Titanium‐in‐biotite thermometry in porphyry copper systems: Challenges to application of the thermometer

Empirical geothermometer dealing with Ti solubility in the Fe‐Mg biotites was originally proposed for biotites in graphitic, peraluminous metapelites containing ilmenite or rutile that equilibrated roughly at 4–6 kbar. Given that biotites are abundant in the porphyry copper systems, this geothermometer has frequently been used for the determination of magmatic–hydrothermal temperatures in the porphyry copper systems. Common associations of porphyry copper deposits (PCDs), that is, low Al content of biotite, biotite chloritization (causes the biotite to become more magnesian and to lose Ti), and biotite formation by amphibole replacement, as well as disequilibrium, local equilibrium, or re‐equilibration of biotites, especially through potassic alteration, may provide significant uncertainty in the temperatures estimated a by Ti‐in‐biotite geothermometer. In addition, besides the calibration range of thermometer for pressure (400–600 MPa), the temperatures of major sulfide precipitation in PCDs (>~400°C) does not fit with the temperature range of thermometer calibration (480–800°C). Worth noting, as confirmed by fluid inclusion data in the Sarkuh PCD, regardless of presence of mineralogical requirements, obtained temperatures of sulfide mineralization using Ti in biotite thermometer could be overestimated. This may be due to the difference between general conditions of sulfide mineralization and calibration range of Ti in the biotite thermometer for pressure and temperature, as well as the metaluminous nature of biotites in PCDs.     

Garnetization as a ground preparation process for copper mineralization: evidence from the Mazraeh skarn deposit, Iran

The Mazraeh Cu–Fe skarn deposit, NW Iran is the result of the intrusion of an Oligocene–Miocene granitic pluton into Cretaceous calcareous rocks. The pluton ranges in composition from monzonite to quartz monzonite, monzogranite, tonalite and granodiorite with I-type, calc-alkaline, and weakly peraluminous characteristics. The Mazraeh pluton was emplaced in a volcanic arc setting in an active continental margin at a depth of ~8 km. Pyroxene skarn, garnet skarn, and epidote skarn zones were formed during the intrusive phase. The garnet skarn developed as exoskarn and endoskarn from the calcareous wall rocks and the pluton, respectively, prior to mineralization. Garnet skarn from the exoskarn zone is identified by relict layering inherited from the precursor calcareous lithologies. Mass balance calculation of garnet skarn in the endoskarn zone indicates that hydrothermal fluids originating from the cooling magma introduced Si, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, P, Ag, Cu, Zn, La, Pb, Cd, Mo, and Y. The main mass loss in the garnet skarn was due to destruction of feldspars in the Mazraeh plutonic rocks and leaching of K₂O and Na₂O. Released Ca has been fixed in the andraditic garnet. Garnetization of the Mazraeh pluton was accompanied by mass and volume increase. The magnitude of these changes depends mainly on the degree of alteration and composition of the precursor. The brittle behavior of the endoskarn zone was increased due to formation of massive garnet which subsequently fractured. These fractures not only facilitated movement of hydrothermal fluids but also provided new locations for Cu mineralization. Therefore locating strongly garnetized zones may be a vector to ore in skarn deposits.     

Water quality variability and eutrophic state in wet and dry years in wetlands of the semiarid and arid regions

Wetland ecosystems are particularly vulnerable due to flow of nutrients from the surrounding watershed. The study was performed in the Shadegan wetland, a Ramsar-listed wetland located in the south-west of Iran at the head of the Persian Gulf. The wetland plays a significant hydrological and ecological role in the natural functioning of the northern Gulf. The proposed wetland has different water quality characteristics in wet and dry years of study during 1994–2006. To determine the variables, sampling was carried seasonally for each year at six stations. The results indicate that wetland in wet years had high concentrations of nitrate and silicate, leading to oligo–meso eutrophic conditions. Wetland in dry years had high phosphate concentrations, resulting in meso-eutrophic conditions. Forcing functions, such as climatic patterns, water residence time, reduce runoff and increasing density of wastewaters from the surrounding urban, agricultural and industrial area are probably the main variables that explain the observed patterns.     

Removal of heavy metals from paint industry’s wastewater using Leca as an available adsorbent

The ability of light expanded clay aggregate to remove lead and cadmium from paint industry’s effluents was studied at different levels of adsorbent, contact time and pH in April 2008. For this purpose, lead and cadmium removal from paint industry effluents were studied in batch reactors. lead and cadmium measurements have been taken with non-flame atomic absorption techniques and test methods were adapted from 19^th. Ed. of standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. In this study, different amounts of Leca (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 g/L) were investigated. The amount of adsorbed lead and cadmium exposure to Leca increased from 1.41 to 3 mg/g and 0.22 to 0.75 mg/g, respectively. The maximum removal efficiency for Pb was 93.75 % at pH = 7 and exposure to 10 g/L of Leca, while for cadmium, it was nearly 89.7 % at the same condition. In this study, adsorption process of lead and cadmium was fitted with Freundlich adsorption isotherm (R² _Pb = 0.97 and R² _Cd = 0.98). The sufficient contact time was deemed 1–2 h for lead and cadmium. According to the results, Leca is recommended as a low cost and available adsorbent to remove lead and cadmium from industrial wastewater.     

Coupling of solid deformation and pore pressure for undrained deformation—a discrete element method approach

This paper presents a numerical scheme for fluid‐particle coupling that uses the discrete element method by taking into consideration solid deformation and pore pressure generation. A new water particle element is introduced to calculate pore water pressure due to porosity changes. The water particle element has the same size and shape as the solid element and experiences the same amount of deformation. On the basis of the effective stress principle at the element contact, the total force is equal to the sum of the force transmitted through the solid element contact and the water particle force due to pore water pressure. Analytical solutions of traditional soil mechanics problems, such as isotropic compression and consolidated triaxial undrained test, are used to quantitatively validate the proposed model. The numerical results show good agreement between the model and the analytical solutions. The model therefore provides an effective method to calculate pore pressure in a porous medium in discrete modeling.     

Estimating design probable maximum precipitation using multifractal methods and comparison with statistical and synoptically methods case study: Basin of Bakhtiari Dam

The probable maximum precipitation which is defined as the maximum precipitation at a particular location for a given duration is used as a design criterion for major dams. The assumptions of deterministic consideration and an upper limit to probable maximum precipitation have been repeatedly criticized by hydrologists. Nowadays, multifractal method which strongly contains physical bases can be used to improve the probable maximum precipitation. In this research, the universal multifractal model was used to estimate the design probable maximum precipitation for specified exceedence probability in basin of Bakhtiari Dam, southwest Iran, and its results were compared with statistical and synoptically methods. The results revealed that the return period of statistical and synoptically probable maximum precipitation, estimated for the different durations, are about 10⁹ and 10³–10⁴ years, respectively; also, over periods ranging from 1 to 7 days, the ratios of design probable maximum precipitations, estimated based on multifractal method for return period of 10³–10⁹ years, to statistical and synoptically probable maximum precipitation estimates ranged from 0.61 to 1.1 and 1.33 to 2.37, respectively. These results indicated that the multifractal method can be used to reasonably estimate the probable maximum precipitation.     

An alternative method for density variation modeling of the crust based on 3-D gravity inversion

In this paper we are proposing an alternative method for determination of density variations of the crust from constrained inversion of the terrestrial gravity data. The main features of the method can be summarized as follows: (i) Constructing a band-pass filter to remove the long and short wavelength signals from the terrestrial gravity data. (ii) Using an iterative method for stabilization and solution of the inverse problem. The mentioned regularization method is first validated by simulated gravity data and next the methodology is used for development of a new regional density variation model of the crust in three layers based on real gravity data in geographical area of Iran. Application of the band-pass filter to the latter data resulted the residual gravitation variations in the range of − 300 to 50 (mGal) which next based on the iterative method resulted following ranges for residual densities: −120 to 40 (kg/m³) in first layer, −40 to 40 (kg/m³) in second layer, and − 40 to 40 (kg/m³) in third layer.     

The Positive Effects of Nanoclay on the Hydraulic Conductivity of Compacted Kahrizak Clay Permeated With Landfill Leachate

This study evaluates the effect of nanoclay on permeability, swelling, compressive strength, and cation exchange capacity of a compacted Kahrizak landfill clay liner. The results show that 4% nanoclay significantly reduces permeability (3 × 10^?9 to 7.74 × 10^?11 cm/s in neutral, 3.66 × 10^?9 to 7.9 × 10^?10 cm/s in acidic, and 3.25 × 10^?9 to 5.24 × 10^?10 cm/s in alkaline condition), and increases compressive strength (by 36.28%) and the percentage of swelling (from 16.67 to 41.82, 23.33 to 45.45, and 15 to 38.18 at pH 7, 4.8, and 9, respectively) compare to raw clay samples. Moreover, the results of cation exchange capacity tests show that adding 4% nanoclay to the Kahrizak clay, permeated with landfill leachate, helps the sample maintain its mono‐valent ions between layers and remains dispersed. The results of SEM and XRD analyses show that by adding nanoclay, nanoclay clusters are formed in the sample; as a result, the interlayer spacing decreases which makes it remain dispersed. XRF analyses also demonstrate that by adding nanoclay to the mixture, the permeability and therefore, the amount of heavy metals which can penetrate into it decreases. The results justify the construction of clay barriers with nanoclay in order to prevent leachate penetration, and consequently reduce the operation costs.     

Link formation pattern during emergency response network dynamics

This study aims to understand the mechanisms of emergency response network evolution by quantitatively examining the link formation pattern among participants involved in a real emergency collaboration network. This is achieved by identifying the participants’ characteristics which can affect forming new links over time. The result indicates the existence of cumulative advantage process, where highly connected participants gain more new links over time. It also reveals the structural position of participants involved in a response network, i.e. brokering position, affects their number of future links. Understanding the link formation pattern is important for understanding the mechanisms of network evolution which help predict more precisely the behavior of actors and dynamics of network structure over time. This can assist researchers, decision makers and practitioners to manage and support the collaboration of actors in their systems in order to reach their organizational goals. The overall findings can contribute further to the development of network organizational theory in different contexts especially disaster and emergency response management.