Surface particle sizes on armoured gravel streambeds: effects of supply and hydraulics

Most gravel‐bed streams exhibit a surface armour in which the median grain size of the surface particles is coarser than that of the subsurface particles. This armour has been interpreted to result when the supply of sediment is less than the ability of the stream to move sediment. While there may be certain sizes in the bed for which the supply is less than the ability of the stream to transport these sizes, for other sizes of particles the supply may match or even exceed the ability of the channel to transport these particles. These sizes of particles are called ‘supply‐limited’ and ‘hydraulically limited’ in their transport, respectively, and can be differentiated in dimensionless sediment transport rating curves by size fractions. The supply‐ and hydraulically limited sizes can be distinguished also by comparing the size of particles of the surface and subsurface. Those sizes that are supply‐limited are winnowed from the bed and are under‐represented in the surface layer. Progressive truncation of the surface and subsurface size distributions from the ?ne end and recalculation until the size distributions are similar (collapse), establishes the break between supply‐ and hydraulically limited sizes. At sites along 12 streams in Idaho ranging in drainage area from about 100 to 4900 km², sediment transport rating curves by size class and surface and subsurface size distributions were examined. The break between sizes that were supply‐ and hydraulically limited as determined by examination of the transport rate and surface and subsurface size distributions was similar. The collapse size as described by its percentile in the cumulative size distribution averaged D₃₆ of the surface and D₇₃ of the subsurface. The discharge at which the collapse size began to move averaged 88 per cent of bankfull discharge. The collapse size decreased as bed load yield increased and increased with the degree of selective transport. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The causes of bedload pulses in a gravel channel: the implications of bedload grain‐size distributions

Unsteady bedload transport was measured in two c. 5 m wide anabranches of a gravel‐bed braided stream draining the Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, during the 1998 and 1999 melt seasons. Bedload was directly sampled using 152 mm square Helley–Smith type samplers deployed from a portable measuring bridge, and independent transport rate estimates for the coarser size fractions were obtained from the dispersion of magnetically tagged tracer pebbles. Bedload transport time series show pulsing behaviour under both marginal (1998) and partial (1999) transport regimes. There are generally weak correlations between transport rates and shear stresses determined from velocity data recorded at the measuring bridge. Characteristic parameters of the bedload grain‐size distributions (D₅₀, D₈₄) are weakly correlated with transport rates. Analysis of full bedload grain‐size distributions reveals greater structure, with a tendency for transport to become less size selective at higher transport rates. The bedload time series show autoregressive behaviour but are dif?cult to distinguish by this method. State–space plots, and associated measures of time‐series separation, reveal the structure of the time series more clearly. The measured pulses have distinctly different time‐series characteristics from those modelled using a one‐dimensional sediment routing model in which bed shear stress and grain size are varied randomly. These results suggest a mechanism of pulse generation based on irregular low‐amplitude bedforms, that may be generated in‐channel or may represent the advection of material supplied by bank erosion events. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geology and geochemistry of bauxite deposits in Lushoto District, Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Bauxite deposits in the Usambara Mountains of north eastern Tanzania occur as remnants of residual deposits on two geomorphologically related plateaus of Mabughai-Mlomboza and Kidundai at Magamba in Lushoto, Usambara Mountains. The parent rocks for the deposits are mainly granulites and feldspathic gneisses of Neoproterozoic Mozambique belt. The plateaus represent a preserved Late Cretaceous–Lower Tertiary old land surface (African surface). Other parts of the Usambara Mountains and the neighbouring Pare Mountains are covered mostly by red–brown lateritic soils and impure reddish-brown kaolinitic clays. The bauxite deposits contain mainly Al₂O₃ (40–69 wt.%), Fe₂O₃ (3–10 wt.%), SiO₂ (0.16–7 wt.%) and other elements occur in quantities not substantial to affect the quality or processing of the bauxite, and are attributed to the presence of relic minerals. Gibbsite makes up to 98 vol.% of the bauxite ore in special cases. Gibbsite is accompanied by goethite in the ore. Boehmite occurs in small amounts and is usually accompanied by hematite. Impurities include goethite, hematite, kaolinite, and minor relic quartz and microcline. Kaolinite is the sole clay mineral encountered in the bauxite ore, suggesting mature soil profiles and a development of the bauxite deposits on a well-drained peneplanation. Ore reserve estimates from the drilling data and surface geological mapping of the deposits yielded bauxite reserves of about 37 million tonnes.     

地下介质三维模型中界面的描述方法

介质模型可分为离散模型和连续模型，离散模型，使用规则网格或不规则网格将空间离散化，网格内介质参数不变，对连续模型，可用解析函数描述，或者由插值方法得到介质参数的空间分布，连续模型的描述，要素之一是界面的描述方法，本文借助计算机图形学和计算机辅助几何设计中发展起来的曲线和曲面技术，使用参数形式的Coons曲面、Bezier曲面、B样条曲面和三角形面片，描述三维地质构造,结合地震勘探采集系统设计的实际需要，给出一种三角形面片的模型描述方案。     

川北青川地区下寒武统沥青质砾石的发现及其意义

沥青质砾石被发现于四川省青川县白家镇一带的下寒武统碎屑岩中。黑色的沥青质砾石多呈次圆状或次棱角状,表面光滑但无光泽,与胶结物之间有明显的界线,直径最大可达5cm。推测这些砾石可能来自于被剥蚀的震旦系灯影组。沥青、碳酸盐岩和页岩以砾石的方式沉积于下寒武统．表明在早寒武世筇竹寺期之前川北青川地区已存在有古油藏,前寒武系中可能还有生烃的烃源岩。     

Bias and precision of percentiles of bulk grain size distributions

Percentiles such as D₅₀ and D₈₄, calculated from weights retained on different sieves, are widely used to characterize grain size distributions (GSDs) of bulk samples of sedimentary deposits or sediment fluxes. The sampling variability of such percentiles is not well known, and few sampling guidelines exist for reliable characterization of GSDs. We report results from computer sampling experiments on the variability of sample percentiles in different-sized samples from populations with a log-normal GSD by weight and different sorting coefficients. Sample sizes are scaled by the volume of a median-sized grain so that results can be applied to any log-normal GSD. Sampling is random for the GSD by number that is equivalent to a specified GSD by weight. Results show important differences from standard sampling theory applicable to pebble-count GSDs. In small bulk samples all percentiles, including the median, are underestimated (more so for smaller samples, coarser percentiles and poorer sorting), and precision does not improve with the square root of sample size until fairly large sample sizes are exceeded. Non-dimensional equations fitted by eye to the results give good approximations to expected bias and precision in any percentile from 50 to 95 for any given sample size and population sorting coefficient. They are inverted to estimate the sample size required to avoid significant bias, or achieve specified precision, in any percentile of interest given estimates of the population D₅₀ and sorting coefficient. Target sample sizes are sometimes considerably smaller, but in other circumstances larger, than suggested by previous guidelines relating to estimation of the entire grain size distribution. Bias is likely in small samples of river bedload and good precision requires very large samples of poorly sorted gravel deposits. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Behavior of stratified sand–silt–gravel composites under seismic liquefaction conditions

Laboratory seismic liquefaction studies have generally dealt with homogeneous soil conditions only, although stratified soils exist for various soil deposits. The main objective of this research project was to compare the behavior of stratified and homogeneous sand–silt–gravel composites during seismic liquefaction conditions for various silt and gravel contents. An experimental program was undertaken in which a total of eighty stress-controlled undrained cyclic triaxial tests were performed. Two methods of sample preparation were used for each soil type. These methods included moist tamping (representing homogeneous soil conditions) and sedimentation (representing layered soil conditions). The silt contents ranged from 0 to 50%, and soils with 10 and 30% gravel contents were tested. The confining pressure in all test series was 100 kPa. The results indicate that the liquefaction resistances of layered and uniform soils are not significantly different, despite the fact that the soil fabric produced by the two methods of sample preparation is totally different. This finding justifies applying the laboratory tests results to the field conditions for the range of variable studied.     

COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR DISTINGUISHING DIFFERENT GRADES OF GEOMORPHOLOGIC SURFACES BASED ON SEDIMENT PARTICLE SIZE FEATURES: TAKING THE QINGYIJIANG RIVER BASIN AS AN EXAMPLE

When using river geomorphology to study tectonic deformation, it is often difficult to distinguish the same level geomorphology in areas with severe weathering. In this paper, we take the geomorphologic surfaces of the Qingyijiang river basin as an example and try to distinguish the geomorphic surfaces by the sediment features that make up them. In order to distinguish different geomorphic surfaces, the traditional particle-size analysis method, SOFM network method and system clustering analysis method are taken to classify 29 samples from different geomorphic surfaces. The classification results of the three methods are different to a certain extent. We analyzed and compared the classification results of the three methods in detail. The results show that the traditional particle size analysis method, SOFM network method and cluster analysis method all can distinguish the geomorphic surface of different genesis, besides, they also can distinguish low-level terraces(T₁, T₂)and high-level terraces(T₃, T₄)for different grades of river terraces. Furthermore, the results also show that SOFM network method and cluster analysis method can make a certain distinction for the low-level terraces(T₁, T₂), while the traditional particle size analysis method is difficult to distinguish them. In addition, we analyzed and compared the three methods from the classification results, the results presentation, the operation process, and the error transmission. The results suggest that the advantages and disadvantages of the three methods are obvious. From the perspective of the classification results, the three methods all can distinguish the river terraces and alluvial fans and can make certain discrimination for different levels of river terraces. From the presentation of the results, the result of SOFM network is simple and clear. From the operation process, the traditional particle-size analysis method is relatively cumbersome, and the SOFM network method and the cluster analysis method are relatively simple to operate. From the perspective of error transmission, the traditional particle-size analysis method calculates the partial particle size feature value of the sample, which has a certain loss for the particle size distribution information of the whole sample. The error of the clustering analysis method has cumulative features and the influence exists consistently. The classification results of the SOFM network are independent of each other, which effectively avoids the problem of such error transmission of clustering analysis method. Overall, the classification results of the SOFM network method are simple and clear, the operation is simple, and the error is small. It has stronger adaptability to identifying different levels of different geomorphic surfaces. The results of this study will provide a simple and effective means for distinguishing different levels of geomorphic surfaces.     

Insights into bedload transport processes of a large regulated gravel‐bed river

A comprehensive monitoring programme focusing on bedload transport behaviour was conducted at a large gravel‐bed river. Innovative monitoring strategies were developed during five years of preconstruction observations accompanying a restoration project. A bedload basket sampler was used to perform 55 cross‐sectional measurements, which cover the entire water discharge spectrum from a 200‐year flood event in 2013 to a rare low flow event. The monitoring activities provide essential knowledge regarding bedload transport processes in large rivers. We have identified the initiation of motion under low flow conditions and a decrease in the rate of bedload discharge with increasing water discharge around bankfull conditions. Bedload flux strongly increases again during high flood events when the entire inundation area is flooded. No bedload hysteresis was observed. The effective discharge for bedload transport was determined to be near mean flow conditions, which is therefore at a lower flow discharge than expected. A numerical sediment transport model was able to reproduce the measured sediment transport patterns. The unique dataset enables the characterisation of bedload transport patterns in a large and regulated gravel‐bed river, evaluation of modern river engineering measures on the Danube, and, as a pilot project has recently been under construction, is able to address ongoing river bed incision, unsatisfactory ecological conditions for the adjacent national park and insufficient water depths for inland navigation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.