Results of Back-Analysis of the Propagation of Rock Avalanches as a Function of the Assumed Rheology

Summary. Numerical simulation can provide a useful tool for investigating the dynamics of phenomena like rock avalanches, within realistic geological contexts and in the framework of a better risk assessment and decision making. Difficulties in numerical modelling of a heterogeneous moving mass are mainly linked to the simulation of the complex behaviour assumed by the mass during propagation. The numerical code RASH3D, based on a continuum mechanics approach and on the long wave approximation, is used to back-analyse two cases of rock avalanches: Frank (1903, Canada) and Val Pola (1987, Italy). The two events are characterised by approximately the same volume (about 30 × 10⁶ m³) while the run out area morphologies are widely different. Three alternative “rheologies” (Frictional, Voellmy and Pouliquen) are used. Comparison among obtained results underlines that the validation of a “rheology” requires not only a good agreement between the numerical simulation results and the run out area boundaries but also in term of depth distribution of the mass in the deposit. In case of a Frictional rheology, the obtained calibrated dynamic friction angle values are in a range of 15 ± 1° for both the cases; while assuming a Pouliquen or a Voellmy rheology it emerges a different behaviour of rheological parameters for each of the considered events. Besides the calibration of rheological parameters to better back-analyse each of the considered events, it is investigated how the behaviour due to the assumed rheology is influenced by the geometry of the run out area (e.g. narrow or broad valley). Authors’ addresses: Marina Pirulli, Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino, Italy; Anne Mangeney, Equipe de Sismologie, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Université Denis Diderot, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France     

泡沫泥浆体系流变特性的实验研究

利用“泡沫流变实验台”的实测资料,对泡沫在内外管循环流动时的流变性进行了实验研究。通过实验、理论分析和计算机数据处理,作者得出了正、反循环条件下内外管路的压力降与泡沫流速及平均绝对压力的关系方程,为钻探施工现场的水力计算提供了科学依据。     

中国大陆地区温泉分布的深部热背景

温泉是地热资源的直接显示.本文通过收集中国大陆温泉数据,对温泉分布进行了分区,并从热岩石圈厚度、莫霍面深度、岩石圈热结构和居里面深度等角度出发,揭示了温泉分布与深部热背景之间的联系.以泉水温度为依据将温泉定义为低温泉(25℃≤T＜50℃)、中温泉(50℃≤T＜75℃)和高温泉(T≥75℃).根据大地构造、区域地理和地热...     

Fluid-rock interaction modeling to constrain Au enrichment: Implication for the giant Jiaodong Au mineralization,eastern North China Craton

The devolatilization model of the metasomatized lithospheric mantle without pre-enriched gold has been proposed to account for the giant gold mineralization. An excellent example is the world-class Jiaodong gold province with >5000 tonnes Au resources in the eastern North China Craton. The auriferous fluid transport and gold enrichment during wallrock alterations are two vital processes to determine the giant gold mineralization formation in this province. However, the effects of the fluid-rock interaction with alterations on the auriferous fluid transport and gold enrichment still keep poor understanding, which leads the above model to be imperfect. The giant Jiaojia goldfield in this province recorded a wallrock alteration evolution from K-feldspar alteration to pyrite-sericite-quartz alteration, and some parts of the latter can become gold orebodies when the gold grade is >1 ppm. This study conducts thermodynamic fluid-rock interaction modeling to reveal auriferous fluid transport and coupled relationship between gold enrichment and alteration mineral assemblage based on the alteration-mineralization and ore fluid characteristics of the goldfield. The modeling of fluid-rock interaction with cooling indicates the transformation of Au-Cl complexes to Au-S complexes combined with the total sulfur concentration decrease by pyrite precipitation when cooling from ∼460 °C can trigger the dispersive gold precipitation, which should hinder the gold long-range transport to lower ambient temperature. The high oxygen fugacity at >400 °C can enhance Au-Cl complexes stability, and the low pH can maintain high total sulfur concentration in the auriferous fluid, both of which facilitate the long-range gold transport to a lower-temperature environment. The auriferous fluid would acquire higher pH by the buffering of feldspars or sericite, which was beneficial for the high-efficiency precipitations of pyrite and gold. The ankerite-siderite assemblage without pyrophyllite in the pyrite-sericite-quartz alteration zone indicates that a cumulative fluid to rock mass ratio (f/r) of 3.8–4.8 should be needed for the transformation from K-feldspar alteration to pyrite-sericite-quartz alteration according to the fluid-rock interaction modeling at 300 °C and 2000 bar. In the case of auriferous fluids with ≤200 ppb Au concentration, the single fluid-rock interaction can only elevate the gold grade to ≤0.69–0.87 ppm in the pyrite-sericite-quartz alteration zone at f/r 3.8–4.8. Therefore, the fracture-induced fluid flow coupled with fluid-rock interaction is proposed to the prerequisite to elevate the gold grade to >1 ppm in the pyrite-sericite-quartz alteration zone. The metasomatized lithospheric mantle volume for the required ore fluid and Au in the Jiaodong province is estimated according to the modeling results and alteration-mineralization characteristics, which provides a link between the mantle without abnormal Au enrichment and the alteration-mineralization processes.     

The significance of rock glaciers in the glacial-periglacial landscape continuum

Rock glaciers are distinct landforms whose wide distribution, occurrence, and significance often go unrecognised. They are deposits of poorly sorted, angular, blocky to tabular debris which are held together by an ice core or a matrix of ice-cemented fine clastics. Rock glaciers have formed in glaciated and non-glaciated areas. Many researchers have suggested that the absence of an ice core or the lack of movement indicates relict or fossil status. Active and inactive states can be viewed as the end members of a movement continuum. Movement rates, derived from world-wide locations as reported in the literature, range from less than 1 cmyr^?1 to greater than 130cmyr^?1. Unfortunately, lack of observed movement has been equated incorrectly with an inactive status. Rock glacier movement must be considered from a rheological point of view. Movement is controlled by the transformation of potential energy to kinetic energy as the system attempts to reach thermal equilibrium or stability. Whereas a glacier can completely disappear or redevelop, reactivation of a rock glacier requires only the re-establishment of the conditions responsible for development and maintenance of interstitial ice. Although it might not be possible to re-establish an ice core, interstitial areas can definitely be recharged with ice and thus facilitate movement. The concept of active versus inactive should be abandoned in favor of the view that a spatial and temporal continuum of form and movement exists.     

The longevity of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath Jiangsu-Anhui Region ——The Os isotope model age of mantle-derived peridotite xenoliths

The basalt-borne peridotite xenoliths from Jiangsu-Anhui provinces were analyzed for whole rock Os isotopic compositions in two laboratories of USTC, China and CRPG, France, respectively. The 187Os/188Os ratio of the sample set ranges from 0.119 to 0.129 (25 samples, USTC)and from 0.117 to 0.131 (17 samples, CRPG). The Os isotopic compositions of most samples are less than 0.129 and depleted relatively to the primitive mantle, showing a good correlation with the major element compositions. With the 187Os/188Os-Al2O3 alumichron, the samples yield a model age of 2.5 ± 0.1 Ga (data of USTC) and 1.9 ± 0.1 Ga (data of CRPG), late Archean to early Proterozoic, The two samples with the lowest 187Os/188Os ratio (0.119 and 0.117) have the TRD (Re depleted age) of 1.1 Ga (USTC) and 1.4 Ga (CRPG), mid-Proterozoic. The Os isotope model age shows that the peridotite xenoliths from Cenozoic alkali basalt in Jiangsu-Anhui provinces have an old formation age (early- to mid- Proterozoic). They are not newly produced mantle after the Phanerozoic replacement of the lithosphere mantle, but residual fractions of Proterozoic mantle.     

Evaluation of stresses in two geodynamically different areas: Stable foreland and extensional backarc

Areas which are geodynamically different have different behaviors both in their thermal regime and seismic activity. A stable area has a geotherm which can be considered as standard, extensional and compressional areas have, respectively, high and low temperature gradients. The Italian region includes different geodynamical areas and all such situations are present. We consider the Apulian platform as an example of a stable area and the Tuscany-Latium as an example of an extensional area. For both of them the present geotherms are calculated, taking into account, for the Tuscany-Latium, its thermal history. Assuming that each region is subject to a constant strain rate, the stresses are calculated as functions of depth and time. The rheological behavior is assumed to be linear viscoelastic, with viscosity dependent on temperature and elastic parameters dependent on lithology. The geothermal profile and the rheological structure of the lithosphere remarkably affect the processes of stress accumulation which control the distribution of seismic activity. The abrupt decrease of the temperature gradient at the Moho produces considerably higher stress values with respect to the case of uniform gradient, thus favoring subcrustal seismicity. In the case of a standard temperature gradient, subcrustal seismicity is predicted and a gap in seismicity, indicating a soft intracrustal layer, exists if there is a discontinuity in rheology. By contrast, in the case of a high-temperature gradient, subcrustal seismicity is not to be expected, even in the presence of a discontinuity in rheology, since subcrustal temperatures are already too high to permit a sufficient stress accumluation.