A crack-like rupture model for the 19 September 1985 Michoacan,Mexico, earthquake

Evidence supporting a smooth crack-like rupture process of the Michoacan earthquake of 1985 is obtained from a major earthquake for the first time. Digital strong motion data from three stations (Caleta de Campos, La Villita, and La Union), recording near-field radiation from the fault, show unusually simple ramped displacements and permanent offsets previously only seen in theoretical models. The recording of low frequency (0 to 1 Hz) near-field waves together with the apparently smooth rupture favors a crack-like model to a step or Haskell-type dislocation model under the constraint of the slip distribution obtained by previous studies. A crack-like rupture, characterized by an approximated dynamic slip function and systematic decrease in slip duration away from the point of rupture nucleation, produces the best fit to the simple ramped displacements observed. Spatially varying rupture duration controls several important aspects of the synthetic seismograms, including the variation in displacement rise times between components of motion observed at Caleta de Campos. Ground motion observed at Caleta de Campos can be explained remarkably well with a smoothly propagating crack model. However, data from La Villita and La Union suggest a more complex rupture process than the simple crack-like model for the south-eastern portion of the fault.     

Thermal expansion of fayalite,Fe2SiO4

Thermal expansion of single-crystal fayalite has been measured by a dilatometric method at temperatures between 25 °C and 850 °C. The results show the presence of anomalous expansion in the b axis, which is correlated to the anomalous variation of elastic moduli with temperature. Grüneisen's parameter is 1.10 and the thermal Debye temperature is 565 K, which is close to the acoustic Debye temperature of 511 K.     

Diamagnetic anisotropy of sheetsilicates

The diamagnetic properties of sheetsilicates are studied by measuring the magnetic orientation of micron-sized crystals. In the case of synthetic phlogopite with the average diameter of 0.65 μm and the thickness of 0.2 μm, the alignment of the grains is achieved in the magnetic field below 35 kOe. The planes of the platy single-crystal grains were alignned parallel to the field when the alignment was achieved. The alignment of the grains is realized because the field-induced anisotropic energy, caused by the diamagnetic anisotropy in the mineral's crystal structure, exceeds thermal agitation energy in the applied field. By analyzing the field dependence of grain alignment, the diamagnetic anisotropy per formula unit, Δ_χ, of sheetsilicate mineral is estimated even if a large single crystal is not provided. The field-induced anisotropic energy is proportional to NΔ_χ where N is the number of molecules in the grain. A linear correlation has been found between the Δ_χ value and the F/OH mole ratio among the measured sheetsilicates. This correlation supports the assumption that the hexagonally packed oxygen-layer in the crystal lattice induces the anisotropies of the sheetsilicates.     

Analysis of saturated dense sand-structure system and comparison with results from shaking table test

An effective stress method is presented for the analysis of liquefaction of ground including soil-structure interaction, based on an explicit-implicit finite element method. A simple constitutive model is developed to be incorporated in the effective stress method. The constitutive model consists of the Ramberg-Osgood model extended to two-dimensional problems and a new dilatancy model. The effectiveness of the constitutive model is examined with results of a simple shear test. Besides, the effective stress method is verified by comparing its numerical results with results of a shaking table test. It is found that the present method can simulate well the response of a saturated dense sand-structure system. The difference of the response computed by the effective stress method and the total stress method is discussed. It is found that the total stress method can simulate the response of the saturated sand within an accumulating excess pore water pressure of less than 70 per cent of the initial overburden stress.     

Effect of occurrence rate of acoustic emissions on their statistical behavior

The parameterm in Ishimoto-Iida's relation was investigated for acoustic emissions (AEs) occurring in rock samples under uniaxial compression. In the experiment, we found: 1) The large AEs are counted without serious error but the number of small AEs is systematically underestimated at high AE rates, 2) the frequency distribution of maximum AE amplitudes becomes nonlinear in logarithmic scale with increasing AE rate, and 3) there exists a strong negative correlation betweenm-value and AE rate. The miscount of small AEs was interpreted as due to overlap of the large and small AEs. We call the miscount masking effect. A statistical analysis based on the masking effect showed that them-value decreases more effectively as the AE rate increases, and thus the masking effect is a possible origin both for the nonlinear frequency distribution of maximum AE amplitudes and for the negative correlation ofm-value with AE rate. We emphasize that one should be careful of the masking effect to examine correctly the change, ofm-value. In order to eliminate the masking effect, AEs should be measured by a measurement system with low sensitivity. Even if the masking effect is eliminated, them-value decreases before the main fracture of a rock sample. Them-value is a key parameter to predict the main fracture.     

Geochemical assessment of arsenic contamination in well water and sediments from several communities in the Nawalparasi District of Nepal

Arsenic contamination of well water is a serious issue in the Nawalparasi District of the Terai region in Nepal. A local investigation was carried out on 137 tube wells in 24 communities of the district in December 2011. The investigation revealed that the average arsenic concentration in the tube wells was 350 μg/L, and that nearly 98 % of the wells exceeded the WHO guideline arsenic level limit of 10 μg/L. Highly contaminated well water, with more than 400 μg/L of arsenic, was found within the limited depth ranges of 18–22 and 50–80 m. High arsenic levels exceeding 500 μg/L were detected in shallower wells at Patkhauli, Mahuawa, Thulokunwar, and Goini located between 27.517° and 27.543°N and between 83.648° and 83.748°E. Boring sampling at five communities of Kashiya, Goini, Sanokunwar, Thulokunwar, and Mahuawa revealed two aquifers located at the two depths around 14–22 and 41–50 m in each community. Dark gray or black-colored peaty clay layers rich in organic matter were distributed at depths of 18–21 m beside the upper aquifers with high arsenic concentration in each community. Positive correlations were shown between iron and arsenic in the sediments from the five communities. It can be inferred that these results were caused by dissolution of iron-oxyhydroxide molecules with arsenic from solid phases. Microbial metabolisms have a great potential to induce the dissolution and release arsenic attached on the solid phases into aqueous phases depending on the level of redox potential and pH.     

Laboratory frost sorting by needle ice: a pilot experiment on the effects of stone size and extent of surface stone cover

Sorted patterned ground is ubiquitous where gravelly fine soil experiences freeze–thaw cycles, but experimental studies have rarely been successful in reproducing such patterns. This article reports an attempt to reproduce miniature sorted patterns by repeating needle‐ice formation, which simulates frost sorting in regions dominated by diurnal freeze–thaw cycles. Six full‐scale laboratory models were tested. They consisted of near‐saturated volcanic fine soil topped by small stones of uniform size; the models explored a range of stone size (~6, ~12, ~17 and ~22 mm) and surface abundance (20, 40 and 60% cover). The stones were placed in a grid on the surface. These models were subjected to 20–30 temperature excursions between 10 °C and ?5 °C in 12 hours. The evolution of surface patterns were visually traced by photogrammetry. A data logging system continuously monitored vertical soil displacements, soil temperatures and moistures at different depths. All experimental runs displayed needle‐ice formation (2–3 cm in height) and resulting displacement of stones. The soil domains tended to heave faster and higher than the stones, leading to outward movement of the former and concentration of the stones. In plan view, smaller stones showed relatively fast and long‐lasting movements, while larger stones stabilized after the first five cycles. The 20% stone cover produced stone islands, whereas the 40% cover resulted in sorted labyrinths (a circle‐island complex) that may represent incipient sorted circles. The average diameter or spacing of these forms are 12–13 cm, being comparable to those in the field. The experiments imply that needle‐ice activity promotes rapid formation of sorted patterns, although the formation of well‐defined sorted circles may require hundreds of diurnal frost heave cycles. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.