Salinity reflux and dolomitization of southern Australian slope sediments: the importance of low carbonate saturation levels

Anomalously saline waters in Ocean Drilling Program Holes 1127, 1129, 1130, 1131 and 1132, which penetrate southern Australian slope sediments, and isotopic analyses of large benthic foraminifera from southern Australian continental shelf sediments, indicate that Pleistocene–Holocene meso‐haline salinity reflux is occurring along the southern Australian margin. Ongoing dolomite formation is observed in slope sediments associated with marine waters commonly exceeding 50‰ salinity. A well‐flushed zone at the top of all holes contains pore waters with normal marine trace element contents, alkalinities and pH values. Dolomite precipitation occurs directly below the well‐flushed zone in two phases. Phase 1 is a nucleation stage associated with waters of relatively low pH (ca 7) caused by oxidation of H₂S diffusing upward from below. This dolomite precipitates in sediments < 80 m below the sea floor and has δ¹³C values consistent with having formed from normal sea water (? 1‰ to + 1‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite). The Sr content of Phase 1 dolomite indicates that precipitation can occur prior to substantial metastable carbonate dissolution (< 300 ppm in Holes 1129 and 1127). Dolomite nucleation is interpreted to occur because the system is undersaturated with respect to the less stable minerals aragonite and Mg‐calcite, which form more readily in normal ocean water. Phase 2 is a growth stage associated with the dissolution of metastable carbonate in the acidified sea water. Analysis of large dolomite rhombs demonstrates that at depths > 80 m below the sea floor, Phase 2 dolomite grows on dolomite cores precipitated during Phase 1. Phase 2 dolomite has δ¹³C values similar to those of the surrounding bulk carbonate and high Sr values relative to Phase 1 dolomite, consistent with having formed in waters affected by aragonite and calcite dissolution. The nucleation stage in this model (Phase 1) challenges the more commonly accepted paradigm that inhibition of dolomitization by sea water is overcome by effectively increasing the saturation state of dolomite in sea water.     

Rare Earth Deposits of North America

Rare earth elements (REE) have been mined in North America since 1885, when placer monazite was produced in the southeast USA. Since the 1960s, however, most North American REE have come from a carbonatite deposit at Mountain Pass, California, and most of the world’s REE came from this source between 1965 and 1995. After 1998, Mountain Pass REE sales declined substantially due to competition from China and to environmental constraints. REE are presently not mined at Mountain Pass, and shipments were made from stockpiles in recent years. Chevron Mining, however, restarted extraction of selected REE at Mountain Pass in 2007. In 1987, Mountain Pass reserves were calculated at 29 Mt of ore with 8.9% rare earth oxide based on a 5% cut‐off grade. Current reserves are in excess of 20 Mt at similar grade. The ore mineral is bastnasite, and the ore has high light REE/heavy REE (LREE/HREE). The carbonatite is a moderately dipping, tabular 1.4‐Ga intrusive body associated with ultrapotassic alkaline plutons of similar age. The chemistry and ultrapotassic alkaline association of the Mountain Pass deposit suggest a different source than that of most other carbonatites. Elsewhere in the western USA, carbonatites have been proposed as possible REE sources. Large but low‐grade LREE resources are in carbonatite in Colorado and Wyoming. Carbonatite complexes in Canada contain only minor REE resources. Other types of hard‐rock REE deposits in the USA include small iron‐REE deposits in Missouri and New York, and vein deposits in Idaho. Phosphorite and fluorite deposits in the USA also contain minor REE resources. The most recently discovered REE deposit in North America is the Hoidas Lake vein deposit, Saskatchewan, a small but incompletely evaluated resource. Neogene North American placer monazite resources, both marine and continental, are small or in environmentally sensitive areas, and thus unlikely to be mined. Paleoplacer deposits also contain minor resources. Possible future uranium mining of Precambrian conglomerates in the Elliott Lake–Blind River district, Canada, could yield by‐product HREE and Y. REE deposits occur in peralkaline syenitic and granitic rocks in several places in North America. These deposits are typically enriched in HREE, Y, and Zr. Some also have associated Be, Nb, and Ta. The largest such deposits are at Thor Lake and Strange Lake in Canada. A eudialyte syenite deposit at Pajarito Mountain in New Mexico is also probably large, but of lower grade. Similar deposits occur at Kipawa Lake and Lackner Lake in Canada. Future uses of some REE commodities are expected to increase, and growth is likely for REE in new technologies. World reserves, however, are probably sufficient to meet international demand for most REE commodities well into the 21st century. Recent experience shows that Chinese producers are capable of large amounts of REE production, keeping prices low. Most refined REE prices are now at approximately 50% of the 1980s price levels, but there has been recent upward price movement for some REE compounds following Chinese restriction of exports. Because of its grade, size, and relatively simple metallurgy, the Mountain Pass deposit remains North America’s best source of LREE. The future of REE production at Mountain Pass is mostly dependent on REE price levels and on domestic REE marketing potential. The development of new REE deposits in North America is unlikely in the near future. Undeveloped deposits with the most potential are probably large, low‐grade deposits in peralkaline igneous rocks. Competition with established Chinese HREE and Y sources and a developing Australian deposit will be a factor.     

凤爪沟边坡稳定性评价

主要研究了一个边坡在施加冷却塔荷载前后的稳定性问题。采用有限元法和摩尔-库仑屈服准则计算和分析了冷却塔荷载对边坡稳定性的影响,得到较理想的结果。结果表明,边坡的整体稳定性问题,主要是变形稳定性问题;玄武岩柱状节理的存在对边坡稳定性产生了不利的影响;冷却塔的修建对边坡稳定性是有影响的;边坡的变形破坏随时间的增长而增加;边坡的破坏形式以倾倒破坏为主。     

基于SEM的可变形块体离散元法研究

针对边坡工程中岩土体连续-非连续渐进破坏的特点,提出一种新的变形体离散元方法（DEM）。与传统有限单元法（FEM）不同,弹簧元法（SEM）通过构建一组广义弹簧系统描述单元的力学行为。弹簧元法中的一个广义弹簧可以具有多个方向的刚度系数,确定广义弹簧系统的构造形式及其各刚度系数表达式是弹簧元法的核心。以三角形单元为例,介绍平面弹簧元的基本理论。对任何二维正交广义弹簧系统,通过定义广义弹簧变形与单元应变之间的关系,直接对比单元的应变能与弹簧系统的弹性势能即可得到广义弹簧刚度系数的表达形式。定义泊松刚度系数和纯剪刚度系数两个系统参数,描述正交广义弹簧之间的联系。对任意泊松比的材料,该方法都可准确地描述泊松效应的影响,计算结果与传统有限元法一致。该方法不需要求得有限元单元刚度矩阵的具体形式,具有直接方便、物理意义明确的优点,应用该方法给出任意4节点单元弹簧系统的构造形式及其各刚度系数的表达式。基于SEM的可变形块体离散元法,用弹簧元中的广义弹簧求解块体变形,用离散元中的接触弹簧计算块体间作用力,在单元节点的控制方程中实现弹簧元-离散元耦合计算,通过接触弹簧的状态实现材料由连续到非连续的破坏过程。在基于连续介质离散元法（CDEM）程序的基础上实现弹簧元-离散元耦合程序,应用耦合程序计算均质土坡在重力作用下的弹塑性变形和基覆边坡在重力作用下的破坏,初步证明该方法用于边坡变形渐进破坏分析的可行性。     

河北省丰宁县大草坪钼矿区花岗质岩石地球化学特征及地质意义

大草坪钼矿区侵入体由花岗岩和花岗闪长岩组成,两者呈侵入接触关系,接触带附近石英脉较发育并见钼矿化。花岗岩与花岗闪长岩具有相似的岩石地球化学特征:主量元素特征均显示富含硅、碱质,普遍具有较高的钾含量,主要属钙碱性系列;稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分模式显示LREE相对富集,球粒陨石标准化曲线都一致向右倾斜,曲线之间呈现近于平行的特征,说明两者具有同源性。笔者同时认为,大草坪岩体的成因类型为I型花岗岩,岩浆物质具壳幔混源特征;岩体与矿体具有明显的同源分异特征,可为成矿提供一定物质来源。     

东天山黑峰山、双峰山及沙泉子(铜)铁矿床的矿物微量和稀土元素地球化学特征

东天山黑峰山铁矿床、双峰山铁矿床以及沙泉子铜铁矿床位于新疆哈密盆地以南,是东天山阿齐山-雅满苏构造带的重要矿床。文章利用磁铁矿、黄铁矿和方解石的微量元素及稀土元素组成示踪了这些矿床的成矿流体来源和性质,初步探讨了矿床的成因类型。激光剥蚀（LA）-ICP-MS磁铁矿微量元素分析表明,三个矿床的磁铁矿具有非常低的w（V）、w（Cr）和w（Ti）（平均分别为68×10^-6、13×10^-6和237×10^-6）,指示磁铁矿形成于热液过程而不是岩浆分异。黄铁矿中较高的Cu含量可能反映了含Cu矿物微颗粒的存在。黄铁矿中较低的Pb、Zn含量可能反映了成矿流体中较低的Pb²⁺和Zn²⁺浓度。黄铁矿中的Co/Ni比值表明这些矿床均为火山-热液成因。三个矿床黄铁矿的稀土元素总量都很低（ΣREE为0.58×10^-6~3.02×10^-6）,黑峰山铁矿中的黄铁矿轻、重稀土元素分馏不明显,双峰山铁矿和沙泉子铜铁矿中的黄铁矿均为轻稀土元素富集型,（La/Yb）_N分别为3.51~13.4和2.76~17.2。三个矿床略有差别的方解石稀土元素配分模式,反映了其流体组成和形成机制的差别。黑峰山铁矿中的重稀土元素富集型的方解石稀土元素配分模式为方解石Sm-Nd定年提供了依据。三个矿床的黄铁矿和方解石均无Ce异常,黑峰山铁矿中的黄铁矿和方解石表现为负Eu异常,而双峰山铁矿和沙泉子铜铁矿中的黄铁矿和方解石表现为正Eu异常,反映了三个矿床均形成于较高的温度,前者成矿流体可能为碱性,后两者成矿流体为酸性、还原性。结合前人研究成果认为,黑峰山铁矿、双峰山铁矿及沙泉子铜铁矿均为火山热液-充填（交代）矿床。     

Numerical modeling of groundwater inflow from a confined aquifer into Sangan open pit mine,northeast Iran

Numerical models are useful in the evaluation of the interaction between groundwater systems and mining activities. They can be successfully used to predict the quantity of inflow into open pits and to design an appropriate dewatering system. In this paper, a two-dimensional axi-symmetric finite element model called SEEP/W has been used to predict the groundwater inflow into Sangan open pit mine (anomaly north C). The Sangan iron mine is located at 280 km south-east of Mashhad, Iran, in arid and warm climate conditions wherein precipitation is generally limited. The water inflow to the pit is mainly from a confined aquifer, mainly by horizontal flow in the upper layers and vertical flow at the pit bottom. The results of the numerical model of the ground water inflow are presented and compared with those obtained from Theis, Cooper-Jacob and Jacob-Lohman analytical solutions. Ground water inflow monitoring was also carried out in a trial excavation at the Sangan mine in order to calibrate the model. The model was then used to predict groundwater inflow into Sangan open pit mine during its advancement. This model provides valuable information for designing an appropriate dewatering system.     

Numerically observed shear bands in soft sensitive clays

The numerical challenges that arise in modelling shear bands in soft sensitive (SS) clays have not yet been fully resolved. Convincing and well-accepted solutions have yet to be found. This paper presents some novel information related to the shear band phenomenon in SS clays. In this study, the hypothesis is that the generation and dissipation of excess pore pressure from shear bands could regularise the strain softening and result in a mesh independent shear band thickness. The generation and dissipation of excess pressure is modelled by a coupled consolidation process. The simulation aims at modelling two counteracting mechanisms in the SS clay. First, the shear band narrows because of strain softening. Second, the internal pore water pressure drainage reduces the rate of strain softening. This counteracting mechanism provides an inherent regularisation technique for SS clays. This study presents some numerical results involving these two counteracting mechanisms. This study also shows that an inherent internal parameter applicable for SS clays can be defined by the ratio between soil permeability and the applied strain rate. In the case of SS clays, the range of this parameter varies from 0 to 0.0002 mm.     

Determination of passive earth pressure with lower bound finite elements limit analysis and modified pseudo-dynamic method

ABSTRACT

The present study deals with the determination of passive earth pressure under seismic condition by following the lower bound finite elements limit analysis and modified pseudo-dynamic methodology. In accordance with the lower bound finite elements formulation, the stress field was modelled using a three-noded triangular elements, while the passive pressure was determined via linear optimisation. The parametric study was performed, for a vertical rigid retaining wall, by varying the magnitude of seismic acceleration in horizontal direction (k_h) between 0 and 0.3, while the vertical seismic acceleration (k_v) was kept equal to 0 or 0.5 k_h. Furthermore, the damping coefficient for dry cohesionless backfill was kept ξ = 10%. The obtained results in various cases were found to be in good agreement with those found in the literature. It is expected that this method can be further used for solving other important geotechnical stability problems.