Weathering and biokarst development on marine terraces,northwest Morocco

Weathering features are described from an arid coastal area in northern Morocco which are indicative of invasive chasmolithic and endolithic microbial communities. Active weathering of marine terraces and karst development is associated with endolithic and epilithic algae responsible for boring, disintegration of matrix and mineral fabrics, solution and biomineralization that undermines the marine carbonate platform. Evidence of a range of biological weathering agents remains preserved, speci?cally calci?ed ?laments and sporangial material. An abundance of ?laments and spores representative of a consortium of algae, fungi, cyanobacteria and lichens is associated with the most denuded outcrops. The array of microbes contributes to the formation of the stromatolites to depths of 0·5 m within the limestone substrate. The preservation of stromatolites is supported by calci?cation of spores and ?laments, with trapping and binding of carbonate held in suspension by vadose waters. The pervasive weathering on this sector of coastline has important practical implications for coastal planning and development authorities in Morocco. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rock thermal data at the grain scale: applicability to granular disintegration in cold environments

Consideration of the mechanisms associated with the granular disintegration of rock has been limited by available data. In most instances, both the size of the transducer and the nature of the study have negated any applicability of the resulting data to the understanding of grain‐to‐grain separation within rock. The application of microthermocouples (≤0·15 mm diameter) and high‐frequency logging (20 s intervals) at a taffoni site on southern Alexander Island and from a rock outcrop on Adelaide Island (Antarctica) provide new data pertaining to the thermal conditions, at the grain scale, of the rock surface. The results show that thermal changes (ΔT/t) can be very high, with values of 22 °C min^?1 being recorded. Although available data indicate that there can be differences in frequency and magnitude of ?uctuations as a function of aspect, all aspects experienced some large magnitude (≥2 °C min^?1) ?uctuations. Further, in many instances, large thermal changes in more than one direction could occur within 1 min or in subsequent minutes. These data suggest that the surface grains experience rapidly changing stress ?elds that may, with time, effect fatigue at the grain boundaries; albedo differences between grains and the resulting thermal variations are thought to exacerbate this. The available data failed to show any indication of water freezing (an exotherm) and thus it is suggested that microgelivation may not play as large a role in granular breakdown as is often postulated for cold regions, and that in this dry, Antarctic region thermal stress may play a signi?cant role. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

低渗透砂砾岩油层相对渗透率曲线的形态及其变化特征

以宝浪油田低渗透砂砾岩储层为例，主要分析了低渗透储层相对渗透率曲线的形态及变化特征和影响相对渗透率曲线形态变化的原因。分析结果表明，低渗透砂砾岩储层的非达西渗流使油相的相对渗透率增大，使水相的相对渗透率减小。孔隙结构的非均质性，特别是粘土矿物的含量和注入水水质对相对渗透率曲线的影响都很大。     

桂柳高速公路边坡岩石风化速度的研究

作者对桂柳高速公路边坡对代表性岩石的剥落量、剥落厚度及风化破坏特征等表征风化速度的指标进行了观测试验,发现边坡岩石的风化速度主要受岩性、构造、气候(降雨及干湿循环频度、强度)、岩体结构特征、岩面起伏及其裸露程度和人为因素的控制,这与风化作用对岩石的综合影响因素是一致的。文中建立的岩石风化速度与降雨量的相关性公式及表征岩石风化特性的定量指标,对于类似地区、类似岩性具有一定的适用性和参考价值。     

火山岩风化过程中难熔元素的活动性研究——以广西凭祥英安岩风化剖面为例

对广西凭祥叫弄英安岩风化剖面中6个难熔元素的活动性进行了研究。结果表明，Ti,Nb和Ta 3种元素在整个风化成土过程中基本上保持了它们的不活动性。Zr,Hf和Th在风化的初期阶段基本上保持不活动，而在风化中期表现出一定的富集，风化高级阶段则有明显的富集。Th的富集可能与风化壳表层（已剥蚀）淋溶出来的Th向下迁移过程中被氧化铁吸附和形成磷酸盐矿物有关，而Zr的富集则可能与淋溶出来的Zr与SiO2或磷酸盐结合形成某种硅酸盐矿物和磷酸盐矿物有关，具体富集原因还需作进一步的研究。     

湖北清江榨洞石笋中可溶硅的测定及其古气候意义研究

洞穴石笋蕴含着丰富的古气候信息，其正确解译有赖于各类古气候替代指标的开发，应用改进的硅钼兰分光光度法测定湖北清江榨洞石笋中痕量可溶硅，探讨其古气候指示意义。结果表明，石笋中可溶硅含量记录了岩溶地下水的硅酸组成，后进反映了气候控制下土壤的化学风化作用。因而，石笋可溶硅是一个潜在的古气候（特别是古湿度）替代指标。     

In‐situ gamma‐ray spectrometric study of weathered volcanic rocks in Hong Kong

In‐situ gamma‐ray spectrometry (GRS) measurements were conducted at 35 sites in Hong Kong where volcanic rocks with varying extent of weathering were exposed. Elemental analyses using X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry were carried out on samples collected from these 35 plus 22 other locations to assess the feasibility of using the GRS method to quantify the extent of weathering. The Parker weathering index, varying within a range of 0·0–0·8 for the samples studied, was used as a geochemically based reference scheme for correlating the gamma‐ray spectrometric results with the extent of weathering. For the former 35 sites, the concentrations of the three major radioelements, K, U and Th, determined by in‐situ GRS were compared to laboratory‐determined values from the samples. The study reveals that no significant change occurs to the contents of the three radioelements during the initial state of weathering. But once the rocks become highly weathered, further progression of weathering is accompanied by a systematic removal of K and an increased dispersion of U and Th. The results show that K content, which is indicative of the extent of weathering, can be retrieved reliably with the gamma‐ray spectrometry technique. The study has given support to the potential use of the downhole spectral gamma method for evaluation of weathering grade and the detection of subsurface clay‐rich levels. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

湖南省舂陵水两岸风化型锰矿地质特征及找矿方向

近年来锰矿石价格飞速提升．舂陵水两岸地区锰矿找矿吸引了更多投资者的目光,在对湖南省未阳市东山下锰矿普查工作的取得较理想的成果后,对该地区前期的工作成果加以整理、总结,提出今后的找矿方向及工作建议。该地区风化型锰矿开采条件优越,潜在经济价值巨大,开发利用前景广阔。     

The effects of fire on rock weathering: some further considerations of laboratory experimental simulation

Fire in the natural environment is a widespread agent of geomorphological and biological change. Temperatures can exceed 1000°C. There is often a rapid rise from ambient conditions through a steep thermal gradient, promoting rock disintegration. Laboratory simulation studies have established that temperature changes which are representative of natural fires affect rock material properties, which can then be related to weathering susceptibility. This study extends previous work by more closely replicating the natural environment, (a) through the simulation of rainfall and (b) by encasing samples to reflect the exposure of a single rock face to a passing fire event. Rock samples collected on Cyprus were prepared and tested following previously reported procedures. Change in modulus of elasticity was monitored using a non-destructive ultrasonic method. The data corroborate previous work but with somewhat different degrees of change. The new results are more likely to be representative of natural conditions and real-world change. The rate of rock disintegration and effects such as case-hardening appear to be a function of rock thermal characteristics, material properties and environmental constraints such as diurnal temperature range. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.