Numerical modeling for analyzing thermal surface anomalies induced by underground coal fires

Coal seams burning underneath the surface are recognized all over the world and have drawn increasing public attention in the past years. Frequently, such fires are analyzed by detecting anomalies like increased exhaust gas concentrations and soil temperatures at the surface. A proper analysis presumes the understanding of involved processes, which determine the spatial distribution and dynamic behavior of the anomalies.In this paper, we explain the relevance of mechanical and energy transport processes with respect to the occurrence of temperature anomalies at the surface. Two approaches are presented, aiming to obtain insight into the underground coal fire situation: In-situ temperature mapping and numerical simulation. In 2000 to 2005, annual temperature mapping in the Wuda (Inner Mongolia, PR China) coal fire area showed that most thermal anomalies on the surface are closely related to fractures, where hot exhaust gases from the coal fire are released. Those fractures develop due to rock mechanical failure after volume reduction in the seams. The measured signals at the surface are therefore strongly affected by mechanical processes.More insight into causes and effects of involved energy transport processes is obtained by numerical simulation of the dynamic behavior of coal fires. Simulations show the inter-relation between release and transport of thermal energy in and around underground coal fires. Our simulation results show a time delay between the coal fire propagation and the observed appearance of the surface temperature signal. Additionally, the overall energy flux away from the burning coal seam into the surrounding bedrock is about 30-times higher than the flux through the surface. This is of particular importance for an estimation of the energy released based on surface temperature measurements. Finally, the simulation results also prove that a fire propagation rate estimated from the interpretation of surface anomalies can differ from the actual rate in the seam.     

Deciphering late Devonian–early Carboniferous P–T–t path of mylonitized garnet-mica schists from Prins Karls Forland,Svalbard

Quartz-in-garnet inclusion barometry integrated with trace element thermometry and calculated phase relations is applied to mylonitized schists of the Pinkie unit cropping out on the island of Prins Karls Forland, western part of the Svalbard Archipelago. This approach combines conventional and novel techniques and allows deciphering of the pressure–temperature (P–T) evolution of mylonitic rocks, for which the P–T conditions could not have been easily deciphered using traditional methods. The results obtained suggest that rocks of the Pinkie unit were metamorphosed under amphibolite facies conditions at 8–10 kbar and 560–630°C and mylonitized at ~500 to 550°C and 9–11 kbar. The P–T results are coupled with in-situ Th–U-total Pb monazite dating, which records amphibolite facies metamorphism at c. 359–355 Ma. This is the very first evidence of late Devonian–early Carboniferous metamorphism in Svalbard and it implies that the Ellesmerian Orogeny on Svalbard was associated with metamorphism up to amphibolite facies conditions. Thus, it can be concluded that the Ellesmerian collision between the Franklinian margin of Laurentia and Pearya and Svalbard caused not only commonly accepted brittle deformation and weak greenschist facies metamorphism, but also a burial and deformation of rock complexes at much greater depths at elevated temperatures.     

Impact of clouds on the surface radiation balance of the Arctic Ocean

Summary The relationship between clouds and the surface radiative fluxes over the Arctic Ocean are explored by conducting a series of modelling experiments using a one-dimensional thermodynamic sea ice model. The sensitivity of radiative flux to perturbations in cloud fraction and cloud optical depth are determined. These experiments illustrate the substantial effect that clouds have on the state of the sea ice and on the surface radiative fluxes. The effect of clouds on the net flux of radiation at the surface is very complex over the Arctic Ocean particularly due to the presence of the underlying sea ice. Owing to changes in surface albedo and temperature associated with changing cloud properties, there is a strong non-linearity between cloud properties and surface radiative fluxes. The model results are evaluated in three different contexts: 1) the sensitivity of the arctic surface radiation balance to uncertainties in cloud properties; 2) the impact of interannual variability in cloud characteristics on surface radiation fluxes and sea ice surface characteristics; and 3) the impact of climate change and the resulting changes in cloud properties on the surface radiation fluxes and sea ice characteristics.With 11 Figures     

Survey on PCDDs and PCDFs in sediments and soils in Ya-Er Lake area, China

INTRODUCTIONOverthepastseveralycars,considerableinteffethasbocenteIdontheenvir0nmentalbehaviouroftoxicandpersistritcomP0undssuchashalogenatalaromat-ies,inparticularthepolychiorinataldibopdioxins(PCDDe)andpolydil0rinateddi~fUtansrpCDFs).ManyofthesecomPounds,espedllythosewithahighdegere0fchiorinesubstitution,arehighlylipophiliccontawhnantSwithlowWhtersolubility,highre-sistancet0chdricaltransformationsandlowwhcrobiologhaldegradatfonpeatnnann,l988,Bromanetal.,l989,Hites,l990)whichexplain…     

Ingenieurtechnische,geologische und mineralogische Probleme beim Bau einiger Tunnel der Tauernautobahn im Bereich von Werfen (Salzburg, Österreich)

Zusammenfassung Ingenieurtechnische, geologische und mineralogische Probleme beim Bau einiger Tunnel der Tauernautobahn im Bereich von Werfen (Salzburg, Österreich). In den Jahren 1974 bis 1976 wurden im Baulos 6 Werfen der Tauernautobahn (südlich von Salzburg) zwischen den Bau-Kilometern 34,2 und 42,3 insgesamt 3460 lfm Tunnel (Doppelröhren) ausgebrochen. Es sind dies, von N nach S gezählt, der Brentenbergtunnel, der Zetzenbergtunnel und der Helbersbergtunnel. Die Tunnelarbeiten wurden nach der Neuen Österreichischen Tunnelbauweise, überwiegend in konventionellem Sprengbetrieb (streckenweise auch mit Teilschnittfräse) durchgeführt.Im Brentenbergtunnel wurde nach Durchörterung einer im Norden vorgelagerten 60 m langen Hangschuttstrecke Ramsaudolomit durchfahren. Der Zetzenbergtunnel liegt in gut geschichteten Kalken und Dolomiten des Gutensteiner Niveaus. Im Helbersbergtunnel schließlich wurden beim Vortrieb von N nach den ersten 80 m, in denen noch Gutensteiner Kalke und Dolomite anstanden, Gips führende Quarzite, Quarzitschiefer und Sandsteine der Werfener Schichten durchörtert. Die Baugrubensicherung des Voreinschnittes am Nordportal des Brentenbergtunnels sowie Details zur bergmännischen Durchörterung der Hangschuttstrecke im Schutze eines Injektionsschirmes werden ausführlich beschrieben und weiters Sondermaßnahmen in den Gips führenden Strecken des Helbersbergtunnels sowie einige spezielle Beobachtungen zur Nachbrüchigkeit in diesem schwierigen Tunnelabschnitt behandelt.

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Summary Engineering, Geological and Mineralogical Problems With the Construction of Several Tunnels in the Course of the Tauern Highway (Salzburg, Austria). From 1974 to 1976 the Tauern Highway was further extended near Werfen in the federal state of Salzburg (Austria). Therefore a total tunnel length (twin tube tunnels) of 3460 meters was performed in the section from km 34,2 to 42,3. The three twin tube tunnels have been cut mainly through Lower and Middle Triassic members of the Northern Limestone Alps.Thus, the Brentenberg tunnel, 600 meters (eastern tube) and 540 meters (western tube) respectively, is situated in the so called Ramsau dolomite. The Zetzenberg tunnel, 503 m (eastern tube) and 500 m (western tube) respectively long, penetrates Gutenstein limestone and dolomite, whereas the main part of the longest tunnel, the Helbersberg tunnel, 750 m and 740 m respectively, traverses Werfen beds except its northernmost ninety meters in Gutenstein limestones and limey shales.Furthermore, tunneling through sixty meters of loose rock debris in the northern part of Brentenberg caused a lot of trouble. The holing of non-cohesive rock debris by means of the New Austrian Tunneling Method will be dealt with in detail as well as the supporting works for the surface entrances. Excavation site for Brentenberg tunnel portals was supported by a retaining wall of bored piles sunk at 30 to 90 centimeters centre. The bored piles were stabilized by means of anchors of up to 38 meters length. Tunneling through the section of loose rock debris was performed with the aid of injections of cement and bentonite grout at the crown and the side walls. By that means, the over-all property of the initially freely running loose debris could be improved up to rock quality class IV (classification according to Pacher and Rabcewicz).In the Helbersberg tunnel at least, as prognosticated by preliminary geological studies, two sections of gypsiferous rock, about 150 and 200 m respectively long, were encountered. Before taking precautionary measures, rock samples were collected at intervalls of several meters and investigated mainly by X-ray diffractometer therefore. The results showed, that gypsification of most of anhydrite has taken place in the rocks of Helbersberg already. Due to that fact, Thiodur — a sulphate-proof special cement — was used to construct the external supporting elements. Then, the supporting elements of the reinforced inner ring were performed in concrete quality B 400. Moreover, the inner ring had to be isolated completely by means of soft PVC-framework.Owing to a smoothly running teamwork of civil engineers and geologists optimal solution could be achieved for every problem on site.

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Résumé Problèmes techniques, géologiques et minéralogiques résultant de la construction de l'autoroute du Tauern dans la région de Werfen (Salzbourg, Autriche). Dans la section 6 Werfen de l'autoroute du Tauern, au sud de Salzbourg, on a construit pendant les années 1974–1976, entre les kms 34,2 et 42,3, des tunnels à deux tubes dont la longueur s'élève à 3460 mètres en total. Ce sont, énumérés selon la direction nord-sud: le tunnel Brentenberg, le tunnel Zetzenberg et le tunnel Helbersberg. Les travaux ont été effectués selon la Nouvelle Méthode Autrichienne de Construction de Tunnels, en grande partie par attaque conventionnelle à l'explosif, partiellement à l'aide de fraiseuse.Après le percement d'une section à éboulis instable d'une longueur de 60 mètres, on a traversé dans le tunnel Brentenberg de la dolomie Ramsau. Le tunnel Zetzenberg est situé dans des strates stables de calcaire et de dolomie du niveau de Gutenstein. Dans le tunnel Helbersberg, il a fallu percer d'abord, sur une distance de 80 mètres, du calcaire de Gutenstein et des dolomies, ensuite du quartzite gypseux ou schisteux et du grès des couches de Werfen.Le travail présenté décrit les consolidations de la fouille pour l'excavation à ciel ouvert débouché nord du tunnel Brentenberg et des détails concernant le percement minier de l'éboulis après installation, en tant que dispositif de sécurité, d'un écran d'injection. Il y est question aussi de mesures additionnelles prises le long des sections gypsifères du tunnel Helbersberg ainsi que d'observations particulières concernant l'écroulement dans ce passage difficile.

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Mit 16 Abbildungen     

A Rhaetian 40Ar/39Ar age for the Rochechouart impact structure (France) and implications for the latest Triassic sedimentary record

Abstract– ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of potassium feldspar (primary spherulitic‐blocky and secondary idiomorphic K‐feldspar) separated from impact‐metamorphosed gneiss found near Videix in the western central part of the Rochechouart impact structure (NW Massif Central, France) yielded a Rhaetian combined age of 201 ± 2 Ma (2σ), indistinguishable within uncertainty from the age of the Triassic/Jurassic boundary. Ballen quartz intergrown with the primary K‐feldspar indicates post‐shock temperatures exceeding approximately 1000 °C that affected the precursor gneiss. Geochemically, both feldspar types represent essentially pure potassium end‐members. Apart from the approximately 15 km diameter impact deposit area, the youngest crystallization age known for basement rocks in this part of the Massif Central is approximately 300 Ma. No endogenic magmatic‐thermal events are known to have occurred later in this region. The K‐feldspar recrystallized from local feldspar melts and superimposed post‐shock hydrothermal crystallization, probably within some thousands of years after the impact. It is, therefore, suggested that the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age for the Videix gneiss (as a potassic “impact metasomatite”) dates the Rochechouart impact, in consistence with evidence for K‐metasomatism in the Rochechouart impactites. The new age value is distinctly younger than the previously obtained Karnian–Norian age for Rochechouart and, thus, contradicts the Late Triassic multiple impact theory postulated some years ago. In agreement with the paleogeographic conditions in the western Tethys domain around the Triassic/Jurassic boundary, the near‐coastal to shallow marine Rochechouart impact is compatible with the formation of seismites and tsunami deposits in the latest Triassic of the British Isles and possible related deposits in other parts of Europe.     

Establishing a 14.6 ± 0.2 Ma age for the Nördlinger Ries impact (Germany)—A prime example for concordant isotopic ages from various dating materials

Abstract– ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of recrystallized K‐feldspar melt particles separated from partially molten biotite granite in impact melt rocks from the approximately 24 km Nördlinger Ries crater (southern Germany) yielded a plateau age of 14.37 ± 0.30 (0.32) Ma (2σ). This new age for the Nördlinger Ries is the first age obtained from (1) monomineralic melt (2) separated from an impact‐metamorphosed target rock clast within (3) Ries melt rocks and therewith extends the extensive isotopic age data set for this long time studied impact structure. The new age goes very well with the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step‐heating and laser probe dating results achieved from mixed‐glass samples (suevite glass and tektites) and is slightly younger than the previously obtained fission track and K/Ar and ages of about 15 Ma, as well as the K/Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age data obtained in the early 1990s. Taking all the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age data obtained from Ries impact melt lithologies into account (data from the literature and this study), we suggest an age of 14.59 ± 0.20 Ma (2σ) as best value for the Ries impact event.     

Structural characteristics of the halite fabric type ‘Kristallbrocken’ from the Zechstein Basin with regard to its development

The Kristallbrocken are a characteristic centimetre- to decimetre-sized, laminated halite fabric type occurring in the Stassfurt Formation in the Zechstein Basin. Up to now, the nature of the Kristallbrocken, i.e. if they are relics of fine-grained, polycrystalline halite beds or clasts of ‘single crystal-layers’, as well as the deformation mechanisms of this halite type, were not clear from the literature. Drill core material from the salt deposit Teutschenthal at the southern rim of the Zechstein Basin now allowed investigating less intensely deformed samples for the first time. The deformational behaviour of these Kristallbrocken ranges from brittle to ductile, which is evidenced by fractured Kristallbrocken on the one hand and weakly bent or even folded Kristallbrocken on the other hand. Local X-ray texture measurements demonstrated that the Kristallbrocken are definitely single crystals and that they can be regarded as relics of formerly larger ‘single crystal-layers’ of up to several dm² in size. The folded Kristallbrocken clearly display by their single grain texture characteristics that their crystal lattice is bent, which was most likely enabled by a kind of flexural-shear folding, and did not develop after deformation from a fine-grained aggregate by recrystallisation. Due to their monocrystallinity, their originally large size, and the solid inclusions forming the internal lamination, the Kristallbrocken have clearly stronger rheological properties than the surrounding fine- to coarse-grained polycrystalline rock salt, and thus also deform by fracturing.     

40Ar‐39Ar step‐heating of impact glasses from the Nördlinger Ries impact crater—Implications on excess argon in impact melts and tektites

Seven impact melts from various places in the Nördlinger Ries were dated by ⁴⁰Ar‐³⁹Ar step‐heating. The aim of these measurements was to increase the age data base for Ries impact glasses directly from the Ries crater, because there is only one Ar‐Ar step‐heating spectrum available in the literature. Almost all samples display saddle‐shaped age spectra, indicating the presence of excess argon in most Ries glass samples, most probably inherited argon from incompletely degassed melt and possibly also excess argon incorporated during cooling from adjacent phases. In contrast, moldavites usually contain no inherited argon, probably due to their different formation process implying solidification during ballistic transport. The plateau age of the only flat spectrum is 14.60 ± 0.16 (0.20) Ma (2σ), while the total age of this sample is 14.86 ± 0.20 (0.22) Ma (isochron age: 14.72 ± 0.18 [0.22] Ma [2σ]), proofing the chronological relationship of the Ries impact and moldavites. The total ages of the other samples range between 15.77 ± 0.52 and 20.4 ± 1.0 Ma (2σ), implying approximately 2–40% excess ⁴⁰Ar (compared to the nominal age of the Ries crater) in respective samples. Thus, the age of 14.60 ± 0.16 (0.20) (2σ) (14.75 ± 0.16 [0.20 Ma] [2σ], calculated using the most recent suggestions for the K decay constants) can be considered as reliable and is within uncertainties indistinguishable from the most recent compilation for the age of the moldavite tektites.