Exogenous Geological Processes Research Articles

Research Protecting Methods to Perilous Rock Landscape: Taking an Example of Protecting Elephant Trunk Hill in Dragon Tiger Mountain, China

In the mountain scenic area, we can enjoy the perilous rock landscape in nice style actually with the vivid, infectious, unique, aesthetic appreciation of the value. These vivid perilous rock landscapes not only represent a natural beauty, but also offer a good place to go for the psyche. But the increasing number of tourists aggravates the destruction of perilous rock landscape nowadays, which also harms the tourists and the non-renewable geological heritage. So it is necessary to study the methods to protect perilous rock landscape. However, the current prevention technique about the unstable rock is hard to satisfy the protective requirement of non-destruction and aesthetic on perilous rock landscape, such as the protection of Elephant Trunk Hill. The Elephant Trunk Hill is located in the world geopark of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Jiangxi province, which is a typical natural beauty of Danxia landform, in where are 99 peaks, 24 cliffs, 108 natural and cultural scenic spots. It was formed by the purple-red sandy conglomerate and its angle is almost horizontal. There are two fissures developing in the root of nose and are still expanding. By long-term effect of synergism of endogenic and exogenic geological process, Elephant Trunk Hill take shape a characteristic spot belonging to the grade one landscape, which is a non-renewable nature resource. According to the field engineering geological conditions and the satisfaction of protective principles on perilous rock landscape, the paper proposes a hang-pull method that made by the rope, cable, etc. to provide some upward pull to make the unstable rock suffice the required coefficient of stability, which can protect Elephant Trunk Hill. From the treatment effect, the theoretical calculation of method is easier and the construction is more convenient, so it can be widely applying in unstable rock’s protection in all kinds of construction.

Deep structure of the Mt. Karabetov Mud volcano

The results of multidisciplinary geological‐geophysical investigations of mud volcanism in the Taman mud-volcanic province are presented. Geophysical data on the internal structure of Mt. Karabetov mud volcano were obtained for the first time, and pathways of fluid migration down to a depth of 15‐25 km were determined. Mud volcanism is a surprising and quite rare natural phenomenon, whose mechanisms had not been fully studied. At present, we can consider that the correlation of mud volcanism with the dynamics of deep fluids and hydrocarbon pools has been established [2, 9]. Intense mud-volcanic activity is observed in the territory of Russia, first of all, on the Taman Peninsula, which is an integral part of the modern evolution of fluid-magmatic systems in the Northern Caucasus [9]. During the last few years, Mt. Karabetov, which is one of the most active mud volcanoes in the Taman region, has been the object of multidisciplinary geological‐geophysical and geochemical investigations [3, 4]. This volcano is characterized by explosive type of eruptions with periodic manifestation of the whole power of this seemingly harmless natural phenomenon. During the field works of the Institute of Physics of the Earth (IPE RAS) in August‐September 2007, a detailed geological-geomorphological mapping of Mt. Karabetov mud volcano was carried out and supplemented by remote sounding data. As a result, it became possible to trace the tectonic deformations of young forms of topography and various manifestations of exogenous geological processes in the study region. Simultaneously, profile geophysical measurements were carried out using the microseismic sounding method [5, 6]. It was shown experimentally and using numerical models that inhomogeneities of the Earth’s crust specifically distort the spectrum of the low-frequency microseismic field. In particular, spectral amplitudes of specific frequency f decrease above highvelocity anomalies at the Earth’s surface and increase above low-velocity anomalies. Frequency f is related to the depth of the anomaly H location and velocity of the fundamental mode of Rayleigh wave V R ( f ) as H = . The low-frequency microseismic field is considered as a superposition of wave packets of fundamental Rayleigh modes with different frequency compositions. The method was used as a principally new technology of microseismic sounding of near-surface (0‐0.5 km) and deep (up to 50 km) structures of the Earth’s crust. The technology was successfully tested in practice on different geological objects in terms of scale and genesis [14].

Relief formation in the littoral zone of the lake-like part of the Sayano-Shushenskoye reservoir

We examine the exogenous geological processes of a technogenic nature that were taking place in the littoral zone of the lake-like part of the Sayano-Shushenskoye reservoir after its impounding (1979-1980), and at the period of operation. We analyze the factors promoting the development of technogenic processes and the creation of an unfavorable ecological situation.

The present geoecological situation within the territory of the city of Irkutsk

Presented are the results derived from studying the exogenous geological processes within urbanized territories. Specific areas are identified: local geosystems of urban territories with intense development of natural-technogenic exogenous geological processes which require analysis of the evolution of the geological environment and engineering technical work in order to minimize the negative technogenic load.

Discussion on Environmental Geological Problems in the Areas from Southwest China to Southeast Asia

As an important energy and transportation pathway from Southwest China to Southeast Asia, the great southwest pathway that will be planned and constructed for future has important economic and strategic significance. Being located in the southern part of Hengduanshan Range with complex environmental condition, the pathway area has complex landform and geological structures, and intensive neotectonic activity. The complex geological environment leads to recurrent multiple geohazards. Engineering construction needs to take into consideration of the high earth temperature, the high crustal stress, and the karst water. Based on the analysis of endogenic and exogenic geological process, the possible geohazard and engineering geological problems in the area from Southwest China to Southeast Asia are summarized, and the research strategy is discussed in the paper.

Risk Assessment based on the Mathematical Model of Diffuse Exogenous Geological Processes

The estimation of the risk caused by hazardous geological processes is a common problem. The aim of this paper is to present a method for solving problems involving a wide spectrum of diffuse exogenous geological processes, based on the mathematical morphology of landscapes. Diffuse processes develop as random rounded sites within certain areas and include karstification, subsidence, thermo-karstification and aeolian processes. Model assumptions take into consideration spatial and temporal randomness of occurrence, independent growth under occasional conditions, and cessation of growth given a ‘stop factor’, with transformation into degenerate sites. Based on these model assumptions, the following probabilities of impact by diffuse exogenous geological processes are solved for analytically. Firstly, the probability of impact on engineering constructions of round shape given the size of the diffuse processes and the known average impact risk; secondly, the probability of impact on small engineering constructions (points); and lastly, the probability of impact on linear engineering constructions of specified length. The computed impact probabilities are verified in various areas within Western Siberia.

Electronic atlas of the Russian Arctic coastal zone

A set of digital maps including geology, Quaternary sediments, landscapes, engineering-geological, vegetation, geocryological and the series of regional sources have been selected to characterize the Russian Arctic coast. Based on this data, new maps of engineering geocryological zoning and zoning of the coast with respect to the intensity of exogenous geological processes and risk of technogenic impacts have been generated at the scales of 1:4,000,000–1:8,000,000. These maps are a tool to assess the impact of industry on the Arctic coast of the country.

Exogenic Geological Processes as a Source of Formation of Bottom Silt in the Votkinskoe Reservoir

Exogenic Geological Processes as a Source of Formation of Bottom Silt in the Votkinskoe Reservoir

Distribution of Gas-Oil-Bitumen Shows in the Yakutian Diamond Province

The combination of carbon-bearing compounds in the kimberlite pipes may be divided into distinct geochemical groups, genetically associated with exogenic or endogenic geological processes. In analyzing the isotope composition of diamonds from eclogite and kimberlite, graphite in concentrated form from eclogite and ultrabasic inclusions in kimberlite, and postmagmaic carbonic acid from the matrix of kimberlite, it was established that these compounds have a distinctive endogenic nature. The isotope composition of the limestones of marine origin has been determined by the isotope-exchange reation /sup 13/CO/sub 2/ (gas) + /sup 12/CO/sub 3/ (solution) reverse arrow..-->.. /sup 12/CO/sub 2/ (gas) + /sup 13/CO/sub 3/ (solution), which is rigidly associated with temperature of sedimentation and has controlled the ''heavy'' isotope composition of these rocks. The isotope composition of the bitumens has not yet enabled us to resolve the problem of the origin of the bitumen shows (biogenic or abiogenic). However, the similarity of the isotope composition of bitumens examined from various bitumen shows indicates identical thermodynamic conditions of formation.