Sandstone Surface Research Articles

Adsorption polymer on reservoir rock and role of the nanoparticles, clay and SiO2

Nanotechnology has been used in many applications and new possibilities are discovered constantly. Recently, a renewed interest has risen in the application of nanotechnology for the upstream petroleum industry, such as exploration, drilling, production and distribution. In particular, adding nanoparticles to fluids may significantly benefit enhanced oil recovery and improve well drilling, such as changing the properties of the fluid, wettability alternation of rocks, advanced drag reduction, strengthening sand consolidation, reducing the interfacial tension and increasing the mobility of the capillary-trapped oil. In this study, we focus on the roles of clay and silica nanoparticles in adsorption process on reservoir rocks. Polymer-flooding schemes for recovering residual oil have been in general less satisfactory due to loss of chemicals by adsorption on reservoir rocks, precipitation, and resultant changes in rheological properties. Adsorption and rheological property changes are mainly determined by the chemical structure of the polymers, surface properties of the rock, composition of the oil and reservoir fluids, the nature of the polymers added and solution conditions such as salinity, pH and temperature. Because this method relies on the adsorption of a polymer layer onto the rock surface, a deeper understanding of the relevant polymer–rock interactions is of primary importance to develop reliable chemical selection rules for field applications. In this paper, the role of nanoparticles in the adsorption of water-soluble polymers onto solid surfaces of carbonate and sandstone is studied. The results obtained by means of static adsorption tests show that the adsorption is dominated by the nanoclay and nanosilica between the polymer molecules and the solid surface. These results also show that lithology, brine concentration and polymer viscosity are critical parameters influencing the adsorption behavior at a rock interface. On the other hand, in this study, the focus is on viscosity, temperature and salinity of solutions of polyacrylamide polymers with different nanoparticle degrees and molecular weight. The adsorption of nanopolymer solution is always higher in carbonated stones than in sandstones, and polymer solutions containing silica nanoparticles have less adsorption based on weight percent than similar samples containing clay. Based on the area of contact for stone, this behavior is the same regarding adsorption.

Biological nanosilver particles for the protection of archaeological stones against microbial colonization

The inhabitation of microorganisms and their subsequent interaction with mineral matrix of the stone substrate under varied environmental conditions encourages deterioration of stones leading to the loss of strength, durability and aesthetic. This study highlighted the synthesis of nanosilver particles (AgNPs) using the biogenic volatiles of the bacterial strain Nesterenkonia halobia. The antimicrobial activities of AgNPs were evaluated against the gram positive bacterial strain Streptomyces parvullus and fungal strain Apergillus niger. Furthermore, the silver particles were mixed with two types of consolidation polymers and were used to coat the external surfaces of sandstone and limestone blocks. The stones treated with silicon polymer loaded with AgNPs showed an elevated antimicrobial potentiality against A. niger and S. parvullus. Scan electron microscope (SEM) and electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis of treated stones demonstrated the existence of nano-composite structures containing the elemental silver. Polymers functionalized with AgNPs can be used not only as potent biocides but also for the consolidation of the historic monuments and artifacts.

Box-counting methods to directly estimate the fractal dimension of a rock surface

Surfaces of rocks are usually not perfectly “smooth”, and two box-counting methods, i.e. the conventional cubic covering method (CCM) and improved cubic covering method (ICCM), can directly describe the irregularities of a rock fracture surface without any approximate calculations. Our investigation showed that if the scale δ of covering cubes is greater than the sampling interval S0, the CCM and ICCM cannot completely cover the object rough surface. Considering this, we presented two new cubic covering methods, namely the differential cubic covering method (DCCM) and relative differential cubic covering method (RDCCM) to directly evaluate the fractal dimension of a rough surface according to the definition of box-counting dimension. Experimentally, a 3D laser profilometer was used to measure the topography of a natural surface of sandstone. With the CCM, ICCM, DCCM and RDCCM, direct estimations of the fractal dimension of the rock surface were performed. It was found the DCCM and RDCCM usually need more cubes to cover the whole fracture surface than the CCM and ICCM do. However, the estimated fractal dimensions by the four methods were quite close. Hence, three Takagi surfaces with known fractal dimensions of 2.10, 2.50 and 2.90 were adopted to further examine the four box-counting algorithms. Results showed that for a low fractal dimension Takagi surface, the DCCM and RDCCM gave accurate results within the ranges determined by small covering scales, whereas the CCM and ICCM always overestimate the fractal dimension for all the potential scale ranges investigated in current work; for high fractal dimension surfaces, the CCM and ICCM provided very good results within the ranges determined by small covering scales, and oppositely, the DCCM and RDCCM cannot provide a good estimation of the fractal dimension within such scale ranges but can determine approximate results at large scales.

Laser cleaning of contamination on sandstone surfaces in Yungang Grottoes

Laser cleaning is firstly used to remove the contaminations on the sandstone surfaces in Yungang Grottoes. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operated at 1064nm with a pulse width of 10ns is used to perform the experiments. Before experiments in Yungang Grottoes, the laboratory experiments on sandstone samples obtained from Shanxi province have been conducted. The laser induced damage thresholds of the uncontaminated sandstones and the laser cleaning thresholds of ink contaminated sandstones have been obtained in the laboratory. The difference between the cleaning effects of dry laser cleaning and steam laser cleaning has been compared. On the basis of the laboratory experimental data, the experiments in Yungang Grottoes have been conducted and the results indicate that laser cleaning is safe and effective for removal of graffiti ink and black smudges of smoke.

Adsorption behavior of cocamidopropyl betaine under conditions of high temperature and high salinity

ABSTRACTThe adsorption behavior of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAB) in aqueous solutions and on sandstone surfaces was studied under the conditions of high temperature and high salinity. In aqueous solutions, as temperature increased from 25 to 90°C and salinity increased from 0 to 115,200 ppm, surface tension and the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of CAB both decreased. In the solid/liquid system, when the CAB concentration of salt solutions reached 0.30 wt %, the static saturation adsorption amount on the surface of clean sands was 14.77 mg g−1 at 90°C. Because of its noticeable saturation adsorption capacity, the adsorption of CAB on the solid/liquid interface agreed with multilayer adsorption. Also, the adsorption amount on the surface of oil sands was greater than on clean sands. Besides, the dynamic saturation adsorption amount and retention amount of 0.07 wt % CAB solution were less than the static adsorption amount. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40424.

Sole structures as a tool for depositional environment interpretation; a case study

Sole structures, typically developed on basal bedding surfaces of turbidite sandstones, are commonly used as palaeocurrent indicators and indicators of the current ability to erode. Detailed analysis of types and frequency of sole structures in the 128 m thick succession of Early Oligocene Cergowa Sandstone (Outer Western Carpathians) also shows their potential as an indicator of flow condition during the deposition. The massive and amalgamated sandstones, predominantly containing load casts and minor flutes and grooves with unidirectional orientation, are suggested to be deposited by highly turbulent flow after reaching hydraulic jump behind the topographic obstacle. High range of sole structures in thick and medium thick sandstones, suggesting inferior oblique and reverse flows, implies deposition from density stratified flows where lower, denser part has a tendency to deflect when hit the basin floor obstacle. The upper, less dense part has an ability to come over the obstacle and shows only small scatter in the palaeocurrent direction.

Age and hydrological significance of lichen limits on sandstone river channels near sydney, australia

Trimmed lichen communities (lichen limits) are abrupt changes from a lichen community to a scoured bare rock surface and have been used to determine bankfull channel capacity on bedrock channels and their response to the combined disturbances of flow regulation and climate change. They can also be used to set flushing flows in bedrock channels. In sandstone gorges of the Nepean River, Australia, the crustose lichen, Lecidea terrenaNyl, was common at both gorge and cemetery (sandstone headstones) sites, enabling construction of growth curves for above and below dam areas. Growth curves were used to date lichen colonisation of sandstone surfaces in rivers. The oldest, highest lichen limit at all sites represented the pre‐flow regulation lichen community because its characteristics above and below epean am were similar and were trimmed to a level that produced consistent discharges across a range of catchment areas. They corresponded to return periods of less than 2 years on the annual maximum series and was developed during the flood‐dominated regime of 1857–1900. Lichen limits form by the phycobiont dominating the mycobiont and hence degrading lichen thalli due to water inundation causing weak or dead thalli to be scrubbed from the rock surface. Trimming to the unregulated lichen limit represents a small flood of frequent occurrence appropriate for flushing bedrock channels. A lower lichen limit was only found below a diversion weir and was formed by frequent dam spills between 1950 and 1952 during an extraordinary wet period at the start of the between 1949 and 1990. Lichens colonised exposed sandstone between the level of frequent flows from 1949 to 1952, and the high lichen limit. On the von iver, an additional lower limit reflected a massive downward shift in flow duration following the start of interbasin diversions to ollongong in 1962.

Endolithic microbial life in extreme cold climate: snow is required, but perhaps less is more.

Cyanobacteria and lichens living under sandstone surfaces in the McMurdo Dry Valleys require snow for moisture. Snow accumulated beyond a thin layer, however, is counterproductive, interfering with rock insolation, snow melting, and photosynthetic access to light. With this in mind, the facts that rock slope and direction control colonization, and that climate change results in regional extinctions, can be explained. Vertical cliffs, which lack snow cover and are perpetually dry, are devoid of organisms. Boulder tops and edges can trap snow, but gravity and wind prevent excessive buildup. There, the organisms flourish. In places where snow-thinning cannot occur and snow drifts collect, rocks may contain living or dead communities. In light of these observations, the possibility of finding extraterrestrial endolithic communities on Mars cannot be eliminated.

Bacterial Communities in Pigmented Biofilms Formed on the Sandstone Bas-Relief Walls of the Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia

The Bayon temple in Angkor Thom, Cambodia has shown serious deterioration and is subject to the formation of various pigmented biofilms. Because biofilms are damaging the bas-reliefs, low reliefs engraved on the surface of sandstone, information about the microbial community within them is indispensable to control biofilm colonization. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of biofilm samples from the pigmented sandstone surfaces showed that the bacterial community members in the biofilms differed clearly from those in the air and had low sequence similarity to database sequences. Non-destructive sampling of biofilm revealed novel bacterial groups of predominantly Rubrobacter in salmon pink biofilm, Cyanobacteria in chrome green biofilm, Cyanobacteria and Chloroflexi in signal violet biofilm, Chloroflexi in black gray biofilm, and Deinococcus-Thermus, Cyanobacteria, and Rubrobacter in blue green biofilm. Serial peeling-off of a thick biofilm by layers with adhesive sheets revealed a stratified structure: the blue–green biofilm, around which there was serious deterioration, was very rich in Cyanobacteria near the surface and Chloroflexi in deep layer below. Nitrate ion concentrations were high in the blue–green biofilm. The characteristic distribution of bacteria at different biofilm depths provides valuable information on not only the biofilm formation process but also the sandstone weathering process in the tropics.

Discrimination of geomorphic surfaces with multivariate analysis of soil attributes in sandstone - basalt lithosequence

The geomorphic surface concept allows interrelationship among various branches of soil sciences, such as geology, geomorphology and pedology. This association enhances the understanding of spatial soil distribution through landscape, pointing out the soil attributes behavior, which are mainly related to stratigraphy and relief forms. Therefore, this study aims to apply multivariate statistics to categorize geomorphic surfaces in sandstone - basalt lithosequence, so as to provide a basis for soil assessment in similar areas. The study area is located in Pereira Barreto County, SP, Brazil. An area of 530 hectare was selected, where three geomorphic surfaces (I, II and III) were located and mapped. In this area, 134 soil samples were collected at depths of 0.0-0.2 m and 0.8-1.0 m below ground surface. Sand, silt and clay contents were determined, pH in CaCl2 solution, OM, P, Ca, Mg, K, Al and H+Al contents were also evaluated. Based on the results, univariate, multivariate analysis of variance, cluster and principal-component analysis were performed in order to compare the three geomorphic surfaces. The univariate statistical analysis of soil attributes was not efficient enough to categorize the three geomorphic surfaces. By using the physical and chemical soil properties, the multivariate statistical techniques enabled the differentiation of the three groups of soil natural bodies which were equivalent to the same three mapped geomorphic surfaces (GS). These results are interestingin order to demonstrate the feasibility of the numerical classification use on geomorphic surfaces to assist the soil mapping.

Fast evolving conduits in clay-bonded sandstone: Characterization, erosion processes and significance for the origin of sandstone landforms

In Strelec Quarry, the Czech Republic, an underground conduit network >300m long with a volume of ~104m3 and a catchment of 7km2 developed over 5years by groundwater flow in Cretaceous marine quartz sandstone. Similar landforms at natural exposures (conduits, slot canyons, undercuts) are stabilized by case hardening and have stopped evolving. The quarry offers a unique opportunity to study conduit evolution in sandstone at local to regional scales, from the initial stage to maturity, and to characterize the erosion processes which may form natural landforms prior to stabilization. A new technique was developed to distinguish erodible and non-erodible sandstone surfaces. Based on measurements of relative erodibility, drilling resistance, ambient and water-saturated tensile strength (TS) at natural and quarry exposures three distinct kinds of surfaces were found. 1) Erodible sandstone exposed at ~60% of surfaces in quarry. This sandstone loses as much as 99% of TS when saturated. 2) Sub-vertical fracture surfaces that are non-erodible already prior to exposure at ground surface and which keep considerable TS if saturated. 3) Case hardened surfaces that start to form after exposure. In favorable conditions they became non-erodible and reach the full TS in just 6years. An increase in the hydraulic gradient from ~0.005 to >0.02 triggered conduit evolution, based on long-term monitoring of water table in 18 wells and inflows to the quarry. Rapidly evolving major conduits are characterized by a channel gradient of ~0.01, a flow velocity ~40cm/s and sediment concentration ~10g/l. Flow in openings with a discharge 1ml/s and hydraulic gradient >0.05 exceeds the erosion threshold and initiates piping. In the first phase of conduit evolution, fast concentrated flow mobilizes erodible sandstone between sets of parallel fractures in the shallow phreatic zone. In the second phase the conduit opening mainly expands vertically upward into the vadose zone by mass wasting of undercut sandstone slabs. Mass wasting is responsible for >90% of mobilized sandstone. Sides of the mature conduits are protected by non-erodible fracture surfaces.Natural landforms were probably formed very rapidly by overland flow, piping and possibly fluidization during or at the end of the glacial periods when sandstone was not yet protected by case hardening.

Occurrence of Aspergillus allahabadii on sandstone at Bayon temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Microbial biofilms on surface of sandstone is detrimental to the integrity of the substratum material and they are biodeteriogens responsible for the damage of sandstone over time. We observed that fungi formed extensive biofilms on areas previously colonized by autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial biofilms causing darkening of the stone surface. Appearance of fungi on these biofilms has resulted in removal of the preformed biofilm through extensive examination of sandstone surfaces in Angkor Thom, Cambodia. One fungus, isolated from the surface with capability of removing biofilms, was purified and identified as Aspergillus allahabadii during our survey and sampling of microbial biofilms at Bayon temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia in 2008. Ribosomal RNA (ITS and 5.8S) and β-tubulin gene sequences were phylogenetically analyzed to confirm the taxonomy of this strain. In addition, its protein profile and enzyme assays were also carried out and β-galactosidase was the highest among 7 enzymes tested. Our results suggest that fungi may have an important role in removing microbial biofilms on surfaces of stone and potential mechanisms and applications are discussed.

Mechanisms of Enhancing Recovery of the Superficial Heavy Oil Reservoir

The core displacement experiments show that displacement system containing chemical agent can enhance oil recovery by over 20% comparing to water flooding. Mechanisms by which chemical agent enhance oil recovery of heavy oil reservoir water flooding are: (1) improving mobility ratio by significantly decreasing viscosity of heavy oil, volumetric sweep efficiency is improved; (2) increasing capillary number by significantly decreasing oil-water interfacial tension, oil displacement efficiency is increased; (3) changing wettability of the rock surface from oil-wet to water-wet by significantly reducing the contact angle between displacement liquid and sandstone surface, capillary force is changed from the resistance force to the motive force, the residual oil is expelled from the small pores and the wall of pores, oil displacement efficiency is significantly increased.

Lithological and structural control of Hattian Bala rock avalanche triggered by the Kashmir earthquake 2005, sub-Himalayas, northern Pakistan

The Kashmir earthquake 2005 (magnitude M W 7.6) triggered thousands of mass movements in northern Pakistan. These mass movements were mainly rock falls, debris falls, rockslides and rock avalanches. The mass movements vary in size from a few hundred cubic meters up to about 100 million cubic meters estimated for the Hattian Bala rock avalanche, the biggest one associated with this earthquake. This mass movement, which moved in southeastern direction, created two natural dams on the valley bottom and blocked the water ways of the Karli and Tung tributaries of the Jhelum River. Topographic, lithologic and structural information were used to investigate the Hattian Bala rock avalanche. Geotechnical and structural maps were prepared to understand relationship between geology and structure of Hattian Bala rock avalanche. The geometry and failure mode of this rock avalanche are controlled by southeast plunging synclinal structures, lithology, a bedding parallel slip surface and a pre-existing old rockslide. The structural map shows that the mass movement failure was due to Danna and Dandbeh synclinal structures plunging southeast on the hanging wall block of the reactivated Muzaffarabad fault. The slip surface of the mass movement followed the bedding planes along mudstone, claystone and sandstone surfaces. The mass movement perfectly followed the pre-existing synclinal morphology of the Danna and Dandbeh synclines.

Ediacaran Discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone, Marwar Supergroup, India: A Biological Diversification or Taphonomic Interplay?

The noncarbonaceous Ediacaran discs of variable morphologies from the Jodhpur Sandstone Formation of the Marwar Supergroup, western Rajasthan, suggest different biologic affinities of plant and animal kingdom. These discs are commonly preserved on the bedding surfaces of siliciclastic sandstone and shale in strong positive relief and appear to possess a flexible to rigid body. Discs assignable to Aspidella, Cyclomedusa, Nimbia and Heimalora; all possibly inclining towards cnidarian affinity are being reported from the sandstone beds in Sursagar area. Variable morphologies among discs preserved in siliciclastic shale beds from the Artiya Kalan area support scyphozoan affinity (earlier named Marsonia from the same locality) and cnidarian affinity for small discs comparable with Funisia (considered being the first animals having sexual reproduction). Disc’s morphologies also suggest ephyra stage of Aurilia (a cnidarian form) or budding stages of some fungi, like Germinosphaera (multicellular benthic fungal fossils) and noncarbonaceous discs with well preserved wrinkles and folds like in Chuaria. Discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone, may at times display taphonomic interplay, but consistency and repetition in morphology support variable biological affinities representing diverse assemblage and advance ecosystem prevailing during Ediacaran period. A degree of genetic variability can be expected within any taxa, and this may be compounded by preservation factors affecting the Jodhpur Ediacaran discs. Sudden increase in size or gigantism is a common feature of Ediacaran life, which is evident in case of Jodhpur discs also. On the basis of fossil assemblage, the Jodhpur Group (the Marwar Supergroup) is regionally correlated with the Bhander Group of the Vindhyan Supergroup and Krol Group of Lesser Himalaya. Globally, the assemblage is comparable with the Long Mynd Group, Shropshire, UK, Fermuse Formation Newfoundland, South Australia, Russia and Norway.

Wettability Studies Using Low-Salinity Water in Sandstone Reservoirs

Summary The ionic strength of injection water can have a major impact on oil recovery resulting from the use of low-salinity brines. Understanding how the water and oil chemistry affects the final recovery from a physicochemical point of view is necessary in order to optimize low-salinity waterflooding. It is clear from the literature that wettability is a key factor in achieving the low-salinity effect. Optimum ionic strength and conditions for low-salinity flooding with respect to wettability are still uncertain. In this paper, we studied fluid/rock interactions at different salinity levels and elevated temperature conditions in terms of wettability and surface charge. Wettability is determined by a high-temperature/high-pressure (HT/HP) contact-angle method and zeta-potential technique. Outcrop rocks and stock-tank crude-oil samples were used in all experiments. Synthetic formation brine water, aquifer water, and seawater were evaluated under high-pressure conditions. Zeta potential of sandstone rocks and selected clay minerals was measured as a function of ionic strength. Wettability of oil/brine/sandstone systems depends on salinity, temperature, and rock mineralogy. Using aquifer water in Berea sandstone improved the wettability toward a water-wet condition. The same aquifer water behaved in a different way when a different sandstone surface was tested. In Scioto sandstone, aquifer water changed the wettability to a neutral state. Low-salinity water expanded the double-layer thickness and eventually increased the zeta-potential magnitude. As a result of this expansion, it provides a greater opportunity to alter the wettability and enhance oil recovery. This study indicates that clay content in sandstone rocks can significantly alter the wettability either toward water-wet or intermediate. On the basis of the results obtained from this study, it is clear that low-salinity waterflooding can improve oil recovery in the field.

The Adsorption Property of Wettability Reversal Surfactant

In order to understand the adsorption property of wettability reversal surfactant, the adsorption rule of the wettability reversal surfactant on hydrophilic surface and lipophilic surface was studied, and the adsorption behavior of the wettability reversal surfactant on hydrophilic surface and lipophilic surface was studied by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The results show that there is a saturated adsorption capacity of all the wettability reversal surfactants on sandstone surface, and the adsorption quantity on lipophilic surface is bigger than that on hydrophilic surface. The AFM study show that the wettability reversal surfactant tends to distribute where is close to the oil droplet. Consequently, the wettability reversal surfactant is favorable for using in lipophilic surface.

Recent Atmospheric Deposition and its Effects on Sandstone Cliffs in Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Czech Republic

The protected area “Bohemian Switzerland National Park” with its characteristic sandstone landscape was influenced by the long-term air pollution and acidic deposition within the area known as Black Triangle (located where Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic meet, is one of the Europe’s most polluted areas). The local Upper Cretaceous sandstone is subhorizontally stratified, fine- to coarse-grained, quartz dominated, with low content of clay minerals. One of the significant negative effects of the intensive acidic deposition on sandstone outcrops has been identified as chemical (salt) weathering, i.e., a process when the porous sandstone rock is except of chemical influence attacked also by force of crystallization of growing salts crystals. Anions NO3− together with SO42− and cation NH4+ were the most abundant solutes in bulk precipitation samples. Current (2002 to 2009) bulk deposition fluxes of SO42− determined at three sites directly in the National Park indicate decline from 23 to 16 kg−1 ha−1 year−1. Infiltration of bulk precipitation solutes into the sandstone mediates the weathering processes. Natural outflow of sandstone pore-water (sandstone percolates) can be sampled only during certain days of year when the sandstone becomes saturated with water and percolates drip out on small number of sites from roofs of overhangs. Under usual conditions percolation water evaporates at the sandstone surface producing salt efflorescences—the typical example is Pravcicka brana Arch locality. The average pH of the dripping sandstone percolates was 3.76. Concentration of SO42− and Al in sandstone percolates reached up to 46 and 10 mg L−1. The concentration of Al in percolates has been 160-fold greater the one in the precipitation samples suggesting the sandstone as a source. The water O and H isotopic composition of percolates has been virtually identical to precipitation samples, indicating thus relatively short residence time of the solutions within the sandstone pore-spaces. Evaporation experiments with bulk precipitation and percolate samples proved possible origin of some Ca in bulk precipitation and the sandstone rock as the source of Al and possibly of K for the salt efflorescence identified on Rock Arch body.

間隙水圧・変形連成問題への最近の取り組み 花崗岩を起源とする断層ガウジの剪断強度および水理特性

Two effects of clay enrichment in the granite-origin fault zone due to the deformation were studied: (1) it reduces frictional strength and (2) it impedes across-fault fluid flow. We sampled two natural fault rocks located in and out of the aftershock region of 2000 Tottori-ken Seibu Earthquake (Tottori, Japan) , and measured the porosity, permeability and friction coefficient for each gouge zone. Independent of the sampling location and the difference of aftershocks' activities, the deformation concentrated gouge zone showed the lowest porosity in the specimen. The pore in the gouge with the lowest porosity was dominated by smaller sized pore throat (around 10 nm) caused by the enrichment of fine-sized clay minerals, such as smectite. Sliding deformation with permeability monitoring on natural gouges, using the pore pressure oscillation method, were performed along a 30° precut surface of Berea sandstone under 100 MPa of normal stress, 30 MPa of pore water pressure and room temperature condition. The gouges having the lowest porosity showed the lowest friction coefficient and the lowest permeability in the fault rocks. Thus both the frictional and fluid flow properties of natural gouges would be controlled by the clay mineral content. The relationship between the friction coefficient and the permeability on the natural fault gouge draws a similar trend to the previous study on simulated gouges with various mixes of smectite powder and granular quartz, but the trend for the natural fault gouge indicated c.a. 0.1 lower friction than that for the previous study.

Molecular Characterization of Fungal Communities in Sandstone

This study investigated the fungal community structure present in chemically distinct sandstone horizons. Community fingerprinting (intergenic spacer analysis) and cloning techniques were utilized, in addition to an analysis of the cultivable fungal population, to assess the nature and extent of fungal diversity present on sandstone surfaces. The mineralogical composition of sandstone horizons was found to be poorly defined with each horizon showing a high degree of similarity. Fungal populations were not so strictly confined to a single horizon and sandstone characteristics were not strong enough to drive community structure to the same extent as seen in recent studies (Gleeson et al. 2005; Hutchens et al. 2010). Because sandstone communities inhabit a less-restrictive locale, it would be fitting that community members have not had to adapt to such strong and controlling environments.