Using landscape indicators and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine the optimum spatial scale of urban land use patterns in Wuhan,China

Quantifying land use patterns and functions is critical for modeling urban ecological processes, and an emerging challenge is to apply models at multiple spatial scales. Methods of determining the optimum scale of land use patterns are commonly considered using landscape metrics. Landscape metrics are quantitative indicators for analyzing landscape heterogeneity at the landscape level. In this study, due to their widespread use in urban landscape analyses and well-documented effectiveness in quantifying landscape patterns, landscape metrics that represent dominance, shape, fragmentation and connectivity were selected. Five metrics include Patch Density, Contagion, Landscape Shape Index, Aggregation Index and Connectivity. Despite a wide application of landscape metrics for land use studies, the majority mainly focuses on the qualitative analysis of the characteristics of landscape metrics. The previous models are limited in exploring the optimum scale of land use patterns for their lack of quantitation. Therefore, taking the City of Wuhan as an example, the land use unit was treated as a patch, and the landscape pattern metrics at different spatial scales were calculated and compared so as to find the optimum one. Furthermore, a mathematical model of landscape metrics was proposed to quantify the scale effect of urban land use patterns, generating a complementary tool to select the optimum scale. In addition, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was introduced to determine the respective weights of the chosen landscape metrics in this model. Fractal dimension was ultimately applied to verify the chosen optimum scale of our study region. The results indicated that 60 m is confirmed to be the optimum scale for capturing the spatial variability of land use patterns in this study area.     

Study on the natural radioactivity level of stone coal-bearing strata in East China

Based on γ-radiation dose rate and radon concentration measurements and ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K radionuclide testing, this study identifies the radioactive anomalies of stone coal-bearing strata in East China and evaluates the natural radioactivity levels in the air, solid, water and plant media in the typical area of the regional stone coal-bearing layers. The stone coal-bearing strata in East China occur in the lower Cambrian system along the margin of the Yangtze block; additionally, the radioactive anomaly area is sporadically distributed in the stone coal-bearing layers. The background values of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K are higher in the stone coal-bearing areas, and the spatial distribution of these natural radionuclides shows significant variability. ²³⁸U and ²²⁶Ra clearly accumulate in the coal, coal gangue and soil and are the main sources of the environmental radiation in coal mines. The γ-radiation shows a higher background value in the stone coal-bearing area, and this radioactive pollution cannot be ignored. Typically, the effective dose of γ-radiation exceeds the limit value of 5 mSv/a, and the total α and total β concentrations of the groundwater are 10–30 times the limit value at some points. The residents near the mining area are subjected to a higher radiation dose, and the groundwater, building materials, and plants have been contaminated by the radioactive pollution sporadically through time. It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring work of radioactive environments and to take appropriate control measures.     

Laboratory investigations of inert gas flow behaviors in compact sandstone

The seepage evolution behavior of compact rock is significant for the stability and safety of many engineering applications. In this research, both hydrostatic and triaxial compression tests were conducted on compact sandstone using an inert gas, namely argon. A triaxial compression test with a water permeability measurement was carried out to study the difference between the gas permeability and water permeability evolutions during the complete stress–strain process. Based on the experimental data, the hydrostatic stress-dependent gas permeability was discussed firstly. A second-order function was proposed to predict and explain the gas slippage effect. The mechanical properties and crack development of the sandstone samples were discussed to better understand the permeability evolution with crack growth during the complete stress–strain process. The results show that the gas permeability evolution can be divided into five stages according to the different crack growth stages. Then, the permeability changes in the crack closure stress \( \sigma_{\text{cc}} \), crack initiation stress \( \sigma_{\text{ci}} \), crack damage stress \( \sigma_{\text{cd}} \) and peak stress \( \sigma_{\text{p}} \) with confining pressures were analyzed. Finally, we found that the difference between the corrected gas permeability and water permeability can be attributed to the interaction between the water and sandstone grains.     

Experimental and numerical investigation on coal drawing from thick steep seam with longwall top coal caving mining

Steep coal seam mining activities will frequently occur during the next few decades in China. In this study, both experimental and numerical methods are employed to investigate the coal drawing from thick steep seam with longwall top coal caving mining. A series of analyses is performed to investigate the features of the drawing body, the distribution of top coal recovery ratio and the shape of the rock flow under steep conditions. The results indicate that the drawing body of top coal develops prior to upper side of the panel face obviously, and the top coal in the central part of the panel has a higher recovery ratio than that in the lower and upper parts in steep coal seam with caving mining method. The flow paths of the fragmented top coal are nearly straight lines moving towards the drawing window, and the fastest path maintains a constant angle with the plumb line. The spatial shape of the rock flow indicates “bidirectional asymmetry,” which results from the presence of the shield beam and dip angle of the coal seam; thus, this is the root cause of the appearance of the drawing body’s prior development towards the upper side of the panel. The field observation data indicates the same distribution of top coal recovery as that in the physical experiment and numerical simulation. Furthermore, suggested measurements are proposed to improve top coal recovery in steep seam mining based on the engineering practice of Dayuan coal mine.     

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.     

全国地热资源调查评价与勘查示范工程进展

地热作为一种清洁能源,在我国经济发展与能源转型过程中正发挥着越来越重要的作用。“全国地热资源调查评价与勘查示范工程”自实施以来,主要开展了京津冀地区地热资源评价以及东南沿海和青藏高原东部干热岩的勘查等工作。这些工作的开展在获得一系列科研突破成果的同时,也解决了大量地热开发的工程问题,积累了大量成果和经验。该文对工程取得的进展及成果进行了总结,对工作开展中出现的问题进行了探讨,可用于指导我国地热资源勘查开发工作。     

吉林永吉县头道沟地区镁铁—超镁铁质岩U-Pb年代学研究及地质意义

吉林省永吉县头道沟地区出露许多与头道沟岩组相伴产出的镁铁—超镁铁质岩,鉴于其处于长春-延吉构造带附近而受到业内关注,但由于缺少高精度年代学资料,制约了对区域大地构造的深入研究。本文采用锆石U-Pb(LA-ICP-MS)方法,对镁铁—超镁铁质岩进行了年代学研究。变质辉绿岩年龄为270±5 Ma,变质橄榄岩中捕获锆石最小年龄为297 Ma,考虑岩石组合及二者紧密相伴产出,认为二者均形成于中二叠世。镁铁—超镁铁质岩中捕获的锆石记录了华北克拉通及其北缘多次重要的构造热事件。其中,变辉绿岩中获得446±6 Ma的年龄与变质橄榄岩中获得的不一致线下交点434±240 Ma年龄共同对应了华北克拉通北缘早古生代的重要构造岩浆热事件;大量的1.8~2.4Ga年龄对应古元古代辽吉造山带热事件;1377 Ma、1542 Ma与蓟县系建造时代对应;869~997 Ma与青白口系建造时代对应;在变质辉绿岩中还存在众多3.0~3.2Ga锆石年龄。分析上述年龄结构及龙岗陆块北缘古生代地质体分布特征,推测研究区深部可能存在古老的变质基底,同时也表明研究区出露的镁铁—超镁铁质岩形成于陆内构造环境,而非蛇绿岩的组成成分,这对深化区域大地构造研究具有重要意义。     

羌塘盆地晚侏罗世夏里组磁学参数指示的沉积环境及其成盐意义

羌塘盆地位于青藏高原中部,是一个具有沉积钠盐、钾盐远景的蒸发岩盆地。最近在羌塘盆地上侏罗统夏里组中发现多处具有钾、钠异常的盐泉这一重要的找钾盐线索,然而目前对上侏罗统夏里组的古环境演变仍然不甚了解,限制了对晚侏罗世羌塘盆地的成盐(成钾)条件和可能的层位等重大科学问题的理解。因此本文以热磁分析为主,对羌塘盆地雁石坪地区上侏罗统夏里组沉积物进行高分辨率岩石磁学研究,并讨论其古环境意义。最后,根据成盐(成钾)理论,综合分析羌塘盆地上侏罗统夏里组成盐(成钾)的构造、气候和物源条件。κ-T曲线、磁滞回线和热退磁结果共同表明磁铁矿和赤铁矿是夏里组的主要载磁矿物;磁学参数分析表明夏里组上段赤铁矿含量相对增加,揭示夏里组上段形成于干旱气候环境;综合分析构造、气候和物源条件表明,羌塘盆地上侏罗统夏里组上段最为具备良好的成盐(成钾)条件。     

扬子地台东南缘下寒武统清虚洞组风暴沉积特征及其重要意义

在扬子地台东南缘,下寒武统龙王庙阶清虚洞组主要由浅水碳酸盐岩组成。在野外露头剖面实测和室内镜下薄片观察的基础上,大量风暴沉积被发现于不同剖面清虚洞组的不同层位中,同时大量风暴诱发形成的沉积构造被识别出来,包括侵蚀基底、粗粒滞留沉积、粒序层理、平行层理、丘状交错层理(少见并且值得怀疑)以及沙纹层理,组成了多种类型的风暴沉积序列。结合更靠扬子东南缘的深水剖面中重力流沉积的缺乏,可以推断早寒武世龙王庙期扬子地台的沉积模式为碳酸盐缓坡。结合风暴的形成机制以及清虚洞组风暴沉积的发育特征(尤其是粗粒滞留砾屑的定向排列和典型丘状交错层理的缺乏),可以推断研究区风暴沉积形成于强烈的冬季风暴作用,并且早寒武世龙王庙期华南的古地理位置应当位于中纬度地区,这一结论对一些著名的全球古地理重建方案提出了质疑。同时中纬度地区大规模发育蒸发岩和碳酸盐岩还佐证了寒武纪地球处于热室(Hothouse)时期。     

Geochemistry of organic matter and elements of black shale during weathering in Northern Guizhou,Southwestern China: Their mobilization and inter-connection

Different from previous studies on effect of weathering upon geochemical variation along a single weathered profile, this paper provides a new methodology validated by comparing a weathered outcrop samples and their stratigraphic counterpart un-weathered core samples in a nearby shallow borehole. This outcrop and borehole penetrated the Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng–Longmaxi shales, located in the same anticline structure in the northern part of Guizhou Province, Southern China. The mineral composition, major, trace and rare earth elements (REEs) composition and Rock-Eval parameters of outcrop and core samples were analyzed and compared. Organic matter (OM) was observed in the microscope and extracted for elements analysis. The results show that short-term weathering still has significant influence on OM, mineral and elemental composition of black shales. The elements composition shows the outcrop profile was moderately weathered. The REEs compositions do not alter much during weathering process and the REEs composition and their relative ratios still are valid for rock origin determination. The OM, mainly composed by graptolite and bitumen, even entering the highly-over thermal maturity, is still sensitive to the weathering with a systematic loss 30–50% of TOC along the outcrop profile, which suggests that the OM consumption is predominantly controlled by weathering duration and the distance from the weathering surface. In turn, OM has significant influence on the trace elements transportation behavior during weathering. Some trace elements associated with the OM such as V, Cr, Th, U, Ni and Co, change significantly in their absolute concentration during weathering, but their relative ratios do not necessarily change too much and might be still reliable proxies for paleo-environmental determination. The mobility of shale minerals during weathering is in the following order: plagioclase?>?potassium feldspar and dolomite >pyrite and OM. Short-term weathering can also result in considerable transportation of elements and significant variation of minerals content in black shale, which may pose potentially high environmental and engineering risk in the regions rich in black shale.