Analysis of the accuracy of prediction of the celestial pole motion

VLBI observations carried out by global networks provide the most accurate values of the precession-nutation angles determining the position of the celestial pole; as a rule, these results become available two to four weeks after the observations. Therefore, numerous applications, such as satellite navigation systems, operational determination of Universal Time, and space navigation, use predictions of the coordinates of the celestial pole. In connection with this, the accuracy of predictions of the precession—nutation angles based on observational data obtained over the last three years is analyzed for the first time, using three empiric nutation models-namely, those developed at the US Naval Observatory, the Paris Observatory, and the Pulkovo Observatory. This analysis shows that the last model has the best of accuracy in predicting the coordinates of the celestial pole. The rms error for a one-month prediction proposed by this model is below 100 microarcsecond.     

Experimental study of the system H3BO3–NaF–SiO2-H2O at 350–800 °C and 1–2 kbar by the method of synthetic fluid inclusions

The phase state of fluid in the system H₃BO₃–NaF–SiO₂–H₂O was studied at 350–800 °C and 1–2 kbar by the method of synthetic fluid inclusions. The increase in the solubility of quartz and the high reciprocal solubility of H₃BO₃ and NaF in water fluid at high temperatures are due to the formation of complexes containing B, F, Si, and Na. At 800 °C and 2 kbar, both liquid and gas immiscible phases (viscous silicate-water-salt liquid and three water fluids with different contents of B and F) are dispersed within each other. The Raman spectra of aqueous solutions and viscous liquid show not only a peak of [B(OH)₃]⁰ but also peaks of complexes [B(OH)₄]^–, polyborates [B₄O₅(OH)₄]^2–, [B₃O₃(OH)₄]^–, and [B₅O₆(OH)₄]^–, and/or fluoroborates [B₃F₆O₃]^3–, [BF₂(OH)₂]^–, [BF₃(OH)]^–, and [BF₄]^–. The high viscosity of nonfreezing fluid is due to the polymerization of complexes of polyborates and fluorine-substituted polyborates containing Si and Na. Solutions in fluid inclusions belong to P–Q type complicated by a metastable or stable immiscibility region. Metastable fluid equilibria transform into stable ones owing to the formation of new complexes at 800 ºC and 2 kbar as a result of the interaction of quartz with B-F-containing fluid. At high concentrations of F and B in natural fluids, complexes containing B, F, Si, and alkaline metals and silicate-water-salt dispersed phases might be produced and concentrate many elements, including ore-forming ones. Their transformation into vitreous masses or viscous liquids (gels, jellies) during cooling and the subsequent crystallization of these products at low temperatures (300–400 °C) should lead to the release of fluid enriched in the above elements.     

The Strel’tsovka uranium district: Isotopic geochronological (U-Pb,Rb-Sr,Sm-Nd) characterization of granitoids and their place in the formation history of uranium deposits

An isotopic geochronological study of Russia’s largest Strel’tsovka uranium district has been carried out. Polychronous granite generation, which determined the structure of the pre-Mesozoic basement, had important implications for the formation of volcanotectonic structural elements bearing economic uranium mineralization. The study of U-Pb, Rb-Sr, and Sm-Nd isotopic systems of whole-rock samples and minerals of granitic rocks allowed us to estimate the deportment of these systems in spatially conjugated granite-forming and hydrothermal processes differing in age and gave grounds for revising the age of granites pertaining to the Urulyungui Complex and refining the age of the Unda Complex.     

The south-western Black Forest and the Upper Rhine Graben Main Border Fault: thermal history and hydrothermal fluid flow

The thermal history of the south-westernmost Black Forest (Germany) and the adjacent Upper Rhine Graben were constrained by a combination of apatite and zircon fission-track (FT) and microstructural analyses. After intrusion of Palaeozoic granitic plutons in the Black Forest, the thermal regime of the studied area re-equilibrated during the Late Permian and the Mesozoic, interrupted by enhanced hydrothermal activity during the Jurassic. At the eastern flank of the Upper Rhine Graben along the Main Border Fault the analysed samples show microstructural characteristics related to repeated tectonic and hydrothermal activities. The integration of microstructural observations of the cataclastic fault gouge with the FT data identifies the existence of repeated tectonic-related fluid flow events characterised by different thermal conditions. The older took place during the Variscan and/or Mesozoic time at temperatures lower than 280°C, whereas the younger was probably contemporary with the Cenozoic rifting of the Upper Rhine Graben at temperatures not higher than 150°C.     

Real-time monitoring and early warning of landslides at relocated Wushan Town,the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

A special monitoring and warning system has been established and improved in the Three Gorges Reservoir area since 1999. It is necessary to develop a real-time monitoring system on landslides because there are dense populations centered in the reservoir area and geo-hazards may be triggered by a 30-m water level fluctuation between 145 and 175 m in elevation during reservoir operation; the regular monitoring could not be suitable to the early warning on landslides. Since 2003, the authors have carried out a real-time monitoring and early warning project on landslides at the relocated Wushan town in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. The monitoring station includes Global Positioning System with high-accuracy double frequency to monitor ground displacement, time domain reflection technology, and immobile borehole, inclinometer to monitor deep displacement, piezometer to monitor pore water pressure, and precipitation and reservoir water level monitoring. Compared with traditional methods, the real-time monitoring is continuous and traceable in the acquisition process, and the cycle of data acquisition is very short, usually within hours, minutes, or even shorter. Based on the landslide monitoring experience at the Three Gorges Reservoir area, the early warning criteria on landslide are established in which the critical situation is classified into four levels: blue, yellow, orange, and red, respectively, expressed by no, slight, moderate, and high risk situation. Comprehensive judgment from multimonitoring data of Yuhuangge landslide in this area since 2004 suggested that the new Wushan town will be at the blue early warning level, although some monitoring data of individual displacement at deep borehole showed that the displacement was increased by 5 mm in 5 months with an average velocity of 1.0 mm/month, and the data of BOTDR also showed an obvious dislocation along a stairway on the landslide.     

地层倾角对转换波动校速度分析的影响

动校正速度的求取是三维转换波数据处理的重要环节,其精度高低对转换波的叠加成像质量影响很大。理论上转换波的速度求取受包括界面倾角在内的多种因素影响,但实际应用时这些因素往往被忽略。为证明倾角对动校速度的影响程度,依据前人的研究成果,模拟倾斜地层计算了不同倾角条件下二维测线CCP道集、三维全方位CCP道集PS波动校正速度,并对由不同倾角引起的计算精度差异进行了研究。研究结果表明,对于二维转换波CCP道集,界面倾角不同,动校拉平的速度会差别较大,即使如此也总能实现很大倾角范围内的CCP道集的同相叠加,获得较好的成像质量;对于三维全方位CCP道集,当界面倾角超过一定范围,无论怎样进行精细扫描,得到的都只能是适合特定方位的速度,无法得到适合任意方位的动校扫描速度,随着界面倾角的减小,利用速度扫描的办法可以在一定的偏移距范围内将来自不同方位的记录较平,界面倾角越小,可以校平的偏移距越大;另外由于道集内的地震记录依赖视倾角的动校正速度,在反射界面倾斜的情况下,方位不同,动校正速度不同,致使二维反射PS波资料往往比三维反射PS波资料容易叠加成像。     

高位钻场长钻孔在淮南刘庄煤矿瓦斯抽采中的应用

刘庄煤矿东二采区121102工作面所开采的11-2煤层为非突出煤层,但在工作面回采期间,存在瓦斯突出的可能。为防止工作回风巷尤其是上隅角瓦斯超限,确保工作面的正常生产,同时兼顾瓦斯资源的抽采利用,施工了最大长度496m,钻孔直径133mm的瓦斯抽采孔。实际应用表明,该孔投入使用后,整个工作面回采过程中均未发生过瓦斯超限现象,说明利用大口径长距离钻孔取代巷道抽放瓦斯是完全可行的。本文介绍的高位钻场长钻孔的设计、施工和瓦斯抽采情况,可以为今后同类工作面中长钻孔的施工提供借鉴。