Data-driven Mineral Prospectivity Mapping by Joint Application of Unsupervised Convolutional Auto-encoder Network and Supervised Convolutional Neural Network

Natural Resources Research - The excellent performance of convolutional neural network (CNN) and its variants in image classification makes it a potential perfect candidate for dealing with...     

An AHP–TOPSIS Predictive Model for District-Scale Mapping of Porphyry Cu–Au Potential: A Case Study from Salafchegan Area (Central Iran)

The Salafchegan area in central Iran is a greenfield region of high porphyry Cu–Au potential, for which a sound prospectivity model is required to guide mineral exploration. Satellite imagery, geological geochemical, geophysical, and mineral occurrence datasets of the area were used to run an innovative integration model for porphyry Cu–Au exploration. Five favorable multi-class evidence maps, representing diagnostic porphyry Cu–Au recognition criteria (intermediate igneous intrusive and sub-volcanic host rocks, structural controls, hydrothermal alterations, stream sediment Cu anomalies, magnetic signatures), were combined using analytic hierarchy process and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution to calculate a final map of porphyry Cu–Au potential in the Salafchegan area.     

Land use effects on the properties of an Alfisol on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different land-use types on the properties of an Alfisol on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Areas being used for nature conservation (forest), grazing and maize cultivation were chosen, and the three are contiguous within a nearly level, moderately well-drained site. Within each of the three land-use areas, a plot of 30 x 20 m was chosen. Each plot was divided into 6 grids of 100 m² size. Within each of these grids, four sampling sites were chosen by throwing up a coin four times. The four surface soil (0–5 cm depth) samples taken at the points where the coin landed, were mixed to form the composite sample, out of which sizeable portion was taken. This means that six soil samples were taken for each land use area (forest, grass, and cultivated). Same procedure was repeated for each of the following soil depths 5–15, 15–30 and 30–50 cm. Laboratory soil analyses were carried out while analysis of variance was used to test the significance of mean difference. The results show that forest clearing for grazing and maize cultivation has lead to significant decreases in most soil fertility variables. Organic matter levels of the grassland and cultivated soils are just about 28% and 13%, respectively, of that of the forest soil in the 0–5 cm depth, while they are 36% and 19%, respectively, in the 5–15 cm depth. Exchangeable cations and effective cation exchange capacity are also significantly higher in the forest soils. The effects are attributable to soil organic matter decomposition and nutrient removal resulting from forest clearance, maize cultivation and grazing. Hence, for sustained agricultural productivity, the soils require adequate inorganic and organic fertilizer additions together with appropriate cultural practices such as agroforestry, crop rotation and mixed cropping involving legumes.     

The influence of extraction rate on the reduced sulphur content of Aix-les-Bains’ thermal spring waters: Consequences for resource-quality monitoring

Sulphurous thermal springs account for a few percent of all thermal springs. As each degree of oxidation of elemental S corresponds to a different S species, sulphurous spring waters may contain a variety of S species. Total S content is one of the parameters measured when analysis is carried out for issuing a spa’s operating licence. Under French law these parameters must be stable over time. The two spas in Aix-les-Bains are fed by a number of natural springs and boreholes, whose waters have total reduced S concentrations of between 30 and 800 mg L⁻¹. To ensure compliance with the requirements of the spas’ operating licences, particularly in terms of total reduced S content, official analysis of the waters is carried out every month at random dates and times. Monthly analyses have revealed seasonal variations in the S content of some of Aix-les-Bains’ springs; therefore, more frequent monitoring was carried out in order to investigate the extent and causes of these fluctuations. As well as seasonal variations, this monitoring has revealed daily and hourly fluctuations that appear to be related to extraction rates. For some of the springs and boreholes, S concentrations were correlated with extraction rates; for others, an increase in extraction rate led to a reduction in total S content. Concentrations of sulphide ions (one of the species included in the total sulphur analyses) were monitored at the same time as the total S content. Variations in sulphide ion concentrations and in sulphide concentration/total S ratios did not appear to be linked to variations in flow rate. These tests show that random monthly testing is not suitable for monitoring the stability of S contents, as this parameter can only be considered stable in terms of its yearly mean value.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of mafic rocks from Bamenda Mountains (Cameroon): Source composition and crustal contamination along the Cameroon Volcanic Line

Mafic rocks from the Bamenda volcanic province along the Cameroon Volcanic Line have been dated from 17 to 0 Ma. Associated with some trachytes and rhyolites, this volcanism covers a period of more than 25 Ma. The studied rocks are basalts to mugearites. Most of them have been contaminated by continental crust during their transit to the surface. The oldest rocks are the most contaminated. One group of samples shows high Eu, Sr and Ba contents. This characteristic is not due to crustal contamination process, but has a mantle source origin. We argue that these characteristics have been acquired by mixing of melts formed by partial melting of mantle pyroxenites with melts formed in mantle peridotites. Such pyroxenites have been observed as mantle xenoliths in the Adamaoua province, and their chemical and isotopic compositions are consistent with such a model.     

Groundwater flow in the vicinity of two artificial recharge ponds in the Belgian coastal dunes

Since July 2002, tertiary treated wastewater has been artificially recharged through two infiltration ponds in the dunes of the Belgian western coastal plain. This has formed a lens of artificially recharged water in the dunes’ fresh water lens. Recharged water is recovered by extraction wells located around the ponds. Hydraulic aspects of the artificial recharge and extraction are described using field observations such as geophysical borehole loggings and a tracer test. Borehole logs indicate recharged water up to 20 m below surface, whereas the tracer test gives field data about the residence times of the recharged water. Furthermore, a detailed solute transport model was made of the area surrounding the ponds. Groundwater flow, capture zone, residence times and volume of recharged water in the aquifer are calculated. This shows that the residence time varies between 30 days and 5 years due to the complex flow pattern. The extracted water is a mix of waters with different residence times and natural groundwater, assuring a relatively stable water quality of the extracted water.     

Geochemistry of Triassic Carbonates: Exploration Guide to Pb–Zn Mineralization in North Tunisia

The Triassic carbonate rocks in Northern Tunisia (Nappes, Domes, Jurassic Mountains zones), consist of massive carbonates, clays and gypsum with authigenic minerals. These are associated with several Pb–Zn deposits and occurrences. At Jebel Ichkeul, Bechateur and Oum Edeboua, these Triassic carbonates exhibit enrichment in Pb (0.32 to 228 ppm), Zn (17 to 261 ppm), Cd (5 to 6 ppm) and Co (0.3 to 89.5 ppm), with respect to their average contents in crustal carbonates. The enrichment is more pronounced at Oum Edeboua (near the ore zone). Permeability is one of the most effective factors of dispersion of metallic trace elements, causing the development of geochemical halos. The genetic relationship of the Triassic carbonate rocks with the ore deposits was controlled by diapirism and tectonic movements, which favored mineralization along the Triassic‐cover contact as well as the remobilization of metals from the mineralized rocks. Analysis of metallic trace elements in Triassic rocks provides clues to the presence of possible mineral deposits. These could be effectively used for both geochemical interpretation and mineral exploration. Carbon and O‐isotope data (– 9.3‰ < δ¹³C < +3‰; +21.9 < δ¹⁸O < +31‰) suggest that the Triassic carbonates of all study areas have marine carbonates as their origin; some of them show significantly lower δ¹⁸O values indicating some exchange with hydrothermal fluids. Calcites associated with mineralization at Oum Edeboua have δ¹³C of –6.2‰ to –8.22‰ and δ¹⁸O of +24.88‰ to +25‰. The C‐isotope compositions of these calcites are ¹³C depleted, indicating an organic origin.     

A study on the dissolution rates of K-Cr(VI)-jarosites: kinetic analysis and implications

Background

The presence of natural and industrial jarosite type-compounds in the environment could have important implications in the mobility of potentially toxic elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium, among others. Understanding the dissolution reactions of jarosite-type compounds is notably important for an environmental assessment (for water and soil), since some of these elements could either return to the environment or work as temporary deposits of these species, thus would reduce their immediate environmental impact.

Results

This work reports the effects of temperature, pH, particle diameter and Cr(VI) content on the initial dissolution rates of K-Cr(VI)-jarosites (KFe₃[(SO₄)_2 ? X(CrO₄)_X](OH)₆). Temperature (T) was the variable with the strongest effect, followed by pH in acid/alkaline medium (H₃O⁺/OH^?). It was found that the substitution of CrO₄ ^2?in Y-site and the substitution of H₃O⁺ in M-site do not modify the dissolution rates. The model that describes the dissolution process is the unreacted core kinetic model, with the chemical reaction on the unreacted core surface. The dissolution in acid medium was congruent, while in alkaline media was incongruent. In both reaction media, there is a release of K⁺, SO₄ ^2? and CrO₄ ^2? from the KFe₃[(SO₄)_2 ? X(CrO₄)_X](OH)₆ structure, although the latter is rapidly absorbed by the solid residues of Fe(OH)₃ in alkaline medium dissolutions. The dissolution of KFe₃[(SO₄)_2 ? X(CrO₄)_X](OH)₆ exhibited good stability in a wide range of pH and T conditions corresponding to the calculated parameters of reaction order n, activation energy E _A and dissolution rate constants for each kinetic stages of induction and progressive conversion.

Conclusions

The kinetic analysis related to the reaction orders and calculated activation energies confirmed that extreme pH and T conditions are necessary to obtain considerably high dissolution rates. Extreme pH conditions (acidic or alkaline) cause the preferential release of K⁺, SO₄ ^2? and CrO₄ ^2? from the KFe₃[(SO₄)_2 ? X(CrO₄)_X](OH)₆ structure, although CrO₄ ^2? is quickly adsorbed by Fe(OH)₃ solid residues. The precipitation of phases such as KFe₃[(SO₄)_2 ? X(CrO₄)_X](OH)₆, and the absorption of Cr(VI) after dissolution can play an important role as retention mechanisms of Cr(VI) in nature.

     

Geochemical analysis of evaporite sedimentation in the Gachsaran Formation,Zeloi oil field,southwest Iran

In this study, the paleo-sedimentary depositional environment of the Gachsaran Formation and the Asmari reservoir cap rock (i.e., the stratigraphically lowest member of the Gachsaran Formation) was investigated from elemental geochemical data and mineralogical data obtained XRF and SEM analyses, respectively, of anhydrite samples collected from two oil wells in the Zeloi oil field in southwestern Iran. The present data reveal that arid conditions and cycles of transgression–regression of the sea contributed to the formation of evaporite sequences of the Gachsaran Formation in a coastal sabkha-lagoon basin that was partly closed to the sea. This interpretation was based on synthesis of statistical correlation analysis the geochemical data, chemostratigraphic correlation of geochemical ratios, and textural analysis of salts observed in SEM images.