Assessing fracturing mechanisms and evolution of excavation damaged zone of tunnels in interlocked rock masses at high stresses using a finitediscrete element approach

Deep underground excavations within hard rocks can result in damage to the surrounding rock mass mostly due to redistribution of stresses.Especially within rock masses with non-persistent joints,the role of the pre-existing joints in the damage evolution around the underground opening is of critical importance as they govern the fracturing mechanisms and influence the brittle responses of these hard rock masses under highly anisotropic in situ stresses.In this study,the main focus is the impact of joint network geometry,joint strength and applied field stresses on the rock mass behaviours and the evolution of excavation induced damage due to the loss of confinement as a tunnel face advances.Analysis of such a phenomenon was conducted using the finite-discrete element method (FDEM).The numerical model is initially calibrated in order to match the behaviour of the fracture-free,massive Lac du Bonnet granite during the excavation of the Underground Research Laboratory (URL) Test Tunnel,Canada.The influence of the pre-existing joints on the rock mass response during excavation is investigated by integrating discrete fracture networks (DFNs) of various characteristics into the numerical models under varying in situ stresses.The numerical results obtained highlight the significance of the pre-existing joints on the reduction of in situ rock mass strength and its capacity for extension with both factors controlling the brittle response of the material.Furthermore,the impact of spatial distribution of natural joints on the stability of an underground excavation is discussed,as well as the potentially minor influence of joint strength on the stress induced damage within joint systems of a non-persistent nature under specific conditions.Additionally,the in situ stress-joint network interaction is examined,revealing the complex fracturing mechanisms that may lead to uncontrolled fracture propagation that compromises the overall stability of an underground excavation.

Calibration of coupled hydro-mechanical properties of grain-based model for simulating fracture process and associated pore pressure evolution in excavation damage zone around deep tunnels

The objective of this paper is to develop a methodology for calibration of a discrete element grain-based model(GBM)to replicate the hydro-mechanical properties of a brittle rock measured in the laboratory,and to apply the calibrated model to simulating the formation of excavation damage zone(EDZ)around underground excavations.Firstly,a new cohesive crack model is implemented into the universal distinct element code(UDEC)to control the fracturing behaviour of materials under various loading modes.Next,a methodology for calibration of the components of the UDEC-Voronoi model is discussed.The role of connectivity of induced microcracks on increasing the permeability of laboratory-scale samples is investigated.The calibrated samples are used to investigate the influence of pore fluid pressure on weakening the drained strength of the laboratory-scale rock.The validity of the Terzaghi’s effective stress law for the drained peak strength of low-porosity rock is tested by performing a series of biaxial compression test simulations.Finally,the evolution of damage and pore pressure around two unsupported circular tunnels in crystalline granitic rock is studied.

Effects of confinement on rock mass modulus:A synthetic rock mass modelling(SRM) study

The main objective of this paper is to examine the influence of the applied confining stress on the rock mass modulus of moderately jointed rocks（well interlocked undisturbed rock mass with blocks formed by three or less intersecting joints）. A synthetic rock mass modelling（SRM） approach is employed to determine the mechanical properties of the rock mass. In this approach, the intact body of rock is represented by the discrete element method（DEM）-Voronoi grains with the ability of simulating the initiation and propagation of microcracks within the intact part of the model. The geometry of the preexisting joints is generated by employing discrete fracture network（DFN） modelling based on field joint data collected from the Brockville Tunnel using LiDAR scanning. The geometrical characteristics of the simulated joints at a representative sample size are first validated against the field data, and then used to measure the rock quality designation（RQD）, joint spacing, areal fracture intensity（P21）, and block volumes. These geometrical quantities are used to quantitatively determine a representative range of the geological strength index（GSI）. The results show that estimating the GSI using the RQD tends to make a closer estimate of the degree of blockiness that leads to GSI values corresponding to those obtained from direct visual observations of the rock mass conditions in the field. The use of joint spacing and block volume in order to quantify the GSI value range for the studied rock mass suggests a lower range compared to that evaluated in situ. Based on numerical modelling results and laboratory data of rock testing reported in the literature, a semi-empirical equation is proposed that relates the rock mass modulus to confinement as a function of the areal fracture intensity and joint stiffness.

Utilizing a novel fiber optic technology to capture the axial responses of fully grouted rock bolts

Rock bolts are one of the primary support systems utilized in underground excavations within the civil and mining engineering industries. Rock bolts support the weakened rock mass adjacent to the opening of an excavation by fastening to the more stable, undisturbed formations further from the excavation. The overall response of such a support element has been determined under varying loading conditions in the laboratory and in situ experiments in the past four decades; however, due to the limitations with conventional monitoring methods of capturing strain, there still exists a gap in knowledge associated with an understanding of the geomechanical responses of rock bolts at the microscale. In this paper, we try to address this current gap in scientific knowledge by utilizing a newly developed distributed optical strain sensing(DOS) technology that provides an exceptional spatial resolution of 0.65 mm to capture the strain along the rock bolt. This DOS technology utilizes Rayleigh optical frequency domain reflectometry(ROFDR) which provides unprecedented insight into various mechanisms associated with axially loaded rebar specimens of different embedment lengths, grouting materials, borehole annulus conditions, and borehole diameters. The embedment length of the specimens was found to be the factor that significantly affected the loading of the rebar. The critical embedment length for the fully grouted rock bolts(FGRBs) was systematically determined to be430 mm. The results herein highlight the effects of the variation of these individual parameters on the geomechanical responses FGRBs.

Strategies towards robust interpretations of in situ zircon Lu-Hf isotope analyses

The combination of U-Pb and Lu-Hf compositions measured in zircon crystals is a remarkably powerful isotopic couplet that provides measures on both the timing of mineral growth and the radiogenic enrichment of the source from which the zircon grew.The U-Pb age documents the timing of zircon crystallization/recrystallization and Hf isotopes inform on the degree to which the host melt was derived from a radiogenic reservoir(e.g.depleted mantle) versus an unradiogenic reservoir(e.g.ancient continental crust),or some mixture of these sources.The ease of generating large quantities of zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf data has been in large part facilitated by instrument advances.However,the dramatic increase in time constrained zircon Lu-Hf analyses in the Earth science community has brought to the fore the importance of careful data collection and reduction workflows,onto which robust geological interpretations may be based.In this work,we discuss the fundamentals of Lu-Hf isotopes in zircon,which then allows us to provide a robust,accessible,methodology for the assessment of data quality.Additionally,we discuss some novel techniques for:data visualization—that facilitates better transparency of data interpretation;integration of geographic information—that may reveal spatial trends where temporal trends were only apparent before;and some novel statistical evaluation tools—that may provide more rigorous interand intra-sample comparisons.

An in situ monitoring campaign of a hard rock pillar at great depth within a Canadian mine

A recent research campaign at a Canadian nickel-copper mine involved instrumenting a hard rock sill drift pillar with an array of multi-point rod extensometers,distributed optical fibre strain sensors,and borehole pressure cells(BHPCs).The instrumentation spanned across a 15.24 m lengthwise segment of the relatively massive granitic pillar situated at a depth of 2.44 km within the mine.Between May 2016 and March 2017,the pillar’s displacement and pressure response were measured and correlated with mining activities on the same level as the pillar,including:(1)mine-by of the pillar,(2)footwall drift development,and(3)ore body stoping operations.Regarding displacements of the pillar,the extensometers provided high temporal resolution(logged hourly)and the optical fibre strain sensors provide high spatial resolution(measured every 0.65 mm along the length of each sensor).The combination of sensing techniques allowed centimetre-scale rock mass bulking near the pillar sidewalls to be distinguished from microstrain-scale fracturing towards the core of the pillar.Additionally,the influence and extent of a mine-scale schistose shear zone transecting the pillar was identified.By converting measured rock mass displacement to velocity,a process was demonstrated which allowed mining activities inducing displacements to be categorised by time-duration and cumulative displacement.In over half of the analysed mining activities,displacements were determined to prolong for over an hour,predominately resulting in submillimetre cumulative displacements,but in some cases multi-centimetre cumulative displacements were observed.This time-dependent behaviour was more pronounced within the vicinity of the plumb shear zone.Displacement measurements were also used to assess selected support member load and elongation mobilisation per mining activity.It was found that a combined static load and elongation capacity of reinforcing members was essential to maintaining excavation stability,while permitting gradual shedding of stress through controlled pillar sidewall displacements.

东昆仑卡而却卡铜矿区花岗闪长岩及其暗色微粒包体成因:锆石U-Pb年龄、岩石地球化学及Sr-Nd-Hf同位素证据

卡而却卡铜多金属矿区花岗闪长岩体中广泛分布具有似斑状结构的闪长质包体,包体主要为椭圆形,定向排列,具有与寄主岩石相似的矿物组合,但角闪石含量明显比寄主岩石高,具有明显的不平衡反应结构,发育针状磷灰石。LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测试表明,暗色微粒包体形成于(234.1±0.6)Ma,寄主花岗闪长岩形成于(234.4±0.6)Ma,为岩浆混合作用的存在提供了有力证据。地球化学特征显示,暗色包体Si O2、Mg O含量较寄主岩石高,更偏基性;均富集大离子亲石元素和轻稀土元素,亏损高场强元素,但寄主花岗闪长岩LaN/YbN值(11.6~19.0)明显高于暗色包体(5.0~9.7),Nb/Ta值(10.6~11.7)低于暗色包体(11.6~14.8)。二者具有相近的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成,花岗闪长岩的εNd(t)值为-5.3^-4.2,(87Sr/86Sr)i值为0.71110~0.71125,εHf(t)为-5.8^-3.4,tDM(Hf)为1012~1102 Ma;暗色包体的εNd(t)值为-5.2^-5.0,(87Sr/86Sr)i值为0.71114~0.71171,εHf(t)为-6.3^-1.6,tDM(Hf)为937~1129 Ma。综上推测,在中三叠世俯冲—碰撞转换阶段,EMⅡ型富集岩石圈地幔在上涌软流圈物质的作用下发生部分熔融产生基性岩浆,并底侵下地壳物质局部熔融形成长英质岩浆房,进而由基性岩浆注入长英质岩浆房后,经过演化形成微粒包体,演化了的基性岩浆与长英质岩浆混合,最终形成含微粒包体的均一岩浆,这种岩浆结晶后形成含暗色包体花岗闪长岩。

钱塘江下切河谷充填物沉积序列和分布模式

以最新钻取的SE2孔沉积物为重点研究对象,对晚第四纪以来钱塘江下切河谷充填物的沉积特征和沉积相进行了精细研究,重建了研究区地层结构和层序地层格架,总结了强潮型钱塘江河口湾和下切河谷的沉积模式。钱塘江下切河谷充填物自下而上依次发育河床、河漫滩、古河口湾、近岸浅海和现代河口湾5种沉积相类型,表现为一个较完整的Ⅰ型层序,其内部层序界面、初始海泛面、最大海泛面、海侵和海退潮流侵蚀面、体系域内海侵面发育。钱塘江下切河谷充填物自海向陆可划分为海向段、近海段、近陆段和陆向段4段,各段沉积序列和海陆相互作用程度不同。在钱塘江下切河谷充填物中海陆过渡部位首次明确划分出了古河口湾相,并对其沉积特征和分布模式进行了初步探讨;其形成时间在9000 a BP左右,具有与现代河口湾不同的沉积特征,表现为中部为潮道砂体沉积,向陆渐变为受潮流影响的河流沉积,两侧被潮坪或盐沼沉积包围,沉积物在平面上自陆向海呈现粗—细—粗的分布模式。现代河口湾平面上自陆向海依次发育受潮流影响的河流沉积、粉砂质砂坎、潮道—潮流砂脊复合体和湾口泥质沉积区,沉积物呈现粗—细—粗—细的分布模式,与大多数河口湾常见的粗—细—粗的分布格局明显不同。

晚第四纪钱塘江下切河谷充填物物源特征

对晚第四纪钱塘江下切河谷内SE2孔沉积物重矿物和稀土—微量元素进行系统分析,并与邻区长江沉积物相应特征进行对比。结果显示:(1)晚第四纪钱塘江下切河谷充填物中河床(U5)、河漫滩(U4)和古河口湾(U3)沉积物的重矿物组合为赤褐铁矿—磁铁矿—锆石—白钛石—锐钛矿;微量元素中的铁族元素、大离子亲石元素和高场强元素与平均大陆上地壳(UCC)相近,且大离子亲石元素和大部分高场强元素与北美页岩(NASC)相近,在Th/Co-Cr/Th投点图中靠近钱塘江物源区,远离现代长江沉积物投点区;稀土元素球粒陨石和NASC标准化曲线与钱塘江沉积物特征相似,不同于现代长江沉积物。(2)近岸浅海(U2)和现代河口湾(U1)沉积物的重矿物组合为绿帘石—辉石—角闪石—石榴石—榍石—金红石—电气石;微量元素具有与UCC较为相近或富集的铁族元素,大离子亲石元素和高场强元素相对亏损,且与NASC相比,铁族和高场强元素明显亏损,大离子亲石元素亏损较弱,在Th/Co-Cr/Th投点图中主要落于长江和钱塘江来源沉积物之间;稀土元素在球粒陨石和NASC标准化曲线中,配分模式与现代长江沉积物极为相似。(3)U5、U4和U3单元具有与U1和U2单元不同的沉积物来源:前者母岩主要为长英质中酸性火成岩,为古钱塘江提供;而后者沉积物主要来源于中基性物源区,由长江提供,同时上游钱塘江也提供了部分沉积物。可见,长江沉积物自近岸浅海沉积时期开始大量进入到钱塘江下切河谷内,为钱塘江下切河谷的沉积环境演化提供了重要物质基础。

Strategies towards robust interpretations of in situ zircon oxygen isotopes

Oxygen isotopes are a versatile tool to address a wide range of questions in the Earth sciences.Applications include geothermometry,paleoclimatology,tracing of geochemical reservoirs,fluid-rock interaction,magmatic petrogenesis,and identification of extra-terrestrial materials.Zircon arguably provides one of the most robust records of primary magmatic O isotope ratio due to low diffusion rates in crystalline grains.The ability to correlate zircon O isotopes with temporal and petrogenetic information(e.g.U-Pb geochronology,Lu-Hf isotopes,and trace elements)makes this mineral a key archive for understanding Earth’s crustal evolution.Consequently,zircon O isotope geochemistry has found widespread usage to address fundamental questions across the earth and planetary sciences.The general apparent ease of O isotopic acquisition through the advancement of rapid in situ techniques(i.e.secondary ion mass spectrometry;SIMS)and associated dedicated national laboratories has led to the generation of large O isotopic data sets of variable quality,highlighting the importance of a coherent workflow for data collection,reduction,and presentation.This paper presents a set of approaches for measurement,assessment,and reporting of zircon O isotope data.The focus in this contribution is on in situ analysis via secondary ion mass spectrometry using large geometry instruments,but other commonly used techniques are briefly reviewed for context.This work aims to provide an analytical framework necessary for geologically meaningful interpretation of O isotope data.In addition,we describe inherent geological(e.g.radiation-induced disturbance of the zircon O isotopic system)and analytical(e.g.fractionation due to sample topography effects)challenges and outline means to identify and avoid such issues as a prerequisite to the generation of robust primary O isotopic signatures for geological interpretation.

育空中南部小萨蒙湖地区不连续多年冻土中的滑坡

随着不连续多年冻土发育区的日益增多，人们日益关注边坡灾害评价。为应对马贡迪河滑坡——大规模流动型滑动的发生，启动了目前的研究项目，其目的旨在鉴别和描述育空中部小萨蒙湖地区的边坡灾害。在研究区，通过地形评估研究确定了超过35个过去和现在的滑坡区。2004年夏季完成了调查工作，获得了地形评估的地形情况以及进一步描述最主要和最活跃的滑坡。本文概述了该研究项目，总结了小萨蒙湖地区发现的四种截然不同的滑坡情况。四种情况分别为：泥石流；岩石滑塌；双重流和多级牵引式滑塌。

Corrigendum to “Strategies towards robust interpretations of in situ zircon oxygen isotopes”[Geosci.Front.14(2)(2023)101523]

In the originally published version of our article(Liebmann et al.,2023),Table 2 incorrectly states that the publishedδ^(18)O value of reference zircon BR231 is 5.05‰±0.10‰.The correct value is 9.81‰±0.08‰(2 standard deviations)(Valley,2003).

A Laurentian affinity for the Embu Terrane,Ribeira Belt(SE Brazil),revealed by zircon provenance statistical analysis

New and compiled detrital zircon U-Pb ages from the southern Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Ribeira Belt,SE Brazil,demonstrate Laurentian affinity of the Embu Terrane which is statistically distinct from the adjoining Apiaíand São Roque terranes with cratonic affinity(e.g.,São Francisco Craton).Zircon provenance results indicate that the type-area of the Embu Terrane is dominated by detrital zircon age modes at ca.1200 Ma,1400 Ma,and 1800 Ma,with maximum depositional age of ca.1000 Ma.In contrast,the Apiaíand São Roque terranes are dominated by Paleoproterozoic detrital zircon ages(ca.2200-2000 Ma age dominant component),with maximum depositional ages of ca.1400 Ma and 1750 Ma,respectively.Multidimensional scaling(MDS)analysis of non-parametric similarity measurements on zircon age populations indicates for the first time that the Embu Terrane encompass two statistically distinct detrital zircon age spectra,which is also reflected in the metamorphic zircon age record.The statistical characterization of the Embu Terrane through populational metrics allow a quantitative comparison with surrounding tectonic domains and rock samples classified such as Embu-type.Our results clearly highlight the distinction between the statistically differentiated Embu Terrane from the Apiaíand São Roque terranes,supporting an allochthonous interpretation.In addition,we demonstrate that rocks samples previously classified as Embu-type are significantly dissimilar to the definition of Embu Terrane,failing to support alternative tectonic models(e.g.,intracontinental evolution).Detrital zircon age spectra reveal that the Apiaíand São Roque terranes have similar zircon provenance to domains sourced from the São Francisco Craton,whereas detrital zircon populations from the Embu Terrane have greater affinity with SW Laurentia basins(and their inferred sediment sources),consistent with previous findings.Therefore,we interpret the Embu Terrane as a Rodinia descendant developed along the active margin of the SW Laurentia that collided with the Ribeira Belt during early Neoproterozoic(810-760 Ma).

Evolving mantle convection from bottom up to top down

When it comes to convection,what goes up must come down.Or is it,what goes down must come up?The truth is,it depends.Although convection must be mass-balanced,there is no reason that it must be force-balanced:the positive and negative buoyancy forces driving convection up and down,respectively,do not necessarily need to be balanced.The balance,or imbalance,all depends on the top and bottom boundary layers.