Geomorphic features have been one of the major tools for sea-level change studies. The present work shows an example of sea-level change study on karst terrain in the tropics. Sea-level notches as well as flank margin caves were identified in the research area and their elevation measured. The time of formation of the sea-level indicators was constrained by lithology study and dating methods such as facies comparison and U-Th dating. Denudation and uplift were also studied for the same purpose. From this study it can be concluded that sea-level stands within the glacial cycle can cause the formation of flank margin caves and that the position of these sea-level stands can be determined. The research area was estimated to have cumulatively uplifted ~22 m in the past 125 ka years (~0.18 mm/yr) while the surface has been denuded some 8 m in the same span of time (~0.064 mm/yr).

Tesis por compendio / [ES] Esta investigación se centra en la caliza de Prada, una formación del Cretácico inferior ubicada en la zona sur pirenaica de Cataluña (España). Se tomaron muestras de roca de sondeos perforados durante la etapa de diseño del túnel de Tres Ponts. El trabajo aquí presentado explora diferentes aspectos relacionados con el comportamiento térmi-co de la caliza de Prada y las consecuencias derivadas en el túnel de Tres Ponts. En primer lugar, este trabajo describe la variación en las propiedades texturales, físicas y mecánicas de la caliza de Prada después de ser sometida a temperaturas de entre 105 y 600 ºC, y luego enfriada a un ritmo lento o mediante templado, y determina las tem-peraturas clave y los métodos de enfriamiento que afectan más la estabilidad en caso de incendio en el túnel de Tres Ponts. En segundo lugar, esta investigación se centra en las causas y mecanismos implicados en el comportamiento explosivo y la liberación de gas sulfuroso observado en una fracción gris oscuro de muestras de caliza de Prada. Las implicaciones de tales muestras de color gris oscuro son críticas en infraestructuras subterráneas y en minería, ya que el potencial explosivo de esas muestras conlleva el riesgo de fracturación masiva y de disminución brusca en la resistencia. Además, el gas sulfuroso liberado tiene efectos nocivos sobre la salud de las personas y el poten-cial de formar compuestos ácidos que corroen los materiales, acortando su durabilidad y aumentando los costes de mantenimiento. Posteriormente, este trabajo determina si el tratamiento térmico sobre la caliza de Prada tiene un efecto significativo en facilitar su perforabilidad. Comprender la variación en el rendimiento de perforación de la caliza de Prada tratada térmicamente ayudaría a mejorar la eficiencia de los medios mecánicos de excavación. Finalmente, se proponen algunas correlaciones para deter-minar indirectamente las características de resistencia, deformación y perforabilidad de la caliza de Prada tras ser tratada térmicamente, a partir de pruebas simples, rápidas y no destructivas. / [CA] Aquesta investigació es centra en la calcària de Prada, una formació del Cretaci inferior situada a la zona sud pirinenca de Catalunya (Espanya). Es van prendre mostres de roca de sondejos perforats durant l'etapa de disseny del túnel de Tres Ponts. El treball aquí presentat explora diferents aspectes relacionats amb el comportament tèrmic de la calcària de Prada i les conseqüències derivades al túnel de Tres Ponts. En primer lloc, aquest treball descriu la variació en les propietats texturals, físiques i mecàniques de la calcària de Prada després de ser tractada a temperatures d'entre 105 i 600 ºC, i després refredada a un ritme lent o ràpid, i determina les temperatures clau i els mètodes de refredament que afecten més l'estabilitat en cas d'incendi al túnel de Tres Ponts. En segon lloc, aquesta investigació es centra en les causes i mecanismes implicats en el comportament explosiu i l'alliberament de gas sulfurós observat en una fracció gris fosc de mostres de calcària de Prada. Les implicacions de tals mostres de color gris fosc són crítiques en infraestructures subterrànies i en mineria, ja que el potencial explosiu d'aquestes mostres comporta el risc de fracturació massiva i de disminució brusca en la resistència. A més, el gas sulfurós alliberat té efectes nocius sobre la salut de les persones i el potencial de formar compostos àcids que corroeixen els materials, retallant la seua durabilitat i augmentant els costos de manteniment. Posteriorment, aquest treball determina si el tractament tèrmic sobre la calcària de Prada té un efecte significatiu en facilitar la seua perforabilitat. Comprendre la variació en el rendiment de perforació de la calcària de Prada tractada tèrmicament ajudaria a millorar l'eficièn-cia dels mitjans mecànics d'excavació. Finalment, es proposen algunes correlacions per determinar indirectament les característiques de resistència, deformació i perforabilitat de la calcària de Prada després de ser tractada tèrmicament, a partir de proves simples, ràpides i no destructives. / [EN] This research is focused on Prada limestone, a lower Cretaceous formation located in the Catalan south Pyrenean zone (Spain). Rock samples were taken from boreholes drilled during the design stage of the Tres Ponts Tunnel. The work presented here explores different aspects related to the thermal behaviour of Prada limestone and the derived consequences on the Tres Ponts Tunnel. Firstly, this work reports the variation in the textural, physical, and mechanical properties of Prada limestone after being heated at temperatures of between 105 and 600 ºC and then cooled at a slow rate or by quenching and determines key temperatures and cooling methods that would most affect stability in case of a fire in the Tres Ponts Tunnel. Secondly, this research fo-cuses on the causes and mechanisms involved in the explosive behaviour and release of sulphurous gas observed on a dark grey fraction of samples from Prada limestone. Implications of such dark grey samples are critical in underground infrastructure and mining engineering works, as the explosive potential of that sample represents risk of mass fracturing and dramatic strength decay. Moreover, the sulphurous gas released has harmful health effects and may form acid compounds that corrode materials, shorten their durability, and increase maintenance costs. Later, this work determines if thermal treatment on Prada limestone has a significant effect on improving its drilla-bility. Understanding the variation in the drilling performance of the thermally treated Prada limestone would help improve the efficiency of mechanical excavation means. Finally, some correlations are proposed to indirectly determine the strength, deformational, and drillability features of Prada limestone after being thermally treated from simple, quick and non-destructive tests. / This research was partially supported by the Spanish Government [grant number RTI2018-099052-B-I00], also the Vice-Rectorate of Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Alicante through projects UAUSTI19-25 and UAUSTI20-20, and by the Departamento de Ingeniería del Terreno at the Universitat Politècnica de València. / Martínez Ibáñez, V. (2021). Effects of high temperatures in the physical, mechanical, and drilling features of Prada limestone [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/171023 / Compendio

Från bruksort till BRUKA, med kalkbrottet som gemensam nämnare. Stora Vika har historiskt bestått av en symbiotisk relation mellan ortens tre ”ben”: kalkbrottet, cementindustrin och bostadsområdet. Idag präglas orten av att kopplingen mellan dessa tre element gått förlorad. Visionen med BRUKA är att väcka liv i platsens historiska koppling mellan människa och industri, med kalken som “cementerande” element. Till skillnad från bruk - ett substantiv med fokus på maskin och industri så är BRUKA ett imperativ: en mänsklig handling, en plats för folket att göra till sin. BRUKA förvaltar Stora Vikas arv av att bruka platsens unika råvara, kalken, men istället för den historiska produkten cement är kalken i BRUKA en källa till kunskap för geologiska forskare. BRUKA gjuter nytt liv i Stora Vika bygd i form av arbetstillfällen, aktiviteter samt ekonomiskt tillskott för att stötta upp andra insatser i närområdet och i kommunen i stort. BRUKA visar vikten av att luckra upp gränser och göra bruk av mötet mellan människa och natur. BRUKA sätter återigen ortens ”grande dame”, den unika urkalkstenen, i förgrunden, och låter den bli en generator för arbetstillfällen, kunskapsproduktion, kunskapsdelning och bildning, kreativt skapande och lärande. / From the industrial village to BRUKA, the limestone quarry serves as a common denominator. Stora Vika has always had a symbiotic relationship between its three "legs": the lime quarry, the cement industry, and the residential area. Today, the town is distinguished by the fact that the connection between these three elements has been lost. The aim of BRUKA is to revive the site's historical link between man and industry, using lime as the "cementing" element. Unlike "bruk", the Swedish term for "industry" focused on machinery and production, BRUKA is an imperative: a human action. BRUKA honors Stora Vika's tradition of using the site's unique raw material, limestone, but instead of being turned into concrete, the lime in BRUKA serves as a source of knowledge for geological researchers. BRUKA breathes new life into the Stora Vika village through jobs, events, and financial contributions to other community and governmental projects. BRUKA demonstrates the necessity of bridging boundaries and leveraging the combined power of man and environment. BRUKA brings the local "grande dame," the unique primordial limestone, back into the spotlight and enables it to become a generator of jobs, information production, knowledge exchange and education, creativity and learning.

No description available.

The Portland Cement Association commissioned a research project at Brigham Young University to compare selected laboratory durability tests available for assessing stabilized aggregate base materials. The laboratory research associated with this project involved two granular base materials, three stabilizers at three concentration levels each, and three durability tests in a full-factorial experimental design. The granular base materials consisted of an aggregate-reclaimed asphalt pavement blend obtained from Interstate 84 (I-84) and a crushed limestone obtained from U.S. Highway 91 (US-91), while the three stabilizer types included Class C fly ash, lime-fly ash, and Type I/II Portland cement. Specimens were tested for durability using the freeze-thaw test, the vacuum saturation test, and the tube suction test. Analyses of the test results indicated that the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and retained UCS were higher for specimens tested in freeze-thaw cycling than the corresponding values associated with vacuum saturation testing. This observation suggests that the vacuum saturation test is more severe than the freeze-thaw test for materials similar to those evaluated in this research. The analyses also indicated that the I-84 material retained more strength during freeze-thaw cycling and vacuum saturation and exhibited lower final dielectric values during tube suction testing than the US-91 material. Although the I-84 material performed better than the US-91 material, the I-84 material required higher stabilizer concentrations to reach the target 7-day UCS values specified in this research. After freeze-thaw testing, the Class C fly-treated specimens were significantly stronger than both lime-fly ash- and cement-treated specimens. In the vacuum saturation test, none of the three stabilizer types were significantly different from each other with respect to either UCS or retained UCS. Dielectric values measured during tube suction testing were lowest for cement-treated specimens, indicating that cement performed better than other stabilizers in reducing the moisture/frost susceptibility of the treated materials. The results also show that, as the stabilizer concentration level increased from low to high, specimens performed better in nearly all cases. A strong correlation was identified between UCS after the freeze-thaw test and UCS after the vacuum saturation test, while very weak correlations were observed between the final dielectric value after tube suction testing and all other response variables. Differences in variability between test results were determined to be statistically insignificant. Engineers interested in specifying a comparatively severe laboratory durability test should consider vacuum saturation testing for specimens treated with stabilizers similar to those evaluated in this research. The vacuum saturation test is superior to both the freeze-thaw and tube suction tests because of the shorter duration and lack of a need for daily specimen monitoring. Although the Class C fly ash used in this research performed well, further investigation of various sources of Class C fly ash is recommended because of the variability inherent in that material. Similar research should be performed on subgrade soils, which are also routinely stabilized in pavement construction. Research related to long-term field performance of stabilized materials should be conducted to develop appropriate thresholds for laboratory UCS values in conjunction with vacuum saturation testing.

<p> The BAR CLAIM GROUP is located on the western margin of the Selwyn Basin geologic province in south central Yukon. The rock sequence is eugeosynclinal in nature, belonging to the Englishman's Group of the Mississippian. Chronologically, these rocks include massive limestone, white to red chert breccia, dark grey chert breccia, chert pebble conglomerate, lithic wacke, massive barite, grey green chert, and hornblende microdiorite. The elastic units in particular appear to be correlative with the units on the eastern margin of the Selwyn Basin. </p> <p> The barite is light grey, bedded, massive, and contains rare relic rosette structures. Associated minerals include pyrite, galena and minor sphalerite. Extensive recrystallisation and mobilization has occurred, probably as a result of regional compression and faulting. The barite may have had an exhalative origin along fault or extensional zones; however, sedimentogenic sources, such as the redistribution of pre-existing barite, cannot be precluded. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

<p> Speleothems are calcium carbonate deposits, such as stalagmites, stalactites and flowstones, formed in a cave environment by loss of carbon dioxide from saturated groundwaters. Variations in the 18o/16o ratio of calcite are related to changes in depositional temperature provided that the speleothem formed in isotopic equilibrium with its seepage water (conditions characterised by slow coloss and no evaporation of seepage water). Variations in 18o/16o of the seepage water will also be reproduced in the calcite but allowance for this effect can be made if 18o/16o ratio of the source (ocean water) can be estimated (from deep sea sediment cores) and if the influence of temperature on 18o/16o ratio of precipitation at the site can be determined. Because cave temperatures closely approximate mean annual surface temperature, the axial 18o/16o record of a speleothem is therefore an indication of paleoclimate and of temperature change over the period of its growth. </p> <p> The frequency distribution of age measurements for several speleothems from an area may also be used as a paleoclimatic indicator because cold or glacial conditions above the cave will inhibit speleothem growth by freezing water at the surface and removing vegetation and soil cover, the main source of CO2 for the limestone dissolution-reprecipitation process. </p> <p> Pure, non-porous calcite speleothems from several limestone regions have been dated in this study by the 230Th/234U method, and in cases of uranium-rich speleothems, by the 231Pa/230Th method also. For ten such cases, examined, good agreement of ages determined by both dating methods was found. </p> <p> Relatively few deposits however, have shown deposition under isotopic equilibriwn conditions, due probably to the well-ventilated nature of the caves studied. </p> <p> The age distribution for speleothem from Cascade Cave on Vancouver Island, B.C., indicates growth during the mid-Wisconsin interstadial dated as 65 -30,000 yrs. B.P. Stable isotope profiles for two speleothems which grew over this period both show values of 18o/16o ratios of calcite which are significantly lower than calcite growing in the cave today. This is the first clearly-defined record of such an occurence (in previous work, 18o/16o of fossil speleothem was generally greater than modern). Using estimates of the change in 18o/16o of ocean water from a Pacific deep sea core, and the value determined by Dansgaard (1964) for the temperature dependence of 18o/16o of precipitation for oceanic sites, a realistic paleotemperature record is derived. The results indicate that temperatures at the Cascade Cave site were about 4.0°C , 64,000 yrs. ago· and gradually declined to 0°c by 35,000 yrs. ago. These data are consistent with the findings of Canadian workers from 14c and palynological studies of fossil organic matter in the area, and do not support the proposal by some American workers of a major glaciation occurring between 35 - 40,000 yrs. B.P. </p> <p> The age distribution for 140 analyses of 82 speleothems collected from caves in north-west England show abundant deposition during the periods 130 -90,000 yrs. B.P. and 13,000 yrs. B.P. to present, with limited growth over the periods > 350 -170,000 yrs. B.P. and 70 -35,000 yrs. B.P. No ages were found to lie within the periods 170 -140,000 yrs. B.P. and 35-15,000 yrs. B.P. These intervals are correlated to the Wolstonian and Devensian glaciations respectively. </p> <p> Only four speleothems were found to have grown in isotopic equilibrium with their seepage waters, and one of these showed periods of non-equilibrium deposition. In contrast to the Vancouver Island results, 18o/16o all ratios were found to be greater than or equal to modern, indicating that the apparent oceanic location of this site is not expressed in the on the value for temperature dependence of 18o/16o precipitation. </p> <p> An oxygen isotope profile for a flowstone dated between 126,000 and 109, 000 yrs. B.P. shows 18o/16o ratios commencing at values slightly lower than for modern calcite and shifting to still lower values at about 112, 000 yrs. B.P. This shift may indicate a cooling event perhaps carrelative with the isotope stage 5e-5d transition seen in the deep sea core record. A profile for a flowstone over the period 290 -190,000 yrs. B.P. shows excellent correlation to interglacial stages 9e and 7c seen in the deep sea core record, and a pronounced growth hiatus dated at about 250 210,000 yrs. B.P. correlates with glacial stage 8. These are the first speleothem results to show a climatic record beyond 200,000 yrs. B.P. </p> <p> The differences in 18o/16o behaviour for speleothems from the two locations (N .E. Pacific and ..E. Atlantic) are interpreted in terms of their relative proximity to the ocean, potential for exchange of water vapour and 'rainout' by airmasses moving towards the cave sites, and possibility of change in meteorological conditions (principally storm track) over the periods studied. </p> <p> In a subsidiary study, evidence for major sea level lowering during the Illinoian glaciation is recognised by age determinations on the calcite core of speleothems collected at 45m below present sea level from a 'blue hole' near Andros Island in the Bahamas. </p> <p> The possibility of applying the 234U/238U dating method to speleothem is also investigated in this work, by the analysis of modern calci tes and their seepage waters, using a new method for uranium extraction from groundwater. However the variations in 234U/238U ratios observed over short distances in the same cave demonstrate that estimation of initial fossil 234U/238U in the speleothem cannot simply be made by averaging modern ratios for the cave. </p> <p> Consideration is also given to the temperature dependent distribution of trace elements in calcite, particularly magnesium and strontium. Analyses of modern calcites and waters show that Mg incorporation is strongly temperature dependent whereas Sr is not. The possibility of using Mg variations in fossil speleothem as indication of temperature change is briefly examined but the results for one sample are found to be inconclusive. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Pour les roches saturées, la comparaison entre les mesures ultrasoniques (1 MHz) au laboratoire et les mesures sismiques (100 Hz) ou de diagraphie (10 kHz) sur le terrain n’est pas directe à cause de la dispersion des vitesses des ondes. Les mécanismes impliqués dans la dépendance en fréquence sont les écoulements de fluides à différentes échelles provoqués par le passage de l’onde. La dispersion et l’atténuation des modules élastiques de roches carbonatées ont été étudiées expérimentalement. Les calcaires étudiés sont : un Lavoux, un Indiana intact et craqué thermiquement, un calcaire Urgonien de Provence (Rustrel), et un coquina pré-sel du Congo. Les mesures ont été faites sur une large gamme de fréquence, en combinant les techniques d’oscillations forcées (10-3 to 102 Hz) et ultrasoniques (1 MHz) dans une presse triaxiale, pour différentes pressions effectives. Le forçage peut être hydrostatique pour mesurer un module d’incompressibilité, ou axial pour mesurer le module de Young et le coefficient de Poisson. Pour étudier l’effet de la viscosité, les mesures ont été faites en condition sèche, puis saturée en glycérine et en eau. Le drainage global et le mécanisme d’écoulement crack-pore ont été caractérisés, en termes d’amplitude de dispersion, d’atténuation viscoélastique, et de fréquence de coupure. Pour nos échantillons, la théorie de Biot-Gassmann s’est montrée valide pour les fréquences sismiques (10-100 Hz) sauf pour l’Indiana craqué thermiquement. La dispersion liée à des écoulements crackspores a été observée pour tous les échantillons sauf le Lavoux. Les fréquences de coupures de ceux-ci sont toutes dans la gamme des fréquences des diagraphies (10 kHz) pour des conditions de saturation en eau. Un modèle simple, combinant poroélasticité et milieux effectifs, a été développé pour prédire la dispersion des modules sur toute la gamme de fréquence, et s’est montré généralement en accord avec les résultats expérimentaux. / For fluid-saturated rocks, comparing ultrasonic measurements (1 MHz) in the laboratory and seismic (100 Hz) or logging (10 kHz) measurements in the field is not straightforward due to dispersion of the bodywave velocities. The frequency-dependent mechanisms involved are wave-induced fluid flows that occur at different scales. The dispersion and the attenuation of the elastic moduli of four fluid-saturated carbonate rocks have been studied experimentally. The selected limestones were a Lavoux, an intact and thermally cracked Indiana, a Urgonian limestone from Provence (Rustrel), and a presalt coquina from offshore Congo. Measurements were done over a large frequency range, by the combination of forced oscillations (10-3 to 102 Hz) and ultrasonic measurements (1 MHz) in a triaxial cell, at various effective pressures. The forced oscillations were either hydrostatic to deduce the bulk modulus, or axial to deduce Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. The measurements were done in dry-, glycerinand water-saturated conditions to investigate the effect of viscosity. For all our samples, the global drainage and the squirt-flow mechanisms were characterized experimentally, in terms of amplitude of dispersion, amount of viscoelastic attenuation, and cut-off frequencies. Biot- Gassmann’s theory was found to be valid at seismic frequencies (10-100 Hz) for all the samples except the thermally cracked Indiana. Squirt-flow transitions were observed for all the samples, except the Lavoux. The cut-off frequencies were all in the range of logging frequencies (10 kHz), for watersaturated conditions. A simple model, combining poroelasticity and the noninteraction approximation effective medium, was developed to predict the dispersion of the moduli over the whole frequency range, and was generally in agreement with the experimental results.

Sedimentary rocks are characterized with very low permeability (in the order of 10-22 m2), low diffusivity, a possible self-healing of fractures, and a good capacity to retard radionuclide transport. In recent years, sedimentary rocks are investigated by many research groups for their suitability for the disposal of radioactive waste. Development of deep geologic repositories (DGRs) for the storage of radioactive waste within these formations causes progressive modification to the state of stress, to the groundwater regime, and to the chemistry of the rock mass. Thermal effects due to the ongoing nuclear activity can cause additional disturbances to the system. All these changes in the system are coupled and time-dependent processes. These coupled processes can result in the development of an excavation damaged zone (EDZ) around excavations. More permeable than the undisturbed rock, the EDZ is likely to be a preferential pathway for water and gas flow. Consequently, the EDZ could be a potential exit pathway for the radioactive waste to biosphere. An investigation of the Hydraulic-Mechanical (HM) and Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) behaviour of sedimentary rock formations is essential for the development of DGRs within such formations. This research work consists of (1) an experimental investigation of the mechanical behaviour of the anisotropic Tournemire argillite, (2) modeling of the mechanical behaviour of the Tournemire argillite, and (3) numerical simulations of the mechanical and hydromechanical behavior of two host sedimentary rocks, the Tournemire argillite and Cobourg limestone, for deep geological repository for nuclear wastes. The experimental program includes the measurements of the physical properties of the Tournemire argillite and its mechanical response to loading during uniaxial compression tests, triaxial compression tests with different confining pressures, unconfined and confined cyclic compression tests, Brazilian tests, and creep tests. Also, acoustic emission events are recorded to detect the initiation and propagation of microcracks within the rock during the uniaxial testing. The approach for modeling the mechanical behaviour of the Tournemire argillite consists of four components: elastic properties of the argillite, a damage model, the proposed concept of mobilized strength parameters, and the classical theory of elastoplasticity. The combination of the four components results in an elastoplastic-damage model for describing the mechanical behaviour of the Tournemire argillite. The capabilities of the model are evaluated by simulating laboratory experiments. Numerical simulations consist of: (1) a numerical simulation of a mine-by-test experiment at the Tournemire site (France), and (2) numerical simulations of the mechanical and hydromechanical behaviour of the Cobourg limestone within the EDZ (Canada). The parameters influencing the initiation and evolution of EDZ over time in sedimentary rocks are discussed.

Sedimentary rocks are characterized with very low permeability (in the order of 10-22 m2), low diffusivity, a possible self-healing of fractures, and a good capacity to retard radionuclide transport. In recent years, sedimentary rocks are investigated by many research groups for their suitability for the disposal of radioactive waste. Development of deep geologic repositories (DGRs) for the storage of radioactive waste within these formations causes progressive modification to the state of stress, to the groundwater regime, and to the chemistry of the rock mass. Thermal effects due to the ongoing nuclear activity can cause additional disturbances to the system. All these changes in the system are coupled and time-dependent processes. These coupled processes can result in the development of an excavation damaged zone (EDZ) around excavations. More permeable than the undisturbed rock, the EDZ is likely to be a preferential pathway for water and gas flow. Consequently, the EDZ could be a potential exit pathway for the radioactive waste to biosphere. An investigation of the Hydraulic-Mechanical (HM) and Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) behaviour of sedimentary rock formations is essential for the development of DGRs within such formations. This research work consists of (1) an experimental investigation of the mechanical behaviour of the anisotropic Tournemire argillite, (2) modeling of the mechanical behaviour of the Tournemire argillite, and (3) numerical simulations of the mechanical and hydromechanical behavior of two host sedimentary rocks, the Tournemire argillite and Cobourg limestone, for deep geological repository for nuclear wastes. The experimental program includes the measurements of the physical properties of the Tournemire argillite and its mechanical response to loading during uniaxial compression tests, triaxial compression tests with different confining pressures, unconfined and confined cyclic compression tests, Brazilian tests, and creep tests. Also, acoustic emission events are recorded to detect the initiation and propagation of microcracks within the rock during the uniaxial testing. The approach for modeling the mechanical behaviour of the Tournemire argillite consists of four components: elastic properties of the argillite, a damage model, the proposed concept of mobilized strength parameters, and the classical theory of elastoplasticity. The combination of the four components results in an elastoplastic-damage model for describing the mechanical behaviour of the Tournemire argillite. The capabilities of the model are evaluated by simulating laboratory experiments. Numerical simulations consist of: (1) a numerical simulation of a mine-by-test experiment at the Tournemire site (France), and (2) numerical simulations of the mechanical and hydromechanical behaviour of the Cobourg limestone within the EDZ (Canada). The parameters influencing the initiation and evolution of EDZ over time in sedimentary rocks are discussed.