A Perspective of Laser Sampling for Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectro metry for Rock and Mineral Analysis

The development of laser sampling for optical emission spectrometry is reviewed . Advantages and limitations of pulsed laser sampling are compared with those of continuous laser sampling . A novel method of laser sampling of liquid samples for inductively coupled plasma -atomic emission spectrometry has been proposed , and its analytical performance investigated.Experimental results showed that,as a method of sample introduction , laser vaporization of liquid samples enjoyed certain advantages , e.g.,much higher sensitivity, much lower detection limit and reduced sample volume , over solution nebulization . A perspective of the application of laser sampling-inductively coupled plasma - actomic emission spectrometry for rock and mineral analysis is estimated as well.

Multi-scale data joint inversion of minerals and porosity in altered igneous reservoirs—A case study in the South China Sea

There are abundant igneous gas reservoirs in the South China Sea with significant value of research,and lithology classification,mineral analysis and porosity inversion are important links in reservoir evaluation.However,affected by the diverse lithology,complicated mineral and widespread alteration,conventional logging lithology classification and mineral inversion become considerably difficult.At the same time,owing to the limitation of the wireline log response equation,the quantity and accuracy of minerals can hardly meet the exploration requirements of igneous formations.To overcome those issues,this study takes the South China Sea as an example,and combines multi-scale data such as micro rock slices,petrophysical experiments,wireline log and element cutting log to establish a set of joint inversion methods for minerals and porosity of altered igneous rocks.Specifically,we define the lithology and mineral characteristics through core slices and mineral data,and establish an igneous multi-mineral volumetric model.Then we determine element cutting log correction method based on core element data,and combine wireline log and corrected element cutting log to perform the lithology classification and joint inversion of minerals and porosity.However,it is always difficult to determine the elemental eigenvalues of different minerals in inversion.This paper uses multiple linear regression methods to solve this problem.Finally,an integrated inversion technique for altered igneous formations was developed.The results show that the corrected element cutting log are in good agreement with the core element data,and the mineral and porosity results obtained from the joint inversion based on the wireline log and corrected element cutting log are also in good agreement with the core data from X-ray diffraction.The results demonstrate that the inversion technique is applicable and this study provides a new direction for the mineral inversion research of altered igneous formations.

Mineral composition and organic geochemistry of the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation source rock from the Qingxi Sag,Jiuquan Basin, Northwest China

The Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation contains the major source rocks for the crude oils discovered in the Qingxi Sag and the South Uplift in the Jiuquan Basin, northwestern China. The Xiagou Formation source rock was formed in a closed,anoxic, reducing, alkaline lacustrine environment with a high salinity. Its high content of brittle minerals is favorable for the fracturing of reservoirs in source rock formations in the Qingxi Sag. The Xiagou Formation contains a great number of fair to excellent source rocks, and their organic matter（OM） came chiefly from plankton/algae and high plants as well as possibly bacterial organisms. The Xiagou Formation source rocks mainly contain Type II OM and some Type III and Type I OM, with good oil-generating potential. The source rock maturity is mainly in the early-mature and mature stages, and its Rovalue corresponding to oil peak is about 0.8%, which is lower than classic oil peak Rovalue of 1.0%; therefore, a great deal of hydrocarbon was generated before the classic oil peak Ro= 1.0%. Mature source rock in the Xiagou Formation tends to be distributed in the older members and at a greater depth. There is a better exploration potential of tight oil in the deep Qingxi Sag.

Petrologic and geochemical characterization and mineralization of the metavolcanic rocks of the Heib Formation,Kid Metamorphic Complex,Sinai,Egypt

Metavolcanic rocks hosting base metal sulphide mineralization, and belonging to the Kid Metamorphic Complex, are exposed in the Samra-Tarr area, Southern Sinai. The rocks consist of slightly metamorphosed varicolored porphyritic lavas of rhyolite-to-andesite composition, and their equivalent pyroclastics. Geochemically, these metavolcanics are classified as high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous andesites, trachyandesites, dacites, and rhyolites. The geochemical characteristics of these metavolcanics strongly point to their derivation from continental crust in an active continental margin. The sulphide mineralization in these metavolcanics occurs in two major ore zones, and is represented by four distinct styles of mineralization. The mineralization occurs either as low-grade disseminations or as small massive pockets. The associated hydrothermal alterations include carbonatization, silicification, sericitization and argillic alterations. The base metal sulphide mineralization is epigenetic and was formed by hvdrothermal solutions associated with subduction-related volcanic activity.

Experimental Study of the Influence of Hydrous Minerals on the Melting Behaviour of Rocks at High Temperatures and Pressures

The experimental study on the melting of potassic basalt and eclogite with about 2% waterat 800-1300℃ and 1.0-3.5 GPa shows that the solidi of both rocks are significantly lower thanthose obtained from the previous experiments of the same type of rocks under dry conditions,and the former which is enriched in potassium has a lower melting point than the latter. It is con-sistent with the previous study. The melting temperature of eclogite increases with pressure,whereas potassic basalt has similar properties only at 1.5—2.5 GPa and>3.0 GPa, and at 2.5—3.0 GPa the melting temperature decreases with pressure. This can be explained as follows: (1)eclogite only has one hydrous mineral amphibole and the dehydous temperature is lower than thewet solidus of the rock. (2) Amphibole exists in potassic basalt at the pressures lower than 2.5GPa and phlogopite exists at pressures higher than 2.5 GPa, and the special compositions of bothminerals determine that amphibole has a dehydration temperature higher than or close to that ofthe wet solidus of the rocks, while phlogopite has a dehydration temperature lower than that ofthe wet solidus. On the other hand the features of the continuous solidus in the experiment ofhydrous eclogite were produced by the fact that the dehydration temperature of its amphibolelower than or close to the melting temperature of the hydrous conditions. So the melting tempera-ture lowers at higher pressures. Therefore, the composition of the rocks in the lithosphere and thetypes of hydrous minerals and their stable P-T conditions are the important factors controllingthe solidi of rocks. It can quite well explain the partial melting of rocks and the origin of the lowvelocity zone in the deep lithosphere.

Sorption Characteristics of CO₂on Rocks and Minerals in Storing CO₂Processes

As CO2 is injected into pore spaces of water-filled reservoir rocks, it displaces much of the pore fluids. In short terms (several to tens of years), the greater part of the injected CO2 is predicted to stay as free CO2 , i.e. in a CO2 rich dense phase that may contain some water. This paper investigates the sorption characteristics for rocks (quartzose arenite, greywacke, shale, granite and serpentine) and minerals (quartz and albite) in the CO2 rich dense phase. The measurements were conducted at 50°C and 100°C, and pressures up to 20 MPa. Our results demonstrated that significant quantities of CO2 were sorbed with all the samples. Particularly, at 50°C and 100°C, quartzose arenite showed largest sorption capacity among the other samples in higher pressures (>10 MPa). Furthermore, comparison with model prediction based on the pore filling model, which assumed that CO2 acts as filling pore spaces of the rocks and minerals, suggested the importance of the sorption mechanism in the CO2 geological storage in addition to the pore-filling mechanism. The present results should be pointed out that the sorption characteristics may have significant and meaningful effect on the assessment of CO2 storage capacity in geological media.

Analysis of soft rock mineral components and roadway failure mechanism

The mineral components and microstructure of soft rock sampled from roadway floor in Xiagou pit are determined by X ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Combined with the test of expansion and water softening property of the soft rock, the roadway failure mechanism is analyzed, and the reasonable repair supporting principle of roadway is put forward.

The possible source of uranium mineralization in felsic volcanic rocks,Eastern Desert,Egypt of the Arabian-Nubian Shield:Constraints from whole-rock geochemistry and spectrometric prospection

The present work deals with the detailed geology,mineralogy,geochemistry,and spectrometric prospection of the felsic volcanic rocks at the Eastern Desert,Egypt of the Arabian-Nubian Shield.Felsic volcanic rocks are an essential source for rare earth elements(REEs)and uranium occurrences in this area.They are compositionally uniform with tholeiitic to calc-alkaline affinities,peraluminous and belong to the series of rhyolite with high-K melt.They exhibit more enrichment in high field strength elements(HFSE,e.g.Zr,Ta,Nd,Th,and U)and large-ion lithophile elements(LILE,e.g.Pb and Rb)compared to the country rocks of the studied area,with REE ranging from 188.20 to 442.70 ppm and strong depletion in Ti,Sr,P with deep negative Eu oddities.The felsic volcanic rocks were mostly generated from the partial melting of quartz-amphibolite facies accreted during the Neoproterozoic.Positive oddities of Zr-U-Th for the felsic volcanic rocks determine the involvement of crustal materials.Felsic volcanic rocks are found in A-type suites of magma and represent highly fractionated rocks derived from rhyolitic magma,with insignificant interaction with continental crust in the low-pressure environment and during fractional crystallization.Felsic volcanic rocks have higher values of radioactivity in which eU range from 0.5 to 121 ppm and eTh from 1.0 to 415.10 ppm.The high values of eU and eTh can be ascribed to the mineralization of uranium and the presence of accessory minerals of radiogenic nature such as uranophane,uranothorite,zircon,and monazite.Uranophane is considered as the mineral with most enriched uranium contents in the studied felsic volcanic rocks in which(UO2=87.30 wt%).Also,they are enriched with REE-bearing accessory minerals comprising allanite,titanite,and apatite.The geological investigations of the felsic volcanic rocks in the studied areas are inappropriate to clear the feasible economic potentialities of rare earth elements and U occurrences;itemized and invaluable explorational work is as yet needed.Whilst,the environmental impact of mineralization,owing to U and Th and their radiogenic daughter products,is observed and must be elaborated minutely.

Mineral Chemistry and Thermobarometry of the Volcanic Rocks in Torud, Iran

This paper elucidates the compositional studies on clinopyroxene, plagioclase of basalts to andesitic rocks of Torud area to understand the geotectonic and geothermobarometry conditions.?Early?Eocene-Oligocene calc-alkaline volcanic rocks are exposed around Torud in the Central Iranian zone. Volcanic rocks consist of basaltic, andesite basalt, Tracyandesite, and andesite. Minerals in the volcanic rocks exhibit degrees of disequilibrium features. Plagioclase as dominant mineral in these rocks generally displays oscillatory zoning. Mineral chemistry studies show that clinopyroxenes in the volcanic rocks are diopside, augite and plotted in medium pressure field. The clinopyroxene composition yields the crystallization temperatures 900°C?- 1000°C. The mineral composition indicates that these rocks are formed in a tensional environment.

Major and Trace Element Chemical Compositional Signatures of Some Granitic Rocks Related to Metal Mineralization in Japan

We analyzed the major and trace element chemical compositions of 66 granitic rocks from 15 different areas in Japan. The intrusions from which the samples were collected were associated with Pb-Zn, Mo, Cu-Fe, Sn, or W mineralization and, for comparison, samples were also collected from intrusions not associated with any metal mineralization. The analyses indicated that the granitic rocks associated with Pb-Zn, Mo, or Cu-Fe mineralization were granites, granodiorites, or diorites, and that they were all I-type and formed in a volcanic arc tectonic setting. The granitic rocks associated with Sn or W mineralization and barren granitic rocks were classified as granites and as I-type with the exception of a few S-type granitic rocks. Most of the Sn- or W-associated granitic rocks and barren granitic rocks are thought to have formed in a volcanic arc tectonic setting. The Pb-Zn-, Mo-, or Cu-Fe-associated granitic rocks rarely shows negative Eu anomalies and a few of them are adakitic rocks, whereas all of the Sn- or W-associated granitic rocks and barren granitic rocks show negative Eu anomalies. For these Japanese granitic rocks, the contents of K2O, La, Y, Rb, Ta, Pb, Th, U, and REEs other than Eu increase with increasing SiO2. Conversely, the contents of major components other than Na2O and K2O and the trace components V, Zn, Sr, Eu, and Sc decrease with increasing SiO2. The Zr, Sn, and Hf abundances increase with increasing SiO2 up to 70 wt%, but their abundances decrease when the SiO2 exceeds 70 wt%. This suggests that granitic magma is saturated with these elements at 70 wt% of SiO2, approximately.

Evolution History of Mantle Peridotites in the Xigaze Ophiolite: Constraints from Whole-rock and Mineral Geochemistry

Ophiolites along the E-W trending Yarlung-Tsangpo Suture(YTS),which separates the Indian plate from the Eurasian plate,have been regarded as relics of the NeoTethyan Ocean.The Xigaze ophiolite in the central YTS

Optimal Classification of Minerals by Microscopic Image Analysis Based on Seven-State “Deep Learning” Combined with Optimizers

The development of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning, has made it possible to accelerate and improve the processing of data collected in different fields (commerce, medicine, surveillance or security, agriculture, etc.). Most related works use open source consistent image databases. This is the case for ImageNet reference data such as coco data, IP102, CIFAR-10, STL-10 and many others with variability representatives. The consistency of its images contributes to the spectacular results observed in its fields with deep learning. The application of deep learning which is making its debut in geology does not, to our knowledge, include a database of microscopic images of thin sections of open source rock minerals. In this paper, we evaluate three optimizers under the AlexNet architecture to check whether our acquired mineral images have object features or patterns that are clear and distinct to be extracted by a neural network. These are thin sections of magmatic rocks (biotite and 2-mica granite, granodiorite, simple granite, dolerite, charnokite and gabbros, etc.) which served as support. We use two hyper-parameters: the number of epochs to perform complete rounds on the entire data set and the “learning rate” to indicate how quickly the weights in the network will be modified during optimization. Using Transfer Learning, the three (3) optimizers all based on the gradient descent methods of Stochastic Momentum Gradient Descent (sgdm), Root Mean Square Propagation (RMSprop) algorithm and Adaptive Estimation of moment (Adam) achieved better performance. The recorded results indicate that the Momentum optimizer achieved the best scores respectively of 96.2% with a learning step set to 10−3 for a fixed choice of 350 epochs during this variation and 96, 7% over 300 epochs for the same value of the learning step. This performance is expected to provide excellent insight into image quality for future studies. Then they participate in the development of an intelligent system for the identification and classification of minerals, seven (7) in total (quartz, biotite, amphibole, plagioclase, feldspar, muscovite, pyroxene) and rocks.

The Key Influence of Fluid in Metamorphic Rock Preserves, Mineral Assemblages, Compositions and Structures: Study from High-Pressure Eclogite and Its Amphibolization in the Western Dabie Mountains,Central China

The most of high/ultrahigh-pressure(HP/UHP)terranes of the world are characterized by the occurrence of numerous pods,lenses or layered blocks of eclogite and amphibolites(e.g.O’Brien,1997;Elvevold and Gilotti,2000;Zhang et al.,2003;and references there in).Field and petrological features suggest that amphibolites should

Petrochemistry and Mineral Chemistry Studies on Metamorphic Ultramafic Rocks in Yanghou Area, Northern Fujian, China

Petrochemical studies indicate that the Yanghou metamorphic ultramafic rocks are composed of metamorphosed harzburgite and ultramafic cumulate. Trace element geochemistry and mineral chemistry of the metamorphic harzburgite indicate that they are relicts of depleted mantle. Systematic petrochemical, mineral chemical and geochronological studies led to such a conclusion that the Yanghou metamorphic ultramafic rocks may be the components of Late Sinian Early Paleozoic ophiolites in South China.

New Evidence for Genesis of the Zoige Carbonate-Siliceous-Pelitic Rock Type Uranium Deposit in Southern Qinling:Discovery and Significance of the 64 Ma Intrusions

The carbonaceous-siliceous-argillitic rock type uranium deposit in the Zoige area is located in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, and has gained much attention of many geologists and ore deposit experts due to its scale, high grade and abundant associated ores. Because of the insufficient reliable dating of intrusive rocks, the relationship between mineralization and the magmatic activities is still unknown. In order to study this key scientific issue and the ore-forming processes of the Zoige uranium ore field, the LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of magmatic rocks was obtained：64.08±0.59 Ma for the granite-prophyry and ~200 Ma for the dolerite. U-Pb dating results of uraninite from the Zoige uranium ore field are mainly concentrated on ~90 Ma and ~60 Ma. According to LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating, the ages for the dolerite, porphyry granite and granodiorite are 200 Ma, 64.08 Ma approximately and 226.5-200.88 Ma, respectively. This indicates that the mineralization has close relationship with activities of the intermediate-acidic magma. The ages of the granite porphyry are consistent with those uraninite U-Pb dating results achieved by previous studies, which reflects the magmatic and ore-forming event during the later Yanshanian. Based on the data from previous researches, the ore bodies in the Zoige uranium ore field can be divided into two categories：the single uranium type and the uranium with polymetal mineralization type. The former formed at late Cretaceous（about 90 Ma）, while the latter, closely related to the granite porphyry, formed at early Paleogene（about 60 Ma）. And apart from ore forming elemental uranium, the latter is often associated with polymetallic elements, such as molybdenum, nickel, zinc, etc.

Research on fabric characteristics and borehole instability mechanisms of fractured igneous rocks

There are favorable exploration prospects in igneous rock reservoirs. However, problems of borehole instability occur frequently during drilling igneous formations, which is a serious impediment to oil and gas exploration and production. The lack of systematic understanding of the inherent instability mechanisms is an important problem. A series of experiments were conducted on several igneous rock samples taken from the sloughing formations in the Tuha area in an attempt to reveal the inherent mechanisms of wellbore instability when drilling in fractured igneous rocks. Research methods involved slurry chemistry, analysis of micro-geological features （Micro-CT imaging, SEM）, and rock mechanics testing. The experimental results indicated that clay minerals were widely distributed in the intergranular space of the diagenetic minerals, crystal defects, and microcracks. Drilling fluid filtrate would invade the rock along the microcracks. Tile invasion amount gradually increased over time, which constantly intensified the hydration and swelling of clay minerals, leading to changes in the microscopic structure of igneous rocks. Primary and secondary microcracks can propagate and merge into single cracks and thus reducing rock cohesion and the binding force along cleavage planes. Based on this result the authors propose that a key towards solving wellbore instability in igneous formations is that specific micro-geological characteristics of the igneous rocks should be taken into consideration in the design of antisloughing drilling muds.

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.

Petrologic and REE Geochemical Characters of Burnt Rocks

The study of burnt rocks is beneficial to the discussion on the tectonic movement, paleoclimate and paleogeography that coal seams are subjected to after they were formed. In order to obtain the basic data on the features of the burnt rocks, a systematic study of petrology and REE geochemistry on burnt rocks in Shenmu, Northern Shaanxi Province has been done, using the methods of SEM, EDS, susceptibility measurements and ICP-MS. The burnt rocks are divided into two series in the section： the melted rocks and the baked rocks. SEM and EDS analyses reveal that all the minerals show burnt and melted traces, and there are no clay minerals except illite found in the burnt rocks. Susceptibility measurements reveal that the burnt rocks have abnormally high susceptibility values, whereas a geochemical analysis shows that the REE distribution pattern of burnt rocks is similar to that of sedimentary rocks （initial rocks）. In the longitudinal section, with increasing degree of burning （from baked rocks to melted rocks）, the ∑REE gradually decreases, and the total REE of melted rocks is obviously lower than that of baked rocks. Besides, the melted rocks show apparent negative Ce anomalies, while the baked rocks show no anomaly of Ce, and sometimes even show positive anomalies.

Rock-weathering by lichens in Antarctic: patterns and mechanisms

Saxicolous species of lichens are able to induce and accelerate weathering of their rock substrate, and effects of lichens on substrate can be attributed to both physical and chemical causes. This paper is focused on biotic weathering actions of epilithic and endolithic species on the different rock types (sandstones and volcanogenic rocks) in Antarctica. The patterns, mechanisms, processes and neoformations of rock-weathering resulting from lichen colonization are expounded in detail. Furthermore, it is pointed out that, for a better understanding of the impacts of lichens on environments, the studies on the rate of biotic weathering and the comprehensive involvement of the lichen effects on weathering of natural rocks remain to be carried out in Antarctica.