Depositional environment,hydrocarbon generation and expulsion potential of the middle Permian Pingdiquan source rocks based on geochemical analyses in the eastern Junggar Basin,NW China

As the most important source rocks in the eastern Junggar Basin, the middle Permian Pingdiquan (P₂p) source rocks have attracted increasing attention after the discovery of tight oil in the Shazhang uplift. The P₂p source rocks are widely distributed (up to 7546 km²) and have an elevated thickness in the eastern Junggar Basin. To explore the P₂p tight oil resource in the eastern Junggar Basin, 113 core samples from 34 exploration wells were analysed geochemically and re-examined for their organic matter abundance, type and thermal maturity, hydrocarbon potential and sedimentary environment. Geochemical analysis results indicate that the P₂p source rocks are fair to good source rocks dominated by Type II kerogen, presently in a low mature–mature stage, and biomarkers and trace elements indicate deposition in a terrestrial to coastal environment under oxic to dysoxic, and fresh to brackish conditions, with possible intermittent seawater influence, implying proximity to the open sea. Based on hydrocarbon expulsion modelling, hydrocarbon expulsion began at 0.87% R_o, and the peak expulsion occurred at 1.1% R_o. Hydrocarbon generation intensities in the Shazhang uplift and the Wucaiwan sag are relatively large, with values centred at 4–6.5 million t/km² and 4–6 million t/km², respectively, with total hydrocarbon generation and expulsion from the P₂p source rocks approximately 4.56 × 10⁹ t and 1.44 × 10⁹ t, respectively, indicating significant tight oil exploration potential in the eastern Junggar Basin. The Shazhang uplift and the Wucaiwan sag are two hydrocarbon expulsion centres in the study area with the largest hydrocarbon expulsion intensity centred around the Shazhang uplift, exceeding 3 × 10⁶ t/km². We suggest that the area with high hydrocarbon expulsion intensities is a favourable target for tight oil accumulation and exploration.     

川西坳陷彭州地区雷四上亚段白云岩形成机理

根据岩心观察、普通薄片及铸体薄片鉴定、阴极发光显微镜观察、扫描电镜、碳氧稳定同位素测定、锶同位素测定、全岩分析、微量元素分析、X衍射分析等手段,对川西坳陷彭州地区雷口坡组四段上亚段白云岩类型及成因机理进行了详细的研究。研究区雷四上亚段白云岩晶粒细,主要由微晶-粉晶组成,细晶白云岩少见,白云石呈半自形-自形晶;δ13C同位素在-4.8‰~3‰之间,平均值为1.92‰,呈现低正值的特征;δ18O同位素在-8.1‰~0.6‰之间,平均值为-5.04‰,呈现中负值的特征;锶同位素比值较低,在0.7077~0.7087之间,二价铁离子含量较高、锰离子含量较低,具有较低的有序度和低的Mg/Ca值的特点。各种资料表明,这套展布稳定的白云岩主要为沉积成因,为潮坪相潮间-潮上带的同生-准同生白云岩,其次为埋藏白云石化成因。     

Elemental and Sr–Nd isotopic geochemistry of Permian Emeishan flood basalts in Zhaotong,Yunnan Province,SW China

International Journal of Earth Sciences - This study presents new whole-rock elemental and isotopic data for the basalts from the Zhaotong area, located in the intermediate zone of the...     

鄂尔多斯盆地宜川—黄龙地区奥陶系风化壳储层特征及主控因素研究

以岩心观察、薄片鉴定及测井资料解释为基础,结合孔隙充填物地球化学参数分析,对鄂尔多斯盆地宜川—黄龙地区奥陶系上组合风化壳储层特征及储层发育主控因素进行了研究。储层岩性主要为白云岩类及次生灰岩。储集空间以硬石膏结核溶模孔为主,溶蚀孔洞、晶间孔次之,裂缝对储层储渗性能具有一定的改善作用。储层具有低孔、低渗特征,孔隙度2%的居多(占73.8%),渗透率0.01×10~(-3)μm~2的最多(占86.6%)。储层发育主要受沉积相和成岩作用控制:处于相对高能环境的砂屑滩、(含)硬石膏结核白云岩坪是优质储层发育的有利相带;岩溶作用及白云石化作用是主要的建设性成岩作用,与之伴生的充填作用、压实作用及次生灰化作用是主要的破坏性成岩作用。     

An irregular triangle mesh buffer analysis method for boundary representation geological object in three-dimension

Three-dimensional (3D) buffer analysis is a basic function of spatial analysis used widely in 3D Geographic Information Systems (3DGIS). Current buffer analysis methods for spatial points and curves generally function well. One exception is buffer zone of surface. Previous researchers in this field have used voxel models to overcome this limitation; however, defects with voxel model buffer analysis include redundancies, approximations, and poor visualization characteristics. In this contribution, a surface buffer analysis method is presented for the boundary representation of geological objects. Exact geometric representation is achieved via the construction of irregular triangle meshes in 3D. The results can be used for 3D structural modeling and then form the basis for spatial analysis or model-based quantitative assessment in mineral potential mapping and resource evaluation. Three comparisons between existing voxel methods and our new method, evaluating visualization, precision and redundancy, are conducted. The comparisons show that our proposed method is robust and provides a higher quality output than voxel modeling. Finally, uncertainty analysis of buffer distance in different geological objects was discussed.     

Theoretical analysis of the secondary development of mining-induced surface cracks in the Ordos region

Prior studies have indicated that mining-induced surface dynamic cracks in eastern China only undergo one “expanding-closure” development cycle. However, field measurements from the Bulianta mines of northwestern China demonstrated that ground dynamic cracks in the Ordos region went through two “expanding-closure” cycle. Using in situ measurement data and theoretical analysis, we find that the strata control theory cannot reasonably explain this special phenomenon. In this paper, we propose a novel explanation from the perspective of soil mechanics. A comparison of two field examples in eastern and northwestern China demonstrates that our theoretical explanation is in agreement with in situ observations and therefore is a reasonable interpretation for the secondary development of ground dynamic cracks in the Bulianta mines. This study provides a theoretical basis for the mechanism of mining-induced ground dynamic cracks.     

The influence of the corrosion product layer generated on the high strength low-alloy steels welded by underwater wet welding with stainless steel electrodes in seawater

The high strength low-alloy steels are welded by underwater wet welding with stainless steel electrodes. The micro-structural and electrochemical corrosion study of base metal (BM), weld zone (WZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ) are carried out to understand the influence of the corrosion product layer generated on the high strength low-alloy steels welded by underwater wet welding with stainless steel electrodes, methods used including, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicate that the WZ acts as a cathode and there is no corrosion product on it throughout the immersion period in seawater. The HAZ and BM acts as anodes. The corrosion rates of the HAZ and BM change with the immersion time increasing. In the initial immersion period, the HAZ has the highest corrosion rate because it has a coarse tempered martensite structure and the BM exhibites a microstructure with very fine grains of ferrite and pearlite. After a period of immersion, the BM has the highest corrosion rate. The reason is that the corrosion product layer on the HAZ is dense and has a better protective property while that on the BM is loose and can not inhibit the diffusion of oxygen.     

Organic carbon losses by eroded sediments from sloping vegetable fields in South China

Soil Organic Carbon(SOC) is the most important component of soil. Though small, it determines soil fertility and prevents soil losses. In this study, we examined relationships between the Particle–Size Distribution(PSD) of the eroded sediment and SOC loss, and evaluated the effects of plant coverage ratios(0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60% and 90%), slope lengths(2 m, 4 m), fertilizer treatments(unfertilized control(CK), compound N–P–K fertilizer(CF), and organic fertilizer(OF)) on SOC loss and the SOC enrichment ratio(ERSOC) in the eroded sediments. The experimental results showed that longer slope length and lower surface cover ratios produced larger surface runoff and the eroded sediments, resulting in larger SOC losses. The average SOC loss was greatest in the OF treatment and SOC loss was mainly associated with the eroded sediment. Surface runoff, which causes soil erosion, is a selective transportation process, hence there were more claysized particles(2 μm) and silt-sized particles(2-50 μm) in the eroded sediments than in the original soils. SOC was enriched in the eroded sediments relative to in the original soil when ERSOC 1. ERSOC was positively correlated with ER_(clay)(2 μm)(R~2 = 0.68) and ERfine silt(2–20 μm)(R~2 = 0.63), and from all thesize particle categories of the original soil or the eroded sediments, more than 95% of SOC was concentrated in small-sized particles(50 μm). The distribution of SOC in different-sized particles of the original soil and the eroded sediment is primarily associated with clay-sized particles and fine silt-sized particles, thus we conclude that as the eroded sediment particles became finer, more SOC was absorbed, resulting in more severe SOC loss.     

Influence of climate variability and human activities on stream flow variation in the past 50 years in Taoer River,Northeast China

Taoer River Basin, which is located in the west of Northeast China, is an agropastoral ecotone. In recent years, the hydrological cycle and water resources have changed significantly with the deterioration of the environment. Many water problems such as river blanking, wetland shrinking and salinization have occurred in this region. All of these phenomena were directly caused by changes in stream flow under climate variability and human activities. In light of the situation, the impact of climate variability and human activities on stream flow should be identified immediately to identify the primary driving factors of basin hydrological processes. To achieve this, statistical tests were applied to identify trends in variation and catastrophe points in mean annual stream flow from 1961 to 2011. A runoff sensitive coefficients method and a SIMHYD model were applied to assess the impacts of stream flow variation. The following conclusions were found: 1) The years 1985 and 2000 were confirmed to be catastrophe points in the stream flow series. Thus, the study period could be divided into three periods, from 1961 to 1985 (Period I), 1986 to 2000 (Period II) and 2001 to 2011 (Period III). 2) Mean annual observed stream flow was 31.54 mm in Period I, then increased to 65.60 mm in Period II and decreased to 2.92 mm in Period III. 3) Using runoff sensitive coefficients, the contribution of climate variability was 41.93% and 43.14% of the increase in stream flow during Periods II and III, suggesting that the contribution of human activities to the increase was 58.07% and 56.86%, respectively. 4) Climate variability accounted for 42.57% and 44.30% of the decrease in stream flow, while human activities accounted for 57.43% and 55.70% of the decrease, according to the SIMHYD model. 5) In comparison of these two methods, the primary driving factors of stream flow variation could be considered to be human activities, which contributed about 15% more than climate variability. It is hoped that these conclusions will benefit future regional planning and sustainable development.     

地质年代第四纪界线被重新划定

据《第四纪科学杂志》（Journalof Quaternary Science）报道,在经历了数十年的争论和为期4年的研究之后,一个由地球科学家组成的国际权威机构最终正式认定将史前第四纪的起始界线前移80万年。这一决议是由国际地层委员会（ICS）做出的,该委员会正式宣布了第四纪的起始时间,