Near‐isochemical evolution of clay mineral assemblages in differentially buried volcaniclastic sediments,the Late Miocene Upper Red Formation,Iran

The Upper Red Formation (URF) comprises over 1–5 km of late Miocene siliciclastic sediments in the Central Iran Basin. The formation is dominated by volcaniclastic conglomerates and arenites. The prevailing arid conditions during most of the basin's history resulted in deposition of predominantly organic‐poor, red sediments with gypsum and zeolites. This investigation concentrates on the mineralogy and geochemistry of the URF in the southern and northern margins of the basin where the formation was buried to depths of 2.4 and 6.6 km, respectively. Fine fraction mineral separates from the southern margin consist of nearly pure smectite and zeolites at a depth of 400 m and smectite with minor quartz and calcite at 1800 m. Shallow samples (1350 m) from the northern section are rich in smectite, illite/smectite with some discrete illite and chlorite. This assemblage is progressively replaced by discrete illite and chlorite with increasing burial depth so that only these two minerals are found at depths greater than 4300 m. The initial alteration process involved replacement of glass and volcanic lithics by smectite and zeolites in both margins of the basin. Increased depth of burial in the northern margin resulted in the progressive isochemical alteration of smectite to discrete illite and chlorite. Diagenesis of clay assemblages occurred essentially in a closed system. Solute products of glass hydrolysis reactions were retained in highly alkaline, saline ground waters from which zeolites, carbonates and oxides precipitated as cements. It is unlikely that these sediments were ever significantly leached by meteoric waters or by organic acids generated during burial diagenesis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Weathering and soils formation on different parent materials in Golestan Province,Northern Iran

Geochemical, mineralogical, and micromorphological characteristics of soils and their relevant parent rocks including loess, ignimbrite, sandstone and limestone were investigated to identify the soil-parent material uniformity and the weathering degree of soils in Golestan Province, northern Iran. Highly developed Calcixerolls and moderately developed Haploxerepts were formed on loess and limestone, respectively. In contrast, the soils formed on ignimbrite and sandstone were non-developed Entisols. Illite was the dominant clay mineral found in ignimbrite and sandstone in both the A horizon and parent material. In loess derived soils however, smectite was dominant especially in the Bt horizon compared to its parent material indicating partly to its pedogenic formation. In limestone, illite and vermiculite were dominant both in the A and C horizons. Ti/Zr ratio proved that the studied soils were closely related to their underlying parent materials geochemically. Chemical index of alteration (CIA), micromorphological index of soil development (MISECA), smectite/illite+chlorite ratio and magnetic susceptibility were applied to investigate the degree of soil development. Results showed that the most and the least developed soils were those formed on loess deposits and limestone, respectively. Application of the different geochemical and pedogenetic approaches was proved to be useful in identifying the relevance of soils to their underlying parent materials and also their degree of development.     

Teleconnections between oceanic–atmospheric indices and drought over Iran using quantile regressions

ABSTRACT

In this research, the Bayesian quantile regression model is applied to investigate the teleconnections between large oceanic–atmospheric indices and drought standardized precipitation index (SPI) in Iran. The 12-month SPI time series from 138 synoptic stations for 1952–2014 were selected as the drought index. Three oceanic–atmospheric indices, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and the Multivariate El Niño/Southern Oscillation Index (MEI), were selected as covariates. The results show that NAO has the weakest impact on drought in different quantiles and different regions in Iran. La Niña conditions amplified droughts through all SPI quantiles in western, Caspian Sea coastal regions and southern regions. The positive phase of MEI significantly modulates low SPI quantiles (i.e. drought conditions) throughout the Zagros region, Caspian Sea coastal regions and southern regions. The study shows that the effect of large oceanic–atmospheric indices have heterogeneous impacts on extreme dry and wet conditions.     

Erosion Resistance of HPTRM Strengthened Levee from Combined Wave and Surge Overtopping

Post-Katrina investigations revealed that most earthen levee damage occurred on the levee crest and land-side slope as a result of either wave overtopping, storm surge overflow, or a combination of both. This study addresses erosion resistance performance of a levee strengthening technique—high performance turf reinforcement mat under combined wave and surge overtopping conditions using full-scale flume tests as well as erosion function apparatus (EFA) tests. Based on the results of full-scale flume tests, an “upper limit” of soil loss is observed for certain flow conditions. Erosion rate was presented as a function of velocity and freeboard. The effect of duration of overtopping on the erosion depth is also determined. The results of EFA tests indicate that the presence of grass roots substantially improve the critical velocity and soil erodibility.     

A survey of challenges in reducing the impact of geological hazards associated with earthquakes in Iran

Most of the recent earthquakes in Iran were associated with some types of geological hazards that were the cause of additional damage and casualties in the earthquake-affected areas. In order to reduce the impacts of geo-hazards, several policies and plans were prepared, approved, and implemented by the Iranian government during the last two decades. However, such activities have not yet resulted in risk reduction to an acceptable level; since they are not formulated based on local conditions and are not linked to location-specific comprehensive plans. In this paper, after introducing some of the impacts of geo-hazards associated with recent earthquakes in Iran, the country trends in development of relevant risk reduction plans and policies are introduced, evaluated, and compared with some other countries having similar challenges. Strategies toward risk mitigation in the country are addressed, and a number of indices for the assessment of the geo-hazard risk reduction plans and activities are introduced. Finally, a conceptual model for the evaluation of the preparedness level against geo-hazards is proposed and discussed.     

Yielding mechanism of shallow mass movements in completely decomposed Norwood Tuff: the Zigzag Sign landslide,Utah

Over the past decade, land development activities on hillsides in northern Utah have resulted in a significant increase in landslide activity throughout the region. The majority of recent landslides are shallow and they occurred on cut gentle slopes especially during spring and early summer due to snowmelt induced elevated groundwater tables. The geologic material documented at numerous landslide sites is a soft gray-green completely decomposed Norwood Tuff. The present study addresses the mechanism of a shallow landslide in completely decomposed Norwood Tuff based on field, laboratory and numerical investigations. Detailed slope surface geometry obtained from laser-scan surveys together with strength and stress–strain parameters derived from laboratory triaxial tests on undisturbed samples of completely decomposed Norwood Tuff collected from the landslide site are employed with finite-element modeling to examine the effects of ground surface deformation patterns on the yielding behavior of the slide mass. The numerical results indicate a gradual retreat of the yield zone with progressive landslide deformation, which eventually becomes concentrated within the accumulation zone of the landslide, compared to a well-developed yield zone within the entire slide mass at the onset of landslide movement. Limit equilibrium stability analyses along potential sliding surfaces of extent limited within the yield zone of the displaced slide mass produce lower safety factors than an analysis based on the original sliding surface comprising the entire slide mass.