Stability of goaf-side entry driving in 800-m-deep island longwall coal face in underground coal mine

Goaf-side entry driving in underground coal mines could greatly improve coal recovery rates. However, it becomes more difficult to maintain stability, especially in deep coal mines. Pillar width plays a pivotal role in the stability of goaf-side entry driving. To obtain a reasonable and appropriate narrow pillar width, theoretical calculations of the widths of mining-damaged zone and limit equilibrium zone in the pillar are derived according to limit equilibrium theory. Based on the stability issues of goaf-side entry driving in the first island longwall coal face (LCF) at a depth of 800 m below the surface in Guqiao Coal Mine in China, a numerical model is established by FLAC software to analyze the stability of the surrounding rock of goaf-side entry driving during excavation, using various coal pillar widths and support schemes. The results obtained from theoretical calculations, numerical simulation, and engineering practice indicate that an 8-m-wide coal pillar is relatively reasonable, appropriate, and feasible. Field measurements show that deformations of the surrounding rock could be efficiently controlled 31 days after the support schemes were implemented in goaf-side entry driving with an 8-m-wide narrow pillar along the adjacent goaf side with a compaction duration of 10 months. The mining influence range of the overlying LCF on the stability of goaf-side entry driving is found to be the area from 50 m ahead of the LCF to 70 m behind the LCF as it passes over the measurement point.     

3-D magnetic inversion and satellite imagery for the Um Salatit gold occurrence,Central Eastern Desert,Egypt

The Um Salatit is a gold occurrence situated in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. The studied area is characterized by an intensive imbrication zone of serpentinites and metavolcanic rocks. The integrated use of aeromagnetic and spectral reflectance remote sensing data has proved effective for mapping geology related to ore deposits. Spectral reflectance maps have been produced to discriminate various rocks, such as serpentinites, gabbros, and metavolcanic rocks. 3-D inversion of aeromagnetic data acquired over the Um Salatit study area produced a 3-D magnetic susceptibility model showing magnetic bodies surrounded by less magnetic host rock. The magnetic features are elongated ENE-WSW parallel to the major thrust fault and mapped the Um Salatit serpentinized rocks. Remote sensing data allow investigating surficial geological features and mapping the mineralized areas. Remote results, in conjunction with 3-D inversion of aeromagnetic data, demonstrate that gold occurrence in the study area was effectively restricted to the highly magnetic zone interpreted as host rocks.     

Numerical simulation of organic chemicals in a marine environment using a coupled 3D hydrodynamic and ecotoxicological model

For ecotoxicological risk assessment in a marine ecosystem, we constructed a coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic and ecotoxicological model (EMT-3D), and applied it to Tokyo Bay. The model was calibrated with field data obtained in 2002. The results of sensitivity analysis for dissolved Bisphenol A showed that biodegradation rate was the most important factor for concentration change. Bioconcentration coefficient was the most important factor for Bisphenol A in phytoplankton. Therefore, the parameters must be carefully considered in the modeling. The mass balance results showed that standing stocks of Bisphenol A in water, in particulate organic carbon and in phytoplankton are 7.85 x 10(4), 1.78 x 10(2) and 3.44 x 10(-1) g, respectively. With respect to flux, biodegradation in the water column had the highest value of 1.06 x 10(3) g/day, and next were effluent to the open sea, partition to particulate organic carbon, and bioconcentration in phytoplankton.     

Counter-clockwise prograde P–T path in collisional orogeny and water subduction at the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary: The ultrahigh-pressure pelitic schist in the Kokchetav massif,northern Kazakhstan

A prograde pressure–temperature (P–T) path is estimated for pelitic schists from the latest Precambrian Kokchetav ultrahigh-pressure massif, Kazakhstan, using compositional zoning and mineral inclusions in coarse-grained and inclusion-rich garnets. Ti-bearing inclusions are abundant in garnet and display a zonal distribution. Ilmenite occurs in the inner-core, where most of it makes a composite inclusion with rutile, whereas monomineralic rutile occurs in the outer-core to mantle domains. In the rim region both ilmenite and rutile are present, although in small amounts. Application of the ilmenite-garnet thermometer yields a systematic temperature increase towards rim from 500 to 750 °C. The pressure-sensitive reaction: 3 Fe-Ilm (in Ilm) + Ky + 2 Qtz = 3 Rt + Alm (in Grt) yielded pressures of 1.2–1.3 GPa for the outer-core inclusions.A petrogenetic grid in the K₂O–CaO–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O model system was used to estimate the equilibrium compositions of the garnet. The change of the grossular component along the model P–T path expected from the forward modelling is close to the observed compositional profile of the outer-core to rim domains. No constraint is available from thermobarometry in the inner-core; however, the forward modelling of garnet zoning provides information on the early stage of the P–T path during the garnet growth.The estimated P–T path is counter-clockwise in the prograde stage with a steep bend at around 700 °C and 1.2–1.5 GPa. This is similar to the metamorphic P–T gradient of the Kokchetav massif. This result contrasts markedly with the traditional clockwise P–T path in many collisional metamorphic terranes, and is regarded to represent a subduction geotherm at the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary. The P–T path proposed in this study also supports the models for the recovery of the “snowball Earth” from late-Proterozoic glaciation through effect of water in the solid Earth mantle.     

A new proposal for simplified design of buried steel pipes crossing active faults

Simplified design methods for obtaining the maximum strain in pipelines crossing active faults proposed by Newmark, Kennedy and Wang have not considered the section deformation of the pipe. In this study, a new simplified method is developed for obtaining the maximum strain in steel pipes crossing faults considering non‐linearity of material and geometry of pipe section. It is assumed that the pipe will bend near the fault and the geometry of pipe in the longitudinal direction will change according to a bent deformation. On the other hand, the relation between maximum strain and bent angle has been obtained using a beam–shell hybrid FEM for different pipe‐fault conditions. The developed method can be used for calculating the maximum strains for fault‐crossing steel pipes with different angles of crossing both in tension and compression, by considering the deformation of the pipe cross‐section. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.     

Sources and Exchange of Particulate Organic Matter in an Estuarine Mangrove Ecosystem of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam

The spatio-temporal variations in stable isotope signatures (??¹³C and ??¹⁵N) and C/N ratios of particulate organic matter (POM), and physicochemical parameters in a creek water column were examined in an estuarine mangrove ecosystem of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam. The objective was to examine the factors influencing creek water properties, and the sources and exchange of POM in this important mangrove ecosystem. The diel and seasonal variations in water temperature, flow velocity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity demonstrated that tidal level, season, and biological factors affected the creek water properties. Mangroves had relatively low ??¹⁵N and very low ??¹³C values, with respective average values of 1.5?±?0.9?? and ?28.1?±?1.4??. The low mangrove leaf ??¹⁵N indicated minor anthropogenic nitrogen loading to the mangrove forests. A significant positive correlation between POM?C??¹³C and salinity along the axis of Ba Lat Estuary, Red River, indicated that marine phytoplankton (??¹³C value, ?21.4?±?0.5??) was the predominant source of POM at the estuary mouth. Based on the co-variation of ??¹³C and C/N ratios, marine phytoplankton and mangrove detritus were predominant in POM of major creeks and small creeks, respectively. During the diurnal tidal cycle, the dynamics of POM were affected by sources of organic matter, tidal energy, and seasonal factors. The contribution of mangrove detritus to POM reached a maximum at the low tide and was enhanced during the rainy season, whereas marine phytoplankton contribution was highest at high tide.     

Diagenetic control on arsenic partitioning in sediments of the Meghna River delta,Bangladesh

A stratigraphic profile of solid phase As was measured to investigate the diagenetic cycling of arsenic and related elements in fluvial sediments of the Meghna River delta plain. The distributions of Fe, Mn, and Al are typically characterized by surficial solid phase enrichment, and As is distributed down to 36.6 m showing similar alternate layers of maxima and minima with Fe, Mn and TOC, which reflects the diagenetic remobilization and periodical differences in source materials of As. Lithological characteristics and geochemical data suggest that elevated levels of As are found in organic-matter-rich clay and silty sand rather than sand samples, with occasionally enriched As content in iron-oxyhydroxide-coated sand grains. Arsenic demonstrates a positive and significant co-variation with total organic carbon in sediments, which suggests the important role of particulate and colloidal organic matter and biological activity in controlling the distribution of arsenic in the Bengal delta. However, the concentrations of Fe and Mn weakly correlate with As contents, whereas Al contents show no relationship with As. The results of this study suggest that reactive oxides or hydroxides of Fe and Mn, rather than Fe and Mn with other minerals, might control arsenic distribution.