Characteristics and mitigation of the snow avalanche hazard in Kaghan Valley,Pakistan Himalaya

Snow avalanche hazards in mountainous areas of developing countries have received scant attention in the scientific literature. The purpose of this paper is to describe this hazard and mitigative measures in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan Himalaya, and to review alternatives for future reduction of this hazard. Snow avalanches have long posed a hazard and risk to indigenous populations of the Himalaya and Trans-Himalaya mountains. Land use intensification due to population growth, new transportation routes, military activity and tourism is raising levels of risk. The history of land use in the study area is such that investigations of avalanche hazard must rely on different theoretical bases and data than in most industrialised countries. Despite the intensive use of valley-bottom land which is affected by avalanches, a number of simple measures are currently employed by the indigenous population to mitigate the hazard. Out-migration during the winter months is the most important one. During the intensive use period of summer avalanche-transported snow provides numerous resources for the population. In Kaghan the avalanche hazard is increasing primarily as a result of poorly located new buildings and other construction projects. The large scale of avalanche activity there rules out any significant improvement or protection of the currently difficult winter access. Instead, future mitigation of the hazard should focus on protecting the small number of winter inhabitants and minimising property damage.     

On love wave dispersion in a homogeneous layer lying over a laterally heterogeneous half-space

A method is proposed for the determination of the dispersion equation of Love waves propagating in a homogeneous layer lying over a laterally inhomogeneous half-space. The proposed method can be made to work only when the lateral inhomogeneities in the lower half-space are finite in nature so that their Fourier transforms are available. As an illustration the dispersion equation of Love waves is obtained for one of such media in which the shear-wave velocity and the rigidity in the lower half-space either increases or decreases along the direction of propagation of waves according as the parameter of heterogeneity is positive or negative.     

Selenium in a shore bird,the dunlin,from the Dutch Waddenzee

The hypothesis that Se is secreted by birds via the preen gland or salt glands, thus contaminating the feathers, has been investigated. It is concluded that the feather vanes show indirectly in this way the birds' e?posure to Se. Therefore they can be used as an indicator tissue for this element.     

The Černý Důl deposit (Czechoslovakia): An example of Ni-, Fe-, Ag-, Cu-arsenide mineralization with extremely high activity of arsenic; new data on paxite,novakite and kutinaite

Summary The erný Dl mineralization (Giant Mts., Czechoslovakia) consists of calcite veins cross-cutting metamorphic rocks and exhibiting a complex paragenesis of Ni-, Fe-, (Co)- and Cu-, Ag-arsenides associated with native arsenic. Several new minerals belonging to Cu–As and Cu–Ag–As systems were described from this deposit (koutekite, novakite, paxite, kutinaite). New data on paxite, novakite and kutinaite were obtained. Paxite, CuAs₂, is monoclinic,P2₁/c,a=5.830,b=5.111,c=8.084 Å, =99.7°,Z=4,D _calc=5.97 g/cm³, polysynthetically twinned along (010). Novakite belongs to the Cu–Ag–As system. It is monoclinic,C2/m,Cm orC2,a=16.269,b=11.711,c=10.007 Å, -112.7°,Z=4,D _calc=8.01 g/cm³. The ideal formula is Cu_20+x Ag_1–x As₁₀,x0.16. New microprobe analyses of kutinaite indicate a cell-content of 4 [Cu₁₄Ag₆As₇],D _calc=8.37 g/cm³.

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Résumé La minéralisation du gisement de erný Dl (Monts des Géants, Tchécoslovaquie) se distingue par une paragenèse complexe d'arséniures de Ni, Fe, (Co), Cu et Ag associés à l'arsenic natif, et apparaissant dans des filons de calcite qui recoupent une série de roches métamorphiques. Plusieurs minéraux nouveaux appartenant aux systèmes Cu–As et Cu–Ag–As ont été découverts dans ce gisement (koutekite, novakite, paxite, kutinaïte). De nouvelles données sur la paxite, la novakite et la kutinaïte ont été obtenues. La paxite, CuAs₂, est monoclinique,P2₁/c,a=5,830,b=5,111,c=8,084 Å, =99,7°,Z=4,D _calc=5,97 g/cm³; elle est polysythétiquement maclée suivant (010). La novakite est une phase du système Cu–Ag–As. Elle est monoclinique,C2/m,Cm ouC2,a=16,269,b=11,711,c=10,007 Å, =112,7°,Z=4,D _calc=8,01 g/cm³. Saformule idéale s'écrit Cu_20+x Ag_1–x As₁₀,x0,16. Des analyses de la kutinaïte conduisent à 4 [Cu₁₄Ag₆As₇] par maille,D _calc=8,37 g/cm³.L'étude paragénétique a permis de voir que le système hydrothermal à erný Dl couvre un interval de température large, s'étalant de500° à 100°C environ. Une très forte activité d'arsenic au cours des épisodes minéralisants tardifs a abouti à la cristallisation des arséniures de Cu riches en arsenic, stables à basse température. Cinq épisodes minéralisants ont été reconnus: le dépôt des arséniures de Ni, Fe, (Co) (löllingite, nickéline, pararammelsbergite, chloentite) était suivi de: kutinaïte, koutekite, arsenic natif et arséniures de cuivre riches en arsenic (novakite, Cu₂As, paxite). L'abondance des carbonates laisse entrevoir un rôle de composés ou de complexes de carbone dans l'évolution de ce système hydrothermal fortement réducteur.The study of mineral associations showed that the erný Dl hydrothermal system extended over a large temperature interval from 500° to 100°C. An extremely high arsenic activity during the late mineralization periods lead to the precipitation of low-temperature, As-rich copper arsenides. Five mineralization periods were distinguished: the precipitation of Ni-, Fe-, (Co)-arsenides (löllingite, nickeline, pararammelsbergite, chloanthite) was followed by kutinaite, koutekite, native arsenic and As-rich copper arsenides (novakite, Cu₂As, paxite). The abundance of carbonates suggests a possible role of carbon compounds or complexes in the evolution of this highly reducing hydrothermal system.

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With 2 Figures     

Organic geochemical studies of a Messinian evaporitic basin,northern Apennines (Italy) I: Hydrocarbon biological markers for a hypersaline environment

This paper describes the occurrence and significance of hydrocarbons present in two bituminous marl layers and one distinct gypsum layer from a Messinian sedimentary basin, where hypersaline conditions prevailed. Several new compounds were detected and tentatively identified: of these 20R and 20S 4α, 24-dimethyl-5α(H),14β(H),17β(H) and 20R and 20S 4β,24-dimethyI-5α(H),14β(H),17β(H) cholestanes; 4-methylspirosterenes; 4,4-dimethyl-5α(H),14β(H),17β(H) pregnanes and homopregnanes are discussed in this paper. Several of these compounds might be considered as biological markers for a (hyper)saline environment. The short side chain 4-desmethylsteranes, 5α(H),14β(H),17β(H), 5α(H),14β(H),17α(H) and 5α(H),14α(H), 17α(H) pregnanes and homopregnanes, are the most abundant compounds in the extract from the gypsum sample. It is suggested that in this case these compounds do not reflect the stage of diagenesis but are related to certain organisms exclusively occurring in hypersaline environments. In addition the very low pristane/phytane ratio, often considered as an indicator for anoxicity, could also be interpreted as a useful indicator for hypersalinity.     

An57Fe mössbauer effect study of ankerite

A natural sample of ankerite has been characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. The composition was found to be (Ca_1.11Mg_0.50Fe_0.33Mn_0.09) [Co₃]_1.99.⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect measurements were performed at temperatures between 4.2 and 400 K. At low temperatures (T < 25 K) relaxation effects are clearly dominant. The temperature dependence of the center shift is remarkably well reproduced by a model based on the Debije approximation of the lattice vibrations. In contrast, the temperature dependence of the quadrupole splitting cannot be described by any reasonable crystal field model. It is argued that an orbit-lattice coupling might explain the observed quadrupole splittings. A spectrum recorded in an applied field of 6 T reveals a positive electric field gradient from which an orbital doublet ground state is concluded. Highly anisotropic field reductions are derived but cannot be quantitatively explained due to a lack of knowledge concerning the magnetic structure of ankerite. The line widths decrease significantly with increasing temperature which is only partly due to the decreasing Mössbauer fraction.     

Error analysis in hypocentral locations at Phlegraean Fields

The location reliability of the earthquakes occurred at Phlegraean Fields has been analyzed, and the theoretical errors, inferred from the diagonal elements of the covariance matrix, have been estimated. Using only first P-phase arrivals to the local network (22 stations) and assuming a reading error of 0.05 sec., the average error on the spatial coordinates is estimated to be of the order of 0.2 km.Shallow events (depth<1 km) are very poorly constrained in depth at the borders of the network. The use of both P and S arrival times, recorded by a smaller three component network (10 stations), improves the depth determination.Further analysis has been performed on a set of about 350 selected earthquakes, using two different velocity models.Differences in depth considerably greater than the theoretical errors, and showing highly different patterns have been found.Tests with artificial events, randomly distributed in space, indicate that the observed depth distribution is essentially due to the used velocity model.     

Hydraulics of runoff and loess loam deposition

On many more or less loamy soils, rill erosion is reported to start on slopes that are equal to or steeper than 2–3°; critical Froude numbers for the start of rill wash on these slopes vary between 2·0 and 3·0. This explains why colluvial deposition often occurs on slopes below 2–3°, when water spreads out at the downslope extremities of the rills. The critical hydraulic conditions for loess loam deposition were tested in the laboratory for slopes of 0·5° and 2°, applying unit-discharges (q) up to 10 cm²/s. It appeared from these experiments that for afterflow, without raindrop impact, deposition starts for critical load concentrations (c_cr) varying between several g/1 and about 60 g/l. Under rain c_cr amounts to a minimum value of 100–125 g/l and it increases when the runoff film becomes thinner. Nevertheless, deposition in pluvial runoff is also possible, as was the case during the Weichselian, according to data from quarries in Belgium and in The Netherlands. A modified Kalinske equation is proposed for c_cr prediction, with the introduction of a typical empirical coefficient C_r and considering such factors as shear stress and mean particle size. Massive sedimentation may occur when it stops raining and afterflow starts, since c_cr values are then much lower. It is shown from the Shields' diagram that loamy suspensions are more sensitive to sedimentation than sands in clear water.     

K-Ar ages of basic rocks in the Patia Valley, southwest Colombia

The Patia Valley situated between the Western and Central Cordilleras of the southwest Colombian Andes contains two areas in which Mesozoic basic and ultrabasic rocks crop out in abundance. Late Cretaceous Diabase Group pillow basalts which make up much of the Western Cordillera are at least 81 ± 5 Ma in the E1 Tambo-E1 Peñol area. 105-97 Ma hornblende and whole-rock dates from the ophiolitic Los Azules complex indicate an Albian age of formation, although many dates are lower (65-62 Ma) owing the low-grade ocean-floor metamorphism. The metamorphic age distribution here supports an end of Cretaceous emplacement for the complex rather than the Early-Mid Cretaceous emplacement suggested for North Colombian ophiolites similarly aligned along the Romeral fault system. Tertiary dacites intruding the Low Azules complex are 36-15 Ma.     

Evolution of polycyclic alkanes in the Espirito Santo Basin

The distributions of polycyclic alkanes were monitored in a Neocomian sequence (well 1-ESS-34) from the Espirito Santo Basin, southeast Brazil. The profiles included, apart from regular hopanes, significant concentrations of 18α(H), 28,30-bisnorhopane and subordinate amounts of gammacerane. Sterane concentrations, normally with hopane/sterane <5, were compatible with other geochemical data indicating a predominantly planktonic/microbial source of the deposited organic matter. Sample maturities ranged from very immature to the onset of oil generation, allowing biomarker distributions to be followed along a broad maturation range. The ability of certain molecular ratios (e.g. C₂₇ 17α(H)/17β(H)hopanes) to reflect a maturity sequence with depth in the closely-spaced strata of the immature upper levels (Jiquiá Stage) showed the value of molecular techniques over classical geochemical methods (e.g. vitrinite reflectance) for the study of immature sequences. The presence in the oils of southern Espirito Santo of 28,30-bisnorhopane, gammacerane and methyl steranes in similar concentrations as in extracts of the deepest levels of the 1-ESS-34 well qualify the Jiquia Stage as the probable source rock of oils accumulated in the basin.