Determining the hard rock groundwater pathway in Golgohar complex formation using hydrochemical data in AHP

Thirty percent of present industrial water consumption of the Golgohar Iron Ore Mine (GIOM) is supplied from a hard rock well (PW-A15) and the rest from 25 wells located in 4 disconnected alluvial aquifers. This well is drilled in the metamorphic complex of Golgohar formation. Attempts have been made to develop extraction of water from other hard rocks existing in the area with no success. Therefore, extensive researches have been carried out to find the pathway, or a provision pathway of water discharged from this well. To study the hydrochemical similarity of this water with other water resources, 122 water samples from an area of 7132 km² were collected from the existing pumping wells, piezometers, mine exploration bore holes, and three salt pans in the vicinity of the area for hydrochemical analysis. The analyses were performed for concentration of major ions and some minor elements. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of ion concentration was plotted in the GIS to delineate the similarity of the PW-A15 water with other water sources and their hydrochemical neighborhood by analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP was performed in two steps: first, iso-concentration maps of seven major ions, eight minor elements, and TDS were used to produce an AHP map (Map1) using weights for different hydrochemical parameters; and second, a similarity index (SI) map was prepared by performing a suggested clustering approach in SPSS using K-means clustering, which was overlaid on Map1 producing Map2. The result of AHP Map2 was then overlaid on the iso-potential map of the sampled locations in GIS software using a mask operator. Therefore, the zones having the most similarity and higher hydraulic potential than PW-A15 were nominated as the zones which possibly could recharge this well, and the groundwater (GW) pathway was proposed. The result of the study method showed to be successful and will be used as a guide for future exploration drillings.     

Surficial deposits on salt diapirs (Zagros Mountains and Persian Gulf Platform, Iran): Characterization, evolution, erosion and the influence on landscape morphology

The surfaces of salt diapirs in the Zagros Mountains are mostly covered by surficial deposits, which significantly affect erosion rates, salt karst evolution, land use and the density of the vegetation cover. Eleven salt diapirs were selected for the study of surficial deposits in order to cover variability in the geology, morphology and climate in a majority of the diapirs in the Zagros Mountains and Persian Gulf Platform. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of 80 selected samples were studied mainly by X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray fluorescence. Changes in salinity along selected vertical profiles were studied together with the halite and gypsum distribution. The subaerial residuum formed from minerals and rock detritus released from the dissolved rock salt is by far the most abundant material on the diapirs. Fluvial sediments derived from this type of residuum are the second most common deposits found, while submarine residuum and marine sediments have only local importance. The mineralogical/chemical composition of surficial deposits varies amongst the three end members: evaporite minerals (gypsum/anhydrite and minor halite), carbonates (dolomite and calcite) and silicates-oxides (mainly quartz, phyllosilicates, and hematite). Based on infiltration tests on different types of surficial deposits, most of the rainwater will infiltrate, while overland flow predominates on rock salt exposures. Recharge concentration and thick accumulations of fine sediment support relatively rich vegetation cover in some places and even enable local agricultural activity. The source material, diapir relief, climatic conditions and vegetation cover were found to be the main factors affecting the development and erosion of surficial deposits. A difference was found in residuum type and landscape morphology between the relatively humid NW part of the studied area and the arid Persian Gulf coast: In the NW, the medium and thick residuum seems to be stable under current climatic conditions. Large sinkholes and blind valleys with sinking streams are common. On other diapirs, the original thick residuum is undergoing erosion and the new morphology is currently represented by salt exposures and badland-like landscapes or by fields of small sinkholes developed in the thin residuum. Models for evolution of the subaerial residuum and the diapir landscape/morphology are described in this paper. While the thick residuum with vegetation has very low erosion rates, the salt exposures and thin residuum are eroded rapidly. During wet periods (e.g. early Holocene), the diapirs rose and salt glaciers expanded as the influx of salt mass was much faster compared to erosion. After the onset of an arid climate, c. 6 ka BP, the rising of the some diapir surfaces decreased or even reversed due to acceleration of erosion thanks to vegetation degradation and changes in the residuum type and thickness.     

Chemical identification,antioxidant, cholinesterase inhibitory,and cytotoxic properties of fucoidan extracted from Persian Gulf Sargassum angustifolium

Marine macroalgal sulfated fucose-containing polysaccharides, like fucoidan, have drawn significant attention due to their biotechnological potentials, such as anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-cholinesterase activities. The fucoidan derived from brown macroalgae Sargassum angustifolium species (FSA) was investigated for its cytotoxic effects and alterations in cell proliferation, and cell cycle-related gene expression in the present study occurred on NB4 cell line. The results showed that FSA would induce p53, p21, pro-apoptotic genes and increase expression of the p15 gene as a cell arrest marker. Also, FSA inhibited the anti-apoptotic effect of the Bcl-2 gene and decreased dnmt-1 gene expression. FSA significantly exhibited potent 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (p<0.05) with an IC₅₀ value of 0.157 mg/mL and showed moderate anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with an IC₅₀ value of 1.20 μg/mL. These results indicated the potential of FSA for the development of therapeutic or preventive agents of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease mainly through cytotoxic effect and AChE (acetylcholinesterase) inhibition as well as additional antioxidant capacities.     

Prediction of Seaward Slope Recession in Berm Breakwaters Using M5' Machine Learning Approach

In the design process of berm breakwaters, their front slope recession has an inevitable rule in large number of model tests, and this parameter being studied. This research draws its data from Moghim’s and Shekari’s experiment results. These experiments consist of two different 2D model tests in two wave flumes, in which the berm recession to different sea state and structural parameters have been studied. Irregular waves with a JONSWAP spectrum were used in both test series. A total of 412 test results were used to cover the impact of sea state conditions such as wave height, wave period, storm duration and water depth at the toe of the structure, and structural parameters such as berm elevation from still water level, berm width and stone diameter on berm recession parameters. In this paper, a new set of equations for berm recession is derived using the M5'' model tree as a machine learning approach. A comparison is made between the estimations by the new formula and the formulae recently given by other researchers to show the preference of new M5'' approach.     

Reproductive traits of the freshwater shrimp Caridina fossarum Heller, 1862 (Decapoda, Caridea, Atyidae) in the Ghomp-Atashkedeh spring (Iran)

In the present study, some biological traits of Caridina fossarum reproduction are studied in the Ghomp-Atashkedeh spring (Fasa, Shiraz, Iran), for the first time. This Iranian endemic freshwater species was studied from April 2007 to March 2008. Minimum sexable size (MSS) and absolute or relative size at the onset of maturity (SOM and RSOM) in terms of carapace length (CL) was found to be 2.4 mm, 4.3 mm and 55%, respectively. Sex ratio showed variations on a monthly basis. Sex reversal is a possible scenario for C. fossarum because the size-specific sex ratio revealed a reverse pattern. Based on the proportions of ovigerous females, the main breeding season was determined to be from April to August, demonstrating a peak during early spring. There is a period of extended recruitment at water temperatures above 20 °C. The size at which 50% of females are mature was estimated at CL = 5.03 mm from the proportion of ovigerous females during the breeding season. The pleopodal egg number varied from 3 to 75 eggs per female with a mean value 34.39 ± 14.27. The results showed that although there is a significant relationship between carapace length CL and pleopodal egg number, it is not the most important factor affecting potential fecundity in C. fossarum due to the low values of slope (= 1.51) and determination coefficient (= 0.052).     

Ranking the rock slope instability potential using the Interaction Matrix (IM) technique; a case study in Iran

All the conventional techniques for the analysis of slope stability ranging from simple kinematic analysis using stereonets, to the various widely used limit equilibrium methods, to sophisticated numerical methods belong to a category that are generally known as the analytic approaches and thus are only able to consider a limited number of affecting factors and then solve the problem in details. In contrast, the systems approaches not only can examine the problem in its totality with a complete list of the components, but also can take the interactions between the factors into account. This paper presents a complete application of a well-known systems technique named the Interaction Matrix (IM) in ranking the instability potential of rock slopes of the Khosh-Yeylagh Main Road, Iran as the case study of the research. For this purpose, 15 stations have been selected and a relatively comprehensive database containing the fieldwork information has been constructed. Following the IM technique, the most important factors relating to the general environment and to the rock mass characteristics have been considered. Their reciprocal causes and effects have been analyzed in order to weight each parameter according to its degree of interactivity in the system. Then, the slope instability index has been calculated which refers to the inherent potential instability of each slope of the examined region. The final instability ranking has been presented for the investigated slopes in Khosh-Yeylagh Main Road based on a simple classification. The main aim of the study is to extend the use of systems approach and specifically the IM technique in slope stability analysis. Also, this research shows the importance of consideration of an approximately complete set of key parameters affecting the stability of rock slopes.     

A transparent aqueous-saturated sand surrogate for use in physical modeling

This paper presents the geotechnical properties of a new family of synthetic transparent soils made of fused quartz, saturated with a matched refractive index water-based sucrose solution, suitable for modeling the behavior of sand in small-scale model tests. The dry density ranged between 1,134 and 1,358 kg/m³. The peak angle of friction was found to range from 46° to 57°. The average hydraulic conductivity was 1.7 × 10^?5 cm/s. The compressibility index (C _c) ranged from 0.34 to 0.57. The main advantage of fused quartz over available sand surrogates made of silica gel is that its solid structure better models the behavior of natural sand. The matching pore fluids are inert and non-toxic, which facilitates their use in educational settings. The availability of a safe and easy-to-use transparent sand permits measurement of three-dimensional deformation patterns and flow characteristics in controlled research experiments. The introduction of an aqueous solution permits the use of two immiscible pore fluids, one made of mineral oil and the other made of a sucrose solution, for modeling multiphase flow problems, as well as coupled flow-deformation problems.     

Spectral Combination of Spherical Gradiometric Boundary-Value Problems: A Theoretical Study

The Earth’s gravity potential can be determined from its second-order partial derivatives using the spherical gradiometric boundary-value problems which have three integral solutions. The problem of merging these solutions by spectral combination is the main subject of this paper. Integral estimators of biased- and unbiased-types are presented for recovering the disturbing gravity potential from gravity gradients. It is shown that only kernels of the biased-type integral estimators are suitable for simultaneous downward continuation and combination of gravity gradients. Numerical results show insignificant practical difference between the biased and unbiased estimators at sea level and the contribution of far-zone gravity gradients remains significant for integration. These contributions depend on the noise level of the gravity gradients at higher levels than sea. In the cases of combining the gravity gradients, contaminated with Gaussian noise, at sea and 250?km levels the errors of the estimated geoid heights are about 10 and 3 times smaller than those obtained by each integral.     

Effect of soil cohesion and friction angles on reverse faults

Severe faults have caused many earthquakes around the world throughout history.More recently,earthquakes have occurred in Taiwan,China(Chi-Chi fault),and elsewhere,causing loss of lives and destroying many buildings and structures.These tectonic movements have gained attention from engineers,and in the past 15 years,the focus has been on faulting mechanisms.In this study,a physical model(1 g)was fabricated and used to evaluate the impact of a reverse fault in a field with a tunnel.In the 1 g model,researchers installed additional gauges on the tunnel,so that all the displacements could be adjusted,and all the responses could be monitored during faulting.An experimental study of various soil properties(cohesion and friction angles)in reverse faults on the tunnel lining were carried out and are described herein.A comparison of results for different levels of soil cohesion revealed that it can dramatically reduce the displacement by as much as 40%,and that friction angles of 27ocan record approximately 60%more displacements than at 37o.Furthermore,a comparison of fault angles of 30oand 60oindicates that the displacements can be different by more than 43%in cohesionless soil and about 64%for a friction angle of 27o.