Human-induced landslide on a high cut slope: a case of repeated failures due to multi-excavation

The paper attempts to represent a case of repeated failures on a high cut slope due to multi-excavation. The characteristics of each failure induced by excavation are analyzed through geological investigation, and then a geological model at different failure stages is proposed. The geological analysis shows that the excavation-induced repeated failures are related to the exposure of the weak bedding plane and the toe unloading of the cut slope, Numerical modeling is conducted based on a sequential method, taking into account the main failure stages of cut slope. The simulation results fairly coincide with the practical phenomena observed in field. It is shown that the decrease in normal stress of displaced mass on cut slope will induce the increase in shear stress in bedding planes and that at the toe of the cut slope. The released stress leads to repeated gravitational instabilities of cut slope due to the decrease in normal stress and the increase in shear stress along the bedding planes of mudstone.

Geochronological and Geochemical Constrains on Petrogenesis of the Jietebutiao A-type Granite in West Junggar,Xinjiang

Late Paleozoic post-collisional granitoids are widespread in West Junggar, as well as northern Xinjiang. As a representative of those intrusions, the Jietebutiao granite occurs in the southwestern margin of the West Junggar （northwest China）, and is mainly composed of mid-coarse- grained monzogranite and syenogranite. In the present study, we report the results of high-precision zircon laser-ablation-inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry U-Pb dating on the Jietebutiao granite for the first time, and yield weighted mean 2~~pb/23SU ages of 287 ＋ 9 Ma and 278 ~ 3 Ma for monzogranite and syenogranite, respectively. The Jietebutiao granite has a pronounced A-type affinity; it is metaluminous to slightly peraluminous; has a high-K calc-alkaline composition; high concentrations of Na20 ＋ I（20, varying from 6.8 to 8.5 wt%; high FeOt/MgO; 10 000Ga/AI ratios, a low CaO, MgO, and TiO2 content; enriched in some large ion lithophile elements （LILE, such as Rb and Th） and high field strength elements （HFSE, such as Zr, Hf, and Y）; and depleted in Sr, Ba, and Ti. In addition, the granite has a relatively high rare earth element （REE） content （except for Eu）, with significant negative Eu anomalies （Eu/Eu＊ = 0.01-0.72）, and showing slight tetrad REE patterns and non-charge and radius controlled （CHARAC） trace element behavior. Petrographic, geochemical, and geochronological data suggest that the parental magma of Jietebutiao intrusions are of mixed origin, and are most probably formed by the interaction between the lower crust- and mantle-derived magmas in the Early Permian post-collisional tectonic setting. The basaltic magmas underplated and interacted with the lower crust that was dominated by deeply buried arc （and back-arc basin） series and the oceanic crust formed in the Paleozoic, and then triggered the partial melting of the juvenile lower crust, producing voluminous granitic melts and forming the Jietebutiao A2-type monzogranites, with the lithospheric mantle progressively thinning and rifting to form Al-type granites, such as syenogranites, in the Jietebutiao pluton. This further proves the important contribution of Late Paleozoic granitic magmatism in terms of vertical crustal growth in northern Xinjiang.

The Lowest Boundary Age of Travertine in Dawanzhangjia Ravine, Huanglong, China

Objective One of major challenges in paleoenvironmental reconstruction using travertine in the Huanglong area is whether one can accurately determinate the age of travertine through high-precision and high-resolution dating techniques. Previous works of 14C or ESR chronology, however, have shown that the variation of deposition ages of travertine was displayed inconsistent with each other even conflict. For instance, （1） The oldest travertine age （80 ka） located in the middle of this travertine succession is departure from sequential deposition; （2） Top or boundary ages in this sedimentary section, even with the same dating method （14C）, are three times errors, moreover, the age of the depositional sequence is not continuous. We report here the U230Th ages in lowest boundary of travertine in Dawanzhangjia Valley, Huanglong, China, to discuss the effectiveness of U-series dating for cold-water travertine and the significance of age for vicissitude of paleoenvironment.

Depositional and Bio-Sequence Stratigraphic Framework of Late Cretaceous Kawagarh Formation,Kala-Chitta Range,Pakistan:Equivalent of Gurpi Formation(Iran)

The present study is focused on evaluation of deep marine pelagic sediments of Late Cretaceous Kawagarh Formation of Kala-Chitta Range in the context of microfacies analysis,paleoenvironmental interpretation,planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy,sequence stratigraphy and diversification of species.A total of thirty three rock samples were collected from the measured section.Three microfacies are interpreted,namely planktonic foraminifera wackestone,planktonic foraminifera mudstone and sandy mudstone indicating low energy depositional environment i.e.,outer ramp.The biostratigraphic studies show plentiful planktonic foraminifera species of Globotruncana,Heterohelix and Globotruncanita.However,no association of benthic or siliceous organisms was observed.On the basis of available species assemblage,a single local planktonic foraminifera biozone i.e.,Globotruncana-Heterohelix-Globotruncanita Assemblage Biozone is established.The biozone information is combined with published literature and Lower Santonian to Middle Maastrichtian age has been assigned to the Kawagarh Formation.The trend of species occurrences evinces that species number decreases over time with pulsated rise in the Kawagarh Formation.The Kawagarh Formation carbonates show an overall Transgressive Systems Tract(TST).The Kawagarh Formation of Pakistan evinces analogous characteristics to that of the Late Cretaceous Gurpi Formation of Iran based on the geologic age,outcrop lithology,microfacies,planktonic foraminiferal assemblages,depositional setting and sequence stratigraphy.

Stability analysis of slopes with planar failure using variational calculus and numerical methods

This study investigates the technique of variational calculus applied to estimate the slope stability considering the mechanism of planar failure.The critical plane failure surface should be determined because it theoretically indicates the most unfavorable plane to be considered when stabilizing a slope to rectify the instability generated by several statistically possible planes.This generates integrals that can be solved by numerical methods,such as the Newton Cotes and the finite differences methods.Additionally,a system of nonlinear equations is obtained and solved.The surface of the critical planar failure is determined by applying the condition of transversality in mobile boundaries,for which various examples are provided.The number of slices is varied in one of the examples,while the surface of the critical planar failure is determined in the others.Results are compared using analytical methods through axis rotations.All the results obtained by considering normal stress,safety factors,and critical planar failure are nearly the same;however,in this research,a study is carried out for“n”number of slices using programming methods.Sub-routines are important because they can be applied in slopes with different geometry,surcharge,interstitial pressure,and pseudo-static load.