Removal of textile dyes from aqueous solution by conducting polymer modified clinoptilolite

In this work, clinoptilolite was modified with conducting polyaniline polymer and then the nanocomposite was used as an adsorbent for methyl orange (MO) as a model dye. Cations located in clinoptilolite structure like Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ were exchanged with anilinium cations and then the polymerization of anilinium cations in and outside of the clinoptilolite channels resulted in the formation of polyaniline/clinoptilolite nanocomposite. The resulted nanocomposite was used for the removal of MO from aqueous solution. The effect of various factors like contact time, concentration of dye as well as the amount of adsorbent on the removal efficiency of dye was investigated. The adsorption isotherms were investigated. It was found that the equilibrium adsorption data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm model. The kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption process was controlled by pseudo-second-order equation. High adsorption capacity and low contact time as well as the low cost of modified clinoptilolite proved that it is an efficient adsorbent for the removal of MO from aqueous solutions.     

The use of the weights-of-evidence modeling technique to predictive porphyry Cu potential mapping in Ahar–Arasbaran zone,Iran

The weights-of-evidence is a data-driven method that provides a simple approach to integration of diverse geo-data set information. In this study, we will use weights-of-evidence to build a model for predicting tracts in the Ahar–Arasbaran zone of Urumieh-Dokhtar orogenic belt (northwestern Iran) that are favorable for porphyry copper deposits. Weights of evidence are a data-driven method requiring known deposits and occurrences that are used as training points in the evaluated area. This zone hosts two major porphyry Cu deposits (The Sarcheshmeh deposit contains 450 million tonnes of sulfide ore with an average grade of 1.13 % Cu and 0.03 % Mo and Sungun deposit, which has 500 million tonnes of sulfide reserves grading 0.76 % Cu and 0.01 % Mo), and a number of subeconomic porphyry copper deposits are all associated with Mid- to Late Miocene diorite/granodiorite to quartz-monzonite stocks. Five evidential layers including geology, alteration, geochemistry, geophysics, and faulting are chosen for potential mapping. Weight factors were determined based on the applied method to generate last mineral prospectivity map. The studied area reduces to less than 11.78 %, while large zones are excluded for further studies. This result represents a significant area reduction and may help to better focus on mineral exploration targeting porphyry copper deposits in the Ahar–Arasbaran zone.     

Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process and GIS for predictive Cu porphyry potential mapping: a case study in Ahar–Arasbaran Zone (NW, Iran)

Selection of potential areas for mineral exploration is a complex process and needs many diverse criteria. Combining analytic hierarchy process (AHP) modeling with geographic information system (GIS) provides an effective means for studies of mineral potential mapping evaluation. Fuzzy AHP is an extension of conventional AHP and by using fuzzy theory is obtained the advantage rather AHP method. In this paper to provide, potential mapping for Cu porphyry mineralization used fuzzy AHP and GIS in the Ahar–Arasbaran areas, several criteria, such as geology, geochemical and geophysical data, alteration, and faults were used. Each criterion was evaluated with the aid of fuzzy AHP and mapped by GIS. The method allowed a mixture of quantitative and qualitative information with group decision. The results and its validation demonstrate the acceptable outcomes for copper porphyry exploration.     

Enhancement of hydrothermal alteration zones using the spectral feature fitting method in Rabor area, Kerman, Iran

Rabor exploration area is in southeast of Kerman province, south of Urumieh-Dokhtar volcanic belt. Since there are many evidences of porphyry copper mineralization in this belt, prospecting and exploration of the intact and undiscovered places, especially the southern part of this belt, seems necessary. In this paper, use has been made of the “spectral feature fitting” (SFF) method to process ASTER satellite data (in Rabor exploratory area as a case study) for the identification and enhancement of hydrothermal alteration zones related to probable porphyry copper mineralization. The method is based on the comparison of absorption features in the image and the reference spectra. The distribution map of the indicator clay minerals, such as kaolinite, muscovite, illite, montmorillonite, alunite, pyrophyllite, dickite, chlorite, and epidote in Rabor exploratory area has been prepared with the help of this method. Identification and enhancement of alteration zones and overlaying Pay-Negin ore index on every individual zone reveal the capability and high efficiency of the SFF method in processing ASTER satellite data and preparing the distribution map of alteration minerals. Field and laboratory studies have shown that main alterations in this area are phyllic and argillic. These studies confirm the results obtained from remote sensing in the area.     

Hydrothermal evolution of Daraloo porphyry copper deposit, Iran: evidence from fluid inclusions

The Daraloo field is located in the southeast of Iran (Kerman province). It is associated with Oligomiocene diorite/granodiorite to quartz monzonite stocks. Copper mineralization is basically relevant to potassic and phyllic alteration zones. Petrographic and geologic studies imply that mineralization is restricted to two major parts locating in the center and east of district. The larger central mineralization has a northwest–southeast trend perpendicular to the smaller one. Hydrothermal ore fluid formation occurred in relatively deep levels thereafter faulting and fracturing provided appropriate conduits to ascend fluids through shallower depths. Early hydrothermal alteration produced a confined potassic assemblage in the central and eastern parts of the stock. Two main fluid inclusion groups in relationship with alteration ore fluids have been identified. They are liquid-rich inclusions containing solid phases, with high temperatures (257°C to 554°C) and high salinities (31 to 67 wt.% NaCl equiv.), and vapor-rich inclusions with high temperatures and low salinities without any solid phases. These magmatic source fluids are responsible for boiling and also potassic and phyllic alteration zone. They also resulted in the formation of quartz groups I and II veins and chalcopyrite deposition. Propylitic alteration is attributed to a Ca-rich meteoric fluid. Inclusions originated from this fluid are liquid-rich having low temperatures (161°C to 269°C) and low salinities (1 to 13 wt.% NaCl). Mixing descending meteoric water with magmatic fluids reduces considerably the salinity of magmatic fluid. Mixing is also the impetus of leaching copper from potassic to the phyllic zone. It is possible to conclude that all these procedures are controlled by the main faults of district having NW–SE trend. Two fundamental events affecting the mineralization are cooling ore-bearing fluids and magnetite (±pyrite) emplacement. The latter one is formed in potassic and phyllic alteration zone in which copper-bearing fluids have interaction with magnetite minerals and so chalcopyrite minerals have been formed nearby magnetites. Temperature and pressure of hydrothermal fluid differentiation could be applied as a predictive tool to discriminate between barren and productive copper porphyry deposits. A simple comparison of temperature and pressure variations between Daraloo deposit and other copper porphyry deposits located in the same belt of Iran (Sahand-Bazman belt) illuminates that Daraloo system has high range of pressure implying deeper exsolution of hydrothermal fluid. On the other hand, economic mineralization has direct relationship with temperature range of orthomagmatic fluids so that if a deposit has a wide range of high temperature fluids, it could be inferred as a barren deposit. In conclusion, it could be inferred that Daraloo district can be categorized as a sub-economic porphyry deposit. On the other hand, restricted formation of chalcopyrite and the other copper-bearing minerals besides large amounts of magnetite and pyrite can approve obviously the low grade of mineralization in Daraloo district.     

Geochemistry and petrography of REE-bearing Fe-oxide assemblages in Choghart iron deposit,Yazd, Iran

The Choghart magnetite-apatite deposit situated in the Bafq district, Central Iran, has been scrutinized for rare earth elements (REEs) by precise geochemical investigation. The Central Iran is a susceptible area of rare earth elements. One of the Choghart’s prominent points is the existence of hydrothermal zones which made prediction of REEs occurrence within the deposit possible. Choghart is placed within felsic volcanic tuffs, rhyolitic rocks, and volcanic sedimentary sections belonging to the lower Cambrian. Abundance and distribution pattern of REEs in Choghart iron deposits reveal a part of deposit formation and its mineralogical modifications. Petrography and mineralogy of the ore body demonstrated two main types of alterations (sodic and calcic) associated with iron ore mineralization in Choghart deposit. The main ore includes a large quantity of massive magnetite in the lower part of Choghart deposit. The minor mineralization involves apatite, pyrite, alkaline amphibole, especially actinolite and tremolite, calcite, talc, quart, monazite, and bastnasite. Geochemical sampling from north–northeast (N-NE) side of the mine denotes the presence of these elements in hydrothermal zones. Statistical populations of the area were categorized by fractal geometry into four main differentiations: host rock type (albitofyre), iron, metasomatose, phosphate zones, and a subset of the phosphate zone which is named high iron high phosphate type. REEs like lanthanum, neodymium, yttrium, and niobium constitute the most quantity of Choghart. Deposit characteristics demonstrate its similarity to Kiruna type. The significant feature of iron oxide-apatite deposits of Kiruna ore type is the existence of monazite inclusions within apatite. These inclusions were also observed within apatite type I and II of Choghart mineralization. Moreover, REEs geochemistry in Choghart deposit was identified by investigation on geochemical data analyses. The analysis represents negative Eu anomaly and further enrichment of light REEs compared to the heavy ones. Chondrite normalized REEs patterns are defined by negative anomalies of Eu, which is the main characteristic of Kiruna ore type. The results showed that REEs concentration in phosphate zone, as a high absorption of REEs, is much higher than metsomatose, albitofyre, and iron zones. REEs distribution in N-NE side of the mine indicated that the contact of iron ore with tailings in N-NW side of the mine leads REEs to be enriched nearly 1% , as well as that of NE with high contents of REEs 1.5% ), which is very significant.     

Application of GPS in Traffic Management Systems

Integrated Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) need reliable, accurate, and real-time data. Travel time, speed, and delay are three of the most important factors used in ITMS for monitoring, quantifying, and controlling congestion. GPS has recently become available for civil applications. Because it provides real-time spatial and time measurements, it has an increasing use in conducting different transportation studies. This article presents the application of GPS in collecting travel time, speed, and delay information of 64 major roads in the state of Delaware. A comparative statistical analysis was performed on data collected by GPS, with data collected simultaneously by the conventional method. The GPS data proved to be at least as accurate as the data collected by the conventional method, and it was 50% more efficient in terms of manpower. Moreover, the sample-size requirement was determined to maintain 95% confidence level throughout the controlled test. Benefiting from the Geographic Information System's dynamic segmentation tool, our travel time, delay, and speed information were integrated with other relevant traffic data. This was presented graphically on the Internet for public use. Statistical trend analysis for the data collected in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 are also presented and applications on the overall ITMS are discussed. ? 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Flood anticipation,reality, and uncertainty,the 2019 flood in Khuzestan,Iran

Natural Hazards - Despite the application of various methods to calculate uncertainty in flood vulnerability assessments, the challenge of uncertainty remains. The main purpose of this study was to...     

Groundwater geochemistry in the Meshkinshahr basin of Ardabil province in Iran

The chemical analysis of 59 water wells in Meshkinshar area, Ardabil province NW of IRAN has been evaluated to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and ion concentration background in the region. The dominated hydrochemical types are Na–SO₄, Ca–HCO₃, Na–HCO₃ and Na–Cl in the whole area. Based on the total hardness, the groundwater is soft. According to electrical conductivity and sodium adsorption ratio, the most dominant classes are C1–S1, C2–S1 and C3–S1. The major ion concentrations are below the acceptable level for drinking water. The groundwater salinity hazard is medium to high but the Na hazard is low to medium and in regard of irrigation water the quality is low to medium. So the drainage system is necessary to avoid the increase of toxic salt concentrations.     

Assessing Lateral Continuity within the Yammama Reservoir in the Foroozan Oilfield, Offshore Iran: An Integrated Study

Located in Iranian sector of the Persian Gulf, Foroozan Oilfield has been producing hydrocarbons via seven different reservoirs since the 1970s. However, understanding fluid interactions and horizontal continuity within each reservoir has proved complicated in this field. This study aims to determine the degree of intra-reservoir compartmentalization using gas geochemistry, light hydrocarbon components, and petroleum bulk properties, comparing the results with those obtained from reservoir engineering indicators. For this purpose, a total of 11 samples of oil and associated gas taken from different producing wells in from the Yammama Reservoir were selected. Clear distinctions, in terms of gas isotopic signature and composition, between the wells located in northern and southern parts of the reservoir (i.e. lighter δ13C1, lower methane concentration, and negative sulfur isotope in the southern part) and light hydrocarbon ratios (e.g. nC7/toluene, 2,6-dmC7/1,1,3-tmcyC5 and m-xylene/4-mC8) in different oil samples indicated two separate compartments. Gradual variations in a number of petroleum bulk properties (API gravity, V/Ni ratios and asphaltene concentration) provided additional evidence on the reservoir-filling direction, signifying that a horizontal equilibrium between reservoir fluids across the Yammama Reservoir is yet to be achieved. Finally, differences in water-oil contacts and reservoir types further confirmed the compartmentalization of the reservoir into two separate compartments.