Assessing groundwater storage changes in the Nubian aquifer using GRACE data

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) level two (L2) data is used in estimating the groundwater storage changes (GWSC) in the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS). This set of data consists of spherical harmonics coefficients with specific degree and order. The GRACE data is de-correlated using a sixth degree polynomial in order to reduce the effect of the noise error resulting from the correlation between the spherical harmonics coefficients with the same degree parity. The GRACE estimates of GWSC are smoothed using Gaussian filter with half width of 1000 km. This half width is chosen in order to maximize the correlation between the GRACE estimates of GWSC and previous modeling results of the NSAS. The loss in groundwater storage occurring in each of the four countries sharing the NSAS is calculated to assess the sustainability of using the NSAS as a water resource in each country. The overarching finding in this study is that NSAS is losing its groundwater storage at a very high rate. Also, it is found that Egypt is the fastest in losing its groundwater storage from the NSAS. This loss of groundwater storage in Egypt may not necessarily be resulting from in-country extractions because of the trans-boundary nature of this aquifer. The GRACE-based estimates are found to be close to available data and previous modeling results of the NSAS.     

The geochemistry of uranium occurrences and speciation in groundwater of Chinnar sub basin,South India

An attempt has been made in Chinnar sub basin of Dharmapuri district, South India to isolate the geochemistry of uranium occurrences in groundwater. The geology of the area is mainly of charnockite and granite gneiss. Groundwater samples were collected for two different seasons post and pre monsoon in two different litho units (granite gneiss and charnockite) and analysed for major, minor and uranium concentrations. Higher uranium (18.45 μg L^?1) has been recorded during pre monsoon season in granite gneiss with increasing pH. The saturation index calculation for the groundwater isolated minerals like uaraninite, coffinite, haiweeite and soddyite to be precipitating and uranium oxides like UO_2.25, UO_2.25beta, UO_2.33beta as oversaturated. The Eh-pH diagram attempted represents solubility of uraninite within the pH range of 6.0 to 8.0. The study isolate uranium in groundwater of the study area is controlled by the presence of (U₄O₉) uranium oxide.     

Structural setup of Ras Banas area,Red Sea,Egypt, as inferred from aeromagnetic data

This study deals with the evaluation of the structural setup of the Ras Banas area on the northwestern part of the Red Sea by using magnetic data. Different analyzing techniques were applied to achieve this goal including regional-residual separation, trend analysis, depth estimation, Euler deconvolution, horizontal gradient, analytic signal, and magnetic modeling. The results of these techniques were used to construct a deep-seated structural feature map.Lineament analysis indicates that the area was mainly affected by the NW, WNW, and NE tectonic trends. The magnetic modeling was performed along four profiles supported by Euler deconvolution, horizontal gradient, and analytic signal profiles. The modeled profiles show that the basement rocks composed of uplifted and down-faulted blocks at different depths as well as step-like structure. The basement rocks seem to be acidic in nature intruded by basic/ultrabasic dikes. Generally, the magnetic susceptibility ranges from 0.0003 to 0.04 cgs indicating acidic to basic/ultrabasic rock composition. The basement relief map shows an irregular basement surface, which varies greatly in depth from 1 to 5.6 km below sea level. The deep-seated structure map shows that the basement was highly affected by two main fault trends in the NW and NNE directions. The NW trending structures were intersected by younger left lateral NNE transform faults. These cross-faults dissect the area into a number of alternated and elongated blocks.     

Hydrogen sites in the dense hydrous magnesian silicate phase E: a pulsed neutron powder diffraction study

Hydrogen site positions and occupancy in the crystal structure of dense hydrous magnesium silicate (DHMS) phase E were determined for the first time by pulsed neutron powder diffraction. A fully deuterated pure phase E powder sample, which had space group \(R\overline{3} m\) and lattice parameters of a = 2.97065(8) Å and c = 13.9033(4) Å, was synthesized at 15 GPa and 1100 °C. Through quantitative evaluation of refined structure parameters obtained with sufficient spatial resolution and very high signal-to-background ratio, we conclude that the O–D dipoles in the refined phase E structure are tilted by 24° from the direction normal to the layers of edge-shared MgO₆ octahedra (octahedral layers). The tilted dipole structure of phase E is in remarkable contrast to that of brucite, Mg(OH)₂, which has dipoles exactly normal to the octahedral layer. This contrast exists because the O–Si–O bonding unique in the phase E structure connects two adjacent octahedral layers and thereby reduces the interlayer O···O distance. This shrinkage of the interlayer distance induces the tilting of the O–D dipole and also generates unique O–D···O hydrogen bonding connecting all the layers in the phase E structure.     

Geochronological and isotopic records of crustal storage and assimilation in the Wolverine Creek–Conant Creek system,Heise eruptive centre,Snake River Plain

Understanding the processes of differentiation of the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain (YSRP) rhyolites is typically impeded by the apparent lack of erupted intermediate compositions as well as the complex nature of their shallow interaction with the surrounding crust responsible for their typically low O isotopic ratios. A pair of normal-δ¹⁸O rhyolitic eruptions from the Heise eruptive centre in eastern Idaho, the Wolverine Creek Tuff and the Conant Creek Tuff, represent unique magmatic products of the Yellowstone hotspot preserving abundant vestiges of the intermediate differentiation steps leading to rhyolite generation. We address both shallow and deep processes of magma generation and storage in the two units by combining high-precision ID–TIMS U–Pb zircon geochronology, trace element, O and Hf isotopic studies of zircon, and Sr isotopic analyses of individual high-Mg# pyroxenes inherited from lower- to mid-crustal differentiation stages. The zircon geochronology confirms the derivation of both tuffs from the same rhyolitic magma reservoir erupted at 5.5941 ± 0.0097 Ma, preceded by at least 92 ± 14 ky of continuous or intermittent zircon saturation approximating the length of pre-eruptive magma accumulation in the upper crust. Some low-Mg# pyroxenes enclosing zircons predate the eruption by at least 45 ± 27 ky, illustrating the co-crystallisation of major and accessory phases in the near-liquidus rhyolitic melts of the YSRP over a significant period of time. Coeval zircon crystals are isotopically heterogeneous (two populations at εHf ~?5 and ?13), requiring the assembly of isotopically distinct melt pockets directly prior to, or during, the eruption. The primitive Mg# 60–90 pyroxenes are out of isotopic equilibrium with the host rhyolitic melt (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i = 0.70889), covering a range of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i = 0.70705–0.70883 corresponding to ratios typical of the most radiogenic YSRP basalts to the least radiogenic YSRP rhyolites. Together with the low εHf in zircon, the Sr isotopic ratios illustrate limited assimilation dominated by radiogenic Archean crustal source materials incorporated into variably evolved YSRP melts as they progress towards rhyolitic compositions by assimilation–fractional crystallisation.     

黄铁矿与沥青铀矿的共生条件及在沥青铀矿形成过程中所起作用的实验研究

高价铁与高价铀混合溶液在还原场中形成了共生的黄铁矿与沥青铀矿,该过程必须在弱酸性-中性-碱性介质中进行,其中在弱酸性至中性介质中易形成大的黄铁矿单晶。高价铀溶液流经黄铁矿矿区时,若在高温高压条件下,有新生的黄铁矿或白铁矿与沥青铀矿共生。黄铁矿还原六价铀形成沥青铀矿时,起还原作用的是二价硫。赤铁矿常与沥青铀矿共生,但它们是热液演化过程中不同阶段的产物,赤铁矿形成于体系氧逸度高的氧化环境,沥青铀矿形成于体系氧逸度低的还原环境,赤铁矿形成于沥青铀矿之前。     

东北地区的印支运动

东北地区的印支运动,一直受到地学界的关注(赵宗溥,1959;潘广,1963;黄振辉,1966),但由于缺乏三叠纪地层资料而未能作深入论述。近年来,本区三叠纪的调查研究有了重大进展,相继在东北南部发现或对比确定了早、中、晚三叠世的陆相地层(张武、董国义,1983);在东北北部,除早已报道的海相三叠系外,又发现早、晚三叠世的陆相堆积层和火山岩建造(长春地质学院等,1977;吴水波等,1980;陈巫基等,1981)¹⁾。     

自然与人类活动叠加影响下晋祠泉域岩溶地下水动态特征

为了查明山西省晋祠泉泉水断流、泉口水位下降及近年来泉口水位回升的原因,为泉水复流工作提供理论参考,以长系列气象、水文、开采量、泉流量、地下水位等资料为基础,在详细分析了晋祠泉域不同水动力分区年内、年际动态特征的基础上,从自然气候与人类活动两方面出发,阐述了不同历史时期晋祠泉域岩溶水位变化的影响因素。结果表明：1956-1994年,因20世纪80、90年代人工开采量达到历史高峰期,一度超过2.4 m³/s,且80年代以后我国北方干旱化发展趋势较为严重,晋祠泉水流量逐渐减小直至断流;1994-2008年,人工开采量虽有一定程度减少,但仍维持在2.0 m³/s左右,且恰逢连续枯水年,降水量、河流径流量较多年平均值分别减小了11%和27%,此阶段泉口水位快速下降至历史最低值;2008年以后进入相对丰水期,在采取多项措施减少泉域岩溶水开采量的同时,汾河二库蓄水水位逐步抬高,其对岩溶水的渗漏补给量在经历了约2 a的滞后期后到达泉域排泄区,晋祠泉口水位近年来逐步回升。     

江苏溧水马占山铜多金属矿床成矿特征及成因

马占山铜多金属矿床位于溧水盆地曹王山—爱景山多金属矿（化）带的南段,矿脉产于上侏罗统大王山组一套黑云母石英粗安岩、粗安质角砾凝灰熔岩等火山岩中,矿石类型有石英脉型黄铜矿石（金矿石）、方解石脉型黄铜矿石、石英重晶石脉型黄铜矿石、细脉型黄铜矿石、方解石脉型黄铁矿石、石英脉型黄铁矿石、石英重晶石脉型方铅矿石等。对马占山铜多金属矿床进行野外调查和室内研究结果表明：中至偏碱性的火山岩为主要成矿围岩,成矿热液与粗安岩两者可能是同一岩浆源的不同衍生物,Cu元素在研究区上、中侏罗统大王山组上段及龙王山组等火山岩中的含量明显高于地壳克拉克值,可为成矿提供物质来源;矿脉主要受控于区内近EW向构造破碎带,并与其产状一致;成矿期的石英、重晶石流体包裹体研究表明,成矿流体为无CO2的中低温低盐度NaCl-H2O流体,温度介于134～250 ℃之间,集中于200～230 ℃,盐度w（NaCl）介于0.9%～6.7%之间,集中于4%～5%;流体演化趋势为由较高温、较高盐度的流体向低温及低盐度流体演化。综上认为,马占山铜金矿床属于典型的浅成中低温热液矿床。     

Mechanism of strata deformation under protective seam and its application for relieved methane control

In this paper, an equation correlated with normal stress and permeability was developed and FLAC^3D software was used to investigate the rock mass stress evolution and distribution to understand the methane flow characteristics. Research results show that the rock mass under the protective coal seam can be divided into three belts (zones) in the vertical direction, including total de-stressed belt, vertical de-stressed belt and original stress belt. Methane in the total de-stressed belt can flow into the working face of protective coal seam by its own pressure gradient. Methane in the vertical de-stressed belt can only be extracted by boreholes. In the horizontal direction, the rock mass was also divided into five zones, including original zone, compression zone, expansion zone, recovering zone and re-compacted zone, which have been proved correct by the field experiments. The rock mass permeability in the de-stressed belts doesn't increase until stepping into the expansion zone, and from then on higher concentration of methane can be extracted. The methane in original regions is difficult to extract because rock stresses stay the same. The division of “three belts and five zones” reveals the rock mass stress and permeability distribution and evolution and supplies theoretical guidance for relieved methane control.