四川西昌盆地白垩纪恐龙足迹群的新发现

四川西昌盆地白垩系小坝组尚未发现骨骼化石记录,其白垩系恐龙动物群的信息全赖于足迹化石。2017年,在喜德县洛甘发现小坝组迄今最大型的恐龙足迹群。该足迹点保存了大量的兽脚类足迹。足迹保存条件较差,但具备了基本的形态学特征。总体来看,兽脚类足迹具有尺寸较小(8~13cm),中等中趾前凹(0.5~0.6)和第Ⅱ趾和第Ⅳ趾间较宽趾间角(70°~100°)的特征;少量足迹保存了跖骨垫。初步分析认为,洛甘兽脚类足迹与四川盆地夹关组的兽脚类足迹Eubrontes和Grallator形态类型相似,为两地在白垩纪中期具有类似的恐龙动物群的观点提供了新的证据。该发现对于西昌盆地的古气候、古地理和地层对比都具有重要的意义,足迹详细分类还有待进一步研究。     

Seasonal variability of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in a wetland system of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau,southwest China: a quantitative assessment of groundwater inflow fluxes

The Caohai Wetland serves as an important ecosystem on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau and as a nationally important nature reserve for migratory birds in China. In this study, surface water, groundwater and wetland water were collected for the measurement of environmental isotopes to reveal the seasonal variability of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δD), sources of water, and groundwater inflow fluxes. Results showed that surface water and groundwater are of meteoric origin. The isotopes in samples of wetland water were well mixed vertically in seasons of both high-flow (September) and low-flow (April); however, marked seasonal and spatial variations were observed. During the high-flow season, the isotopic composition in surface wetland water varied from ?97.13 to ?41.73‰ for δD and from ?13.17 to ?4.70‰ for δ¹⁸O. The composition of stable isotopes in the eastern region of this wetland was lower than in the western region. These may have been influenced by uneven evaporation caused by the distribution of aquatic vegetation. During the low-flow season, δD and δ¹⁸O in the more open water with dead aquatic vegetation ranged from ?37.11 to ?11.77‰, and from ?4.25 to ?0.08‰, respectively. This may result from high evaporation rates in this season with the lowest atmospheric humidity. Groundwater fluxes were calculated by mass transfer and isotope mass balance approaches, suggesting that the water sources of the Caohai Wetland were mainly from groundwater in the high-flow season, while the groundwater has a smaller contribution to wetland water during the low-flow season.     

Numerical analysis of effect of baffle configuration on impact force exerted from rock avalanches

In mountainous areas, channelized rock avalanches swarm downslope leading to large impact forces on building structures in residential areas. Arrays of rock avalanche baffles are usually installed in front of rigid barriers to attenuate the flow energy of rock avalanches. However, previous studies have not sufficiently addressed the mechanisms of interaction between the rock avalanches and baffles. In addition, empirical design approaches such as debris flow (Tang et al., Quat Int 250:63–73, 2012), rockfall (Spang and Rautenstrauch, 1237–1243, 1988), snow avalanches (Favier et al., 14:3–15, 2012), and rock avalanches (Manzella and Labiouse, Landslides 10:23–36, 2013), which are applied in natural geo-disasters mitigation cannot met construction requirements. This study presents details of numerical modeling using the discrete element method (DEM) to investigate the effect of the configuration of baffles (number and spacing of baffle columns and rows) on the impact force that rock avalanches exert on baffles. The numerical modeling is firstly conducted to provide insights into the flow interaction between rock avalanches and an array of baffles. Then, a modeling analysis is made to investigate the change pattern of the impact force with respect to baffle configurations. The results demonstrate that three crucial influencing factors (baffle row numbers, baffle column spacing, and baffle row spacing) have close relationship with energy dissipation of baffles. Interestingly, it is found that capacity of energy dissipation of baffles increases with increasing baffle row numbers and baffle row spacing, while it decreases with increasing baffle column spacing. The results obtained from this study are useful for facilitating design of baffles against rock avalanches.     

Application of incomplete similarity theory to the estimation of the mean velocity of debris flows

The mean velocity of debris flow is one of the most important parameters in the design of mitigation structures and in quantitative risk analysis. This study develops a model to predict the mean debris flow velocity observed in the field by applying the incomplete similarity argument. An equation for estimating the Darcy-Weisbach resistance coefficient for debris flows with a volumetric sediment concentration larger than 0.19 is accordingly derived using 128 sets of observation data from nine Chinese gullies, in which both the effect of the volumetric sediment concentration and channel slope on resistance are considered. The derived equation is then verified and compared against five previously published equations by using 61 sets of published observation data from six gullies located in four countries. The applications of the proposed equation are discussed, and the improvements made using the proposed equation are clearly very significant when compared with the previously published equations.     

Development mechanism for the landslide at Xinlu Village,Chongqing, China

Due to the continuous and intense rainfall from June 26 to 28, 2016, Xinlu Village in Ganshui Town, Qijiang District, Chongqing, experienced a unitary-slip landslide at approximately UTC+8 19:30 on June 28. This landslide disrupted the Chuan-Qian railway and damaged four residential buildings. To analyze and rehabilitate the landslide, the engineering geology, hydrological conditions, and deformation instability mechanism of this landslide were investigated and comprehensively analyzed based on an in situ survey, geophysical drilling, and a laboratory quick-shearing test. The results show that the landslide is a typical gradual progressive landslide.     

Development of efficiently coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical model to predict hydraulic fracture morphology in heavy oil reservoirs

The aim of the study involves examining the effect of heavy oil viscosity on fracture geometry in detail by establishing a heavy oil fracturing model and conventional fracturing model based on thermal–hydraulic–mechanical (THM) coupled theory, Walther viscosity model, and K–D–R temperature model. We consider viscosity and density within the heavy oil fracturing model as functions of pressure and temperature while that as constants within the conventional fracturing model. A heavy oil production well is set as an example to analyze the differences between the two models to account for the thermo-poro-elastic effect. The results show that temperature exhibits the most significant influence on the heavy oil viscosity while the influence of pressure is the least. In addition, a cooling area with a width of 0–1 m and varied length is generated near the fracture. The heavy oil viscosity increases sharply in this area, thereby indicating an area of viscosity increment. The heavy oil viscosity increases faster and is closer to wellbore, and a high viscosity increment reduces the mobility of the heavy oil and prevents the fracturing fluid from entering into the reservoir. The special viscosity distribution results in significant differences in pore pressure, oil saturation, and changing trends between these two models. In the heavy oil reservoir fracturing model, the thermal effect completely exceeds the influence of pore elasticity, and the values of the fracture length, width, and static pressure exceed those calculated in the conventional fracturing model. Thus, a comparison of the measured values indicates that the results obtained by considering viscosity as a function of temperature and pressure are more accurate. Therefore, the results of this study are expected to provide good guidelines for the design of heavy oil fracturing.     

Research on mining-induced deformation and stress,insights from physical modeling and theoretical analysis

The dynamic change of mining-induced stress is the main reason for large deformation of surrounding rock. To investigate the influence of mining-induced stress and deformation is important for appropriate supportive design. It also helps to raise the safety and productivity of longwall mining operations. In this paper, Weijiagou Coal Mine in Southwest China was selected as the case study. In order to research on the deformation and breakage of overlying strata, physical modeling test was carried out on the self-developed rotatable physical similar test system. By using digital image correlation (DIC) technique, the deformation of strata and development of cracks in the process of coal seam excavation were acquired, meanwhile, mining-induced stress was also monitored by pressure cell and strainmeter. According to the mechanical structure of stope, the height of the destressed zone has a significant influence on stress distribution. In order to minimize the discrepancy between the physical model test and theoretical analysis, the dimension of the plastic zone of roadway was added into the mining panel width, and the gap between the experimental and theoretical results reduced.     

Zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopes and geochemistry analyses of the Huyu igneous rocks in northwestern Beijing,China: possible new evidence for the initial destruction of the North China Craton

The timing and extent of cratonic destruction are crucial to understanding the crustal evolution of the North China Craton (NCC). Zircon U–Pb–Hf isotope data and the whole-rock major and trace element characteristics of the Huyu igneous rocks in northwestern Beijing, China, provide possible new evidence for the initial destruction of the NCC. The igneous rocks occur as several sills and dikes, including lamprophyre, monzonite porphyry, and aplite. The lamprophyres have high Mg^# and K₂O contents. The monzonite porphyries have high Mg^#, high K₂O contents, and negative ε_Hf(t) values with zircon U–Pb ages of 225.5–227.7 Ma. These two types of rocks are both enriched in large ion lithosphere elements (LILEs) and light rare earth elements (LREEs) but are depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs) and high rare earth elements (HREEs) and have almost no Eu anomalies and relatively high total rare earth element (ΣREE) contents. In contrast, the aplites exhibit high silica and K₂O contents, low MgO contents, and more negative ε_Hf(t) values with a zircon U–Pb age of 206.2 Ma. The aplites are also enriched in LILEs and LREEs but are depleted in HFSEs and HREEs, with strongly negative Eu, Ti, P, La, Ce, and Sr anomalies and relatively low ΣREE contents. These results indicate that the lamprophyres and monzonite porphyries represent a continuous cogenetic magma evolution series after melt derived from an enriched metasomatized lithospheric mantle experienced crust assimilation and fractional crystallization. The aplites were produced by the fractional crystallization of low-Mg parental magma derived from melting of the ancient Archaean crust. The occurrence of the Huyu intrusive rocks with many other plutons of similar ages on the northern margin of the NCC suggests that the northern NCC entered an intraplate extensional tectonic environment in the Late Triassic.     

印支期龙门山断裂带的逆冲-推覆构造和沉积响应

伴随着华南、华北和羌塘地块在中—晚三叠世的俯冲—碰撞,古特提斯洋逐渐消亡,在龙门山及其前陆盆地发生了广泛的构造和沉积事件,统称为印支造山运动。然而,这期重要的造山事件普遍叠加有新生代印度与欧亚板块俯冲碰撞所引起的相似的北西—南东向构造挤压作用,使得印支期的构造活动对奠定龙门山初始构造和地貌特征,乃至对新生代构造活动的深远影响难以区分。对青藏高原其他边界的研究表明,只有通过多种手段从多个角度才能认清造山带形成的真实历史,而近些年来在龙门山地区开展的深地震探测、主断裂和飞来峰定年、前陆盆地沉积序列和沉积作用以及大地热流分布的研究则为我们进一步揭示印支初期龙门山断裂带构造活动本质提供了全新的视角。深地震反射剖面和最新的定年结果揭示龙门山地区在印支期发生了大型逆冲—推覆作用,在此期间,形成了两条主要断裂带,并直至后碰撞造山时期,形成了多期次的山前飞来峰构造。龙门山断裂带在印支期的大型逆冲—推覆构造活动,引发了大量的陆源碎屑沉积物涌入到四川前陆盆地中。强烈的断裂活动还引发了区域大地震的发生,在四川盆地西缘未完全固结沉积地层中形成了软沉积物变形。综合以往的研究结果,我们认为龙门山早期的逆冲—推覆和青藏高原东缘大地热流的升高伴随有区域岩石圈底部的拆沉导致软流圈高温物质的上涌。这种早期的构造格局对龙门山断裂带在新生代构造地貌的最终形成产生了深远的影响。     

四川盆地：周缘活动主控下形成的叠合盆地

四川盆地位于扬子板块西缘和青藏高原东缘,地震勘探资料等揭示盆地前寒武纪基底保存完整的古俯冲带和地堑-地垒结构,说明盆地基底后期构造活动非常稳定;显生宙以来经历晚震旦世-石炭纪、二叠纪-中三叠世两幕克拉通边缘强拉张-强挤压,而克拉通内弱拉张-弱挤压的构造演化过程,体现出盆地内部稳定性结构沉积演化特征。克拉通内弱拉张初期以海相碳酸盐岩大面积稳定沉积（即震旦系灯影组和二叠系栖霞-茅口组）和随后的风化壳岩溶作用（即桐湾期、东吴期等不整合面）为特征,弱拉张期以拉张槽（如：绵阳-长宁拉张槽和开江-梁平拉张槽等）的形成为典型特征;弱挤压则以古隆起（如：加里东期乐山-龙女寺古隆起、印支期泸州古隆起等）的发育为典型特征。四川盆地晚三叠世后的前陆盆地演化阶段受控于其周缘造山带逆冲推覆构造活动,是现今地貌和构造盆地的主要建造期,形成了四川盆地周缘突变（线型）和渐变（弥散型）两种盆山结构。盆地西边界（龙门山）和北边界（米仓山-大巴山）即是线型突变边界,也是扬子地块（板块）的边界,边界几何形状和扬子板块刚性特征对盆山系统结构-构造特征等有较大的控制作用;四川盆地的东边界（齐岳山-大娄山）和西南边界（大凉山）即是渐变弥散型边界,同时也是板（陆）块内部的边界,它们受控于邻区（盆外）的构造变形和盆内沉积盖层中滑脱层的分布特征。受控于盆地（克拉通）周缘活动,四川盆地垂向上前寒武纪基底与盖层、盖层内早期和晚期构造具解耦特征。基底与盖层构造的解耦有利于盆地内部前寒武纪基底结构构造的保存和盖层内大型隆-坳结构的形成演化;盖层内早期和晚期构造的解耦有利于早期构造免遭后期破环,对深层油气藏的保存意义重大。总之,四川盆地可能是具独特形成过程和特征的叠合盆地新类型,其突出特征表现为周缘活动、内部稳定及早期和晚期构造解耦。