Genesis of granular calcite in lacustrine fine-grained sedimentary rocks and its indication to volcanichydrothermal events: A case study of Permian Lucaogou Formation in Jimusar Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China

Granular calcite is an authigenic mineral in fine-grained sedimentary rocks.Core observation,thin section observation,cathodoluminescence analysis,fluid inclusion analysis,scanning electron microscope(SEM),and isotopic composition analysis were combined to clarify the genesis of granular calcite in the lacustrine fine-grained sedimentary rocks of the Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Jimusar Sag,Junggar Basin.It is found that the granular calcite is distributed with laminated characteristics in fine-grained sedimentary rocks in tuffite zones(or the transitional zone between tuffite and micritic dolomite).Granular calcite has obvious cathodoluminesence band,and it can be divided into three stages.Stage-Ⅰ calcite,with non-luminesence,high content of Sr element,inclusions containing Cos,and homogenization temperature higher than 170℃,was directly formed from the volcanic-hydrothermal deposition.Stage-Ⅱ calcite,with bright yellow luminescence,high contents of Fe,Mn and Mg,enrichment of light rare earth elements(LREEs),and high homogenization temperature,was formed by recrystallization of calcareous edges from exhalative hydrothermal deposition.Stage-IlI calcite,with dark orange luminescence band,high contents of Mg,P,V and other elements,no obvious fractionation among LREEs,and low homogenization temperature,was originated from diagenetic transformation during burial.The granular calcite appears regularly in the vertical direction and its formation temperature decreases from the center to the margin of particles,providing direct evidences for volcanic-hydrothermal events during the deposition of the Lucaogou Formation.The volcanic-hydrothermal event was conducive to the enrichment of organic matters in fine-grained sedimentary rocks of the Lucaogrou Formation,and positive to the development of high-quality source rocks.The volcanic-hydrothermal sediments might generate intergranular pores/fractures during the evolution,creating conditions for the self-generation and self-storage of shale oil.

Bedding parallel fractures in fine-grained sedimentary rocks:Recognition,formation mechanisms,and prediction using well log

Core,thin section,conventional and image logs are used to provide insights into distribution of fractures in fine grained sedimentary rocks of Permian Lucaogou Formation in Jimusar Sag.Bedding parallel fractures are common in fine grained sedimentary rocks which are characterized by layered structures.Core and thin section analysis reveal that fractures in Lucaogou Formation include tectonic inclined fracture,bedding parallel fracture,and abnormal high pressure fracture.Bedding parallel fractures are abundant,but only minor amounts of them remain open,and most of them are partly to fully sealed by carbonate minerals(calcite)and bitumen.Bedding parallel fractures result in a rapid decrease in resistivity,and they are recognized on image logs to extend along bedding planes and have discontinuous surfaces due to partly-fully filled resistive carbonate minerals as well as late stage dissolution.A comprehensive interpretation of distribution of bedding parallel fractures is performed with green line,red line,yellow line and blue line representing bedding planes,induced fractures,resistive fractures,and open(bedding and inclined)fractures,respectively.The strike of bedding parallel fractures is coinciding with bedding planes.Bedding parallel fractures are closely associated with the amounts of bedding planes,and high density of bedding planes favor the formation of bedding parallel fractures.Alternating dark and bright layers have the most abundant bedding parallel fractures on the image logs,and the bedding parallel fractures are always associated with low resistivity zones.The results above may help optimize sweet spots in fine grained sedimentary rocks,and improve future fracturing design and optimize well spacing.

Prediction of multiscale laminae structure and reservoir quality in fine-grained sedimentary rocks:The Permian Lucaogou Formation in Jimusar Sag,Junggar Basin

Fine-grained sedimentary rocks have become a research focus as important reservoirs and source rocks for tight and shale oil and gas.Laminae development determines the accumulation and production of tight and shale oil and gas in fine-grained rocks.However,due to the resolution limit of conventional logs,it is challenging to recognize the features of centimeter-scale laminae.To close this gap,complementary studies,including core observation,thin section,X-ray diffraction(XRD),conventional log analysis,and slabs of image logs,were conducted to unravel the centimeter-scale laminae.The laminae recognition models were built using well logs.The fine-grained rocks can be divided into laminated rocks(lamina thickness of<0.01 m),layered rocks(0.01-0.1 m),and massive rocks(no layer or layer spacing of>0.1 m)according to the laminae scale from core observations.According to the mineral superposition assemblages from thin-section observations,the laminated rocks can be further divided into binary,ternary,and multiple structures.The typical mineral components,slabs,and T2spectrum distributions of various lamina types are unraveled.The core can identify the centimeter-millimeter-scale laminae,and the thin section can identify the millimeter-micrometer-scale laminae.Furthermore,they can detect mineral types and their superposition sequence.Conventional logs can identify the meter-scale layers,whereas image logs and related slabs can identify the laminae variations at millimeter-centimeter scales.Therefore,the slab of image logs combined with thin sections can identify laminae assemblage characteristics,including the thickness and vertical assemblage.The identification and classification of lamina structure of various scales on a single well can be predicted using conventional logs,image logs,and slabs combined with thin sections.The layered rocks have better reservoir quality and oil-bearing potential than the massive and laminated rocks.The laminated rocks’binary lamina is better than the ternary and multiple layers due to the high content of felsic minerals.The abovementioned results build the prediction model for multiscale laminae structure using well logs,helping sweet spots prediction in the Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Jimusar Sag and fine-grained sedimentary rocks worldwide.

Lithofacies and Pore Structure of Fine-grained Sedimentary Rocks of Qing-1 Member of Cretaceous in the Southern Songliao Basin

Fine-grained sedimentary rocks often contain hydrocarbon and mineral resources.Compared with coarse-grained sedimentary rocks,fine-grained sedimentary rocks are less studied.To elucidate the lithofacies and pore structure of lacustrine fine-grained rocks,the 340.6 m continuous core of Cretaceous Qing-1 Member from five wells in the southern central depression of the Songliao Basin was analyzed using X-ray diffraction,Rock-Eval pyrolysis,low-temperature nitrogen adsorption,high-pressure mercury injection,argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscopy,and laser scanning confocal microscopy.Based on mineral compositions,organic matter abundance and sedimentary structure,lacustrine fine-grained rocks in the study area were divided into ten lithofacies,with their spatial distributions mainly influenced by tectonic cycle,climate cycle and provenance.Furthermore,pore structure characteristics of different lithofacies are summarized.(1)The siliceous mudstone lithofacies with low TOC content and the laminated/layered claybearing siliceous mudstone lithofacies with medium TOC content have the highest proportion of first-class pores(diameter>100 nm),making it the most favourable lithofacies for the accumulation of shale oil and shale gas.(2)The massive claybearing siliceous mudstone lithofacies with low TOC content has the highest proportion of second-class pores(diameter ranges from 10 to 100 nm),making it a favourable lithofacies for the enrichment of shale gas.(3)The massive clay-bearing siliceous mudstone lithofacies with high TOC content has the highest proportion of third-class pores(diameter<10 nm),making it intermediate in gas storage and flow.Laser confocal oil analysis shows that the heavy component of oil is mainly distributed in the clay lamina,while the light part with higher mobility is mainly concentrated in the silty lamina.

Discussion on classification and naming scheme of fine-grained sedimentary rocks

Based on reviews and summaries of the naming schemes of fine-grained sedimentary rocks, and analysis of characteristics of fine-grained sedimentary rocks, the problems existing in the classification and naming of fine-grained sedimentary rocks are discussed. On this basis, following the principle of three-level nomenclature, a new scheme of rock classification and naming for fine-grained sedimentary rocks is determined from two perspectives: First, fine-grained sedimentary rocks are divided into 12 types in two major categories, mudstone and siltstone, according to particle size(sand, silt and mud). Second,fine-grained sedimentary rocks are divided into 18 types in four categories, carbonate rock, fine-grained felsic sedimentary rock,clay rock and mixed fine-grained sedimentary rock according to mineral composition(carbonate minerals, felsic detrital minerals and clay minerals as three end elements). Considering the importance of organic matter in unconventional oil and gas generation and evaluation, organic matter is taken as the fourth element in the scheme. Taking the organic matter contents of 0.5% and 2% as dividing points, fine grained sedimentary rocks are divided into three categories, organic-poor, organic-bearing,and organic-rich ones. The new scheme meets the requirement of unconventional oil and gas exploration and development today and solves the problem of conceptual confusion in fine-grained sedimentary rocks, providing a unified basic term system for the research of fine-grained sedimentology.

Multi-source genesis of continental carbonate-rich fine-grained sedimentary rocks and hydrocarbon sweet spots

This paper systematically discusses the multiple source characteristics and formation mechanisms of carbonate-rich fine-grained sedimentary rocks through the analysis of material source and rock formation.The hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics of carbonate-rich fine-grained sedimentary rocks are also summarized.The results show that the main reason for the enrichment of fine-grained carbonate materials in rift lake basins was the supply of multiple material sources,including terrestrial material input,formation of intrabasinal authigenic carbonate,volcanic-hydrothermal material feeding and mixed source.The development of carbonate bedrock in the provenance area controlled the filling scale of carbonate materials in rift lake basins.The volcanic-hydrothermal activity might provide an alkaline fluid to the lake basins to strengthen the material supply for the formation of carbonate crystals.Authigenic carbonate crystals induced by biological processes were the main source of long-term accumulation of fine-grained carbonate materials in the lake basins.Carbonate-rich fine-grained sedimentary rocks with multiple features were formed through the interaction of physical,biochemical and chemical processes during the deposition and post-deposition stages.The source and sedimentary origin of the fine-grained carbonate rock controlled the hydrocarbon accumulation in it.In the multi-source system,the types of"sweet spots"of continental shale oil and gas include endogenous type,terrigenous type,volcanic-hydrothermal type and mixed source type.

Classification of Hydrocarbon-Bearing Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks

Fine-grained sedimentary rocks are defined as rocks which mainly compose of fine grains（〈62.5 μm）. The detailed studies on these rocks have revealed the need of a more unified, comprehensive and inclusive classification. The study focuses on fine-grained rocks has turned from the differences of inorganic mineral components to the significance of organic matter and microorganisms. The proposed classification is based on mineral composition, and it is noted that organic matters have been taken as a very important parameter in this classification scheme. Thus, four parameters, the TOC content, silica（quartz plus feldspars）, clay minerals and carbonate minerals, are considered to divide the fine-grained sedimentary rocks into eight categories, and the further classification within every category is refined depending on subordinate mineral composition. The nomenclature consists of a root name preceded by a primary adjective. The root names reflect mineral constituent of the rock, including low organic（TOC〈2%）, middle organic（2%4%） claystone, siliceous mudstone, limestone, and mixed mudstone. Primary adjectives convey structure and organic content information, including massive or limanited. The lithofacies are closely related to the reservoir storage space, porosity, permeability, hydrocarbon potential and shale oil/gas sweet spot, and are the key factor for the shale oil and gas exploration. The classification helps to systematically and practicably describe variability within fine-grained sedimentary rocks, what＇s more, it helps to guide the hydrocarbon exploration.

Fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation and its influence on development of shale oil sweet sections in lacustrine basins in China

The geological conditions and processes of fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation in continental lacustrine basins in China are analyzed to construct the model of fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation in lacustrine basin,reveal the development laws of fine-grained deposits and source-reservoir,and identify the sweet sections of shale oil.The results show that fine-grained gravity flow is one of the important sedimentary processes in deep lake environment,and it can transport fine-grained clasts and organic matter in shallow water to deep lake,forming sweet sections and high-quality source rocks of shale oil.Fine-grained gravity flow deposits in deep waters of lacustrine basins in China are mainly fine-grained high-density flow,fine-grained turbidity flow(including surge-like turbidity flow and fine-grained hyperpycnal flow),fine-grained viscous flow(including fine-grained debris flow and mud flow),and fine-grained transitional flow deposits.The distribution of fine-grained gravity flow deposits in the warm and humid unbalanced lacustrine basins are controlled by lake-level fluctuation,flooding events,and lakebed paleogeomorphology.During the lake-level rise,fine-grained hyperpycnal flow caused by flooding formed fine-grained channel–levee–lobe system in the flat area of the deep lake.During the lake-level fall,the sublacustrine fan system represented by unconfined channel was developed in the flexural slope breaks and sedimentary slopes of depressed lacustrine basins,and in the steep slopes of faulted lacustrine basins;the sublacustrine fan system with confined or unconfined channel was developed on the gentle slopes and in axial direction of faulted lacustrine basins,with fine-grained gravity flow deposits possibly existing in the lower fan.Within the fourth-order sequences,transgression might lead to organic-rich shale and fine-grained hyperpycnal flow deposits,while regression might cause fine-grained high-density flow,surge-like turbidity flow,fine-grained debris flow,mud flow,and fine-grained transitional flow deposits.Since the Permian,in the shale strata of lacustrine basins in China,multiple transgression-regression cycles of fourth-order sequences have formed multiple source-reservoir assemblages.Diverse fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation processes have created sweet sections of thin siltstone consisting of fine-grained high-density flow,fine-grained hyperpycnal flow and surge-like turbidity flow deposits,sweet sections with interbeds of mudstone and siltstone formed by fine-grained transitional flows,and sweet sections of shale containing silty and muddy clasts and with horizontal bedding formed by fine-grained debris flow and mud flow.The model of fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation in lacustrine basin is significant for the scientific evaluation of sweet shale oil reservoir and organic-rich source rock.

Evolutions of sedimentary facies and palaeoenvironment and their controls on the development of source rocks in continental margin basins:A case study from the Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea

Hydrocarbon resources in the Qiongdongnan Basin have become an important exploration target in China.However,the development of high-quality source rocks in this basin,especially in its deep-water areas,are still not fully understood.In this study,evolutions of sedimentary facies and palaeoenvironment and their influences on the development of source rocks in diverse tectonic regions of the Qiongdongnan Basin were investigated.The results show that during the Oligocene and to Miocene periods,the sedimentary environment of this basin progressively varied from a semi-closed gulf to an open marine environment,which resulted in significant differences in palaeoenvironmental conditions of the water column for various tectonic regions of the basin.In shallow-water areas,the palaeoproductivity and reducibility successively decrease,and the hydrodynamic intensity gradually increases for the water columns of the Yacheng,Lingshui,and Sanya-Meishan strata.In deep-water areas,the water column of the Yacheng and Lingshui strata has a higher palaeoproductivity and a weaker hydrodynamic intensity than that of the Sanya-Meishan strata,while the reducibility gradually increases for the water columns of the Yacheng,Lingshui,and Sanya-Meishan strata.In general,the palaeoenvironmental conditions of the water column are the most favorable to the development of the Yacheng organic-rich source rocks.Meanwhile,the Miocene marine source rocks in the deep-water areas of the Qiongdongnan Basin may also have a certain hydrocarbon potential.The differences in the development models of source rocks in various tectonic regions of continental margin basins should be fully evaluated in the exploration and development of hydrocarbons.

Relationship between fracture spacing and bed thickness in sedimentary rocks:Approach by means of Michaelis-Menten equation

Fractures occur in nearly all rocks at the Earth’s surface and exert essential control on the mechanical strengths of rock masses and permeability.The fractures strongly impact the stability of geological or man-made structures and flow of water and hydrocarbons,CO_(2) and storing waste.For this,the dependence of opening mode fracture spacing(s)on bed thickness(t)in sedimentary basins(reservoirs)is studied in this context.This paper shows that the MichaeliseMenten equation can provide an algebraic expression for the nonlinear s-t relationship.The two parameters have clear geological meanings:a is the maximum fracture spacing which can no longer increase with increasing t,and b is the characteristic bed thickness when s=0.5a.The tensile fracture strength(C)of the brittle beds during the formation of tensile fractures can be estimated from the two parameters.For sandstones of 16 areas reported in the literature,C ranges from 2.7 MPa to 15.7 MPa with a mean value of 8 MPa,which lies reasonably within the range of tensile strengths determined experimentally.This field-based approach by means of MichaeliseMenten equation provides a new method for estimating the tensile fracture strength of rock layers under natural conditions.

Experimental Research on Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Fracturing of Sedimentary Rock:A Critical Review

Supercritical carbon dioxide(ScCO_(2))fracturing has great advantages and prospects in both shale gas exploitation and CO_(2)storage.This paper reviews current laboratory experimental methods and results for sedimentary rocks fractured by ScCO_(2).The breakdown pressure,fracture parameters,mineral composition,bedding plane angle and permeability are discussed.We also compare the differences between sedimentary rock and granite fractured by ScCO_(2),ultimately noting problems and suggesting solutions and strategies for the future.The analysis found that the breakdown pressure of ScCO_(2)was reduced 6.52%–52.31%compared with that of using water.ScCO_(2)tends to produce a complex fracture morphology with significantly higher permeability.When compared with water,the fracture aperture of ScCO_(2)was decreased by 4.10%–72.33%,the tortuosity of ScCO_(2)was increased by 5.41%–70.98%and the fractal dimension of ScCO_(2)was increased by 4.55%–8.41%.The breakdown pressure of sandstone is more sensitive to the nature of the fracturing fluid,but fracture aperture is less sensitive to fracturing fluid than for shale and coal.Compared with granite,the tortuosity of sedimentary rock is more sensitive to the fracturing fluid and the fracture fractal dimension is less sensitive to the fracturing fluid.Existing research shows that ScCO_(2)has the advantages of low breakdown pressure,good fracture creation and environmental protection.It is recommended that research be conducted in terms of sample terms,experimental conditions,effectiveness evaluation and theoretical derivation in order to promote the application of ScCO_(2)reformed reservoirs in the future.

Callovian-Oxfordian sedimentary microfacies in the middle of Block B on the right bank of the Amu Darya Basin,Turkmenistan

The right bank of the Amu Darya Basin enjoys abundant natural gas resources,on which the Callovian-Oxfordian strata in the middle of Block B serve as the major horizons for natural gas production.However,the characteristics and distribution patterns of the sedimentary microfacies in these strata are yet to be further explored.Based on the analysis of data on drilling,logging,cores,and thin sections from 29 typical wells,as well as the regional sedimentary background,this study inferred that the middle of Block B evolved from the Callovian ramp platform into the Oxfordian rimmed platform.Moreover,this study determined that the inner-ramp intertidal-subtidal shallow-water subfacies mainly developed during the Callovian and transitioned into the shallow shelf subfacies during the Oxfordian.This study identified eight sedimentary microfacies,namely reef knoll,reef-shoal complex,bioclastic shoal,psammitic shoal,bioherm,lime mud mound,intershoal(intermound),and static-water mud.Based on research into the high-precision sequence-sedimentary microfacies framework,this study built a geological model for the development of sedimentary microfacies in the study area.According to this geological model,the sedimentary microfacies in the study area are characterized by vertical alternation of reef-shoal complex,bioclastic(psammitic)shoal,bioherm,and intershoal microfacies.Moreover,they show the development of reef knoll,reef-shoal complex,bioclastic(psammitic)shoal,and bioherm(or lime mud mound)laterally from west to east,with the physical properties of the reservoirs deteriorating from west to east accordingly.The microfacies of reef-shoal complex and the bioclastic(psammitic)shoal predominate in the study area,and their deposition and development are controlled by sequence boundaries and are also affected by paleo-landforms.The Oxfordian reef-shoal complexes were largely inherited from the Callovian uplifts and show lateral seaward progradation.

On the radiogenic heat production of metamorphic,igneous,and sedimentary rocks

Sedimentary rocks cover-73% of the Earth's surface and metamorphic rocks account for approximately91% of the crust by volume. Understanding the average behavior and variability of heat production for these rock types are vitally important for developing accurate models of lithospheric temperature. We analyze the heat production of ～204,000 whole rock geochemical data to quantify how heat production of these rocks varies with respect to chemistry and their evolution during metamorphism. The heat production of metaigneous and metasedimentary rocks are similar to their respective protoliths. Igneous and metaigneous samples increase in heat production with increasing SiO_2 and K_2 O, but decrease with increasing FeO, MgO and CaO. Sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks increase in heat production with increasing Al_2 O_3, FeO, TiO_2, and K_2 O but decrease with increasing CaO. For both igneous and sedimentary rocks, the heat production variations are largely correlated with processes that affect K_2 O concentration and covary with other major oxides as a consequence. Among sedimentary rocks,aluminous shales are the highest heat producing(2.9 μW^(-3)) whereas more common iron shales are lower heat producing(1.7 μW m^(-3)). Pure quartzites and carbonates are the lowest heat producing sedimentary rocks. Globally, there is little definitive evidence for a decrease in heat production with increasing metamorphic grade. However, there remains the need for high resolution studies of heat production variations within individual protoliths that vary in metamorphic grade. These results improve estimates of heat production and natural variability of rocks that will allow for more accurate temperature models of the lithosphere.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Ages and Geochemistry of the Silurian to Permian Sedimentary Rocks in Central Inner Mongolia, China: Implications for Closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

The Solonker suture zone has long been considered to mark the location of the final disappearance of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). However, the time of final suturing is still controversial with two main different proposals of late Permian to early Triassic, and late Devonian. This study reports integrated wholerock geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of sedimentary rocks from the Silurian Xuniwusu Formation, the Devonian Xilingol Complex and the Permian Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan-Xilinhot-Linxi area in central Inner Mongolia, China. The depositional environment, provenance and tectonic setting of the Silurian-Devonian and the Permian sediments are compared to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Solonker suture zone and its neighboring zones. The protoliths of the silty slates from the Xuniwusu Formation in the Baolidao zone belong to wacke and were derived from felsic igneous rocks with steady-state weathering, poor sorting and compositional immaturity. The protoliths of metasedimentary rocks from the Xilingol Complex were wackes and litharenites and were sourced from predominantly felsic igneous rocks with variable weathering conditions and moderate sorting. The Xuniwusu Formation and Xilingol Complex samples both have two groups of detrital zircon that peak at ca. 0.9-1.0 Ga and ca. 420-440 Ma, with maximum deposition ages of late Silurian and middle Devonian age, respectively. Considering the ca. 484-383 Ma volcanic arc in the Baolidao zone, the Xuxiniwu Formation represents an oceanic trench sediment and is covered by the sedimentary rocks in the Xilingol Complex that represents a continental slope sediment in front of the arc. The middle Permian Zhesi Formation metasandstones were derived from predominantly felsic igneous rocks and are texturally immature with very low degrees of rounding and sorting, indicating short transport and rapid burial. The Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan zone has a main zircon age peak of 302 Ma and a subordinate peak of 423 Ma and was deposited in a back-arc basin with an early marine transgression during extension and a late marine regression during contraction. The formation also crops out locally in the Baolidao zone with a main zircon age peak of 467 Ma and a minor peak of 359 Ma, and suggests it formed as a marine transgression sedimentary sequence in a restricted extensional basin and followed by a marine regressive event. Two obvious zircon age peaks of 444 Ma and 280 Ma in the Solonker zone and 435 Ma and 274 Ma in Ondor Sum are retrieved from the Zhesi Formation. This suggests as a result of the gradual closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean a narrow ocean sedimentary environment with marine regressive sedimentary sequences occupied the Solonker and Ondor Sum zones during the middle Permian. A restricted ocean is suggested by the Permian strata in the Bainaimiao zone. Early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 381 Ma and renewed subduction during ca. 310-254 Ma accompanied by the opening and closure of a back-arc basin during ca. 298-269 Ma occurred in the northern accretionary zone. In contrast, the southern accretionary zone documented early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 400 Ma and a renewed subduction during ca. 298-246 Ma. The final closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean therefore lasted at least until the early Triassic and ended with the formation of the Solonker suture zone.

Enrichment and Release of Rare Earth Elements during Weathering of Sedimentary Rocks in Wujiang Catchments

Thirteen weathering profiles of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite, silicalite, black shale and purple sandrock from Wujiang catchments were selected for study on enrichment and release behavior of rare earth elements （REE） during weathering, and in its impact on plant growth and riverine REE distribution in the catchments with methods of hierachical cluster analysis and mass balance calculation in order to set a basis for riverine material source research and agricultural production. The results show that the enrichment degree of REE in calcareous soils from the Wujiang catchments is much higher than that of limestone, yellow soil, upper continental crust （UCC）,

Tomography of the dynamic stress coefficient for stress wave prediction in sedimentary rock layer under the mining additional stress

In this study,the tomography of dynamic stress coefficient(TDSC)was established based on a mechanical model of stress wave propagation in bedding planes and a mathematical model of the stress wave attenuation in rock masses.The reliability of the TDSC was verified by a linear bedding plane model and field monitoring.Generally,the TDSC in the dynamic stress propagation of bedding planes increases with the following conditions:(1)the increase of the normal stiffness of the bedding plane,(2)the increase of the incident angle of the stress wave,(3)the decrease of the incident frequency of the stress wave,or(4)the growth of three ratios(the ratios of rock densities,elastic moduli,and the Poisson’s ratios)of rocks on either side of bedding planes.The additional stress weakens TDSC linearly and slowly during the stress wave propagation in bedding planes,and the weakening effect increases with the growth of the three ratios.Besides,the TDSC decreases exponentially in the rock mass as propagation distance increases.In a field case,the TDSC decreases significantly as vertical and horizontal distances increase and its wave range increases as vertical distance increases in the sedimentary rock layers.

Temperature-controlled triaxial compression/creep test device for thermodynamic properties of soft sedimentary rock and corresponding theoretical prediction

In deep geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste,one of the most important subjects is to estimate long-term stability and strength of host rock under high temperature conditions caused by radioactive decay of the waste.In this paper,some experimental researches on the thermo-mechanical characteristics of soft sedimentary rock have been presented.For this reason,a new temperature-controlled triaxial compression and creep test device,operated automatically by a computer-controlled system,whose control software has been developed by the authors,was developed to conduct the thermo-mechanical tests in different thermal loading paths,including an isothermal path.The new device is proved to be able to conduct typical thermo-mechanical element tests for soft rock.The test device and the related testing method were introduced in detail.Finally,some test results have been simulated with a thermo-elasto-viscoplastic model that was also developed by the authors.

Estimating Unconfined Compressive Strength of Sedimentary Rocks in United Arab Emirates from Point Load Strength Index

In this paper, three rock types including Sandstone, Mudstone, and Crystalline Gypsum were part of a laboratory study conducted to develop a dataset for predicting the unconfined compressive strength of UAE intact sedimentary rock specimens. Four hundred nineteen rock samples from various areas along the coastal region of the UAE were collected and tested for the development of this dataset and evaluation of models. From the statistical analysis of the data, regression equations were established among rock parameters and correlations were expressed and compared by the ones proposed in literature.

Preliminary study on the spore-pollen assemblages found in the Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in Grove Mountains,east Antarctica and its climatic implications

Glaciogene sedimentary rocks have been found in modem tills of the Grove Mountains, east Antarctica during the 1998 - 1999 Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition （CHNARE）. Based on the lithilogic and sedimentary features, these sedimentary rocks are correlated with Cenozoic sedimentary strata of the Pagodroma Group in the neighboring Prince Charles Mountains and the Sorsdal Formation in VestFold Hills. Sedimentary clasts contain sparsely Late Tertiary spores and pollens, including ： Toroisporis （ Lygodiaceae）, Osmunda, Granulatisporites （ Pteridaceae？） , Polypodiaceae, Podocarpus , Araucariaceae, Artemisia , Rhus , Nothofagidites , Proteacidites （Proteaceae） , Quercus , Fraxinoipollenites （ Oleaceae ） , Oleoidearumpollenites（ Oleaceae ）, Operculumpollis, and Tricolpopollenites. Most of the pollen and spores contained in these samples originate from local sources according to the conditions of their preservations as well as correlations with the microfossil assemblages found in the neighboring areas. The majority of the pollen assemblages, as represented by Podocarpus and Nothofagus, belong to the Weddellian biogeocenose, however some exotic components from the old sedimentary basement rocks may have been included during erosion of the proximal ice sheet. If the source areas of glaciogenic sedimentary rocks that bear the pollen and spores are assumed to be local, or in the up glacier areas, the pollen assemblages in these samples might represent an inland flora during a warmer period of the ice-sheet evolutionary history. The finding of the Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae in the pollen assemblages implies that they may belong to late Tertiary （most probably Pliocene）. The absence of diatoms in the samples analyzed may indicate that there are no Cenozoic marine strata in the interior of the east Antarctica beyond the Grove Mountains. The significances of the finding of the Nothofagus in these pollen assemblages are discussed on the basis of current knowledge about the age, distribution and ecological conditions of this kind of fossils found in Sirius Group or other strata outcropped in Antarctica. As a preliminary conclusion, we think that the existence of the Cenozoic glaciogenenic rocks and their pollen assemblages present new evidence for a large scale glacial retreat history in Grove Mountains of east Antarctica, and thus support a dynamic East Antarctic Ice Sheet （EAIS）. This is consistent with the interpretations of Webb et al. （1984）.

Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks and Its Relation to Crustal Evolution and Mineralization in Southwest Yangtze Massif,China

Through a systematic study on trace elements and REE geochemistry of mudstonedeposited in the basin and lower slope environments during Upper Proterozoic to Triassic in theSouthwest Yangtze Massif, three gaxhemical abnormal horizons of which the gerehemicalcharacteristics are quite different from those of other horizons have been established for the firsttime. They are the Lower Cambrian, the Upper Devonian and the Upper Permian. As compared with the crustal evolution in this area, these three geochemical abnormal horizons are correspoding to the pullingapart perieds of gcotectonic cycles, which illustrates that the uncommon depositional sources Pouring into the basin from the earth’s interior may be one of themost important causes to originate the geochemical anomalies in these horizons. Thus it can berealized that the gaxhemistry of opst-Archean sedimentary rocks has a great deal to do with thecrustal evolution and it can be used as a tracer to analyze the crustal evolution. The elements inthis area are mainly concentrated in these geochemical abnormal horizons, and the degree of enrichment and deficiency of trace elements in other horizons is very limited. A series of researchon mineralization indicates that the main strata-bound ore deposits discovered in the SouthwestYangtze Massif occur in the Cambrian, Devonian and Permian-Triassic strata. The results ofisotope tracer research have also proved that most of the metallogenic elements in these ore dePosits came from the host strata, which illustrates that the geochemical abnormal horizons mayhave made great contributions to these ore-forming processes. Thus it can be concluded that itis only the particular horizons corresponding to the particular periods of earth’s evolution thatcan they be the significant source beds because only in these uncommon horizons there can behighly enriched metallogenic elements, which may be one of the most important reasons for explaining the time-bound nature of mineralization.