Interpretation of Magnetic Anomalies and Estimation of Depth of Magnetic Crust in Slovakia

The magnetic map of Slovakia used in the paper was compiled as part of a project titled Atlas of Geophysical maps and profiles in 2001. The residual magnetic data were analyzed to produce Curie point estimates. To remove distortion of magnetic anomalies caused by the Earth’s magnetic field, reduction to pole transformation was applied to the magnetic anomalies using the magnetization angle of the induced magnetization. Anomalies reduced to the pole tend to be better correlated with tectonic structures. We applied a 3-km upward continuation to the residually compiled magnetic anomalies in order to remove effects of topography. The depth of magnetic dipoles was calculated by an azimuthally averaged power spectrum method for the entire area. Such estimates can be indicative of temperatures in the crust, since magnetic minerals lose their spontaneous magnetization according to Curie temperature of the dominant magnetic minerals in the rocks. The computed Curie point depths in the Slovakia region vary between 15.2 km and 20.9 km. Heat flow higher than 100 mWm⁻² occurs at the central volcanics and eastern part of Slovakia, where the Curie point depths values are shallow. The correlation between Curie point depths, heat flow and crust depth was investigated for two E-W cross sections. Heat flow and Curie point depth values are correlated with each other however, these values could not be correlated with crust depth. The Curie point isotherm, which separates magnetic and non-magnetic parts of the crust, is represented in two cross sections.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in urban air of Konya, Turkey

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were determined in urban air samples of Konya, Turkey between August 2006 and May 2007. The concentrations of pollutants in both the gas and particulate phase were separately analysed. The average total (gas + particulate) concentrations of PAHs, PCBs and OCPs were determined as 206 ng m^− 3, 0.106 ng m^− 3, 4.78 ng m^− 3 respectively. All of the investigated target compounds were dominantly found in the gas phase except OCPs. Higher air concentrations of PAHs were found at winter season while the highest concentrations of PCBs were determined in September. The highest OCPs were detected in October and in March. In urban air of Konya, PCB 28 and PCB 52 congeners represent 46% and 35% of total PCBs while Phenanthrene, Fluoranthene, Pyrene accounted for 29%, 13%, 10% of total PAHs. HCH compounds (α + β + γ + δ-HCH), total DDTs (p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDT), Endosulfan compounds (Endosulfan I, Endosulfan II, Endosulfan sulfate) were dominantly determined as 30%, 21%, 20% of total OCPs respectively. Considering the relation between these compounds with temperature, there was no significant correlation observed. Despite banned/restricted use in Turkey, some OCPs were determined in urban air. These results demonstrated that they are either illegally being used in the course of agricultural activity and gardens in Konya or they are residues of past use in environment. According to these results, it can be suggested that Konya is an actively contributing region to persistent organic pollutants in Turkey.     

Petrophysical Constraints on Deformation Styles in Aztec Sandstone, Southern Nevada, USA

— Adjacent stratigraphic units that have undergone an identical deformation history often show variability with regard to deformation style. We present one such example and attribute the variability in deformation to variations in host rock properties. The Aztec sandstone of southern Nevada has two distinct zones of deformation style, the Lower and Upper structural domains. The Lower domain has deformed predominantly by opening mode fractures, whereas the Upper domain has deformed predominantly by deformation band faulting. Within a Transitional domain, deformation band abundance increases toward the Upper domain. We use petrophysical data (ultrasonic velocity, elastic moduli, grain and bulk density, helium porosity, and gas permeability) to distinguish among the host rocks of the differently deformed domains. The laboratory results of 29 samples of Upper, Transitional, and Lower domain Aztec sandstone impart the following petrophysical distinctions among the structural domains: (1) the Lower and Transitional domains show similarly high VP and VS and are both well cemented; (2) the Transitional and Upper domains show similarly high porosity and permeability; and, (3) the Upper domain is poorly cemented. We demonstrate that: (1) the nature of intergranular cement controls VP and VS; and, (2) based on the petrophysical properties we have examined, deformation style is controlled by porosity.     

Investigation of the deep structure of the Sivas Basin (innereast Anatolia, Turkey) with geophysical methods

Sivas Basin is the easternmost and third largest basin of the Central Anatolian Basins. In this study, gravity, aeromagnetic and seismic data are used to investigate the deep structure of the Sivas Basin, together with the well seismic velocity data, geological observations from the surface and the borehole data of the Celalli-1 well. Basement depth is modeled three-dimensionally (3D) using the gravity anomalies, and 2D gravity and magnetic models were constructed along with a N–S trending profile. Densities of the rock samples were obtained from the distinct parts of the basin surface and in-situ susceptibilities were also measured and evaluated in comparison with the other geophysical and geological data. Additionally, seismic sections, in spite of their low resolution, were used to define the velocity variation in the basin in order to compare depth values and geological cross-section obtained from the modeling studies. Deepest parts of the basin (12–13 km), determined from the 3D model, are located below the settlement of Hafik and to the south of Zara towns. Geometry, extension and wideness of the basin, together with the thickness and lithologies of the sedimentary units are reasonably appropriate for further hydrocarbon exploration in the Sivas Basin that is still an unexplored area with the limited number of seismic lines and only one borehole.     

Mineralogy and composition of the chromitites and their platinum-group minerals from Ortaca (Muğla-SW Turkey): evidence for ophiolitic chromitite genesis

Summary A large number of podiform chromitite bodies of massive, disseminated and nodular type have been located in ultramafic units, composed of depleted mantle harzburgite and dunite of the Marmaris Peridotite from Ortaca (Mula, SW Turkey). The chromite ore bodies are surrounded by dunite envelopes of variable thickness, exhibiting transitional boundaries to harzburgite host rocks. Chromitites, containing a large number of inclusions, i.e. silicates, base metal sulphides and alloys, and platinum-group minerals (PGM) have a wide range of chemical composition. The Cr# [Cr/(Cr+Al)] values of most chromitites are high (0.61–0.81) and Mg# [Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺)] values range between 0.65 and 0.71 with TiO₂ content lower than 0.24wt.%, which may reflect the crystallization of chromites from boninitic magmas in supra-subduction setting environment.Platinum-group minerals (PGM) such as laurite, erlichmanite and Os–Ir alloys, silicates such as olivine, clinopyroxene and amphibole, and base metal sulphides (BM-S), alloys (BM-A) and arsenides (BM-As) are found as inclusions in chromite or in the serpentine matrix. Platinum-group element (PGE) concentrations of the Ortaca chromitites (OC) are low in all samples. Total PGE (Ir+Ru+Rh+Pt+Pd) ranges from 63ng/g to 266ng/g and Pd/Ir ratios range between 0.23 and 4.75. PGE content is higher and the Pd/Ir ratio lower in Cr-rich chromitites compared to Al-rich ones. There is a strong negative correlation between the Cr# and Pd/Ir ratios (r=–0.930). The PGE patterns show a negative slope from Ru to Pt and a positive slope from Pt to Pd. The low PGE content in the majority of the OC may reflect a lack of sulphur saturation during an early stage of their crystallization. The laurite compositions show a wide range of Ru–Os substitution caused by relatively low temperature and increasing f(S₂) during the chromite crystallization. The high Cr# of and hydrous silicate mineral inclusions in chromite imply that chromite crystallized in a supra-subduction setting.     

Use of microtremor in liquefaction hazard mapping

This study shows how microtremor measurements can be used as an aid to liquefaction hazard mapping and zonation, as demonstrated in Laoag City, Northern Philippines. From microtremor measurements, qualitative information on subsoil conditions was obtained and a site classification map was generated. The map was combined with the geomorphology-based liquefaction susceptibility map to produce an integrated liquefaction hazard zonation map. This integrated map is deemed to be more accurate in depicting relative liquefaction susceptibility since it combines information on the distribution of potentially liquefiable soils in terms of geology and grain characteristics with information on the stiffness and thickness of these soils. With information about the thickness of the deposits, an idea of the severity of liquefaction-related damage can also be gathered since thicker deposits relate to more serious damage. Plots of historical liquefaction cases, as well as borehole data and resistivity profiles in the study area, support the validity of the integrated map. The use of microtremor, therefore, constitutes an effective and inexpensive approach to liquefaction hazard zonation, and as such is very useful in less-developed countries like the Philippines and other areas where funds for more rigorous investigations are not always available.     

Development of Predictive Models for the Specific Energy of Circular Diamond Sawblades in the Sawing of Granitic Rocks

This paper presents an experimental study on the sawing of granitic rocks by circular diamond sawblades. The influence of the operating variables and rock properties on the specific energy were initially investigated and analyzed. To determine the most significant operating variables and rock properties influencing the specific energy, statistical analyses were then employed and the models were built for the estimation of specific energy depending on the operating variables and the rock properties. Moreover, the derived models were validated through statistical tests such as the determination coefficient, t-test, F-test, and residuals. The results indicated that the specific energy decreased with the decreasing of peripheral speed and the increasing of traverse speed, cutting depth, and flow rate of cooling fluid, respectively. It was concluded that, rather than the physico-mechanical properties, the mineralogical properties were the dominant rock properties affecting the specific energy. Additionally, the peripheral speed was statistically determined as the most significant operating variable affecting the specific energy. The peripheral speed was followed by the cutting depth, traverse speed, and flow rate of cooling fluid with respect to their level of significance on the specific energy. Furthermore, the model results revealed that the developed models have high potentials as a guidance for practical applications.