Regional distribution pattern of groundwater heavy metals resulting from agricultural activities

Contaminations of groundwater by heavy metals due to agricultural activities are growing recently. The objective of this study was to evaluate and map regional patterns of heavy metals (Cd, Zn and Cu) in groundwater on a plain with high agricultural activities. The study was conducted to investigate the concentration of heavy metals and distribution in groundwater in regions of Shush Danial and Andimeshk aquifers in the southern part of Iran. Presently, groundwater is the only appropriate and widely used source of drinking water for rural and urban communities in this region. The region covers an area of 1,100 km² between the Dez and Karkhe rivers, which lead to the Persian Gulf. For this study, the region was divided into four sub-regions A, B, C and D. Additionally, 168 groundwater samples were collected from 42 water wells during the earlier months of 2004. The flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS-Flame) was used to measure the concentration of heavy metals in water samples and the Surfer software was used for determination of the contour map of metal distribution. The results demonstrated that in all of the samples, Cd and Zn concentrations were below the EPA MCLG and EPA secondary standard, respectively. However, the Cu contents of 4.8 % of all samples were higher than EPA MCL. It is also indicated that the concentrations of metals were more pronounced at the southern part of the studied region than at the others. The analysis of fertilizers applied for agricultural activities at this region also indicated that a great majority of the above-mentioned heavy metals were discharged into the environment. Absence of confining layers, proximity to land surface, excess agricultural activities in the southern part and groundwater flow direction that is generally from the north to the southern parts in this area make the southern region of the Shush plain especially vulnerable to pollution by heavy metals than by other contaminants.     

A Comparison about Metamorphism among the Oldest-Rock Units from Orogenic Belts of Dabie, Eastern Qinling and Eastern Kunlun of Central Mountain Ranges, China

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Effects of crude oil contamination on geotechnical properties of clayey and sandy soils

The southern coastal plain of Iran at the Persian Gulf encounters oil pollution due to the historical oil exploitation, related tanker navigations and accidents, and petrochemical industrial expansions in the recent years. Therefore, it is important to investigate the geochemical properties of oil-contaminated coastal soils and sediments for engineering and environmental purposes. Here, an extensive laboratory testing program was carried out to determine the effects of crude oil contamination on some of the geotechnical properties of clayey and sandy soils such as CL, SM and SP sampled from the coastal soils from this area. The testing included basic properties, Atterberg limits, compaction, direct shear, uniaxial compression and permeability tests on clean and contaminated soil samples at the same densities. The contaminated samples were prepared by mixing the soils with crude oil in the amount of 2%, 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16% by dry weight. The results indicated a decrease in strength, permeability, maximum dry density, optimum water content and Atterberg limits. Knowledge of these effects of oil contamination is important in coastal engineering and environmental remediation activities of the studied coastal plain.     

Iran and the continuing crisis in the Persian Gulf

Iran is attempting to return to its pre-Islamic revolution stage of regional hegemony in the Persian Gulf. During the 1980's, Iran alienated itself from both superpowers — the USA and the USSR. More recently, Iran has began a process of regaining much of its international legitimacy. This includes the adoption of a neutral stance during the Gulf War of 1991, acting as a mediator in Afghanistan and by a — so far — policy of restrained intervention in the newly independent Central Asian Moslem states of the former Soviet Union. Iran continues to see itself as a powerful Middle Eastern state which has the right to manage affairs in the Persian Gulf. This will be difficult to achieve as long as Iran is perceived as a reactionary state by the USA and European powers, in their continued support for Saudi regional interests.     

西藏冈底斯地块中新生代中酸性侵入岩特征与构造环境

冈底斯地块上的中新生代中酸性岩浆活动，是北部班公湖一怒江和南部雅鲁藏布两个特提斯演化及其后的陆内汇聚碰撞造山和后造山伸展等大地构造事件的完整记录。地块上的中酸性岩浆活动可划分为三个带，其中北部岩带岩浆岩形成于燕山期，其类型从早期的Ⅰ型到中期的过渡型再演化为晚期的S型，分别形成于板块俯冲-缝合-碰撞等构造条件下，是北部班公湖一怒江特提斯演化的集中反映。中部和南部岩浆岩带则集中体现了南部雅鲁藏布特提斯时空演化的完整经历，其中，南部岩带岩体以燕山晚期为主，喜山早期次之，成因及形成环境与特提斯洋壳向北俯7中作用密切相关(燕山晚期)，同时俯冲结束后的同碰撞条件下的岩浆活动在该岩带内也有明显的反映(喜山早期)；中部岩带岩体以喜山早期为主，燕山晚期次之，岩体大部分为同碰撞环境下岩浆活动的产物，它表征了随着洋壳板块向北俯冲程度的加深和强度的加剧，岩浆活动中心在不断向北迁移，并最终缝合碰撞的过程。因此，该岩带内岩浆岩主要形成于俯冲的晚阶段及缝合后的同碰撞条件下。喜山晚期的小斑岩体实际上广泛出露于整个冈底斯地块上，它反映的是该区在经历了碰撞造山后发生的陆内伸展的构造过程。     

Deepwater fold and thrust belt classification,tectonics, structure and hydrocarbon prospectivity: A review

Deepwater fold and thrust belts (DWFTBs) are classified into near-field stress-driven Type 1 systems confined to the sedimentary section, and Type 2 systems deformed by either far-field stresses alone, or mixed near- and far-field stresses. DWFTBs can occur at all stages of the Wilson cycle up to early stage continent continent collision. Type 1 systems have either weak shale or salt detachments, they occur predominantly on passive margins but can also be found in convergent-related areas such as the Mediterranean and N. Borneo. Examples include the Niger and Nile deltas, the west coast of Africa, and the Gulf of Mexico. Type 2 systems are subdivided on a tectonic setting basis into continent convergence zones and active margin DWFTBs. Continent convergence zones cover DWFTBs developed during continent–arc or continent–continent collision, and those in a deepwater intracontinental setting (e.g. W. Sulawesi, Makassar Straits). Active margins include accretionary prisms and transform margins. The greatest variability in DWFTB structural style occurs between salt and shale detachments, and not between tectonic settings. Changes in fold amplitude and wavelength appear to be more related to thickness of the sedimentary section than to DWFTB type. In comparison with shale, salt detachment DWFTBS display a lower critical wedge taper, more detachment folds, long and episodic duration of deformation and more variation in vergence. Structures unique to salt include canopies and nappes. Accretionary prisms also standout from other DWFTBs due to their relatively long, continuous duration, rapid offshore propagation of the thrust front, and large amount of shortening. In terms of petroleum systems, many similar issues affect all DWFTBs, these include: the oceanward decrease in heat flow, offshore increase in age of mature source rock, and causes of trap failure (e.g. leaky oblique and frontal thrust faults, breach of top seal by fluid pipes). One major difference between Type 1 and Type 2 systems is reservoir rock. High quality, continent-derived, quartz-rich sandstones are generally prevalent in Type 1 systems. More diagenetically reactive minerals derived from igneous and ophiolitic sources are commonly present in Type 2 systems, or many are simply poor in well-developed turbidite sandstone units. However, some Type 2 systems, particularly those adjacent to active orogenic belts are partially sourced by high quality continent-derived sandstones (e.g. NW Borneo, S. Caspian Sea, Columbus Basin). In some cases very high rates of deposition in accretionary prisms adjacent to orogenic belts, coupled with uplift due to collision, results in accretionary prism related fold belts that pass laterally from sub-aerial to deepwater conditions (e.g. S. Caspian Sea, Indo-Burma Ranges). The six major hydrocarbon producing regions of DWFTBs worldwide (Gulf of Mexico, Niger Delta, NW Borneo, Brazil, West Africa, S. Caspian Sea) stand out as differing from most other DWFTBs in certain fundamental ways, particularly the very large volume of sediment deposited in the basins, and/or the great thickness and extent of salt or overpressured shale sdetachments.     

Modification of the quality of water injected into Louisiana gulf coast sands: Effects of cation exchange

Interest in artificially recharging selected shallow sands in South Louisiana with fresh water has been stimulated by the desire to retard contamination of municipal groundwater supplies by brackish water, to retard ground subsidence and decrease pumping lifts, and to develop emergency subsurface supplies of potable water for communities dependent on surface waters susceptible to contamination. Results of field experiments, laboratory work, and model calculations demonstrate that ion exchange reactions involving clays dispersed in aquifer sands can be expected to modify significantly the composition of waters injected into Gulf Coast sediments. As little as 0.1 weight percent smectite (montmorillonite) can remove, by exchange with absorbed Na, a significant fraction of the dissolved Ca and Mg present in the injected water. The hardness of the water is thus reduced, which may be a desirable modification in water quality. Exchange occurs as fast as the fluids can be pumped into or out of the aquifer, and the water-softening capacity of the aquifer can be restored by allowing sodium-rich native pore waters to sweep back over the dispersed clays. Each acre of an aquifer 50 feet thick and containing 0.1 wt % smectite could soften half a million gallons of injected Mississippi River water. Many individual Gulf Coast aquifers underlie tens of thousands of acres, and their potential softening capacity is thus enormous. Additional exchange processes involving adjacent aquitard shales presumably will operate over long-term periods. It is possible that Gulf Coast aquifers will be used at some point in the future as processing plants to treat injected water to improve its quality for a variety of municipal and industrial purposes.     

Identifying sources of salinization using hydrochemical and isotopic techniques, Konarsiah, Iran

Konarsiah salt diapir is situated in the Simply Folded Zone of the Zagros Mountain, south Iran. Eight small permanent brine springs emerge from the Konarsiah salt body, with average total dissolved solids of 326.7 g/L. There are numerous brackish to saline springs emerging from the alluvial and karst aquifers adjacent to the diapir. Concerning emergence of Konarsiah diapir in the study area, halite dissolution is the most probable source of salinity in the adjacent aquifers. However, other sources including evaporation and deep brines through deep Mangerak Fault are possible. The water samples of the study area were classified based on their water-type, salinity, and the trend of the ions concentration curves. The result of this classification is in agreement with the hydrogeological setting of the study area. The hydrochemical and isotopic evaluations show that the groundwater samples are the result of mixing of four end members; Gachsaran sulfate water, Sarvak and Asmari carbonate fresh waters, and diapir brine. The molar ratios of Na/Cl, Li/Cl, Br/Cl, and SO₄/Cl; and isotopic signature of the mixed samples justify a groundwater mixing model for the aquifers adjacent to the salt diapir. The share of brine in each adjacent aquifer was calculated using Cl mass balance. In addition, concentrations of 34 trace elements were determined to characterize the diapir brine and to identify the possible tracers of salinity sources in the mixed water samples. B, Mn, Rb, Sr, Cs, Tl, and Te were identified as trace elements evidencing contact of groundwater with the salt diapir.     

西藏南部过铝花岗岩的分布及其意义

本文从西藏南部过铝花岗岩的岩带划分、空间分布和岩浆活动的峰期、规模等方面，总结了西藏南部过铝花岗岩时空分布的基本特点和规律：过铝花岗岩岩浆活动始于早侏罗世，在中新世达到峰期，且主要集中在20～10Ma；岩石类型主要有电气石花岗岩、白云母花岗岩和二云母花岗岩；冈底斯带过铝花岗岩岩浆活动具有由东到西、由南向北的迁移活动规律；西藏南部过铝花岗岩的形成时代可划分为5期。     

Long-lived,Eocene-Miocene stationary magmatism in NW Iran along a transform plate boundary

The Eocene-Miocene Mianeh-Hashtroud igneous district in NW Iran is part of the Turkish–Caucasus–Iranian collision zone, a key region to decipher the assembly and differentiation of Gondwana-derived terranes along the Alpine-Himalayan convergence zone. Major inherited tectonic structures control in space and time the Mesozoic-Cenozoic transition from oceanic subduction to continental collision in the region. The geology of the study area is dominated by a polyphase, long-lived magmatic activity, spanning from ~45 to ~6 Ma. The igneous products are subalkaline to alkaline, with intermediate to acid compositions and a high-K calcalkaline to shoshonitic affinity. Evidence of crustal contamination is attested by inherited zircons in the oldest (Eocene-Oligocene) samples, with ages spanning from Neo-Archean to Paleocene. The Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the Eocene-Oligocene samples plot close to the Bulk Silicate Earth estimate, whereas the Miocene samples document stronger crustal contamination. The lack of correlation between Nd-Sr isotopes and SiO₂ supports a scenario of magma differentiation of different magma batches rather than crustal contamination. Major oxide and Sr-Nd isotopic variation lead us to suggest that magmatism is the consequence of re-melting of earlier underplated (Mesozoic-Tertiary) magmatic products, controlled by amphibole-dominated fractionation processes. Regional scale correlations show long-lived Cenozoic magmatism in NW Iran and Caucasus region, where the main porphyry and epithermal deposits occur. We propose that the Cenozoic collisional magmatism and the associated mineralisation at the junction between NW-Iran and Caucasus was controlled by the activity of a major, lithosphere-scale inherited boundary, transverse to the convergence zone. In such a geodynamic setting, the along-strike segmentation of the lithosphere slab generated asthenospheric melts, their upwelling into the metasomatised supra-subduction mantle wedge and the potential activation of different mantle and crustal sources, with consequent mineral endowment in the region.     

The record of the Late Palaeozoic active margin of the Palaeotethys in NE Iran: Constraints on the Cimmerian orogeny

The Cimmerian orogen resulted from the collision and accretion of several Perigondwanan blocks to the southern margin of Eurasia between the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic, following the closure of the Palaeotethys ocean. Remnants of this orogen discontinuously crop out in N (Alborz range) and NE Iran (Mashhad–Fariman area) below the syn- to post-collisional clastic successions of the Shemshak Group (Upper Triassic–Middle Jurassic) and the Kashaf Rud Formation (Bajocian). In NE Iran rock associations exposed in the Binalood Mountains, Fariman and Darreh Anjir areas include mafic–ultramafic intrusive rocks, basalts, silicoclastic turbidites and minor limestones, which have been interpreted in the past as ophiolitic remnants of the Palaeotethys ocean. Original stratigraphic, structural, geochemical and geochronological data, described in this paper, suggest a different interpretation. The volcano-sedimentary units of Fariman and Darreh Anjir complexes where deposited during Permian in a subsiding basin were siliciclastic turbidites, derived from the erosion of a magmatic arc and its basement, interfinger with carbonates and basaltic lava flows with both transitional and calc-alkaline affinity. The coexistence of magmatic rocks with different geochemical signature and the sedimentary evolution of the basin can be related to a supra-subduction setting, possibly represented by a fault-controlled intra-arc basin. The Fariman and the Darreh Anjir complexes are thus interpreted as remnants of a magmatic arc and related basins developed at the southern Eurasia margin, on top of the north-directed Palaeotethys subduction zone long before the collision of Iran with Eurasia. They were later involved in the Cimmerian collision during the Triassic. New radiometric ages obtained on I-type post-collisional granitoids postdating the collision-related deformational structures suggest that the suture zone closed before mid-Norian times. Deformation propagated later northward into the Turan domain involving the Triassic successions of the Aghdarband region.     

青藏高原冈底斯带中部朱诺地区林子宗群火山岩锆石U-Pb年龄和地球化学特征

林子宗火山岩是发育在青藏高原南部冈底斯带的古近纪火山岩, 被认为代表了新特提斯洋俯冲消减结束过渡到印度—亚洲大陆碰撞过程的产物, 其确切的时代对于限制印度—亚洲大陆的碰撞时限具有重要意义.对冈底斯带中部朱诺地区的林子宗火山岩进行了系统的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学、元素和Sr-Nd同位素地球化学研究, 获得的林子宗火山岩的典中组、年波组和帕那组LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄分别为64.8±1.6 Ma、59.7±1.8 Ma和48.9±0.8 Ma.元素和同位素地球化学结果表明, 朱诺地区各组特征与区域上特征相似, 其中典中组和年波组火山岩属于钙碱性和高钾钙碱性系列, 具有岛弧火山岩特点; 帕那组出现大量的钾玄岩, 属于同碰撞火山岩.证明前人提出的雅鲁藏布江地区洋盆闭合和印度—亚洲大陆碰撞开始时间为50 Ma左右的观点.      

Evaluation of ecotourism potential in the northern coastline of the Persian Gulf

This research has identified areas located in the northern coastline of the Persian Gulf in the south of Iran, as strategic and ecological sites, based on tourism potential assessing criteria. To this end coastal limits were identified by satellite imagery in terms of shorelines and the maximum extent of water approach into the land and taking into consideration the characteristics of the nearby coastal villages. The studied region was then compared to similar international criteria and experiences. The original criteria were then divided into three main and four sub criteria. The Kangan region was found to have a potential for tourism industry according to the mentioned criteria. Naiband Gulf with a score of 20 was ranked first followed by Asalouyeh with a score of 18 and finally Taheri and Kangan Ports with scores of 16 and 15, respectively. With a high tourism industry potential in the studied region the necessity of ecotourism quality enhancement and environmental management planning for the northern shoreline of the Persian Gulf becomes of vital importance.     

中条山早元古代花岗岩类岩体地球化学特征,成因及构造意义

本文介绍的横岭关、北峪、永济、野庙滩、太峪和烟庄岩体是中条山古裂谷中的早元古代花岗岩类岩体。就其成因类型而言,永济岩体是Ｉ型花岗岩类岩体,而横岭关、北峪、野庙滩、太峪和烟庄岩体属Ｓ型花岗岩类岩体。就其形成构造环境而言,永济、横岭关和北峪岩体均是陆缘裂谷Ａ型俯冲碰撞的产物,其中,永济和横岭关岩体还构成大陆边缘“成对”（Ｉ型和Ｓ型）花岗岩;而烟庄、野庙滩和太峪岩体是在陆缘裂谷Ａ型俯冲碰撞形成的内硅铝造     

How severely was the Persian Gulf affected by oil spills following the 1991 Gulf War?

Ostracods from 14 surface sediment samples taken from the northwest part of the Persian Gulf (Iranian side) at water depths of 32-54 m were studied to evaluate the environmental pollution caused by oil spills following the 1991 Gulf War. With the exception of two live ostracods, which show no response to the contamination, at least 58 closed carapaces from 18 taxa of herbivorous and sediment-feeding species were found containing dark brown oil. All contaminated specimens were restricted to the uppermost part of the sediments (0.0-0.5 cm). The extent of the impact and the number of affected species varies within the samples. The most heavily contaminated ostracods were encountered in samples 1, 3, 14, 21 and 26 in which 3-5% of the complete carapaces contain oil residues. Compared to a previous sampling in 1965, seven additional ostracod species occur in the modern Persian Gulf. This indicates an intact environmental state prior to the Gulf War.     

Spatiotemporal relation of RADAR-derived land subsidence with groundwater and seismicity in Semnan—Iran

Natural Hazards - Due to excessive harvesting of underground water resources in many important aquifers inside Iran, ground subsidence is occurring at different speeds. In present study, InSAR...     

Major Late-Triassic strike-slip displacement in the Seven Devils terrane, Oregon and Idaho: A result of left-oblique plate convergence?

The shortening direction in rocks deformed in collision or subduction zones is not directly related to the plate-convergence vector; rather, it is perpendicular to the collision zone or subduction zone, even in cases where plate convergence is oblique. The component of convergence parallel to the subduction/collision zone is expressed by strike-slip displacement in the arc region behind the subduction zone. Such strike-slip shear zones have been recognized in the Seven Devils terrane of northeastern Oregon and adjacent Idaho. One of these (the Oxbow shear zone consisting of cataclasite, mylonite, and ultra-mylonite) trends northeasterly from Oxbow, Oregon to Cuprum, Idaho. The original rock types of the shear zone were plagiogranite, gabbro, diabase, bassalt, and keratophyre. The age of the mylonitization is constrained by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates as Late Triassic. Meso- and microscopic structures (textures and quartz c-axes fabrics) indicate that the shear zone was formed by left-lateral, strike-slip motion. A minimum left-lateral displacement of 65 km has been estimated, but the true displacement may have been much larger. The Oxbow shear zone is interpreted as an intra-arc strike-slip zone of the Seven Devils terrane, related to left-oblique plate convergence during the Triassic.     

新疆北部地区上古生界火山岩分布及其构造环境

新疆北部地区石炭系火山岩主要发育于石炭纪-早二叠世由洋盆向陆内盆地转换阶段,发育碰撞与碰撞后伸展期两类构造环境火山岩; 围绕造山带构成西准噶尔、东准噶尔、准南三大岩区; 石炭系主要发育玄武岩-安山岩-英安岩-流纹岩组合,二叠系主要发育玄武岩-安山岩-流纹岩组合。下石炭统多表现为碰撞期活动陆缘构造环境海相中基性火山岩,上石炭统表现为被动陆缘海陆过渡相钙碱性系列中酸性火山岩; 下二叠统表现为陆相偏碱性中基性、中酸性火山岩。西准噶尔石炭系火山岩为一套海陆交互相中基性火山岩组合,具汇聚岛弧过渡壳特点。东准噶尔石炭系火山岩为一套基性、中酸性岩石组合,具早期岛弧挤压、晚期板内伸展环境特征; 准南博格达山前表现为典型裂谷环境火山岩。二叠系火山岩均为碰撞期后板内伸展构造环境,主要分布于西准噶尔岩区; 表现为东准卡拉麦里残留洋最先闭合隆升,西准达尔布特残留洋随后闭合,最后是北天山洋关闭构造演化次序。新疆北部地区上古生界石炭系-下二叠统火山岩油气成藏多遵循“源控论”,主要围绕石炭系与下二叠统烃源岩发育区、有效生烃中心于构造高部位成藏,晚石炭世伸展裂陷应为有利勘探领域。     

库车前陆盆地与波斯湾盆地盐构造对比研究

通过对库车前陆盆地和波斯湾盆地的盐层发育状况、盐构造特征以及盐构造与油气关系的对比研究,认为盐底辟构造与油气密切相关。库车前陆盆地勘探程度较低,应注重寻找盐底辟构造,以及与其相关的圈闭。库车前陆盆地盐构造的形成机制与波斯湾盆地下法尔斯组/加奇萨兰组相似,与霍尔姆兹组不同。根据波斯湾盆地下法尔斯组/加奇萨兰组盐构造在油气成藏中的作用,认为库车前陆盆地南部盐层较厚的地区应加强盐下勘探的力度,寻找盐下圈闭。北部山前盐层欠发育地区应注重寻找盐上圈闭,同时兼顾盐下圈闭。库车前陆盆地具有良好的三叠系和侏罗系烃源岩,应该有很广阔的勘探前景。     

西藏克鲁-冲木达矿集区资源潜力分析及找矿方向

克鲁-冲木达矿集区位于西藏南部扎囊-桑日之间,累计估算铜金属资源量达200多万t.文章从"景"、"场"、"相"、"床"金属成矿省等级体制出发,阐述了该矿集区在印-亚陆陆碰撞"陆内汇聚-地壳分层加厚-重力均衡调整"的高原隆升过程中的成矿地质背景,指出区内存在着与碰撞挤压流体迁移汇聚有关的层控铜矿床、碰撞后伸展环境中夕卡岩铜矿床、斑岩型铜矿床3种矿床类型.利用"成矿构造聚敛场"观点分析成矿资源潜力,并指明了找矿方向.