2D probabilistic prediction of sparsely measured earth properties constrained by geophysical imaging fully accounting for tomographic reconstruction ambiguity

Many hydrological, environmental, or engineering exploration tasks require predicting spatially continuous scenarios of sparsely measured borehole logging data. We present a methodology to probabilistically predict such scenarios constrained by ill-posed geophysical tomography. Our approach allows for transducing tomographic reconstruction ambiguity into the probabilistic prediction of spatially continuous target parameter scenarios. It is even applicable to data sets where petrophysical relations in the survey area are non-unique, i.e., different facies related petrophysical relations may be present. We employ static two-layer artificial neural networks (ANNs) for prediction and additionally evaluate, whether the training performance of the ANNs can be used to rank geophysical tomograms, which are mathematically equal reconstructions of physical parameter distributions in the ground. We illustrate our methodology using a realistic synthetic database for maximal control about the prediction performance and ranking potential of the approach. For doing so, we try to link geophysical radar and seismic tomography as input parameters to porosity of the ground as target parameter of ANN. However, the approach is flexible and can cope with any combination of geophysical tomograms and hydrologic, environmental or engineering target parameters. Ranking of equivalent geophysical tomograms based on additional borehole logging data is found to be generally possible, but risks remain that the ranking based on the ANN training performance does not fully coincide with the closeness of geophysical tomograms to ground truth. Since geophysical field data sets do usually not offer control options similar to those used in our synthetic database, we do not recommend the utilization of recurrent ANNs to learn weights for the individual geophysical tomograms used in the prediction procedure.     

Landslide hazard mapping in the Constantine city,Northeast Algeria using frequency ratio,weighting factor,logistic regression,weights of evidence,and analytical hierarchy process methods

Landslides constitute the most widespread and damaging natural hazards in the Constantine city. They represent a significant constraint to development and urban planning. In order to reduce the risk related to potential landslide, there is a need to develop a comprehensive landslide hazard map (LHM) of the area for an efficient disaster management and for planning development activities. The purpose of this research is to prepare and compare the LHMs of the Constantine city, by applying frequency ratio (FR), weighting factor (Wf), logistic regression (LR), weights of evidence (WOE), and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methods used in a framework of the geographical information system (GIS). Firstly, a landslide inventory map has been prepared based on the interpretation of aerial photographs, high resolution satellite images, fieldwork, and available literature. Secondly, eight landslide-conditioning factors such as lithology, slope, exposure, rainfall, land use, distance to drainage, distance to road, and distance to fault have been considered to establish LHMs using the FR, Wf, LR, WOE, and AHP models in GIS. For verification, the obtained LHMs have been validated comparing the LHMs with the known landslide locations using the receiver operating characteristics curves (ROC). The validated results indicate that the FR method provides more accurate prediction (86.59 %) of LHMs than the WOE (82.38 %), AHP (77.86 %), Wf (77.58 %), and LR (70.45 %) models. On the other hand, the obtained results showed that all the used models in this study provided a good accuracy in predicting landslide hazard in Constantine city. The established maps can be used as useful tools for risk prevention and land use planning in the Constantine region.     

An evaluation of the relationship between physical/mechanical properties and mineralogy of landscape rocks as determined by hyperspectral reflectance

We investigated the relationships between mineral content and the physical and mechanical properties of landscape rock using a non-destructive remote sensing method applied in the laboratory. Using this technique, the spectral properties of the landscape rock could be collected at different wavelengths without harming the samples. Differences in spectral reflectance were compared with the physical and mechanical properties of the stone. Significant correlations were observed between reflectance values and the rocks’ mechanical and physical properties, with correlation coefficients of 95 to 99 %. However, establishing a correlation between two variables is not a sufficient condition to establish a causal relationship. Mineral densities and mineral content are characteristics used for the classification of landscape rock. We have concluded that although spectral signatures from landscape rock can be used for predicting which stones might have similar features when comparing two batches of stone, the high correlations we discovered cannot confirm a cause and effect relationship that would allow for the prediction of a rock’s physical and mechanical properties. Although this conclusion is disappointing, the mineral content and the significant correlations discovered by hyperspectral reflectance scanning can be used as supplementary information when comparing two samples of landscape rock.     

Artificial neural network inversion of magnetic anomalies caused by 2D fault structures

A new approach is proposed to interpret magnetic anomalies caused by 2D fault structures. This approach is based on the artificial neural network inversion, utilizing particularly modular neural network algorithm. The inversion process is implemented to estimate the parameters of 2D fault structures where it has been verified first on synthetic models. The results of the inversion show that the parameters derived from the inversion agree well with the true ones. The analysis of noise has been studied in order to investigate the stability of the approach where it has been tested for contaminated anomalies with 5 and 10 % of white Gaussian noise. The results of the inversion provide satisfactory results even with contaminated signals.The validity of the approach has been demonstrated through real data taken from New South Wales, Australia. A comparable and satisfactory agreement is shown between the inversion results of the neural network and those from techniques published in literatures.     

Application of the non-seismic geophysical method in the deep geological structure study of Benxi-Huanren area

Based upon 1:200,000 regional gravity and aeromagnetic data, gravity and aeromagnetic slice maps were obtained through fast Fourier transformation (FFT) upward continuation. A comparison between gravity and aeromagnetic slice maps at different depths combined with regional geological data and Magneto-Telluric sounding reveals the deep geological structure of Benxi-Huanren area and provides important information for study of the deep geological evolution process of Benxi-Huanren area. Yanshanian granitic pluton is widely distributed in this area and tends to be continuous toward depth. Significant metallogenic areas, such as Dataigou and Nanfen areas, lie above the buried granitic pluton. The Paleoproterozoic strata distribution area and the Archean strata distribution area have similar characteristics in terms of gravity anomaly. The iron-bearing formation in Anshan area is Archean supracrustal rock which was not engulfed by Archean granite. The thickness of Liaoji paleo-rift can be up to 10 km, whose lower part was intruded by Yanshanian granites. The basement of the Liaoji rift was remelted during granite intrusion in Yanshanian period.     

Geological characteristics and origin of the Hadamengou gold deposit in Inner Mongolia,China

The Hadamengou gold deposit is located in the western segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). It is hosted by Archean metamorphic rocks of the Wulashan Group. The main ore types include gold-bearing quartz vein type, gold-bearing quartz-potassic feldspar vein type, and gold-bearing altered rock type. Gold mineralization is closely related to K-feldspathization. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope data indicate that ore-forming fluids were dominated by magmatic water mixed with minor meteoric water. Sulfur and lead isotope data indicate that metallogenic materials were mainly supplied by the magmatic and Archean Wulashan Group. The gold mineralization was mainly formed during the Early Indosinian tectonic movement, which drove ore-forming fluids to the favorable depositional environment. The northern margin of the NCC is a prospective area for gold exploration. Gold deposits hosted by or related to alkaline intrusions have become one of the most important mineral exploration targets in northern China.     

A spatio-temporal three-dimensional conceptualization and simulation of Dera Ismail Khan alluvial aquifer in visual MODFLOW: a case study from Pakistan

Dera Ismail Khan (DIK) is situated in the Lower Indus Basin of Pakistan. The land use has been changed in the canal command area due to irrigation activities near the Indus River. To check the current status and predict the groundwater levels in the area, the unconfined aquifer has been simulated in Visual MODFLOW for a period of 35 years, i.e., from 1985 to 2020. The 2900-km² area has been modeled with a grid of 500 by 500 m and the depth set to 100 m. The aquifer in the study area has been divided vertically and laterally into three and ten zones, respectively, for the characterization. Water wells and streams were used as the sinks and hydrologic boundaries, respectively. The model was successfully calibrated in steady and the non-steady state. The simulation revealed that the whole simulation can be divided into two phases, i.e., before and after the construction of the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC), whereas the results were summarized in the form of water table depth maps and groundwater budget calculations. To determine the groundwater sustainability, a conjunctive use scenario has been employed to simulate the aquifer dynamics till 2020. The simulation revealed incremental drawdowns till the end.     

Using inverse modeling and hierarchical cluster analysis for hydrochemical characterization of springs and Talkhab River in Tang-Bijar oilfield,Iran

Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and inverse modeling (PH REdox EQuilibrium (in C language) (PHREEQC)) were simultaneously useful approaches in interpreting surface water hydrochemistry within Talkhab River in the Tang-Bijar oilfield, Iran, where large uncertainties exist in the understanding of the water quality system. Q-mode HCA applied to the data revealed three major surface water associations distinguished on the basis of the major causes of variation in the hydrochemistry. The three water groups were classified as upstream waters (group 1: Ca–SO₄), intermediate waters (group 2: Ca–SO₄–Cl), and downstream waters (group 3: Na–Cl). Geochemical reaction models were constructed using PHREEQC to establish the reactions associated with the different mineral phases through inverse modeling. The hydrochemical compositions of the water groups and the mass balance calculations indicate that the dominant processes and reactions responsible for the hydrochemical evolution in the system are (1) dissolution of evaporites, (2) precipitation of carbonate minerals, (3) silicate weathering reactions, (4) limited mixing with saline water, and (5) ion exchange.     

A Miocene-restricted platform of the Zibane zone (Saharan Atlas,Algeria), depositional sequences and paleogeographic reconstruction

Depositional sequences and paleogeographic evolution of the Miocene deposits have been studied in the Zibane zone (Saharan Atlas, Algeria) located at the north of the African platform. During the Miocene, this region corresponded to a fault-bounded collapse area and filled by diversified deposits, showing important lateral facies and thicknesses variations. The studied deposits are divided into five depositional sequences separated by major unconformities. These depositional sequences are well developed in the whole basin and testify a paleogeographic differentiation from E–W, induced by a set of NW-SE-trending old faults inherited from the Atlasic orogeny. The organization and the development of those sequences make it possible to correlate them better to the basin scale, which is integrated in a model of restricted platform intersected by NW-SE faults where the tectonic-sedimentation duality is predominant. These new data point to a paleogeographic evolution different from the one usually admitted environment for this region during Miocene time and plead in favour of a reconsideration of the depositional environments of the post-Burdigalian formations in the Zibane zone of the Algerian Atlasic domain.     

Hydrogeological assessment of the Tabarteh fault zone by physicochemical analysis and multivariate statistical methods

Hydrogeologically, faults may impede, conduit, exert no influence, or may play a combination of these roles on groundwater flow. The object of this paper is to study the hydrogeological role of the Tabarteh fault, which is located on the border of Zagros and Central Iran tectonic zones in an alluvial aquifer. The recorded data of water table levels, chemical parameters, and discharge rate of wells, in addition to geological maps and geophysical results, were collected and evaluated. The outcrop of travertine in limited areas and the emergence of a few small springs within the alluvium show a barrier role of the fault in the groundwater flow. The spatial analysis of chemical components, head time series, and groundwater flow direction assessment demonstrated that the fault acts as both a barrier and a non-barrier in different sections. The multivariate statistical methods of cluster and discriminant analyses also confirm the dual role of the fault.