Geomorphologic assessment of relative tectonic activity in the Maharlou Lake Basin,Zagros Mountains of Iran

Spatial differences of Quaternary deformation and intensity of tectonic activity are assessed through a detailed quantitative geomorphic study of the fault‐generated mountain fronts and alluvial/fluvial systems around the Maharlou Lake Basin in the Zagros Fold–Thrust Belt of Iran. The Maharlou Lake Basin is defined as an approximately northwest–southeast trending, linear, topographic depression located in the central Zagros Mountains of Iran. The lake is located in a tectonically active area delineated by the Ghareh and Maharlou faults. Combined geomorphic and morphometric data reveal differences between the Ghareh and Maharlou mountain front faults indicating different levels of tectonic activity along each mountain front. Geomorphic indices show a relatively high degree of tectonic activity along the Ghareh Mountain Front in the southwest, in contrast with less tectonic activity along the Ahmadi Mountain Front northeast of the lake which is consistent with field evidence and seismotectonic data for the study area. A ramp valley tectonic setting is proposed to explain the tectonosedimentary evolution of the lake. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Fluid Inclusion and Oxygen Isotope Investigations of Epithermal Cu ± Ag Veins of the Khur Area, Lut Block, Eastern Iran

The Khur metallogenic district is located in a volcanic-plutonic belt in the central Lut Block(central eastern Iran). Mineralization occurs in Middle Eocene andesitic tuff and along four main vein systems trending northwest-southeast(Shurk, Mir-e-Khash, Shikasteh Sabz and Ghar-e-Kaftar veins).Microscopic studies reveal that the veins contain bornite, chalcocite, pyrite, tennantite together with minor sphalerite and chalcopyrite as hypogene minerals and chalcocite, digenite, covellite, valleriite,malachite, azurite, atacamite, hematite, and goethite as supergene minerals. The ore bodies are accompanied by narrow but intensely developed wall rock alterations of argillization, carbonatization and silicification. Copper content reaches 6.5, 2.4, 4.2 and 5% in Mir-e-Khash, Shikasteh Sabz, Ghar-eKaftar and Shurk, respectively. Microthermometric measurements of quartz-and calcite-hosted fluid inclusions indicate that the mineralization might be derived from a moderately saline hydrothermal fluid at temperatures between 175-316℃. Calculated δ~(18)O values of water in equilibrium with quartz and calcite for Khur veins suggest that the fluid might have had a magmatic source, but the ~(18)O-depletion was developed through mixing with meteoric water. Copper deposition in Khur veins is believed to have been largely caused by mixing, although wall rock reactions may also have occurred. The Khur veins are classified as volcanic-subvolcanic hydrothermal-related vein deposits.     

Maximizing the Absorbed Power of A Point Absorber Using An FA-Based Optimized Model Predictive Control

This paper presents an extended model predictive controller for maximizing the absorbed power of a point absorber wave energy converter. Owing to the great influence of controller parameters upon the absorbed power, the optimization of these parameters is carried out for the first time by a firefly algorithm (FA). Error, the difference between output velocity of buoy and input wave speed which leads to power maximization in the optimized MPC is compared with the classical MPC. Simulation results indicate that given the high accuracy and acceptable speed of the algorithm, it can adjust the parameters of the controller to the point where system error decreased effectively and the absorbed energy increased about 4 MW.     

Power Maximization of A Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter Using Improved Model Predictive Control

This paper considers controlling and maximizing the absorbed power of wave energy converters for irregular waves. With respect to physical constraints of the system, a model predictive control is applied. Irregular waves’ behavior is predicted by Kalman filter method. Owing to the great influence of controller parameters on the absorbed power, these parameters are optimized by imperialist competitive algorithm. The results illustrate the method’s efficiency in maximizing the extracted power in the presence of unknown excitation force which should be predicted by Kalman filter.