Nature of sedimentary deposits in the western Makgadikgadi basin, Botswana

Quaternary sedimentation in the western Makgadikgadi basin of north central Botswana is evaluated on the basis of new evidence from satellite imagery and sedimentological analyses. Thematic Mapper imagery interpretation, combined with field evidence, has led to the identification of geomorphological features which are mainly composed of light grey calcareous sandstones (formerly calcretes) overlain by dark grey sands. The literature suggests that palaeolake Makgadikgadi I formed and developed intermittently after initial downwarping in the early–mid Pleistocene. The calcareous sandstones were formed when calcium carbonate precipitation took place in pre-existing Kalahari sands along the western shoreline of Makgadikgadi I. Field evidence, supported by X-ray diffraction and SEM analyses, indicates that CaCO₃precipitated mainly in marshy conditions around plant roots and stems and in association with bacteria in embayments along the lakeshore. The sandstones thickened and became partially indurated as a result of increasing palaeolake levels. Deposition was terminated by renewed tectonism which uplifted the shoreline zone relative to the lake basin, leading to falling palaeolake levels. Post-uplift reworking led to case hardening and pedogenic calcrete formation in the upper sections of the calcareous sandstones. Sedimentary conditions altered during the late Pleistocene. Extensive distributaries from the proto-Okavango system incised the shoreline ridge contributing to the filling of Makgadikgadi II. Satellite data suggest that the proto-Okavango rivers formed a series of fan deltas at this time along the western Makgadikgadi basin. Widespread dispersal of fluvial grey sands took place as a result of basin tilting which led to anastomosing channels flowing southward possibly around 18,000 B.P. These results, although preliminary in nature, augment previous geomorphological analyses by adding some detail in terms of depositional environments and by providing a tentative age and origin for the ubiquitous grey sands.     

巴东组紫红色泥质粉砂岩损伤特性三轴试验研究

以宜昌至巴东高速公路中典型的巴东组紫红色泥质粉砂岩为对象,对其进行三轴压缩试验。通过对三轴应力-应变全过程分析表明:岩石破坏的实质是原生节理裂隙的不断扩展、累积、劣化的过程,其应力应变过程可分为线性弹性段,屈服段,应变软化段以及塑性流动四个阶段。基于试验结果探讨了泥质粉砂岩的初始损伤特性,分析结果表明:泥质粉砂岩的初始损伤时的主应力差对数与围压呈线性关系。同时,假定岩石微元强度服从 Weibull 随机分布的特点,合理推导了岩石微元强度的参量,建立了反映岩石破裂全过程的损伤软化本构模型,并分析了基于Weibull 分布的损伤变量与主应力差的抛物线数学关系,并结合试验数据与模型数据进行对比,分析了该损伤软化本构模型是合理的。     

TDR测定喀斯特地区石灰土含水量的标定研究

土壤含水量是气候、水文、土壤侵蚀等研究中的一个重要参数。TDR法因具有方便、快速、精确且不扰动土壤等优点而得到广泛应用,但因受土壤质地、容重、温度等物理因素的影响而必须对其进行标定。本研究采用室内标定(壤土)和田间标定(粗、中、细质土以及三者的组合)相结合的方式,对用TDR法测定的喀斯特地区不同质地石灰土含水量进行了标定。结果表明:（1)TDR法测定的土壤含水量比烘干法测定值要小,两者最大绝对偏差在室内标定条件下为10.6%,田间标定为12.2%;相应的相对偏差最高分别可达60.3%和32.8%。因此,必须在使用前对TDR进行标定。（2)标定后TDR法测定的土壤含水量精度明显提高,平均绝对偏差低至1.4%~3.1%;室内标定曲线精度略低于田间标定曲线。（3)不同质地组合的TDR法土壤含水量标定曲线的标定精度较高(平均绝对偏差为1.5% ~ 2.6%),可用于不同质地土壤含水量标定。本研究结果可用于修订校正研究区及类似区域TDR法测定土壤含水量的结果。      

节理泥质粉砂岩卸荷流变试验及流变规律研究

为了解节理对泥质粉砂岩卸荷流变规律的影响,进行了同起始围压,不同应力水平下的节理泥质粉砂岩分级卸荷流变试验。首先,详细介绍了节理试样的预制方法及卸荷流变试验的过程,然后,研究了节理试样在不同应力水平作用下的轴向及侧向流变应变变化规律,得出节理倾角为0°的试样轴向及侧向流变应变随围压降低的增大趋势最陡,节理倾角为60°的试样其次,节理倾角为40°的试样最缓。同时,分析了节理对轴向及侧向流变速率变化趋势的影响,探讨了不同倾角节理试样的卸荷流变破裂机制。研究结果较为全面地掌握了节理泥质粉砂岩的卸荷流变基本规律,为进一步建立节理岩体的流变本构模型及参数辨识提供了可靠依据。     

西太平洋暖池核心区MIS 7期以来的古生产力变化:类ENSO式过程的响应

对取自热带西太平洋暖池核心区的WP7岩心进行了底栖有孔虫和钙质超微化石研究。在利用氧同位素曲线对比和AMS14C测年数据进行地层划分的基础上,依据底栖有孔虫和钙质超微化石指标,分析了距今近250ka以来区域生产力和上层海水结构的演变特征,探讨了其控制因素和所指示的古海洋学意义。计算结果显示WP7岩心所在的暖池核心区约在距今250ka以来初级生产力在冰期(MIS6期、4期和2期)高,在间冰期(MIS7期、5期、3期和1期)低,表明该区古生产力在长的轨道时间尺度上受北半球高纬度冰量变动的影响。钙质超微化石下透光带属种Flori-sphaera profunda百分含量指示的温跃层深度变化表明冰期温跃层浅、间冰期温跃层加深,这说明类ENSO式变化导致的冰期—间冰期温跃层深度波动可能是MIS7期以来暖池核心区古生产力在冰期高而在间冰期显著降低的直接控制因素。     

Variations in late Quaternary upper ocean structure of Okinawa Trough: A nannofossil approach

The relative abundance ofFlorisphueru profunda, a calcareous nannofossil species in lower euphotic zone, affords an opportunity to study variations in upper ocean structure such as thickness of mixed layer. As revealed by the nannofossil analysis in sediments since 20 ka B. P. from three Okinawa Trough cores, the percentage ofF. profunda increased significantly from glacial to Holocene, with a declining event ca 4 ka B. P. in its southern part. Its downcore trend is similar to that ofPulleniatina obliquiloculuta, a tropical planktonic foraminifera1 species which lives in subsurface water below thermocline in the modern ocean. Their similar variations imply an eastward shift of the Kuroshio Current, a reduction in thickness of the mixed layer, a shallowing of thermocline and a possible increase of turbidity in the upper ocean during the glaciation. The eastward shift of the Kuroshio might be repeated again about 4 ka B.P. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 49776289 and 49406067)     

珠江口盆地晚第四纪地层及环境初步研究

本文利用珠江口盆地四个工程钻井的古生物、古地磁、同位素及沉积物资料，对钻孔所揭露的地层进行划分，认为所钻遇的地层包括下更新统（上部）、中更新统、上更新统及全新统。依据古生物分异度及含量作出海平面变化曲线，识别出十个海侵期，利用钙质超微化石特征种的初现面和末现面资料，将本区海平面变化曲线与太平洋Ｖ＿（２８－２３９）氧同位素曲线对比，分析了本区晚第四纪以来的沉积环境和气候，认为早更新世晚期，中更新世中期，晚更新世早期及全新世本区气候温暖，沉积环境属陆架浅海环境。     

Experimental study on the coefficient of lateral pressure at rest for calcareous soils

Abstract

The coefficient of lateral pressure at rest (k₀) is a key parameter required to determine the horizontal stress distribution on subsoils. In this paper, k₀ was measured from consolidation test for calcareous and siliceous sand, and the effect of water contents on k₀ of calcareous sand was also discussed. Comparison of k₀ values measured and calculated based on empirical formulas were carried on. Results indicated that (1) the reduction rate of k₀ for calcareous sand with an increase in relative density was less than that of siliceous sand. The k₀ at low water content was generally smaller than that of siliceous sand, and it was similar to that of siliceous sand for high-water content; (2) the k₀ of calcareous sand increased with increasing initial water content initially, and then decreasing. However, the magnitude of variation was small. So the impact of water content on the k₀ of calcareous sand was limited; (3) the formulas proposed by Abdelhamid and Krizek (1976 Abdelhamid, M. S., and R. J. Krizek. 1976. At-Rest Lateral Earth Pressure of Consolidating Clay. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division 102 (7): 721–738. [Google Scholar]) for estimation of the k₀ was highly applicable to calcareous fine sand.

• Highlights

• The k₀ of calcareous fine sand was investigated.

• The k₀ of calcareous and siliceous sand were compared.

• Shape parameters of sand particles for calcareous and siliceous sand were analyzed.

• Effects of related density and initial water content on the k₀ were discussed, respectively.

• The applicability of various empirical formulas for calculating k₀ of calcareous fine sand was evaluated.

     

西太平洋晚第三纪钙质超微化石及其古海洋学意义

本文研究了菲律宾海东部,北部“大洋钻探工程”125航次782A和786A二个钻孔晚第三纪的钙质超微化石。本区自下而上划分为13个带(或亚带),存在三个沉积间断:晚渐新世与中中新世之间;中中新世与晚中新世之间以及晚中新世与早上新世之间。据超微化石分析,本区晚第三纪存在4个相对暖水期和4个相对较凉期。根据菲律宾海东部,中部“深海钻探工程”58、59、60三个航次以及我国东海陆架、台湾东海岸及西部地区,南海北缘等地钙质超微化石分带的对比,晚渐新世与早中新世之间以及中、上新世之间的沉积间断在环西太平洋一侧具有普遍性,但形成原因不尽相同。