On the black cotton soils of North Cameroon

During detailed geotechnical prospecting in North Cameroon, extensive black cotton soil deposits were encountered. Based on classification tests, three samples were selected for mineralogical analysis. The results indicated that the predominant clay mineral was the halloysite governing the geotechnical properties and behaviour of the cotton soils. New correlations were established between clay mineral content and Atterberg limits of the investigated materials.     

Use of lateritic soils for road construction in North Dahomey

Due to the deterioration of the Parakou—Malanville highway, the preparation of a rehabilitation program was necessary. The related geotechnical exploration provided an excellent opportunity to study the properties of the encountered lateritic soils. The mineralogical analysis proved that the lateritic overburden originates from the local rocks. However, the analyses also indicated that the soils can only be identified as lateritic by virtue of their hematite content. The soils were classified according to the AASHO-system and their geotechnical properties were thoroughly investigated. The results revealed that the overwhelming majority of the available soils was unsuitable for highway construction due to their high plasticity. In order to improve them, cement stabilization was suggested. The laboratory tests resulted in an economically feasible solution.     

Emission lines in the spectra of southern long-period variables

Quantitative measures are presented for the intensity of emission features in the spectra of 32 southern red variables.     

Applications of graph theory to gross error detection for GPS geodetic control networks

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Geochronological constraints on Paleoarchean thrust-nappe and Neoarchean accretionary tectonics in southern West Greenland

Major regional deformation and metamorphic events in the Godthåbsfjord region, southern West Greenland, occurred at 3650 and 2820–2720 Ma (e.g. Precambrian Res. 78 (1996) 1). New geochronological constraints (U–Pb zircon, Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe [SHRIMP] and thermal ionisation mass spectrometry [TIMS]) have been obtained from a stack of mylonitic, crystalline thrust-nappes in the footwall of the western part of the Paleoarchean (3.8–3.7 Ga) Isua Greenstone Belt, Isukasia. A mylonitic tonalite sheet, interpreted to have intruded synkinematically with respect to mylonitisation, yields a magmatic crystallisation age of 3640±3 Ma. A cross-cutting pegmatite and a post-kinematic tonalite pluton yield magmatic crystallisation ages of 2948±8 and 2991±2 Ma, respectively. Accordingly, we interpret the thrust-nappe stack to have formed during the Paleoarchean (3640 Ma), making it the oldest example known on Earth. The similarity of this structural regime to that of modern mountain belts suggests that Paleoarchean and modern continental crust were comparable in terms of mechanical strength and constitution.Southern West Greenland has been interpreted in terms of Neoarchean accretion, comparable with modern plate tectonics (e.g. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 142 (1996) 353). Isukasia lies just east of a purported Neoarchean accretionary boundary between the Akia terrane to the Northwest and the Akulleq terrane to the Southeast. The Akia terrane was previously considered to overthrust the Akulleq terrane at 2820–2720 Ma. Our geochronological and geological data indicate (i) that the two “terranes”, as presently defined, were stitched at 2991±2 Ma and (ii) that thrusting across the boundary was directed toward the Akia terrane. Therefore, we suggest that the Akia–Akulleq interface was not a fundamental tectonic structure during the Neoarchean, and we question its identification as an accretionary boundary.     

Geology and timing of mineralization at the Cangshang gold deposit,north-western Jiaodong Peninsula,China

Mineralium Deposita - The Cangshang gold deposit of the north-western Jiaodong Peninsula contains reserves of greater than 50&;nbsp;tonnes (t) and is developed by the largest open pit gold mine...     

Seismic Hazard Mitigation for Buildings

Recent natural hazards have exposed the dire consequence of damage and impact upon the built environment. It appears that one of the biggest challenges to the natural hazard mitigation community is how to improve the performance of older building and infrastructure to enhance their ability to withstand natural hazards. By improving their performance, the risk associated with buildings and infrastructure against natural hazards can be mitigated. Within the context of risk management of buildings against earthquakes, the general practice is to follow a three-step process, namely screening, evaluation and mitigation. Screening constitutes a preliminary evaluation process and sets priority for detailed evaluation. Evaluation compares a built environment with code requirements for new construction and sets priority for mitigation. Mitigation can be achieved by means of retrofit or replacement. Retrofit is intended to improve the performance of built environment as required. Replacement may be the only viable solution when economical, technical and environmental considerations are account for.     

The spatial distribution and source of arsenic, copper, tin and zinc within the surface sediments of the Fal Estuary, Cornwall, UK

ABSTRACT Estuarine sediments commonly form major sinks for contaminants released during industrial activity. Many industrial processes lead to the release of metals initially in solution, which can then be adsorbed on to, for example, Fe hydroxides or clay minerals. However, in the mining industry, there are two major contaminant waste streams: (1) metals discharged in solution via mine drainage; and (2) particulate grains of the ore‐forming or related minerals released after ore processing. The release of particulate waste can have a major long‐term impact on environmental geochemistry. In this study, we have mapped the distribution of arsenic, copper, tin and zinc within the surficial sediments of the Fal Estuary, Cornwall, UK, an area that drains a historically important polymetallic mining district. There are clear spatial variations in the contaminants, with the highest levels (> 2800 p.p.m. As, > 5000 p.p.m. Cu, > 3000 p.p.m. Sn and > 6000 p.p.m. Zn) within Restronguet Creek on the western side of the estuary. Mineralogical studies show that small (< 20 µm) grains of detrital arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, cassiterite and sphalerite are very abundant within the surface sediments. Most of the sulphide grains are fractured, but mineralogically unaltered, although some grains show alteration rims caused by oxidation of the sulphides. The geochemistry and mineralogy are indicative of sediment supply from the discharge of particulate waste into the estuary during historical mining activity. Subsequently, this particulate waste has been largely physically and biologically reworked within the surface sediments. Although considerable effort has been made to minimize contaminants released via mine drainage into the estuary, the potential flux of contaminants present within the intertidal and subtidal sediments has not been addressed. Benthic invertebrates living within the area have adapted to be metal tolerant, and it is likely that the dominant source of bioavailable metals is a result of alteration of the particulate mine waste present within the intertidal and subtidal sediments.     

A simple model for potential dewfall in an arid region

It is not always easy to know, post-facto, whether both dewfall and fog may have occurred over a given evening period. Instrumentation limitations make it difficult to quantify dew deposition since they rely on artificial sensing surfaces that are either visually examined on a daily basis or recorded. In arid to Mediterranean regions, both dew and fog can play significant ecological roles as suppliers of moisture. Long-term observation records of dew and fog in such regions tend to be limited, however, due partly to a lack of interest and limited distribution of well-instrumented meteorological stations. Simple meteorological criteria are suggested here to calculate potential dewfall and to indicate whether fog was likely to have occurred over a given evening. A field campaign was carried out in the NW Negev desert, Israel, in September and October 1997, to collect meteorological data and carry out dewfall measurements.     

Characteristics of low frequency oscillations of the atmosphere-ocean coupling

The low frequency oscillation of latent heat flux over the tropical oceans has been studied. The NCEP reanalyzed fields of wind and humidity alongwith Reynolds SST are used to compute the instantaneous as well as monthly mean surface latent heat fluxes (LHF) for the year 1999. The procedure of LHF computation is based on bulk method. Spectral analysis shows that significant energy is contained in Madden Julian Oscillation band in the winds, SST, moisture and in the latent heat flux. The global distribution of wind, humidity, SST and LHF oscillation on the time scale of 30–50 days are analyzed. Maximum amplitude of oscillation on this time scale in all the above mentioned parameters were found over the Indian Ocean. The fluctuation of surface wind speed and moisture controls the latent heat flux on this time scale. The fluctuation of SST on this time scale does not seem to be important over most of the oceans.