Miocene emplacement and rapid cooling of the Pohorje pluton at the Alpine-Pannonian-Dinaridic junction,Slovenia

New laser ablation-inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry U-Pb analyses on oscillatory-zoned zircon imply Early Miocene crystallization (18.64 ± 0.11 Ma) of the Pohorje pluton at the southeastern margin of the Eastern Alps (northern Slovenia). Inherited zircon cores indicate two crustal sources: a late Variscan magmatic population (~270–290 Ma), and an early Neoproterozoic one (850–900 Ma) with juvenile Hf isotope composition close to that of depleted mantle. Initial εHf of Miocene zircon points to an additional, more juvenile source component of the Miocene magma, which could be either a juvenile Phanerozoic crust or the Miocene mantle. The new U-Pb isotope age of the Pohorje pluton seriously questions its attribution to the Oligocene age ‘Periadriatic’ intrusions. The new data imply a temporal coincidence with 19–15 Ma magmatism in the Pannonian Basin system, more specifically in the Styrian Basin. K-Ar mineral- and whole rock ages from the pluton itself and cogenetic shallow intrusive dacitic rocks (~18–16 Ma), as well as zircon fission track data (17.7–15.6 Ma), gave late Early to early Middle Miocene ages, indicating rapid cooling of the pluton within about 3 Million years. Medium-grade Austroalpine metamorphics north and south of the pluton were reheated and subsequently cooled together. Outcrop- and micro scale structures record deformation of the Pohorje pluton and few related mafic and dacitic dykes under greenschist facies conditions. Part of the solidstate fabrics indicate E–W oriented stretching and vertical thinning, while steeply dipping foliation and NW–SE trending lineation are also present. The E–W oriented lineation is parallel to the direction of subsequent brittle extension, which resulted in normal faulting and tilting of the earlier ductile fabric at around the Early / Middle Miocene boundary; normal faulting was combined with strike-slip faulting. Renewed N–S compression may be related to late Miocene to Quaternary dextral faulting in the area. The documented syn-cooling extensional structures and part of the strike-slip faults can be interpreted as being related to lateral extrusion of the Eastern Alps and/or to back-arc rifting in the Pannonian Basin.     

Computational and Empirical Investigation of Propeller Tip Vortex Cavitation Noise

In this study, non-cavitating and cavitating flow around the benchmark DTMB 4119 model propeller are solved using both viscous and potential based solvers. Cavitating and non-cavitating propeller radiated noises are then predicted by using a hybrid method in which RANS(Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) and FWH(Ffowcs Williams Hawkings) equations are solved together in open water conditions. Sheet cavitation on the propeller blades is modelled by using a VOF(Volume of Fiuld) method equipped with Schnerr-Sauer cavitation model.Nevertheless, tip vortex cavitation noise is estimated by using two different semi-empirical techniques, namely Tip Vortex Index(TVI, based on potential flow theory) and Tip Vortex Contribution(TVC). As the reference distance between noise source and receiver is not defined in open water case for TVI technique, one of the outputs of this study is to propose a reference distance for TVI technique by coupling two semi-empirical techniques and ITTC distance normalization. At the defined distance, the starting point of the tip vortex cavitation is determined for different advance ratios and cavitation numbers using potential flow solver. Also, it is examined that whether the hybrid method and potential flow solver give the same noise results at the inception point of tip vortex cavitation.Results show that TVI method based on potential flow theory is reliable and can practically be used to replace the hybrid method(RANS with FWH approach) when tip vortex cavitation starts.     

Kinetics of the leaching of mechanically activated berthierite,boulangerite and franckeite

In this study, changes in surface area, morphology and leachability of antimony from mechanically activated berthierite—FeSb₂S₄, boulangerite—Pb₅Sb₄S₁₁ and franckeite—FePb₅Sn₃Sb₂S₁₄ by a high-energy planetary mill were investigated. It appears that a selective extraction of antimony from these complex sulphosalts in alkaline solution of sodium sulphide is positively affected by mechanical activation. The influence of milling on mineral particle size and shape was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The temperature dependencies of berthierite alkaline leaching were investigated in an interval of 323–363 K. Resulting experimental activation energies E _a were 0.11 and 6.78 kJ mol⁻¹ for mechanically activated berthierite due to a break of Arrhenius plot. The values E _a are characteristic for a process controlled by diffusion as the rate-controlling step of leaching reaction.     

Behaviour of steel cushions subjected to combined actions

Mild steel is relatively low-cost and easily accessible material to fabricate some structural members. It would be a significant advantage if seismic energy dissipaters that are used in structures constructed in the earthquake prone areas, could also be produced on site. In this paper, a promising seismic energy dissipater made of mild steel, so-called steel cushion (SC) is presented. It is provided experimental and analytical responses of SCs subjected to bi-axial loadings. SC rolls under the lateral loading that allows relocation of the plasticized cross-section. Henceforth, SC dissipates considerable amount of seismic energy. A series of tests were performed to achieve experimentally the behavior of SC subjected to longitudinal and transversal loading. Finite Element Models (FEMs) were also generated to reproduce the experimental backbone curves and to predict the bi-directional response properties for discrete transversal forces and plate thicknesses. Closed-form equations were derived to determine yield and ultimate forces and the corresponding displacements as well as location of the plasticized sections. The behavior of SC could either be projected by the FEMs with the exhibited parameters or by means of the proposed closed-form equations and the normalized design chart.     

Spatially distributed modelling and mapping of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks in the Eastern Mau Forest Reserve,Kenya

Detailed knowledge about the estimates and spatial patterns of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks is fundamental for sustainable land management and climate change mitigation. This study aimed at: (1) mapping the spatial patterns, and (2) quantifying SOC and TN stocks to 30 cm depth in the Eastern Mau Forest Reserve using field, remote sensing, geographical information systems (GIS), and statistical modelling approaches. This is a critical ecosystem offering essential services, but its sustainability is threatened by deforestation and degradation. Results revealed that elevation, silt content, TN concentration, and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager band 11 explained 72% of the variability in SOC stocks, while the same factors (except silt content) explained 71% of the variability in TN stocks. The results further showed that soil properties, particularly TN and SOC concentrations, were more important than that other environmental factors in controlling the observed patterns of SOC and TN stocks, respectively. Forests stored the highest amounts of SOC and TN (3.78 Tg C and 0.38 Tg N) followed by croplands (2.46 Tg C and 0.25 Tg N) and grasslands (0.57 Tg C and 0.06 Tg N). Overall, the Eastern Mau Forest Reserve stored approximately 6.81 Tg C and 0.69 Tg N. The highest estimates of SOC and TN stocks (hotspots) occurred on the western and northwestern parts where forests dominated, while the lowest estimates (coldspots) occurred on the eastern side where croplands had been established. Therefore, the hotspots need policies that promote conservation, while the coldspots need those that support accumulation of SOC and TN stocks.     

Numerical sensitivity test of three-electrode laterolog borehole tool

Finite element numerical simulation has been carried out to investigate quantitatively the response of the three-electrode laterolog borehole tool (LL3) on radial and vertical heterogeneity of the rock. In order to calculate the apparent resistivity from the electric potential and the current discharge of the measurement electrode the probe coefficient of the LL3 tool with finite electrode extent was determined. Two independent methods, a finite element modeling and a semi-analytical solution, resulted in the probe coefficient of approx. 0.15 m with a relative deviation of 2.4% due to the different geometry, resolution and electronics of the models. It was established that LL3 is only slightly sensitive to the presence of mud when the borehole diameter is d ≤ 30 cm and the ratio of the resistivity of rock and the borehole mud is 1 ≤ R _t/R _m ≤ 1000. Vertical heterogeneity test pointed out that the layer boundaries can be localized exactly even for thin bedded layer (with a thickness of 1 m) and the presence of low-resistive borehole mud. Correction factors were suggested to decrease the biasing effect of the low-resistive borehole mud and the shoulder beds on the apparent resistivity observed by LL3. Finally, it was verified that the probe has large penetration depth with excellent vertical resolution, what explains the enduring popularity of the LL3 tool in well logging.     

Distribution Study of U,V, Mo,and Zr in Different Sites of Lakes Van and Hazar,River and Seawater Samples by ICP‐MS

The aim of this study is to investigate the concentrations of U, Th, V, Mo, and Zr in natural waters taken from Turkey. Among these water species, Lake Van is the largest soda lake and the fourth largest closed basin on Earth. The water samples were collected from 51 locations between 2008 and 2009. The inductively coupled plasma‐MS was used for determinations. The obtained U and Zr concentrations are in the range of 37–110 µg L^?1 and 17–78 µg L^?1 in Lake Van and 0.53–0.81 µg L^?1 and 0.15–0.19 µg L^?1 in Lake Hazar, respectively. The concentration of uranium in other studied waters varies from the lowest 0.09 µg L^?1 in Tigris (Dicle) river to the highest 4.0 µg L^?1 in Mediterranean Sea water. Mean Mo and V concentrations in the studied water samples were found to be in ranges of 0.1–17 and 2.7–113 µg L^?1, respectively. The obtained highest U concentration in Lake Van correlates with the highest Mo and Zr levels compared to the Lake Hazar and river waters. These results imply that there is a young occurrence of uranium minerals around Lake Van. It is concluded that there is about 50.000 ton of uranium in Lake Van water.     

Exploring the geophysical and socio-economic determinants of land cover changes in Eastern Mau forest reserve and Lake Nakuru drainage basin,Kenya

Understanding the linkages between the biogeophysical and socio-economic processes that operate at different spatial and temporal scales is important for land cover change mitigation. This study analysed several factors that explained the forest-shrubland conversions, grassland conversions and cropland expansions in Lake Nakuru drainage basin and Eastern Mau forest reserve in Kenya from 1985 to 2011. Logistic regression models were developed using a combination of remote sensing-based land cover data, and geographical information systems-based geophysical and socio-economic data (i.e., temperature, rainfall, elevation, slope, aspect, topographic wetness, curvature, soil pH, soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), population density and distance to road, river and town). The results were varied; for example, in the period 1985–2000, forest-shrubland conversions were linked to distance to road), distance to town, soil pH, soil CEC, rainfall, topographic wetness, curvature and aspect. The same factors, in addition to slope and distance to river, also determined the likelihood of forest-shrubland conversions in the period 2000–2011. Overall, significance of the determining factors varied depending on time and nature of land cover change. For example, topographical factors influenced grassland conversions in the period 1985–2000, while soil-related factors did not. But in the period 2000–2011, the converse was true. Therefore, policies for restoration, conservation and sustainable management of critical ecosystems (e.g., forests) should be spatially targeted and time-specific. These results broaden our knowledge of land cover dynamics in this locality, and provide a base for effective environmental policy formulation, planning and management.