Comparing data-driven landslide susceptibility models based on participatory landslide inventory mapping in Purwosari area,Yogyakarta, Java

There are different approaches and techniques for landslide susceptibility mapping. However, no agreement has been reached in both the procedure and the use of specific controlling factors employed in the landslide susceptibility mapping. Each model has its own assumption, and the result may differ from place to place. Different landslide controlling factors and the completeness of landslide inventory may also affect the different result. Incomplete landslide inventory may produce significance error in the interpretation of the relationship between landslide and controlling factor. Comparing landslide susceptibility models using complete inventory is essential in order to identify the most realistic landslide susceptibility approach applied typically in the tropical region Indonesia. Purwosari area, Java, which has total 182 landslides occurred from 1979 to 2011, was selected as study area to evaluate three data-driven landslide susceptibility models, i.e., weight of evidence, logistic regression, and artificial neural network. Landslide in the study area is usually affected by rainfall and anthropogenic activities. The landslide typology consists of shallow translational and rotational slide. The elevation, slope, aspect, plan curvature, profile curvature, stream power index, topographic wetness index, distance to river, land use, and distance to road were selected as landslide controlling factors for the analysis. Considering the accuracy and the precision evaluations, the weight of evidence represents considerably the most realistic prediction capacities (79%) when comparing with the logistic regression (72%) and artificial neural network (71%). The linear model shows more powerful result than the nonlinear models because it fits to the area where complete landslide inventory is available, the landscape is not varied, and the occurence of landslide is evenly distributed to the class of controlling factor.     

The effect of microorganisms on Fe precipitation rates at neutral pH

The effect of microorganisms on Fe precipitation rates at neutral pH in the field was examined. The studied area was a cave having Fe-stalactites composed mainly of ferrihydrite and associated microorganisms. The microorganisms were covered with ferrihydrite. Water associated with stalactites was slightly supersaturated with respect to ferrihydrite, and had a dissolved oxygen concentration of 2 ppm, a pH of 6, and an Fe concentration of approximately 14 ppm. Fe precipitation rates were estimated from decreases in Fe concentrations in water during flowing through the Fe-stalactites. The estimated Fe precipitation rate in the field ranges from 6.8×10⁻⁸ to 4.0×10⁻⁷ mol/l/s. These values are in good agreement with bulk estimates of Fe-stalactite growth rates derived from the length increase (1.3 cm) of one formation over 30 days. The estimated Fe precipitation rates are faster by about four orders of magnitude than expected inorganic precipitation rates. On-site Fe precipitation experiments with sterilized and unsterilized Fe-stalactites and without Fe-stalactites indicate that microorganisms are the controlling factor accelerating Fe precipitation rates at neutral pH. These results suggest that microbially accelerated Fe precipitation rates are more likely related to exopolysaccharides and microbial surface properties than metabolic precipitation mechanisms.     

Iron oxidation state of a 2.45-Byr-old paleosol developed on mafic volcanics

The 2.45-Byr-old weathering profile developed on early Proterozoic mafic volcanics located near Cooper Lake, Ontario, Canada, was examined geochemically and mineralogically for a better understanding of the atmospheric oxygen evolution. Ferrous to ferric ion, Fe(II) and Fe(III), respectively, ratios of the bulk rock samples were analyzed by Mössbauer spectrometry. The total Fe (Fe(T)) and Fe(II) concentrations decrease from 12.0 and 11.2 wt.% to 1.85 and 0.89 wt.%, respectively, from the bottom to the top of the weathering profile. The Fe(T) and Fe(II) concentrations normalized to Ti and Zr, as well as the Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio of raw data, linearly decrease with depth toward the top, while the Fe(III) concentration remains nearly constant throughout the profile. The linear decrease of Fe(II), accompanied by the nearly constant distribution of Fe(III), is difficult to be explained by the scenario of oxidizing weathering and subsequent reducing hydrothermal alteration. The behaviors of Fe(II) and Fe(III) can be simply explained by anoxic weathering. The anoxic weathering suggests that the 2.45-Ga atmosphere was anoxic. The slight increase of Fe/(Fe+Mg) in the octahedral sites of chlorite toward the top and no Ce anomaly in the REE patterns are also consistent with anoxic weathering.     

The slope modeling method with GIS support for rockfall analysis using 3D DDA

Rockfall is the most frequent major hazard in mountainous areas. For hazard assessment and further countermeasure design, realistic and accurate prediction of rockfall trajectory is an important requirement. Thus, a modeling method to represent both geometrical parameters of slope and falling rock mass is required. This study, suggests taking the advantages of discontinues deformation analysis (DDA) and geographical information system (GIS). In this study, after developing a three dimensional (3D) DDA program, firstly a special element named contact face element (CFE) was introduced into 3D DDA; secondly, effectively modeling tools with GIS support were developed. The implementation of CFE also improves the efficiency of both the contact searching and solution process. Then a simple impact model was devised to compare the 3D DDA implemented directly with a sliding model with theoretical analysis to verify the reliability of the modified 3D DDA program and investigate the parameter settings. Finally, simulations concerning rock shapes and multi-rocks were carried out to show the applicable functions and advantages of the newly developed rockfall analysis code. It has been shown that the newly developed 3D DDA program with GIS support is applicable and effective.     

Interactions of uranium with bacteria and kaolinite clay

We assessed the accumulation of uranium (VI) by a bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, suspended in a slurry of kaolinite clay, to elucidate the role of microbes on the mobility of U(VI). Various mixtures of bacteria and the koalinite were exposed to solutions of 8 × 10^− 6 M- and 4 × 10^− 4 M-U(VI) in 0.01 M NaCl at pH 4.7. After 48 h, the mixtures were separated from the solutions by centrifugation, and treated with a 1 M CH₃COOK for 24 h to determine the associations of U within the mixture. The mixture exposed to 4 × 10^− 4 M U was analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with EDS. The accumulation of U by the mixture increased with an increase in the amount of B. subtilis cells present at both U concentrations. Treatment of kaolinite with CH₃COOK, removed approximately 80% of the associated uranium. However, in the presence of B. subtilis the amount of U removed was much less. TEM–EDS analysis confirmed that most of the U removed from solution was associated with B. subtilis. XANES analysis of the oxidation state of uranium associated with B. subtilis, kaolinite, and with the mixture containing both revealed that it was present as U(VI). These results suggest that the bacteria have a higher affinity for U than the kaolinite clay mineral under the experimental conditions tested, and that they can immobilize significant amount of uranium.     

Mineralogy of Tagish Lake: An ungrouped type 2 carbonaceous chondrite

Abstract— In this paper we describe the recovery, handling and preliminary mineralogical investigation of the Tagish Lake meteorite. Tagish Lake is a type 2 carbonaceous chondrite which bears similarities to CI1 and CM chondrite groups, but is distinct from both. Abundant phyllosilicates as well as chondrules (however sparse) and common olivine grains in the matrix preclude any other classification. The bulk density of Tagish Lake (1.67 g/cc) is far lower than CI or CM chondrites (2.2‐2.3 and 2.6‐2.9 g/cc, respectively), or any other meteorite for that matter. We have identified two lithologies: a dominant carbonate‐poor lithology and a less‐abundant carbonate‐rich lithology. The meteorite is a breccia at all scales. We have noted similarities between Tagish Lake and some clasts within the enigmatic meteorite Kaidun; possibly there are genetic relationships here worth exploring. In the paper we describe a clast of CM1 material within Tagish Lake which is very similar to a major lithology in Kaidun.     

Rockfall susceptibility zoning based on back analysis of rockfall deposit inventory in Gunung Kelir,Java

A rockfall susceptibility based on trajectory-energy/velocity approach needs release area or rockfall source. However, identification of rockfall source is not always possible for some areas in Indonesia. This paper presents a rockfall susceptibility zoning based on back analysis technique of rockfall deposit inventory in Gunung Kelir, Java. There were several steps in the rockfall susceptibility zoning: (1) rockfall deposit inventory, (2) rockfall simulation based on back analysis of rockfall deposit inventory, (3) sensitivity analysis, and (4) rockfall susceptibility zoning. The result suggests that the travel distance is affected by the spatial distribution of rockfall source, lithology or surface material, and topography (angle of slope and angle of aspect). Final trajectories were employed to generate landslide susceptibility map which may allow a policy maker to have an advanced consideration to achieve specified risk measures and evaluation of their cost efficiency to optimize budget and design. Application of rockfall susceptibility zoning based on back analysis of rockfall deposits is efficient where rockfall source information is unavailable.