Geochemistry of lamprophyres associated with uranium mineralization, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

Two brecciated shear zones (NNW-SSE) are found crosscutting cataclastic rocks. The cataclastic rocks (3.0 km2) occupy the core of the granitic pluton and enclose a roof pendant of mafic-ultramafic rocks. The NNW-SSE-extending lamprophyre dykes vary in thickness from 0.5 m to 1 m and up to 800 m long, cutting the cataclastic rocks and are composed mainly of plagioclases, amphiboles, relics of pyroxenes and K-feldspar phenocrysts embedded in fine-grained groundmass. They are characterized as being peraluminous, calc-alkaline in composition (chemical trap) and enriched in calcite, sulfide and P2O5. The lamprophyres were affected by hydrothermal alteration (chlorite-carbonate alteration) while the cataclastic rocks were affected by diagenetic alteration (K-feldspar-albite alteration). Uranium mineralization is the product of hydrothermal events and has been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), involving primary uranium minerals (U3O8) and secondary uranium minerals (uranophane and beta-uranophane, kasolite, torbernite, autonite and meta-autonite) in addition to U- bearing minerals (astrocyanite, betafite and fergusonite). The presence of different mineral parageneses associated with clay minerals indicates that the lamprophyres were subjected to acidic and alkaline mineralizing solutions. Moreover, the U-Zr/U, U-Ce/U values show negative correlations, confirming U-enrichment in both cataclastic rocks and shear zones while the Th-eU/eTh, Th-Zr/Th and Th-Ce/Th values show negative correlations, indicating that the U-bearing solutions are rich in Th in the cataclastic rocks only.     

Simulation of tropical cyclone Vamei (2001) using the PSU/NCAR MM5 model

Summary In this study, a rare tropical cyclone Vamei was simulated using the non-hydrostatic version 3.6 of the Penn State University (PSU) – National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) mesoscale model MM5. This unusual cyclone was generated on 26 December 2001 in an area close to the equator in the southern part of the South China Sea. The model was integrated for 80 h from 0000 UTC 26 December 2001 to 1800 UTC 29 December 2001. To examine the model performance, several important simulated fields including sea-level pressure, surface wind speed and precipitation were compared to observations. The model simulated track of the cyclone was also compared to the best track provided by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JWTC). Overall, the model performed reasonably well, particularly in simulating the cyclone track and precipitation amount and spatial distribution. The analysis of the model output indicated the important role of the latent heat flux in the genesis and intensification of tropical cyclone Vamei.     

A Case Study on the Effects of Heterogeneous Soil Moisture on Mesoscale Boundary-Layer Structure in the Southern Great Plains, U.S.A. Part I: Simple Prognostic Model

The atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) depth was observed by airborne lidar and balloon soundings during the Southern Great Plains 1997 field study (SGP97). This paper is Part I of a two-part case study examining the relationship of surface heterogeneity to observed ABL structure. Part I focuses on observations. During two days (12–13 July 1997) following rain, midday convective ABL depth varied by as much as 1.5 km across 400 km, even with moderate winds. Variability in ABL depth was driven primarily by the spatial variation in surface buoyancy flux as measured from short towers and aircraft within the SGP97 domain. Strong correlation was found between time-integrated buoyancy flux and airborne remotely sensed surface soil moisture for the two case-study days, but only a weak correlation was found between surface energy fluxes and vegetation greenness as measured by satellite. A simple prognostic one-dimensional ABL model was applied to test to what extent the soil moisture spatial heterogeneity explained the variation in north–south ABL depth across the SGP97 domain. The model was able to better predict mean ABL depth and variations on horizontal scales of approximately 100 km using observed soil moisture instead of constant soil moisture. Subsidence, advection, convergence/divergence and spatial variability of temperature inversion strength also contributed to ABL depth variations. In Part II, assimilation of high-resolution soil moisture into a three-dimensional mesoscale model (MM5) is discussed and shown to improve predictions of ABL structure. These results have implications for ABL models and the influence of soil moisture on mesoscale meteorology     

Geological Controls of Variograms in a Complex Carbonate Reservoir, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

To derive meaningful results from a geostatistical study, it is extremely important to establish the relationship between geology and variograms. However, it is not always easy to establish such a relationship, mainly because of the inadequacy of quantitative or qualitative information. Large amounts of reliable well-log porosity data and the detailed geological information from a complex carbonate reservoir located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia provided an ideal case study of the relationships between geology and variograms. The reservoir under consideration is in the form of a gently dipping, elongated anticline and consists of three productive zones which have been subdivided into several lithologically distinct layers. Results, which indicate an excellent match between geology and porosity variograms, are summarized as follows: (1) use of stratigraphic distances resulted in considerable improvement in the behavior of variograms, (2) structurally controlled geometrical anisotropy is the most obvious feature of variograms, and (3) layers consisting of more complex lithologic framework provided variograms with relatively greater nugget variances and shorter ranges. These results provide further insight into geology and form a meaningful basis for estimation and simulation of the reservoir. They also could be used as a general guide in the geostatistical study of similar carbonate reservoirs.     

ODONATE COMMUNITIES （ODONATA： INSECTA） IN A TROPICAL RIVER BASIN, MALAYSIA

Odonata larvae were sampled from 16 tributaries of Kerian River in the Kerian River Basin (KRB) using a kick samphng technique from September 1998 to May 1999 encompassing both rainy and dry seasons. The distribution of odonate genera was significantly different ( F15.16 = 3.99) among rivers in both seasons ( F15.16 = 4.70) at P = 0.05. However, no seasonal influence was detected. Protoneuridae and Libellulidae were the most dominant families in this basin. Other families Gomphidae, Coenagrionidae, Macromiidae, Chlorocyphidae and Calopterygidae, were common but Aeshnidae and Eupheidae were rare. Several common species, Prodasineura autumnalis, Brachythemis contaminata, Macromia gerstaeckeri, Paragomphus, Orthetrum brunneum, Rhinocypha quadrimaculata and Copera marginipes were identified. The calculated values of biological indices ( H‘, D, E, R1 and R2) showed that the dragonfly fauna in this river basin was slightly poor. Varied physieo- chemical parameters of the river possibly as a result of human activities in surrounding areas were found to influence the distribution of the dragonfly larvae in the KRB. This study showed that the KRB provided favorable habitats for Protoneuridae and 1Libellulidae. Two most dominant species Prodasineura autumnalis and Brachythemis contaminata were obviously favoured slightly acidic water of the Kerian river tributaries.     

Facies and sequence stratigraphy of a Late Barremian wave-dominated deltaic deposit, Agadir Basin, Morocco

The late Barremian succession in the Agadir Basin of the Moroccan Western High Atlas represents wave-dominated deltaic deposits. The succession is represented by stacked thickening and coarsening upwards parasequences 5–15 m thick formed during fifth- or fourth-order regression and building a third-order highstand systems tract. Vertical facies transitions in parasequences reflect flooding followed by shoaling of diverse shelf environments ranging from offshore transition interbedded mudstones, siltstones and thin sandstones, lower shoreface/lower delta front hummocky bedforms to upper shoreface/upper delta front cross-bedded sandstones. The regional configuration reflects the progradation of wave-dominated deltas over an offshore setting. The maximum sea-level fall led to the development of a sequence boundary that is an unconformity. The subsequent early Aptian relative sea-level rise contributes to the development of an extensive conglomerate lagged transgressive surface of erosion. The latter and the sequence boundary are amalgamated forming a composite surface.     

Mercury pollution of Mediterranean sediments around Alexandria,Egypt

Elemental mercury is associated with industrial wastes discharged through the main effluent pipe of the Chlorine-Alkali plant at El-Max area west of Alexandria. The minimal mercury value of 0.1 ppm dry weight is assumed to be the background level for uncontaminated sediments in the area. Mercury level ranged from 8.02 to 15.5 ppm in the beach sands from the polluted area beyond the plant, and from 0.14 to 1.4 ppm in the bottom sediments off Alexandria.The Chlorine-Alkali plant is obviously the major source of mercury pollution. The contribution of land drainage, agricultural and domestic wastes is insignificant.     

Structural CO2 in the Apatite of the Late Cretaceous Phosphorite Resources in Egypt: Effect on the Crystal Chemistry and Geologic Implications

Abstract: Phosphorite deposits in Egypt, known as the Duwi Formation, are a part of the Middle East to North Africa phospho‐genic province of late Cretaceous to Paleogene age. Based on the petrographical observation, the phosphatic grains in the phosphorites are classified into phosphatic mudclasts and phosphatic bioclasts. Both of them are composed of francolite. The structural CO₂ contents in the francolite range from 3.3 to 7.2 % with an average of 5.3 %. Results indicated that the substitution with CO₃^2‐ of PO₄^3‐ in the francolite decreases the unit cell volume and a‐cell dimension, and increases the c/a ratio. Effect is more obvious in the a‐cell dimension; therefore, it is more significant in distinction between the different apatite species. Lack of covariance between structural CO₂ contents in the francolite and the carbonate minerals contents may render the supposition that the phosphorites formed as a result of replacement of preexisting calcareous sediments is doubtful. Similarity in CO₂ content in both weathered and fresh samples indicates that the structural CO₂ content in the phosphorites is not affected by weathering, and reflects the conditions and CO₂ concentration of the depositional environment. Similarity in mineralogy and CO₂ contents in the different phosphatic grains and higher CO₂ content in the Egyptian phosphorites compared with the authigenic phosphates of Peru margin, which formed by the same mechanism as the Duwi phosphorites, suggest that the phosphatic grains in the Duwi Formation were francolitized during diagenesis by introducing CO₂ from the surrounding pore water and diagenesis took place at an elevated temperature. Scattered values of structural CO₂ contents suggest the reworking origin of the phosphatic grains in the late Cretaceous phosphorites in Egypt.     

Groundwater quality model with applications to various aquifers

A finite element model was developed in order to solve for both regional groundwater flow and conservative solute transport in porous medium. The model was applied to a 55-sq-km groundwater basin in the Ruehen region of Germany using a network of 1450 elements and 780 nodes. This model was used in simulating a contaminant plume done through injection. Similarly, the model was applied to a 4750-sq-km portion in the eastern Nile Delta aquifer in Egypt. The model was applied to this portion of the delta using a network of 543 elements and 310 nodes with the main objective of simulating the problem of salt water intrusion.