Analysis of soil‐structural interface behavior using three‐dimensional DEM simulations

The shear behavior at the interface between the soil and a structure is investigated at the macroscale and particle‐scale levels using a 3‐dimensional discrete element method (DEM). The macroscopic mechanical properties and microscopic quantities affected by the normalized interface roughness and the loading parameters are analyzed. The macro‐response shows that the shear strength of the interface increases as the normalized roughness of the interface increases, and stress softening and dilatancy of the soil material are observed in the tests that feature rough interfaces. The particle‐scale analysis illustrates that a localized band characterized by intense shear deformation emerges from the contact plane and gradually expands as shearing progresses before stabilizing at the residual stress state. The thickness of the localized band is affected by the normalized roughness of the interface and the normal stress, which ranges between 4 and 5 times that of the median grain diameter. A thicker localized band is formed when the soil has a rough shearing interface. After the localized band appears, the granular material structuralizes into 2 regions: the interface zone and the upper zone. The mechanical behavior in the interface zone is representative of the interface according to the local average stress analysis. Certain microscopic quantities in the interface zone are analyzed, including the coordination number and the material fabric. Shear at the interface creates an anisotropic material fabric and leads to the rotation of the major principal stress.     

Soil sealing and soil water content under no‐tillage and conventional tillage in irrigated corn: Effects on grain yield

The main objective of this research was to analyse the effect of soil management on soil sealing and on soil water content under contrasting tillage practices and its influence on corn yield. The experimental research was carried out in a field cultivated with irrigated corn differentiated into three zones representing a gradient of soil texture (Z1, Z2, and Z3, i.e., increasingly coarser). Two plots under different soil management practices (conventional intensive tillage, CT, and no‐tillage, NT) were selected in each zone. The susceptibility to sealing of each soil and the steady infiltration rates were evaluated in the laboratory subjecting the soils to rainfall simulation applied at an intensity of 25 mm h^?1. In addition, soil porosity under each treatment was quantified. Soil water content (0–90 cm depth) was determined gravimetrically at the beginning and the end of the growing cycle and at the surface (0–5 cm) during three growing seasons and continuously at two depths (5–15 and 50–60 cm) during the last growing cycle. Soil water content was simulated using the SIMPEL model, which was calibrated for the experimental conditions. Corn yield and above‐ground biomass were also analysed. Significant differences in soil sealing among zones, with decreasing soil sealing for coarser textures, and treatments were observed with infiltration rates that were near twice in NT than in CT, being the effect of soil cover significant in the reduction of soil detachment and soil losses. NT showed higher soil water content than CT, especially in the surface layers. Above‐ground biomass production was smaller in CT than in NT, and in the areas with higher sealing susceptibility was 30% to 45% smaller than in other zones, reaching the smallest values in Z1. A similar reduction in corn yield was observed between treatments being smaller in CT than in NT. No‐tillage has been confirmed as an effective technique that benefits soil physical properties as well as crop yields in relation to CT, being its impact greater in soils susceptible to sealing.     

Structural fabric evidence for indentation tectonics in the Nambucca Block,southern New England Fold Belt,New South Wales

Structural studies of Lower Permian sequences exposed on wave‐cut platforms within the Nambucca Block, indicate that one to two ductile and two to three brittle — ductile/brittle events are recorded in the lower grade (sub‐greenschist facies) rocks; evidence for four, possibly five, ductile and at least three brittle — ductile/brittle events occurs in the higher grade (greenschist facies) rocks. Veins formed prior to the second ductile event are present in some outcrops. Further, the studies reveal a change in fold style from west‐southwest‐trending, open, south‐southeast‐verging, inclined folds (F₁ ⁰) at Grassy Head in the south, to east‐northeast‐trending, recumbent, isoclinal folds (F₁ ⁰; F₂ ⁰) at Nambucca Heads to the north, suggesting that strain increases towards the Coffs Harbour Block. A solution cleavage formed during D₁ in the lower grade rocks and cleavages defined by neocrystalline white mica developed during D₁ and D₂ in the higher grade rocks. South‐ to south‐southwest‐directed tectonic transport and north‐south shortening operated during these earlier events. Subsequently, north‐northeast‐trending, open, upright F₃ ² folds and inclined, northwest‐verging, northeast‐trending F₄ ² folds developed with poorly to moderately developed axial planar, crenulation cleavage (S₃ and S₄) formed by solution transfer processes. These folds formed heterogeneously in S₂ throughout the higher grade areas. Later northeast‐southwest shortening resulted in the formation of en échelon vein arrays and kink bands in both the lower and higher grade rocks. Shortening changed to east‐northeast‐west‐southwest during later north‐northeast to northeast, dextral, strike‐slip faulting and then to approximately northwest‐southeast during the formation of east‐southeast to southeast‐trending, strike‐slip faults. Cessation of faulting occurred prior to the emplacement of Triassic (229 Ma) granitoids. On a regional scale, S₁ trends east‐west and dips moderately to the north in areas unaffected by later events. S₂ has a similar trend to S₁ in less‐deformed areas, but is refolded about east‐west axes during D₃. S₃ is folded about east‐west axes in the highest grade, multiply deformed central part of the Nambucca Block. The deformation and regional metamorphism in the Nambucca Block is believed to be the result of indenter tectonics, whereby south‐directed movement of the Coffs Harbour Block during oroclinal bending, sequentially produced the east‐west‐trending structures. The effects of the Coffs Harbour Block were greatest during D₁ and D₂.     

Moisture characteristics and their point pedotransfer functions for coarse‐textured tropical soils differing in structural degradation status

The effect of soil structure on hydraulic pedotransfer functions (PTFs) in tropical soils with similar mineralogy and texture has not been well documented. Structurally contrasting soils from representative locations in southeastern Nigeria were analyzed for moisture retention at 0, 6, 10, 33, 100, 300 and 1500 kPa among other properties. They were grouped by depth (topsoils or subsoils) and also by their structural degradation status into low‐ and high‐stability soils, corresponding to organic matter (OM):[silt + clay] of <7.5 and >7.5%, respectively. Soil depth and structural stability influenced the soil moisture characteristic curves. The data were fitted to three tropical point PTFs, but none of them proved appropriate for predicting moisture retention in the soils. We therefore derived new ones using multiple linear stepwise regressions before and after the dataset grouping and compared their performances by means of cross‐validation. Moisture retention in the soils (sand content, 73.2–93.8%) could not be calibrated from texture and OM concentration alone, until when bulk density, total porosity and microporosity were included among the regressors. Microporosity's role was particularly outstanding at all matric potentials but the 1500 kPa. The ensuing PTFs represent a good fit for the soil moisture retention data. The two grouping strategies resulted in lower SE of the estimates in some cases, but this did not enhance the performances of the concerned PTFs. At the 1500 kPa, however, the PTF incorporating all datasets performed better than separate PTFs for topsoils/subsoils but worse than the one for high‐stability soils. Information on soil structure can therefore benefit PTF derivation for kaolinite‐dominated, coarse‐textured tropical soils at all the matric potentials considered. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

3D geological architecture and ore -controlling structures of the Paomaping Zn-Pb deposit at the Jinding ore field,Lanping County,SE Tibetan PlateauSCIEI北大核心CSCD

滇西北金顶超大型铅锌矿田位于青藏高原东南缘兰坪中-新生代盆地中部,是三江成矿带中南段最典型的密西西比河谷型(MVT)矿床之一,其构造控矿和盆地流体成矿特征明显受控于印度-欧亚大陆碰撞有关的区域挤压构造。近年来,矿床浅部地质条件与资源状况已被充分揭露,但其深部地质结构、构造控矿差异性仍不清楚,这也制约了成矿预测和找矿新发现。本文以矿田东北部的跑马坪大型隐伏矿床为研究对象,利用三维地质建模及空间分析方法,识别矿化空间变化及其与断层、不整合面和地层岩性的配置关系,分析构造控矿规律及可能的流体运聚趋势。结果表明,跑马坪铅锌矿床的成矿作用与近E-W向挤压构造对中新统金顶砂泥岩(Mio-j)与上三叠统三合洞组(T_(3)s)不整合面的差异性破坏关系密切,近NS和NE向逆断层与NW向走滑-掀斜断层组合是最重要的控矿构造。其中,近NE向逆断层与不整合面是成矿流体运聚的主要通道,而近于平行的NW向走滑-掀斜断层上盘的T_(3)s高孔渗性角砾状灰岩、含灰岩角砾砂岩及裂隙带因为富含H_(2)S等还原性流体而成为与Mio-j富含金属氧化性盆地卤水混合和金属沉淀就位的最有利空间。由此,逆断层和走滑-掀斜断层组合、特定地层岩性与不整合面联合控制了流体汇聚与混合成矿作用,断层沟通了同位叠加的上三叠统油气藏储层和渐新统-中新统盆地卤水(带),这是铅锌成矿的关键。该成矿模型在金顶矿田及邻区与类似地区均具有普遍指导意义。最后,本文预测沿跑马坪矿区深部及其南北侧延伸区域还存在多条NE向隐伏控矿断层,其成矿潜力大,是下一步找矿勘查的有利靶区。     

长乐—南澳构造带泉港临头片麻状英云闪长岩中岩浆绿帘石的发现及其地质意义

岩浆绿帘石能够作为压力计反映岩体侵位深度,进而可估算地壳抬升剥蚀速率及地壳演化历史,因而引起了人们的研究关注。在长乐—南澳构造带泉港临头地段发现了片麻状英云闪长岩中的岩浆绿帘石。该地段是我国当前报道岩浆绿帘石的第5处产出地,但在东南沿海地区尚属首次发现。含岩浆绿帘石的片麻状英云闪长岩形成于早白垩世(K₁),以钙性(C,Peacock碱钙指数)、中钾钙碱性系列(MKCA)、准铝质和弱过铝质、钙碱性系列(CA,Miyashiro SiO₂-FeO^*/MgO)为主,具镁安山岩系列(MA)性质,呈奥长花岗岩演化趋势(Tdj);轻稀土(LREE)较富集,铕负异常不明显;微量元素呈现较大的钽(Ta)、磷(P)和钛(Ti)负异常,显示出造山带火山弧花岗岩的特征。片麻状英云闪长岩中绿帘石岩相学特征显示,黑云母和自形的绿帘石分布于斜长石的隙间,为典型的填间结构;绿帘石与黑云母相互接触、相互包裹,是一起从富水的晚期岩浆中结晶出来的原生矿物,不是交代斜长石的岩浆期后的次生矿物。绿帘石电子探针分析结果显示Ps值为24~29,TiO₂含量均小于0.1%。综合绿帘石岩相学与化学特征知悉,泉港临头片麻状英云闪长岩中的绿帘石为岩浆绿帘石。岩浆绿帘石形成压力约870 MPa,深度为25~32 km,而现今东南沿海陆壳厚度约30 km,据此推测,早白垩世(K₁)时东南沿海陆壳厚度为55~62 km;早白垩世(K₁)之后,地壳可能经历了多次抬升。     

郯庐断裂带南段的重磁场特征及其地质意义

由于断裂两侧的磁性、密度的纵横向差异在重力、磁力异常上有所表现,因此所获得的重力、磁力数据为深入研究关键的地质课题提供了科学基础,如郯庐断裂带的基底性质、断裂形成特征和岩浆岩分布。利用最新的高精度航空重力和磁力数据以及地面重力数据,绘制了郯庐断裂带地区的1∶50 000重力和磁力异常图,并结合区域地质数据分析了重力和磁力异常特征。分析结果认为:存在连体的郯庐—大别古老构造带,郯庐断裂带南段是元古宙和燕山中期岩浆活动的复合反映带;郯庐断裂带为中元古—新元古代时期南华北陆块与下扬子陆块的界限;磁力、重力异常图对比说明,合肥盆地范围由老到新向东扩展。     

角闪石高温高压实验研究进展及其地球物理意义

高温高压实验作为地球科学研究的重要方向之一,通过模拟地球深部的温度和压力条件,了解地球深部物质的物理化学性质、地球内部结构和动力学演化。角闪石属于双链硅酸盐矿物,为地幔岩石圈的重要组成,广泛分布在海洋地壳、俯冲板块、变质岩和火成岩中。作为俯冲带的重要含水矿物,角闪石的广泛分布和高温高压下的脱水对于理解俯冲带水含量以及水迁移具有重要作用,同时在俯冲带的地震活动、高电导率异常、地震波速异常和岩浆活动中扮演重要角色。在过去的近百年时间里,国内外学者对角闪石高温高压物理化学性质进行了大量的研究。角闪石具有非常复杂的元素组成和结构特征,由此也导致了不同角闪石物理化学性质存在显著不同,包括脱水与脱羟基反应中元素迁移的差异、角闪石形成与分解过程中碱性元素(K+Na)和H2O含量对热稳定的影响、不同空间群结构下的高压结构相变、原位条件下不同结晶方向的电导率异常、不同结晶学优选方位(CPO)下的波速异常等。已有的研究对于角闪石的物理化学性质以及其在俯冲带中发挥的作用有了比较清楚的认识,但仍然有许多问题需要进一步研究,如角闪石的高压脱水动力学、热物性和变形机制等。     

川北旺苍苍王峡龙潭子河壶穴形态及成因初探

河成壶穴是山区河床基岩上常见的微地貌类型,记录了区域地貌演化过程、水流与河床边界相互作用的关键信息。基于此,笔者等以川北旺苍苍王峡龙潭子河110处河成壶穴为研究对象,详细测量其形态特征并进行统计分析。结果表明：非串珠状壶穴大小、深度及形态在河床纵剖面上的分布没有明显的规律性,而串珠状壶穴具有一定的规律性;壶穴集中分布在下寒武统阎王碥组硅质砾岩中,其中发育的石英砂岩夹层对壶穴的形成和演化起到了关键性作用,双层天生桥壶穴则是典型的代表;区内发育NE、E—W向平面共轭X型构造节理和S—N向构造节理,三角形、菱形、不规则形壶穴多受两组或3组节理控制,其中S—N向构造节理还控制了壶穴的长轴走向和河谷走向;构造节理对壶穴口形态的演化影响显著,而对壶穴垂直剖面形态的影响不显著。本研究将丰富和完善河成壶穴地貌的数据资料,为米仓山地区河流地貌和构造演化提供科学依据。