A generalized probabilistic approach for slope analysis: practical application to an open pit iron ore mine

Summary An example of the generalized probabilistic approach to slope analysis is given through a case study on an iron ore mine. A step by step engineering procedure is described, so that a practical application can be made to other structures under different field conditions.     

Orbital forced frequencies in the 975 000 year pollen record from Tenagi Philippon (Greece)

Frequency analysis was applied to different time series obtained from the 975 ka pollen record of Tenagi Philippon (Macedonia, Greece). These time series are characteristic of different vegetation types related to specific climatic conditions. Time control of the 196 m deep core was based on 11 finite 14C dates in the upper 17 m, magnetostratigraphy and correlation with the marine oxygen isotope stratigraphy. Maximum entropy spectrum analyses and thomson multitaper spectrum analysis were applied using the complete time series. Periods of 95–99, 40–45, 24.0–25.5 and 19–21 ka which can be related to orbital forcing, as well as periods of about 68, 30 ka and of about 15.5, 13.5, 12 and 10.5 ka were detected. The detected periods of about 68, 30 ka and 16, 14, 12, 10.5 ka are likely to be harmonics and combination tones of the periods related to orbital forcing. The period of around 30 ka is possibly a secondary peak of obliquity. To study the stability of the detected periods through time, analysis with a moving window was employed. Signals in the eccentricity band were detected clearly during the last 650 ka. In the precession band, detected periods of about 24 ka show an increase in amplitude during the last 650 ka. The evolution of orbital frequencies during the last 1.0 Ma is in general agreement with the results of other marine and continental time series. Time series related to different climatic settings showed a different response to orbital forcing. Time series of vegetational elements sensitive to changes in net precipitation were forced in the precession and obliquity bands. changes in precession caused changes in the monsoon system, which indirectly had a strong influence on the climatic history of Greece. Time series of vegetational elements which are more indicative of changes in annual temperature are forced in the eccentricity band.     

DDT,PCB and benzo(a)pyrene levels in white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) from southern California

In 1978 the California Department of Fish and Game carried out a major, independent sportfishing survey in southern California. The results of that survey indicated that approximately one million angler-trip hours per year were spent fishing and that one in three fish caught was a white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus). There was no attempt by the Department of Fish and Game to determine the disposition of caught fish. We conducted a subsequent survey in 1980 which included 12 popular sportfishing sites in the Los Angeles area. Our results also indicated that one in three fish caught was a white croaker. In addition our survey showed that 82% of the sportfishermen ate the white croaker they caught and the median consumption was 14.8 g day^?1 person^?1. White croaker were then sampled by hook-and-line from 11 of the 12 survey sites plus two control sites and analysed for PCB, DDT and BaP. Median PCB levels ranged from 0.014 to 0.41 mg wet kg^?1; median DDT from 0.059 to 7.5 mg wet kg^?1 and BaP was below detectable limits of 1 ng for all sites.     

Zinc-rich Pyrite from the TAG Active Mound, the TAG Hydrotherma Field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Abstract: Pyrite rich in Zn, up to 3.1 wt%, was found in the TAG active mound of the TAG hydrothermal field, the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26°08'N and 44°49'W. The Zn-rich pyrite is characterized by an optical homogeneity, a homogeneous distribution of Zn in the back-scattered electron images, both at a magnification of about 500, a negative correlation between Fe and Zn contents of the pyrite and a rather small unit cell edge (a₀ = 5.4117 ± 0.0008Å), strongly indicating that the detected Zn is present in the pyrite in solid solution. Such Zn concentrations are observed exclusively in dendritic pyrite, suggesting that the Znrich pyrite grew from hydrothermal fluids of a high degree of supersaturation due to quenching on the seafloor.     

Influence of source region properties on scaling relations forM<0 events

Excavation induced seismic events with moment magnitudesM<0 are examined in an attempt to determine the role geology, excavation geometry, and stress have on scaling relations. Correlations are established based on accurate measurements of excavation geometry and methodology, stress regime, rock mass structure, local tectonics, and seismic locations. Scaling relations incorporated seismic moments and source radii obtained by spectral analysis, accounting for source, propagation, and site effects, and using Madariaga's dynamic circular fault model. Observations suggest that the interaction of stresses with pre-existing fractures, fracture complexity and depth of events are the main factors influencing source characteristics and scaling behaviour. Self-similar relationships were found for events at similar depths or for weakly structured rock masses with reduced clamping stresses, whereas a non-similar behaviour was found for events with increasing depth or for heavily fractured zones under stress confinement. Additionally, the scaling behaviour for combined data sets tended to mask the non-similar trends. Overall, depth and fracture complexity, initially thought as second order effects, appear to significantly influence source characteristics of seismic events withM<0 and consequently favour a non-similar earthquake generation process.     

Estimation of periodicities in hydrologic data

Periodicites in hydrologic data are frequently estimated and studied. In some cases the periodic components are subtracted from the data to obtain the stochastic components. In other cases the physical reasons for the occurrence of these periodicities are investigated. Apart from the annual cycle in the hydrologic data, periods corresponding to the 11 year sunspot cycle, the Hale cycle and others have been detected.The conclusions from most of these studies depend on the reliability and robustness of the methods used to detect these periodicities. Several spectral analysis methods have been proposed to investigate periodicities in time series data. Several of these have been compared to each other. The methods by Siddiqui and Wang and by Damsleth and Spjotvoll, which are stepwise procedures of spectrum estimation, have not been evaluated.     

Ondes de surface

Résumé Le but de ce mémoire est de démontrer quelques nouvelles propriétés générales d'une classe de fonctions (les ondes de surface) très importante par son rôle en physique et en géophysique.On commence par la démontration d'un théoréme fondamental qui établit l'identité de l'ensemble des ondes de surface et de l'ensemble des fonctions pour lesquelles, à tout instantt ₀ et en tout pointA ₀ de leur domaine d'existence, on peut écrire une proportionnalité entre intervalles de temps (situés, en général asymétriquement, de part et d'autre det ₀) et rayons des domaines circulaires centrés enA ₀, telle que les moyennes temporelles et spatiales correspondantes soient égales. Ce théorème permet d'écrire, en termes finis, la solution des équations aux dérivées partielles de toute onde de surface.On applique ensuite les résultats généraux: 1° à la variation diurne de la pression lce qui permet de voir que ce phénomène peut être considéré comme une onde de surface et donne la loi fondamentale en cos³ ( latitude) pour l'amplitude de l'onde semidiurne progressive]; 2° aux ondes de variation de la pression synoptique. Pour ces ondes de variation on établit les relations qui existent entre leurs paramètres caractéristiques et on détermine finalement leur configuration théorique.

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Summary The aim of this paper is to give the proof of some new general properties of a class of functions (the surface waves) which is very important in physics and geophysics.We first give the proof of a fundamental theorem establishing the identity of the set of all surface waves and the set of functions for which, at any momentt ₀ and at any pointA ₀ of their domain, there exists a proportionality between time intervals comprisingt ₀ (asymmetrically, in the general case) and the radius of the circular domains centered onA ₀, such that the corresponding temporal and spatial means are equal. This theorem allows to write in finite terms the solution of the partial differential equations of any surface wave.The general results are then applied: 1° to the diurnal pressure variation, showing that this phenomenon can be considered as a surface wave and giving the fundamental law cos³ ( latitude) for the amplitude of the progressive or travelling 12-hourly wave; 2° to the waves of the synoptic pressure variations. For these waves the relations between their characteristic parameters is first established and finally their theoretical spatial configuration or pattern is deduced.

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Communication faite le 23 Avril 1957 à la Cinquième Assemblée de la «Società Italiana di Geofisica e Meteorologia» (Genova, 23–25 Avril 1957).