Hydrostratigraphic modeling of a complex,glacial-drift aquifer system for importation into MODFLOW

Deposition from at least three episodes of glaciation left a complex glacial-drift aquifer system in central Illinois. The deepest and largest of these aquifers, the Sankoty-Mahomet Aquifer, occupies the lower part of a buried bedrock valley and supplies water to communities throughout central Illinois. Thin, discontinuous aquifers are present within glacial drift overlying the Sankoty-Mahomet Aquifer. This study was commissioned by local governments to identify possible areas where a regional water supply could be obtained from the aquifer with minimal adverse impacts on existing users. Geologic information from more than 2,200 existing water well logs was supplemented with new data from 28 test borings, water level measurements in 430 wells, and 35 km of surface geophysical profiles. A three-dimensional (3-D) hydrostratigraphic model was developed using a contouring software package, a geographic information system (GIS), and the 3-D geologic modeling package, EarthVision. The hydrostratigraphy of the glacial-drift sequence was depicted as seven uneven and discontinuous layers, which could be viewed from an infinite number of horizontal and vertical slices and as solid models of any layer. Several iterations were required before the 3-D model presented a reasonable depiction of the aquifer system. Layers from the resultant hydrostratigraphic model were imported into MODFLOW, where they were modified into continuous layers. This approach of developing a 3-D hydrostratigraphic model can be applied to other areas where complex aquifer systems are to be modeled and is also useful in helping lay audiences visualize aquifer systems.     

Arsenic in glacial aquifers: sources and geochemical controls

A total of 176 wells in sand-and-gravel glacial aquifers in central Illinois were sampled for arsenic (As) and other chemical parameters. The results were combined with archived and published data from several hundred well samples to determine potential sources of As and the potential geochemical controls on its solubility and mobility. There was considerable spatial variability in the As concentrations. High concentrations were confined to areas smaller than 1 km in diameter. Arsenic and well depth were uncorrelated. Arsenic solubility appeared to be controlled by oxidation-reduction (redox) conditions, especially the presence of organic matter. Geochemical conditions in the aquifers are typically reducing, but only in the most reducing water does As accumulate in solution. In wells in which total organic carbon (TOC) was below 2 mg/L and sulfate (SO4(2-)) was present, As concentrations were low or below the detection limit (0.5 microg/L). Arsenic concentrations >10 microg/L were almost always found in wells where TOC was >2 mg/L and SO4(2-) was absent or at low concentrations, indicating post-SO4 (2-)reducing conditions. Iron (Fe) is common in the aquifer sediments, and Fe oxide reduction appears to be occurring throughout the aquifers. Arsenic is likely released from the solid phase as Fe oxide is reduced.     

北海断层封闭性分析

多数北海构造圈闭至少需要一条断层来充当封闭性断层。在北海进行区域研究时，从１０１个勘探目标和２５个油气田中选择了４００多个断层加以分析，这些断层切穿了来自多种沉积环境（海相、海陆过渡相、陆相）碎屑岩沉积层序。本次研究的重点是地质历史时期中可以起到压力或运移遮挡的断层封闭性。通过绘制多种参数，如断层走向、断距、储层厚度、深度、有效厚度与总厚度比值、孔隙度、砂岩有效连通性等与断层封闭性能的关系图，确定各种参数间的分布趋势和相关关系。以预测断层封闭特点、断层分布方向与封闭性之间存在着某种相关关系，断距经过校正到占储层厚度一定比例之后，与断层封闭性之间存在着比例关系，大多数断距大于储层厚度的断层都是封闭性断层。在断层封闭性预测中最有用的参数是断距，有效厚度与总厚度的比伍（净／总）和砂岩有效连通性。本次研究的结论对在北海盆地碎屑岩沉积层序中进行油气勘探和开发时的断层封闭性预测有广泛的适用性，或许也可以应用于其它地区。     

东海瓯江凹陷下第三系层序地层学研究

运用威尔(P. R. Val)等人层序地层学的新慨念,对瓯江凹陷下第三系进行了层序地层分析和研究,确定了四个区域不整合面,三套层序,每一套层序又可划分出低水位体系域,海进体系域,高水位体系域。每个体系域,在钻井上可以发现相应的各种沉积相和生物化石。沉积环境的变化,生物化石带的演变反映了海平面变化的控制作用,并能同全球海平面变化对比。     

西湖凹陷第三纪盆地演化及沉积特征

第三纪,西湖凹陷经历了弧后盆地、残余弧后盆地至前陆盆地的发展过程。不同盆地类型具有不同的构造格局和构造活动特征。不同的控相机制导致不同的盆地充填方式和沉积特征。本文从弧后扩张、扩张停止及岩浆弧造山作用应力机制出发,讨论了西湖凹陷盆地结构发展过程及其对沉积特征的控制作用。     

Urban structures as marine habitats: an experimental comparison of the composition and abundance of subtidal epibiota among pilings, pontoons and rocky reefs

There remains little understanding of the relationship between the ecologies of urban habitats (pilings and pontoons) and natural habitats (rocky reef) for sessile plants and animals (epibiota) living on urbanised coasts. This study describes the structure of subtidal assemblages of epibiota among pilings, pontoons and adjacent rocky reef in Sydney Harbour, Australia. I tested the prediction that the experimental provision of substrata of the same age and composition in all three habitats would produce assemblages that: (1) differed among all three habitats; and (2) differed most on floating pontoons relative to the two fixed habitats (pilings and reef). As predicted, the results suggested that both pilings and pontoons, particularly the latter, create novel habitats for epibiotic assemblages independent of age and composition of substratum. It is not fully understood why these urban structures act as such different habitats from natural rocky reefs. The important point is that they are different and we are yet to understand the implications of this for the ecology of coastal areas subject to urbanisation.