Regional groundwater flow and geochemical evolution in the Amacuzac River Basin,Mexico

An approach is presented to investigate the regional evolution of groundwater in the basin of the Amacuzac River in Central Mexico. The approach is based on groundwater flow cross-sectional modeling in combination with major ion chemistry and geochemical modeling, complemented with principal component and cluster analyses. The hydrogeologic units composing the basin, which combine aquifers and aquitards both in granular, fractured and karstic rocks, were represented in sections parallel to the regional groundwater flow. Steady-state cross-section numerical simulations aided in the conceptualization of the groundwater flow system through the basin and permitted estimation of bulk hydraulic conductivity values, recharge rates and residence times. Forty-five water locations (springs, groundwater wells and rivers) were sampled throughout the basin for chemical analysis of major ions. The modeled gravity-driven groundwater flow system satisfactorily reproduced field observations, whereas the main geochemical processes of groundwater in the basin are associated to the order and reactions in which the igneous and sedimentary rocks are encountered along the groundwater flow. Recharge water in the volcanic and volcano-sedimentary aquifers increases the concentration of HCO₃ ^–, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ from dissolution of plagioclase and olivine. Deeper groundwater flow encounters carbonate rocks, under closed CO₂ conditions, and dissolves calcite and dolomite. When groundwater encounters gypsum lenses in the shallow Balsas Group or the deeper Huitzuco anhydrite, gypsum dissolution produces proportional increased concentration of Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ^2–; two samples reflected the influence of hydrothermal fluids and probably halite dissolution. These geochemical trends are consistent with the principal component and cluster analyses.     

Organic complexation and its control of the dissolved concentrations of copper and zinc in the Scheldt estuary

Cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) is used to determine total (after UV-irradiation) and labile dissolved metal concentrations as well as complexing ligand concentrations in samples from the river Scheldt estuary. It was found that even at high added concentrations of catechol (1 m for copper and 0·4 m for iron) and of APDC (1 m for zinc) only part of the dissolved metal was labile (5–58% for copper, 34–69% for zinc, 10–38% for iron); this discrepancy could be explained by the low solubility of iron which is largely present as colloidal material, and by competition for dissolved copper and zinc by organic complexing ligands. Ligand concentrations varied between 28 and 206 n for copper and between 22 and 220 n for zinc; part of the copper complexing ligands could be sub-divided into strong complexing sites with concentrations between 23 and 121 n and weaker sites with concentrations between 44 and 131 n . Values for conditional stability constants varied between (logK′ values) 13·0 and 14·8 for strong and between 11·5 and 12·1 for weaker copper complexing ligands, whereas for zinc the values were between 8·6 and 10·6. The average products of ligand concentrations and conditional stability constants (a-coefficients) were 6 × 10² for zinc and 6 × 10⁶ for copper.The dissolved zinc concentration was found to co-vary with the zinc complexing ligand concentration throughout the estuary. It is argued that the zinc concentration is regulated, in this estuary at least, by interactions with dissolved organic complexing ligands. A similar relationship was apparent between the dissolved copper and the strong copper complexing ligand concentration. The total copper complexing ligand concentrations were much greater than the dissolved copper concentrations, suggesting that only strongly complexed copper is kept in solution.These results provide evidence for the first time that interactions of copper and zinc with dissolved organic complexing ligands determine the geochemical pathway of these metals.     

Kinematic internal forces in deep foundations with inclined piles

This paper presents a parametric study that looks into the influence of pile rake angle on the kinematic internal forces of deep foundations with inclined piles. Envelopes of maximum kinematic bending moments, shear forces and axial loads are presented along single inclined piles and 2 × 2 symmetrical square pile groups with inclined elements subjected to an earthquake generated by vertically incident shear waves. Inclination angles from 0° to 30° are considered, and three different pile–soil stiffness ratios are studied. These results are obtained through a frequency–domain analysis using a boundary element–finite element code in which the soil is modelled by the boundary element method as a homogeneous, viscoelastic, unbounded region, and the piles are modelled by finite elements as Euler–Bernoulli beams. The rotational kinematic response of the pile foundations is shown to be a key factor on the evolution of the kinematic internal forces along the foundations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tidal friction in close-in satellites and exoplanets: The Darwin theory re-visited

This report is a review of Darwin’s classical theory of bodily tides in which we present the analytical expressions for the orbital and rotational evolution of the bodies and for the energy dissipation rates due to their tidal interaction. General formulas are given which do not depend on any assumption linking the tidal lags to the frequencies of the corresponding tidal waves (except that equal frequency harmonics are assumed to span equal lags). Emphasis is given to the cases of companions having reached one of the two possible final states: (1) the super-synchronous stationary rotation resulting from the vanishing of the average tidal torque; (2) capture into the 1:1 spin-orbit resonance (true synchronization). In these cases, the energy dissipation is controlled by the tidal harmonic with period equal to the orbital period (instead of the semi-diurnal tide) and the singularity due to the vanishing of the geometric phase lag does not exist. It is also shown that the true synchronization with non-zero eccentricity is only possible if an extra torque exists opposite to the tidal torque. The theory is developed assuming that this additional torque is produced by an equatorial permanent asymmetry in the companion. The results are model-dependent and the theory is developed only to the second degree in eccentricity and inclination (obliquity). It can easily be extended to higher orders, but formal accuracy will not be a real improvement as long as the physics of the processes leading to tidal lags is not better known.     

Fracture hydraulic conductivity in the Mexico City clayey aquitard: Field piezometer rising-head tests

A regional lacustrine aquitard covers the main aquifer of the metropolitan area of Mexico City. The aquitards hydraulic conductivity (K) is fundamental for evaluating the natural protection of the aquifer against a variety of contaminants present on the surface and its hydraulic response. This study analyzes the distribution and variation of K in the plains of Chalco, Texcoco and Mexico City (three of the six former lakes that existed in the Basin of Mexico), on the basis of 225 field-permeability tests, in nests of existing piezometers located at depths of 2–85 m. Tests were interpreted using the Hvorslev method and some by the Bouwer-Rice method. Results indicate that the distribution of K fits log-Gaussian regression models. Dominant frequencies for K in the Chalco and Texcoco plains range between 1E–09 and 1E–08 m/s, with similar population means of 1.19E–09 and 1.7E–09 m/s, respectively, which are one to two orders of magnitude higher than the matrix conductivity. In the Mexico City Plain the population mean is near by one order of magnitude lower; K=2.6E–10 m/s. The contrast between the measured K and that of the matrix is attributed to the presence of fractures in the upper 25–40 m, which is consistent with the findings of previous studies on solute migration in the aquitard.

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Resumen El acuífero principal del Área Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México está recubierto por un acuitardo regional lacustre, cuya conductividad hidráulica es fundamental para evaluar la protección natural de las aguas subterráneas contra los contaminantes presentes en superficie y su respuesta hidráulica. Este estudio analiza la distribución y variación de dicha conductividad en las llanuras de Chalco, Texcoco y Ciudad de México (tres de los seis lagos que existían al principio en la Cuenca de México) a partir de 225 ensayos de campo en piezómetros múltiples existentes, ubicados entre 2 y 85 m de profundidad. La interpretación de los ensayos se ha realizado mediante el método de Hvorslev y—algunos—el de Bouwer-Rice. Los resultados indican que la distribución de la conductividad se ajusta a modelos de regresión lognormales. Las frecuencias dominantes en las Llanuras de Chalco y Texoco están comprendidas entre 1^–9 y 10^–8 m/s, con medias de población similares de 1.19×10^–9 y 1.70×10^–9 m/s, respectivamente, que son dos órdenes de magnitud mayores que el valor de la matriz. En el Llano de México, la media es casi un orden de magnitud inferior (2.60×10^–10 m/s). Se atribuye este contraste entre la conductividad hidráulica medida y la de la matriz a la presencia de fracturas en el tramo superior situado entre 25 y 40 m, cosa que es coherente con estudios previos de migración de solutos en el acuitardo.

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Résumé Un imperméable régional dorigine lacustre recouvre le principal aquifère de la zone urbaine de la ville de Mexico. La conductivité hydraulique K de cet imperméable est fondamentale pour évaluer la protection naturelle de laquifère, contre les différents contaminants présents en surface, et sa réponse hydraulique. Cette étude analyse et les variations de K dans les plaines de Chalco, Texcoco et Mexico (trois des six anciens lacs qui existaient dans le Bassin de Mexico), sur la base de 225 essais de perméabilité sur le terrain, réalisés en grappes dans des piézomètres existants entre 2 et 85 m de profondeur. Les essais ont été interprétés avec la méthode de Hvorslev et certains avec la méthode de Bouwer-Rice. Les résultats indiquent que la distribution de K sajuste à des modèles de régression log-gaussiens. Les valeurs de K les plus fréquentes dans les plaines de Chalco et de Texcoco sont entre 1E–09 et 1E–08 m/s, avec des moyennes similaires de 1.19E–09 et 1.7E–09 m/s respectivement, qui sont dun ou deux ordres de grandeurs supérieures à la conductivité de la matrice. Dans la plaine de Mexico, la moyenne est proche dun ordre de grandeur en moins, avec 2.6E–10 m/s. Ce contraste entre le K mesuré et celui de la matrice est attribué à la présence de fractures dans les 25–40 m supérieurs, ce qui est en accord avec les études précédentes sur la migration de solutés au travers de limperméable.

     

Rapid characterisation of the extremely large landslide threatening the Rules Reservoir (Southern Spain)

Landslides - When an active landslide is first identified in an artificial reservoir, a comprehensive study has to be quickly conducted to analyse the possible hazard that it may represent to such...     

A computational chemical study of penetration and displacement of water films near mineral surfaces

A series of molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on organic–water mixtures near mineral surfaces. These simulations show that, in contrast to apolar compounds, small polar organic compounds such as phenols can penetrate through thin water films to adsorb on these mineral surfaces. Furthermore, additional simulations involving demixing of an organic–water mixture near a surfactant-covered mineral surface demonstrate that even low concentrations of adsorbed polar compounds can induce major changes in mineral surface wettability, allowing sorption of apolar molecules. This strongly supports a two-stage adsorption mechanism for organic solutes, involving initial migration of small polar organic molecules to the mineral surface followed by water film displacement due to co-adsorption of the more apolar organic compounds, thus converting an initial water-wet mineral system to an organic-covered surface. This has profound implications for studies of petroleum reservoir diagenesis and wettability changes.