Petrographical and geochemical signatures of Jurassic rocks of Chari Formation,Western India: implications for provenance and tectonic setting

The sandstones of the Ridge and Athleta members of Chari Formation (Callovian-Oxfordian) exposed at Jara have been analyzed for their petrographical and geochemical studies. Texturally, these sandstones are medium to coarse grained, poorly to well sorted, sub-angular to sub-rounded, and show low to medium sphericity. These sandstones were derived from a mixed provenance including granites, granite-gneisses, low and high-grade metamorphic, and some basic rocks of Aravalli range and Nagarparkar massif. The petrofacies analysis reveals that these sandstones belong to the continental block and recycled orogen tectonic regime. The studied sandstones are modified by paleoclimate, distance of transport, and diagenesis. Mineralogically and geochemically, sandstones are classified as quartzarenite, subarkose, arkose, sublithic arenite, and wacke, respectively. The A-CN-K ternary plot and CIA, CIW, PIA, and ICV values suggest that the similar source rocks suffered moderate to high chemical weathering under a hot-humid climate in an acidic environment with higher \({\text{P}}_{{{\text{CO}}_{ 2} }}\). Generally good to strong correlations between Al₂O₃ and other oxides in these sediments indicate clay mineral control. The K₂O/Na₂O versus SiO₂ diagram indicates that the studied samples occupy passive margin fields but the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ versus K₂O/Na₂O plot suggests that the Athleta Sandstone and Ridge Sandstone fall within the passive margin field, while Ridge Shale falls within the active continental margin field.     

GIS-based DRASTIC model for groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk assessment in the Peshawar District,Pakistan

Groundwater is the most economic natural source of drinking in urban and rural areas which are degraded due to high population growth and increased industrial development. We applied a GIS-based DRASTIC model in a populated urban area of Pakistan (Peshawar) to assess groundwater vulnerability to pollution. Six input parameters—depth to phreatic/groundwater level, groundwater recharge, aquifer material, soil type, slope, and hydraulic conductivity—were used in the model to generate the groundwater vulnerable zones. Each parameter was divided into different ranges or media types, and ratings R?=?1?–?10 were assigned to each factor where 1 represented the very low impact on pollution potential and 10 represented very high impact. Weight multipliers W?=?1?–?5 were also used to balance and enhance the importance of each factor. The DRASTIC model scores obtained varied from 47 to 147, which were divided into three different zones: low, moderate, and high vulnerability to pollution. The final results indicate that about 31.22, 39.50, and 29.27% of the total area are under low, moderate, and high vulnerable zones, respectively. Our method presents a very simple and robust way to assess groundwater vulnerability to pollution and helps the decision-makers to select appropriate landfill sites for waste disposals, and manage groundwater pollution problems efficiently.     

Investigation of radio astronomical windows between 1 MHz and 2060 MHz in Universiti Malaya,Malaysia

An indoor and an outdoor radio frequency survey was conducted in Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, as a test site, for the purpose of developing radio astronomy research in Malaysia. This is the first radio astronomical survey of any such done in Malaysia. Observation and analysis were done in the radio frequency spectrum between 1 MHz and 2060 MHz. In this paper, the experimental setup and procedure of surveying are outlined and the measured data are interpreted. The eight radio astronomical windows were investigated from a 24 h observation, with the emphasis on two of the most important radio astronomical windows which are protected by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Some intermittent observations were also done for referencing purposes. The radio frequency interferences (RFIs) are found to be relatively low. The overall relative Interference-to-Noise ratio (INR) at this test site ranges between 5.72% and 11.74%. The average strength of RFI in the eight focused radio astronomical windows at this site ranges between ?100 dBm and ?90 dBm (equivalently between 9.23 × 10⁴ Jy and 93.29 × 10⁴ Jy at resolution bandwidth of 125 kHz).     

Modeling soil collapse by artificial neural networks

The feasibility of using neural networks to model the complex relationship between soil parameters, loading conditions, and the collapse potential is investigated in this paper. A back propagation neural network process was used in this study. The neural network was trained using experimental data. The experimental program involved the assessment of the collapse potential using the one-dimensional oedometer apparatus. To cover the broadest possible scope of data, a total of eight types of soils were selected covering a wide range of gradation. Various conditions of water content, unit weights and applied pressures were imposed on the soils. For each placement condition, three samples were prepared and tested with the measured collapse potential values averaged to obtain a representative data point. This resulted in 414 collapse tests with 138 average test values, which were divided into two groups. Group I, consisting of 82 data points, was used to train the neural networks for a specific paradigm. Training was carried out until the mean sum squared error (MSSE) was minimized. The model consisting of eight hidden nodes and six variables was the most successful. These variables were: soil coefficient of uniformity, initial water content, compaction unit weight, applied pressure at wetting, percent sand and percent clay. Once the neural networks have been deemed fully trained its accuracy in predicting collapse potential was tested using group II of the experimental data. The model was further validated using information available in the literature. The data used in both the testing and validation phases were not included in the training phase. The results proved that neural networks are very efficient in assessing the complex behavior of collapsible soils using minimal processing of data. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Field technique of permeability tests in highly fissured limestone strata

A design of a dewatering system is necessary for site improvement prior to the construction of some structures. The design of an efficient dewatering system requires estimating the value of the in-situ coefficient of permeability. The available relationships for estimating the permeability coefficient were developed based on limited field measurements and conditions, and their predictions vary by several orders of magnitudes. Therefore, it was necessary to conduct field measurements of permeability and determine the relationship that best fits these measurements prior to the design of a dewatering system for specific geological and site conditions. This paper presents field measurements of permeability in complex chaotic and diagenetic limestone strata. It also offers comparative analysis of several relationships available in the literature for predicting the in-situ coefficient of permeability. The analysis is conducted for both steady and nonsteady conditions. The results show that the coefficient of permeability value is dependent on the water table level, which is affected by the tidal condition. The US Navy equation is shown to give the best correlation with field measurements. Electronic Publication     

The Investigation of Mass Transfer in the Karasu Karstic Aquifer, Konya, Turkey

In this study, the changes in the chemical composition of the groundwater along a flow path were examined by using the water samples collected from unconfined, semi-confined and confined parts of the Karasu karstic aquifer. It was determined that transport of bicarbonate, calcium, and magnesium was dominant in unconfined and semi-confined parts of the aquifer, whereas calcite and dolomite precipitate in the confined parts. On the other hand, gypsum dissolution is present in all parts of the aquifer. In addition, the computed saturation indices explain the occurrences and precipitation of travertines in the Goksu Valley, which is the discharge area for the aquifer. Electronic Publication     

A geotechnical investigation of the retrogressive Yaka Landslide and the debris flow threatening the town of Yaka (Isparta,SW Turkey)

In this study the factors affecting the retrogressive Yaka Landslide, its mechanism and the hazard of debris flow on the town of Yaka are investigated. In the landslide area, the first landslide was small and occurred in March 2006 on the lower part of the Alaard?ç Slope near the Gelendost District town of Yaka (Isparta, SW Turkey). The second, the Yaka Landslide, was large and occurred on 19 February 2007 in the soil-like marl on the central part of Alaard?ç Slope. The geometry of the failure surface was circular and the depth of the failure surface was about 3 m. Following the landslide, a 85,800 m³ of displaced material transformed to a debris flow. Then, the debris flow moved down the Eglence Valley, traveling a total distance of about 750 m. The town of Yaka is located 1,600 m downstream of Eglence Creek and hence poses a considerable risk of debris flow, should the creek be temporarily dammed as a result of further mass movement. Material from the debris accumulation has been deposited on the base of Eglence Valley and has formed a debris-dam lake behind a debris dam. Trees, agricultural areas, and weirs in the Eglence Creek have seen serious damage resulting from the debris flow. The slope angle, slope aspect and elevation of the area in this study were generated using a GIS-based digital elevation model (DEM). The stability of the Alaard?ç Slope was assessed using limit equilibrium analysis with undrained peak and residual shear strength parameters. In the stability analyses, laboratory test results performed on the soil-like marls were used. It was determined that the Alaard?ç Slope is found to be stable under dry conditions and unstable under completely saturated conditions. The Alaard?ç Slope and its vicinity is a paleolandslide area, and there the factor of safety for sliding was found to be about 1.0 under saturated conditions. The Alaard?ç Slope and the deposited earthen materials in Eglence Creek could easily be triggered into movement by any factors or combination of factors, such as prolonged or heavy rainfall, snowmelt or an earthquake. It was established that the depth of the debris flow initiated on the Yaka Landslide reached up to 8 m in Eglence Creek at the point it is 20 m wide. If this deposited material in Eglence Creek is set into motion, the canal that passes through Yaka, with its respective width and depth of 7 and 1.45 m, could not possibly discharge the flow. The destruction or spillover of this canal in Yaka could bring catastrophic loss to residents which are located within 3–5 m of the bank of the canal. Furthermore, if material present in the landslide source area slides and this displaced material puts pressure on the unstable deposited material in Eglence Creek, even more catastrophic loss would occur to the town of Yaka. In this study, it was determined that debris flows are still a major hazard to Yaka and its population of 3,000. The results provided in this study could help citizens, planners, and engineers to reduce losses caused by existing and future landslides and debris flow in rainfall and snowmelt conditions by means of prevention and mitigation.     

地球介质的非定常参数黏弹模型

用开尔文黏弹模型对实验蠕变曲线和冰后期地面抬升观测曲线进行反演,得到相关的黏弹参数,发现所有的黏弹参数都随实验（或观测）时间长度发生有规律的变化, 表明黏弹参数是实验(或观测)时间的函数.在此基础上提出非定常参数的黏弹模型,将通常采用的剪切模量μ₂、弛豫时间τ 和黏度η 相应地从常数修正为时间的函数μ₂(t)、τ(t) 和η（t）,检验表明修正后的开尔文模型可以更好地符合实测蠕变曲线.用修正后的μ₂(t)对软流层的黏度进行估算,其值约为4.6×10²⁰ Pa·s.     

Caractérisation de la structure interne et de l'état hydrique de glissements argilo-marneux par tomographie géophysique : l'exemple du glissement-coulée de Super-Sauze (Alpes du Sud,France)

Geophysical methods such as seismic surveying and electrical resistivity imaging appear to be well-adapted to investigate and understand landslide mechanisms. They allow direct and non-intrusive measurement of acoustic velocity and electrical resistivity, two fundamental parameters used to define the physical properties of the reworked moving materials. Both methods were applied at the Super-Sauze site in the French South Alps, where a typical example of an intra-material earthflow-mudslide can be observed. Measurements were taken simultaneously along two orthogonal profiles: one 325 m in length is perpendicular to the axis of the earthflow; the other 235 m in length is located along the axis of the earthflow. The results show a correlation between the seismic and electrical resistivity data, confirming that the simultaneous use of both methods gives complementary information about landslide mechanisms. The seismic data provide information on fracture density variations, whereas the electrical resistivity data provide information on water content variations. To cite this article: G. Grandjean et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).