3D numerical modelling of fluid flow in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district: major crustal shear zones drain fluids from overpressured vein fields

Fluid flow patterns have been determined using oxygen isotope isopleths in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district. 3D numerical modelling of fluid flow and oxygen isotope exchange in the vein field shows that the fluid flow patterns can be reproduced if the lower boundary of the model is permeable, which represents middle or lower crustal rocks that are infiltrated by a metamorphic fluid generated at deeper levels. This boundary condition implies that the major crustal faults so conspicuous in vein fields do not act as the only major channel for upward fluid flow. The upper model boundary is impermeable except along the trace of major crustal faults where fluids are allowed to drain out of the vein field. This upper impermeable boundary condition represents a low-permeability layer in the crust that separates the overpressured fluid from the overlying hydrostatic fluid pressure regime. We propose that the role of major crustal faults in overpressured vein fields, independent of tectonic setting, is to drain hydrothermal fluids out of the vein field along a breach across an impermeable layer higher in the crust and above the vein field. This breach is crucial to allow flow out of the vein field and accumulation of metals in the fractures, and this breach has major implications for exploration for mineral resources. We propose that tectonic events that cause episodic metamorphic dehydration create a short-lived pulse of metamorphic fluid to rise along zones of transient permeability. This results in a fluid wave that propagates upward carrying metals to the mineralized area. Earthquakes along crustal shear zones cause dilation near jogs that draw fluids and deposit metals in an interconnected network of subsidiary shear zones. Fluid flow is arrested by an impermeable barrier separating the hydrostatic and lithostatic fluid pressure regimes. Fluids flow through the evolving and interconnected network of shear zones and by advection through the rock matrix. Episodic breaches in the impermeable barrier along the crustal shear zones allow fluid flow out of the vein field.     

Design of Inclined Covers with Capillary Barrier Effect

A design procedure is proposed to minimize water infiltration into landfills by optimizing the water diversion length of inclined covers with capillary barrier effect (CCBE). This design procedure is based on a conceptual, mathematical and numerical approach and aims at selecting materials and optimizing layer thickness. Selection among candidate materials is made based on their hydraulic conductivity functions and on a threshold infiltration rate imposed on the designer. The capillary break layer (CBL; bottom layer) is characterized by a weak capillarity, while the moisture retention layer (MRL; upper layer) is characterized by a compromise between strong capillarity and high hydraulic conductivity. The thickness of the CBL corresponds to the height where suction reaches its maximum value for a given infiltration rate. This height can be calculated using the Kisch [Géotechnique 9 (1959)] model. The optimal thickness of the MRL is determined by applying an adaptation of the Ross [Water Resources Research 26 (1990)] model. The results obtained using the proposed design procedure were compared to those obtained from numerical simulations performed using a finite element unsaturated seepage software. The procedure was applied for two cover systems; one where deinking by-products (DBP) were used as MRL and sand as CBL and another where sand was used as MRL and gravel as CBL. Using this procedure, it has been shown that an infiltration control system composed of thin layers of sand over gravel is highly efficient in terms of diversion length and that its efficiency can be enhanced by placing a hydraulic barrier – such as a layer of DBP – above the MRL.     

The Alcamayo and Cedrobamba catastrophic debris flow (January, March and April 2004) in Machupicchu area—Peru

A debris flow originating from the Alcamayo River on 10th April 2004 destroyed a part of the town of Aguas Calientes, resulting in 11 victims, and with serious affects to the tourist flow to the Machupicchu inka citadel. On the same day, as well as in January and March 2004, other similar phenomena occurred on the Cedrobamba and Leonchayoq Rivers, affecting the railway and an electrical tower, and disrupting the train service.     

Interpreting tracer breakthrough tailing in a conduit-dominated karstic aquifer

Breakthrough tailing has been observed during dye-tracing recovery tests in the Norville aquifer system (chalk), France. Karst-conduit flow and transport parameters were assessed using two different interpretative methods: the linear graphical method and the Chatwin method (implemented in the Qtracer2 program). The linear graphical method was used to model the observed tailing effects, which was explained by a second smaller delayed breakthrough curve. By comparing the results of tracer-test interpretation for the two methods, it was possible to relate the area of this second curve to the importance of turbulent flow in spring discharge. The more turbulent the flow, the less important the contribution of the second breakthrough curve and the tailing effect. The observed tailing could possibly be controlled by hydrodynamics to a greater extent than usually expected, the tailing effects being mostly attributed to diffusion phenomena. Tailing effects were expected to increase with discharge and the piezometric level, which would have resulted in overpressure in conduits, fissure flooding, etc. Instead, breakthrough tailing tended to disappear with increasing aquifer discharge, which would support the hypothesis of there being mostly hydrodynamic-controlled tailing effects instead of matrix- or fissure-diffusion.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Chemical characterization of the Neogene Aquifer, Belgium

The evolution of groundwater chemistry along the direction of groundwater flow was studied using hydrochemical data from samples collected along a flow line in the Neogene Aquifer, Belgium. Infiltrating water was found to have a very low mineral content and low pH because the sediments are strongly decalcified. Increasing SiO₂ and cation concentrations along the groundwater flow line indicate silicate-weathering processes, confirmed with the aid of saturation indices, calculated with PHREEQC, and stability diagrams. A classification system based on redox sensitive species was developed and shows that an extensive redox sequence is present in the aquifer. At a shallow depth, pyrite oxidation has caused an increase in sulphate, while iron is precipitated as hydroxides. Elevated arsenic concentrations are related to the reduction of these iron hydroxides at a relatively shallow depth and to the dissolution of siderite at greater depth. Dissolution of carbonate in the aquifer material, present in deep layers and to the north, has lead to increased Ca²⁺ and HCO₃ ^? concentrations. The Ca²⁺ from the groundwater is exchanged for Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺ adsorbed to the clay surfaces at the bottom of the groundwater reservoir. Although the Neogene Aquifer is well flushed, there are still some marine influences present in the deepest parts.     

Some Observations on the Use of Data from Historical Documents in Debris-Flow Studies

The knowledge of past events is important for the assessment of debris-flow hazard. Amongst the sources of information, documents from historical archives are particularly important in sites where the debris flows cause damage to urban areas and transportation routes. The paper analyses the availability of historical documents on debris flows in Northeastern Italy and discusses factors that can influence the building of time series from archive data both at regional and single basin scales. An increased number of debris flows was observed in the studied region for the last decades. This could be due both to an increased frequency of the events and to a larger availability of information: the analysis carried out indicates that the latter factor is probably the most influencing. The importance of factors, which affect the collection of data, including the conservation of documents and the presence and fragility of the elements at risk, is stressed in view of a wise use of historical data on debris flows.     

滇西龙川江盆地铀矿化特征

龙川江盆地是滇西主要的铀矿赋矿盆地之一,现已探明一批砂岩型铀矿床。本文根据野外地质调查及室内系列编图,运用水成铀矿成矿理论,对龙川江盆地的基本特征及铀矿化特征进行了讨论,认为铀矿床主要分布于西部斜坡带,赋存于冲积扇沉积体系砂体中,且与潜水层间氧化带关系密切。     

泥石流汇流槽可靠度分析

汇流槽是泥石流治理工程中常用的工程措施之一。文章基于汇流槽的倾倒破坏、滑移破坏及地基破坏模式，通过对汇流槽设计影响强烈的岩土参数、几何特征、荷载因素等敏感因子的求解方法及分布特征分析，从汇流槽的抗倾稳定、抗滑稳定和基底应力要求三方面建立极限状态方程。对于每个极限状态方程，在泰勒级数对非线性极限状态方程线性化后，运用一次二阶矩的理论，先假定失效点P^＊，求解出相应的均值和方差。然后根据可靠的定义，得到相应的可靠度指标，通过迭代法求解真正失效点的可靠度指标βi。最后根据3个状态方程相互独立的假定，得出整个结构的可靠度指标β。该方法在平川泥石流防治工程中得到了成功的运用。这对于可靠度设计方法在泥石流防治工程中的运用进行了有益的探讨。     

滨里海盆地东缘阿克纠宾地区遥感地质及地球物理场研究

 以图像处理、GIS为平台，对哈萨克斯坦阿克纠宾地区的重、磁、电、遥感及地震资料进行了综合分析。指出，该地区重、磁力资料信息含量较高，对于确定盐下构造分布具有积极意义。使用遥感资料对小断层及裂隙发育状况进行研究，有助于裂隙孔隙型碳酸盐岩油藏开发注水效率的提高。同时可对扎纳若尔、阿里别克莫拉等油田的井网状况进行监控和地面设施进行调查。     

Observations And Modelling Of The On-Ice And Off-Ice Air Flow Over The Northern Baltic Sea

Two cases of on-ice and off-ice air flow characterizing the opposite weather situations over the ice-edge zone in the northern Baltic Sea are analysed on the basis of aircraft observations, and modelled using atwo-dimensional mesoscale model. The stable boundary layer (SBL) during theon-ice flow exhibited little thermal modification, but a low-level jet (LLJ) was generated at the 250-m high top of the SBL. In the model, the LLJ was associated with inertial oscillations in space, while the baroclinicity explained the shape of the wind profile well above the SBL. Although the observed LLJ was most pronounced over the ice, the modelling suggests that it was not generated by the ice edge but by the coastline some 400 km upwind of the ice edge, where a much more drastic change in the thermal stratification and surface roughness took place. The generation, maintenance, and strength of the LLJ were very sensitive to the parameterization of turbulent mixing in the SBL. In the case of the off-ice flow, the modification of the air mass and the development of a convective boundary layer (CBL) both over the ice and open sea were reasonably well modelled. Sensitivity runs suggested that it was essential to take into account the effects of subgrid-scale leads, a forest in the archipelago (which was crossed by the air flow), and water vapour condensationinto ice crystals. The heat flux from leads was particularly important for the heatbudget of the CBL, and the observed growth of the CBL was partly due to theeffective mixing over the rough and relatively warm forest.