Chemical element transfer of weathering granite regolith in the Three Gorges Dam region of Yangtze River

Clearing up sediment and regolith on the foundation of the dam in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in 1999, riverbed were exposed. On the basis of weathering granite regolith sampled from different portions of the valley landforms, by analysing total chemical contents with X rays fluorescent slice and calculating proper value of chemical element transferring ratio and intensity, the transferring law of chemical elements in different portions of the landforms were concluded: 1) In various landforms of the river valley, the process of desilication is not distinct; 2) in weathering granite regolith of riverbed, easy soluble CaO and MgO are relatively enriched whereas Al2O3 tends to decrease. The enriching rate of Fe2O3 is the greatest in various landforms of the river valley; 3) in weathering granite regolith of flood-plain, K2O and MgO contents are relatively enriched; 4) the weathering granite regolith of valley slope is a typical north subtropical weathering regolith, and its chemical weathering degree is in the transition phase from early to middle period; and 5) there is an opposite layer where K2O is relatively leaching and Na2O relatively enriching in 6.5 m depth of all weathering granite regolith.

Weathering Characteristics of Sloping Fields in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China

For the purpose of understanding the weathering characteristics of surface layers in purple mudstone sloping fields of the Three Gorges Reservoir area of China, oxide content of major elements, composition of clay minerals, magnetic susceptibility, and difference in weathering characteristics of surface layers under different slope gradients were determined. The results showed that the oxide content of Si, Al, and Fe ranged from 60% to 75% and the weathering coefficient with depth showed no trend along the slope gradient. Also, for gentle (10° and 15°) and intermediate (25° and 40°) slopes the clay relative diffraction peak for kaolinite at the surface between 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm declined with an increase in slope gradient, while the relative diffraction peak for kaolinite in weathered layers on steep slopes (50° and 60°) disappeared altogether. Magnetic susceptibility decreased with increasing depth and, for a given depth layer, decreased with an increase in slope gradient. Analysis of the oxide content, weathering coefficients, clay minerals, and magnetic susceptibility showed that in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, the pedogenesis of the weathering layer in purple mudstone sloping fields was weak with weaker soil formation going from gentle slope to steep slope.

1973～2017年扬中市江岸冲淤遥感监测及古河道塌江分析

江心岛沿江地区的泥沙淤积、水流侵蚀以及江堤坍塌对江心岛面积形态、滩涂围垦、航道变化、河口生态等都会产生重大影响。以长江干流第二大江心岛——扬中市为研究对象,基于遥感影像监测了1973～2017年沿江区域冲淤变化和塌江区域,结合多种资料分析变化成因。结果表明:(1) 1973～2017年扬中市沿江地区冲淤变化分3个阶段,不同阶段淤积和冲蚀特点鲜明;(2)经过经纬度定位,扬中市塌江区域发生在1930年扬中市主岛太平洲右侧两个江心岛之间的夹江与西南—东北向的一条古河道的交汇处;(3)塌江事件与常规水流冲刷无关,古河道出口被堵形成水压,沿江区域江底"深槽"引发"旋流"掏空底部泥沙,加上汛期后江水下泄,内外压力差加大直接引发塌江。