Microstructural characteristics of the Whitby Mudstone Formation (UK)

When trying to improve gas productivity from unconventional sources a first aim is to understand gas storage and gas flow potential through the rock by investigating the microstructure, mineralogy and matrix porosity of unfractured shale. The porosity and mineralogy of the Mulgrave Shale member of the Whitby Mudstone Formation (UK) were characterized using a combination of microscopy, X-ray diffraction and gas adsorption methods on samples collected from outcrops. The Whitby Mudstone is an analogue for the Dutch Posidonia Shale which is a possible unconventional source for gas. The Mulgrave shale member of the Whitby Mudstone Formation can microstructurally be subdivided into a fossil rich (>15%) upper half and a sub-mm mineralogically laminated lower half. All clasts are embedded within a fine-grained matrix (all grains < 2 μm) implying that any possible flow of gas will depend on the porosity and the pore network present within this matrix. The visible SEM porosity (pore diameter > 100 nm) is in the order of 0.5–2.5% and shows a non-connected pore network in 2D. Gas adsorption (N2, Ar, He) porosity (pore diameters down to 2 nm) has been measured to be 0.3–7%. Overall more than 40% of the visible porosity is present within the matrix. Comparing the Whitby Mudstone Formation to other (producing) gas shales shows that the rock plots in the low porosity and high clay mineral content range, which could imply that Whitby Mudstone shales could be less favourable to mechanical fracturing than other gas shales. Estimated permeability indicates values in the micro-to nano-darcy range.     

利用太阳光度计测值估算北京上空水汽含量

基于CE318自动跟踪太阳光度计水汽通道（936nm）和一个窗区通道（870nm）的北京上空太阳直射辐射观测数据，利用修改的兰勒方法对大气柱水汽含量的估算方法，开展了太阳光度计的标定和北京上空水汽含量的计算等。利用探空观测结果对太阳光度计测量水汽量的标定显示，二者的线性相关性为0．986，定标不确定度为0．024g／cm^2。利用该方法对从2002至2004年观测的北京地区水汽含量进行了估算，结果表明在1，2，3，11，12月份，北京地区大气柱的水汽含量基本上小于0．5g／cm^2，三年中同月份水汽含量的平均值有较好的一致性。     

Laser Scanning的基本原理及其应用前景

首先介绍了激光测距仪的发展历程,针对应用领域的不同,分别对3维激光成像仪和机载/星载激光测高仪的测量原理进行了阐述,并分别介绍了两种激光测距仪的工作流程以及数据处理流程,最后对两种激光测距仪的应用范围进行了阐述,并把两种激光测距技术和普通摄影测量进行了比较,指出了激光测距技术相对于普通摄影测量的优点,即高精度性、穿透性、实时性。     

Slope process change and colluvium deposition in Swaziland: An SEM analysis

Electron microscope analysis of sixty samples taken from six colluvium sites in Swaziland has shown that the quartz grains exhibit marked edge abrasion in the uppermost beds of exposures. This edge abrasion is lacking in the lower beds in all sections examined and indicates slope process change during colluvium deposition. A model of slope evolution is provided, in which slope erosion progressively brings about more channelling and causes greater surface roughness because of the exhumation of more core stones and differentially weathered rock. This roughness causes increased edge abrasion.     

Effects of Laboratory Consolidation on Petrophysical Properties of Fine-Grained Marine Sediments: Electron Microscopic Observations

Pliocene-Recent marine sediments, recovered at site 1125 by ODP Leg 181 on the eastern New Zealand margin, were subjected to laboratory consolidation tests and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after consolidation test. The primary objective of this study is to document the effects of consolidation on microfabric and petrophysical properties. X-ray diffraction and grain-size distribution data indicate that the samples are mineralogically and texturally similar and thus are ideal for the present study on the role of consolidation solely on petrophysical properties. Porosity was measured before and after each consolidation test, and permeability was estimated indirectly based on the theoretical method. SEM photomicrographs show details of changes of pore geometry and distribution after the consolidation test that account for the porosity loss.     

A Study in Ultra-Ecology: Microorganisms on the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) DELILE

Abstract. Microbial colonization on the leaves of a shoot of the mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) DELILE was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Methods of field ecology such as transect, random plot and stratified sampling survey were applied to the microbial niveau to gain both qualitative and quantitative information on the microbial assemblage. While macro-epiphytic growth was significantly greater on the outer leaf sides, microbial colonization density was significantly higher on the inner leaf sides, both on leaf surface and epiphyte surface. Diatoms colonized the surface of incrusting algae and epiphytic animals in significantly lower numbers than the Posidonia leaf surface and were absent on erect epiphytic algae. Bacterial densities on epiphyte surfaces even exceeded values of the corresponding leaf surfaces on algal thalli near the leaf tips and on old leaves. Diatoms reach highest mean density on mature leaves and close to the leaf tips, while bacteria reach their greatest density on the oldest leaf and closer to the leaf base. Diatom density in general increases with exposure time of plant surface, while greatest bacterial density was observed at 7–10 weeks exposure. Basal leaf parts on younger leaves were dominated by rod-shaped bacteria, while distal leaf parts and old leaves were dominated by small coccoid bacteria. Surfaces of epiphytic algae were always distinctly dominated by small coccoid bacteria, and edges of thalli attracted high microbial densities. Microbial biomass (calculated from cell volumes using standard conversion factors) amounts to 2.3 g dry weight m-² in the Posidonia stand where the shoot was sampled. The observed patterns of epiphytic colonization are interpreted as the result of a complex, dynamically changing system of interactions both within the epiphytic community and between the epiphytic community, the host plant, and it's environment. A model of the organization of the epiphytic community on Posidonia leaves is presented. “Ultra-ecology” is a term introduced to denote a type of SEM research in the micro-environment which is analogous to in situ investigation in “macroscopic” ecological work.     

扫描隧道显微镜和原子力显微镜在矿物学研究中的应用现状及前景

作者介绍了扫描隧道显微镜和原子力显微镜的基本原理,并结合自己的工作总结了它们在矿物学研究中的应用情况。基于这两种显微镜的原理和特点,指出了其在未来矿物学研究中一些可能的应用领域,并认为它们有可能成为矿物学研究的强有力工具。     

Comparative analysis of coatings on granitic substrates from urban and natural settings (NW Spain)

Rock coatings are frequent on natural rock outcrops and even more on stone surfaces of historical buildings and monuments. They are interesting as some of them have a protective effect against erosion. In the last 30 years, research on rock coatings has been performed separately on either buildings or natural outcrops. This paper studies and compares thin coatings found on granitic rock surfaces of historical buildings with coatings found on natural granite outcrops in a same climatic area (NW Spain) by analysing their surface and cross-sections. As rock surfaces of buildings have known age they can be used to assess rates of weathering and coating growth. This is the first comparative study of formation of coatings on natural and built surfaces in the same region. Both endogenous (rock characteristics) and exogenous factors (climatic conditions, air pollution) that could affect the coatings formation are considered to assess the origin and formation of coatings. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyses of the underlying rocks, XRD analyses of the coatings and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations of surface and cross-sections of the coatings, performing Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray maps, were carried out to establish their composition. Fieldwork and results indicate that natural outcrops are widely covered by biological coatings or coatings formed due to rock weathering, while coatings found on rock ashlars are highly variable with air pollution, other building materials, organic droppings and micro-environmental factors contributing to coatings on rock ashlars in a more significant way than substrate characteristics and exposure time.     

Effect of depositional method on the undrained behavior and microstructure of sand with silt

It has been known for many years that depositional method plays an important part in the results of laboratory testing of clean sands. In this paper, undrained triaxial compression tests were performed on specimens composed of Nevada sand with 20% non-plastic silt content using a variety of depositional methods that include slurry deposition, water sedimentation, air pluviation, mixed dry deposition, and dry funnel deposition. It was found that there was a marked difference in the undrained behavior even though the density and stress conditions were identical. The conclusion was that the soil fabric was responsible for this result. Using the scanning electron microscope, a method was developed to examine and quantify the microstructure of silty sand. These results appear to indicate that there are internal particle structures in sand with silt and their relative quantities correlate with the observed macroscopic undrained behavior.     

利用扫描电镜技术研究纳米Ni-Fe颗粒对四氯化碳快速脱氯的机理

纳米铁具有高的比表面积和高反应活性,能快速将氯代烯烃还原成无毒氯离子、乙烯和乙烷,但对于氯代烷烃的脱氯仍能产生大量的氯代中间或最终产物,可以通过合成制得纳米双金属提高脱氯速率和减少氯代中间产物。本文利用扫描电镜测得实验室制备的纳米Ni-Fe(2%,质量分数)颗粒直径为20~60 nm,通过批实验方式对纳米Ni-Fe降解四氯化碳的反应动力学性质、产物、持久性能和反应机理进行了探讨。结果表明,纳米Ni-Fe体系主要最终产物为42%CH4和17%CH2Cl2。与铸铁屑和纳米铁相比,纳米Ni-Fe由于催化脱氯加氢,显著提高了氯代烃脱氯速率,同时降低了有毒氯代产物的产量,且Ni作为催化剂不会进入水体引起二次污染。纳米Ni-Fe颗粒在空气中具有很好的稳定性,虽然降解四氯化碳的最终产物CH4与纳米Pd-Fe相比少13%,但由于价格便宜,有望在工程上应用于氯代有机化合物水土污染治理。