Hydrogeology of a fractured shale (Opalinus Clay): Implications for deep geological disposal of radioactive wastes

As part of the Swiss programme for high-level radioactive-waste disposal, a Jurassic shale (Opalinus Clay) is being investigated as a potential host rock. Observations in clay pits and the results of a German research programme focusing on hazardous waste disposal have demonstrated that, at depths of 10–30 m, the permeability of the Opalinus Clay decreases by several orders of magnitude. Hydraulic tests in deeper boreholes (test intervals below 300 m) yielded hydraulic conductivities <10^–12 m/s, even though joints and faults were included in some of the test intervals. These measurements are consistent with hydrogeological data from Opalinus Clay sections in ten tunnels in the Folded Jura of northern Switzerland. Despite extensive faulting, only a few indications of minor water inflow were encountered in more than 6,600 m of tunnel. All inflows were in tunnel sections where the overburden is less than 200 m. The hydraulic data are consistent with clay pore-water hydrochemical and isotopic data. The extensive hydrogeological data base – part of which derives from particularly unfavourable geological environments – provides arguments that advective transport through faults and joints is not a critical issue for the suitability of Opalinus Clay as a host rock for deep geological waste disposal. Electronic Publication     

Aquifer/aquitard interfaces: mixing zones that enhance biogeochemical reactions

Several important biogeochemical reactions are known to occur near the interface between aquifer and aquitard sediments. These reactions include O₂ reduction; denitrification; and Fe³⁺, SO₄ ^2–, and CO₂ (methanogenesis) reduction. In some settings, these reactions occur on the aquitard side of the interface as electron acceptors move from the aquifer into the electron-donor-enriched aquitard. In other settings, these reactions occur on the aquifer side of the interface as electron donors move from the aquitard into the electron-acceptor-enriched, or microorganism-enriched, aquifer. Thus, the aquifer/aquitard interface represents a mixing zone capable of supporting greater microbial activity than either hydrogeologic unit alone. The extent to which biogeochemical reactions proceed in the mixing zone and the width of the mixing zone depend on several factors, including the abundance and solubility of electron acceptors and donors on either side of the interface and the rate at which electron acceptors and donors react and move across the interface. Biogeochemical reactions near the aquifer/aquitard interface can have a substantial influence on the chemistry of water in aquifers and on the chemistry of sediments near the interface. Electronic Publication     

Cainozoic heritage in the modern landscape near Bungonia,southern New South Wales

The regional topography of much of the New South Wales Southern Highlands was long attributed to Quaternary erosion, but it has been recently demonstrated that the region was, in fact, well developed by the Eocene. The hillsides at Inverary Park are mantled by the Late‐Eocene Reevesdale Basalt, thus indicating the extent of landscape development by the mid‐Tertiary. Pre‐, intra‐, and post‐basaltic alluvial and lacustrine sediments are compared with the current extent of the basalt, clearly demonstrating the age of this landscape and the paucity of modification since the Late Eocene. Stratigraphic techniques, U/Th, TL and ¹⁴C dating aid reconstruction of much of the Cainozoic history of Inverary Park. Major changes in sediment type and source have long been common, but Late Quaternary changes do not correlate well with similar observations elsewhere, suggesting that changes in hydrologic regime, notably climate change, are not necessarily responsible for changes in the stratigraphic record. This landscape development and preservation is also at odds with most models of landscape development.     

Groundwater potential index in a crystalline terrain using remote sensing data

Demand for groundwater for drinking, agricultural and industrial purposes has increased due to uncertainty in the surface water supply. Agriculture is the main occupation of the rural people in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Development of groundwater in the district is very less, indicating a lot of scope for further development of groundwater resources. However, assessment of groundwater conditions, particularly in a crystalline terrain, is a complex task because of variations in weathering and fracturing zones from place to place. Systematic studies for evaluation of groundwater potential zones have been carried out in a crystalline terrain of the district. Information on soils, geological formations and groundwater conditions is collected during the hydrogeological survey. Topographical and drainage conditions are derived from the Survey of India topographical maps. Geomorphological units and associated landform features inferred and delineated from the Indian remote sensing satellite imagery (IRS ID LISS III FCC) are moderately buried pediplain (BPM), shallow buried pediplain (BPS), valley fills (VF), structural hill (SH), residual hills (RH), lineaments and land use/land cover. A groundwater potential index (GPI) is computed for relative evaluation of groundwater potential zones in the study area by integrating all the related factors of occurrence and movement of groundwater resources. Accordingly, the landforms, BPM, BPS, VF, SH and RH, of the area are categorized as very good groundwater potential zone, good to moderate groundwater potential zone, moderate to poor groundwater potential zone, poor to very poor groundwater potential zone and very poor groundwater potential zone, respectively, for development and utilization of both groundwater and surface water resources for eliminating water scarcity. This study could help to improve the agrarian economy for better living conditions of the rural people. Taking the total weight-score of the GPI into account, a generalized classification of groundwater potential zones is evaluated for a quick assessment of the occurrence of groundwater resources on regional scale.     

The Relationship between Geomorphic River Structure and Coarse Particulate Organic Matter (CPOM) Storage along the Kangaroo River,New South Wales,Australia

Fluvial landforms provide a physical template upon which to appraise biophysical relationships along river courses. In this study, the spatial pattern of organic matter storage along the Kangaroo River, NSW, is related to geomorphic controls that operate at a range of scales within a nested hierarchy. This snapshot study of CPOM storage found that at the catchment scale the longitudinal pattern of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) storage is dependent on the type and downstream pattern of River Styles. At the reach scale, CPOM storage is dependent on the geomorphic unit structure and physical heterogeneity of the river, and associated energy conditions along the reach. At the geomorphic unit scale, CPOM storage capacity is related to the position of geomorphic units relative to the thalweg (i.e. flow characteristics) and associated roughness attributes. At the hydraulic unit scale, CPOM storage capacity is related to local flow velocity and substrate characteristics (clast size and distribution).     

Comparative characteristics of the Samarka (Sikhote-Alin) and Ultra-Tamba (Japan) terranes as grounds for correlating fragments of the Jurassic accretionary prism in two regions

Comparative data on tectono-stratigraphic complexes of the Ultra-Tamba terrane (Inner Zone of Japan) and upper structural level of the Samarka terrane in the Jurassic accretionary prism of Sikhote Alin are considered. Structural, lithological, petrographic data and age constraints characterizing rock associations of the terranes show that the latter are similar to a great extent, and consequently the Ultra-Tamba terrane can be regarded as an element of the Tamba-Mino-Ashio accretionary prism of the Jurassic but not Permian age, as it was thought earlier. The considered data substantiate confident structural correlation of both fragments of the Jurassic prism and of two regions in general.     

斜坡单元支持下地震滑坡危险性区划——以芦山地震为例

以地震滑坡作为研究对象,选取"4·20"芦山地震中芦山县为研究区,结合多源数据,在相关分析后选取10个评价因子,分别是地面高程、坡度、坡向、斜坡形态、地层、斜坡结构、断层平均距离、水系平均距离、植被指数和地震峰值加速度,在数字高程模型基础上采用集水区重叠法划分斜坡单元,再对各评价因子重采样,进而利用基于遗传算法的神经网络算法构建地震滑坡危险性评价模型,完成地震滑坡危险性区划。将基于斜坡单元的危险性区划结果和基于格网单元的区划结果进行比较,结果显示滑坡正确率分别为96.6%和92.6%,斜坡单元的正确率较高;同时通过多组数据的受试者工作特征曲线分析本评价模型的不确定性,每组曲线位置及曲线下面积大小相当。     

帕米尔构造结结构特征与构造演化

位于印度—欧亚大陆碰撞造山带西段的帕米尔构造结,自震旦纪以来经历了长期的地体裂离、寒武纪至古新世俯冲增生、始新世的最终造山及始新世至全新世大型走滑—伸展、逆冲推覆及构造隆升,记录了最完整的特提斯演化及新特提斯洋关闭后陆内隆升过程。然而,对帕米尔不同地体的构造属性、原特提斯洋俯冲极性、古特提斯阶段是否存在双向俯冲、新特提斯洋俯冲导致的盆山耦合效应以及新生代大规模碱性岩浆活动的地球动力学背景等关键科学问题,仍存在很大争议。笔者等全面总结了前人对帕米尔构造结的研究成果,结合野外地质调查,对帕米尔构造结显生宙以来的构造演化过程做了概括性总结。研究表明,北帕米尔既不是塔里木前寒武纪基底的一部分,也不是三叠纪增生杂岩,它的主体是寒武纪原特提斯洋南向俯冲形成的巨厚增生杂岩（530~500 Ma）。与昆仑—阿尔金不同的是,帕米尔地区的原特提斯洋在早古生代晚期并没有关闭,这一残留洋盆在古特提斯阶段再次扩张,形成了石炭纪—早中生代有限洋盆。随着古特提斯洋的双向俯冲,中、南帕米尔相继与北帕米尔地体发生汇聚,最终拼合的时间在180 Ma左右。古特提斯洋俯冲、关闭伴随着新特提斯洋的打开和扩张,从晚侏罗世开始新特提斯洋沿Shyok缝合带北缘北向低角度或近水平俯冲（开始时间约为160~130 Ma）,形成了南帕米尔—喀喇昆仑宽阔的岛弧岩浆岩带,并在中帕米尔及北帕米尔地区,发育与弧后伸展有关的地堑或半地堑沉积及具有板内特征的基性岩浆活动。新特提斯洋最终在始新世关闭（60~50 Ma左右）,导致南帕米尔与洋内俯冲形成的科西斯坦—拉达克洋内弧及印度板块的最终拼合,形成了帕米尔雏形。40 Ma左右,由于俯冲板片的拆离,形成这一时期造山后碱性岩浆活动。此后,由于印度板块和欧亚板块的大陆岩石圈不断汇聚,帕米尔构造结的岩石圈厚度急剧增加,沿中帕米尔一带,可能是印度板块与欧亚板块岩石圈地幔的分界,近水平的相向俯冲导致了加厚岩石圈的拆沉,形成沿中帕米尔分布的巨量新生代碱性岩带（25~9 Ma）。     

基于自组织特征映射网络-随机森林模型的滑坡易发性评价

为深入探讨评价单元和非滑坡样本选取对滑坡易发性预测的影响,构建了一种基于自组织特征映射网络-随机森林模型的滑坡易发性评价模型。该模型针对栅格单元和斜坡单元在滑坡易发性评价中的不足,结合栅格单元和斜坡单元的相互关系,提出了滑坡易发性指数的优化计算方法。在此基础上,基于随机森林Tree Bagger分类器构建滑坡易发性评价模型,通过对比分析自组织特征映射网络和随机方法选取非滑坡样本对评价结果的影响,探讨自组织特征映射网络、随机森林和自组织特征映射网络-随机森林三种评价模型的有效性;将评价模型应用于大余县滑坡易发性评价。结果显示,随机森林模型和自组织特征映射网络-随机森林模型的预测精度较高,分别达到91.19%和94.94%,成功率曲线的AUC值分别为0.822和0.849,表明自组织特征映射网络-随机森林模型具有更高的预测率和成功率, 自组织特征映射网络聚类的预测精度虽然有限,但作为非滑坡样本的选择方法,能够有效提高随机森林模型的评价精度。     

平衡计分卡在地质勘查单位管理工作中应用的探讨

本文通过对平衡计分卡原理及战略地图的介绍,重点阐述地质勘查单位在管理工作中如何创新构建平衡计分卡,并对地质勘查单位管理工作中应用平衡计分卡的作用进行了分析,旨在提高地质勘查单位管理工作水平,促进地质工作高质量发展,推动生态文明建设。