Coral Ba/Ca records of sediment input to the fringing reef of the southshore of Moloka’i, Hawai’i over the last several decades

The fringing reef of southern Moloka’i is perceived to be in decline because of land-based pollution. In the absence of historical records of sediment pollution, ratios of coral Ba/Ca were used to test the hypothesis that sedimentation has increased over time. Baseline Ba/Ca ratios co-vary with the abundance of red, terrigenous sediment visible in recent imagery. The highest values at One Ali’i are near one of the muddiest parts of the reef. This co-varies with the lowest growth rate of all the sites, perhaps because the upstream Kawela watershed was historically leveed all the way to the nearshore, providing a fast-path for sediment delivery. Sites adjacent to small, steep watersheds have ∼decadal periodicities whereas sites adjacent to mangrove forests have shorter-period fluctuations that correspond to the periodicity of sediment transport in the nearshore, rather than the watershed. All four sites show a statistically significant upward trend in Ba/Ca.     

Dolomitization of the lower Ordovician Catoche formation: Implications for hydrocarbon exploration in western Newfoundland

The lower Ordovician St. George Group in Western Newfoundland consists of a sequence of subtidal and peritidal carbonates, which are extensively dolomitized. The current study investigates the diagenetic evolution of the Catoche Formation from the Port aux Choix and Port au Port peninsulas in order to study the controls on reservoir quality in western Newfoundland. The Catoche Formation dolomites are classified into three main generations. Early and pervasive replacement dolomite (D1) indicates that dolomitization began during early stages of diagenesis. Stable isotope and trace element data indicate significant variations between D1 dolomite on the Port aux Choix and Port au Port peninsulas. The depleted δ¹⁸O signature of D1 dolomite fluids (−8.7 ± 1.3‰ VPBD) on the Port aux Choix Peninsula is consistent with partial dolomitization associated with mixing of seawater and meteoric waters on the flanks of structural highs. In contrast δ¹⁸O values (−6.1 ± 0.7‰ VPBD) and trace element data from the Port au Port Peninsula indicate that pervasive D1 was associated with mixing of possibly post evaporitic brines with meteoric waters.Later-stage replacement dolomites (D2) are associated with enhancement in porosity through the development of intercrystalline pores, while latest stage saddle dolomite (D3), significantly occluded the pores in some horizons. D2 dolomite formed due to the influx of warm (>100 °C), saline (>15 eq. wt% NaCl) fluids. Intercrystalline porosity in D2 formed due to the dolomitization of precursor calcite, due to the lower molar volume of dolomite compared to calcite. Therefore porosity development is lower on the Port au Port Peninsula, with no significant volume change during the recrystallization of the pervasive early (D1) dolomicrite. Similarly, extensive porous horizons on the Port aux Choix Peninsula are related to the limited extent of D1 dolomitization. This suggests that the quality of a potential dolomite reservoir is strongly controlled by tectonic and diagenetic history of host carbonates.     

尕海DG03孔元素地球化学特征及其环境意义

通过对柴达木盆地尕海DG03孔沉积物的Ti、V、Cr、Mn、Ni、Zn、C、N等元素含量变化以及m(C)/m(N)、m(Sr)/m(Ba)比值变化的测定,结合DG03孔沉积序列的年代学测定和沉积物分布特征,分析了尕海地区11·52ka BP以来的气候环境变化过程。研究表明尕海地区在11·52ka BP以来存在明显的气候波动;4·70kaBP以来的全新世晚期气候波动频率加大,存在5次较为明显的冷干和暖湿的气候旋回,并且表现出冷干气候时段长,暖湿气候时段短的特征。     

Analysis of sediment stability on the Peru‐Chile continental slope

Abstract

Potential sediment mass movement was analyzed at ten locations on the continental slope off Peru and northern Chile, using samples obtained from up to 3 m below the seafloor. Shear strength parameters were obtained from consolidated‐undrained triaxial compression tests. Sediment behavior in these tests reflects the influence of organic matter, which is concentrated in the slope deposits by coastal upwelling. High water content of the organic‐rich sediments and the high de‐formability of organic matter contribute to the prevalent ductile behavior. Aggregation of clays by organic matter is apparently responsible for the high friction angles, up to 44°, displayed by the slope deposits. Sediment stability was assessed using infinite slope analyses. These analyses indicate that gravitational forces alone are not sufficient to cause sediment failure at any of the slope locations. Sediment accumulation on the slope is not rapid enough to generate excess pore pressure and reduce the resistance to gravitational sliding. Effects of earthquakes on slope stability were evaluated by modeling earthquake‐induced inertia forces as static forces and estimating pore pressures developed during cyclic loading. This analysis shows that sediments of the lower slope off Peru possess the highest susceptibility to failure during earthquakes. Earthquake accelerations on the order of 0.2 gravity are sufficient to trigger slumping at all ten slope locations. Indirect evidence suggests that creep and mass flows initiated at shallower water depths are factors that might contribute to sediment failure on the slope.     

Seismic response of multi-tiered reinforced soil retaining walls

In this study, a validated Finite Element procedure was used to investigate the similarities and differences of seismic performances between single- and multi-tiered reinforced soil walls. Three-tiered walls at a total height of 9 m were analyzed together with vertical walls at the same height. It was found from the Finite Element analyses that the resonant frequency of reinforced soil walls might increase with an increase in the tier-offset. The multi-tiered configuration could considerably reduce the residual lateral facing displacement and the average reinforcement load, and the reinforcement load distribution with height was different from that in vertical walls. With the same reinforcement length and spacing, the multi-tiered walls resulted in smaller reinforcement connection loads with the facing blocks. The study filled the gap of seismic behavior of multi-tiered reinforced soil retaining walls and revealed a few unique dynamic properties of this type of earth structures.     

滇西户撒盆地芒棒组砂岩地球化学特征及物源区和构造背景分析

滇西户撒盆地芒棒组砂岩地球化学分析结果表明:砂岩主要为长石砂岩和杂砂岩,少量为页岩;矿物成分主要为石英、钾长石、斜长石和伊利石等;REE配分模式曲线一致,LREE/HREE=9.75～15.91,平均13.24,(La/Yb)_N=13.06～26.41,平均19.21,轻稀土元素相对重稀土元素明显富集,稀土元素分馏明显。SiO_2/Al_2O_3=2.06～6.01,平均4.60,ICV=0.54～1.09,平均0.86,结合沉积特征表明样品为被动构造环境下沉积物的再循环而成,而非强烈风化作用过程中形成的第一次旋回沉积物。Th/U=5.44～12.10,平均8.48,CIA矫正均值为69,反映了温暖、湿润条件下的中等化学风化作用。A-CN-K判别图说明交代作用降低了CIA值、且样品源岩钾长石比斜长石含量高。Th/Sc=4.43～25.35,平均8.18,Rb-K_2O图解、Co/Th-La/Sc图解和La/Yb-∑REE图解表明样品物源为花岗岩。TiO_2-(Fe_2O_3T+MgO)、Al_2O_3/(Cao+Na_2O)-(Fe_2O_3T+MgO)、La-Th-Sc以及(K_2O/Na_2O)-SiO_2构造判别图解表明:源岩形成于被动大陆边缘环境,与中特提斯洋在晚侏罗世—早白垩世已经打开且长期稳定相对应。户撒盆地为沿早期户撒走滑-挤压断裂拉张沉积形成,接受周缘晚侏罗世—早白垩世花岗岩沉积。     

Numerical investigation on the hydrodynamic performance of fast SWATHs with optimum canted struts arrangements

Small Waterplane Area Twin Hulls (SWATHs) are known to have superior seakeeping performance but higher resistance compared to equivalent catamarans or mono-hulls. A way to improve their resistance characteristics is to use unconventional hull forms parametrically defined and optimized by CFD methods. This study builds on previous SWATH optimization studies proposing a comprehensive, systematic investigation on the effect of different shapes and canting angles of the struts. For the first time we demonstrate the importance of considering the shape of the strut that is fully parametrized in our study. The effect of the design speed on the best shape is addressed through a multi-objective optimization targeting the minimum total resistance at two very different speeds, namely the cruise and slow transfer speeds. Optimum hull shapes are discussed in terms of maximum resistance reduction, together with the predicted free waves patterns.     

Geochemical evolution of Oligocene–Middle Miocene sediments in the deep-water area of the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

The deep-water area of the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea has received much scientific attention since the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 184 in 1999 due to its potential economic prospects and distinct tectono-sedimentary evolutionary processes. In this study, we present the composition of major and trace elements from two newly sampled deep-water boreholes (BY6 and LW3) in the Baiyun Sag of the southern Pearl River Mouth Basin. The geochemical evolution in the Oligocene–Middle Miocene, as well as potential controlling factors, are investigated based on a comparative study with previous data from ODP site 1148 and borehole PY33. The Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) and A–CN–K plot reveal that the observed weathering trends are not compatible for the four discussed boreholes. Sedimentary sorting is primarily observed in borehole PY33, where data trend away from the A apex to the feldspar join in the A–CN–K plot and show a spread of Al₂O₃/SiO₂ and Nb/Zr ratios. Compared to chemical weathering and hydrodynamic sorting, provenance has a greater impact on sediment composition of the deep-water area. From the north, the Pearl River was the primary sediment supply. However, a positive Eu anomaly and the provenance discrimination diagrams (i.e., La/Th versus Th/Yb and Zr/Co versus Th/Co) reveal the mafic nature of borehole BY6 sediments in the Zhuhai–Lower Zhujiang (32.0–18.5 Ma) and Upper Hanjiang (13.8–10.5 Ma) formations. These compositions are unusual and differ from the well-defined felsic sources in the majority of the Baiyun Sag; these discrepancies are likely related to multistage magmatism. The sediments at site 1148 are characterized by slightly enriched heavy rare earth elements and relatively high Zr/Co ratios, which could possibly be caused by zircon enrichment from local sources.     

Evaluation of Eocene source rock for potential shale oil and gas generation in north Cambay Basin,India

Source rock potential of 108 representative samples from 3 m intervals over a 324 m thick shale section of middle Eocene age from the north Cambay Basin, India have been studied. Variation in total organic carbon (TOC) and its relationship with loss on ignition (LOI) have been used for initial screening. Screened samples were subjected to Rock-Eval pyrolysis and organic petrography. A TOC log indicated wide variation with streaks of elevated TOC. A 30 m thick organic-rich interval starting at 1954 m depth, displayed properties consistent with a possible shale oil or gas reservoir. TOC (wt%) values of the selected samples were found to vary from 0.68% to 3.62%, with an average value of 2.2. The modified van Krevelen diagram as well as HI vs. T_max plot indicate prevalence of Type II to Type III kerogen. T_max measurements ranged from 425 °C to 439 °C, indicating immature to early mature stage, which was confirmed by the mean vitrinite reflectance values (%R_o of 0.63, 0.65 and 0.67 at 1988 m, 1954 m, and 1963 m, respectively). Quantification of hydrocarbon generation, migration and retention characteristics of the 30 m source rock interval suggests 85% expulsion of hydrocarbon. Oil in place (OIP) resource of the 30 m source rock was estimated to be 3.23 MMbbls per 640 acres. The Oil saturation index (OSI) crossover log showed, from a geochemical perspective, moderate risk for producing the estimated reserve along with well location for tapping the identified resource.     

南海台西南盆地天然气水合物区沉积物的地球化学和微生物特征分析

The Taixinan Basin is one of the most potential gas hydrate bearing areas in the South China Sea and abundant gas hydrates have been discovered during expedition in 2013. In this study, geochemical and microbial methods are combinedly used to characterize the sediments from a shallow piston Core DH_CL_11(gas hydrate free) and a gas hydrate-bearing drilling Core GMGS2-16 in this basin. Geochemical analyses indicate that anaerobic oxidation of methane(AOM) which is speculated to be linked to the ongoing gas hydrate dissociation is taking place in Core DH_CL_11 at deep. For Core GMGS2-16, AOM related to past episodes of methane seepage are suggested to dominate during its diagenetic process; while the relatively enriched δ18O bulk-sediment values indicate that methane involved in AOM might be released from the "episodic dissociation" of gas hydrate.Microbial analyses indicate that the predominant phyla in the bacterial communities are Firmicutes and Proteobacteria(Gammaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria), while the dominant taxa in the archaeal communities are Marine_Benthic_Group_B(MBGB), Halobacteria, Thermoplasmata, Methanobacteria,Methanomicrobia, Group C3 and MCG. Under parallel experimental operations, comparable dominant members(Firmicutes and MBGB) are found in the piston Core DH_CL_11 and the near surface layer of the long drilling Core GMGS2-16. Moreover, these members have been found predominant in other known gas hydrate bearing cores, and the dominant of MBGB has even been found significantly related to gas hydrate occurrence. Therefore,a high possibility for the existing of gas hydrate underlying Core DH_CL_11 is inferred, which is consistent with the geochemical analyses. In all, combined geochemical and microbiological analyses are more informative in characterizing sediments from gas hydrate-associated areas in the South China Sea.