Evaporitic sedimentation and microbial mats in a salina system (Port Fouad,Egypt)

A salina system along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt was investigated. Five sedimentary facies are described. For each facies, the evaporitic sedimentation and the biological conditions are considered. Comparisons of evaporite precipitates in the salina with ancient deposits are made.     

蒙新高原盐湖资源及盆地结构

通过蒙新高原典型盐湖区的解剖研究，查清了代表性盐湖盆地的相环境及其沉积建造，将盐湖盆地环境的变化形式划分为沉陷型、抬升型和改造型，并归结了盐湖盆地相环境分异与盆地地质结构之间的相互关系，为开发大陆干旱区盆地的盐湖和卤水资源及其环境演化的理论研究提供了依据。     

干旱区盐风化过程的初步研究

盐风化是干旱区一种重要的岩石风化过程。本文初步研究了盐风化作用的性质、机制和强度及其在地貌塑造和生产实践上的意义。盐风化包括盐结晶风化作用和盐水化风化作用两种类型。盐风化的强度在很大程度上取决于盐类矿物性质和气候条件。高温和干旱相结合的气候最有利于盐风化过程。通过对未风化岩石和风化岩石的对比,证明盐风化发展的速率很高。Tafoni是盐风化发展阶段的一种重要标志。     

新疆盐湖卤水水化学特征研究

要为深入研究新疆盐湖形成演化规律及成盐环境,根据我所历年盐湖科学考察研究结果,对该区盐湖卤水的分布及其化学组成、盐湖卤水的矿化特征和卤水水理性质及水化学类型分类等进行了研究,并通过与我国其它盐湖区盐湖水化学特征的对比分析,确认本区现代盐湖水化学成因类型具有陆相再溶盐成因特征,从而显示了该区盐湖形成演化的独特水文地球化学特点。     

Hydrobiology of some solar salt works in India

The hydrobiology of two Indian solar salt works was investigated. A salient feature was variability in physico-chemical and biological characteristics. The filamentous cyanophyceansLyngbya majuscula andOscillatoria salina and the chlorophyceanXenococcus aceervatus were the major primary producers. Significant fauna were protozoans, rotifers and copepods.Artemia was present in only one set of solar salt pans, where it was dominant. The study illustrates the importance ofArtemia in the biological management of solar salt works. This paper is dedicated to Thiru. K. Ayyaru Vandayar, Member, Governing body, A.V.V.M. Sri Pshpam College (Autonomous), Poondi, on his sixtieth birthday     

Discontinuous behaviour near excavations in a bedded salt formation

Summary Discontinuous behaviour is being observed and measured in the vicinity of excavations constructed in a bedded salt formation 650 m below ground surface for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Facility. The 2 m thick salt layer in the immediate roof acts as a beam, shearing along a thin overlying anhydrite/clay seam. Vertical separations between the immediate roof layer and the overlying strata are often observed at the anhydrite/clay seam above the centre of excavations of larger span (11 m). The floor of the excavations is comprised of a 1 m thick salt layer underlain by a 1 m thick predominately anhydrite layer (referred to as MB139). Fractures in MB139 develop beneath most excavations, with increased fracture frequency with drift span and age. In the excavations of larger span (11 m), MB139 eventually debonds along the underlying clay layer. The salt layer overlying MB139 develops both shear and tension failure. In a few locations below excavations of large span, continuous fracture systems are developing from rib to rib through MB139 and the overlying salt. In the ribs, there is limited fracturing within the first metre of most larger excavations. Vertical fractures develop in pillars at most intersections. The discontinuous behaviour is qualitatively consistent with analyses of the formation behaving as a layered medium (elastic beam analysis) and limited tensile and compressive failure of the rock salt. The significance of the discontinuous behaviour is that it can dominate the effective fluid transport properties of the formation near the excavation, and therefore requires consideration in the design of repository seals. Discontinuous behaviour must be monitored and is an important factor in the maintenance programme designed to assure a safe underground environment.     

叶县盐田探采结合井钻井工艺

针对叶县盐田的地质条件，上部无岩心钻进，采用大钻压、低转速、高泵压、大泵量喷射钻井的快速钻进技术；下部取心钻进，采用小钻压、高转速、低泵压、小泵量的取心钻进技术。采用防塌淡水泥浆与饱和盐水泥浆分别治理取得了较好的技术效果。     

An aerosol climatology of Samoa

An atmospheric monitoring station is operated at Cape Matatula, American Samoa, by the Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change program under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A nearly continuous record of condensation nucleus (CN) concentration and multiwavelength aerosol scattering extinction coefficient (_sp) is available from mid-1977 to the present. This report presents the 1977–1983 data. The long-term mean of CN concentration is 274 cm^-3 the long-term mean of _sp (550 nm) is 1.54×10^-5, and no significant long-term, annual, or diurnal trend is apparent in either data record.     

Rapid entrenchment of stream profiles in the salt caves of Mount Sedom,Israel

Rock salt is approximately 1000 times more soluble than limestone and thus displays high rates of geomorphic evolution. Cave stream channel profiles and downcutting rates were studied in the Mount Sedom salt diapir, Dead Sea rift valley, Israel. Although the area is very arid (mean annual rainfall ≈ 50 mm), the diapir contains extensive karst systems of Holocene age. In the standard cave profile a vertical shaft at the upstream end diverts water from a surface channel in anhydrite or clastic cap rocks into the subsurface route in the salt. Mass balance calculations in a sample cave passage yielded downcutting rates of 0–2 mm s^?1 during peak flood conditions, or about eight orders of magnitude higher than reported rates in any limestone cave streams. However, in the arid climate of Mount Sedom floods have a low recurrence interval with the consequence that long-term mean downcutting rates are lower: an average rate of 8·8 mm a^?1 was measured for the period 1986–1991 in the same sample passage. Quite independently, long-term mean rates of 6·2mm a^?1 are deduced from ¹⁴C ages of driftwood found in upper levels of 12 cave passages. These are at least three orders of magnitude higher than rates established for limestone caves. Salt cave passages develop in two main stages: (1) an early stage characterized by high downcutting rates into the rock salt bed, and steep passage gradients; (2) a mature stage characterized by lower downcutting rates, with establishment of a subhorizontal stream bed armoured with alluvial detritus. In this mature stage downcutting rates are controlled by the uplift rate of the Mount Sedom diapir and changes of the level of the Dead Sea. Passages may also aggrade. These fast-developing salt stream channels may serve as full-scale models for slower developing systems such as limestone canyons.     

Laboratory simulation of the salt weathering of schist: II. Fragmentation of fine schist particles

Recent developments in long term landform evolution modelling have created a new demand for quantitative salt weathering data, and in particular data describing the size distribution of the weathered rock fragments. To enable future development of rock breakdown models for use in landscape evolution and soil production models, laboratory work was undertaken to extend existing schist/salt weathering fragmentation studies to include an examination of the breakdown of sub‐millimetre quartz chlorite schist particles in a seasonally wet tropical climate. Laser particle sizing was used to assess the impact of different experimental procedures on the resulting particle size distribution. The results reveal that salt weathering under a range of realistic simulated tropical wet season conditions produces a significant degree of schist particle breakdown. The fragmentation of the schist is characterized by splitting of the larger fragments into mid‐sized product with finer material produced, possibly from the breakdown of mid‐sized fragments when weathering is more advanced. Salinity, the salt addition method and temperature were all found to affect weathering rates. Subtle differences in mineralogy also produce variations in weathering patterns and rates. It is also shown that an increase in drying temperature leads to accelerated weathering rates, however, the geometry of the fracture process is not significantly affected. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.