Graphitization of carbonaceous matter during metamorphism with references to carbonate and pelitic rocks of contact and regional metamorphisms,Japan

This study is an attempt to correlate the graphitization process of carbonaceous matter during metamorphism with metamorphic grade. Graphitization can be parameterized using crystal structure and chemical and isotopic compositions. The extent of graphitization could be characterized mainly by temperature, duration of metamorphism and rock composition. We compared the graphitization trends for two metamorphic terrains, a contact aureole of the Kasuga area and a regional metamorphic terrain of high-temperature/low pressure type of the Ryoke metamorphic terrain in Northern Kiso area, Central Japan, and for two different lithologies (carbonate and pelite), using X-ray diffractogram, DTA-TG analysis, and chemical and stable isotope analyses. During contact metamorphism, graphitization and carbon isotopic exchange reactions proceeded simultaneously in pelitic and carbonate rocks. The decreases in basal spacing d(002) of the carbonaceous matter in carbonate rocks is greatly accelerated at temperatures higher than about 400° C. Furthermore, carbon isotopic ratios of graphite in carbonate rocks also change to ¹³C-enriched values implying exchange with carbonates. The beginning of this enrichment of ¹³C in the carbonaceous matter coincides with an abrupt increase of the graphitization processes. Carbon isotopic shifting up to 5 in pelites could be observed as metamorphic temperature increased probably by about 400° C. Carbonaceous matter in pelitic rocks is sometimes a mixture of poorly crystallized organic matter and well-crystallized graphite detritus. DTA-TG analysis is an effective tool for the distinction of detrital graphitic material. Two sources for the original carbon isotopic composition of carbonaceous matter in pelites in the Kasuga contact aureole can be distinguished, about-28 and-24 regardless of the presence of detrital graphite, and were mainly controlled by depositional environment of the sediments. Graphitization in limestones and pelitic rocks in regional metamorphism proceeds further than in a contact aureole. In the low-temperature range, the differences in extent of graphitization between the two metamorphic regions is large. However, at temperatures higher than 600° C, the extent of graphitization in both regions is indistinguishable. The degree of graphitization is different in limestones and pelitic rocks from the Ryoke metamorphic terrain. We demonstrate that the graphitization involves a progressive re-construction process of the crystal structure. The sequence of the first appearance of crystal inter planar spacing correlates with the metamorphic grade and indicates the crystal growth of three-dimensional structured graphite.     

Mechanisms of the transformations between the α, β and γ polymorphs of Mg2SiO4 at 15 GPa

Data on the mechanisms of mantle phase transformations have come primarily from studies of analogue systems reacted experimentally at low pressures. In order to study transformation mechanisms in Mg₂SiO₄ at mantle pressures, forsterite () has been reacted in the stability field of -phase, at 15 GPa and temperatures up to 900° C, using a multianvil split-sphere apparatus. Transmission electron microscope studies of samples reacted for times ranging from 0.25–5.0 h show that forsterite transforms to -phase by an incoherent nucleation and growth mechanism involving nucleation on olivine grain boundaries. This mechanism and the resultant microstructures are very similar to those observed at much lower pressures in analogue systems (Mg₂GeO₄ and Ni₂SiO₄) as the result of the olivine to spinel () transformation. Metastable spinel () also forms from Mg₂SiO₄ olivine at 15 GPa, in addition to -phase, by the incoherent nucleation and growth mechanism. With time, the spinel progressively transforms to the stable -phase. After 1 h, spinels exhibit a highly striated microstructure along {110} and electron diffraction patterns show streaking parallel to [110] which indicates a high degree of structural disorder. High resolution imaging shows that the streaking results from thin lamellae of -phase intergrown with the spinel. The two phases have the orientation relationship [001]//[001] and [010]//[110] so that the quasi cubic-close-packed oxygen sublattices are continuous between both phases. These microstructures are similar to those observed in shocked meteorites and show that spinel transforms to -phase by a martensitic (shear) mechanism. There is also evidence that the mechanism changes to one involving diffusion-controlled growth at conditions close to equilibrium.     

Review: Deep groundwater research with focus on Germany

While research focuses mainly on the intensively used shallower aquifers, only a little research has addressed groundwater movement in deeper aquifers. This is mainly because of the negligible relevance of deep groundwater for daily usage and the great efforts and high costs associated with its access. In the last few decades, the discussion about deep geological final repositories for radioactive waste has generated strong demand for the investigation and characterization of deep-lying aquifers. Other utilizations of the deeper underground have been added to the discussion: the use of geothermal energy, potential CO₂ storage, and sources of potable water as an alternative to the geogenic or anthropogenic contaminated shallow aquifers. As a consequence, the fast growing requirement for knowledge and understanding of these dynamic systems has spurred the research on deep groundwater systems and accordingly the development of suitable test methods, which currently show considerable limitations. This review provides an overview of the history of deep groundwater research. Deep groundwater flow and research in the main hydrogeological units is presented based on six projects and the methods used. The study focuses on Germany and two other locations in Europe.     

Analytical and numerical solutions on the response of pore pressure to cyclic atmospheric loading: with application to Horonobe underground research laboratory,Japan

During the long-term stability assessment of underground disposal repositories buried in sedimentary formations, one of crucial scientific problems is to determine parameters of site formations. The analysis of response of the pore pressure due to atmospheric loading provides a possible way of accurate estimation of formation parameters. In this paper, an analytical solution of response of the pore pressure to atmospheric loading was derived starting from the Biot’s poroelasticity, and its corresponding numerical solutions were developed by finite element methods for 1D and 2D situations. With comparison to the analytical solution, the experimental results show that the numerical schemes sound reasonable to implement the assessment of response of the pore pressure in horizontal multilayer sedimentary formations. In particular, it is effective for a 2D model over large area with consideration of background horizontal groundwater flow. A highlight of this work is to construct a reasonable approach to capture responses of the pore pressure to atmospheric loading, and at the same time to provide the feasibility of integrated analysis of well monitoring data of pore pressure variance in Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory (URL), Hokkaido, Japan.     

Study of polluted soil remediation based on freezing and thawing cycles

It is generally known that soil pollution poses a terrible hazard to the environment, but the present techniques of contaminated soil remediation cannot control this growing threat. This paper compares the pollutant extraction efficiency of traditional pumping and treating, which is a typical washing technology for the remediation of contaminated soils, with methods that utilize freeze-thaw cycles. In the soil freezing process, water shifts from unfrozen soils to the freezing front, and the permeability of soil will be enhanced under certain temperature gradients and water conditions. Therefore, this paper discusses the purification of contaminated soil through freeze-thaw action. We conducted a cleansing experiment on clay and silica sand infused with NaCl（simulation of heavy metals） and found that the efficiency of purification was enhanced remarkably in the latter by the freeze-thaw action. To assess the effective extraction of DNAPLs in soil, we conducted an experiment on suction by freezing, predicated on the different freezing points of moisture and pollutants. We found that the permeability coefficient was significantly increased by the freezing-thawing action, enabling the DNAPL contaminants to be extracted selectively and effectively.     

考虑系统柔度影响的水压致裂法测量深部岩石应力

为了有效测量水压致裂方法中的重张压力,必须使用具有足够小柔度的试验设备,否则无法从重张压力估计垂直钻孔平面的最大水平应力.仅通过替换水压致裂系统中的某一部件来大幅度降低系统柔度是很难的.但如果流量计尽可能安装在靠近跨接式封隔器隔离出的钻孔测试区.那么系统柔度就会大大降低.为此,我们研制出配有井下流量计的试验系统,并在野...     

Compressibility of strontium orthophosphate Sr<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> at high pressure

High pressure in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment of strontium orthophosphate Sr₃(PO₄)₂ has been carried out to 20.0 GPa at room temperature using multianvil apparatus. Fitting a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state to the P–V data yields a volume of V ₀ = 498.0 ± 0.1 Å³, an isothermal bulk modulus of K _T  = 89.5 ± 1.7 GPa, and first pressure derivative of K _T ′ = 6.57 ± 0.34. If K _T ′ is fixed at 4, K _T is obtained as 104.4 ± 1.2 GPa. Analysis of axial compressible modulus shows that the a-axis (K _a  = 79.6 ± 3.2 GPa) is more compressible than the c-axis (K _c  = 116.4 ± 4.3 GPa). Based on the high pressure Raman spectroscopic results, the mode Grüneisen parameters are determined and the average mode Grüneisen parameter of PO₄ vibrations of Sr₃(PO₄)₂ is calculated to be 0.30(2).     

Was the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake preceded by aseismic preslip? Examination of seafloor vertical deformation data near the epicenter

Ocean-bottom pressure records obtained near the epicenter of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake were examined to test whether the earthquake was preceded by substantial precursory crustal deformation. The seafloor data enabled us to search for small-scale preslip near the epicenter that would be difficult to identify from terrestrial geodetic data. After treating the data to reduce nontectonic fluctuations, we obtained a time series of seafloor vertical deformation in the epicentral region with a noise level of 2–4 cm. No significant crustal deformation related to preslip was detected in the period of roughly a day before the mainshock, whereas postseismic deformation associated with the largest foreshock 2 days before the mainshock was apparent. From our quantitative estimate of the sensitivity of the seafloor network in detecting slip on the plate interface, we conclude that the Tohoku-Oki earthquake was not preceded by preslip with moment release greater than moment magnitude (Mw) 6.2 in the vicinity of the hypocenter or greater than Mw 6.0 along the subduction interface near the trench.