Energy conversion and deposition behaviour in gravitational collapse of granular columns

The high-density gravitational collapse of granular columns is very similar to the movements of large collapsing columns in nature. Based on the development of dangerous columnar rock mass in fields, granular column collapse boundary condition in the physical experiments of this study is a new type of boundary conditions with a single free face and a three-dimensional deposit. Physical experiments have shown that the mobility of small particles during the collapse of granular columns was greater than that of large particles. For example, when particle size was increased from 5 to 15 mm, deposit runout was decreased by about 16.4%. When a column consisted of two particle types with different sizes, these particles could mix in the vicinity of layer interfaces and small particles might increase the mobility of large particles. In the process of collapse, potential and kinetic energy conversion rate is fluctuated. By increasing initial aspect ratio a, the ratio of the initial height of column to its length along flow direction,potential and kinetic energy conversion rate is decreased. For example, as a was increased from 0.5 to 4, the ratio of maximum kinetic energy obtained and total potential energy loss was decreased from47.6% to 7.4%. After movement stopped, an almost trapezoidal body remained in the column and a fanlike or fan-shaped accumulation was formed on the periphery of column. Using multiple exponential functions of the aspect ratio a, the planar morphology of the collapse deposit of granular columns could be quantitatively characterized. The movement of pillar dangerous rock masses with collapse failure mode could be evaluated using this granular column experimental results.

Quantitative Prediction of Concentrated Regions of Large and Superlarge Deposits in China

Identification and quantitative prediction of large and superlarge mineral deposits of solid mineral resources using the mineral resource prediction theory and method with comprehensive information is carried out nationwide in China at a scale of 1∶5 000 000. Using deposit concentrated regions as the model units and concentrated mineralization anomaly regions as prediction units, the prediction is performed on GIS platform. The technical route and research method of locating large and superlarge mineral deposits and principle of compiling attribute table of independent variables and functional variables are proposed. Upon methodology study, the qualitative locating and quantitative predicting mineral deposits are carried out with quantitative theory Ⅲ and characteristic analysis, respectively, and the advantage and disadvantage of two methods are discussed. This research is significant for mineral resource prediction in ten provinces of western China.

Channelized and unchannelized collapses of granular columns on a horizontal surface

Columnar dangerous rock mass is widely developed in many high and steep mountain areas around the world.It often collapses,disintegrates and produces debris flow,which is disastrous.The collapse process of the columnar dangerous rock mass is very similar to the collapse of granular column.In this paper,we report the results of an experimental investigation of the flow induced by the collapse of a column of granular material over a horizontal surface.Two different setups are used,namely,a channelized granular column collapse(i.e.,two-dimensional) and an unchannelized granular column collapse(i.e.,three-dimensional),allowing us to compare channelized and unchannelized collapses flows.The experimental data suggest that our experimental findings were markedly different from those reported by previous authors(i.e.,include the channelized and unchannelized collapse flows showed differences in energy conversion and dissipation).In channelized collapse flows,the maximum vertical speed appears in the free fall regime,while,the maximum speed in the vertical direction of unchannelized collapse flows appears in the spreading regime.During the whole collapse process,i.e.,in channelized and unchannelized collapse flows,the conversion of potential energy and kinetic energy does not occur uniformly,and the maximum kinetic energy of the channelized collapse flows is higher than that of the unchannelized collapse flows,and compared with the unchannelized collapse flows,the dissipation energy in the channelized collapse flows is lower.A series of experiments was performed to predict the behaviour of different granular columns(characterized by different initial aspect ratio(a),varying from 1 to 4).The data obtained from 2 D experimental model and3 D experimental model have certain amount of difference,such as the particle runout distance(d1),the maximum central height(h2),and the deposition angle(i.e.,β1,β2).These differences show that the 2 D experimental model does not fully represent the 3 D conditions(i.e.,the role of side-walls on the channelized collapse flows characteristic is nonnegligible).Accordingly,care must be taken when validating 3 D models with 2 D experimental data.The movement of the tower dangerous rock masses with collapse failure mode could be evaluated using this channelized and unchannelized granular column experimental results.

PRACTICAL AND PREDICTIVE MODELLING OF ORE DEPOSITS IN HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS

Over the pastfive years,we have been making efforts to develop a practical and predic- tive tool to exploreforgiantore deposits in hydrothermal systems. Towards this goal,a sig- nificant progress has been made towards a better understanding of the basic physical and chemical processes behind ore body formation and mineralization in hydrothermal systems. On the scientific developmentside,we have developed analytical solutions to answerthe fol- lowing scientific questions:(1) Can thepore- fluid pressure gradientbemaintained atthe val- ue of the lithostaticpressure gradientin the uppercrustof the Earth?and(2 ) Can convective pore- fluid flow take place in the uppercrustof the Earth ifthere is a fluid/mass leakage from the mantle to the upper crustof the Earth?On the modelling developmentside,we have developed numerical methods to model the following problems:(1) convective pore- fluid flow in two- dimensional hydrothermal systems;(2 ) coupled reactive pore- fluid flow and multiple species transport in porous media;(3) precipitation and dissolution of minerals and rock al- teration in the upper crust of the Earth;(4 ) double diffusion driven reactive flow transport in deformable fluid- saturated porous media with particular consideration of temperature- de- pendentchemical reaction rates;(5 ) pore- fluid flow patterns neargeological lenses in hydro- dynamic and hydrothermal systems;(6 ) dissipative structures for nonequilibrium chemical reactions in fluid- saturated porousmedia;(7) convectivepore- fluid flow and the related min- eralization in three- dimensional hydrothermal systems;(8) fluid- rock interaction problems associated with the rock alteration and metamorphic process in fluid- saturated hydrothermal/ sedimentary basins;and (9) various aspects of the fully coupled problem involving material deformation,pore- fluid flow,heattransferand species transport/ chemical reactionsin pore- fluid saturated porous rock masses. The above- mentioned work has significantly enriched our knowledge about the physical and chemical processes related to ore body formation and mineralization in the upper crustof the