Experimental estimation of velocities and anisotropy of a series of Swedish crystalline rocks and ores

To provide a guide for future deep (<1.5 km) seismic mineral exploration and to better understand the nature of reflections imaged by surface reflection seismic data in two mining camps and a carbonatite complex of Sweden, more than 50 rock and ore samples were collected and measured for their seismic velocities. The samples are geographically from the northern and central parts of Sweden, ranging from metallic ore deposits, meta‐volcanic and meta‐intrusive rocks to deformed and metamorphosed rocks. First, ultrasonic measurements of P‐ and S‐wave velocities at both atmospheric and elevated pressures, using 0.5 MHz P‐ and S‐wave transducers were conducted. The ultrasonic measurements suggest that most of the measured velocities show positive correlation with the density of the samples with an exception of a massive sulphide ore sample that shows significant low P‐ and S‐wave velocities. The low P‐ and S‐wave velocities are attributed to the mineral texture of the sample and partly lower pyrite content in comparison with a similar type sample obtained from Norway, which shows significantly higher P‐ and S‐wave velocities. Later, an iron ore sample from the central part of Sweden was measured using a low‐frequency (0.1–50 Hz) apparatus to provide comparison with the ultrasonic velocity measurements. The low‐frequency measurements indicate that the iron ore sample has minimal dispersion and attenuation. The iron ore sample shows the highest acoustic impedance among our samples suggesting that these deposits are favourable targets for seismic methods. This is further demonstrated by a real seismic section acquired over an iron ore mine in the central part of Sweden. Finally, a laser‐interferometer device was used to analyse elastic anisotropy of five rock samples taken from a major deformation zone in order to provide insights into the nature of reflections observed from the deformation zone. Up to 10% velocity‐anisotropy is estimated and demonstrated to be present for the samples taken from the deformation zone using the laser‐interferometery measurements. However, the origin of the reflections from the major deformation zone is attributed to a combination of anisotropy and amphibolite lenses within the deformation zone.     

Static and dynamic analysis on slope stability using a DFN-DEM approach on the right abutment of the Karun 4 dam

Uncertainty in input fracture geometric parameters during analysis of the stability of jointed rock slopes is inevitable and therefore the stochastic discrete fracture network (DFN) — distinct element method (DEM) is an efficient modeling tool. In this research, potentially unstable conditions are detected in the right abutment of the Karun 4 dam and downstream of the dam body as a case study. Two extreme states with small and relatively large block sizes are selected and a series of numerical DEM models are generated using a number of validated DFN models. Stability of the rock slope is assessed in both static and dynamic loading states. Based on the design basis earthquake (DBE) and maximum credible earthquake (MCE) expected in the dam site, histories of seismic waves are applied to analyze the stability of the slope in dynamic earthquake conditions. The results indicate that a MCE is likely to trigger sliding of rock blocks on the rock slope major joint. Furthermore, the dynamic analysis also shows a local block failure by the DBE, which can consequently lead to slope instability over the long term. According to the seismic behavior of the two models, larger blocks are prone to greater instability and are less safe against earthquakes.

     

Mantle flow patterns at the Neyriz Paleo-spreading center, Iran

The mantle peridotites of Neyriz record two successive episodes of plastic deformations; the first one related to the igneous accretion of the lithosphere and the second one developed during the first stage of the emplacement of the peridotites. These two events have been distinguished on the basis of microstructural criteria. The diapiric pattern, particularly relevant to the mantle process beneath spreading ridges, features vertical flow lines and elliptic flow plane trajectories in a pipe and extends along the ridge axis about 5 km. These structures rotate to horizontal and diverge in every direction in a narrow transition zone, a few hundred meters thick, below the Moho discontinuity. Such a diapiric pattern has been recognized in a few places along the Neyriz paleo-ridge. A large amount of magma passed through these mantle diapirs that were probably the main zones feeding the overlying magma chamber. The most common pattern features very regular structures over several kilometers along the strike of the paleo-ridge: the flow plane dips away from the ridge axis, and the flow line is parallel to the spreading direction. This flow pattern is frozen during the gradual accretion of the lithospheric mantle away from the ridge in a steady-state spreading regime. A shear-sense inversion at just below the Moho is commonly observed, pointing to forced asthenospheric flow. The reconstructed orientation of the Neyriz paleo-spreading center is 105°, compatible with the geometry and orientation of harzburgite foliations and lineations and sheeted dikes.     

Agent-based tsunami evacuation modeling of unplanned network disruptions for evidence-driven resource allocation and retrofitting strategies

The constant threat from landslides in the northeastern part of Istria, Croatia, calls for the need to apply accurate and reliable methods in landslide hazard assessment in order to prevent landslide damage and to set an early warning system if necessary. Furthermore, landslide susceptibility and hazard assessment enable optimal area management and regional urban planning. The study area is in the northeastern and central part of the Istrian Peninsula, well known as an area of frequent, small and shallow slope instability phenomena. Landslide susceptibility assessment in the area around the city of Buzet was performed using a deterministic landslide susceptibility model in the LS-RAPID software. LS-RAPID was developed to analyze stability at one single location, but the performed analysis has shown that LS-RAPID can be used as a powerful tool in landslide susceptibility and hazard assessment on regional scale. The objective of this paper is to establish the influence of the runout potential on the enlargement of the landslide-susceptible zones, due to expansion of the failure area around the initial failure zone. Performed analysis of rainfall return periods shows the frequency of landslide occurrence and provides the possible correlation with the time component of landslide hazard in the area.     

A study of differentiation pattern and rare earth elements migration in geochemical and hydrogeochemical environments of Airekan and Cheshmeh Shotori areas (Central Iran)

The Airekan and Cheshmeh Shotori areas are located about 60 km northeast of Khour, in Isfahan province from Central Iran. Research on characteristics and rare earth elements (REE) pattern in hydrogeochemical environments of these areas suggests the same origin for the elements dissolved in groundwater in these areas. Investigation of migration pattern of REE in hydrogeochemical environments shows that the migration and transportation of REE has occurred through chloride complexes. REEs, leached by water/rock interaction from the Airekan granite, are transported by groundwater and then precipitated in the Cheshmeh Shotori area. Study of the Cheshmeh Shotori sediments shows the presence of a sequence of red oxidized and dark layers. Geochemical characteristics of these sediments reveal that their REE characteristics are mainly inherited from the Airekan granite. Changes in the REE pattern of these sediments with depth show that changes in oxidation and reduction process have not played a significant role in controlling their behavior. It is crucial to note that adsorption of REEs dissolved in water by hydrosilicate increases these elements in depth. The REE behavior shows water/rock interaction between the granitic rocks and groundwater as the main factor of solution, migration and precipitation of REEs in the Cheshmeh Shotori area.     

Optimization of Flue Gas Composition to Maximize Base Gas Replacement During UGS Process

Natural Resources Research - Base gas replacement by a cheap gas is one of the approved methods to reduce the cost of investment in underground gas storage process. Maximizing the amount of...     

Potential of legacy 2D seismic data for deep targeting and structural imaging at the Neves–Corvo massive sulphide-bearing deposit,Portugal

Seismic methods are becoming an established choice for deep mineral exploration after being extensively tested and employed for the past two decades. To investigate whether the early European mineral-exploration datasets had potential for seismic imaging that was overlooked, we recovered a low-fold legacy seismic dataset from the Neves–Corvo mine site in the Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Portugal. This dataset comprises six 4–6 km long profiles acquired in 1996 for deep targeting. Using today's industry-scale processing algorithms, the world-class, ca. 150 Mt, Lombador massive sulphide and other smaller deposits were better imaged. Additionally, we also reveal a number of shallow but steeply dipping reflections that were absent in the original processing results. This study highlights that legacy seismic data are valuable and should be revisited regularly to take advantage of new processing algorithms and the experiences gained from processing such data in hard-rock environments elsewhere. Remembering that an initial processing job in hard rock should always aim to first obtain an overall image of the subsurface and make reflections visible, and then subsequent goals of the workflow could be set to, for example understanding relative amplitude ratios. The imaging of the known mineralization implies that this survey could likely have been among one of the pioneer studies in the world that demonstrated the capability of directly imaging massive sulphide deposits using the seismic method.     

Experimental studies to constrain parental magma of Malangtoli volcanics from Singhbhum craton of the eastern Indian shield

Malangtoli volcanics of the Singhbhum craton of the eastern Indian shield is one of the important Proterozoic lava suites. Experimental studies on 1 atmosphere pressure constrain the parental magma type and temperature range of crystallization of the parent magma (deduced to be in the range of 1500°C to 1200°C). The experimental studies show that at 1500°C, plagioclase is the first phase to crystallize, followed by few opaques which join along with plagioclase at 1450°C. At subsequent lower temperature (1400°C-1300°C), plagioclase and opaque continue to crystallize. At 1250°C plagioclase and opaque still persist while pyroxene appears first and liquid (glass) still remains. Appearance of opaque minerals (magnetite and illmenite) at both ~1400°C and ~1300°C indicate oscillation of oxygen fugacity in the parent magma, petrographically documented by coarser phenocrysts as well as finer or peripheral tiny grains. Use of tectonic discrimination diagrams (based on discrimination factors F₁-F₂ and FeO^t/MgO vs. TiO₂) shows an island arc tholeiitic affinity for Malangtoli volcanic, suggests that the role of proto-plate convergence in Singhbhum architecture played an important role to build up Malangtoli volcanics during Proterozoic.     

A bias-free geodetic boundary value problem approach to height datum unification

A geodetic boundary value problem (GBVP) approach has been formulated which can be used for solving the problem of height datum unification. The developed technique is applied to a test area in Southwest Finland with approximate size of 1.5° × 3° and the bias of the corresponding local height datum (local geoid) with respect to the geoid is computed. For this purpose the bias-free potential difference and gravity difference observations of the test area are used and the offset (bias) of the height datum, i.e., Finnish Height Datum 2000 (N2000) fixed to Normaal Amsterdams Peil (NAP) as origin point, with respect to the geoid is computed. The results of this computation show that potential of the origin point of N2000, i.e., NAP, is (62636857.68 ± 0.5) (m²/s²) and as such is (0.191 ± 0.003) (m) under the geoid defined by W ₀ = 62636855.8 (m²/s²). As the validity test of our methodology, the test area is divided into two parts and the corresponding potential difference and gravity difference observations are introduced into our GBVP separately and the bias of height datums of the two parts are computed with respect to the geoid. Obtaining approximately the same bias values for the height datums of the two parts being part of one height datum with one origin point proves the validity of our approach. Besides, the latter test shows the capability of our methodology for patch-wise application.     

Mathematical modeling of competition for ammonium among Bacteria, Archaea and cyanobacteria within cyanobacterial mats: Can ammonia-oxidizers force nitrogen fixation?

Molecular analysis of cyanobacterial mat communities indicated that cyanobacteria, ammonia-oxidizing Archaea (AOA), and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) coexist in those systems, competing for ammonium; this situation would imply competitive exclusion. We attempted to model how ammonia utilization niche partitioning occurs, and how ammonium levels can influence the interaction between those groups in a one-dimensional diffusionlimited system using Michaelis-Menten kinetics to describe ammonium consumption by each of those three groups. In our model, AOAs were able to dominate ammonium uptake by the community under most circumstances, except for unrealistically high (millimolar) levels of ammonium, where AOBs gained advantage. Cyanobacteria were unable to effectively compete for ammonium with either AOBs or AOAs throughout the mat at all ammonium concentrations and cell counts, suggesting that the presence of AOAs or AOBs forces cyanobacteria into nitrogen fixation mode. Such interaction can make cyanobacterial mats a net nitrogen source, as well as provide a carbon-independent energy transfer pathway from primary producers to the rest of the ecosystem.