An environmental geomorphologic approach to site selection for hazardous wastes

Geomorphological features are essential parts of the environment and they represent an important conditioning factor for the development and distribution of certain biological assemblages, as well as for a variety of human activities. However, environmental geomorphology usually receives very limited or no attention at all in the process of environmental impact assessment (EIA). Nevertheless, the site selection process for hazardous wastes in environmental impact studies for individual projects plays an essential role. In order to determine the most suitable site in a region for municipal/hazardous wastes, several criteria are used, including geology, groundwater condition, climate, and land use. The present work describes a methodology taking advantage of environmental geomorphological features, and reducing these criteria in the site selection procedure in land disposal of waste; in addition, a case study is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodology. The validity of the adopted site screening method is explained. This methodology comprises the use of a single geomorphological map to locate suitable landfilling sites for hazardous waste, instead of using separate maps for geological features, climatic features (temperature, precipitation, and speed and direction of the prevailing wind), slope and erosion. Furthermore, the present study is compared with a previous study performed in the GAP region, where the use of land resources is crucial for agricultural and water management purposes. The application of the described selection process and the verified method in this region shows that the adopted method and detailed criteria are valid.     

Geochronology and stable isotope signature of alteration related to hydrothermal magnetite ores in Central Anatolia,Turkey

Hydrothermal iron ores at Divri?i, east Central Anatolia, are contained in two orebodies, the magnetite-rich A-kafa and the limonitic B-kafa (resources of 133.8 Mt with 56% Fe and 0.5% Cu). The magnetite ores are hosted in serpentinites of the Divri?i ophiolite at the contact with plutons of the Murmano complex. Hydrothermal biotite from the Divri?i A-kafa yield identical weighted mean plateau ages of 73.75?±?0.62 and 74.34?±?0.83 Ma (2σ). This biotite represents a late alteration phase, and its age is a minimum age for the magnetite ore. Similar magnetite ores occur at Hasançelebi and Karakuz, south of Divri?i. There, the iron ores are hosted in volcanic or subvolcanic rocks, respectively, and are associated with a voluminous scapolite ± amphibole ± biotite alteration. At Hasançelebi, biotite is intergrown with parts of the magnetite, and both minerals formed coevally. The weighted mean plateau ages of hydrothermal biotite of 73.43?±?0.41 and 74.92?±?0.39 Ma (2σ), therefore, represent mineralization ages. Hydrothermal biotite from a vein cutting the scapolitized host rocks south of the Hasançelebi prospect has a weighted mean plateau age of 73.12?±?0.75 Ma (2σ). This age, together with the two biotite ages from the Hasançelebi ores, constrains the minimum age of the volcanic host rocks, syenitic porphyry dikes therein, and the scapolite alteration affecting both rock types. Pyrite and calcite also represent late hydrothermal stages in all of these magnetite deposits. The sulfur isotope composition of pyrite between 11.5 and 17.4‰ δ³⁴S_(VCDT) points towards a non-magmatic sulfur source of probably evaporitic origin. Calcite from the Divri?i deposit has δ¹⁸O_(VSMOV) values between +15.1 and +26.5‰ and δ¹³C_(VPDB) values between ?2.5 and +2.0‰, which are compatible with an involvement of modified marine evaporitic fluids during the late hydrothermal stages, assuming calcite formation temperatures of about 300°C. The presence of evaporite-derived brines also during the early stages is corroborated by the pre-magnetite scapolite alteration at Divri?i, and Hasançelebi-Karakuz, and with paleogeographic and paleoclimatic reconstructions. The data are compatible with a previously proposed genetic model for the Divri?i deposit in which hydrothermal fluids leach and redistribute iron from ophiolitic rocks concomitant with the cooling of the nearby plutons.     

Active tectonic and palaeoseismological features of the western section of Mustafakemalpaşa Fault; Bursa,NW Anatolia

The Mustafakemalpa?a Fault (MF), located among Manyas, Ulubat and Orhaneli faults, is a right lateral strike-slip and 47 km in length. The MF begins with a pressure ridge at the west and exhibits complex jog terminations at east ends in restraining left stepovers. The western section of the fault bounds Miocene and Quaternary units and continues towards ?lyasç?lar. The central segment of the fault, starts with approximately 750-m leftward stepover, exhibits a sinusoidal geometry between Kapakl?oluk and Kabulbaba. In this section, MF traverses mountainous terrain and cuts Ophiolite, Jurassic limestones and Miocene detritals, forming dextral faulting features and gaining reverse component. The eastern section exhibits left stepping en-echelon pattern and consists 2.5-km offset on the Orhaneli River. In this study, palaeoseismological findings related to the Holocene activity and active tectonic properties of the MF are presented. The trenches exposed mismatched stratigraphy, demonstrating evidence of events across the fault. We identified three events (before BC 2190, later AD 1425 and 1850) that have occurred during the past 4000 years. We suggest a long non-characteristic recurrence interval and ~0.7 mm/y slip-rate for MF, based on trench data and offset of the Late Pliocene drainage of Orhaneli River.     

Natural and human-induced sinkhole hazards in Saudi Arabia: distribution,investigation, causes and impacts

Approximately 60 % of the 2,150,000 km² area of Saudi Arabia is underlain by soluble sediments (carbonate and evaporite rock formations, salt diapirs, sabkha deposits). Despite its hyper-arid climate, a wide variety of recent sinkholes have been reported in numerous areas, involving significant property losses. Human activities, most notably groundwater extraction, have induced unstable conditions on pre-existing cavities. This work provides an overview of the sinkhole hazard in Saudi Arabia, a scarcely explored topic. It identifies the main karst formations and the distribution of the most problematic sinkhole areas, illustrated through several case studies covering the wide spectrum of subsidence mechanisms. Some of the main investigation methods are presented through selected examples, including remote sensing, trenching and geophysics. Based on the available data, the main causal factors are identified and further actions that should be undertaken to better assess and manage the risk are discussed.     

Effects of co-substrate on biogas production from cattle manure: a review

This literature review surveys the previous and current researches on the co-digestion of anaerobic processes and examines the synergies effect of co-digestion with cattle manure. Furthermore, this review also pays attention to different operational conditions like operating temperature, organic loading rate (OLR), hydraulic retention time (HRT), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and volatile solid (VS) removal efficiency and biogas or methane production. This review shows that anaerobic mono-digestion of cattle manure usually causing poor performance and stability. Anaerobic studies were generally performed under mesophilic conditions maintained between 35 and 37 °C. Organic waste loading rate generally ranges from 1 to 6 g VS–COD L^?1 day^?1 stable condition in anaerobic digester. Generally, studies show that HRT for co-digestion of fruit–vegetables waste and industrial organic waste appears to exceed 20 days. However, the anaerobic co-digestion process is generally operated at HRT of between 10 and 20 days. VS and COD removal efficiency usually reaches up to 90 % due to co-digestion with different type organic waste. Methane–biogas production is generally obtained between 0.1 and 0.65 L CH₄–biogas g^?1 VS.     

The mineralogy,geochemistry, and suitability for ceramic applications of Akharım (Afyonkarahisar,W Turkey) kaolinitic clay

Kaolinitic clays associated with sedimentary rocks cover widespread in the Yeniköy formation from the Akhar?m district, (Afyonkarahisar, W Anatolia). Due to the proximity to the ceramic industry areas such as Kütahya and U?ak Province of Turkey, the clays in the Akhar?m district have been intensively exploited for the last few years. The Akhar?m kaolinitic clays were hosted by Middle-Upper Miocene-aged Yeniköy formation and divided into two parts as northeastern and southwestern via normal fault. The alteration degree increases from lower levels to surface in the NE part of deposit. Besides layered structure in their N70° W/30° SW direction and gray-beige, yellowish brown colored in SW part. This study focused on mineralogy, geochemistry, and ceramic properties of kaolinitic clays. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, chemical, physical, and mechanical tests were conducted on studied samples from the wall of clay quarry. Akhar?m clay deposits consist of mainly kaolinite and quartz. Additionally, they include smectite, biotite, feldspar, jarosite, calcite, and hematite minerals. Akhar?m clays are characterized with their moderate plasticity (PL = 17.07–24.09), low water absorption (3.64–9.53 wt.%), low linear shrinkage (8.08–15.55 wt.%), high bending strength (17.72–32.69 N/mm²), and ideal lightness values (L* = 46.50–82.74) and color values (a* = 4.71–29.87; b* = 14.67–28.72). These properties vary related with mineralogical and geochemical features of Akhar?m clays. In conclusion, Akhar?m clays have desired specifications for floor and wall t to their mineralogical, geochemical, and ceramic properties.     

A Study of the Performances of Different Turbulence Schemes in Numerical Simulation of Hydrodynamics of a Semi-Closed Sea (Persian Gulf)

Complex process of turbulent mixing in Persian Gulf that is a semi-closed sea makes it a good media to test the performance of different turbulence schemes. In this research, we used the 3D ocean model COHERENS (COupled Hydrodynamical Ecological model for REgioNal Shelf seas) for the Persian Gulf with the open boundary in the Hormuz Strait. Of the turbulence schemes for the vertical diffusion available in the COHERENS, we tested four models to investigate the hydrodynamic characteristics of the Persian Gulf. The results show that all of the schemes presented the sea surface salinity (SSS) distribution rather accurately but the k-l and flow-dependent models results have better agreements with observations. The most noticeable difference between the results of four schemes is the differences found in the simulation of turbulent parameters. The turbulent closure schemes generally provide better results, but the algebraic schemes show turbulent parameters far from reality and they do not show substantial changes with time. Generally, the vertical structures of turbulence in the water basins and parameterization of turbulence in water column is very sensitive to the selection of the type of the turbulence scheme. However, large-scale structures that take place within the inflow and outflow area are approximately quasi-horizontal, and the vertical small-scale turbulence does not affect them as much. As a result, they show less sensitivity to the performance of various turbulence schemes.