Experimental Study on Acoustoelastic Character of Rock Under Uniaxial Compression

This paper made a research about the change rule of elastic wave velocity with stress applied on rock from theoretical and experimental aspect. Firstly, a mathematical model of P-wave velocity and confining pressure of rock was set up from the point of acoustoelastic character. Effect of axial stress on P-wave velocity in granite and sandstone during uniaxial compression process was studied experimentally by using GAW-2000 rock mechanical testing system and RSM-SY5 ultrasonic wave testing system, and the relation curves of axial stress with P-wave velocity were obtained. Based on test data, acoustoelastic theoretical formulas of granite and sandstone were established and the best empirical formulas were fitted by using regression method. Meanwhile, a comparative analysis of the empirical and theoretical calculated values was carried out. Finally, the reliability of applying acoustoelastic theoretical formula in hard rock range was further verified based on the experimental data of granitic gneiss. The results show that the P-wave velocity experiences a rapid increase, gentle increase and then a sharp fall during the uniaxial compression process. The B-value in acoustoelastic theoretical formula (proportion coefficient determined by elastic modulus and third-order elastic constant) decreases exponentially with axial stress. The acoustoelastic theoretical formula can effectively reflect the relationship between rock acoustic velocity and stress within the allowable error, which can be the theoretical foundation of acoustoelastic geo-stress measurement of subsurface rock mass.     

Creep behaviour of intact and remoulded fibrous peat

This paper presents the creep behaviour of intact and remoulded specimens of fibrous peat obtained from a field site near Anzac, Alberta, Canada. The creep behaviour was investigated by means of long-term drained and undrained triaxial tests. The development of volumetric, axial, and undrained axial strain and strain rate during drained and undrained creep tests under variable stress conditions is presented. The stress _– strain _– strain rate (p′–ε _v–\(\dot{\varepsilon }_{\text{v}}\)) relationship is found to be unique for different stress and loading durations. The p′–ε _v–\(\dot{\varepsilon }_{\text{v}}\) relationship is analysed and represented by creep isotaches. The applicability of different creep models developed for normally consolidated clay is discussed and applied to define the development of creep strain in fibrous peat under varying isotropic and deviator stresses. The secondary consolidation coefficient for evaluating the volumetric strain rate of peat is found to be applicable with some limits. The drained creep behaviour of remoulded peat specimens differs from the behaviour shown by Shelby tube specimens, whereas the undrained creep behaviour in remoulded and Shelby tube specimens is similar.     

Timing of mineralization at the Shihu gold deposit in the middle segment of the Taihang Mountain,China

The Shihu gold deposit, located in the middle-south section of the core of the Fuping mantle branch structure, is hosted in the Archean Fuping Group and adjacent to the quartz diorite porphyrite. The gold deposit is the only large gold deposit with reserves of more than 30 tons gold discovered in western Hebei Province so far. In order to constrain the timing of mineralization of this ore deposit, this paper focuses on the isotopic dating of zircon and pyrite. Zircons in gold-bearing quartz veins are magmatic in origin and no hydrothermal zircon has been found in such quartz veins, indicating that zircons were derived from the wall rocks. U–Pb ages of zircons fall mainly in the two domains: 2492 ± 82 and 136 ± 4 Ma, respectively, indicative of the contribution of the Fuping-Group TTG gneiss and Yanshanian igneous rocks, respectively. The Re–Os isotopic compositions of pyrites in the gold-bearing quartz veins yield an isochron age of 127 ± 31 Ma. Combined with other dating results, we suggest that the main metallogenic age of the Shihu gold deposit is 120–127 Ma.     

Application of bivariate extreme value distribution to flood frequency analysis: a case study of Northwestern Mexico

In Mexico, poverty has forced people to live almost on the water of rivers. This situation along with the occurrence of floods is a serious problem for the local governments. In order to protect their lives and goods, it is very important to account with a mathematical tool that may reduce the uncertainties in computing the design events for different return periods. In this paper, the Logistic model for bivariate extreme value distribution with Weibull-2 and Mixed Weibull marginals is proposed for the case of flood frequency analysis. A procedure to estimate their parameters based on the maximum likelihood method is developed. A region in Northwestern Mexico with 16 gauging stations has been selected to apply the model and regional at-site quantiles were estimated. A significant improvement occurs, measured through the use of a goodness-of-fit test, when parameters are estimated using the bivariate distribution instead of its univariate counterpart. Results suggest that it is very important to consider the Mixed Weibull distribution and its bivariate option when analyzing floods generated by a␣mixture of two populations.     

Geological characteristics and origin of the Hadamengou gold deposit in Inner Mongolia,China

The Hadamengou gold deposit is located in the western segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). It is hosted by Archean metamorphic rocks of the Wulashan Group. The main ore types include gold-bearing quartz vein type, gold-bearing quartz-potassic feldspar vein type, and gold-bearing altered rock type. Gold mineralization is closely related to K-feldspathization. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope data indicate that ore-forming fluids were dominated by magmatic water mixed with minor meteoric water. Sulfur and lead isotope data indicate that metallogenic materials were mainly supplied by the magmatic and Archean Wulashan Group. The gold mineralization was mainly formed during the Early Indosinian tectonic movement, which drove ore-forming fluids to the favorable depositional environment. The northern margin of the NCC is a prospective area for gold exploration. Gold deposits hosted by or related to alkaline intrusions have become one of the most important mineral exploration targets in northern China.     

Geochemistry and environmental effect of cadmium in the super-large Jinding Pb-Zn deposit,Yunnan Province,China

The Jinding Pb-Zn deposit in Yunnan Province is the representative of a Cd-enriched area and mining activities lead to the release of Cd into the hypergenic ecosystem, resulting in Cd pollution. The concentrations of Cd vary greatly from one type to another type of rocks in the mining district. In the host rock, Cd concentrations range from 50×10^-6 to 650×10^-6 with an average of 310×10^-6. In primary ores, Cd concentrations range from 14×10^-6 to 2800×10^-6 with an average of 767×10^-6. However, in oxidized ores, Cd concentrations are highest, varying within the range of 110×10^-6 to 8200×10^-6 , averaging 1661×10^-6. It is shown that the oxidized ores are the main carder and environmental source of Cd. Leaching test showed that Pb/Zn ores are easy to oxidize and thereafter release Cd and other harmful elements. These leached elements in the leachate may be precipitated rapidly in the order of Zn〉Pb〉Cd. As for the concentration distribution of Cd in the Bijiang River, it is estimated to be 15.7 μg/L Cd in water, 49.3 mg/L in suspended substances, and 203.7 mg/L in sediments. The average value of Cd in soil from the polluted area is 83.0 mg/kg. Natural weathering of Cd-rich rocks and minerals imposes a potential environmental risk on the aquatic ecosystem of the Bijiang catchment.     

Analysis of the 2003 Varunawat Landslide,Uttarkashi, India using Earth Observation data

Mass movements such as landslides in mountainous terrains are natural degradation processes and one of the most important landscape-building factors. Varunawat Parbat overlooking Uttarkashi town witnessed a series of landslides on 23 September 2003 and the debris slides and rock falls continued for 2 weeks. This landslide complex was triggered due to the incessant rainfall prior to the event, and its occurrence led to the blockage of the pilgrim route to Gangotri (source of the Ganges river) and evacuation of thousands of people to safer places. Though there was no loss of lives due to timely evacuation, heavy losses to the property were reported. High-resolution stereoscopic earth observation data were acquired after the incidence to study the landslide in detail with emphasis on the cause of the landslide and mode of failure. Areas along the road and below the Varunawat foothill region are mapped for landslide risk. It was found that the foothill region of the Varunawat Parbat was highly disturbed by man-made activities and houses are dangerously located below steep slopes. The potential zones for landslides along with the existing active and old landslides are mapped. These areas are critical and their treatment with priority is required in order to minimise further landslide occurrences.     

Spatial resolution of transport parameters in a subtropical karst conduit system during dry and wet seasons

Karst aquifers are characterized by a high degree of hydrologic variability and spatial heterogeneity of transport parameters. Tracer tests allow the quantification of these parameters, but conventional point-to-point experiments fail to capture spatiotemporal variations of flow and transport. The goal of this study was to elucidate the spatial distribution of transport parameters in a karst conduit system at different flow conditions. Therefore, six tracer tests were conducted in an active and accessible cave system in Vietnam during dry and wet seasons. Injections and monitoring were done at five sites along the flow system: a swallow hole, two sites inside the cave, and two springs draining the system. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) were modeled with CXTFIT software using the one-dimensional advection-dispersion model and the two-region nonequilibrium model. In order to obtain transport parameters in the individual sections of the system, a multi-pulse injection approach was used, which was realized by using the BTCs from one section as input functions for the next section. Major findings include: (1) In the entire system, mean flow velocities increase from 183 to 1,043 m/h with increasing discharge, while (2) the proportion of immobile fluid regions decrease; (3) the lowest dispersivity was found at intermediate discharge; (4) in the individual cave sections, flow velocities decrease along the flow direction, related to decreasing gradients, while (5) dispersivity is highest in the middle section of the cave. The obtained results provide a valuable basis for the development of an adapted water management strategy for a projected water-supply system.     

Constraints of molybdenite Re–Os and scheelite Sm–Nd ages on mineralization time of the Kukaazi Pb–Zn–Cu–W deposit,Western Kunlun,NW China

The Kukaazi Pb–Zn–Cu–W polymetallic deposit, located in the Western Kunlun orogenic belt, is a newly discovered skarn-type deposit. Ore bodies mainly occur in the forms of lenses and veins along beddings of the Mesoproterozoic metamorphic rocks. Three ore blocks, KI, KII, and KIII, have been outlined in different parts of the Kukaazi deposit in terms of mineral assemblages. The KI ore block is mainly composed of chalcopyrite, scheelite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, galena and minor pyrite, arsenopyrite, and molybdenite, whereas the other two ore blocks are made up of galena, sphalerite, magnetite and minor arsenopyrite and pyrite. In this study, we obtained a molybdenite isochron Re–Os age of 450.5 ± 6.4 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.057) and a scheelite Sm–Nd isochron age of 426 ± 59 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.49) for the KI ore block. They are broadly comparable to the ages of granitoid in the region. Scheelite grains from the KI ore block contain high abundances of rare earth elements (REE, 42.0–95.7 ppm) and are enriched in light REE compared to heavy REE, with negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.13–0.55). They display similar REE patterns and Sm/Nd ratios to those of the coeval granitoids in the region. Moreover, they also have similar Sr and Nd isotopes [⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7107–0.7118; ε_Nd(t) = ?4.1 to ?4.0] to those of such granitoids, implying that the tungsten-bearing fluids in the Kukaazi deposit probably originate from the granitic magmas. Our results first defined that the Early Paleozoic granitoids could lead to economic Mo–W–(Cu) mineralization at some favorable districts in the Western Kunlun orogenic belt and could be prospecting exploration targets.     

A nonlinear multiparameter prestack seismic inversion method based on hybrid optimization approach

Multiparameter prestack seismic inversion is one of the most powerful techniques in quantitatively estimating subsurface petrophysical properties. However, it remains a challenging problem due to the nonlinearity and ill-posedness of the inversion process. Traditional regularization approach can stabilize the solution but at the cost of smoothing valuable geological boundaries. In addition, compared with linearized optimization methods, global optimization techniques can obtain better results regardless of initial models, especially for multiparameter prestack inversion. However, when solving multiparameter prestack inversion problems, the application of standard global optimization algorithms maybe limited due to the issue of high computational cost (e.g., simulating annealing) or premature convergence (e.g., particle swarm optimization). In this paper, we propose a hybrid optimization-based multiparameter prestack inversion method. In this method, we introduce a prior constraint term featured by multiple regularization functions, intended to preserve layered boundaries of geological formations; in particular, to address the problem of premature convergence existing in standard particle swarm optimization algorithm, we propose a hybrid optimization strategy by hybridizing particle swarm optimization and very fast simulating annealing to solve the nonlinear optimization problem. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed inversion method by conducting synthetic test and field data application, both of which show encouraging results.