Pore Fabric Anisotropy of the Cambrian–Ordovician Nubia Sandstone in the Onshore Gulf of Suez,Egypt: A Surface Outcrop Analog

Natural Resources Research - Integrated studies on pore fabric anisotropy have increased the general understanding of fluid flow patterns through reservoir rocks. In this study, pore anisotropy was...     

Assessment and Modification of Sherard Chemical Method for Evaluation of Dispersion Potential of Soils

Soil dispersion is a phenomenon in which soil particles become afloat when they are exposed to water, and are carried away by the force of seepage. In spite of that soil dispersion is due to its chemical composition, the results obtained from the chemical methods, especially from the most widely used, Sherard method does not match with the results of well-known Pinhole test. This study tries to evaluate and modify the Sherard diagram for determination of dispersion potential of clayey soils. For this purpose, several natural soil samples were collected from different regions of Iran and some artificial soil samples were made by adding different percentages of four chemical agents, including sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, and sodium polyphosphate to a natural soil. The physical, chemical and index properties of all samples were determined and for determination of dispersion potential, the commonly used chemical test (Sherard method) and Pinhole test were employed. The results obtained from the tests showed that the Sherard chemical method which is solely based on the amount and type of the existing cations, is not able to determine soil dispersion correctly since the role of some anions, especially chloride is neglected. It was also found that among the existing anions in the soil, the chloride on the contrary to sodium acts as a flocculating factor. The results showed that by converting the vertical axis of the Sherard chart from sodium% to (sodium chloride)%, its conformity to the results of Pinhole tests increases considerably.     

Effect of micro and macro parameters in 3D modeling of grain crushing

Acta Geotechnica - Coarse granular materials exhibit important grain breakage in civil engineering structures, making it more complicated to predict the settlement and collapse of structures. A...     

Phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in Anzali Wetland, Iran: elevated concentrations of 4-nonylphenol, octhylphenol and bisphenol A

We have studied the distribution and value of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in surface sediment samples taken from Anzali Wetland, Iran. These samples were collected from 22 stations during the time span of June-May 2010. In each of the sampling stations, we detected 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) with maximal concentrations of 29, 4.3, and 7 μg g(-1) dry weight (dw), respectively. High levels of alkylphenols (APs) and BPA were also found near urban areas. Furthermore there were no significant differences between those stations in terms of the detected levels. One of the important factors in controlling the fate of these compounds in the aquatic environment appeared to be Total Organic Carbon (TOC). Hierarchical cluster analysis showed differences in the biomarker characteristics of EDCs and TOC between the stations. Our findings indicate that EDCs are ubiquitous in sediments from northeast Wetlands of Iran, contaminating the aquatic habitats in this area.     

Random partitioning and adaptive filters for multiple-point stochastic simulation

Multiple-point geostatistical simulation is used to simulate the spatial structures of geological phenomena. In contrast to conventional two-point variogram based geostatistical methods, the multiple-point approach is capable of simulating complex spatial patterns, shapes, and structures normally observed in geological media. A commonly used pattern based multiple-point geostatistical simulation algorithms is called FILTERSIM. In the conventional FILTERSIM algorithm, the patterns identified in training images are transformed into filter score space using fixed filters that are neither dependent on the training images nor on the characteristics of the patterns extracted from them. In this paper, we introduce two new methods, one for geostatistical simulation and another for conditioning the results. At first, new filters are designed using principal component analysis in such a way to include most structural information specific to the governing training images resulting in the selection of closer patterns in the filter score space. We then propose to combine adaptive filters with an overlap strategy along a raster path and an efficient conditioning method to develop an algorithm for reservoir simulation with high accuracy and continuity. We also combine image quilting with this algorithm to improve connectivity a lot. The proposed method, which we call random partitioning with adaptive filters simulation method, can be used both for continuous and discrete variables. The results of the proposed method show a significant improvement in recovering the expected shapes and structural continuity in the final simulated realizations as compared to those of conventional FILTERSIM algorithm and the algorithm is more than ten times faster than FILTERSIM because of using raster path and using small overlap specially when we use image quilting.     

Mineralogic and Diagenetic Controls on Reservoir Quality of Paleozoic Sandstones,Gebel El-Zeit,North Eastern Desert,Egypt

Natural Resources Research - Studying the mineral composition and petrophysical properties of the Cambro–Ordovician sequence in Gebel El-Zeit indicates that it can be discriminated into four...     

Formation of terrestrial planets in disks with different surface density profiles

We present the results of an extensive study of the final stage of terrestrial planet formation in disks with different surface density profiles and for different orbital configurations of Jupiter and Saturn. We carried out simulations in the context of the classical model with disk surface densities proportional to \({r^{-0.5}}, {r^{-1}}\) and \({r^{-1.5}}\), and also using partially depleted, non-uniform disks as in the recent model of Mars formation by Izidoro et al. (Astrophys J 782:31, 2014). The purpose of our study is to determine how the final assembly of planets and their physical properties are affected by the total mass of the disk and its radial profile. Because as a result of the interactions of giant planets with the protoplanetary disk, secular resonances will also play important roles in the orbital assembly and properties of the final terrestrial planets, we will study the effect of these resonances as well. In that respect, we divide this study into two parts. When using a partially depleted disk (Part 1), we are particularly interested in examining the effect of secular resonances on the formation of Mars and orbital stability of terrestrial planets. When using the disk in the classical model (Part 2), our goal is to determine trends that may exist between the disk surface density profile and the final properties of terrestrial planets. In the context of the depleted disk model, results of our study show that in general, the \(\nu _5\) resonance does not have a significant effect on the dynamics of planetesimals and planetary embryos, and the final orbits of terrestrial planets. However, \(\nu _6\) and \(\nu _{16}\) resonances play important roles in clearing their affecting areas. While these resonances do not alter the orbits of Mars and other terrestrial planets, they strongly deplete the region of the asteroid belt ensuring that no additional mass will be scattered into the accretion zone of Mars so that it can maintain its mass and orbital stability. In the context of the classical model, the effects of these resonances are stronger in disks with less steep surface density profiles. Our results indicate that when considering the classical model (Part 2), the final planetary systems do not seem to show a trend between the disk surface density profile and the mean number of the final planets, their masses, time of formation, and distances to the central star. Some small correlations were observed where, for instance, in disks with steeper surface density profiles, the final planets were drier, or their water contents decreased when Saturn was added to the simulations. However, in general, the final orbital and physical properties of terrestrial planets seem to vary from one system to another and depend on the mass of the disk, the spatial distribution of protoplanetary bodies (i.e., disk surface density profile), and the initial orbital configuration of giant planets. We present results of our simulations and discuss their implications for the formation of Mars and other terrestrial planets, as well as the physical properties of these objects such as their masses and water contents.     

Experimental,numerical and analytical study on conventional and innovative Grid-Anchor system in the pull-out test

With increasing use of geosynthetic applications in earth structures the need to develop more efficient reinforcement elements becomes evident. In this paper a conventional and an innovative geogrid system (named Grid-Anchor) are tested. The Grid-Anchor system consists of a conventional geogrid with anchors attached to it. The pull-out test has been used to highlight the capabilities of the product. Experimental investigation along with numerical studies using a finite element computer code was carried out. It was found that the ultimate pull-out resistance of a Grid-Anchor is more than that for an ordinary geogrid. Analytical study has been performed and the effect of an anchor group on the ultimate resistance of a geogrid was investigated.     

Paleoclimate reconstruction in the Levant region from the geochemistry of a Holocene stalagmite from the Jeita cave, Lebanon

Dated oxygen and carbon isotopic profiles from a Holocene stalagmite (11.9–1.1 ka) from the Jeita cave, Lebanon, are compared to variations in crystallographic habit, stalagmite diameter and growth rate. The profiles show generally high δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values during the late-glacial period, low values during the early Holocene, and again high values after 5.8 ka. On the basis of the good correlation between the morphological and crystallographic aspect of the stalagmite and its isotopic records, as well as the isotopic response of speleothems from central and northern Israel, we relate high δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values to drier conditions. Between 6.5 and 5.8 ka an increase in isotopic values, a decrease in growth rate and stalagmite diameter suggest a transition from wet conditions in the early Holocene towards drier conditions in the mid-Holocene. The transition occurred in two steps, first a progressive change to drier conditions started at 6.5 ka but was interrupted by a short ( 100 years) return to wetter conditions, followed by an equally rapid (< 200 years) change to drier conditions.     

Multi‐scale constraints of sediment source to sink systems in frontier basins: a forward stratigraphic modelling case study of the Levant region

Recent scientific work has highlighted the presence of an up to 12 km thick Cenozoic siliclastic and carbonate infill in the Levant Basin. Since the Late Eocene, several regional geodynamic events affecting Afro‐Arabia and Eurasia (collision and strike slip deformation) induced marginal uplifts. The initiation of local and long‐lived regional drainage systems in the Oligo‐Miocene period (e.g., Lebanon, Arabia and Nile) provoked a change in the depositional pattern along the Levant region from carbonate‐dominated to mixed clastic‐rich systems. Herein, we explore the importance of multi‐scale constraints (i.e., seismic, well and field data) in the quantification of subsidence history, sediment transport and deposition of a Middle to Upper Miocene “multi‐source” to sink system along the northern Levant frontier region. Through a comprehensive 4D forward stratigraphic modelling workflow, we suggest that the contribution to basin infill is split between proximal and more distal clastic sources as well as in situ carbonate and hemipelagic deposition. The results show that single‐source scenarios could not reasonably satisfy the basin‐scale constraints. The worldwide application of such new multi‐disciplinary workflows in frontier regions highlights the additional data constraints that are needed to de‐risk highly uncertain geological models in the hydrocarbon exploration phase.