A simple approach to evaluating leakage through thin impervious element of high embankment dams

Internal erosion is the most common reason which induces failure of embankment dams besides overtopping. Relatively large leakage is frequently concentrated at defects of impervious element, and this will lead to eventual failure. The amount of leakage depends not only on integrity of impervious element, but also on dam height, shape of valley, shape of impervious element and water level in reservoir. The integrity of impervious element, which represents the relative level of seepage safety, is not easy to be determined quantitatively. A simple method for generalization of steady seepage state of embankment dams with thin impervious element is proposed in this paper. The apparent overall value of permeability coefficient for impervious element can be obtained by this method with reasonable accuracy and efficiency. A defect parameter of impervious element is defined as an index to characterize seepage safety of embankment dams. It equals the ratio of the apparent overall value of permeability coefficient to the measured value in laboratory for intact materials. Subsequently, seepage safety of three dams is evaluated and the evolution of defect level of impervious element of dams is investigated. It is proved that the newly proposed method in this paper is feasible in the evaluation of relative seepage safety level of embankment dams with thin impervious element.     

Extreme deformation characteristics and countermeasures for a tunnel in difficult grounds in southern Shaanxi,China

The Qingling–Bashan (QB) mountain region in southern Shaanxi mainly consists of strongly compressive zones from east to west, with tight folds and compressive fractures. There is a wide distribution of soft rocks of various types, such as phyllite and slate, accompanied by complex geological structures. Ironically, tunnel construction in these difficult grounds with complicated geological conditions embraces a high risk of extreme deformation due to various unpredictable reasons, which can frequently cause collapse and result in budget overruns during the construction period. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct effective countermeasures to eliminate or avoid such adverse impacts. This paper provides a case study on the “Yingfeng tunnel” (a tunnel constructed in soft rock consisting of a slate ground) based on a geological survey, indoor experiments and in situ monitoring. A successive rock mass deformation resulted in the tunnel lining seriously intruding into construction clearance and some other sections, even collapsing during the construction. The maximum displacement amount was 62.5 cm, while the maximum deformation speed reached as high as 34.18 mm/day. Additionally, to evaluate the construction impacts of tunnelling-induced geo-hazards, an investigation on extreme deformation was conducted. Considering the time-dependent features of the rock mass deformation, the constraint-convergence method was used to put forward applicable countermeasures in this paper. Finally, from the feedbacks of monitoring results, extreme deformation of the Yingfeng tunnel was effectively controlled.     

Characterization of shale matrix pore structure via experiment and model

Shale gas reservoirs develop multi-scale pores ranging in size from nanometer to micrometer, the characteristics of gas transport involve the multi-scale pore space which divided into organic and inorganic matrix pores. This paper reveals the shale pore structure with large amounts of organic mesoporous based on the techniques of focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes (FIB-SEM), high-pressure mercury intrusion (MICP), and low-pressure adsorption (LPA), which also shows the size and distribution of these pores. Then the research characterizes effective pore scale via circular tube bundle model with due regard for gas adsorption layer thickness on the walls of organic pores and water film thickness on the walls of inorganic pores, and the investigation of shale pore geometry is significant for designing and developing shale gas reservoirs. This work shows that the widely existing shale mesoporous volume with diameter of 2~50 nm accounts for 81% based on experimental testing, then it reduces to about 76% via effective diameter model calculation.     

Comparison between the TOPMODEL and the Xin’anjiang model and their application to rainfall runoff simulation in semi-humid regions

To study the application of the TOPMODEL and the Xin’anjiang model to rainfall runoff simulation in semi-humid regions, the Holtan excess infiltration runoff module was added to the TOPMODEL structure. The basin of the Heihe Jinpen Reservoir in Shaanxi Province, China, was selected as the study area. Rainfall and runoff data and digital elevation models were collected. The watershed topographic parameters and 21 floods that occurred from 2005 to 2013 were obtained to simulate rainfall runoff. Results show that the improved TOPMODEL and the Xin’anjiang model can effectively stimulate rainfall runoff. The average values of their Nash coefficient are 0.84 and 0.83, respectively, upon calibration, and 0.78 and 0.80, respectively, upon validation. The Xin’anjiang model performs slightly better than the improved TOPMODEL. The results of large flood peaks are better than those of ordinary floods. Both results can be used to simulate the rainfall runoff of a watershed.     

浙江新昌早白垩世木化石新材料及内含真菌菌丝化石

浙江新昌下白垩统馆头组是我国南方地区为数不多的白垩纪木化石产出层位。本文报道了新昌地区馆头组木化石新材料及其内含真菌菌丝化石。木化石具明显生长轮,管胞径壁纹孔南洋杉式(多数单列、椭圆形、紧挤排列,偶见双列互生排列);交叉场纹孔南洋杉式;木射线单列式,多数2~11个细胞高。当前木化石新材料具有与现生南洋杉科植物相类似的木材解剖特征,显示其应归入贝壳杉型木属(Agathoxylon Hartig)。鉴于该类型木化石的分类现状仍有待厘清,将其定为Agathoxylonsp.。木化石内含真菌菌丝化石,管状,具横隔,平直或弯曲,常以不同角度分叉,菌丝壁光滑,具典型的锁状联合,属于担子菌类。当前木化石木材组织具有明显的木材腐朽特征,与现代真菌造成的木材白腐一致,推断此真菌化石为木材白腐菌。新昌地区贝壳杉型木属木化石新材料的发现进一步丰富了馆头组木化石的多样性,有助于增进对南方地区早白垩世植物群组成特征的认识。当前真菌菌丝化石是我国南方地区首次发现白垩纪担子菌化石,为探究白垩纪时期森林生态系统真菌与植物的相互作用提供了新的化石证据。     

北淮阳东段卢镇关群和佛子岭群地层含矿性地球化学评价

卢镇关群和佛子岭群广泛分布于北淮阳成矿带内,但是对其含矿性研究一直较为薄弱。文章通过对卢镇关群和佛子岭群成矿元素的地球化学特征研究,评价地层含矿性。成矿元素富集系数(K)分析表明卢镇关群和佛子岭群各组中Mo元素均富集,W、Pb、Ag、Cu元素也存在不同程度的富集,存在潜在成矿可能;成矿元素后期叠加强度(D)分析表明本区的Mo、Ag、Cu等元素存在不同程度的后期叠加作用;成矿元素变异系数(CV)分析表明本区成矿元素具有一定的成矿潜力。对卢镇关群和佛子岭群成矿能力评序得出最优势矿种为Mo元素,并且卢镇关群和佛子岭群是北淮阳钼矿的理想矿源层,为区内钼矿提供了成矿物质。成矿元素与主微量元素的相关性分析表明Cu、W、Ag、Pb、Zn等元素受碎屑岩特征和氧化还原环境控制。     

安徽茶亭铜金矿床赋矿石英闪长玢岩黑云母成分特征及成岩成矿指示意义

安徽宣城茶亭矿床位于长江中下游成矿带东南缘的南陵-宣城盆地内,是近年来该盆地内新发现的大型斑岩型Cu-Au矿床。石英闪长玢岩是茶亭矿床主要的赋矿岩石,文章从石英闪长玢岩的造岩矿物黑云母入手,利用EMPA及LA-ICP-MS等原位微区分析方法,对黑云母进行了详细的矿物化学分析,旨在查明赋矿石英闪长玢岩形成的物理化学条件,并探讨其成岩成矿意义。分析结果表明:茶亭赋矿石英闪长玢岩中黑云母具有高w(TiO_2)、低w(Al_2O_3)的特征,整体富Mg、贫Fe。黑云母温压计算结果表明,在不同深度上,石英闪长玢岩具有相似的结晶温度及压力,其结晶温度为746～773℃,压力为44～85 MPa,对应深度为1.7～3.3 km,平均为2.47 km,显示石英闪长玢岩侵位深度相对较浅。黑云母中高的氧化系数(0.613～0.864)、高Mg#(0.557～0.864),以及w(MgO)介于14.73%～15.86%,均显示石英闪长玢岩为壳幔混源,并且以幔源为主。黑云母成分显示石英闪长玢岩形成于较高氧逸度条件下。浅部岩体具有较高的X_(Mg)值,表明浅部岩体氧逸度较高,可能指示随着岩浆的不断演化,残余岩浆的氧逸度不断降低。同时,石英闪长玢岩黑云母相对一般斑岩型铜矿具有较高的w(Cu),并且高Cl、低F。这些特征均有利于茶亭Cu-Au矿床的形成。     

内蒙古丰镇市泉子沟斑岩钼矿床成岩成矿年代学及其地质意义

泉子沟斑岩钼矿床位于内蒙古丰镇市,地处华北克拉通北缘内蒙古台隆凉城断隆内。矿区出露一套燕山期花岗质杂岩体——红娘山杂岩体,主要由中粗粒花岗岩、似斑状花岗岩和石英斑岩组成,钼矿体主要赋存于似斑状花岗岩中。文章在详细的野外地质调查基础上,对泉子沟矿床的成岩成矿时代进行了详细研究,并探讨了地质意义。5件辉钼矿样品的Re-Os模式年龄介于(158.8±2.2)Ma~(161.5±2.2)Ma之间,其加权平均值为(159.8±1.0)Ma(MSWD=0.92),等时线年龄为(161.7±3.1)Ma(MSWD=1.40)。红娘山杂岩体LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄分别为:中粗粒花岗岩结晶年龄为(173±1)Ma(MSWD=0.88),似斑状花岗岩侵位年龄为(162±1)Ma(MSWD=0.40),石英斑岩结晶年龄为(160±2)Ma(MSWD=1.90)。辉钼矿Re-Os和锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,泉子沟钼矿床形成于晚侏罗世早期,成矿与似斑状花岗岩关系密切。泉子沟钼矿床的辉钼矿w(Re)介于16.49×10~(-6)~32.87×10~(-6),暗示成矿物质主要来自下地壳。