Groundwater contamination with arsenic and other trace elements in an area of the pampa,province of Córdoba,Argentina

A geochemical study of groundwater of the pampa in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, was performed; the area covered approximately 10,000 km².Physical-chemical parameters, dissolved solids, and seven trace elements were determined in 60 selected water samples. Systematic and accurate measurements of arsenic, flourine, and vanadium were performed for the first time. Three trace element contaminants not reported earlier were found: an important one, selenium, and two others of less known effects, uranium and molybdenum.Eighty-four percent of the water analyzed showed arsenic contents over 0.05 mg/L, maximum contaminant level established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1982). The frequency distribution of trace elements was analyzed, and its fit to the lognormal distribution was proved by means of the Pearson and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test; the geographic distribution of the seven trace elements was mapped and its correlation with the anion-cation composition of the water was studied.The maximum arsenic, fluorine, vanadium, and uranium contents were found in the western part of the area under study, in waters containing dominant alkali metals in the cation composition. Maximum selenium and antimony contents were found in the eastern part of the area, while molybdenum distribution does not show any relationship with the other two groups. In addition, the geographic distribution of the trace elements seems to be related to the subsurface structure, which has been inferred using interactive digital analysis of Landsat imagery. The movements of the subsoil have disturbed surface and subsurface drainage influencing the water salinity and trace element contents.In order to investigate the origin of the contamination, 54 loess samples were collected in wells at depths ranging from the surface down to the water table. This loess, which has a high proportion of volcanic components, mainly rhyolitic glass, exhibits a chemical composition corresponding to that of a dacite.The loess and the volcanic glass show anomalous contents of all contaminant trace elements, mainly arsenic and selenium. For this reason loess is considered the most important contamination source in the groundwater under study.     

Pb-Zn (Ba) deposits of the oriental Saharan Atlas (north-east of Algeria): distribution,control and implications for mining exploration

Analysis and integration of geological/metallogenic data and digitally processed gravimetric/aeromagnetic data to the oriental Saharan Atlas domain were carried out to understand the spatial distribution and structural control on Pb-Zn (Ba) deposits of the oriental Saharan Atlas. The use of this combined technique suggests that most of mineral deposits appear to be regionally controlled by structural trends (subparallel NE-SW-trending) along margins of subsiding sedimentary basins. Mineralization occurs along or near major NE-SW-trending faults, locally intersected by NW-SE-trending faults. In addition, mineral deposits are usually either inside anticlinal hinge zones (example, Merouana, Ichmoul and Ain Mimoum ore deposits) or on the flanks of anticlinal structures (example, Ain Bougda ore deposit). In “diapiric zone”, mineral deposits are generally located on diapiric structures borders (peridiapiric concentrations), related to NE-SW/NE-SW and E-W-trending faults. Other mineral concentrations occurs along the margins of tectonic troughs zones (example, Morsott trough) resulting probably by NW-SE-trending deep faults movement. In summary, our research suggested that regional parameters, such as NE-SW/NW-SE-trending lineaments, intersections of these lineament zones and margins of subsiding sedimentary basins/diapiric structures, serve as significant indicators and provides a valuable framework for guiding the early stages of Pb-Zn (Ba) mineral exploration; other considerations must then be applied in this region, like integration of surficial geochemical anomalies that allows better delineation of targets for further mineral exploration.     

Phase equilibria modelling of residual migmatites and granulites: An evaluation of the melt‐reintegration approach

Suprasolidus continental crust is prone to loss and redistribution of anatectic melt to shallow crustal levels. These processes ultimately lead to differentiation of the continental crust. The majority of granulite facies rocks worldwide has experienced melt loss and the reintegration of melt is becoming an increasingly popular approach to reconstruct the prograde history of melt‐depleted rocks by means of phase equilibria modelling. It involves the stepwise down‐temperature reintegration of a certain amount of melt into the residual bulk composition along an inferred P–T path, and various ways of calculating and reintegrating melt compositions have been developed and applied. Here different melt‐reintegration approaches are tested using El Hoyazo granulitic enclaves (SE Spain), and Mt. Stafford residual migmatites (central Australia). Various sets of P–T pseudosections were constructed progressing step by step, to lower temperatures along the inferred P–T paths. Melt‐reintegration was done following one‐step and multi‐step procedures proposed in the literature. For El Hoyazo granulites, modelling was also performed reintegrating the measured melt inclusions and matrix glass compositions and considering the melt amounts inferred by mass–balance calculations. The overall topology of phase diagrams is pretty similar, suggesting that, in spite of the different methods adopted, reintegrating a certain amount of melt can be sufficient to reconstruct a plausible prograde history (i.e. melting conditions and reactions, and melt productivity) of residual migmatites and granulites. However, significant underestimations of melt productivity may occur and have to be taken into account when a melt‐reintegration approach is applied to highly residual (SiO₂ <55 wt%) rocks, or to rocks for which H₂O retention from subsolidus conditions is high (such as in the case of rapid crustal melting triggered by mafic magma underplating).     

A numerical study on seismic risk assessment of historic masonry towers: a case study in San Gimignano

After a brief introduction on the research project RiSEM (Seismic Risk of Monumental Buildings), the paper discusses on the seismic assessment of historic masonry towers according to the Italian “Guidelines for the assessment and mitigation of the seismic risk of the cultural heritage” that identifies an analysis methodology based on three different levels of evaluation, according to an increased knowledge of the structure. The RiSEM project aimed at developing and testing innovative and expeditious methodologies (i.e. either without or with a minimal direct contact with the masonry building) to evaluate all the main structural features of the monumental buildings required for the assessment of their seismic safety. As a relevant case study the “Town of Fine Towers”, San Gimignano (Italy), listed under the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites, was selected. The paper summarizes the analyses performed on one of the San Gimignano towers: the Coppi-Campatelli one. The seismic vulnerability of the tower was evaluated with reference to the above guidelines, and the paper reports and critically compares the results obtained for the three levels of evaluation there defined: LV1 (analysis at territorial level), LV2 (local analysis) and LV3 (global analysis).     

Spatial organization of decadal and bidecadal rainfall fluctuations in southern North America and southern South America

The spatial organization of decadal and bidecadal components (fluctuations) of annual rainfall is identified in this research for two regions: (1) southern South America, and (2) southern North America (conterminous USA, southeastern Canada and northern and central Mexico). Findings indicate that these decadal and bidecadal components have highly coherent wave-like spatial organization. Two types of organization of decadal and bidecadal components of annual rainfall were identified: a train of propagating fluctuations and quasi-standing fluctuations. For decadal components, such patterns alternate in time. A widespread change in the spatial organization of decadal component of annual rainfall took place simultaneously in both continents in 1932. The bidecadal component is organized as standing fluctuations in southern North America and as travelling fluctuations in southern South America, The spatial pattern of decadal fluctuations of annual rainfall has 12- and 13-year cycles, and the spatial pattern of bidecadal fluctuations has predominantly 21- and 22-year cycles.     

Community forest management in Mexico: carbon mitigation and biodiversity conservation through rural development

Forest management is an important carbon mitigation strategy for developing countries. As demonstrated by the case of Mexico, community forest management is especially effective because it offers tangible local benefits while conserving forests and sequestering carbon. Community forestry receives minimal government support now, but the clean development mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol could leverage additional resources to promote the approach in Mexico and elsewhere. We argue that adequately designed and implemented, community forestry management projects can avoid deforestation and restore forest cover and forest density. They comprise promising options for providing both carbon mitigation and sustainable rural development. These kinds of projects should be included in the CDM.     

Markov CA,Multi Regression,and Multiple Decision Making for Modeling Historical Changes in Kirkuk City,Iraq

The cellular automata (CA) model is an important tool in land use change studies. Swift increases in population and long-term expectations of rapid urbanization have led to extensive land use change, and normal living conditions have affected the natural resources of the land. This paper highlights and analyzes the historical urban changes in Kirkuk City, Iraq, considering repeated changes undergone by the state such change as government infrastructures, wars, and economic blockade. In this paper, an integrated model, built-in multi regression model, and multi-criteria evaluation were considered to improve the representation of CA transition rules. Environmental and socioeconomic factors were used to produce Suitable Maps (SMs). These SMs were practicalities to create factor layers and weight usage, rating method process for variance expert decision-making groups, and geographic information systems for the periods 1984, 1990, 2000, and 2010. The roots of the equation (R²) values are compared and these values are chosen to produce a good model of suitable maps. The approach used in this study provides a mechanism for monitoring suitability maps in Kirkuk. Furthermore, the model Markov CA is implemented and evaluated. The results indicate that the model, its related concepts performs sufficiency     

Consequences of a freshwater canal discharge on the benthic community and its habitat on an exposed sandy beach

This paper analyses the spatial and temporal effects of a freshwater discharge (Canal Andreoni) on the macroinfauna community and its habitat in a sandy beach of Uruguay. Bimonthly, we examined 17 environmental variables plus macroinfauna abundance, biomass, richness, evenness and diversity of three sites: Andreoni, at the canal mouth, Coronilla, at 1 km, and Barra, at 13 km from the mouth. Both univariate and multivariate techniques showed an increasing degree of perturbation towards the canal. This was reflected by abiotic and biotic differences between sites and by a consistent two-dimensional ordination of the samples. A clear seasonal pattern was found, specially accentuated at Coronilla, where the effects of the canal were stronger in winter and weaker in summer. Multivariate linking between macroinfauna and its habitat highlighted the role of salinity as explanatory variable of the observed trends.     

An experimental investigation of vertical vibration of model footings on sand

Many free and forced vertical vibrations tests were conducted on surface and embedded models for footings on dry and moist poorly graded sand that has the following properties: D₁₀ = 0·21 mm, D₃₀ = 0·305 mm, D₆₀ = 0·423 mm, C_u = 2, C_c = 1·05, G_s = 2·66, γ_max = 1·74 cm⁻³ and γ_min = 1·4 g cm⁻³. The tests were conducted at relative density Dr = 82%. The effect of mass, area, geometry, embedment, saturation, load amplitude and frequency were studied. For this purpose square, rectangular and circular models of concrete footings were chosen. Swieleh sand was chosen as the foundation soil. Results have been obtained for models having different mass, same base shape and area; models of different base area and equal base shape and mass; and models of different base shape geometry and about equal masses and base areas.Forced vertical vibration tests results showed an increase in natural frequency and a reduction in amplitude with the increase in embedment depth, degree of saturation and footing base area. Increasing the mass of model footing resulted in a decrease in the natural frequency while the dynamic response increased. Also, results showed that the circular model footing gives low values of dynamic response in comparison to other models.Free vertical vibration test results showed an increase in damping ratio with increase in the base area of the model footing, depth of embedment and saturation of sand. On the other hand, the results showed a decrease in damping ratio with increase in the footing mass. Circular footing gives the highest value of damping ratio among other footings.Results showed that the best method for evaluating the dynamic stiffness for vertical vibration is using Dobry and Gazetas¹ (J. Geotech. Engng, ASCE, 1986, 112, 109–133) equations together with the formula proposed by Ronald and Bojan² (J. Geotech. Engng, ASCE, 1995, 121, 274–286) for evaluating the equivalent shear modulus.