Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1980. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Bibliography: leaves 212-231. / by Alan Zindler. / Ph.D.

Macroscopic analyses of rocks have produced acceptable results for many problems. These problems are simple, involving normal conditions. But a need is arising to study these rocks under extreme conditions, like high temperatures, projectile penetration and extreme pressures. Behavior of rocks under these conditions cannot be predicted using common macroscopic analyses at normal conditions. Nanostructure of the rock governs the behavior of rock under such situations. Hence, there is a need to study these materials using micro molecular mechanics. There is also a theory that failure in a rock mass is governed by the formation and propagation of microscopic cracks. The development of these can be observed and studied using the nanoscale analyses. A new science is emerging which deals with manipulating the nanostructure of materials. It may be possible in near future to improve the properties of materials into more desirable ones, by changing their nanofabric. These prospects make the nanoscopic analyses of rocks very intriguing. This research aims at developing methods to analyze rocks, clays and other geotechnical materials to study their nanolevel properties. Molecular Dynamics simulation is the most commonly used method in molecular mechanics. A software program TINKER was used for developing the simulation. Using this, MD simulation was performed on a (14,1) carbon nanotube for validation purposes. Later on simulations were performed on rock minerals such as quartz, albite and calcite and clays such as kaolinite and palygorskite. The simulated results are compared with published data on mechanical properties of rock and clay minerals. / Master of Science

Disotopic dating of zircons from the Flat River Complex in the Carolina "slate" belt north of Durham, N.C. shows this intrusive complex to be 650 ± m.y. old. Modal analyses of granophyric groundmass compared to experimental data, the presence of vent breccias and related pyroclastic deposits, and consideration of age relations between the intrusive and extrusive rocks indicate that the Flat River was emplaced at very shallow levels (< l km) and acted as the source for most of the volcanic material surrounding the complex. The age determined for the Flat River Complex indicates that deposition of the volcanic rocks began prior to 650 m.y. ago and extends the slate belt volcanicity interval to 130 m.y. (520 to 650 m.y. b.p.) Both subareal and marine depositional environments are represented in the stratigraphic sequence. / Master of Science

No description available.

A Thesis presented to the Department of Geophysics of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg / Violent failure of the rock surrounding under ground excavations forms a major hazard and obstacle in deep-level mining. (Abbreviation abstract) / AC 2018

O estudo do intemperismo é de suma importância uma vez que a quebra química de minerais instáveis termodinamicamente na superfície da Terra por agentes do intemperismo é uma parte fundamental na ciclagem de elementos global. Esse processo é responsável pela formação dos solos dos quais depende toda a vida terrestre, desempenhando um papel central no controle da fertilidade dos solos através do fornecimento de muitos nutrientes que permitem o crescimento das plantas. Atualmente as análises relacionadas ao intemperismo são realizadas através de índices matemáticos ligados à presença ou ausência de determinados minerais e observação do comportamento dos elementos químicos ao longo do perfil de solo. Surge, portanto, a necessidade de técnicas mais rápidas e eficazes. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram o de caracterizar e avaliar o potencial de vários instrumentos sensores próximos na identificação dos processos de intemperismo em cortes verticais originados de diferentes materiais de origem numa região de São Paulo, Brasil. Cinco perfis de solo com materiais de origem contrastantes (sedimentar e magmático) foram utilizados para a avaliação da espectroscopia como ferramenta capaz de identificar as mudanças ocorridas no perfil durante o intemperismo. Amostras de terra foram coletadas e enviadas para análises química, física, mineralógica e espectroscópica. As análises por sensoriamento próximo em laboratório foram realizadas utilizando três sensores, cada um contemplando uma região do espectro eletromagnético (raio x, visível e infravermelho). No campo, utilizou-se o sensor de raios gama e a câmera multiespectral AISA fênix que realizou a leitura, nas regiões espectrais do visível ao infravermelho de ondas curtas, de todo o perfil de solo desenvolvido sob arenito. Fez-se a descrição elementar, mineralógica e de outros atributos presentes nas amostras de terra coletadas a fim de avaliar a intensidade de intemperismo de cada horizonte dos perfis de solo. Esses dados foram utilizados na descrição do comportamento dos espectros. Os índices de intemperismo e os óxidos maiores foram quantificados a partir de modelos lineares e multivariados utilizando os dados do sensor gama e do visível ao infravermelho (Vis-IR), respectivamente. Os óxidos foram espacializados nas imagens do sensor AISA Fenix para a observação visual do comportamento dos elementos e minerais ao longo dos perfis. Calculou-se a diferença elementar entre horizontes a partir dos dados de fluorescência para comparação com o balanço de massa calculado pelos dados fornecidos pelas análises tradicionais e utilizou-se toda a região espectral, em separado e em conjunto, para a segregação das amostras de acordo com a intensidade de intemperismo. A partir do comportamento das curvas espectrais na região do visível ao infravermelho médio, foi possível identificar a diferença na textura dos horizontes, a presença de água estrutural e no solo, a influência da matéria orgânica e os principais minerais que são reflexos da intensidade de intemperismo de cada horizonte dos perfis analisados. Os dados dos sensores GAMA e FRX apresentaram altos valores de correlação com os óxidos e índices utilizados na quantificação da intensidade de intemperismo, indicando à viabilidade dos sensores para o cálculo dos índices. Os modelos de quantificação dos índices de intemperismo e dos óxidos apresentaram R² acima de 0,5. A aplicação do modelo do Vis-IR às imagens da AISA permitiu quantificar os óxidos pixel a pixel ao longo do perfil e observar a diferenciação dos horizontes, facilitando a interpretação da análise de intemperismo. Devido à especificidade de cada região espectral para analisar um objeto, a utilização de vários sensores que trabalham em diferentes comprimentos de onda pode ser uma alternativa para a mais rápida avaliação da intensidade de intemperismo ocorrendo em perfis provenientes de diferentes materiais de origem. / The study of weathering is of paramount importance since the chemical breakdown of thermodynamically unstable minerals on the surface of the earth by weathering agents is a fundamental part of the cycling of global elements. This process is responsible for the formation of soils on which all terrestrial life depends, playing a central role in soil fertility control by providing many nutrients that enable plant growth. Currently the analyzes related to weathering are performed through mathematical indexes linked to the presence or absence of certain minerals and observation of the behavior of the chemical elements along the soil profile. There is therefore a need for faster and more effective techniques. The objectives of the present work were to characterize and evaluate the potential of several proximal sensing instruments in the identification of weathering processes in vertical cuts originating from different rock parents in a region of São Paulo, Brazil. Five soil profiles with contrasting source materials (sedimentary and magmatic) were used to evaluate the spectroscopy as a tool capable of identifying changes in the profile during weathering. Soil samples were collected and sent for chemical, physical, mineralogical and spectroscopic analyzes. The proximal sensors analyzes in the laboratory were realized using three sensors, each contemplating a region of the electromagnetic spectrum (x-ray, visible and infrared). In the field, the gamma-ray sensor and the multispectral AISA fênix camera were used to read the entire soil profile developed under sandstone in the spectral regions of visible to shortwave infrared. The elemental, mineralogical and other attributes present in the soil samples collected were evaluated in order to evaluate the weathering intensity of each horizon of the soil profiles. These data were used to describe spectra behavior. The indexes of weathering and the major oxides were quantified from linear and multivariate models using gamma and visible infrared (Vis-IR) data, respectively. The oxides were spatialized in the images of the Fenix AISA sensor for the visual observation of the behavior of the elements and minerals along the profiles. The elemental difference between horizons was calculated from the fluorescence data for comparison with the mass balance calculated by the data provided by the traditional analyzes and the entire spectral region was used separately and together for the segregation of the samples according to with the intensity of weathering. From the behavior of the spectral curves in the region of visible to the medium infrared, it was possible to identify the difference in texture of the horizons, the presence of structural and soil water, the influence of the organic matter and the main minerals that are reflections of the intensity of weathering of each horizon of the analyzed profiles. The data of the GAMA and FRX sensors presented high values of correlation with the oxides and indices used in the quantification of the intensity of weathering, indicating the viability of the sensors for the calculation of the indices. The models for the quantification of the indexes of weathering and oxides presented R² above 0.5. The application of the Vis-IR model to the AISA images allowed quantifying the pixel-to-pixel oxides along the profile and observing the differentiation of the horizons, facilitating the interpretation of the weathering analysis. Due to the specificity of each spectral region to analyze an object, the use of several sensors working at different wavelengths may be an alternative for the faster evaluation of the intensity of weathering occurring in profiles from different source materials.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido utilizando-se rochas reservatório siliciclásticas provenientes de afloramentos brasileiros, pertencentes ao Grupo Guaritas (Caçapava do Sul e Pinheiro Machado - RS) e à Formação Pirambóia (Rio Claro - SP), com o objetivo de se obter suas características petrofísicas. As amostras são provenientes de diferentes fácies eólicas e pluviais, com características semelhantes a reservatórios de água e hidrocarbonetos. Foram utilizados experimentos de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN), intrusão de mercúrio, susceptibilidade magnética, análise de lâmina petrográfica e Espectroscopia de Fluorescência de Energia Dispersiva de Raios-X (EDX) para a análise das amostras. Apesar de serem provenientes de sistemas deposicionais similares, a correlação entre os resultados demonstrou que a diagênese tem importante papel no desenvolvimento dos reservatórios, influenciando na porosidade e permeabilidade das amostras. Foi demonstrado que a susceptibilidade magnética possui correlação com as quantidades de Fe 203, Al 203 e SiO2, onde o Al 203 está relacionado com a quantidade de argila das amostras (aluminossilicatos). Através dos resultados de RMN foi possível estimar a susceptibilidade magnética das amostras através da largura de linha espectral em baixo campo. As estimativas de porosidade e tamanhos de poros via RMN demonstraram compatibilidade com as análises das lâminas e experimentos de intrusão de mercúrio. Com os experimentos de RMN bidimensionais T1xT2, foi mostrado que há uniformidade na relaxação, devido aos mapas de correlação serem aproximadamente paralelos à diagonal dos mapas 2D. Nos experimentos DxT2 há a correlação entre a distribuição de tempos de relaxação e coeficientes de difusão, demonstrando que, em muitos casos, há restrição de difusão translacional das moléculas do fluido. Para estimar a permeabilidade das rochas foi utilizado o modelo desenvolvido por pesquisadores da Schlumberger Doll Research (SDR), amplamente aplicado na previsão da permeabilidade através de resultados obtidos pela RMN. Aplicando-o de maneira clássica, os resultados não foram plenamente satisfatórios, em função das características magnéticas das rochas estudadas. O coeficiente relaxatividade superficial foi calculado pela convolução entre a distribuição de tamanhos de poros da intrusão de mercúrio e a distribuição de tempos de relaxação transversal. Este parâmetro foi utilizado como correção ao modelo SDR, entretanto, os resultados obtidos continuaram não satisfatórios. Foi proposta então a correção através da susceptibilidade magnética, tanto medida pelo susceptômetro quanto estimada pela RMN. As utilizações dessas duas informações culminaram em melhores resultados para o valor das permeabilidades, com destaque para a RMN, desta maneira, propondo um novo método para estimar esse importante parâmetro das rochas reservatório. Com estes resultados podemos verificar a coesão entre os aspectos geológicos das amostras e a RMN, porém, as técnicas de RMN existentes empregadas ao estudo devem ainda ser aperfeiçoadas e novas devem ser desenvolvidas para o estudo de rochas reservatório que apresentam alta susceptibilidade magnética, um problema comum encontrado no estudo de rochas sedimentares por RMN. / The petrophysical characterization of siliciclastic reservoir rocks from Brazilian outcrops was the objective of this work. The samples were obtainded from different eolian and pluvial facies of the Guaritas Group (Caçapava do Sul and Pinheiro Machado - RS) and Pirambóia Formation (Rio Claro -SP). Different methods were applied in order to study these samples: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), mercury injection, magnetic susceptibility, petrographic thin sections analysis and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (EDX). Despite the depositional similarities, the results indicate that permeability and porosity are affected by diagenetic processes which show that the diagenesis plays an important role at the development of these reservoirs. It was shown the correlation between magnetic susceptibility and the amounts of Fe 2O3 , Al 203 and Si0 2 were the amount of Al 203 is related with the quantity of clay (aluminosilicates). Magnetic susceptibilities were estimated using the linewidth obtained from NMR spectra (by FFTs of the FIDs) measured at low and homogeneous magnetic fields, obtaining good agreement with the bulk magnetic susceptibility. Porosity and pore size distributions determined by NMR, mercury injection and petrographic analysis were compatible. In the two-dimensional NMR experiment T 1xT2 a diagonal behavior of relaxation time distributions was observed, indicating uniformity of relaxation mechanisms inside the samples. With DxT 2 measurements, the transverse relaxation times were correlated with diffusion coefficients showing restricted diffusion in most samples. In order to predict permeability the model proposed by researchers from Schlumberger Doll Research (SDR), which uses NMR parameters, was applied. With the classical permeability SDR predictor the obtained results were not fully satisfactory, as consequence of the magnetic characteristics of the samples. In order to correct this predictor, surface relaxivity coefficients were determined by the superposition of T2 and mercury injection pore diameter distributions nevertheless, these results were again unsatisfactory. Thus, a new correction method for the SDR permeability predictor was proposed using NMR and bulk magnetic susceptibilities. This approach improved considerably the permeability prediction, especially when using NMR-derived magnetic susceptibilities. The consistency between NMR and geological properties of the samples was verified nevertheless, the used NMR techniques still need to be improved and new ones must be developed, in order to allow the study of reservoir rocks with high magnetic susceptibility.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-157). Petrographic image analysis proved particularly useful in determining the parameters for statistical analysis for the simple mineralogies displayed in the samples from the Hutton Sandstone. Concentrates on establishing techniques for statistical study of data collected by PIA to subdivide the framework grains from the porosity or cement.

This study explores the early history of Sydney's Rocks area at two levels. First, it provides a much-needed history of the city's earliest, oldest-surviving and best-known precinct, one which allows an investigation of popular beliefs about the Rocks' convict origins, and which challenges and qualifies its reputation for lowlife, vice and squalor. Second, by examining fundamental aspects of everyday life - townscape, community and commonality, family life and work, human interaction and rites of passage - this study throws new light on the origins of Sydney from the perspective of the convict and ex-convict majority. Despite longstanding historical interest in Sydney's beginnings, the cultural identity, values, habits, beliefs of the convicts and ex-convicts remained largely hidden. The examination of such aspects reveals another Sydney altogether from that presented by governors, artists and mapmakers. Instead of an orderly oupost of empire, a gaol-town, or a 'gulag', the Sydney the Rocks represents was built and occupied largely according to the tastes, priorities and inclination of the people, with relatively little official regulation or interference. While the Rocks appeared 'disorderly' in the eyes of the elite, it nevertheless functioned according to cultural rules, those of the lower orders - the artisans, shopkeepers, publicans, labouring people, the majority of whom were convicts and ex-convicts.

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