Elemental characteristics of lacustrine oil shale and its controlling factors of palaeo-sedimentary environment on oil yield: a case from Chang 7 oil layer of Triassic Yanchang Formation in southern Ordos Basin

As an important unconventional resource, oil shale has received widespread attention. The oil shale of the Chang 7 oil layer from Triassic Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin represents the typical lacustrine oil shale in China. Based on analyzing trace elements and oil yield from boreholes samples, characteristics and paleo-sedimentary environments of oil shale and relationship between paleo-sedimentary environment and oil yield were studied. With favorable quality, oil yield of oil shale varies from 1.4% to 9.1%. Geochemical data indicate that the paleo-redox condition of oil shale’s reducing condition from analyses of V/Cr, V/(V + Ni), U/Th, δU, and authigenic uranium. Equivalent Boron, Sp, and Sr/Ba illustrate that paleosalinity of oil shale is dominated by fresh water. The paleoclimate of oil shale is warm and humid by calculating the chemical index of alteration and Sr/Cu. Fe/Ti and (Fe + Mn)/Ti all explain that there were hot water activities during the sedimentary period of oil shale. In terms of Zr/Rb, paleohydrodynamics of oil shale is weak. By means of Co abundance and U/Th, paleo-water-depth of oil shale is from 17.30 to 157.26 m, reflecting sedimentary environment which is mainly in semi deep–deep lake facies. Correlation analyses between oil yield and six paleoenvironmental factors show that the oil yield of oil shale is mainly controlled by paleo-redox conditions, paleoclimate, hot water activities, and depth of water. Paleosalinity and paleohydrodynamics have an inconspicuous influence on oil yield.     

乌尉高速公路边坡稳定性综合评价

针对乌尉(乌鲁木齐至尉犁)高速公路地处高寒、高海拔、高地震烈度区,地质环境条件复杂的特点,提出一种基于多判据的边坡稳定性模糊综合评价方法。首先,分析研究三高地区公路沿线工程地质条件、边坡岩体结构特征及其变形破坏模式。在此基础上,以TSMR评价体系为框架,考虑地震荷载对边坡稳定性的影响,引入地震作用影响系数β,建立了适用于“三高”地区公路边坡岩体质量分级体系THRSMR;基于边坡可靠性分析理论,归纳总结Monte Carlo法的操作步骤,并借助GEO-SLOPE软件,给出各研究边坡的可靠度指标与失效概率;最后,将定性评价、极限平衡分析、可靠度分析和数值计算的结果分别作为基础指标,采用模糊综合评价方法对每一边坡的边坡稳定性,给出进一步量化结论。其结果对类似地区高速公路边坡稳定性评价具有一定的参考价值。     

Study on the deformation and failure modes of filling slope in loess filling engineering: a case study at a loess mountain airport

Lvliang airport is a typical loess filling engineering located in 20.5 km north of Lvliang City in Shanxi Province, China. By the end of March 2012, 14 fissures extending more than 7.5 m were observed in a loess-filled slope, of which the longest fissure is up to 82 m. Field monitoring and laboratory tests have been performed to investigate the slope failure modes. The test program includes wetting tests on unsaturated compacted samples and stress path tests on saturated samples. Field monitoring and observations show that differential settlement caused by non-homogeneity in compacted loess density might lead to the formation of fissures in the loess-filled slope. It was founded that the wetting deformation contributed to the development of differential settlement. Fissures are the essential factor for the loess-filled slope failure. Four deformation stages exhibit in the loess-filled slope prior final failure including development of the fissures, softening of the compacted loess, creeping of the slope leading edge and fissuring of the trailing edge and formation of the through-sliding surface. Development of the sliding surface mainly includes upward and downward expansion of the fissures. Upward expansion is a wetting failure process in loading condition, while downward expansion is a load-off wetting process. In addition, development of the sliding surface is accelerated by softening of the compacted soils as a result of water infiltration. Therefore, the key for taking countermeasures against filling landslides is to monitor and control the development of differential settlement and fissures in the slope shoulders. Digging out and extra-filling the fissures are an effective way for preventing these landslides.     

Transport behavior of nZnO in geosynthetic clay liner used in municipal solid waste landfills under temperature effect

The transport process of nZnO in geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), an anti-seepage material used in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, under different seepage temperature conditions was conducted. The transport behavior of nZnO in GCL was analyzed. Results showed that the retardation performance of current GCL used in MSW landfills anti-seepage system against nZnO pollutants was poor. nZnO successfully permeated the GCL and entered external soil–groundwater environment, posing health threats to the life of organisms. Although seepage temperature exerted a small effect on nZnO suspension leakage volume, change in seepage temperature affects the mass of transported nZnO in GCL by redispersion of nZnO in suspension. As the seepage temperature increases, the mass of nZnO that permeated the GCL increases, reaching a maximum at 50 °C, and then decreases.     

Heavy metals status,transport mechanisms,sources, and factors affecting their mobility in Chinese agricultural soils

Heavy metals are the focus of much interest because of their environmental persistence, toxicity, and mobility in soils. Some of the Chinese soils have been contaminated with heavy metals due to expansion of mining industries, pesticides usage, and other anthropological activities, which made the agro-ecosystem to become contaminated. The objective of this review is to illuminate the current pollution status, sources of heavy metals, transport mechanisms, and the factors affecting their mobility in Chinese soils. The additional studies in the future will present on source identification and the heavy metal transport characteristics in soil.     

An experimental investigation into the compaction characteristic of granulated gangue backfilling materials modified with binders

Solid backfill mining has apparent technical advantages in extracting coal resource under sensitive surface structures such as buildings and roads; meanwhile, as an effective method of disposing mining wastes, it works well in solving some environmental problems caused by mining activities. In addition, the controlling effect of solid backfill mining is directly related to the compaction characteristic of backfilling materials. The present study aims to modify the backfilling materials by assessing the effect of binders (cement, fly ash, and lime) on the compaction characteristic of granulated gangue backfilling materials. The compaction test was performed with rock mechanic test system equipped with a self-made circular cylinder apparatus. From the results obtained, cement is not the suitable binder for modifying the gangues backfilling materials, while fly ash or lime, when the dosage is up to 20 wt%, is beneficial to the compaction characteristic of backfilling materials. The relationship between strain behavior and micro-structure of backfilling materials was investigated by SEM and the effect of fly ash or lime on the strain behavior of backfilling materials could be associated with its cementation and gap-filling effect.     

Mechanical behavior and micro-structure of cement kiln dust-stabilized expensive soil

In this study, the effects of cement kiln dust (CKD) on the swelling properties, strength properties, and microstructures of CKD-stabilized expansive soil were investigated. Samples were prepared and stabilized with different CKD content ratios, ranging from 0 to 18% by dry mass. The results obtained show that the maximum swelling pressures decrease exponentially with increases in CKD content. Both the cohesion and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) increase at ratios below 10% CKD and then decrease slightly, above that ratio. CKD can also improve the strength of saturated, expansive soil. There is no visible change of UCS for soil without CKD when cured, while the UCS of a sample with 10% CKD content after curing for 90 days is higher than that after curing for only 1 day. This indicates that CKD can improve the long-term strength of expansive soil. Finally, microstructure analysis reveals that the addition of CKD reduces the montmorillonite content of expansive soil and decreases its swelling properties. The addition of CKD also changes the pore volume distribution, both the size and amount of macro-pores and micro-pores decrease with increase in CKD content. For saturated samples, the size of macro-pores is obviously reduced, while that of micro-pores is slightly increased for both treated and untreated soils. Hydration and saturation processes make the soil structure become dispersive which results in a lower strength, and adding CKD can restrain this process. The suggested optimal CKD content is between 10 and 14% and with a curing time of more than 27 days.     

Research on mining-induced deformation and stress,insights from physical modeling and theoretical analysis

The dynamic change of mining-induced stress is the main reason for large deformation of surrounding rock. To investigate the influence of mining-induced stress and deformation is important for appropriate supportive design. It also helps to raise the safety and productivity of longwall mining operations. In this paper, Weijiagou Coal Mine in Southwest China was selected as the case study. In order to research on the deformation and breakage of overlying strata, physical modeling test was carried out on the self-developed rotatable physical similar test system. By using digital image correlation (DIC) technique, the deformation of strata and development of cracks in the process of coal seam excavation were acquired, meanwhile, mining-induced stress was also monitored by pressure cell and strainmeter. According to the mechanical structure of stope, the height of the destressed zone has a significant influence on stress distribution. In order to minimize the discrepancy between the physical model test and theoretical analysis, the dimension of the plastic zone of roadway was added into the mining panel width, and the gap between the experimental and theoretical results reduced.     

湘西-黔东下寒武统清虚洞组藻灰岩沉积特征及其找矿意义

铅锌矿是湘西-黔东地区的优势矿种,资源丰富,开发历史悠久,找矿潜力巨大。综合分析前人有关湘西-黔东生物礁的资料,介绍了藻灰岩的沉积特征,并结合大量实际地质资料,对藻灰岩控矿进行了论述。结果表明: 成矿物质主要来源于藻类及碳酸盐泥对Pb²⁺、Zn²⁺离子的吸取,矿床成因属于沉积成岩矿床类型,兼有成岩期后矿床性质; 藻礁灰岩与不同岩性的接合部位及其附近等微地球化学障区,往往就是铅锌富矿体产出部位; 藻礁灰岩与礁间通道的薄层泥质白云质灰岩呈指状交叉接触处,也常有铅锌富矿体产出; 铅锌富矿体基本上产于清虚洞组灰岩段中,且明显受该段藻礁灰岩控制。为满足国内外对铅锌矿日益增长的消费需要,深入研究区内铅锌矿的地层岩相岩石控矿因素及其富集规律,指导该地区藻灰岩中铅锌矿找矿工作,具有重要的现实意义。