State of geoscientific research within the lorandite experiment (LOREX)

The LORandite EXperiment (acronym LOREX) is the only geochemical solar neutrino experiment still actively persued. The Tl-mineral lorandite, TlAsS₂, occurs in the ore deposit Allchar, Macedonia, close to the border of Greece. The polychronous and polygenetic Sb-As-Tl-Au Allchar deposit was formed by complex physico-chemical processes occurring in a heterogeneous geological environment and by interaction of polyphase hydrothermal fluids with the surrounding magmatic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The genesis of ore mineralization is related to the products of polyphase magmatic activity of Pliocene age (~6.5 to ~1.8?Ma) and its spatial location was controlled by magmatic, structural and lithological factors. The Allchar deposit comprises several orebodies of various shapes, textural-structural characteristics and element associations. Thallium mineralization, which is of significance for the LOREX project, has been proved in two locations: (i) ore body Crven Dol in the northern part and (ii) ore body Centralni Deo in the central part of the Allchar deposit. The age of Tl-mineralization is 4.22?Ma at the Crven Dol locality and 4.31?Ma at Rudina near to the Centralni Deo locality. The present depth of ore mineralization from the present soil surface is about 30?m to 140?m, whereas the paleodepth of its formation is considerably bigger. Using the method of quantitative geomorphological analysis, and AMS- and MS-measurements of cosmogenic radionuclides ²⁶Al, ²¹Ne, and ³He, the erosion rate has been established to be ~70?m/Ma in the broader area of the Crven Dol locality and ~130?m/Ma in the Centrani Deo of the Allchar deposit. On the basis of these erosion rates and ages of Tl-mineralization, we have calculated the paleo-depth of Lorandite to be ca 180?m?±?35?m to 420?m?±?80?m. Geochemical and mineralogical investigations on lorandite in particular its trace elements (Pb, U, and Th), the quantity of lorandite in the two ore bodies, the geological age and the paleo depth of Tl-mineralization have provided encouraging results and indicate the feasibility of the LOREX project.     

Expansion of Cavities Embedded in Cohesionless Elastoplastic Half-Space and Subjected to Anisotropic Stress Field

Cavity expansion theories are employed in a wide range of geotechnical applications including interpretation of pressure meter tests, evaluation of shaft capacity of piles, and pulling forces for horizontal directional drilling. Most of these theories assume infinite medium and isotropic stress field, which may not be justified for many applications. The main objectives of this paper are two folds: to investigate the effects of the free surface, stress gradient, and in situ stress anisotropy on the displacements during the expansion phase of cavities embedded in dilatant sands; and to establish correction factors to account for these effects. The investigation was conducted using two-dimensional finite element analyses. It was found that the cavity expansion theory due to Yu and Houlsby (Geotechnique 41:173–183, 1991) can be used reliably for cases subjected to an initial isotropic stress and embedment depth to diameter ratio of 20 or higher. However, it becomes inaccurate for shallow embedment depth and/or stress anisotropy conditions. An analytical procedure to account for the effects of embedment and/or stress anisotropy was proposed. The applicability of the proposed procedure was demonstrated for a wide range of soil properties and geometrical configurations. The results obtained confirmed its ability to estimate the cavity pressures within 10?% of the values obtained using FEA calculations.     

Anisotropic radiation transfer in dispersive media

Equations for radiation, scattered anisotropically from dispersive media are obtained for general boundary conditions. The Padé approximant technique is used to calculate the reflection coefficients for these media. Numerical results are given for diffuse reflected boundary condition.     

Diffuse reflection and transmission of radiation for Rayleigh phase function

Diffuse reflection and transmission coefficients in a plane parallel medium are calculated for a Rayleigh phase-function averaged over polarization and Rayleigh polarized phase-function. This is calculated by imbedding the finite medium into a semi-infinite scattering and absorbing medium. Numerical calculations for semi-infinite albedo are compared with Pomraning results. The albedos for finite medium are calculated via the imbedding equations which converge for large τ to the value of semi-infinite medium.     

The instability of hydromagnetic planetary-gravity waves in a zonal flow and transverse magnetic field

Hydromagnetic planetary-gravity waves propagating on a β-plane through a zonal flow and transverse magnetic field are examined for instability. Such instabilities may be related to same physical phenomena in the atmospheres of the Sun and planets and in the Earth's core. It is found that the onset of instability depends on the directions of the vertical and transverse wave-numbers and the zonal flow. It is also shown that as the magnetic field intensity is kept uniform instability can onset provided that the zonal flow strength does not exceed a certain factor, which depends on the parameters of the medium, and then the zonal wavenumbers that can become unstable are limited to a given range. If the basic Alfvén wave speed is allowed to vary whereas the zonal flow is kept uniform the zonal wavenumbers that can exhibit instability are again limited but the basic Alfvén wave speed can assume any value.     

Vulnerability mapping of the Turonian limestone aquifer in the Phosphates Plateau (Morocco)

Turonian limestones are an important source of water indispensable for industrial, urban and agricultural development in the Phosphates Plateau. This is an elaboration of a vulnerability map of the aquifer, based on a multicriterion approach according to the DRASTIC charter that serves as a tool for assessment, management and protection of the groundwater quality.     

Hydrogeochemical modeling of the water seepages through Tannur Dam,southern Jordan

This paper reveals the geochemical processes of dissolution, precipitation and cation exchange that took place during water–rock interaction between water seepages through the Tannur Dam. The Schoeller diagram indicates that there are three major water types originating during water–rock interaction. The first water type is characterized by low salinity that ranges from 1,300 to 2,800 µs/cm, which represents the reservoir water and the water in the right side of the central gallery. The second water type is in the left side of the central gallery, which exhibits medium salinity that reaches about 4,400 µs/cm. The third water type is characterized by very high salinity that reaches a value of around 8,500 µs/cm and represents the water in the right existing adit. The increase of salinity can be explained due to the dissolution of carbonate and sulfate minerals that form the matrix of the foundation and the abutment rocks, and the dissolution of the grout curtain, which is composed of cement and bentonite. Hydrogeochemical modeling, using a computer code PHREEQC, was used to obtain the saturation indices of specific mineral phases, which might be related to interaction with water seepages, and to identify the chemical species of the dissolved ions. The thermodynamic calculations indicate that most of the water samples were undersaturated with respect to gypsum, anhydrite and halite, and were saturated and/or supersaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite. Ca(HCO₃)₂ is the primary water type, as a result of dissolution of carbonate minerals such as calcite and dolomite prevailing at the dam site. However, cation-exchange processes are responsible for the formation of the Na₂SO₄ water type from the CaSO₄ type that formed due to the dissolution of gypsum.     

Première caractérisation palynologique du Trias moyen dans le Haut Atlas ; implications pour l'initiation du rifting téthysien au Maroc

The Middle Anisian has been palynologically characterized for the first time, at the whole Moroccan scale, in the High Atlas of Marrakech. The stratigraphic, tectonic and paleogeographic implications of this discovery are analysed. To cite this article: E.H. El Arabi et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).