Influence of permeability on hydrothermal circulation in the sediment-buried oceanic crust

1 Introduction Hydrothermal circulation is the key process of hydrothermal activity. Modern seafloor hydrothermal circulation can be divided into three parts: convective cells in the oceanic curst, interface between seafloor and ocean and hydrothermal plume. Hydrothermal convection in the crust is the dominant part of the whole seafloor hydrothermal circulation. The distribu-tion and nature of hydrothermal system in the oceanic crust are controlled by crust thermal structures and permeability …     

Thermohydromechanical simulations of the natural cooling stage of the Tunnel Sealing Experiment

The Tunnel Sealing Experiment (TSX), located on the 420 Level of the Underground Research Laboratory (URL) of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), was used to study the behaviour of two bulkheads installed in situ: one composed of highly compacted bentonite-sand blocks, the other composed of low-heat high-performance concrete. Permeable sand was placed in an 11.2-m-long chamber between the bulkheads. The chamber was first pressurized with water to 4 MPa to simulate the conditions likely to develop in the period following installation of seals in an actual repository. A stage of circulating hot water in the chamber began on 2002 September 24. The maximum design temperature of 85 °C at the interior face of the bulkheads could not be achieved in the time available. The actual maximum temperature was 65 °C. The purpose of heating was to investigate the thermohydromechanical responses in the bulkheads and surrounding rock to increased temperature. A passive cooling stage followed the heating stage. To help understand the influence of natural cooling on the thermohydromechanical response, a series of coupled thermohydromechanical modelling exercises was carried out using the finite element program, Model Of Transport In Fractured/porous media (MOTIF), and the results were compared with measured data. The thermal response in the rock and the bulkheads was successfully simulated. The influence of hydraulic conductivity on the hydraulic response in the clay bulkhead was analyzed.     

Petrology and mineralogy of granulite-facies mafic xenoliths (Sardinia, Italy): Evidence for KCl metasomatism in the lower crust

Here new mineralogical data is presented on the occurrence of K-feldspar in granulite-facies metagabbronorite xenoliths found in recent alkaline lavas from Western Sardinia, Italy. The xenoliths originated from the underplating of variably evolved subduction-related basaltic liquids, which underwent cooling and recrystallisation in the deep crust (T = 850–900 °C, P = 0.8–1.0 GPa). They consist of orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + plagioclase porphyroclasts (An = 50–66 mol%) in a granoblastic, recrystallised, quartz-free matrix composed of pyroxene + plagioclase (An = 56–72 mol%) + Fe–Ti oxides ± K-feldspar ± biotite ± fluorapatite ± Ti-biotite. Texturally, the K-feldspar occurs in a variety of different modes. These include: (1) rods, blebs, and irregular patches in a random scattering of plagioclase grains in the form of antiperthite; (2) micro-veins along plagioclase–plagioclase and plagioclase–pyroxene grain rims; (3) myrmekite-like intergrowths with Ca-rich plagioclase along plagioclase–plagioclase grain boundaries; and (4) discrete anhedral grains (sometimes microperthitic). The composition of each type of K-feldspar is characterized by relatively high albite contents (16–33 mol%). An increasing anorthite content in the plagioclase towards the contact with the K-feldspar micro-vein and myrmekite-like intergrowths into the K-feldspar along the plagioclase–K-feldspar grain boundary are also observed. Small amounts of biotite (TiO₂ = 4.7–6.5 wt.%; F = 0.24–1.19 wt.%; Cl = 0.04–0.20 wt.%) in textural equilibrium with the granulite-facies assemblage is present in both K-feldspar-bearing and K-feldspar-free xenoliths. These K-feldspar textures suggest a likely metasomatic origin due to solid-state infiltration of KCl-rich fluids/melts. The presence of such fluids is supported by the fluorapatite in these xenoliths, which is enriched in Cl (Cl = 6–50% of the total F + Cl + OH). These lines of evidence suggest that formation of K-feldspar in the mafic xenoliths reflects metasomatic processes, requiring an external K-rich fluid source, which operated in the lower crust during and after in-situ high-T recrystallisation of relatively dry rocks.     

Building stone employed in the historical monuments of Eastern Sicily (Italy). An example: the ancient city centre of Catania

An archaeometric study of the stone materials employed in the Late Baroque historical monuments of the ancient city centre of Catania was carried out. Lithological maps of a selection of monuments, transferred to a digital format, revealed that the stone materials are both magmatic and sedimentary rocks, the colours of which are matched in a peculiar type of bichromy. Particular attention focused on sedimentary rocks, which consist of various types of limestone quarried near the city of Syracuse (Hyblean Plateau, south-eastern Sicily). Carbonate rocks were characterised in terms of mineralogy, petrography and geochemistry, by studying rock samples from both monuments and historical extraction sites. Results showed that, although only one name was historically attributed to the above lithotypes (i.e. “Pietra di Siracusa‘’), they were quarried from many locations and, as they belong to various geological formations, they therefore exhibit great variety. In order to examine the durability of Hyblean limestones employed in works of cultural heritage interest, salt crystallisation tests were carried out according to standard procedure norms (UNI EN 12370 (1999) Determination of resistance to crystallisation of salts, 6p). Results are consistent with the forms of deterioration observed in the monuments, and highlight the close relationship between textural characteristics and damage. Our purpose is to provide a basic tool, which may be useful both for conserving monuments of cultural heritage and for their restoration.     

Fluid inclusion and stable isotope (O, H, C, and S) constraints on the genesis of the Serrinha gold deposit, Gurupi Belt, northern Brazil

The Serrinha gold deposit of the Gurupi Belt, northern Brazil, belongs to the class of orogenic gold deposits. The deposit is hosted in highly strained graphitic schist belonging to a Paleoproterozoic (∼2,160 Ma) metavolcano-sedimentary sequence. The ore-zones are up to 11 m thick, parallel to the regional NW–SE schistosity, and characterized by quartz-carbonate-sulfide veinlets and minor disseminations. Textural and structural data indicate that mineralization was syn- to late-tectonic and postmetamorphic. Fluid inclusion studies identified early CO₂ (CH₄-N₂) and CO₂ (CH₄-N₂)-H₂O-NaCl inclusions that show highly variable phase ratios, CO₂ homogenization, and total homogenization temperatures both to liquid and vapor, interpreted as the product of fluid immiscibility under fluctuating pressure conditions, more or less associated with postentrapment modifications. The ore-bearing fluid typically has 18–33mol% of CO₂, up to 4mol% of N₂, and less than 2mol% of CH₄ and displays moderate to high densities with salinity around 4.5wt% NaCl equiv. Mineralization occurred around 310 to 335°C and 1.3 to 3.0 kbar, based on fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures and oxygen isotope thermometry with estimated oxygen fugacity indicating relatively reduced conditions. Stable isotope data on quartz, carbonate, and fluid inclusions suggest that veins formed from fluids with δ¹⁸O_H2O and δD_H2O (310–335°C) values of +6.2 to +8.4‰ and −19 to −80‰, respectively, which might be metamorphic and/or magmatic and/or mantle-derived. The carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) varies from −14.2 to −15.7‰ in carbonates; it is −17.6‰ in fluid inclusion CO₂ and −23.6‰ in graphite from the host rock. The δ³⁴S values of pyrite are −2.6 to −7.9‰. The strongly to moderately negative carbon isotope composition of the carbonates and inclusion fluid CO₂ reflects variable contribution of organic carbon to an originally heavier fluid (magmatic, metamorphic, or mantle-derived) at the site of deposition and sulfur isotopes indicate some oxidation of the originally reduced fluid. The deposition of gold is interpreted to have occurred mainly in response to phase separation and fluid-rock interactions such as CO₂ removal and desulfidation reactions that provoked variations in the fluid pH and redox conditions.     

Speciation of Chromium in Artificially Contaminated Soil Reference Material GSJ JSO-2 Using XANES and Chemical Extraction Methods

The oxidation states of chromium in GSJ JSO-2 (artificially contaminated soil) and three other geochemical reference materials (GSJ JSO-1, JLS-1 and JMS-1) were observed using X-ray near edge structure (XANES). For comparison, other artificially contaminated soil materials (mimic-JSO-2) were prepared by adding Cr(VI) into JSO-1. Their oxidation states of chromium were determined using XANES. The chromium contents were 1118 μg g^-1 for JSO-2, 1352 μg g^-1 for mimic-JSO-2 and 69-113 μg g^-1 for the other reference materials. Most chromium was present as hexavalent in mimic-JSO-2. No hexavalent species were detected in other samples. These results for chromium oxidation state in JSO-2 and mimic-JSO-2 obtained with XANES resembled those obtained from a chemical extraction method. The present JSO-2 has no trace of Cr(VI), although Cr(VI) was added as a major species during preparation. On the other hand, the content of Cr(VI) obtained in mimic-JSO-2 agreed with the original Cr(VI) content. A time-elapse study showed that Cr(VI) contents in mimic-JSO-2 decreased gradually to 70% of the original abundance during 240-day preservation in dry conditions. Moreover, the abundance of Cr(VI) decreased markedly to 15% after 240 days in the wet mimic-JSO-2 containing 20% m/m of water. These experiments suggested that soil humidity enhanced the reduction of Cr(VI) and that Cr(VI) was reduced even in dry conditions. Consequently, it is reasonable to infer that Cr(VI) doped into JSO-2 was completely reduced to Cr(III) during the preservation period of 5 years. The certification of the long-term stability of the chemical form in reference materials will be much more important in future.     

西南天山柯坪逆冲推覆构造带的地壳缩短分析

柯坪逆冲推覆构造带是西南天山山前晚新生代以来形成的活动逆断裂-褶皱带,由5~6排近平行的弧形褶皱带组成,出露地层为寒武系—第四系。背斜形态多为复式箱状背斜和不对称的斜歪背斜,分别与断层弯曲背斜和断层扩展背斜的几何形态一致。地震勘探资料显示,各褶皱带前缘活动逆断裂在深部归并于统一的、由寒武系中的石膏层组成的滑脱面。滑脱面深度具有南浅北深、东浅西深的特点,皮羌断裂西侧滑脱面深度约为9km,东侧滑脱面深度为5km。在柯坪逆冲推覆构造中部的皮羌断裂东西两侧各5km和8km的位置,以断层弯曲褶皱和断层扩展褶皱构造模型为指导,用线长平衡的方法完成了2条长度分别为78km和73km的平衡地质剖面,恢复到变形前的形态后计算出这2条剖面上的地壳缩短量分别为40km和45km,缩短率为33%和37%。由于对柯坪逆冲推覆构造开始形成时间的证据较少,所以要计算长期的缩短速率是比较困难的。对比天山南麓库车活动逆断裂-褶皱带的形成时代,以及柯坪逆冲推覆构造与印干断裂的关系,认为柯坪逆冲推覆构造形成于第四纪早期的西域砾岩沉积阶段,按距今2.5Ma计算,柯坪逆冲推覆构造的地壳缩短速率是15.4~17.3mm/a     

青藏高原东缘下地壳流动的地震学证据

在2000年完成的穿过川西高原和四川盆地的深地震测深剖面揭示了川西高原的地壳结构具有地壳增厚(主要是下地壳增厚)、地壳平均速度低等特点,显示地壳的缩短与增厚的碰撞变形特征。根据川西高原上设置各爆炸点的记录截面图共同呈现PmP(莫霍界面反射波)弱能量的特点,推断在川西高原的下地壳介质具有强衰减(Qp=100~300)的性质。利用我国西部地区的宽频带地震台站的面波资料反演青藏高原及其邻区的地壳上地幔S波三维速度结构,在周期T=29.2s和T=42.9s的Rayleigh波群速度分布图上,显示了青藏高原东部(包括川西高原)呈现大范围的低速异常。多方面的结果表明,地震学方法为当前流行的下地壳流动模型提供了深部证据。     

基于地壳双层结构假设的大陆强震孕震机制探讨

通过对地壳低速高导层和地震震源深度等有关资料的分析研究,在对地震发生前兆、特征及物理机制研究的基础上,初步提出了一个简单的地壳双层孕震模式:地壳存在有两层孕震结构,上层为主孕震层,是地震应力集中积聚和发震后释放应变能的地方,主要是岩石发生脆性变形层,深度在中上地壳范围内;下层为低速高导层,是诱发和加强上层脆性层岩石变形、应变能积累和破裂的主要因素之一,处于岩石脆—韧性变形的过渡带,强震的发生与本层有着密切的关系,深度在中下地壳范围内。同时基于该双层孕震假设讨论了强震的孕育环境及作用。     

真空动力固结联合扩底旋喷桩在饱和软粘土地基加固中的应用研究

针对饱和软粘土的工程特性,采用了真空动力固结联合扩底旋喷桩加固饱和软粘土地基。结合江苏某软粘土地基加固工程,在探讨其加固机理的基础上,通过对加固过程的方案设计及现场试验结果的分析和讨论,表明该法能够充分发挥强夯、真空降水及旋喷注浆各自的技术优势。该法具有工期短、造价低、预沉降可控、加固效果好等优点。进一步拓宽了饱和软粘土地基的处理方法,为我国沿海地区软粘土地基处理工程提供了新的途径。