An organic geochemical investigation on organic rich sediments from two Neogene formations in the Klias Peninsula area,West Sabah,Malaysia

Twenty organic rich outcrop samples from the Belait and Setap Shale formations in the Klias Peninsula area, West Sabah, were analysed by means of organic petrology and geochemical techniques. The aims of this study are to assess the type of organic matter, thermal maturity and established source rock characterization based primarily on Rock-Eval pyrolysis data. The shales of the Setap Shale Formation have TOC values varying from 0.6 wt%–1.54 wt% with a mean hydrogen index (HI) of 60.1 mg/g, whereas the shal...     

Distance estimation of the LMC,SMC, and M33 from the apparent radius distribution ofHii-regions

The size distribution ofHii-regions in the LMC, SMC, and M33 is used to estimate their distances. The values deduced are: 42.66±2.51, 89.73±5.03, and 755.11±47.14 kpc, respectively.     

Using environmental isotopes to investigate the groundwater recharge mechanisms and dynamics in the North-eastern Basin,Palestine

ABSTRACT

This study aims to differentiate the potential recharge areas and flow mechanisms in the North-eastern Basin, Palestine. The results differentiate the recharge into three main groups. The first is related to springs and some of the deep wells close to the Anabta Anticline, through the Upper Aquifer (Turonian) formation, with depleted δ¹⁸O and δ²H. The second is through the Upper Cenomanian formation surrounding the Rujeib Monocline in the southeast, where the lineament of the Faria Fault plays an important role, with relatively enriched δ¹³C_DIC values of about ?4‰ (VPDB). The third is the Jenin Sub-series, which shows higher δ¹³C_DIC values, with enriched δ¹⁸O and δ²H and more saline content. The deep wells from the Nablus area in the south of the basin indicate low δ¹³C_DIC values due to their proximity to freshwater infiltrating faults. The deep wells located to the northwest of the basin have δ¹³C_DIC values from ?8 to ?9‰ (VPDB), with enriched δ¹⁸O signatures, indicating slow recharge through thick soil.     

Developing artificial neural network models to predict allowable bearing capacity and elastic settlement of shallow foundation in Sharjah,United Arab Emirates

This research proposes the use of artificial neural network to predict the allowable bearing capacity and elastic settlement of shallow foundation on granular soils in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Data obtained from existing soil reports of 600 boreholes were used to train and validate the model. Three parameters (footing width, effective unit weight, and SPT blow count) are considered to have the most significant impact on the magnitude of allowable bearing capacity and elastic settlement of shallow foundations, and thus were used as the model inputs. Throughout the study, depth of footing was limited to 1.5 m below existing ground level and water table depth taken at the level of the footing. Performance comparison of the developed models (in terms of coefficient of determination, root mean square error, and mean absolute error) revealed that the developed artificial neural network models could be effectively used for predicting the allowable bearing capacity and elastic settlement. As such, the developed models can be used at the preliminary stage of estimating the allowable bearing capacity and settlements of shallow foundations on granular soils, instead of the conventional methods.     

Communication challenges in campus emergency planning: the case of Hurricane Dorian in Florida

Natural Hazards - University populations can sometimes be treated as homogenous by default, in the absence of intentional differentiation and targeted programs and services. Previous research has...     

The Amount of Dust and the Distance of NGC 253

The areas of 267 dark clouds in the galaxy NGC 253 were measured. It is shown that the size distribution of these clouds obeys the same exponential formula found for the galaxies NGC 3031, 5128, 5194, and 5457. From the apparent size distribution of the dark clouds the amount of dust and the distance of NGC 253 is found to 4.4 · 10⁷ M_⊙ and 2.06 Mpc, respectively.     

Geology and petrology of the Hormuz dolomite, Infra-Cambrian: Implications for the formation of the salt-cored Halul and Shraouh islands, Offshore, State of Qatar

Geological investigations of the Halul and the Shraouh islands, offshore Qatar, indicate that most of their calcareous rocks, which display abundant stromatolitic bedding, belong to the Infra-Cambrian Hormuz Series. Mineralogical, petrological, and geochemical analyses show that these calcareous rocks consist dominantly of dolomite and have formed in a reducing depositional environment. Faint laminations and small streaks of organic matter furnish evidence for the involvement of algal mats in their genesis and indicate their formation in an intertidal to supratidal setting. The Halul and Shraouh dolomites experienced extensive recrystallization and sulfatization during the emplacement of the Halul and Shraouh salt domes that form the cores of the islands. During mobilization and ascent of the salt, the dolomite recrystallized, and its Sr initial ratios were abnormally enhanced by the incorporation of ⁸⁷Sr from a source, which is more radiogenic than the attendant seawater at the time of the dolomite formation near the Proterozoic–Cambrian boundary. Geochemical analysis show that Si, Al, Ti Zr, and % of insoluble residue are highly correlative, suggesting the presence of detrital minerals such as rutile and zircon. A paleosabkha model may well agree with this chemical signature. However, the Infra-Cambrian age of the Hormuz rocks and the presence of stromatolitic layers containing organic materials in the studied rocks, suggest that organogenic dolomitization could be an alternative dolomitization model.     

Rate of seawater intrusion estimated by geophysical methods in an arid area: Al Khabourah, Oman

Seawater intrusion and its spreading rate are the challenging problems in over-pumped coastal aquifers of arid zones like the Batinah region of Oman. The study delineates the saline plume, identifies saline/freshwater zones, and estimates the migration rate of the plume in the Al Khabourah area of the Batinah coast. Time domain electromagnetic surveys, aided by vertical electrical sounding surveys, and seismic refraction methods have defined the locus of the saline/freshwater interface in the area. The current (2007) interface position, when compared with that determined during 2002, indicates a prominent recession in the saline plume and suggests an average annual recession rate of 120 m. This recession may be attributed mainly to the recharging dam of Wadi Al Hawasinah, constructed in 1995, and the enforcement of new water resources legislation. This study reveals the shielding role of the recharging dam to counter advancing saline intrusion.