Evaluation of three waterborne polymers as stabilizers for sandy soil

This study reports on waterborne polymer emulsion systems that were used for structural modification of sandy soils. The first emulsion used was a styrene-acrylic, copolymer emulsion; the second and third were vinyl-acrylic, copolymer-based emulsions. Specimens were prepared by adding different polymer emulsions to the sand and water in prescribed amounts. The performance of the different emulsion systems as sand stabilizers was estimated through measurement of the hydraulic conductivity and compressive strength. Measurements of hydraulic conductivity were conducted in a flexible membrane test apparatus. The hydraulic conductivity for the three emulsions decreased at different rates, with an increase in polymer content up to 3 wt. (i.e., % by weight). Additional increase of polymer content did not introduce significant decrease in hydraulic conductivity, and, at 5 wt.%, the three emulsions had essentially the same effect. Measurements made on dry cylindrical specimens disclosed remarkable enhancement in the mechanical behavior of the system. The compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of the examined emulsions increased with a higher concentration of polymer. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that the reduction in the permeability and the improved mechanical properties can be attributed to three dominant structural changes: the development of interconnecting ties between the sand particles, the development of adhesion between neighboring sand particles in contact, and the covering of the sand particles with a thin polymer film.     

Synchrotron IR study of hydrous ringwoodite (γ-Mg2SiO4) up to 30 GPa

High-pressure synchrotron infrared (IR) absorption spectra were collected between 650 and 4,000 cm⁻¹ at ambient temperature for hydrous Mg-ringwoodite (γ-Mg₂SiO₄) up to 30 GPa. The main feature in the OH⁻ stretching region is an extremely broad band centred at 3,150 cm⁻¹. The hydrogen bond is strong for most protons and the most probable site for protonation is the tetrahedral edge. With increasing pressure, this band shifts downward while decreasing its integrated intensity until disappearance at a pressure of 25 GPa. Only one band at 2,450 cm⁻¹ and an absorption plateau persist with a maximum wavenumber of 3,800 cm⁻¹. This behaviour is reversible upon pressure release. We interpret this as a second-order phase transition occurring in hydrated Mg-ringwoodite at high pressure (beyond ∼ 25 GPa). This result is compatible with the observation by Kleppe et al. (Phys Chem Miner 29:473–476, 2002a) who suggested the presence of Si–O–Si linkages and/or partial increase in the coordination of Si. Beyond the phase transition, the protons are delocalized and their environment on the ringwoodite structure is probably quite different from that at low pressure. Data obtained in situ at high pressures and temperatures are needed to better understand the effect of protonation on the structure and to better constrain this phase transition.     

Faulted backfold versus reactivated backthrust: the role of inherited structures during late extension in the frontal Piémont nappes east of Pelvoux (Western Alps)

In the central part of the internal Western Alps, widespread multidirectional normal faulting resulted in an orogen-scale radial extension during the Neogene. We revisit the frontal Piémont units, between Doire and Ubaye, where contrasting lithologies allow analysing the interference with the N–S trending Oligocene compressive structures. A major extensional structure is the orogen-perpendicular Chenaillet graben, whose development was guided by an E–W trending transfer fault zone between the Chaberton backfold to the north and the Rochebrune backthrust to the south. The Chaberton hinge zone was passively crosscut by planar normal faults, resulting in a E–W trending step-type structure. Within the Rochebrune nappe, E–W trending listric normal faults bound tilted blocks that slipped northward along the basal backthrust surface reactivated as an extensional detachment. Gravity-driven gliding is suggested by the general northward tilting of the structure in relation with the collapse of the Chenaillet graben. The stress tensors computed from brittle deformation analysis confirm the predominance of orogen-parallel extension in the entire frontal Piémont zone. This can be compared with the nearby Briançonnnais nappe stack where the extensional reactivation of thrust surfaces locally resulted in prominent orogen-perpendicular extension. Such a contrasting situation illustrates how the main direction of the late-Alpine extension may be regionally governed by the nature and orientation of the pre-existing structures inherited from the main collision stage.     

Investigating the scale of structural controls on chlorinated hydrocarbon distributions in the fractured-porous unsaturated zone of a sandstone aquifer in the UK

Contaminant migration behaviour in the unsaturated zone of a fractured porous aquifer is discussed in the context of a study site in Cheshire, UK. The site is situated on gently dipping sandstones, adjacent to a linear lagoon historically used to dispose of industrial wastes containing chlorinated solvents. Two cores of more than 100 m length were recovered and measurements of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs), inorganic chemistry, lithology, fracturing and aquifer properties were made. The results show that selecting an appropriate vertical sampling density is crucial both to providing an understanding of contaminant pathways and distinguishing whether CHCs are present in the aqueous or non-aqueous phase. The spacing of such sampling should be on a similar scale to the heterogeneity that controls water and contaminant movement. For some sections of the Permo-Triassic aquifer, significant changes in lithology and permeability occur over vertical distances of less than 1 m and samples need to be collected at this interval, otherwise considerable resolution is lost, potentially leading to erroneous interpretation of data. At this site, although CHC concentrations were high, the consistent ratio of the two main components of the plume (tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene) provided evidence of movement in the aqueous phase rather than in dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL).     

Effect of sampling and linkage on fault length and length–displacement relationship

The power-law exponent (n) in the equation: D=cL ⁿ , with D = maximum displacement and L = fault length, would be affected by deviations of fault trace length. (1) Assuming n=1, numerical simulations on the effect of sampling and linkage on fault length and length–displacement relationship are done in this paper. The results show that: (a) uniform relative deviations, which means all faults within a dataset have the same relative deviation, do not affect the value of n; (b) deviations of the fault length due to unresolved fault tip decrease the values of n and the deviations of n increase with the increasing length deviations; (c) fault linkage and observed dimensions either increase or decrease the value of n depending on the distribution of deviations within a dataset; (d) mixed deviations of the fault lengths are either negative or positive and cause the values of n to either decrease or increase; (e) a dataset combined from two or more datasets with different values of c and orders of magnitude also cause the values of n to deviate. (2) Data including 19 datasets and spanning more than eight orders of fault length magnitudes (10⁻²–10⁵ m) collected from the published literature indicate that the values of n range from 0.55 to 1.5, the average value being 1.0813, and the peak value of n _d (double regression) is 1.0–1.1. Based on above results from the simulations and published data, we propose that the relationship between the maximum displacement and fault length in a single tectonic environment with uniform mechanical properties is linear, and the value of n deviated from 1 is mainly caused by the sampling and linkage effects.     

关于角平分线法建立线状缓冲区算法的改进

分析了用对角平分线法建立缓冲区的算法,提出了一种新的求角平分线和缓冲点的方法,实践证明其在算法实现方面是可行的,而且效果比较理想。     

裂缝性岩石裂缝扩展的光弹构造物理模拟——以南华北盆地户部寨沙河阶组为例

以南华北盆地户部寨第三系沙河阶组粉砂岩低渗透储层为例,总结了其中发育的5种类型构造裂缝组合,即:①南北向雁形张节理组成的共轭剪节理带;②东西向雁形张节理组成的共轭剪节理带;③缠结状多组剪切构造裂缝;④组合状交切的多组剪切构造裂缝及张裂缝;⑤散状无序排列的构造裂缝。在此基础上,建立光弹性试验构造物理模型,沿现应力场96°方向,均匀地对该模型逐步增加外载力。结果表明,沿各组合裂缝尖端分别形成对称于裂缝走向、且主轴垂直于裂缝的Ⅰ型等色线条纹;对称于裂缝走向、且主轴平行于裂缝走向的Ⅱ型条纹和斜交于裂缝走向的复合型(Ⅲ型)条纹。第①类组合裂缝尖端以Ⅰ型等色线条纹的拉张应力和张剪应力为主;第②类组合裂缝尖端以复合型(Ⅲ型)等色线条纹的挤压应力为主;第③、④和⑤类组合裂缝尖端的应力分布较为复杂。当模型外载荷接近1000kg时,裂缝尖端起裂,并开始发育显微裂缝,而当外载荷达1100-1200 kg时,沿裂缝尖端部位形成宏观裂缝,并开始扩展。5种类型的裂缝组合扩展发育程度由强至弱依次为:①,③,⑤,②,④。其中第①类共轭裂缝组合起裂最早,扩展最快,裂缝间的连通趋势最好,说明规则分布的构造裂缝组合,在垂直于外施加载衙时更易达到连通的目的。     

豫陕交界地区钾长石矿产地质特征及开发前景

本文研究证明区内有南、北两条钾长石成矿带，其产出形态、矿化特征、矿石类型均有差异，且导致了它们在工业应用上的不同。区内矿体以岩脉或岩株产出，有红色、浅红色、白色3种矿石。白色矿石富钾低铁，达到国标一级品，其余矿石为二级以下品级，均具有一定的销售市场。从全国的供需形势分析，今后钾长石矿产品市场前景广阔，而区内钾长石资源进一步找矿的潜力仍然很大。     

甘肃花岗岩类成矿作用研究与找矿方向

甘肃省花岗岩分布广泛，与其有关的矿产资源也十分丰富。笔者将甘肃省划分为北山、敦煌一阿拉善、祁连山及西秦岭4个构造-花岗岩-矿化区；进一步在北山、祁连山及西秦岭3个区划分出20个构造-花岗岩-矿化带；并就加强花岗岩成矿作用的研究和找矿工作提出了具体的工作思路与建议。     

新疆卡拉麦里金矿带成矿规律及找矿预测

新疆卡拉麦里成矿带内地层较全、构造发育、岩浆活动频繁，志留系、泥盆系和石炭系在带内广泛发育，为本区主要含金地层．卡拉麦里深断裂严格控制区内侵入岩、次一级构造和矿产分布，构成岩浆侵入的主要通道，与此有关的次一级断层和裂隙则构成良好的赋存空间．卡拉麦里深大断裂纵贯全区，金成矿地质条件优越，沿走向Au异常、金矿床(点)成群成带分布，最后确定了7个金找矿远景区．