Real Time Analysis and Forecasting of Strata Caving Behaviour during Longwall Operations

Summary. Discontinuous manual observations and irregular caving characteristics of roof rocks often lead to improper decisions resulting in accidents and production loss. Hence, systematic monitoring of the hanging roof behind the chock shields is necessary for safe and productive mining operations. A real-time application was successfully implemented in an Indian mine for forecasting of hanging roof behaviour to enhance safety and productivity. This paper reports the functioning of real-time TWAP (time weighted average pressure) analysis in the forecasting of hanging roof behaviour in real time.     

An integrated approach to investigate saline water intrusion and to identify the salinity sources in the Central Godavari delta, Andhra Pradesh, India

The Central Godavari delta is located along the Bay of Bengal Coast, Andhra Pradesh, India, and is drained by Pikaleru, Kunavaram and Vasalatippa drains. There is no groundwater pumping for agriculture as wells as for domestic purpose due to the brackish nature of the groundwater at shallow depths. The groundwater table depths vary from 0.8 to 3.4 m and in the Ravva Onshore wells, 4.5 to 13.3 m. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveys were carried out at several locations in the delta to delineate the aquifer geometry and to identify saline water aquifer zones. Groundwater samples collected and analyzed for major ions for assessing the saline water intrusion and to identify the salinity origin in the delta region. The results derived from ERT indicated low resistivity values in the area, which can be attributed to the existence of thick marine clays from ground surface to 12–15 m below ground level near the coast and high resistivity values are due to the presence of coarse sand with freshwater away from the coast. The resistivity values similar to saline water <0.01 Ω m is attributed to the mixing of the saline water along surface water drains. In the Ravva Onshore Terminal low resistivity values indicated up coning of saline water and mixing of saline water from Pikaleru drain. The SO ₄ ^?2 /Cl^?and Na⁺²/Cl^?ratios did not indicate saline water intrusion and the salinity is due to marine palaeosalinity, dilution of marine clays and dissolution of evaporites.     

Geochronological constraints on the emplacement history of an anorthosite — rapakivi granite suite: U−Pb zircon and baddeleyite study of the Korosten complex,Ukraine

U–Pb zircon/baddeleyite ages obtained for the Korosten anorthosite-rapakivi granite complex, Ukrainian shield, suggest that different magmatic phases were emplaced during a period of ca. 30 million years as a series of distinct igneous episodes. The earliest 1789.1±2.0 Ma anorthosites were followed by 1781.3±3.2 Ma dykes of plagiogranite porphyries. The emplacement of a major rapakivi granite phase took place at 1767.4±2.2 Ma, and was followed by emplacement of layered intrusions of anorthosites, gabbronorites, diabases and ultrabasic rocks between 1761 and 1758 Ma. The minimum duration of magmatism of about 30 million years, the 6–15 million years interval between igneous pulses, and alternation of discrete episodes of basic and felsie magmatism are common features of major anorthositemangerite-charnockite-rapakivi granite complexes. Temporal distribution of igneous activity in the Korosten complex shows that the gabbro-anorthosites and the granites are not comagmatic, although they are possibly cogenetic, and that at least four portions of granitic and basic magmas were generated during a relatively long period of at least 30 million years. The time gap of about 20–25 million years between early basic and later and more voluminous granitic magmatism, characteristic of the Korosten pluton, Wiborg and Salmi batholiths, probably reflects the duration of extensional processes before the generation of large volumes of magma in the lower crust.     

Correlation of pseudo relative velocity spectra with site intensity, local soil classification and depth of sediments

Empirical regression equations are presented for scaling Pseudo Relative Velocity Spectra, PSV(T), in terms of the Modified Mercalli Intensity M.M.I., local soil classification at the recording site (‘rock’, stiff or deep soil), and local geological condition (depth of sediments). It is shown that both the local soil classification and the local geological depth of sediments should be used simultaneously in the evaluation of site specific response spectra.     

Site response studies in Agartala Urban agglomeration

A systematic investigation using digital microearthquake recorders with short period SS-1 seismometers, covering 76 sites in and around Agartala city, has been carried out for site response (SR) studies in the area. In the northern part of the area, SR varies from 1.15 to 1.85 corresponding to peak frequency 0.76 to 0.93 Hz where soil is mostly semi-consolidated and stiffer than recent Quaternary deposits (Haora River formation). In the southern part of the area, SR varies from 1.12 to 2.42 corresponding to peak frequency from 0.71 to 0.85 Hz within the Dupitila formation (early Quaternary). It is observed that estimated SR from H/V increases from edges to middle of the Haora River valley and impedance contrast fallows the similar trend. This reflects that site response by H/V is influenced by impedance contrast, whereas computed amplification from 1-D model shows opposite trend. The maximum amplification at fundamental frequency of resonance, 1.04 Hz estimated from H/V by near to BH-7, is 2.5 times greater than the impedance contrast/ratio derived from 1-D model for same location. Relationship between resonance frequency and depth was obtained by applying quarter wavelength and Bard (2000) methodologies, which shows linearity, whereas H/V shows its nonlinearity characteristic in soil across the valley part of Haora River. Shear wave velocities, and subsequently, SPT index and factor of safety (by cyclic stress approach) were estimated from geotechnical parameters. Vs30 and site response data were used in this study for getting a first hand information about soil stiffness condition in the area. The estimation of SPT index and factor of safety could be a useful tool for delineating liquefied and none liquefied zones at various depth levels, especially where water table exists at a very shallow level. The expected liquefiable zone was observed at depths varying from 6–25 m beneath the soil bearing zones where percentage of fines is estimated to be more than 35% for the area. This knowledge about subsurface soil characteristics will be useful for the civil engineers/city planners, which can be taken into account at the time of constructing earthquake-resistant structures in the area.     

Analysis of the effect of megalopolises on water quality in surface water bodies by ecological-toxicological characteristics

Data of long-term observations of Roshydromet and the studies of the authors’ studies of hydrochemical, hydrobiological, and bioassaying characteristics and appropriate publications in the areas of megalopolises—the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Novosibirsk are analyzed. Similar and distinctive characteristics of water quality by these ecological-toxicological characteristics are identified; trends in the long-term year-to-year variations in water quality are established, criteria and characteristics reflecting the effect of cities on water bodies in their territory are determined. The identity of some chemical-toxicological criteria and the characteristics of the influence of cities in southern Russia and Siberia on water bodies suggest that they can also be used in urban area in other regions. The Lower Don is used as an example to show that water pollution by metals is mostly due to wastewater discharge, while water pollution by petroleum products and sulfates has no direct relation to that.     

Estimation of information losses on reception of acoustic data by the Aline32D system

The results of determining the relative number of recorded oscillograms for acoustic event intensities of up to 400 1/s in the four-channel Aline32D system for acoustic data reception and processing are presented. Since the internal characteristics of a computer determining the data processing performance are not always available, this problem is solved experimentally. Recommendations concerning the determined working parameters of the Aline32D system are given. This work may be used for the solution of geophysical applied problems.     

Pyrolysis of Municipal Solid Waste for Syngas Production by Microwave Irradiation

In the present study, we discuss the application of microwave-irradiated pyrolysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) for total recovery of useful gases and energy. The MSW pyrolysis under microwave irradiation highly depends on the process parameters, like microwave power, microwave absorbers, and time of irradiation. The thoroughness of pyrolysis and product recovery were studied by changing the abovesaid variables. Pyrolysis of MSW occurs in the power rating range of 450–850 W—outside this power rating range, pyrolysis is not possible. Experiments were carried out using various microwave absorbers (i.e., graphite, charcoal, and iron) to enhance the pyrolysis even at lower power rating. The results show that the pyrolysis of MSW was possible even at low power ratings. The major composition of the pyrolysis gaseous product were analyzed with GC–MS which includes CO₂, CO, CH₄, etc.