Magnetic properties of a freshly fallen LL ordinary chondrite: the Bensour meteorite

A comprehensive rock magnetic, magnetic anisotropy and paleomagnetic study has been undertaken in the brecciated LL6 Bensour ordinary chondrite, a few months only after its fall on Earth. Microscopic observations and electronic microprobe analyses indicate the presence of Ni-rich taenite, tetrataenite and rare Co-rich kamacite. Tetrataenite is the main carrier of remanence. Magnetization and anisotropy measurements were performed on mutually oriented 125 mm³ sub-samples. A very strong coherent susceptibility and remanence anisotropy is evidenced and interpreted as due to the large impact responsible for the post-metamorphic compaction of this brecciated material and disruption of the parent body. We show that the acquisition of remanent magnetization postdates metamorphism on the parent body and predates the entering of the meteorite in Earth’s atmosphere. Three components of magnetization could be isolated. A soft coherent component is closely related to the anisotropy of the meteorite and is interpreted as a shock remanent magnetization acquired during the same large impact on the parent body. Two harder components show random directions at a few mm scale. This randomness is attributed either to the formation mechanism of tetrataenite or to post-metamorphic brecciation. All components are likely acquired in very low (≈μT) to null ambient magnetic field, as demonstrated by comparison with demagnetization behavior of isothermal remanent magnetization. Two other LL6 meteorites, Kilabo and St-Mesmin, have also been studied for comparison with Bensour.     

Temporal variations of shear-wave splitting in field and laboratory studies in China

Observations of shear-wave splitting at seismic stations above a swarm of small earthquakes on Hainan Island, China, and other examples world-wide, suggest that the time-delays of split shear-waves monitor the build up of stress before earthquakes and the stress release as earthquakes occur. Rock physics experiments on marble specimens also show variations of shear-wave time-delays with uniaxial pressure analogous to the field observations. The rock experiments show an abrupt decrease in time-delays immediately before fracturing occurs. Similar precursory behaviour has been observed before earthquakes elsewhere, and is believed to be important for two reasons. Precursory changes in shear-wave splitting could be used for short-term forecasting, but of greater importance may be the information such behaviour provides about the source processes in earthquake preparation zones.     

应用RMi法估算岩体变形模量

RMR法与Q法是国内外八、九十年代岩体质量和参数估算的常用方法,然而RMR法和Q法对质量较差的岩体不太实用,而RMi法是一种既适用于软岩又适用于硬岩的岩体质量评价和参数估算方法。本文在介绍RMi法基本原理的基础上,对贵州省鱼简河水库坝基岩体变形模量进行确定。     

Geotechnical and geoenvironmental characteristics of man-made underground structures in Cappadocia, Turkey

Underground cities and semi-underground settlements, most of which are 1500 years at least, exist in the Cappadocia Region of Turkey. These man-made rock structures are carved in soft tuffs and the best examples of long-term performance of man-made structures in the field of rock engineering. The tuffs also have good thermal isolation properties to be used as housing and storage of foods. In this article, the authors are only concerned with physical and short-term mechanical characteristics due to the wide-spectrum of the theme and the in situ characterization of the Cappadocia tuffs, and the results of investigations are presented. In addition, a critical overview on possible engineering geological problems at Cappadocia with mechanical aspects of historical and modern rock structures and their implications in rock engineering is made. From the experimental results in the field, it is evident that the engineering characteristics of these rocks do not show significant changes in vertical and horizontal directions. However, they are prone to atmospheric conditions. In addition, temperature and humidity measurements at different floors of the underground cities and various parts of semi-underground settlements indicated that variations in climatic conditions of the openings are very small when compared to those outside the ground surface.     

Deformation at Stromboli volcano (Italy) revealed by rock mechanics and structural geology

We approach the reconstruction of the recent structural evolution of Stromboli volcano (Italy) and the analysis of the interplay between tectonics, gravity and volcanic deformation. By tying together structural, lithostratigraphic and rock mechanics data, we establish that since 100 ka BP, the edifice has faulted and jointed mainly along NE-striking planes. Faults mostly dip to the NW with normal displacement. Taking also into account the presence of a NW-trending regional least principal stress and of tectonic earthquake hypocenters inside the cone, we suggest that this fracturing can be related to the transmission of tectonic forces from the basement to the cone. Dyking concentrated along a main NE-trending weakness zone (NEZ) across the volcano summit, resembling a volcanic rift, whose geometry is governed by the tectonic field. In the past 13 ka, Stromboli experienced a reorganisation of the strain field, which was linked with the development of four sector collapses affecting the NW flank, alternating with growth phases. The tectonic strain field interplayed with dyking and fracturing related to unbuttressing along the collapse shoulders. We propose that tectonics control the geometry of dykes inside the cone and that these, in turn, contribute to destabilise the cone flanks.     

From geometry to dynamics of microstructure: using boundary lengths to quantify boundary misorientations and anisotropy

The microstructure of a quartzite experimentally deformed and partially recrystallised at 900 °C, 1.2 GPa confining pressure and strain rate 10⁻⁶/s was investigated using orientation contrast and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Boundaries between misoriented domains (grains or subgrains) were determined by image analysis of orientation contrast images. In each domain, EBSD measurements gave the complete quartz lattice orientation and enabled calculation of misorientation angles across every domain boundary. Results are analysed in terms of the boundary density, which for any range of misorientations is the boundary length for that range divided by image area. This allows a more direct comparison of misorientation statistics between different parts of a sample than does a treatment in terms of boundary number.The strain in the quartzite sample is heterogeneous. A 100×150 μm low-strain partially recrystallised subarea C was compared with a high-strain completely recrystallised subarea E. The density of high-angle (>10°) boundaries in E is roughly double that in C, reflecting the greater degree of recrystallisation. Low-angle boundaries in C and E are produced by subgrain rotation. In the low-angle range 0–10° boundary densities in both C and E show an exponential decrease with increasing misorientation. The densities scale with exp(−θ/λ) where λ is approximately 2° in C and 1° in E; in other words, E has a comparative dearth of boundaries in the 8–10° range. We explain this dearth in terms of mobile high-angle boundaries sweeping through and consuming low-angle boundaries as the latter increase misorientation through time. In E, the density of high-angle boundaries is larger than in C, so this sweeping would have been more efficient and could explain the relative paucity of 8–10° boundaries.The boundary density can be generalised to a directional property that gives the degree of anisotropy of the boundary network and its preferred orientation. Despite the imposed strain, the analysed samples show that boundaries are not, on average, strongly aligned. This is a function of the strong sinuosity of high-angle boundaries, caused by grain boundary migration. Low-angle boundaries might be expected, on average, to be aligned in relation to imposed strain but this is not found.Boundary densities and their generalisation in terms of directional properties provide objective measures of microstructure. In this study the patterns they show are interpreted in terms of combined subgrain rotation and migration recrystallisation, but it may be that other microstructural processes give distinctive patterns when analysed in this fashion.     

双多普勒雷达风场反演误差和资料的质量控制

提出了用双多普勒雷达观测资料进行回波强度、径向速度和方位定位的质量控制方法，以及利用概率分布法订正配对的双多普勒雷达回波强度的方法。以2001年973“中国暴雨”外场试验期间获取的双多普勒雷达观测资料为例，比较了合肥、马鞍山和宜昌、荆州的两对双多普勒雷达同步观测的回波强度、径向速度和方位的改变对观测数据对比的影响；分析了这两对双多普勒雷达径向速度测量误差引起的风场反演的误差。结果表明:两对双多普勒雷达观测的回波强度和径向速度的空间位置和变化趋势比较一致，合肥与马鞍山雷达的回波强度有一定差异，径向速度也有1～2 m/s的差异。风场反演的误差与风场的方向、大小、空间位置等有关。在两个径向速度夹角在40°～140°范围内，共面上的风场的反演误差在1～2倍的雷达探测径向速度的误差范围内。     

川北地区岩石反射谱波特征

四川北部地区既有岩浆岩、变质岩构成的前震旦系结晶变质基底,又有震旦纪以后的沉积盖层,岩石类型十分齐全。本文根据该区的120件岩(矿)石样品反射波谱测试结果,绘制了区内主要岩石类型典型波谱曲线,并对这些波谱曲线进行了初步分析,总结了主要岩石类型的波谱特征,这些岩石波谱特征在西南地区有一定的代表性。     

岩体结构统计均质区的划分

本文介绍由Ｍｉｌｌｅｒ提出的基本概率统计理论的关联表分析，结合施密特投影图研究岩体统计均质区的划分方法。对该法进行了适当的修改，编写了相应的计算机程序。并对三峡永久船闸地区的岩体结构，进行了岩体结构统计均质区的划分，获得了良好的效果。     

锦屏Ⅰ级水电站坝区岩体结构面特征研究

本文根据锦屏Ⅰ级水电站坝区体结构面野外调资料，对坝区结构面优势方位、间距、张开度、连通率、隙间充填物及形态特征进行了分析，为坝区岩体分类及其物理力学参数的确定提供了重要依据。