A simple, effective petrographic method for quantifying percent clay or other grain-coat coverage in sandstones

2021 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-227
Author(s):  
Stephen G. Franks ◽  
John Pantano

ABSTRACT A simple petrographic method is presented to quantify the percent of grain-coat coverage in sandstones. The method involves visually noting whether, at the intersection of a grain boundary and an ocular crosshair, a grain coat (or other grain coating) is present or absent. If a coating is absent at the juncture of the grain boundary and the ocular crosshair, then it can be recorded whether an open pore, a pore-filling cement, or another grain is present at that point. The technique is simple to apply as part of standard point-counting procedures for composition or for grain size. It is much less time consuming, minutes rather than hours, than methods that involve measuring grain perimeters and grain-coat length on SEM images or on thin sections. Computer simulations and comparative measurements on sets of the same samples suggest that they yield results comparable to those techniques. It is less subjective than visual estimates of grain-coat coverage and gives more reproducible results. The mineralogy of the grain coat, its thickness, and its paragenetic relationships to other grain-coating phases can be simultaneously recorded.

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (135) ◽  
pp. 386-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajo Eicken ◽  
Hans Oerter ◽  
Heinz Miller ◽  
Wolfgang Graf ◽  
Josef Kipfstuhl

AbstractThe texture and physical properties of an ice core, recovered to 215 m depth from the Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica, have been studied with regard to formation and transformation of the ice. At a depth of 152.8 m, a sharp discontinuity marks the transition between meteoric ice accumulated from above and marine ice accreted from below, as testified by electrolytical conductivity and stable-isotope measurements as well as geophysical field surveys. Automated image analysis of thin sections indicates that the decrease in grain-boundary density and the increase in grain cross-sectional area with depth is commensurate with though not necessarily caused by thermodynamically driven grain growth down to 120 m depth, corresponding to a vertical strain of roughly 65% as computed with a simple temperature-history, particle-path model. The observed increase of grain-boundary density (i.e. a decrease of grain-size) with age in the marine ice is in part explained by the thermal history of this layer. Sediment inclusions at the top of the marine-ice layer affect the observed grain-boundary density profile by inhibiting grain growth and dynamic recrystallization. This may allow some conclusions on the role of temperature, particulate inclusions, stress and strain rate in controlling the grain-size evolution of deforming ice, supplementing earlier laboratory experiments conducted at much shorter time-scales. Salinities (0.026%), brine volumes (0.09–0.2%) and solid-salt concentrations have been computed from electrolytical conductivity measurements (mean of 51.0 × 10−6S cm−1) for the marine ice. An assessment of salt incorporation and desalination rates shows that these low salinities can at present only be explained by a unique densification mechanism of under-water ice crystals at the base of the ice shelf.


1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (135) ◽  
pp. 386-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajo Eicken ◽  
Hans Oerter ◽  
Heinz Miller ◽  
Wolfgang Graf ◽  
Josef Kipfstuhl

AbstractThe texture and physical properties of an ice core, recovered to 215 m depth from the Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica, have been studied with regard to formation and transformation of the ice. At a depth of 152.8 m, a sharp discontinuity marks the transition between meteoric ice accumulated from above and marine ice accreted from below, as testified by electrolytical conductivity and stable-isotope measurements as well as geophysical field surveys. Automated image analysis of thin sections indicates that the decrease in grain-boundary density and the increase in grain cross-sectional area with depth is commensurate with though not necessarily caused by thermodynamically driven grain growth down to 120 m depth, corresponding to a vertical strain of roughly 65% as computed with a simple temperature-history, particle-path model. The observed increase of grain-boundary density (i.e. a decrease of grain-size) with age in the marine ice is in part explained by the thermal history of this layer. Sediment inclusions at the top of the marine-ice layer affect the observed grain-boundary density profile by inhibiting grain growth and dynamic recrystallization. This may allow some conclusions on the role of temperature, particulate inclusions, stress and strain rate in controlling the grain-size evolution of deforming ice, supplementing earlier laboratory experiments conducted at much shorter time-scales. Salinities (0.026%), brine volumes (0.09–0.2%) and solid-salt concentrations have been computed from electrolytical conductivity measurements (mean of 51.0 × 10−6 S cm−1) for the marine ice. An assessment of salt incorporation and desalination rates shows that these low salinities can at present only be explained by a unique densification mechanism of under-water ice crystals at the base of the ice shelf.


Author(s):  
C. A. Callender ◽  
Wm. C. Dawson ◽  
J. J. Funk

The geometric structure of pore space in some carbonate rocks can be correlated with petrophysical measurements by quantitatively analyzing binaries generated from SEM images. Reservoirs with similar porosities can have markedly different permeabilities. Image analysis identifies which characteristics of a rock are responsible for the permeability differences. Imaging data can explain unusual fluid flow patterns which, in turn, can improve production simulation models.Analytical SchemeOur sample suite consists of 30 Middle East carbonates having porosities ranging from 21 to 28% and permeabilities from 92 to 2153 md. Engineering tests reveal the lack of a consistent (predictable) relationship between porosity and permeability (Fig. 1). Finely polished thin sections were studied petrographically to determine rock texture. The studied thin sections represent four petrographically distinct carbonate rock types ranging from compacted, poorly-sorted, dolomitized, intraclastic grainstones to well-sorted, foraminiferal,ooid, peloidal grainstones. The samples were analyzed for pore structure by a Tracor Northern 5500 IPP 5B/80 image analyzer and a 80386 microprocessor-based imaging system. Between 30 and 50 SEM-generated backscattered electron images (frames) were collected per thin section. Binaries were created from the gray level that represents the pore space. Calculated values were averaged and the data analyzed to determine which geological pore structure characteristics actually affect permeability.


1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (115) ◽  
pp. 274-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Cole

AbstractThis paper presents and discusses the results of constant deformation-rate tests on laboratory-prepared polycrystalline ice. Strain-rates ranged from 10−7to 10−1s−1, grain–size ranged from 1.5 to 5.8 mm, and the test temperature was −5°C.At strain-rates between 10−7and 10−3s−1, the stress-strain-rate relationship followed a power law with an exponent ofn= 4.3 calculated without regard to grain-size. However, a reversal in the grain-size effect was observed: below a transition point near 4 × 10−6s−1the peak stress increased with increasing grain-size, while above the transition point the peak stress decreased with increasing grain-size. This latter trend persisted to the highest strain-rates observed. At strain-rates above 10−3s−1the peak stress became independent of strain-rate.The unusual trends exhibited at the lower strain-rates are attributed to the influence of the grain-size on the balance of the operative deformation mechanisms. Dynamic recrystallization appears to intervene in the case of the finer-grained material and serves to lower the peak stress. At comparable strain-rates, however, the large-grained material still experiences internal micro-fracturing, and thin sections reveal extensive deformation in the grain-boundary regions that is quite unlike the appearance of the strain-induced boundary migration characteristic of the fine-grained material.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Praveen ◽  
T. V. Venkatesha

Zn-Fe alloy electrodeposition was carried out in the presence of condensation product 2-{[(1E)-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methylidene]amino}-3-hydroxypropanoic acid formed between veratraldehyde and serine in acid sulphate bath. Hull cell was used for optimizing the operating parameters and bath constituents. During deposition, the potential was shifted towards cathodic direction in the presence of addition agents and brightener. The polarization studies show that deposition taking place in basic bath and optimum bath was 1.08 and 1.15 V, respectively. Current efficiency and throwing power were reached around 85% and 26%, respectively. The SEM images of bright deposit indicated its fine-grained nature and appreciable reduction in the grain size. XRD studies have showed that the grain size of the deposit generated from optimum bath was 16 nm. UV-visible spectroscopic studies confirm the formation of complex between metal ion and brightener.


2011 ◽  
Vol 682 ◽  
pp. 211-216
Author(s):  
Rong Zhu ◽  
Jin Qiang Liu ◽  
Jing Tao Wang ◽  
Ping Huang ◽  
Yan Jun Wu ◽  
...  

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) has been used to refine the grain size of Mg-12Gd-3Y-0.5Zr billet at about 400°C because it lacks sufficient ductility at low temperatures. However, <0001> peak intensity is oriented about 50º from the extrusion direction, which facilitates the basal slip, and decreases the yield strength. We have employed conventional extrusion at 300°C following ECAP to modify the texture in hard orientation. This two-step process makes use of two strengthening mechanisms a) grain boundary strengthening due to small grain size, and (b) texture strengthening due to grains in hard orientation. The samples processed by the two-step show the yield and ultimate strength to 283 and 308 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the activation of <c+a> slip and fine grains resulted from the ECAP helped to maintain a good ductility even after significant straining from conventional extrusion.


2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEN LI ◽  
D. Y. LI

The Kelvin probe is a sophisticated instrument which is very sensitive to changes in surface conditions, such as deformation, texture, phase transformation and contamination. Efforts have been made to use this technique to diagnose wear. In this study, the effect of the grain boundary (GB) on the electron work function (EWF) was examined with the aim of investigating the contribution of changes in grain size to total changes in the EWF during wear. Copper and aluminum were studied as examples. It was demonstrated that the EWF dropped in the vicinity of GB's and the mean EWF decreased as the grain size decreased. The mechanism responsible for the changes in the EWF with respect to the GB is discussed.


1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 1751-1761 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Eckert ◽  
J.C. Holzer ◽  
C.E. Krill ◽  
W.L. Johnson

Nanocrystalline fcc metals have been synthesized by mechanical attrition. The crystal refinement and the development of the microstructure have been investigated in detail by x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and transmission electron microscopy. The deformation process causes a decrease of the grain size of the fcc metals to 6–22 nm for the different elements. The final grain size scales with the melting point and the bulk modulus of the respective metal: the higher the melting point and the bulk modulus, the smaller the final grain size of the powder. Thus, the ultimate grain size achievable by this technique is determined by the competition between the heavy mechanical deformation introduced during milling and the recovery behavior of the metal. X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis of the nanocrystalline powders reveal that the crystal size refinement is accompanied by an increase in atomic-level strain and in the mechanically stored enthalpy in comparison to the undeformed state. The excess stored enthalpies of 10–40% of the heat of fusion exceed by far the values known for conventional deformation processes. The contributions of the atomic-level strain and the excess enthalpy of the grain boundaries to the stored enthalpies are critically assessed. The kinetics of grain growth in the nanocrystalline fcc metals are investigated by thermal analysis. The activation energy for grain boundary migration is derived from a modified Kissinger analysis, and estimates of the grain boundary enthalpy are given.


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