Deriving hillslope sediment budgets in wildfire-affected forests using fallout radionuclide tracers

Information on post-fire sediment and nutrient redistribution is required to underpin post-fire catchment management decisions. Fallout radionuclide budgets (²¹⁰Pb_xs, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁷Be) were derived to quantify soil redistribution and sediment yield in forested terrain following a moderately severe wildfire in a small (89 ha) water supply catchment in SE Australia. Application of these techniques in burnt terrain requires careful consideration of the partitioning of radionuclides between organic and mineral soil components. Beryllium-7 and ²¹⁰Pb_xs were shown to be closely associated with ash, litter and soil organic matter whereas ¹³⁷Cs was more closely associated with subsurface coarse mineral soil. Comparison of the three tracer budgets indicated that the dominant sediment source areas were ridgetops and steep valley sideslopes, from which burnt surface material was conveyed to the stream network via pre-existing gullies. Erosion was predominantly driven by sheetwash, enhanced by soil water repellency, and modified by bioturbation which both supplies subsurface sediment and provides sinks for erosive overland flow. Footslope and riparian zones were not important sediment source areas. The estimated event-based (wildfire and subsequent rainfall) sediment yield is 58 ± 25 t km^− 2, based on fallout ⁷Be measurements. The upper estimate of total particulate phosphorus yield (0.70 kg ha^− 1) is more than 10 times that at equivalent unburnt sites. This illustrates that, soon after fire, burnt eucalypt forest can produce nutrient loads similar to those of agricultural catchments. The tracer budgets indicate that wildfire is an important control on sediment and phosphorus inputs to the stream network over the decadal timeframe and the pulsed nature of this release is an important concern for water quality management.     

Catastrophic and dangerous inflows to salt mines in Poland as related to the origin of water determined by isotope methods

 Tritium, ¹⁴C, δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O and δD measurements indicated as early as 1973 the existence of inflows of modern meteoric water to the Wapno salt mine in a Zechstein diapir. In spite of these early warnings, the continuation of improper exploitation led, in 1977, to sudden flooding of the mine followed by catastrophic land subsidence. The lesson learned from that catastrophe, as well as the results of isotope investigations performed in the Inowrocław salt mine, led to the decision to flood the mine artificially in order to avoid a similar land subsidence. The Kłodawa mine was not regarded to be in danger of flooding due to a thick clay cap. In fact, a large number of usually short-lasting water occurrences had the isotopic composition characteristic for evaporated ocean water. However, since 1956 an inflow has existed with δ¹⁸O and δD values close to that of pre-Quaternary saline waters and brines in the Mesozoic formations adjacent to the diapir. Two other inflows have recently occurred with the initial δ¹⁸O and δD values of modern waters. As a consequence, the mine is regarded to be in danger, and the exploitation of salt in the areas of inflows has been stopped. The Wieliczka mine, southern Poland, exploits Miocene salts overthrusted together with the Carpathian flysch from the south. The most dangerous and catastrophic inflows were caused by human errors. Isotope data show the water to be of glacial or Holocene age stored in Tertiary, slightly cemented rocks of low permeability, which neighbor the mine from the north. Owing to specific geology, the mine has survived for a long time, in spite of relatively large and long-lasting inflows. However, its existence is in permanent danger. Received: 7 March 1997 · Accepted: 17 November 1998     

Water contamination and remedial measures at the Troya abandoned Pb-Zn mine (The Basque Country, Northern Spain)

 This article describes a case of contamination of a karstic aquifer by abandoning an underground mine exploiting sulphide ore body. To exploit the ore, the aquifer was drained and the water level declined about 230 m, drying up the spring that had drained the aquifer up to that moment. When the mining activity ceased, the piezometric level recovered and contaminated water began to flow out from a mine adit. The water is high in sulphates and dissolved Fe, although the pH is neutral. When this water reached the nearby creek, the fish population was eliminated, principally due to the presence of toxic metals and the precipitation of Fe hydroxides. The contamination originated in an area of the partially flooded mine rooms where the ore is in contact with both air and water. The acidity generated by pyrite oxidation is neutralized by calcite dissolution. Presently, the mine water is diverted to the old tailings pond which functions as an aerobic wetland. This action has allowed the fish population in the creek to be restored. Received: 20 January 1999 · Accepted: 15 March 1999     

平顶山矿区地温信息管理系统研究

介绍了平顶山矿区地温信息管理系统软件(PGTIMS1.0)的设计思路。根据平顶山矿区地温信息的特点,该信息系统软件具有地温数据库、地温图形库、地温计算系统等三个子系统,可以进行地温信息管理、地温图形的管理、地温场中任意一点的地温计算。界面友好,操作方便。为科学地预测地下温度,评价地温环境、煤炭开发与热害治理之间的矛盾打下基础。      

巷道泄水孔疏干方法在元宝山露天煤矿中的应用

以元宝山露天煤矿为实例,总结了对煤系上覆砂岩、泥岩互层,分布不连续的基岩含水层采用巷道泄水孔疏干方法的施工经验,提出该方法在同类地区具有推广价值      

三维地震在铁法矿区的应用

以铁法矿区采区三维地震工程实践为例,论述了三维高分辨率地震勘探技术在采矿工作面合理布置等方面的作用。采掘实践证明,三维地震勘探成果的应用消除了地质风险,已回采的几个综采工作面,未发生意外及重大地质变化。      

月亮田矿南四采区构造成因及找煤应用

利用地质力学原理,对月亮田矿南四采区的构造发肓规律及展布特点进行综合分析,认为该区地质构造成因是由繁到简并成带状分布,从而成功地找到了经济可采煤层。      

赞比亚谦比西铜矿水文地质条件和疏干方案研究

分析了赞比亚谦比西铜矿水文地质条件的特点及其对矿山防治水的影响。提出了与当地习惯做法不同的本中段为主疏干、放水工程非均匀布置的治水方案 ,以及保证方案得以成功实施所应采取的措施。     

日照市露天开采矿山地质环境问题及恢复治理措施

通过1∶5万矿山地质环境调查和遥感解译手段,对日照市矿山进行了全面的调查,查明各类矿山546处,主要集中在莒县和五莲县境内。除莒县刘官庄煤矿外,其余全部为露天开采矿山,主要选用直接开挖的方式,不仅破坏了地表环境,而且矿山生产活动产生的固体废弃物占用了大面积的土地。该文根据矿山地理位置及开采方式的不同,将相同类型的多个矿山划分为同一治理区,针对不同治理区的特点,采取科学有效的治理方法,建立健全矿山地质环境监督管理机制,切实解决矿山地质环境问题,改善生态环境。     

直升机大比例尺航空物探在深部找矿中的应用前景

为克服深部及矿区外围地面物探工作难度大、勘探周期长等不利因素,探讨了利用直升机快速获取高分辨率航空物探资料的方法。以成功应用实例,总结了直升机航空物探方法技术的特点和优势,并针对目前深部找矿工作区的部署特点,展望了直升机物探利用磁、电、能谱综合信息,挖掘矿山深部及外围资源潜力,直接为地质找矿服务的应用前景。