Characterizing hydrothermal alteration zones in Hamama area in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt by remotely sensed data

Abstract

Remote sensing techniques provide meaningful information to mineral exploration by identifying the hydrothermally altered minerals and the fracture/fault systems. In this article, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data were processed to detect the hydrothermal alteration zones in Hamama area in the central part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Band ratios and principal component analyses successfully revealed the extent and the geometry of the hydrothermal alteration zones that trend in an NE–SW direction. Matching pixel spectrum derived from Minimum Noise Fraction, Pixel Purity Index, and n-dimensional visualization with reference spectra allowed characterizing key hydrothermal alteration minerals, including chlorite, kaolinite-smectite, muscovite, and haematite, in a successive alteration pattern. Field investigations and X-Ray Diffraction analysis validated the results revealed by ASTER data. In addition, the present prospects of significant gold and massive sulphide mineralizations are consistent with the detected hydrothermal alteration zone.     

Remote sensing of paleodrainage systems west of the Nile River,Egypt

Remotely sensed data show details of the geomorphic features and landscape evolution west of the Nile. The detected features include remnants of paleochannels, flutes and rock-mass movements. Fused radar/optical data, altitudinal profiles and 3D perspective view provided evidences of massive landslides that fully blocked the earlier Nile channel near to the Western Desert plateau. This channel was ~30 km west of the present Nile at ~100 m above the present level of the Nile. Subsequently, the fluvial activities shifted about ~10 km eastward, leaving behind several remnants of paleochannels, fluvial deposits, ancient landscape and Nilotic fauna. The automatic extraction of stream networks clearly depicts the developments of paleochannels. Our results revealed that fluvial activity switched from the Gallaba plain to the present Nile course through a series of tectonic and climatic changes. Furthermore, integration of radar and optical images provided an explanation for causes of the undulated forms ‘flutes’.     

Photoelectric observations of the flare star BD + 55° 1823

A light variation in Johnson'sV-band of flare star EV Lac has been registered by Pettersen (1980). The cycle length was 4 _. ^d 378 with amplitude about 0 _. ^m 07. A Fourier analysis programme has been applied on our measured data of the flare star BD+55°1823 in Johnson'sV andB bands. A period of 16^d and amplitude of 0 _. ^m 14 have been detected in theV-band.     

Self-potential data interpretation using standard deviations of depths computed from moving-average residual anomalies

We have developed a least‐squares minimization approach to determine simultaneously the shape (shape factor) and the depth of a buried structure from self‐potential (SP) data. The method is based on computing the standard deviation of the depths determined from all moving‐average residual anomalies obtained from SP data, using filters of successive window lengths for each shape factor. The standard deviation may generally be considered a criterion for determining the correct depth and shape factor of the buried structure. When the correct shape factor is used, the standard deviation of the depths is less than the standard deviations computed using incorrect shape factors. This method is applied to synthetic data with and without random errors, complicated regionals and interference from neighbouring sources, and is tested on a known field example from Turkey. In all cases, the shape and depth solutions obtained are in a good agreement with the actual values.     

Expression of the initial Poincaré canonical variables as functions of the new in a ninth order J-S theory

We establish the solution of the ninth order — in masses — canonical J-S equations of motion by Hori-Lie technique — i.e., by expressing the initial Poincaré canonical variables as functions of the new variables through the Hori-Lie canonical transformation. Terms of order higher than 9 in the masses are neglected.     

Expansion of the planetary Hamiltonian function

We expand the planetary Hamiltonian function with its two parts, the principal and the indirect, up to the seventh order in the planetary masses. We adopt the Jacobi-Radau system of origins. The expansiion is valid for any number of planets.     

Characterisation of the Egyptian Pliocene bentonite from the Sohag region for pharmaceutical use

This paper aims to prepare purified Na-bentonite with improved properties for its use in the pharmaceutical industry. Calcium bentonite from the Sohag region of Egypt was activated with various proportions of sodium carbonate (2, 3, 5 and 8 wt.%). Additionally, bentonite was purified by sedimentation to eliminate impurities, especially quartz. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and swelling volume data confirmed that raw bentonite was converted to sodium bentonite using 5% Na₂CO₃. The sodium bentonite (M5) obtained by activation met the chemical and microbiological requirements set by the pharmacopoeias regarding toxic trace elemental contents (As, Pb and Cd), the absence of E. coli, the total contents of aerobic microbes and physicochemical properties such as swelling volume, pH and sedimentation volume. Therefore, (M5) bentonite can be designated as being potentially appropriate for pharmaceutical applications. The cation exchange capacity (CEC), surface area, porosity, pH, gel formation and swelling volume data indicated that M5 bentonite could be used to formulate oral suspensions and in topical application.     

Secondary production of Ampelisca mississippiana Soliman and Wicksten 2007 (Amphipoda, Crustacea) in the head of the Mississippi Canyon, northern Gulf of Mexico

Annual production was calculated for the dominant ampeliscid amphipod Ampelisca mississippiana [Soliman, Y., Wicksten, M., 2007. Ampelisca mississippiana a new species (Amphipoda: Gammaredea) dominated the head of the Mississippi Canyon (Northern Gulf of Mexico). Zootaxa, submitted] at the head of the Mississippi Canyon in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Average densities were 12,094±2499 ind m⁻², with secondary production of 6.93 g dry wt m⁻² yr⁻¹, based on the “size-frequency method” [Hynes-Hamilton, H.B.N., Coleman, M., 1968. A simple method for assessing the annual production of stream benthos. Limnology and Oceanography 13, 569–573; Menzies, C.A., 1980. A note on the Hynes-Hamilton method of estimating secondary production. Limnology and Oceanography 25(4), 770–773], with a production/biomass (P/B) ratio of 3.11. Growth rates of this magnitude are comparable to available data for freshwater and shallow marine ampeliscids, but are unexpectedly high for deep-ocean habitats. Growth efficiency appeared to be approximately 35% (Growth/Assimilation×100).     

New contributions to the Upper Senonian stratigraphy in Northern Iraq

The Upper Senonian sediments are well developed in Northern Iraq and represent three types of facies; elastics, reefal, and open-marine. These sediments are classified stratigraphically depending upon similarities in age and lithology. New groups are proposed for the first time; Ruwanduz Reefal Group comprising Aqra Limestone Formation, Bekhme Limestone Formation and Pilsener Limestone Formation, and Zakho Marl Group including Shiranish Formation, Digma Formation and Jib'ab Formation. It is suggested here that Jib'ab Formation is an extension of the Shiranish Formation and should not be treated as a separate lithostratigraphic unit.     

Structures controlling U and Th mineralisation in the Gebel Felat area of the south Eastern Desert of Egypt

In the Eastern Desert of Egypt, younger granites host U and Th mineralisations which are concentrated along faults and joints. In particular, the Gebel Felat Pluton is characterised by a high level of radioactivity as shown by an aeroradiometric survey. The U content is 82 ppm and the Th content is 15 ppm in areas of high radioactivity. The rocks are cross-cut by two main sets of fractures trending east-west and northwest-southeast. The contour maps of these two trends can be correlated with the aeroradiometric map of the same area.