Artificial neural network or empirical criteria? A comparative approach in evaluating maximum charge per delay in surface mining — Sungun copper mine

Ground vibration due to blasting causes damages in the existence of the surface structures nearby the mine. The study of vibration control plays an important role in minimizing environmental effects of blasting in mines. Ground vibration regulations primarily rely on the peak particle velocity (PPV, mm/s). Prediction of maximum charge weight per delay (Q, kg) by distance from blasting face up to vibration monitoring point as well as allowable PPV was proposed in order to perform under control blasting and therefore avoiding damages on structures nearby the mine. Various empirical predictor equations have proposed to determine the PPV and maximum charge per delay. Maximum charge per delay is calculated by using PPV predictors indirectly or Q predictor directly. This paper presents the results of ground vibration measurement induced by bench blasting in Sungun copper mine in Iran. The scope of this study is to evaluate the capability of two different methods in order to predict maximum charge per delay. A comparison between two ways of investigations including empirical equations and artificial neural network (ANN) are presented. It has been shown that the applicability of ANN method is more promising than any under study empirical equations.     

Geological modeling and short-term production planning of dimension stone quarries based on market demand

In order to obtain minimum amount of ore wastage and maximum profitability in dimension stone quarries an optimal short-term production planning procedure has been established here according to the market demand. As the base of this procedure geological modelling has been first created and smoothing of ore-body boundaries was done. Then, an economical block model has been provided. In the next step, all probable shapes of minable-blocks were specified and their priorities in assignment were done according to desired size of the blocks by market demand. Finally, searching from a base sub-block was started in order to find the optimal plan. The procedure has been used for a dimension marble quarry located in northwest of Iran. It demonstrates a decrease about 26% of ore wastage and 21.3% of diamond wire assumption with comparing to the existent traditional procedure.     

The Laal-Kan fluorite deposit,Zanjan Province,NW Iran: constraints on REE geochemistry and fluid inclusions

The Laal-Kan fluorite deposit (west of Zanjan city, NW Iran) mainly occurred as some open-space filling and vein/veinlet in the schist of the Paleozoic age. Mineralogically, calcite, fluorite types (white, smoky, and violet), and quartz are the principal constituents accompanied by a number of minor accessory minerals such as hemimorphite, hematite, barite, and clays. Based on chemical analyses, fluorites of various colors were found to have low rare earth element (REE) concentrations (4.16–25.67 ppm). The chondrite-normalized REE patterns indicated that early fluorites were enriched in LREE, relative to HREE, whereas late fluorites were enriched in HREE relative to LREE. This study, therefore, indicated that fugacity of oxygen likely played a significant role in the occurrence of positive Ce and negative anomaly in the late fluorite. Furthermore, the Gd behavior of the fluorite samples could be attributed to the Gd-F complex in ore-forming fluids. On the other hand, low pH hydrothermal fluids under alkaline conditions were probably the main mechanism responsible for the deposition of the early fluorites in this district. Fluorite-hosted fluid inclusion analyses also indicated that fluorite-forming fluids consisted of NaCl, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, and LiCl with a narrow T_H (118–151 °C) and high salinities (18.96–23.47 wt.% NaCl equiv.). Further, the diagram of Tb/La-Tb/Ca ratios revealed that fluorites were predominantly deposited in the hydrothermal environment and the late stage fluorites could be considered as the product of the secondary mineralization of the early fluorites due to the interaction of the fluid with the early fluorites.     

Self-repair of cracks and defects in clay: a review of evidence,mechanisms, theories and nomenclature

Clay minerals and clayey soils have been extensively researched over the last century leading to a rich and still evolving corpus of knowledge on clay chemistry, microstructure and macroscopic behaviour. Clay has the ability, under certain conditions, to spontaneously repair its cracks. However, despite ample evidence, clay self-repair remains understudied and under-theorised. For example, the majority of experimental studies discussing clay self-repair infer its existence from changes to macroscopic properties assumed to be caused by self-repair, and only a small number of studies have attempted to observe self-repair directly. This paper reviews the literature on clay self-repair. First, it situates clay self-repair within the broader context of self-repairing material. Next, autogenous self-repair of clay, under wet-dry cycles, freeze–thaw cycles and deep-ground consolidation, is presented focusing on evidence, driving mechanisms and key variables of influence. Next, theories of clay self-repair proposed in the literature are discussed, highlighting their scope and limitations, as well as the extent to which they have been validated by experimental observations. Key gaps in current knowledge of clay self-repair are highlighted and ways in which they can be addressed in future research are proposed. Finally, a nomenclature distinguishing between different kinds of clay self-repair is proposed based on eight different attributes.

     

Numerical simulation of waves in the Caspian Sea: calibration and verification of the observation-based source terms

Ocean Dynamics - Third-generation models employ a host of parameterization schemes to consider the input wind forcing and the wave energy dissipation under different physical settings and...     

Linear and non-linear approaches to predict the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor of overland flow using the extreme learning machine approach

In modeling of overland flow and erosion, the overland flow friction factor (f), is a crucial factor. Due to the importance of a good understanding of f and its variability, the current study aimed to investigate the capability of non-linear approaches to estimate the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor of overland flow and its components (sediment transport, wave, form, and grain friction factors) through the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) approach. Four datasets were used herein which were obtained from flume experiments done by different researchers. In order to investigate the effects of different parameters on the friction factor, numerous models consisting of various parameters were utilized to predict the friction factor using the ELM approach. The modeling procedure was established in two stages; the first stage aimed to model the overland flow friction factor and investigate the effect of the different parameters on the friction factor using non-linear separation via the ELM approach. In the second stage, the friction factor was linearly separated into different types of friction factors and then the separate components were estimated. Sensitivity analysis results confirmed the key role of Froude number (Fr) values for most of the models. On the other hand, the results obtained for estimated values of the friction factor were acceptable and outperformed available empirical approaches.     

Investigation of the Concentration of Metals in Two Economically Important Fish Species from the Caspian Sea and Assessment of Potential Risk to Human Health

Ocean Science Journal - Our specific objectives were to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Mercury, Zinc, copper, Manganese and Cobalt) in the liver, gill, kidney...     

Instability of loose sand in constant volume direct simple shear tests in relation to particle shape

Acta Geotechnica - Post-peak flow instability of six sands notably different in terms of average particle shape characteristics, gradation, and mineralogy was investigated. Tests were carried out...     

The increase of rainfall erosivity and initial soil erosion processes due to rainfall acidification

The drastic growth of population in highly industrialized urban areas, as well as fossil fuel use, is increasing levels of airborne pollutants and enhancing acid rain. In rapidly developing countries such as Iran, the occurrence of acid rain has also increased. Acid rain is a driving factor of erosion due to the destructive effects on biota and aggregate stability; however, little is known about its impact on specific rates of erosion at the pedon scale. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of acid rain at pH levels of 5.25, 4.25, and 3.75 for rainfall intensities of 40, 60, and 80 mm h^?1 on initial soil erosion processes under dry and saturated soil conditions using rainfall simulations. The results were compared using a two‐way ANOVA and Duncan tests and showed that initial soil erosion rates with acidic rain and non‐acidic rain under dry soil conditions were significantly different. The highest levels of soil particle loss due to splash effects in all rainfall intensities were observed with the most acidic rain (pH = 3.75), reaching maximum values of 16 g m^?2 min^?1. The lowest levels of particle losses were observed in the control plot where non‐acidic rain was used, with values ranging from 3.8 to 8.1 g m^?2 min^?1. Similarly, under saturated soil conditions, the lowest level of soil particle loss was observed in the control plot, and the highest peaks of soil loss were observed for the most acidic rains (pH = 3.75 and pH = 4.25), reaching maximum average values of 40 g m^?2 min^?1. However, for saturated soils with acidic water but with non‐acidic rain, the highest soil particle loss was observed for the control plot for all the rainfall intensities. In conclusion, acidic rain has a negative impact on soils, which can be more intense with a concomitant increase in rainfall intensity. Rapid solutions, therefore, need to be found to reduce the emission of pollutants into the air, otherwise, rainfall erosivity may drastically increase.