Effect of wool fiber addition on the reinforcement of loose sands by microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP): mechanical property and underlying mechanism

Acta Geotechnica - Animal fibers with α-keratin had obvious advantages of mechanical strength and durability on reinforced microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP)-cemented loose...     

Late Neoarchean crustal growth under paired continental arc-back arc system in the North China Craton

The late Archean (~3.0–2.5 Ga) was a key period of continental growth globally, which is widely considered to reflect the onset of vigorous plate tectonic activity, although related continental growth modes remain contentious. Here we investigate a suite of late Neoarchean metavolcanic rocks from the southwest Qixia area of the Jiaobei terrane in the North China Craton. The rocks in this suite include amphibolites, clinopyroxene amphibolites, and hornblende plagioclase gneisses. We present zircon U-Pb isotopic data which indicate that the protoliths of these rocks formed during ~2549–2511 Ma.The (clinopyroxene) amphibolites correspond to meta-basaltic rocks, with some containing high modal content of titanite. These rocks show moderate to high FeO_T (8.96–13.62 wt.%) and TiO₂ (0.59–1.59 wt.%), flat to less fractionated REE patterns, and mildly negative Th, Nb, and Ta anomalies, resembling those of Fe-tholeiites. In addition, they display positive zircon ?_Hf(t) values (+2.6 to +8.7), and are devoid of crustal contamination or fractional crystallization. Combined with the low Nb/Yb (mostly < 1.60) and (Hf/Sm)_N (mostly < 0.95), low to moderate Th/Yb (0.08–0.54), and low V/Sc (5.53–9.19) ratios, these basaltic rocks are interpreted to have been derived from a relatively reduced and depleted mantle source that was mildly metasomatized by hydrous fluids. The hornblende plagioclase gneisses are meta-andesitic rocks, and occur interlayered with the basaltic rocks. They are transitional between tholeiitic and calc-alkaline rock series, and show fractionated REE patterns with evidently negative Th, Nb, and Ta anomalies. The depleted zircon ?_Hf(t) values (+2.4 to +8.4) and quantitative chemical modeling suggest that the andesitic rocks were most likely generated by injection and mixing of juvenile felsic magmas with the tholeiitic basaltic magmas.In general, the chemical features and genesis of late Neoarchean meta-basaltic rocks in our study area resemble those of Mariana back-arc basin basalts. Combined with regional geological data, it is proposed that the Jiaobei terrane witnessed late Neoarchean crustal growth under a paired continental arc-back arc setting. On a regional context, we propose two distinct geodynamic mode of late Neoarchean continental growth across North China Craton (particularly the Eastern Block), i.e., (1) arc-continent accretion along northwestern part of the Eastern Block; and (2) paired continental arc-back arc system surrounding the ~3.8–2.7 Ga continental nuclei to the southeast.     

Numerical simulation of direct shear test of rockfill based on particle breaking

Acta Geotechnica - In the traditional Mohr–Coulomb criterion, the shear strength is determined by cohesion and friction angle. However, the particle breakage that occurs on the shear failure...     

A Critical Comparison of Three Methods for Time-Lapse Time-Shift Calculation

Time-shift, one of the most popular time-lapse seismic attributes, has been widely used in dynamic reservoir characterization by linking it with pressure and geomechanical changes. Therefore, it is important to select appropriate calculation methods according to different time-lapse seismic data quality and time-shift magnitude. To date, there have been various published works comparing different time-shift calculation methods and discussing their advantages and disadvantages. However, most of these comparisons are based only on synthetic tests or single field applications. As the quality of time-lapse seismic data and time-shift magnitude can vary in different fields, one method may not work consistently well for each case. In this paper, a critical comparison of three different time-shift calculation techniques (Hale’s fast cross-correlation, Rickett’s non-linear inversion, and Whitcombe’s correlated leakage method) is provided. The three methods are applied to a set of synthetic data sets that are designed to account for various seismic noise and time-shift magnitudes. They are also applied to four real time-lapse seismic data sets from three North Sea fields. The calculated time-shift results are compared with the input (in synthetic tests) or the real observations from information such as seabed subsidence and compaction (in field applications). Both qualitative and quantitative comparisons are performed. At the end, each of the time-shift methods is evaluated based on different aspects, and the most appropriate method is suggested for each data scenario. All three time-shift methods are found to successfully measure time-shifts. However, Rickett’s non-linear inversion is the most outstanding method, as it gives smooth time-shifts with relatively good accuracy, and the derived time strains are more stable and interpretable.

     

Effect of inherent anisotropy on the strength of natural granite residual soil under generalized stress paths

It is universally known that residual soils behave very differently from sedimentary soils. While the latter is widely known as cross-anisotropic, little is known regarding the strength anisotropy of residual soils. This study presents how the inherent anisotropy affects the strength of natural granite residual soils under generalized conditions, where intact specimens were carefully prepared and sheared under triaxial compression, extension, simple shear, and hollow cylinder torsional shear tests. The strength of natural residual soil, in terms of ultimate stress ratio M and undrained shear strength S_u, is found to be significantly anisotropic in a different way from normally consolidated clays with the maximum strength obtained under triaxial compression and the minimum under simple shear or at intermediate principal stress direction. As a result, the existing method failed to measure the anisotropy degree of the studied soil. Two parameters were proposed accordingly to quantify the anisotropic strength under general conditions, taking the special strength anisotropy pattern and cohesive-frictional nature of GRS into account. The proposed parameters enable the direct comparison of strength anisotropy among soils. This study serves as a data set to better understand residual soils regarding their anisotropic behaviors under generalized conditions. Although specific to granite residual soils in China, this study is expected to be more widely applicable to other weathered geomaterials.

     

安徽宁国石口金矿找矿前景——来自Ⅲ矿化带地球化学原生晕的证据

石口金矿位于钦杭成矿带,是新近发现的具有一定找矿潜力的金矿。为进一步扩大找矿成果,该文通过对石口金矿Ⅲ-②矿体原生晕特征进行综合分析,并结合土壤地球化学测量成果,对找矿前景进行探讨。研究表明:主成矿元素Au与元素As、Ag、Sb密切相关,挥发份F可作为特征指示元素;Ⅲ-②矿体有可能为多期叠加形成,尾晕元素出现在原生晕分带序列前端,指示深部具有一定的成矿潜力。这些研究成果暗示Ⅲ矿化带沿走向及Ⅲ-②号矿体深部具有进一步找矿空间。     

The relationship between groundwater and natural vegetation in Qaidam Basin

To accurately evaluate ecological risks trigged by groundwater exploitation, it must be clarified the relationship between vegetation and groundwater. Based on remote sensing data sets MOD13Q1, groundwater table depth (WTD) and total dissolved solids (TDS), the relationship between groundwater and natural vegetation was analyzed statistically in the main plain areas of Qaidam Basin. The results indicate that natural vegetation is groundwater-dependent in areas where WTD is less than 5.5 m and TDS is less than 7.5 g/L. Aquatic vegetation, hygrophytic vegetation and hygrophytic saline-alkali tolerant vegetation are mainly distributed in areas with WTD <1.1 m. Salt-tolerant and mesophytic vegetation mainly occur in areas with WTD of 1.4-3.5 m, while the xerophytic vegetation isprimarily present in areas where WTD ranges from 1.4 m to 5.5 m. Natural vegetation does not necessarily depend on groundwater in areas with WTD >5.5 m. For natural vegetation, the most suitable water TDS is less than 1.5 g/L, the moderately suitable TDS is 1.5-5.0 g/L, the basically suitable TDS is 5.0-7.5 g/L, and the unsuitable TDS is more than 7.5 g/L.     

应用分布式存储技术优化省级CIMISS数据服务能力

随着气象数据量的不断增长,进一步提升CIMISS数据管理和服务能力的需求变得日益迫切。为解决存储系统动态扩展能力不足、并行计算与吞吐效率低下等限制CIMISS继续发展的问题,采用分布式文件系统和NAS技术替代GPFS建设共享文件系统,实现非结构化气象数据的存储功能;采用分布式数据库替代Oracle RAC建设关系数据库管理系统,实现结构化气象数据的存储功能和非结构化气象数据的索引功能。实践证明,该方案能够有效地改善CIMISS的数据存储能力、并发响应能力,适应未来气象业务对数据存储和应用的需求。     

青海黄南地区近54年蒸发量变化特征及其影响因子

利用青海省黄南地区近54a(1960—2013年)蒸发量、气温、降水量、日照时数、水汽压等资料,应用地理信息系统、数理统计、线性回归和Mann-Kendall检验等方法分析了黄南地区蒸发量的空间及时间变化趋势,并对黄南地区蒸发量变化特征及其影响因子进行了诊断研究。结果表明:黄南地区年平均蒸发量呈明显的下降趋势,20世纪60—70年代为蒸发量偏多阶段,80年代及后为偏少阶段;黄南地区蒸发量最大的季节是春季和夏季,各季蒸发量均呈减少趋势;黄南地区年蒸发量在1973年发生了由多到少的突变,春、夏、秋、冬季分别发在1973、1975、1976和1974年;分析影响蒸发量的相关因子,蒸发量与日照时数呈显著的正相关关系,与水汽压和降水量呈显著的负相关关系,日照时数的减小是蒸发量减少的主要影响因子。