Geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic composition of the Harrat Al-Madinah Volcanic Field,Saudi Arabia

Whole-rock geochemical and Sr, Nd and Pb isotope data are presented for the Harrat Al-Madinah volcanic field, in the north western part of the Arabian plate, aiming to understand their origin and the composition of their mantle source. This area is an active volcanic field characterized by the occurrence of two historic eruptions approximately in 641 and 1256 A.D. Field investigation of the main volcanic landforms indicates dominantly monogenetic strombolian eruptions, in addition to local phreatomagmatic eruption style. The lavas consist mainly of alkali olivine basalt, olivine transitional basalt, and hawaiite with ocean island basalt (OIB)-like characteristics. Evolved rocks, represented by mugearites, benmoreites, and trachytes, occur mainly as domes, tuff cones and occasionally as lava flows. Chemical variations in the evolved rocks indicated their evolution by low pressure crystal fractionation of olivine, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and Fe–Ti oxides from the relatively primitive basalts. The isotopic compositions of ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.512954–0.512995), ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.702899 to–0.702977) and Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.5515–18.7446, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.5120–15.5222, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.1347–38.4468), show restricted variations suggesting only minor crustal contamination. They defined an array consistent with mixing of two geochemically distinct components of depleted MORB-mantle (DMM) and high ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb ratio (HIMU). The variations in Tb/Yb, La/Yb and Sm/Yb ratios in the relatively primitive basalts (MgO > 6 wt.%) indicated garnet peridotite source. However, the positive Nb, Sr, Ba and Ti anomalies in the primitive mantle-normalized incompatible element patterns and the significant variation between Zr/Nb vs. Ce/Y and La/Yb vs. Yb suggest contribution of an amphibole-bearing spinel lherzolite source. Moreover, the negative correlations between SiO₂ vs. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Th vs. ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd are interpreted as an indication of mixing melts derived from two end-members; one is garnet bearing asthenospheric source with OIB characteristic and the other is amphibole-bearing spinel lherzolite. The Harrat Al-Madinah volcanic field occurs near the Red Sea Rift System and its origin reflects a strong lithospheric control on the loci of partial melting. The dominantly NNW alignment patterns of the volcanoes, which is similar to the regional Red Sea trend, may suggest that the magmas were produced by decompression partial melting triggered by lithospheric extension related to the Red Rift.     

Qualitative risk assessment schemes using selected parameters for hillslope developments: a case study of Penang Island

Development of hilly areas requiring deforestation and increased human activities has raised many environmental issues in the world. This paper presents the results of investigation to assess the parameters that contribute to the risk to environment by reviewing available reports from Penang Island and surrounding areas. Nine parameters were identified that mostly contribute to the environmental risk. These are casualties of people, soil properties, earth coverage, soil grading characteristics, land use suitability, factor of safety, blasting area, distance between proposed structure to slope and geometry of slope. From these parameters, the rated risk approaches were proposed based on the prediction of occurrences of environmental issues. The rated risks were categorised from very high (5) to very low (1) with high, medium and low in between. The assessments were reviewed and evaluated based on rated risk for the chosen parameters. A map was developed identifying areas of environmental risk. The map can be used to quantify risk to the environment based on the parameters due to the proposed development. The overall result shows that areas PD3 of Tanjung Bungah and PD3, PD8 and PD9 of Paya Terubong have high-rated risk. No development area is classified as very high risk and very low-risk areas. These rating approaches can be used to develop potential risk zoning of proposed development areas. From this zoning guideline or standard, the viability of any proposed development can be measured.     

Identifying geological hazards related to tunneling in carbonate karstic rocks - Zagros, Iran

The construction of tunnels in carbonate karstic rocks has always been the most hazardous and problematic task in civil and mining engineering, as it can threaten tunneling project from safety, time and economic aspects. Therefore, it is essential to identify hazards resulting from construction in early stages of a project. The present paper is aimed to identify main geological hazards related to tunneling in carbonate karstic rocks in the Zagros Mountains. The process of identification relies upon a review of construction experiences obtained from several projects with a focus on the Kuhrang Tunnels. Obviously, groundwater inrush and tunnel flooding, ground inflow and fill-back of the tunnel, instability of weak fill materials, and TBM jamming are the main potential hazards of tunneling in the Zagros Mountains, imposing huge problems during construction. Inadequate understanding of hazards and not being prepared enough to take appropriate countermeasures are the main sources of the problems. In addition, the investigation of the present study provides guidelines to reduce the risks of tunneling in the carbonate karstic rocks with similar geological condition.     

Mechanical and Physical Characterization of Tabriz Marls, Iran

Three types of marls can be found in the Tabriz area (Iran): yellow, green, and gray/black marls. In the present paper, strength and deformation characteristics of Tabriz marls and their stress–strain behavior are investigated by various in situ and laboratory tests. In order to study the deformation behavior of these marls, various experiments such as the pressuremeter test, plate loading test (PLT), seismic wave velocity test, uniaxial compression test, standard penetration test (SPT), and direct shear test were carried out. Ranges of strain at the elastic and failure points were determined. Young’s and shear modulus were obtained. Test results showed that the strength characteristics increase with depth. The value of deformation modulus determined by the pressuremeter test was in good agreement with those obtained from the PLT. This implies that pressuremeter is a suitable in situ test for characterizing the deformation modulus of marl. Deformation modulus obtained from pressuremeter and plate loading tests were approximately 4–5 times the results of uniaxial compressive test and the deformation modulus obtained from seismic data was about 30–50 times the static deformation modulus. Stress–strain curves showed that the maximum value of strain at the elastic and failure points and the minimum value of strength and deformation modulus are corresponding to the yellow marls while the minimum value of strain and the maximum value of strength and deformation modulus are corresponding to the gray/black marls. Some empirical relationships between different characteristics of Tabriz marls were also derived.     

Geochemistry of mafic dykes from the Southeast Anatolian ophiolites,Turkey: Implications for an intra-oceanic arc–basin system

The Late Cretaceous–Tertiary accretionary prism in Eastern Turkey includes several ophiolitic megablocks and/or tectonic slivers (Mehmetalan, Mollatopuz and Alabayir) within a mélange complex, mainly comprising harzburgite, dunite and cumulate-textured gabbro. The diabases, which are the main focus of this study, cut across the ophiolites as parallel and variably thick dyke-swarms. Geochemistry of the diabases reveals three distinct groups, including a) supra-subduction zone (SSZ) type, which is characterized by marked Nb-anomaly and normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) like HFSE distribution, b) enriched MORB (E-MORB) type, showing some degree of enrichment relative to N-MORB, c) oceanic-island basalt (OIB) type with characteristic hump-backed trace element patterns, coupled with fractionated REE distribution. Among these groups, SSZ- and E-MORB-type signatures are acquired from the Mehmetalan and Mollatopuz suites, whereas OIB-type characteristics are found in the Alabayir suite. The melting models indicate involvement of both depleted and enriched sources for the genesis of the studied dykes. The close spatial relationship, similar ages (based on Ar–Ar dating) and the presence of variable subduction component displayed by Mehmetalan and Mollatopuz suites may indicate melt generation in an intra-oceanic SSZ within the southern branch of Neotethys. In spite of the solely OIB-like character of the Alabayir suite, the similar age obtained from these dykes may suggest their formation in a similar SSZ setting. Alternatively, the Alabayir suite may have represented an oceanic island or seamount formed in an intra-plate setting with or without plume influence. We suggest that decompression melting triggered by slab roll-back mechanism during the closure of the southern branch of the Neotethys during the Late Cretaceous may have been the main process that led to generation of magmas of both depleted and enriched characteristics.     

Petrographic and Geochemicial Characteristics of the K?z?loren Formation (Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic) in the Akp?nar (Konya, Turkey) Area

This paper describes the occurrence of dolomite and the mechanism of dolomitization of the Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic K?z?loren Formation in the autochthonous Bolkardag? unit of the middle Taurus Mountains in south western Turkey. Dolomites were analyzed for geochemical, isotopic and crystallographic variation. Dolomites occur as a replacement of precursor carbonate and cement. The dolomite crystals range from <10 to ~1000 μm existing as both replacements and cements. Sr concentrations range between 84 and 156 ppm, and the molar Sr/Ca ratios of dolomitizing fluids are estimated to range between 0.0066 to 0.013 ratios. Dolomites are Ca-rich (with average CaCO3 and MgCO3 equal to 56.43 and 43.57 mol%, respectively) and they are non-stoichiometric, with an average Sr=116 ppm, Na=286 ppm, Mn=81 ppm, Fe=1329 ppm, and δ18O and δ13C ranges from –0.6‰ to –6.1‰ Pee Dee Belemnite [PDB], and +1.2 to +3.9‰ PDB. The North American Shale Composition [NASC]-normalized rare earth element (REE) values of the both limestone and dolomite sample groups show very similar REE patterns characterized by small positive Eu (mean=1.32 and mean=1.42, respectively) and slightly or considerably negative Ce (mean=0.61 and mean=0.72, respectively) anomalies and a clear depletion in all REE species. The K?z?loren Formation dolomites have been formed as early diagenetic from mixing zone fluids at the tidal-subtidal environment and at the late diagenetic from basinal brines at the shallow-deep burial depths.     

Evaluation of liquefaction in Karasu River floodplain after the October 23, 2011, Van (Turkey) earthquake

Natural Hazards - The eastern shore of Lake Van was shaken by a powerful earthquake (M w 7.2) on October 23, 2011. The epicenter of the earthquake was located at about 30&nbsp;km north of the...     

Bridge pier scour mitigation under steady and unsteady flow conditions

Watercourse morphology is affected by local scouring when the flow interferes with anthropic structures. Controlling the scour hole size is of predominant importance to guarantee bridge safety as well as to limit the variations of river morphology. A combined countermeasure against bridge pier scour is proposed and tested in order to reduce the maximum scour depth and deviate it away from the bridge foundation. In the first part of the laboratory campaign, combination of two countermeasures (bed-sill and collar) was evaluated for a circular pier under clear-water and live-bed steady flow conditions. The proposed combined countermeasure exhibited an efficiency of about 64% in terms of scour depth reduction. Afterwards, it was tested in unsteady flow conditions, first for a circular pier, then in the case of a rectangular pier with round nose and tail, two circular in-line piers and two rectangular in-line piers, under a hydrograph with a peak flow velocity slightly above the threshold condition of sediment motion. Results showed that the combined countermeasure had an efficiency of about 63% for a single circular pier; however, higher efficiency (about 75%) was obtained in applications to rectangular pier and two in-line circular or rectangular piers.