Geology and geochemistry of the granitic rocks and associated dykes, East Gabal Nuqra, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

A crescent-shape granitic stock and associated dykes is located to the East Gabal Nuqra at the extreme western part of Wadi Natash,South Eastern Desert,Egypt.The examined granites are classified as alkali-feldspar granites and mainly consist of quartz,potash feldspars,plagioclases,and aegirine-augite.Xenotime,zircon,apatite and allanite are accessories representing the source of Y,U,Th and REEs in these rocks.These granites are characterized by high K2O,Na2O and Zn contents and Rb/Sr ratio.Also,they are highly enriched in high field strength elements(HFSE),especially Zr(1529×10-6),Nb(100×10-6),Hf(91×10-6) and Y(624×10-6) and light rare-earth elements(LREE,141×10-6) concentrations and strongly depleted in Ca,Mg,Sr and Eu contents.These features suggest that they are similar to A-type granites(type-2).The rhyolite dykes and granites have similar geochemical characteristics whereas the chondrite-normalized REE patterns show a LREE enriched feature with strong negative Eu-anomaly,whereas the REE pattern of trachydacites show slightly fractionated pattern with no Eu-anomaly.It is suggested that the trachydacites were generated by small degree of partial-melting deep-seated basic source.Such liquid,when subjected to fractional crystallization involving separation of plagioclases as residue,generated the alkali-feldspar granites.And further fractional crystallization gave rise to the alkali rhyolites.The igneous rock suite originated from metaluminous to alkaline trachytic magma,and was developed in a within-plate tectonic environment.The extension caused by NW-SE right-lateral shear in area led to the emplacement of the alkali-feldspar granites.The later extrusion of the alkali rhyolite and trachydacite dykes was due to cauldron subsidence.     

Modeling in situ benzene bioremediation in the contaminated Liwa aquifer (UAE) using the slow-release oxygen source technique

Dissolved benzene was detected in the shallow unconfined Liwa aquifer, UAE, which represents the main freshwater source for the nearby residence Bu Hasa camp area. The main source of this contamination is believed to be the rejected water released from Bu Hasa liquid recovery plant. In this paper, a finite element model (METABIOTRANS) is used to simulate the fate and transport of the dissolved benzene plume in Liwa aquifer. Different remediation scenarios were simulated in which the slow-release oxygen source (SOS) technique is utilized to minimize benzene concentrations at the nearest camp supply wells downstream of the contamination zone. Results of the remediation scenarios show that the highest biodegradation rates occur when the oxygen source is placed near the plume center; where higher benzene concentrations exist. The nearest oxygen release source to the contamination zone caused higher stimulation to bacterial growth than further down-gradient oxygen sources. It also exhibited longer resident time of oxygen in the aquifer; and therefore, yielded higher reductions in benzene concentrations. However, using one central SOS proved to be insufficient as contaminant escaped laterally. Additional four transverse oxygen sources were necessary to capture benzene that laterally spread away from the contamination zone. These lateral SOSs were essential to reduce benzene concentrations at the supply wells that are located at the plume fringes. Finally, it was found that increasing oxygen release from one source did not always improve remediation; and that using several SOSs with lower release rates could be a more practical approach to enhance benzene biodegradation in the aquifer.     

Infinitesimal Orbits Around the Libration Points in the Elliptic Restricted Three Body Problem

The objective of the present work is to develope explicit analytical expressions for the small amplitude orbits of the infinitesimal mass about the equilibrium points in the elliptic restricted three body problem. To handle this dynamical problem, the Hamiltonian for the elliptic problem is formed with the true anomaly and then with the eccentric anomaly as independent variables. The origin is then transformed to a fixed point and the Hamiltonian is developed up to O(4) in the eccentricity, e, (which plays the role of the small parameter of the problem) of the primaries. The integration of the model problem under consideration is undertaken by means of a perturbation technique based on Lie series developments, which leads to the solution of the canonical equations of motion.     

Evaluation of two WAM white capping parameterizations using parallel unstructured SWAN with application to the Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA

The performance of two well accepted formulations for white capping and wind input of third generation wave models, viz., WAM-3 and WAM-4, were investigated using parallel unstructured SWAN (PunSWAN). Several alternative formulations were also considered to evaluate the effects of higher order steepness and wave number terms in white capping formulations. Distinct model configurations were calibrated and validated against available in situ measurements from the Gulf of Mexico. The results showed that some of the in situ calibrated models outperform the saturation level calibrated models in reproducing the idealized wave growth curves. The simulation results also revealed that increasing the power of the steepness term can enhance the accuracy of significant wave height (H_s), at the expense of a higher bias for large waves. It also has negative effects on mean wave period (T_a) and peak wave period (T_p). It is also demonstrated that the use of the quadratic wave number term in the WAM-3 formulation, instead of the existing linear term, ameliorates the T_a underestimation; however, it results in the model being unable to reach any saturation level. In addition, unlike H_s and T_p, it has been shown that T_a is sensitive to the use of the higher order WAM-4 formulation, and the bias is decreased over a wide range of wave periods. However, it also increases the scatter index (SI) of simulated T_a. It is concluded that the use of the WAM-4 wind input formulation in conjunction with the WAM-3 dissipation form, is the most successful case in reproducing idealized wave growth curves while avoiding T_a underestimation of WAM-3 and a potential spurious bimodal spectrum of WAM-4; consequently, this designates another perspective to improve the overall performance of third generation wave models.     

Distribution and characteristics of PAHs in sediments from the Mediterranean coastal environment of Egypt

To assess the contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Mediterranean coastal environment of Egypt, 26 sediment samples from the coastline, harbours, estuaries and coastal lakes were collected and analyzed. The sediment PAH concentrations of thirty-nine 2-6 ring PAHs ranged from 13.5 to 22,600 ng/g. PAH profiles varied according to the nature of the site and its proximity to sources. Industrialized and urbanized region showed high level of PAHs contamination. In general, the contamination levels of PAHs were similar to those observed in contaminated and slightly contaminated sediments of the Mediterranean Sea. Molecular indices based on ratios of selected PAH concentrations were used to differentiate PAHs from pyrogenic and petrogenic and mixed origins. Good correlations were observed between the petrogenic index, MP/P, A-PAHs/P-PAHs and HMW/LMW. Finally, PAH levels in sediments were compared with Sediments Quality Guidelines (ERM-ERL) for evaluation of probable toxic effects on organism.     

Efficiency of standardized image processing in the fragmentation prediction in the case of Sungun open-pit mine

The paper proposes a standardized image-processing procedure with the use of sieve analysis results for calibration which is utilized to measure the size distribution of fragmentation at Sungun mine. Through this procedure, a number of 19 bench blasting in various levels have been initially selected as the target of the study for each, multiple photos were taken immediately after blast from suitable perspectives and locations of the muckpiles surfaces. The number of image sampling was chosen adequately high to achieve further reliability of the whole photography procedure. Then fragments of each muckpile were separately mixed by a loader, where another image sampling from these new muckpiles, bucket of loaders, and haulage trucks was performed. For the purpose of sieve analysis, seven sieves with the mesh sizes between 1.27 cm (0.5 in) and 25.4 cm (10 in) were designed, manufactured, and then installed at Sungun semi-industrial laboratory. Additionally, three mass samples of the mixed fragments were randomly chosen among the 19 muckpiles for sieving. During image analysis stage, “sieve shift” and “mass power” factors, required to obtain standardized size distribution, were precisely assigned when the results obtained by the image analysis software was in accordance with the sieving results. In order to validate the reliability of the image processing, a comparative analysis of the achieved results was made with the results of the original Kuz–Ram model [Cunningham (1983) The Kuz–Ram model for prediction of fragmentation from blasting. In: Proceedings of the first international symposium on rock fragmentation by blasting, Lulea, Sweden, pp 439–454]. Finally, the image-processing procedure was found to be more efficient, with results close-matched to the real results of the sieve analysis.     

Robust reconstruction of aliased data using autoregressive spectral estimates

Autoregressive modeling is used to estimate the spectrum of aliased data. A region of spectral support is determined by identifying the location of peaks in the estimated spatial spectrum of the data. This information is used to pose a Fourier reconstruction problem that inverts for a few dominant wavenumbers that are required to model the data. Synthetic and real data examples are used to illustrate the method. In particular, we show that the proposed method can accurately reconstruct aliased data and data with gaps.     

Assessment of persistent organochlorine pollutants in sediments from Lake Manzala, Egypt

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in surface and core sediment samples collected from Manzala Lake, the largest of the Egyptian coastal lakes. Total concentrations of OCPs and ∑7 PCBs (ICES) in sediments ranged from 0.63 to 31.31 ng/g and 0.26 to 31.27 ng/g, respectively. Geographical distribution indicates that levels of contaminants were significantly higher in areas which are mainly influenced by municipal discharge, indicating significant sources of these compounds in urbanised areas. The composition of DDT and its metabolites suggest old input of DDT. The levels of contaminants in Manzala Lake were similar or lower than those observed in comparable areas worldwide. The profiles of ∑OCPs and ∑PCBs in a core from a site heavily impacted by sewage discharge have highest concentrations in the surface core section indicating recent inputs. Assessment of ecotoxicological risk indicated that sediments in two sites were likely to pose potential biological adverse impact.