Geochemical analyses of geological layers and groundwater flows

X-ray fluorescent spectroscope analysis easily finds ratios of geochemical elements in soil. Applying the method of ratio matching to measured ratios, the classification of geological layers, and the flow directions of groundwater can be determined. This method is applied to three hill slopes in Japan and the results are in good agreement with the observations and measurements of soil cores obtained by drilling. The classification of geological layers is found to be quantitatively connected with the rates of organic matter in soil cores. Received: 5 February 1999 · Accepted: 7 September 1999     

DEM simulations of sandstone under true triaxial compressive tests

Numerically simulated true triaxial compression tests (σ ₁ ≥ σ ₂ ≥ σ ₃) are conducted in this study to elucidate the failure mechanism of sandstone using 3D discrete element method (DEM), in particular the effect of the intermediate principal stress (σ ₂). Eight series of tests (σ ₃ = 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 100 MPa) are conducted. Within each series, σ ₂ is varied from σ ₂ = σ ₃ to σ ₂ = σ ₁ from test to test. For each test, σ ₁ is raised monotonically to failure while keeping σ ₂ and σ ₃ constant. The DEM simulations reveal the effect of σ ₂ on the variations of peak stress, Young’s modulus, failure plane angles, the brittle–ductile transition, and the evolution of failure modes, the effect beyond the well-understood effect of σ ₃. The simulation is in qualitative agreement with the results obtained experimentally. Detailed analyses performed on the particle-scale responses further the understanding of the microscopic mechanisms. The distribution of contact force becomes more homogeneous with the increase of σ ₃, which leads to the resulting damage being more localized rather than diffused. The interaction between contact force distribution and coalescence of cracks determines the processes and patterns of fracturing in the sample scale. σ ₂ is found to affect the microscopic stress distribution as well as structure evolution, and this effect weakens with the increase of σ ₃.     

Geochemistry and health aspects of F-rich mountainous streams and groundwaters from sierras Pampeanas de Cordoba,Argentina

Symptoms of dental fluorosis have been observed in rural communities located in the Sierras Pampeanas de Córdoba, a mountainous area in Central Argentina. The clinical assessment was performed in the Charbonier Department, where the fluoride (F⁻) intake was determined to be 3.90 ± 0.20 mg day⁻¹ (n = 16). In this community, mild and severe fluorosis reach an incidence of 86.7% (total teeth surface = 636 teeth) among the children population. To determine the origin and distribution of fluorine in natural waters from the Charbonier Department and nearby regions, sampling was performed in the area covering the San Marcos River basin. The obtained results show that F⁻ concentrations vary between ~1 to ~2.5 mg l⁻¹, with an outlier value of 8 mg l⁻¹. The spatial distribution of F⁻ shows that the lowest concentrations are found at the basin’s catchments. Maximum values are located in two sectors of the basin: the Charbonier depression in the eastern part and at the San Marcos village, downstream the main collector, in the western part of the basin. In these two regions, the F⁻ contents in ground- and surface waters are >2.0 mg l⁻¹ and nearly constant. Dissolved F⁻ in natural waters from the study area has its origin in the weathering of F-bearing minerals present in the region’s dominant lithology. The extent of mineral weathering is mostly determined by the residence time of water within the aquatic reservoir. Longer residence times and a major solid–water interaction lead to enhanced release of F⁻. This explains the higher F⁻ concentrations found in basin areas with lower run off. The removal of F⁻ from water appears to occur by neither fluorite precipitation, nor by adsorption. Hence, variations in F⁻ concentrations seem to be more related to regional hydrological conditions.     

Coesite inclusions in diamonds of Yakutia

The results of the study of diamonds with inclusions of high-pressure modification of SiO₂ (coesite) by Raman spectroscopy are reported. It is established that the octahedral crystal from the Zapolyarnaya pipe is characterized by the highest residual pressure (2.7 ± 0.07 GPa). An intermediate value of this parameter (2.1 ± 0.07 GPa) was obtained for a crystal of transitional habit from the Maiskaya pipe. The minimal Raman shift was registered for coesite in diamond from the Komsomol’skaya–Magnitnaya pipe and provided a calculated residual pressure of 1.8 ± 0.03 GPa. The residual pressures for crystals from the placer deposits of the Kuoika and Bol’shaya Kuonamka rivers are 2.7 ± 0.07 and 3.1 ± 0.1 GPa, respectively. Octahedral crystals were formed in the mantle at a higher pressure than rhombododecahedral diamonds.     

Transport of dissolved methoxy-nonafluorobutane through a saturated column

Solute transport experiments were conducted in a one-dimensional saturated column using dissolved methoxy-nonafluorobutane (HFE-7100), a Novec engineered fluid developed by the 3M Corporation, as the solute. Novec engineered fluids are considered dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) because they are immiscible with water and have a specific gravity greater than one. The HFE-7100 fluid is safer and environmentally friendlier than common DNAPL contaminants such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE) or trichloroethylene (TCE); thus, it is an ideal substitute DNAPL for laboratory groundwater contamination research. Three sets of solute transport experiments were conducted. The first set of experiments was conducted in a glass-bead-packed column using dissolved HFE-7100 as the solute. The second set of experiments was conducted in a sand-packed column using dissolved HFE-7100 as the solute. The third set of experiments was conducted in a sand-packed column using dissolved PCE as the solute. The dissolved HFE-7100 column breakthrough concentrations were compared with dissolved PCE breakthrough concentrations. Results show that the one-dimensional solute transport equation was successful in describing the transport behavior of dissolved HFE-7100. This study demonstrates that the HFE-7100 fluid can be used as a safer substitute DNAPL for groundwater contaminant dissolution and transport research.     

An example of identifying karst groundwater flow

 Hydrogeological investigations for the purpose of regulating the karst aquifer were carried out in the mountain massif of Kucaj in the Carpatho-Balkan range of eastern Serbia. Different geophysical methods were applied in order to identify the position of karstified zones with active circulation of karst underground streams. Especially good results were obtained by using the spontaneous potential method for the exploration and construction of boreholes and wells. In the valleys of Crni Timok and Radovanska reka the measurements have been carried out upstream along the whole width of the alluvium to the limestone periphery. A number of positive and negative anomalies have been recorded. In the centres of positive anomalies several boreholes were located: HG-19 (centre of anomaly +30 mV, total length of the biggest cavern is 9 m); HG-1 (+20 mV, cavern of 2 m); HG-15 (max. +114 mV, effective cavernousness is 17%). Received: 20 February 1995 · Accepted: 12 September 1997     

Exploration geochemistry—Distribution of elements and recognition of anomalies

The exploration geochemist faces a serious problem in reconciling theoretical statistics with the empirical distribution of elements in materials in the earth's crust. The results of computer-simulation experiments being conducted by the Exploration Geochemistry Group at the University of New Brunswick illustrate some of the problems of the relation between frequency distributions and spatial distributions of elements and raise some interesting questions about sampling patterns and physical size of samples. Most importantly, the simulation experiments and empirical examples support the contention that attempts to make an assumption of normality more efficient by performing log transformations on positively skewed data may defeat the purpose of statistical analysis for exploration work. New developments in computer-data presentation and interpretation, including population sorting and classification, illustrate the increasing use of the computer in exploration geochemistry.     

Hydrofracture mechanisms in rock during pressure grouting

Summary Hydrofracture Mechanisms in Rock During Pressure Grouting. The paper examines the basic meachnisms controlling the initiation of fractures in rocks and layered soils during pressure grouting, and their subsequent propagation into the ground mass. Previous analyses of fracture initiation have tended to concentrate on simplified models in which the ground is treated as an impervious elastic or Mohr-Coulomb continuum. The present method allows for the porous or fissured nature of the ground by considering the effect of seepage forces induced by the pore pressure gradient. The effect is quantified by use of a parameterN such that the ratio of fluid force used in expanding the injection hole, to that used in forcing fluid through void spaces, isN to (1—N).Analysis of hydrofracture propagation is based on stress analysis of a borehole in an elastic continuum, the propagating fracture zone around the borehole being represented as a non-elastic material governed by the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. This is supplemented by an energy approach which equates the energy supplied to the ground from the injection pump, with the energy stored in the ground and the energy necessary to fracture it.

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Zusammenfassung Brucherscheinungen im Fels bei Verprearbeiten. In der Arbeit wird der grundlegende Mechanismus untersucht, welcher bei Verpreßarbeiten in Fels und geschichtetem Boden zur Einleitung und Ausbreitung von Brüchen führt. Frühere Untersuchungen des Bruchbeginns stützten sich im wesentlichen auf vereinfachte Modelle, in denen der Untergrund als undurchlässiges Kontinuum angesehen wird, das entweder elastisch ist oder der Mohr-Coulombschen Bruchbedingung genügt. Die neue Methode berücksichtigt dagegen eine Porosität oder Klüftung des Untergrundes durch Ansatz der vom strömenden Medium auf das Gebirge ausgeübten Belastung. Diese Belastung wird aufgeteilt in einen Druckverlust an der Bohrlochwand (gleich ParameterN mal Verpreßdruck) und die entsprechende, über den gesamten durchströmten Bereich verteilte Belastung.Die Untersuchung der Bruchausbreitung geht von der Spannungsermittlung um ein Bohrloch in einem elastischen Kontinuum aus, wobei in der sich ausbreitenden Bruchzone um das Bohrloch herum nichtelastisches Material angenommen wird, das dem Mohr-Coulombschen Bruchkriterium genügt. Zur Ergänzung dient eine Energie-Betrachtung, bei der die von der Injektionspumpe abgegebene Energie gleichgesetzt wird der im Untergrund gespeicherten Energie und der aufgewendeten Brucharbeit.

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Résumé Les mécanismes de la fracturation hydraulique dans les roches pendant les injections sous pression. Le mémoire examine les mécanismes fondamentaux qui gouvernent l'initiation des ruptures dans les roches et les sols stratifiés, au cours des injections et leur propagation dans les massifs. Les analyses antérieures de l'initiation de la rupture, se sont concentrées sur des modèles simplifiés où l'on considérait la roche comme un milieu élastique et imperméable, ou comme un milieu de Mohr-Coulomb. La présente méthode admet que le massif est poreux ou fissuré, en considérant l'action des forces de percolation engendrées par le gradient de pression interstitielle. Cette action est quantifiée par un paramètreN, tel que le rapport de la force du liquide employée à dilater le forage d'injection, à celle employée pour forcer le coulis à travers les vides soitN/(1—N). L'analyse de la propagation des ruptures se base sur l'analyse des contraintes autour d'un forage dans un milieu élastique, alors que la zone de la rupture qui se propage autour du forage est représentée par un milieu non-élastique admettant le critère de rupture de Mohr-Coulomb. Cette analyse est complétée par une approche énergétique, où l'énergie qui est fournie au massif par la pompe d'injection est égalée à l'énergie emmagasinée dans la roche et à l'énergie de rupture.

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Nomenclature A area of new cracks created per unit volume of time t - E total work done by injection fluid - E _i irrecoverable component of energy - E _{i c} work done in fracturing rock or soil - E _{i l} work done to overcome various frictional forces in grouting system - E _{i p} work done to cause plastic deformation of fractured zone - E _{i s} work done to overcome shear strength of fluid during flow - E _{i v} work done to overcome frictional drag between fluid and rock in soil surfaces during flow - E _r recoverable component of energy - E _{r f} elastic strain energy stored in fluid - E _{r s} elastic strain energy stored in rock or soil - h height of overburden - i j 1, 2, 3 - K ₀ coefficient of horizontal earth pressure - k permeability of ground to grout - L length of cylindrical grout source - n rock or soil porosity - p average fluid pressure between timet and (t + t) - p ₀ injection pressure - R radius of grout front - r radial distance from borehole axis - r ₀ radius of borehole - r ₁ radius of fractured zone - S specific surface area of rock or soil - S _T tensile strength of rock or soil - t time - u grout seepage velocity - V volume of grout injected - v volumetric strain - specific surface energy of rock - bulk density of rock or soil - _{i j} ^e elastic strain increment tensor - _{i j} plastic strain increment tensor - v Poisson's ratio - _{i j} average stress tensor in the ground during timet and (t + t) - _R , _T, _Z radial, tangential and vertical stresses induced by grouting - _r , _t , _z radial, tangential and vertical stress around borehole before grouting - grout shear strength - angle of internal friction of rock or soil With 7 Figures     

Perylene and its geochemical significance

Perylene was found in a variety of marine sediments, in a shale and in peat. It is suggested that its precursors arise predominantly from land organisms and are carried into oceanic traps along with detrital minerals. When rates of deposition are fast, and reducing conditions are established within the sediment, biogenic pigment precursors of perylene are converted to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, which is then stabilized by π-bonding with metals and protected from degradation.     

Formation of intracratonic basins by lithospheric shortening and phase changes: a case study from the ultra‐deep East Barents Sea basin

The origin of large subsidence in intracratonic basins is still under debate. We propose a new and self‐consistent model for the formation of those basins, where lithospheric shortening/buckling triggers metamorphism and densification of crustal mafic heterogeneities. We use a forward thermo‐mechanical finite element technique to evaluate this mechanism for the typical example of the East Barents Sea basin (EBB) where a very large and compensated subsidence, accommodating an up to 20‐km‐thick sediment succession, is observed. The lower crust in the dynamic model is modelled with petrologic‐consistent densities for a wet mafic gabbroic composition that depend on pressure and temperature taking into account dehydration at high PT conditions. The model successfully explains the main characteristics of the EBB, notably the large anomalous and fast subsidence during the Late Permian–Early Triassic, its present‐day geometry and the absence of a significant gravity anomaly.