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Anisotropic sedimentary rocks are common around the world. Several factors, such as presence of primary and tectonic structures, type of weathering and rate of cohesion loss due to strength degradation, have significant effect on stability of slopes. In the present research, Geological strength index (GSI) has been used for quantitative comparison of rock mass quality and to investigate the rock mass damage. Other indicators of rock mass strength degradation, such as slake durability index tests, weathering index, were studied to understand the loss of strength with time leading to progressive failure in slopes. The failure pattern in bedded sandstones is controlled by bedding inclination, primary structures, vertical fractures. Folding affects bedding plane inclination and modify the failure mode along cut slopes. The cross-stratification significantly reduces rock quality and creates overhangs. The shape and size of overhangs are controlled by the presence of vertical cracks in addition to the type and scale of cross-stratification and failure generally occurs by block fall rather than block slide. The peculiar steeply plunging wedges associated with vertical fractures are very common in sub-horizontal bedded sandstone. Failure usually occurs by wedge fall rather than slide. Differential weathering affects the pinching strata against the massive beds and the characteristic wedges are common occurrence above this considerably fractured zone. Tectonic structures such as folds modify the style of failure in rock slopes as seen from kinematic analysis. The overall trend of lineaments is parallel to the strike of bedding plane (roughly E-–W) and the lineaments may be associated with reactivation of the major fault passing through the area. This study illustrates that the impact of tectonic damage further enhances the strength degradation caused by weathering, and climatic slaking. Overall rock mass quality lies in good to fair category, but preliminary stability analysis depicts slope in partially stable to unstable condition along SH-5; however, rock mass quality and cut slopes are relatively stable along SH-5A.

The hadal zone, >6 km deep, remains one of the least understood ecosystems on Earth. We address bioturbational structures in sediment cores from depths exceeding 7.5 km, collected during the IODP Expedition 386 in the Japan Trench. Micro-CT imaging on 20 core sections allowed to identify biogenic sedimentary structures (incipient trace fossils) and their colonization successions within gravity flow deposits. Their frequency, and consequent changes in substrate consistency, oxygenation and organic matter delivery and remineralization controlled the endobenthic colonization. The gravity-flow beds show recurring bioturbation successions: The initial colonization is characterized by deposit-feeding structures such as Phycosiphon, Nereites and Artichnus generating typically 20 cm thick intensively bioturbated fabrics. The final colonization stage comprises slender spiral, lobate and deeply penetrating straight and ramifying burrow systems such as Gyrolithes, Pilichnus and Trichichnus , interpreted to include burrows of microbe farming and chemosymbiotic invertebrates. The main factor precluding colonization is soupy substrate. Organic matter degradation and post-event upward expansion of the anoxic zone drive the change from deposit feeding to microbe-dependent feeding strategies. To better understand bioturbation in the hadal zone, the authors here examine sediment cores collected from depths of more than 7.5 km. They characterise biogenic sedimentary structures, colonization patterns, and their relation to gravity flow events.

Understanding controls on river planform changes can help to build predictive models for distributive fluvial systems, and then guide the oil and gas exploration. To do this we have undertaken a detailed investigation of the modern Great Halten River distributive fluvial system from the Sugan Lake Basin, Qinghai, China. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photography, satellite remote sensing data and elemental analysis were used to determine differences in the sedimentary characteristics of the distributive fluvial system. From the apex to the toe, the changes in the slope, river morphology, sedimentary characteristics and element content in different regions were determined and three facies belts: “proximal”, “medial” and “distal” were identified. We found that the sedimentary structure and elemental content characteristics of each facies differ greatly. We compare the large-scale evolution of rivers from braided to meandering rivers, and the fine description of sedimentary characteristics in combination with each observation, we strengthen our overall understanding of the modern DFS from macro to micro scale. At the same time, we summarize the sedimentation model of the Great Halten River DFS, and our study provides a reference for establishing the sedimentary model in continental petroliferous basins.

Unconventional reservoirs have burst with a great force in the oil and gas worldwide production. Reefal limestone reservoir is one of them. The present study deals with the reefal carbonate Hammam Faraun Member in Al-Hamd oil field. This study focus on the interpretation of sedimentological and petrophysical data to show the effect of diagenetic processes on middle and lower Miocene reefal carbonate reservoirs in Al-Hamd oil field. Comprehensive petrophysical analysis for Hammam Faraun Member was performed using wireline logs and core data to determine the proper petrophysical parameters. Of the reservoir intervals. The analytical reservoir rock achieving the main reservoir parameters as shale content ( V sh ), effective porosity ( Ø eff ), water and hydrocarbon saturation ( S W and S hr ) as well as the net-pay thickness. The Formation Micro Imager (FMI) was also applied to detect the variation, types, and directions of the fracture systems that present in the lower and middle Miocene reefal limestone reservoir. Petrographic analysis was done, indicating the presence of a clear effect of diagenetic factors on the quality, productivity, and efficiency of the reefal limestone reservoirs behavior. The diagenetic factors include dolomitization, slicification, recrystallization, and solution process which affect greatly the petrophysical characteristics of the reefal carbonate Hammam Faraun reservoir in the study area. The core analyses were also used to detect the paleo environment, associated textural/ lithological and sedimentological characteristics to gain and understand the factors responsible for the productivity behavior of the reservoir in the Al-Hamd oil field. Rock facies have been divided as specific characteristics and were further described considering their color, texture, grain-size characteristics, and the depositional and biogenic sedimentary structures.

The paper firstly presents, two biogenic sedimentary structures (trace fossils) belonging to the ichnofamily Graphoglyptidae, represented by the ichnogenera Ubinia and Megagrapton from the middle member of the Sinaia Formation in the Prahova valley. The new ichnospecies Ubinia jipai is described. Advancing the hypothesis of the complex structure, of the Megagrapton-Ubinia type, it is not excluded that this morphological configuration represents an unknown ichnotaxon from the bottom of the deep Cretaceous seas.

Within the lower Wumishan Formation at the eastern edge of the Tai-hang Mountains in North China, a ~ 10 m stratigraphic interval contains alternately \"bright and dark\" laminites with enigmatic loop structures (2.5–27.5 cm in length and 0.6–12 cm in height), preserved in cross-sectional and named \"loopites\" in this study. The loopites are composed of cores and annulate laminations. Based on the different morphologies, they can be divided into three different types: type I, II and III. Although the loopites are similar to the loop beddings, the formation mechanisms are different. The former is possibly microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS), while the loop beddings preserve evidence of soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) such as boudinage or chain structures, joints and small-scale tensional faults. All three types of loopites have cores. The type I core is made up of relicts of previous microbial mat and the microhighlands, while the type II and III loopites have cores defined by debris and rock fragments. The cores are completely wrapped by microbial mats of later generation. Thus, we can conclude that the formation of loopites is due to the growth, wrapping and deposition of microbial mats, while loop beddings are generated by external triggering mechanism such as earthquake. Furthermore, the discovery and possible formation of loopites may provide a new type of MISS and indicate a stable, anoxic and carbonate-supersaturated environment favorable for microbial mats to form annulate structures, which are controlled by illumination, microtopography and hydrodynamics.

The huge tsunami waves induced by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake severely affected shallow marine ecosystems along the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan. This study examined core samples using X-ray radiography, computed tomography scanning, and grain size analysis to identify temporal changes in the physical and biogenic sedimentary structures of seafloor deposits in Onagawa Bay, northeastern Japan, following the 2011 tsunami. Cores were sampled during research cruises in October 2012, December 2013, and April 2014. The seafloor sediments consisted of two lithological layers. The upper section (between the surface and a depth of 8 cm) was composed of muddy sediments deposited by normal depositional processes and/or the weakening tsunami currents. In contrast, the lower part of the cores (below a depth of 8 cm) consisted of tsunami-induced deposits, i.e., horizontally laminated sandy sediments generated by the strong currents associated with the 2011 tsunami. Sampling of these sediments in 2012 and 2013 showed burrows of up to 10 mm in diameter, but restricted to the upper mud layer. In contrast, in 2014, 20–40-mm-diameter mud-filled burrows were seen in both the upper mud and lower sand layers, indicating that recolonization of the seafloor sediment by large and deep-burrowing animals began within 3 years of the 2011 tsunami. The intense sediment mixing by large burrowing animals will homogenize the seafloor sediment and decrease the preservation potential of the tsunami deposits in this bay.

Chronology of debris flow deposits (DFD) is crucially important in understanding fan evolution and assessing the risks of future extreme disaster events. To establish the debris flow history in a long-term temporal framework, multiple debris flow and flash flood events were examined from the Sandaoqiao (SDQ) gully near the large-scale active Xianshuihe faults, eastern Tibetan Plateau. The rough and discontinuous structures indicate DFD are characterized by “linear stone structure” and boulders enclosed by clayey silts in the SDQ gully. On the basis of debris flow sedimentary characteristics, we develop a valid sampling strategy involving 14 C and OSL dating methods (13 radiocarbon and 3 OSL ages) on the debris flow fan. The major stages of debris flow aggradation were identified at ~ 35 kyr B.P., 23‒22 kyr B.P., ~ 13 kyr B.P. and 3.9‒1.4 kyr B.P. since the Last Glacial (last ~ 35 kyr B.P.). And gully-fill deposits were more abundant during the latest Pleistocene (35‒13 ka) than current phase. Late Holocene debris flow and flash flood events recur in the mid-channel from 3.9‒3.8 to 1.9‒1.4 kyr B.P., which was probably triggered by palaeo-earthquake events associated with active faults. The current phase is dominated by debris flood events and the maximum discharge is estimated as ~ 290 m 3 /s. This study provides key chronology for understanding multiple debris flow stages associated with regional tectonic activity and climatic change in the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

The sedimentary structure of tailings is of high significance to the engineering design and safety management of tailings dams. However, due to a lack of accurate measurement techniques for the flow field and hydrodynamic conditions of tailings reservoirs, it is challenging to study the complicated sedimentary structure of tailings dams from the perspective of fluid mechanics. This study focuses on developing a large-scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) system in a 20 m long and 2 m wide deposition model flume to measure the flow field characteristics during the ore-drawing process accurately. According to the surface flow field characteristics measured by LSPIV, the tailings in the flume can be divided into three zones, namely the fan-shaped zone, channel zone, and laminar flow zone. Then, a simple method for estimating the flow rate of the slurry was proposed using the surface velocities measured by LSPIV. The flow rate of iron tailings slurry in the flume displays a decreasing trend along the flow direction. The variation of the flow rate of tailings slurry can be described by an exponential function. After the deposition of tailings slurry, the sedimentary characteristics of tailings are investigated, and the distribution of iron tailings particles is discussed in combination with the flow field of the tailings slurry. The LSPIV system can be applied to further deposition model tests of different slurry concentrations, discharge flow rates, and tailings compositions to investigate the effects of these factors on the tailings flow and deposition.

In this study, receiver functions from ten Broadband seismograph stations on Cenozoic sediment formations of Brahmaputra valley and its neighboring region in northeastern part of India are determined. Receiver function traces from this region show delay in peak by 1–2.5 s and associated minor peaks with the direct P-phase peak. Based on such observation, we try to image sedimentary structure of the Brahmaputra valley plain, adjacent Shillong plateau and Himalayan foredeep region. An adapted hybrid global waveform inversion technique has been applied to extract sedimentary basin structure beneath each site. The sedimentary cover of the basin is about 0.5–6.5 km thick across the valley, 0.5–1.0 km on Shillong plateau and 2.0–5.0 km in nearby foredeep region. We have found that sedimentary thickness increases from SW to NE along the Brahmaputra valley and towards the Eastern Himalayan syntaxes. The estimated sediment thickness and S wave velocity structure agree well with the results of previous active source, gravity, and deep borehole studies carried out in this region. The thick crustal low velocity sediment cover in Brahmaputra valley is expected to amplify ground motions during earthquakes and therefore important for seismic hazard assessment of the region.