Alteration Mapping for Porphyry Copper Exploration Using ASTER and QuickBird Multispectral Images,Sonajeel Prospect,NW Iran

The Sonajeel prospect is located in the Arasbaran belt which is one of the significant copper mineralization belts in NW Iran. There are mostly Eocene volcano-sedimentary rocks and Post Eocene intrusive units which are the source for mineralization in the area. ASTER multispectral images were used for delineation of alteration zones as a key feature of porphyry copper mineralization. Due to the need for geometric correction and ortho-rectification of the ASTER images, a high resolution QuickBird image with pixel width of about 60 cm (in PAN) was employed as a reference image in order to boost the rectification process. Ortho-rectification has been done by using digital elevation model which is created by topographic map in scale 1:1000. Potassic alteration as one of the essential alteration types in porphyry copper deposits, distributed mostly in the north of the Sonajeel prospect that determined by Thermal infrared bands processing. Phyllic and argillic alteration zones detected by creating relative absorption band-depth grids which are comparable to field observations. Moreover, silica rich areas which are remnants of hydrothermal circulation and form at the top of porphyry copper systems were detected for recognition of epithermal deposits (with 1 km distance from Sonajeel porphyry system). Finally, Remote Sensing results were compared by field evidences especially for determination of an epithermal system. Most parts of the alteration zones were observed of the surface confirmed with the remote sensing alteration (in average about 75% matched fittingly), displayed concentrations anomalous in the NE and NW parts of the studied area.     

Teleseismic Source Parameters of the Rigan County Earthquakes and Evidence for a New Earthquake Fault

Two medium-sized earthquakes occurred on 20 December 2010 and 27 January 2011 in Rigan County, Kerman Province, southeastern Iran. According to the dislocation grid search method results, the first event was nearly strike-slip including reverse component (strike 115°, dip 50°, and rake ?5°) whereas the second event had some amount of reverse component (strike 125°, dip 75°, and rake ?5°). Based on synthetic Green’s function deconvolution and aftershock distribution, the down-dip-propagated rupture migrated toward southeast districts with low population distribution, confirming the reason for low casualties. Meanwhile, the aftershock distribution indicates the existence of a new earthquake fault for which we suggest the name “Rigan earthquake fault.” However, the same aftershock distribution indicates that the second mainshock was inevitably triggered by the first one, most probably along the continuation of the Bam earthquake fault.     

Spatio-temporal variation of transition probability of bursting events over the ripples at the bed of open channel

In this study, the turbulent flow structure over the ripples at the bed of open channel was investigated experimentally. An analysis of bursting process was used to recognize the susceptible regions for sediment entrainment and deposition over the ripples. Two artificial ripples were built according to the ripples, formed by nature. Three different configurations of ripples were used by changing the wavelength. According to analysis of bursting event it was found that at the stoss side of ripples, quadrants (II) and (IV) were dominant to the quadrants (I) and (III) and at the lee side of the ripple it was vice versa. Also the transition probabilities of the bursting events were determined. The results showed that stable organizations of each class of the events had highest transition probabilities whereas cross organizations had lowest transition probabilities. Additionally, an effort was made to find the average inclination angle of the bursting events in quadrants (II) and (IV). The results showed that the mean angle of events in quadrants (II) and (IV) increases at the downstream of stoss side to the crest in each experimental test. Also, at the lee side where the sediment particles were deposited, the inclination angles had the highest values.     

Vulnerability evaluation of a coastal aquifer via GALDIT model and comparison with DRASTIC index using quality parameters

In recent years, environmental assessments of groundwater resources have resulted in the development of models that help identify the vulnerable zones. An aquifer is investigated using both GALDIT and DRASTIC indices. The GALDIT model is developed to determine the vulnerability of coastal aquifers in terms of saltwater intrusion whereas the DRASTIC model is generally applicable to all aquifers. Having compared the results of both the GALDIT and DRASTIC models with quality parameters, the salinity model proved to be more appropriate in identifying the vulnerability of coastal aquifers. The results show a Pearson correlation coefficient between TDS and the GALDIT vulnerability map of 0.58 while the corresponding value for the DRASTIC index is 0.48.

EDITOR D. Koutsoyiannis

ASSOCIATE EDITOR A. Fiori     

Synoptic analysis of unexampled super-heavy rainfall on April 1, 2019, in west of Iran

Natural Hazards - The aim of this study is to analyze the synoptic and analyzing the mechanisms of flood occurrence on April 1, 2019, in the western half of Iran. In order to statistically analyze...     

Improved Water Quality Prediction with Hybrid Wavelet-Genetic Programming Model and Shannon Entropy

Natural Resources Research - Prediction of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) as the main pollution indicators of organic pollution in freshwater resources is necessary. In the present work, a hybrid...