Groundwater sustainability and groundwater/surface-water interaction in arid Dunhuang Basin,northwest China

The Dunhuang Basin, a typical inland basin in northwestern China, suffers a net loss of groundwater and the occasional disappearance of the Crescent Lake. Within this region, the groundwater/surface-water interactions are important for the sustainability of the groundwater resources. A three-dimensional transient groundwater flow model was established and calibrated using MODFLOW 2000, which was used to predict changes to these interactions once a water diversion project is completed. The simulated results indicate that introducing water from outside of the basin into the Shule and Danghe rivers could reverse the negative groundwater balance in the Basin. River-water/groundwater interactions control the groundwater hydrology, where river leakage to the groundwater in the Basin will increase from 3,114?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2017 to 11,875?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2021, and to 17,039?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2036. In comparison, groundwater discharge to the rivers will decrease from 3277?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2017 to 1857?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2021, and to 510?×?10⁴ m³/year by 2036; thus, the hydrology will switch from groundwater discharge to groundwater recharge after implementing the water diversion project. The simulation indicates that the increased net river infiltration due to the water diversion project will raise the water table and then effectively increasing the water level of the Crescent Lake, as the lake level is contiguous with the water table. However, the regional phreatic evaporation will be enhanced, which may intensify soil salinization in the Dunhuang Basin. These results can guide the water allocation scheme for the water diversion project to alleviate groundwater depletion and mitigate geo-environmental problem.     

南大巴山前陆冲断褶皱带断裂流体地球化学特征及构造保存研究

南大巴山前陆构造带位于城口断裂与铁溪-巫溪断裂之间,为研究该构造带断裂对烃类运移及构造对页岩气保存的影响,本文对该构造带内断裂流体的碳氧同位素和流体包裹体进行了测试分析。测试结果显示,研究区断裂流体碳氧同位素整体较围岩更为分散,δ~(13)C_(PDB)介于-2.9‰~3.9‰之间,属正常海相碳酸盐层的碳同位素值,坪坝断裂附近δ~(13)C_(PDB)呈明显亏损,具外来流体混合的特征。流体包裹体为含烃的气液二相盐水包裹体,气相成分为CH_4,液相为H_2O。包裹体均一温度以城口断裂附近最高,主要为311~336℃,频率峰值温度为328℃;往南叠瓦带流体均一温度主要位于183~269℃之间,峰值为230℃,断褶带峰值为213℃,滑脱褶皱带为170℃,整体表现为向盆内方向降低。盐度主要为4.43%~8.6%NaCl。研究表明,城口断裂作为大巴山构造带南北分界的主干断裂,古流体的形成温度和热演化程度最高,且从盆地向北至城口断裂,各构造带流体的热演化程度、成岩温度、古流体压力均逐渐升高,说明随着构造活动的增强,构造带中的流体更为活跃,持续时间更长,导致流体形成的深度和温度变化较大。构造带内的流体总体上形成于封闭体系,在主构造应力的驱动下,盆地深部含烃流体沿断裂向浅部运移,并与浅部地层流体发生混合,运移通道整体处于封闭状态;而构造带内的一些次级断裂,因其形成的时间以及向下延伸的深度不足以触及下古生界烃源岩层,因此其对流体封闭性的影响有限。     

Restriction function of lithology and its composite structure to deformation and failure of mining coal seam floor

We examined spatial distribution characteristics of extreme hydrological events in Xinjiang, China, using district data from 1901 to 2010. Frequency distribution showed a general symmetry along the Tianshan Mountains, with even distribution in Junggar Basin and Tarim Basin. Frequency was more in the north-west than in the south-east. The maximum incidence was in west Tianshan Mountains and generally decreased south-eastward. There were significant regional variations in type distribution. Rainstorm floods were more common in central Xinjiang. Hailstorms mainly occurred in the central Junggar Basin, the southern slope of the western Tianshan Mountains and north-west of Tarim Basin. Debris flow was mainly distributed in Ili Valley and the central northern Tianshan Mountains. Glacier lake outburst floods were more common in the Karakorum Mountains and southern slopes of the western Tianshan Mountains. Ice floods were mainly distributed in the western Tianshan Mountains. Snow hazards were mainly distributed in the wide northern areas, especially the Altai Mountains and Hamilton Basin. Snowmelt floods were mainly distributed in the Tacheng Basin and Ili Valley. The incidence of extreme hydrological events was greatly affected by weather systems and terrain features.     

Extremum solutions to the limit equilibrium method subjected to physical admissibility

In the slope stability analysis, the interslice force calculated by the method of slices is the internal force of the slope in the limit equilibrium state, which is vital to the design of reinforcement. However, none of the existing methods can guarantee a priori the interslice force is reasonable. Starting from the global analysis procedure, an optimization problem for maximizing the factor of safety is posed under the constraints that the system of forces in the sliding body is physically admissible. In the problem, both the factor of safety and the normal stress along the slip surface are taken as the independent variables. With weak nonlinearity and no numerical problems inherent in the methods of slices, the optimization problem can be solved by those conventional optimization techniques. No assumption is made regarding the interslice forces, but the system of forces from the optimization problem is physically admissible. To bracket the factor of safety, meanwhile, the minimum of the factor of safety is calculated through a minimization process under the same constraints as the maximization process. It is illustrated that for smooth slip surfaces, the solutions to the maximum and the minimum almost coincide, and for non-smooth slip surfaces, the interval of the solution is very narrow.     

Lithofacies paleogeography mapping and reservoir prediction in tight sandstone strata: A case study from central Sichuan Basin,China

Sand-rich tight sandstone reservoirs are potential areas for oil and gas exploration. However, the high ratio of sandstone thickness to that of the strata in the formation poses many challenges and uncertainties to traditional lithofacies paleogeography mapping. Therefore, the prediction of reservoir sweet spots has remained problematic in the field of petroleum exploration. This study provides new insight into resolving this problem, based on the analyses of depositional characteristics of a typical modern sand-rich formation in a shallow braided river delta of the central Sichuan Basin, China. The varieties of sand-rich strata in the braided river delta environment include primary braided channels, secondary distributary channels and the distribution of sediments is controlled by the successive superposed strata deposited in paleogeomorphic valleys. The primary distributary channels have stronger hydrodynamic forces with higher proportions of coarse sand deposits than the secondary distributary channels. Therefore, lithofacies paleogeography mapping is controlled by the geomorphology, valley locations, and the migration of channels. We reconstructed the paleogeomorphology and valley systems that existed prior to the deposition of the Xujiahe Formation. Following this, rock-electro identification model for coarse skeletal sand bodies was constructed based on coring data. The results suggest that skeletal sand bodies in primary distributary channels occur mainly in the valleys and low-lying areas, whereas secondary distributary channels and fine deposits generally occur in the highland areas. The thickness distribution of skeletal sand bodies and lithofacies paleogeography map indicate a positive correlation in primary distributary channels and reservoir thickness. A significant correlation exists between different sedimentary facies and petrophysical properties. In addition, the degree of reservoir development in different sedimentary facies indicates that the mapping method reliably predicts the distribution of sweet spots. The application and understanding of the mapping method provide a reference for exploring tight sandstone reservoirs on a regional basis.     

Holocene palaeoflood events recorded by slackwater deposits along the lower Jinghe River valley,middle Yellow River basin,China

Palaeoflood slackwater deposits (SWDs), are the natural record of overbank flooding and are often found within aeolian loess‐soil profiles along the river valleys of the middle Yellow River basin. These pedo‐stratigraphic sequences are studied using a multi‐disciplinarily approach to reconstruct Holocene hydro‐climatic variations. Our field investigations along the lower Jinghe River valley have identified palaeoflood SWDs at several sites along the riverbanks based on sedimentological criteria. Analytical results, including magnetic susceptibility, particle‐size distribution and concentrations of chemical elements, indicate that these well‐sorted palaeoflood SWD beds were deposited from the suspended sediment load in floodwaters. We identify two episodes of extraordinary palaeoflood events along the Jinghe River valley. These hydro‐climatic events were dated to 4200–4000 and 3200–2800 a BP, by using the optically stimulated luminescence method in combination with archaeological dating of retrieved anthropogenic remains, and with pedo‐stratigraphic correlations with the previously studied Holocene pedo‐stratigraphy in the Jinghe River drainage basin. The flooding events are therefore considered to be a regional expression of known climatic events in the northern hemisphere and demonstrate Holocene climate was far from stable. This study provides important data in understanding the interactions between regional hydro‐climatic systems and global change in semi‐arid and sub‐humid regions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

鄂尔多斯盆地南部奥陶系马六段白云岩特征及形成机制研究

鄂尔多斯盆地马六段在盆地大部分地区被剥蚀,仅在盆地周缘地区分布,因此,有关该盆地马六段白云岩成因研究较少。本文通过对马六段白云岩岩石学特征、阴极发光特征、微量元素特征以及碳氧同位素地球化学特征进行分析,对鄂尔多斯盆地南部马六段白云岩特征及形成机制进行了研究。研究结果表明,盆地南部马六段白云岩主要由细—中晶白云岩组成,白云石具"雾心亮边"结构,阴极发光呈暗红色光。微量元素总体上具有较低的Fe、Mn值,平均值分别为447×10~(-6)和62×10~(-6),较高的K、Na值,平均值分别为517×10-6和252×10~(-6),以及中等含量的Sr元素值,平均值为155×10~(-6)。δ~(13)C值平均为-0.617‰,δ~(18)O值平均为-7.6‰,以上特征均反映出海源流体特征。白云石的"雾心"和"亮边"结构中微量元素含量相差不大,认为是在相同成岩环境的不同成岩阶段形成,其中"雾心"形成于浅埋藏环境的渗透回流白云石化作用,而"亮边"是在深埋藏环境下对早期白云石的调整和加强。     

Study of galvanic interactions between pyrite and chalcopyrite in a flowing system: implications for the environment

When galvanic interactions between pyrite and chalcopyrite occur in solution, pyrite, with the higher rest potential, acts as a cathode and is protected whereas chalcopyrite, with the lower rest potential, acts as an anode and its oxidation is increased. In this work a three-electrode system was used to investigate the corrosion current density and mixed potential of a galvanic cell comprising a pyrite cathode and a chalcopyrite anode in a flowing system. The results showed that with increasing concentration of ferric ion in the solution, with increasing acidity, and with increasing flow rate of the solution, the corrosion current density increased and the mixed potential of the galvanic cell became more positive. These experimental results are of direct significance to the control of environmental pollution in mining activity. By using the galvanic model, mixed potential theory, and the Butler–Volmer equation, the experimental results were explained theoretically.     

Failure mechanisms and dynamics of the Shanzao rockslide in Yongjia County,China on 10 August 2019

Landslides - At about 04:00 on 10 August 2019, the heavy rainfall carried by Typhoon Lekima induced a catastrophic rockslide in Shanzao Village, Yongjia County, China. The heavy rainfall triggered...