of production from the initial state in 1996 through to complete hydrocarbon production by 2016 and, for each stage, we simulated an east‐west transient electromagnetic survey line across Harding. Unconstrained 1D full‐waveform Occam inversions of these synthetic data show that Harding should be detectable and its lateral extent reasonably well‐defined. Resistivity changes caused by hydrocarbon production from initial pre‐production state to production of the oil rim in 2011 are discernible as are significant changes from 2011–2016 during the modelled gas blowdown phase. The 2D repeatability surveys of 2007 and 2008 tied two wells: one on and the other off the structure. Between the two surveys the segment of the field under investigation produced 3.9 million barrels of oil – not enough to generate an observable time‐lapse electromagnetic anomaly with a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 40 dB. Processing of the 2007 and 2008 data included deconvolution for the measured source current and removal of spatially‐correlated noise, which increased the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the recovered impulse responses by about 20 dB and resulted in a normalized root‐mean‐square difference of 3.9% between the data sets. 1D full‐waveform Occam inversions of the real data showed that Harding was detectable and its lateral extent was also reasonably well‐defined. The results indicate that the multi‐transient electromagnetic method is suitable for exploration, appraisal and monitoring hydrocarbon production.     

Improved edge detection mapping through stacking and integration: a case study in the Bathurst Mining Camp

Airborne geophysical surveys provide spatially continuous regional data coverage, which directly reflects subsurface petrophysical differences and thus the underlying geology. A modern geologic mapping exercise requires the fusion of this information to complement what is typically limited regional outcrop. Often, interpretation of the geophysical data in a geological context is done qualitatively using total field and derivative maps. With a qualitative approach, the resulting map product may reflect the interpreter's bias. Source edge detection provides a quantitative means to map lateral physical property changes in potential and non‐potential field data. There are a number of Source edge detection algorithms, all of which apply a transformation to convert local signal inflections associated with source edges into local maxima. As a consequence of differences in their computation, the various algorithms generate slightly different results for any given source depth, geometry, contrast, and noise levels. To enhance the viability of any detected edge, it is recommended that one combines the output of several Source edge detection algorithms. Here we introduce a simple data compilation method, deemed edge stacking, which improves the interpretable product of Source edge detection through direct gridding, grid addition, and amplitude thresholding. In two examples, i.e., a synthetic example and a real‐world example from the Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick, Canada, a number of transformation algorithms are applied to gridded geophysical data sets and the resulting Source edge detection solutions combined. Edge stacking combines the benefits and nuances of each Source edge detection algorithm; coincident or overlapping and laterally continuous solutions are considered more indicative of a true edge, whereas isolated points are taken as being indicative of random noise or false solutions. When additional data types are available, as in our example, they may also be integrated to create a more complete geologic model. The effectiveness of this method is limited only by the resolution of each survey data set and the necessity of lateral physical property contrasts. The end product aims at creating a petrophysical contact map, which, when integrated with known lithological outcrop information, can be led to an improved geological map.     

The importance of the effective intermediate principal stress (σ′2) to fault slip patterns

In normal faulting regimes, the magnitudes and orientations of the maximum and minimum principal compressive stresses may be known with some confidence. However, the magnitude of the intermediate principal compressive stress is generally much more difficult to constrain and is often not considered to be an important factor. In this paper, we show that the slip characteristics of faults and fractures with complex or nonoptimal geometry are highly sensitive to variation or uncertainty in the ambient effective intermediate principal stress (σ′₂). Optimally oriented faults and fractures may be less sensitive to such variations or uncertainties. Slip tendency (T_s) analysis provides a basis for quantifying the effects of uncertainty in the magnitudes and orientations of all principal stresses and in any stress regime, thereby focusing efforts on the most important components of the system. We also show, for a normal faulting stress regime, that the proportion of potential surfaces experiencing high slip tendency (e.g., T_s ≥ 0.6) decreases from a maximum of about 38% where σ′₂ = σ′₃, to a minimum of approximately 14% where σ′₂ is halfway between σ′₃ and σ′₁, and increases to another high of approximately 29% where σ′₂ = σ′₁. This analysis illustrates the influence of the magnitude of σ′₂ on rock mass strength, an observation previously documented by experimental rock deformation studies. Because of the link between fault and fracture slip characteristics and transmissivity in critically stressed rock, this analysis can provide new insights into stress-controlled fault transmissivity.     

Palaeomagnetism and chronology of Caledonian igneous episodes in the Cross Fell Inlier and northern Lake District

This study employs palaeomagnetism to differentiate between Palaeozoic minor intrusions in northern England. The lamprophyres of the Cross Fell Inlier subdivide petrographically into kersantites and minettes. All the kersantites have steep directions of magnetisation probably correlating with an interval of anomalous geomagnetic field in Caradocian times. The Threlkeld–St John's microgranodiorite (445 m.y.) and Carrock Fell dolerite dyke swarm also possess steep magnetisations assigned to the same interval. The minettes have shallow directions of magnetisation similar to the Shap Granite (393 m.y.) and correlate with the later Caledonian intrusions of northern England. These episodes of intrusion are separated by late-Silurian tectonism and define a trend of increasing K₂O/Na₂O in the later magmas of the Caledonian orogeny. Miscellaneous palaeomagnetic results from the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, Embleton diorites and Haweswater dolerite are also reported.     

An example of fingerprint detection of greenhouse climate change

As an example of the technique of fingerprint detection of greenhouse climate change, a multivariate signal or fingerprint of the enhanced greenhouse effect is defined using the zonal mean atmospheric temperature change as a function of height and latitude between equilibrium climate model simulations with control and doubled CO₂ concentrations. This signal is compared with observed atmospheric temperature variations over the period 1963 to 1988 from radiosonde-based global analyses. There is a significant increase of this greenhouse signal in the observational data over this period.These results must be treated with caution. Upper air data are available for a short period only, possibly too short to be able to resolve any real greenhouse climate change. The greenhouse fingerprint used in this study may not be unique to the enhanced greenhouse effect and may be due to other forcing mechanisms. However, it is shown that the patterns of atmospheric temperature change associated with uniform global increases of sea surface temperature, with El NinoSouthern Oscillation events and with decreases of stratospheric ozone concentrations individually are different from the greenhouse fingerprint used here.     

Exploring the role of the amateur in the production and circulation of meteorological knowledge

There is a growing scholarship on the role of the amateur, and amateur societies, in the production and circulation of weather and climate knowledge in the past. Yet relatively little attention has been paid to the actual and potential contribution of contemporary amateur meteorologists in this respect. In this paper we first examine the importance of the amateur historically in the production of local weather knowledge and also in the emergence of professional meteorology. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with members of one contemporary UK based amateur meteorological organisation??the Climatological Observers Link (COL)??we then investigate the nature and extent of contemporary amateur meteorologists?? contributions to a wide range of different ??publics?? today, which include both popular and professional communities. Finally, we interrogate our interview data to identify whether COL members themselves recognise a wider role for their expertise at a time of increasing popular and scientific interest in weather and climate and in an era when the inclusion of non-certified experts in policy decision making processes is being advocated.     

Distribution of caesium-137 in soils across a hillslope hollow

The distribution of soil ¹³⁷Cs in relation to selected soil and landform properties was studied across a 16 ha hillslope hollow in the Hunter valley, New South Wales, Australia. The hillslope was used as grazing for cattle. Caesium-137 was not significantly related to the amount of sand, silt, or clay, the bulk density, the organic matter content, the slope angle or the relative distance downslope. However, ¹³⁷Cs was significantly related to the thickness of the soil A horizon. Spatial variations in ¹³⁷Cs were compared with topographic units and a six-element hillslope model, but there was little correspondence. It was thought that the effects of microtopography could have masked potential interrelationships between ¹³⁷Cs and broader scale landform parameters.     

Diurnal and seasonal variation in physico-chemical conditions within intertidal rock pools

A study of the diurnal and seasonal variation in the physico-chemical conditions within intertidal rock pools on the West coast of Scotland was undertaken to provide data on the environmental conditions experienced by animals inhabiting these pools. The temperature, pH, partial pressure of oxygen (P_O2) and salinity were measured every hour for 24 h and the total alkalinity, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (P_CO2) and carbon dioxide content (C_CO2) calculated. This sampling regime was carried out once a month for 12 months to determine the extent of seasonal variation in conditions within temperate pools.Large diurnal variations were recorded in nearly all the physico-chemical parameters measured. The greatest variation was recorded in the temperature and P_O2 of the water but significant changes in pH and P_CO2 were also recorded. Total alkalinity varied little during any 24 h period but carbonate alkalinity, which was always lower than total alkalinity, showed slightly greater variation. There was also considerable variation in the magnitude of these diurnal changes between pools at different heights on the shore.Diurnal variation in the physico-chemical conditions within the pools were observed throughout the year although the magnitude of these changes varied seasonally. Detailed studies on individual pools demonstrated that appreciable local variation existed in the physico-chemical conditions within each pool.