Reviews

Bppks reviewed:
Reginald Appleyard, (ed.) Emigration dynamics in developing countries. Vol. IV: the Arab region
Curt Meine and Richard L. Knight, (eds.) The Essential Aldo Leopold. Quotations and Commentaries
Jyoti Shankar Singh, Creating a New Consensus on Population
Walden Bello, Shea Cunningham and Li Kheng Poh, A Siamese Tragedy
Bart Makaske, Anastomosing Rivers: Forms, Processes and Sediments
Philip Micklin, Managing Water in Central Asia
Iwao Kobori and Michael H. Glantz, (eds.) Central Eurasian Water Crisis: Caspian, Aral, and Dead Seas
John R. Gold and George Revill, (eds.) Landscapes of Defence
Monica Trujillo Amado Ordonez and Carlos Hernandez, Risk Mapping and Local Capabilities: Lessons from Mexico and Central America
R. Dalton, H. Fox and P. Jones, Classic Landforms of the White Peak (second edition), Classic Landforms of the Dark Peak (second edition)
Tatyana Saiko, Environmental Crises: Geographical Case Studies in Post-Socialist Eurasia
F. Brouwer and P. Lowe, (eds.) CAP Regimes and the European Countryside
Andrew Goudie, The Human Impact on the Natural Environment (fifth edition)
Jean Radvanyi, La Nouvelle Russie (second edition)
John Vogler, The Global Commons: Environmental and Technological Governance (second edition)     

A Pan-African alkaline pluton intruding the Saramuj Conglomerate,south-west Jordan

The geological setting, petrography and bulk mineral chemistry of a monzodiorite and a presumably consanguineous megaporphyry with large (up to 25 cm) labradorite megacrysts, both intruding the upper Proterozoic Saramuj Conglomerate in south-west Jordan (south eastern shore of the Dead Sea), were examined. The crystallization temperatures of the monzodiorite and the megaporphyry as determined from pyroxene thermometry and supported by contact metamorphic mineralogy are about 700 and 900°C, respectively. The intrusion depth of the monzodiorite is about 3–4 km. The monzodiorite was emplaced in the Saramuj Conglomerate at about 595 + 2 Ma ago according to Rb/Sr and U/Pb age determinations.The stratigraphic positions of the monzodiorite, megaporphyry and their host rock (the Saramuj Conglomerate) were compared with time-equivalent lithologies in the Arabian-Nubian Shield. Correspondence to: H. Wachendorf     

Geochemical assessment of groundwater contamination with special emphasis on fluoride concentration, North Jordan

The concentrations of fluorine in groundwater of North Jordan range from 0.009 to 0.055 mg/l. Other chemical parameters, e.g. pH, EC, TDS, Cl, TH, HCO₃, PO₄, SO₄, NO₃, NH₄, K, Ca, Mg, and NO₃ have been studied and showed higher concentrations in HCO₃⁻ and NO₃⁻ of 307 and 51 mg/l, respectively. Thermodynamic considerations show that almost all the analyzed samples are undersaturated with respect to calcite and fluorite. This undersaturation is probably due to their low availability in the locations. Fluoride concentration shows a positive relation to pH and HCO₃, whereas Cl, Mg, Ca, and Na initially increase and then decrease with increasing fluoride in the water. Saturation indexes of fluorite and calcite are estimated. The chemistry of the groundwater is controlled by the fluorite and calcite solubility. The topography of the area has exerted control on the aerial extent of fluoride concentration.     

Structural control of sinkholes and subsidence hazards along the Jordanian Dead Sea coast

For about four decades, the Dead Sea (DS) level and the surrounding water table has been dropping dramatically. At least from the eighties, the direct vicinity of the Lisan Peninsula (LP), Jordan, has been facing high rates of subsidence and sinkhole hazards. Between 2000 and 2002, the Arab Potash Company (APC) lost two salt evaporation ponds resulting in a loss of $70 million. In the fertile plain of Ghor al Haditha (GAH), three deep and wide bowl-shaped subsidence areas threaten human activities and infrastructures. Over the part of the Lisan Peninsula that emerged before the 1960s, relict fossil sinkholes occurred everywhere, whereas new collapses constantly appear in the southern area only. In this paper, we have integrated 15 years of field observations related to sinkholes and subsidence with interpretation of space borne radar interferometric outputs, aerial photographs and satellite images. This has helped to place hazardous areas in their geological context and to clarify them within the framework of the general tectonic setting of the area.     

Seismic hazard assessment in Jordan and its vicinity

The earthquake hazard in Jordan and its vicinity is assessed on the basis of probabilistic methods. For this purpose, an updated earthquake catalog is compiled which covers the period between AD 1–1989. The earthquakes lie between latitudes 27.0°-35.5° N and longitudes 32.0°-39.0° E. Thirteen seismic zones are defined on a regional seismic and tectonic map presented for the area. Point-source and line-source models are used. The seismic hazard parameters, namely, theb-parameter (of the Gutenberg-Richter relation),m ₁ (the upper bound magnitude), and ₄ (the annual rate of occurrence of earthquakes with local magnitudeM _L 4.0) are calculated for each zone. The results of the seismic hazard assessment are displayed as iso-acceleration contours expected to be exceeded during typical economic life times of structures, i.e. 50 and 100 years. For each model, two seismic hazard maps are derived. In order to determine the importance of the South-eastern Mediterranean zone and the north part of the Red Sea zone from a seismic hazard point of view for Jordan, one seismic hazard map which corresponds to 50 years' economic life for every model, excluding the seismicity of these zones, is derived.     

Lead removal from wastewater using faujasite tuff

The Jordanian chabazite-phillipsite tuff and faujasite-phillipsite tuff have suitable mineralogical and technical properties that enable them to be used for ion-exchange processes. These include suitable grain size and total cation exchange capacity, acceptable zeolite content, good attrition resistance and high packed-bed density. The chabazite-phillipsite tuff (ZE1 and ZE2) has an excellent efficiency to remove Pb and an acceptable efficiency to remove Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni from effluent wastewater of a battery factory and other industries. The faujasite-phillipsite tuff (ZE3) is 6.97 times more efficient than the ZE1 and ZE2. A bed of ZE3 (1,000 kg) loaded in a 1.17-m³ column is capable of cleaning about 2,456 m³ of the effluent from the factory at a cost of US $200/ton. The wastewater is contaminated with 20 ppm Pb in the presence of competing ions including Ca (210 ppm), Na (1,950 ppm) and Fe (169 ppm). This quantity of wastewater is equivalent to 120 working days of effluent discharge from the factory at a flow rate of 20 m³/day.     

Water in the Middle East peace process

Water resources occupy an important role in the bilateral negotiations of the Middle East peace process. This paper mentions the conflicting water plans for the utilization of the Jordan basin by Arabs and Israelis, and describes the issues that are to be handled in the process of peacemaking. It defines the water issues between Israel and each of its neighbouring entities: Jordan, the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon, and reviews what has been addressed in the peace negotiations thus far. A more detailed review is made of the negotiation tracks where progress was made, and a less detailed review is made of the negotiations that settled the water dispute between Jordan and Israel. The paper alludes to the claims of water wars in the region and provides evidence that water has not been a catalyst for war in the Middle East. It also proposes some topics for research that can be of interest to alleviate water shortage.     

K-Ar dating,X-Ray diffractometry,optical and scanning electron microscopy of glauconies from the early Cretaceous Kurnub Group of Jordan

The glaucony of the early Cretaceous Kurnub Group in Jordan has been isotopically dated using the K–Ar method. The glaucony occurs in an arenaceous dolomite unit, referred to here to as glaucony marker unit (GMU), located in the upper part of the Kurnub Group, that persists throughout Jordan. The glaucoliths of the heavy fraction are dark green in colour, ovoidal or mammilated, with a mainly cracked smooth surface, whereas the light fraction glaucoliths are light green in colour, irregular in shape and have a rough or porous surface. Both fractions exhibit boxwork and rosette microstructure, whereas lamellar microstructure is restricted to the heavy glaucoliths. X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis placed the glauconies of the GMU of the Kurnub Group in Odin and Matter's evolved to highly evolved class corresponding to glauconitic mica and suggested that they should be well-closed chronometers. On the other hand, petrographic investigation proved these glauconies to be unaltered, whereas the other altered ones are discarded from the age determination. The unweathered, highly evolved, heavy glauconies that are neither tectonized nor deeply buried best fulfil recommendations regarding appropriate samples for K–Ar dating. The apparent age constrained, within the analytical uncertainty limits, from the most evolved glaucony is 96·1±1·1 Ma and suggests that the GMU is of Albian age. The other less evolved glauconies, which are still within the evolved to highly evolved class of Odin and Matter, yield a mean apparent age of 93·6±1·0 Ma, which is probably slightly younger than the true depositional age by 2–3 Ma due to genetic and historical uncertainties, as indicated by the petrographic and sedimentological data. Thus the upper part of the Kurnub Group, where the GMU is located, is of Albian age. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxygen and carbon isotopes in Jordanian phosphorites and associated fossils

Stable isotopes have proven to be efficient tools for paleoenvironmental analysis and interpretation of paleotemperature. Oxygen and carbon isotopes were analyzed in carbonate flourapatite (francolite), oyster shells, tests of foraminifera and ostracods from the Phosphorite Unit throughout Jordan.Isotopic analysis showed δ¹⁸O to be enriched in authigenic francolite in Upper Cretaceous in NW Jordan, indicating lower temperatures, a deeper depositional environment and lower salinity than Central Jordan. In Central Jordan, the local basin of Hafira shows enrichment of δ¹⁸O indicating a deeper depositional environment than shallower highs in Mutarammil and Wadi El-Hasa. The δ¹³C shows that the depositional environment was oxic to suboxic and may have reached the suboxic to anoxic interface in the deeper environment in NW Jordan.δ¹⁸O values in tests of foraminifera and ostracods are similar to δ¹⁸O values of authigenic phosphate, which is enriched in NW Jordan, indicating lower temperature, lower salinity and a deeper environment than Central Jordan. In Central Jordan, δ¹³C shows more depletion in the Sultani section due to land derived organic carbon (food web supply) carried by terrestrial water draining to the sea.The δ¹⁸O in oyster shells show an upward enrichment in the Wadi El-Hasa section, which indicate an increase of intense upwelling, enrichment of nutrients, development of productivity and growth of oyster buildups. Meanwhile, Hafira shows enrichment of δ¹⁸O and lower temperature, in agreement with foraminifera and ostracods. The two samples of oysters from SE Jordan, although affected by diagenesis, show heavier oxygen to the north, indicating a deeper water environment and lower salinity in the same basin.     

The role of fluids in faulting deformation:a case study from the Dead Sea Transform (Jordan)

The geochemistry of carbonate fault rocks has been examined in two areas of the Arava Fault segment, which forms the major branch of the Dead Sea Transform between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aquaba. The role of fluids in faulting deformation in the selected fault segment is remarkably different from observations at other major fault zones. Our data suggest reduced fluid rock interactions in both areas and limited fluid flow. The fault did not act as an important fluid conduit. There are no indications that hydrothermal reactions (cementation, dissolution) did change the strength and behavior of the fault zone, although the two areas show considerable differences with respect to fluid sources and fluid flow. In one area, the investigated calcite mineralization reveals an open fluid system with fluids originating from a variety of sources. Stable isotopes (¹³C, ¹⁸O), strontium isotopes, and trace elements indicate both infiltration of descending (meteoric and/or sea water) and ascending hydrothermal fluids. In the other area, all geochemical data indicate only local (small scale) fluid redistribution. These fluids were derived from the adjacent limestones under nearly closed-system conditions.