A Hybrid Neuro-Fuzzy Model for Mineral Potential Mapping

A GIS-based hybrid neuro-fuzzy approach to mineral potential mapping implements a Takagi–Sugeno type fuzzy inference system in a four-layered feed-forward adaptive neural network. In this approach, each unique combination of predictor patterns is considered a feature vector whose components are derived by knowledge-based ordinal encoding of the constituent predictor patterns. A subset of feature vectors with a known output target vector (i.e., unique conditions known to be associated with either a mineralized or a barren location), extracted from a set of all feature vectors, is used for the training of an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. Training involves iterative adjustment of parameters of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system using a hybrid learning procedure for mapping each training vector to its output target vector with minimum sum of squared error. The trained adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system is used to process all feature vectors. The output for each feature vector is a value that indicates the extent to which a feature vector belongs to the mineralized class or the barren class. These values are used to generate a favorability map. The procedure is applied to regional-scale base metal potential mapping in a study area located in the Aravalli metallogenic province (western India). The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system demarcates high favorability zones occupying 9.75% of the study area and identifies 96% of the known base metal deposits. This result is significant both in terms of reduction in search area and the percentage of deposits identified.     

Numerical modelling experiments in vapour geochemistry. II: Vapour dispersion patterns and exploration implications

This study examines the development of vapour anomalies in one-layer and two-layer media overlying vapour sources having different shapes and different time-dependent stabilities. Theoretical concentration patterns are computed using two-dimensional finite-difference numerical solutions of the diffusion equation. Calculated diffusion patterns are compared with in vitro experimental data, and their general features are shown to be comparable. Results are discussed in terms of possible applications to vapour geochemistry in mineral exploration, with particular reference to the detection at the surface of buried mineral deposits.     

Where Are Porphyry Copper Deposits Spatially Localized? A Case Study in Benguet Province,Philippines

To provide guides for exploration of porphyry copper mineralization at a district scale, we examine the spatial association between known porphyry copper deposits and geologic features in Benguet, Philippines. The spatial associations between the porphyry copper deposits and strike-slip fault discontinuities, batholithic pluton margins and porphyry plutons are quantified using weights of evidence modeling. In the training and testing district, the porphyry copper occurrences are associated spatially with strike-slip fault discontinuities, batholithic pluton margins and contacts of porphyry plutons within distances of 3 km, 2.25 km, and 1 km, respectively. In addition, the porphyry plutons are associated spatially with strike-slip fault discontinuities and contacts of batholithic plutons within a distance of 2.25 km and 3 km, respectively. Based on these significant spatial associations, predictive maps are generated to delineate zones favorable for porphyry copper mineralization and zones favorable for emplacement of porphyry plutons in Benguet province, Philippines. Validations of the predictive models demonstrate their efficacy in pointing to zones for subsequent follow-up exploration work.     

When plenty is not enough: an assessment of the white stumpnose (Rhabdosargus globiceps) fishery of Saldanha Bay,South Africa

White stumpnose Rhabdosargus globiceps is the main target of the linefishery in Saldanha Bay. Increased fishing pressure over the last three decades, particularly by the recreational sector, has led to concerns regarding sustainability of the local white stumpnose stock. The fishery was exceptionally productive between 2006 and 2008, with an estimated annual catch of 141.2 tonnes (t). Only 3% of boat outings surveyed were commercial boats targeting white stumpnose, yet this sector accounted for 39.3 t (31%) of the average annual catch. The recreational boat sector accounted for most of the catch (70.0 t), and the recreational shore sector the least (31.9 t). Commercial boat catch per unit effort (CPUE; 3.7 fish angler^–1 h^–1) was more than 10 times that of recreational boats (0.3 fish angler^–1 h^–1). White stumpnose catch length-frequency differed significantly (p < 0.01) between the fishing sectors, with the commercial sector retaining larger fish (34.7 cm [SD 5.9]) than the recreational boat (33.9 cm [SD 5.9]) and shore (30.4 cm [SD 5.8]) sectors. A decline in commercial CPUE (2000–2015) of approximately 40% and a concomitant severe decline (>95%) in survey data for juvenile white stumpnose CPUE (2007–2016) indicate that the current rate of exploitation is not sustainable. Recovery of the white stumpnose stock will require a decrease in fishing mortality. Possible management regulations include sector-specific effort limitations, extending the ‘no take’ marine protected area, reducing the recreational-sector bag limit to 5 fish person^–1 day^–1, implementing a commercial-sector bag limit, and increasing the minimum size limit to 30 cm TL.     

A Time-Dependent Model of Radiative and Conductive Thermal Energy Transport in Planetary Regoliths with Applications to the Moon and Mercury

Modeling thermal energy transfer in planetary regoliths involves treating four processes: visible radiative transfer, thermal radiative transfer, conductive transfer, and heat storage. We explicitly treat these processes while considering time-dependent problems, and we apply this model to the regoliths of the Moon and Mercury. Fitting the model to observational data allows us to constrain the radiative resistivity and thermal inertia parameters of these regoliths and hence constrain their conductivities, thermal extinction coefficients, and average grain sizes. It is also found that water ice would be stable in the polar subsurfaces of both bodies, even in areas which receive sunlight during the day.     

Light regulation of benthic sulfate reduction rates mediated by seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) metabolism

The effects of light reduction on community metabolism and sediment sulfate reduction rates (SRR) were assessed experimentally in a shallow (<2.0 m) seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadow along Florida's north-central Gulf coast. Nine experimental plots (1.5 m×1.5 m) were shaded differentially to achieve a 0–90% gradient in light reduction within the seagrass meadow. Gross primary production and net community production (NCP), estimated with in situ benthic chamber incubations, decreased with increasing light reduction. The compensation irradiance for community metabolism, i.e., the shading level at which NCP shifted from net autotrophic to net heterotrophic, was determined to be 52.5% of the incoming irradiance at canopy height in the seagrass bed (308.7 μE m⁻² s⁻¹ PAR at noon). Sediment SRR, determined with the use of a³⁵S−SO₄ ²⁻ radiotracer technique, increased quickly (within 5 d) and markedly with increased shade, i.e., simulated light reduction. SRR increased 50-fold when shading exceeded the light compensation point for the seagrass community, rendering the community net heterotrophic. Five days after restoring ambient light conditions, SRR had decreased sharply for all shading treatments. The observed decrease in NCP, coincident with the increase in the SRR with light reduction, suggests that light reduction has an indirect influence on sediment SRR mediated through its effect on seagrass metabolism.     

Tectonostratigraphy and base-metal mineralization controls, Aravalli province (western India): New interpretations from geophysical data analysis

Analysis and synthesis of multi-disciplinary geoscience information from geological literature/maps and from digitally-processed aeromagnetic and gravity data pertinent to the Aravalli province were carried out to address some hitherto unresolved questions about the tectonostratigraphy of this Archaean–Proterozoic metallogenic province. Based on the magnetic anomalies, several tectonic domains were identified. These domains, bounded by regional-scale geophysical lineaments, have distinct crustal, lithological, metamorphic, and metallogenic characteristics and correlate broadly with lithostratigraphic belts identified by several earlier workers. New interpretations on the tectonostratigraphy and the base-metal mineralization controls in the Aravalli province are as follows. The Hindoli sequences, in the eastern parts of the province, constitute an independent Palaeo–Proterozoic tectonic domain and do not form part of the Archaean basement complex. The base-metal-bearing metasedimentary enclaves in the central parts of the province also constitute an independent Palaeo–Proterozoic tectonic domain, which is quite distinct from the surrounding (basement complex?) rocks. The base-metal-bearing metavolcano-sedimentary sequences in the western parts of the province constitute an independent Neo–Proterozoic tectonic domain. The base-metal deposits in the province are spatially associated with the regional-scale lineaments and with the mafic metavolcanic rocks deduced from the aeromagnetic data. The regional-scale lineaments, which possibly represent Proterozoic crustal-scale faults, are plausible structural controls on the base-metal mineralization in the province. The mafic metavolcanic rocks are plausible heat-source controls on the SEDEX- and/or VMS-type base-metal mineralizations and are possible metal-source controls on the VMS-type base-metal mineralization in the province.     

Fading Hawking radiation

In this study, we explore a particular type Hawking radiation which ends with zero temperature and entropy. The appropriate black holes for this purpose are the linear dilaton black holes. In addition to the black hole choice, a recent formalism in which the Parikh-Wilczek’s tunneling formalism amalgamated with quantum corrections to all orders in ? is considered. The adjustment of the coefficients of the quantum corrections plays a crucial role on this particular Hawking radiation. The obtained tunneling rate indicates that the radiation is not pure thermal anymore, and hence correlations of outgoing quanta are capable of carrying away information encoded within them. Finally, we show in detail that when the linear dilaton black hole completely evaporates through such a particular radiation, entropy of the radiation becomes identical with the entropy of the black hole, which corresponds to “no information loss”.     

Biogeographical Patterns of Marine Benthic Macroinvertebrates Along the Atlantic Coast of the Northeastern USA

The biogeography of marine benthic macroinvertebrates of US Atlantic estuaries and inshore coastal areas from Delaware Bay north to Passamaquoddy Bay was studied to compare recent data with historical biogeographic studies, define physical–chemical factors affecting species’ distributions, and provide information for calibrating benthic indices of environmental condition. Five years (2000–2004) of data from 614 non-polluted, soft-bottom stations from the National Coastal Assessment were analyzed. Multi-dimensional scaling done on Bray-Curtis similarity matrices of species’ relative abundance (547 species) suggested seven subregions: two based on salinity (oligohaline, mesohaline) and five based on latitude. Species’ distribution patterns for stations with salinities ≥18 (n = 558) were strongly influenced by latitude; Cape Cod was a clear faunal transition zone (R = 0.92, p < 0.001). Conversely, for stations with salinities <18 (n = 56), salinity was the more important factor. An ordination of abiotic variables (temperature, salinity, sediment percent silt-clay, depth) correlated well with the ordination of species’ relative abundance data (R = 0.77, p < 0.001). The first split of a multivariate regression tree was by a summer bottom temperature of 20°C at Cape Cod. Salinity and percent silt-clay led to further splits. These results support the existence of Virginian and Transhatteran biogeographic provinces. They constitute a baseline for addressing broad-scale and long-term issues such as global climate change, species invasions, and conservation planning.