Probabilistic and sensitivity analyses of effective geotechnical parameters on rock slope stability: a case study of an urban area in northeast Iran

Despite the development of cities, risk assessment of rock slope stability in urban areas seems not to be growing at the same time. Mashhad is a developed city in northeast of Iran with a population of over 2.4 million. Given the closeness of the southern part of Mashhad to the Binaloud mountain ridge, the stability of the residential complexes that are being constructed in this area is a critical issue. Based on the fundamental roles of discontinuity properties and geo-mechanical parameters of rock mass, in this study we evaluated the most influential parameters of the rock slope stability and the failure probability of the slope near the Negin residential complex built on this ridge. According to the deterministic and probabilistic analyses, the north trench that was excavated for this residential complex could potentially cause plane failure. Moreover, the relationship between effective parameters on instability and their impact on safety factors were determined by sensitivity analysis. Therefore, slope dip, pore water pressure, and joint set dip were highly influential on the safety factor. There was also a nonlinear relationship between different parameters and safety in the studied area. This study presents an approach for risk assessment of rock slope stability in urban areas.     

Kinematic evolution of thrusts wedge and erratic line length balancing: insights from deformed sandbox models

Kinematic evolution of fold-thrust structures has been investigated by analogue models that include syntectonic sedimentation. Different decollement dips and basement thicknesses produced different wedge geometries and propagating characteristics. A model with one decollement level was characterized by a closely spaced thrust system during early stages of shortening as compared to the late stages. The frequency of fault nucleation was rapid during the early stages of deformation. Conversely, the frequency of fault nucleation was low and thrust spacing was significantly wider in a model with two decollement levels. Individual faults became locked at steep dips and deformation stepped forward as a new fault nucleated in-sequence in front of the older locked structure. Once the thrust system was established up to 27 % overall shortening, an overlying bed was introduced to simulate syntectonic deformation. Model sand wedge did not grow self similarly but rather its length and height increased episodically with deformation. Restoration of deformed models show that layer parallel shortening accommodated for approximately half of the total model shortening across the multilayers. Calculated error in apparent layer shortening from the restored layers revealed a direct relation with depth of the layers in the models. The experimental results are comparable to a natural example from the Northern Apennines fold-and-thrust belts.     

The comparison of hydrodynamic characteristics of karst aquifers: application on two karst formations in Zagros (Asmari and Ilam-Sarvak), southwest Iran

In order to study the function, hydrodynamic behavior, and hydraulic properties of the karst aquifers in Izeh, southwest Iran, time series analysis was applied to the precipitation, spring discharge, and piezometric head data of two representative karst systems of Zagros (Ilam-Sarvak and Asmari Formations). Time series analysis was applied to two karst aquifers, those of Asmari and Ilam-Sarvak Formations. The daily precipitations of anticlines were estimated based on the precipitation–elevation function which was applied on digital elevation model (DEM) of the area. The mean estimated daily precipitations were considered in bivariate time series analysis as input data of each karst system. The total length of time series was about 2.7 years, extending from May 2007 to December 2009. During the research, several one-parameter probe data loggers were installed, which daily measure the water surfaces in karst aquifers. Time series analysis was applied for describing Izeh karst aquifers with a focus on both univariate (autocorrelation and spectral analysis) and bivariate (cross-correlation, gain function, and coherency function) methods. The results show that Asmari karst aquifer in Kamarderaz Anticline has a large storage capacity. Because of lacking a well-organized karst network, in the Asmari karst aquifer, baseflow dominates with low contribution of quick-flow. In the Ilam-Sarvak karst aquifer (Shavish and Tanush Anticlines), the karstification occurred in fractures and small diameter conduits, which caused to quick-flow between dense limestone. The Ilam-Sarvak karst aquifer could be regarded as a transition between two extreme types of karst, e.g., highly karstified system and in the opposite, extremely diffused one. The analysis of well hydrograph in Ilam-Sarvak karst aquifer shows that the karst aquifer has a low storage capacity. Unlike Asmari karst aquifer, the fractures and small diameter conduits in Ilam-Sarvak karst aquifer are more enhanced, producing a better developed karst network. Contrary to the typical karst systems, however, diffuse flow and conduit flow coexist in the Asmari Formation.     

Electrofacies in gas shale from well log data via cluster analysis: A case study of the Perth Basin,Western Australia

Identifying reservoir electrofacies has an important role in determining hydrocarbon bearing intervals. In this study, electrofacies of the Kockatea Formation in the Perth Basin were determined via cluster analysis. In this method, distance data were initially calculated and then connected spatially by using a linkage function. The dendrogram function was used to extract the cluster tree for formations over the study area. Input logs were sonic log (DT), gamma ray log (GR), resistivity log (IND), and spontaneous potential (SP). A total of 30 reservoir electrofacies were identified within this formation. Integrated geochemical and petrophysics data showed that zones with electrofacies 3, 4, 9, and 10 have potential for shale gas production. In addition, the results showed that cluster analysis is a precise, rapid, and cost-effective method for zoning reservoirs and determining electrofacies in hydrocarbon reservoirs.     

Stable isotope (O and C) geochemistry of non-sulfide Zn–Pb deposits; case study: Chah-Talkh non-sulfide Zn–Pb deposit (Sirjan,south of Iran)

The study of oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios has gained importance to determine the origin of ore-bearing fluids, carbon origin, and also to determine the formation temperature of non-sulfide Pb and Zn minerals. In order to determine the origin of fluids and carbon existing in Zn carbonate minerals in Chah-Talkh deposit, initially the amounts of δ¹⁸O_SMOW and δ¹³C_PDB changes in various zinc minerals in important deposits in Iran and the world were studied, and then by comparing these values in Chah-Talkh deposit with those of other deposits, the origin of fluids responsible for ore forming, carbon, and formation temperature of Chah-Talkh deposit was determined. The range of δ¹⁸O_SMOW changes in smithsonite mineral in non-sulfide lead and zinc deposits varies from 18.3 to 31.6 ‰, and δ¹⁸O_SMOW in hydrozincite mineral varies from 7.8 to 27 ‰. Due to the impossibility of smithsonite sampling from Chah-Talkh deposit (due to it being fine-grained and dispersed), hydrozincite minerals which have high isotopic similarities with smithsonite are used for the isotopic analysis of carbon and oxygen. The range of δ¹⁸O_SMOW changes in hydrozincite mineral of Chah-Talkh deposit varies from 7.8 to 15.15 ‰, which places in the domain of metamorphic water. The extensiveness of δ¹⁸O_SMOW changes in Chah-Talkh indicates the role of at least two fluids in the formation of non-sulfide minerals. The obtained formation temperature of non-sulfide minerals (hydrozincite) in Chah-Talkh deposit is 70 to 100 °C, which indicates the role of metamorphic fluids in the formation of deposit. Complete weathering of sulfide minerals to a depth of 134 m confirms the role of rising metamorphic fluids in the formation of non-sulfide minerals. The δ¹³C_PDB values of Chah-Talkh deposit are set in the range of atmospheric CO₂ and carbonate rocks, in which the existence of atmospheric CO₂ indicates the role of atmospheric fluids, and the existence of carbonate carbon rock indicates of the role of metamorphic fluids in the precipitation of non-sulfide Zn minerals.     

Plant fossil remains from the Bajocian–Bathonian of Hojedk Formation,Babhutk area,Kerman, Iran

Abundant and well-preserved assemblages of plant macrofossils occur from the Hojedk Formation at Babhutk, Kerman, Iran. This new locality is the first in the Jurassic of Kerman where the plant material is shown preserved. Eight species of seven genera were identified representing five different gymnosperm groups: Nilssonia cf. undulata, Nilssonia cf. orientalis, Elatides sp., Podozamites sp., and Williamsonia asseretoii and two pteridophyt groups: Equisetites laterale and Coniopteris sp. The collected flora suggests subtropical conditions at the time of deposition of the Hojedk Formation. Based on stratigraphical distributions of the encountered macrofossils, Bajocian–Bathonian age is suggested for the lower and middle unit of the Hojedk Formation. These plant fossils help confirm conclusions from recent geological studies that place the Kerman Basin of Iran during the Jurassic.     

Embedded discontinuity finite element modeling of fluid flow in fractured porous media

In many geomaterials, particularly rocks and clays, permeability is greatly enhanced by the presence of fractures. Fracture sets create an overall permeability that is anisotropic, enhanced in the directions of the fractures. In modeling the fractures via a finite element method, for example, meshing around these fractures can become quite difficult and result in computationally intensive systems. In this article, we develop a relatively simple method for including the fractures within the elements. Flow through the bulk medium is assumed to be governed by Darcy’s law, and the flow on the fracture by a generalization of the law. This model is embedded in a finite element framework, with the fractures passing through the elements. In this formulation, elements with fractures are given an enhanced permeability in the direction of the fractures. With these enhancements, the material essentially becomes anisotropically more permeable in the direction of fracture sets.     

Implementation and evaluation of multivariate analysis for groundwater hydrochemistry assessment in arid environments: a case study of Hajeb Elyoun–Jelma, Central Tunisia

In most arid zones, groundwater (GW) is the major source of domestic, agriculture, drinking, and industrial water. Accordingly, the monitoring of its quality by different techniques and tools is a vital issue. The purpose of this paper is the evaluation of the combination of principal components analysis (PCA) and geostatistics as a technique for (1) identifying the processes affecting the groundwater chemistry of the detrital unconfined Middle Miocene Aquifer (MMA) of the Hajeb elyoun Jelma (HJ) aquifer (Tunisia) and (2) mapping the controlling variables for groundwater quality. This work is based on a limited database recorded in 22 wells tapping the aquifer and unequally distributed in the field. The proposed approach is carried out in two steps. In the first step, the application of PCA revealed that rock–water interaction, agriculture irrigation and domestic effluents could explain 85 % of the observed variability of the chemical GW quality of the MMA. As a result, two new variables are defined: V1 (rock–water interaction influence) and V2 (irrigation and domestic effluent influence). In the second step, the spatial variability of these variables over the extent of the MMA is mapped by applying a kriging interpolation technique. The results of this study suggest that, while both natural and anthropogenic processes contribute to the GW quality of the MMA, natural impacts can be considered as the most important.     

Minimization of environmental risk of landfill site using fuzzy logic, analytical hierarchy process, and weighted linear combination methodology in a geographic information system environment

This paper presents a GIS-based multi-criteria site selection for municipal solid waste landfilling in Ariana Region, Tunisia. Based on the regional characteristics, literature related to disposal sites and waste management, local expert, data availability and assessments via questionnaires, 15 constraints, and 5 factors were built in the hierarchical structure for landfill suitability by multi-criteria evaluation. The factors are divided into environmental and socio-economic groups. The methodology is used for preliminary assessment of the 20-year most useful lifetime suitable landfilling sites by combining fuzzy set theory, weighted linear combination (WLC) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in a GIS environment. The criteria standardization is undertaken by application of different fuzzy membership functions. The fuzzy membership functions shape and their control points are chosen through assessment of expert opinion. The weightings of each selection criterion are assigned depending on the relative importance using the AHP methodology. The WLC approach is applied for alternative landfill sites prioritization. The results of this study showed five potential candidate sites, which are generated when the environmental factors are valued higher than socio-economic factors. These sites are ranked in descending order using the ELECTRE III method. However, the final decision will require further detailed geotechnical and hydrogeological analyses toward the protection of groundwater as well as surface water.