Volume 6, Issue 2

“Barbotage” is a process of gas penetration through a layer of liquid as a flow of dispersed small gas bubbles. Barbotage is widely used in technology particularly due to its high coefficients of interphase energy and material transfer. It promotes the heat- and mass-exchange processes as well as the chemical interactions in gas-liquid systems. Upon investigation of the fluid regime at the magmatic-hydrothermal system of Darasun goldfield (Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia) we have found evidences of barbotage as an effective mechanism resulting in the formation of vein gold deposits. In spite of the fact that early associations of gold ores in the Darasun goldfield deposits were formed from a heterogeneous fluid, their histograms of fluid salinity distributions are quite different. These differences can be explained by including into the ore-forming process the stage at which the vapour phase generated by boiling rose up as a stream of small bubbles. The corresponding scheme of the formation of the Darasun goldfield hydrothermal ore-bearing system is proposed and discussed. The possibility to use gallium fractionation and the fluid salinity distribution in hydrothermal systems as the indicators of barbotage participation in hydrothermal ore-forming processes is evaluated.

The Çöpler gold deposit occurs within the stockwork of quartz hosted by the Çöpler granitoid (Eosen) and by surrounding metasediments of Keban metamorphic (Late Paleozoic - Early Mesozoic) and the Munzur limestones (Late Carboniferous - Early Cretaceous). Native gold accompanied by small amounts of chalcopyrite, pyrite, magnetite, maghemite, hematite, fahlerz, marcasite, bornite, galena, sphalerite, specular hematite, goethite, lepidochrosite and bravoitic pyrite within the stockwork ore veinlets. In addition, epidote (pistazite - zoisite), garnet, scapolite, chlorite, tremolite/actinolite, muscovite and opaque minerals were determined within the veinlets occurred in skarn zones. The study of fluid inclusions in quartz veinlets showed that the hydrothermal fluids contain CaCl2, MgCl2 and NaCl and the salinities of the two phases (L+V) inclusions range from 1.7 to 20.6% NaCl equivalent. Salinity values up to 44% were determined within the halite bearing three phases inclusions. Their homogenization temperature values have a wide range from 145.0 to 380.0°C, indicative of catathermal/hypothermal to epithermal conditions. The δ 18O and δD values of the fluid inclusion waters from the Çöpler granitoid correspond to those assigned to Primary Magmatic Water, those from the metasediments of Keban metamorphics fall outside of the Primary Magmatic and are within the Metamorphic Water field. A sample from a quartz vein within the skarn zone hosted by the Munzur limestones has a particularly low δD value. The results suggest that fluids derived from the granitoids were mixed with those derived from the metasediments of Keban metamorphics and the the Munzur limestones and resulting in quartz veinlets in these lithologies and the formation of stockwork ores. In view of the occurrence, the features described and processes envisaged for this study area may be applicable in similar settings.

Tesbihdere is one of a number of spatially close epithermal Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au deposits hosted by andesites and rhyolites, typical of deposits in the Biga peninsula. Microthermometry of fluid inclusions shows a wide range of temperatures, ∼360–170°C, and salinities, ∼10-0.5 wt.% NaCl, in the different deposits studied. Dilution of a moderately saline magmatic? fluid with meteoric water occurred at constant temperature indicating, the temperature of both fluids was controlled by the geological environment. Boiling was not a major factor, but did occur in very minor amounts. The large range of temperatures within individual samples can only reasonably be explained by variations from near lithostatic to hydrostatic pressure during vein and fracture opening. That this pressure decrease did not produce extensive boiling suggests that vein opening was gradual rather than aggressive, allowing the pressure and temperature decrease to follow a path close to the L-V boiling curve. P-T reconstruction places emplacement of these ore veins at between 300–500 m beneath the surface. Similarities of LA-ICPMS of fluid inclusions from Tesbihdere, Azitepe and Basmakci, supports the conclusion that they were part of the same contemporaneous mineralizing system. The fluids are dominated by Na, with the concentrations of K>Ca>Mg combined equivalent to the concentration of Na. The range of K/Na ratios is not consistent with the fluid inclusion temperatures as the calculated temperatures are significantly higher indicating the fluids were not close to equilibrium with the enclosing rocks. Elevated K concentrations are consistent with acid-sulphate waters in shallow epithermal systems. Ore metals Cu, Zn and Pb are present in significant concentrations ∼500, 300 and 200 ppm respectively and the low Fe/Mn ratios are indicative of a relatively oxidising fluid. The negative δ 34S values of sulphides are consistent with boiling and oxidising redox conditions.

Normative mineralogical calculations from bulk geochemistry of sedimentary rocks are problematic because of variable depositional environments, particle hydraulics and sedimentary source systems. The development of SEDMIN, a Microsoft Excel™ spreadsheet solution, is a practical attempt for a computational routine focusing specifically on smectite, chlorite, kaolinite, illite and the ambiguous sericite within various pelitic sedimentary lithologies. While in essence a mathematical approach, the use of statistical evaluation of empirical lithogeochemical data combined with modal analytical procedures yields reasonable geochemical associations, more precise chemical phases and revised procedural allotment paradigms. Thus, an algorithm using TiO2 as a key to the normative calculation of kaolinite is proposed. Incorporating additional parameters, such as LOI (Loss-on-ignition) in conjunction with carbon, sulfur, carbonate and sulfate, provides that clay phases can be more accurately determined than from bulk oxides alone. Even when presented with atypical sample data, the spreadsheet solution is able to accurately predict predominant clay minerals. Besides some drawbacks, the likely benefit from SEDMIN is the incorporation of results in classification norms and diagrams indicative of sedimentary lithologies. The ”SEDMIN Sedimentary Mineral Calculator.xlsx” spreadsheet can be freely downloaded from http://earthscienceeducation.net/SEDMINSedimentaryMineralCalculator.xlsx.

We present two examples of describing low permeability Neogene clastic lithofacies to outline unconventional hydrocarbon lithofacies. Both examples were selected from the Drava Depression, the largest macrostructure of the Pannonian Basin System located in Croatia. The first example is the Beničanci Field, the largest Croatian hydrocarbon reservoir discovered in Badenian coarse-grained clastics that consists mostly of breccia. The definition of low permeability lithofacies is related to the margins of the existing reservoir, where the reservoir lithology changed into a transitional one, which is mainly depicted by the marlitic sandstones. However, calculation of the POS (probability of success of new hydrocarbons) shows critical geological categories where probabilities are lower than those in the viable reservoir with proven reserves. Potential new hydrocarbon volumes are located in the structural margins, along the oil-water contact, with a POS of 9.375%. These potential reserves in those areas can be classified as probable. A second example was the Cremušina Structure, where a hydrocarbon reservoir was not proven, but where the entire structure has been transferred onto regional migration pathways. The Lower Pontian lithology is described from well logs as fine-grained sandstones with large sections of silty or marly clastics. As a result, the average porosity is low for conventional reservoir classification (10.57%). However, it is still an interesting case for consideration as a potentially unconventional reservoir, such as the ”tight” sandstones.

Cumulative stress energy in active seismic regions caused by tectonic forces creates various earthquake precursors. This energy transformation may result in enhanced transient thermal infrared (TIR) emission, which can be detected through satellites equipped with thermal sensors like MODIS (Terra/Aqua) and AVHRR (NOAA). Satellite time-series data, coupled with ground based observations, where available, can enable scientists to survey pre-earthquake signals in the areas of strong tectonic activity. This paper presents observations made using time series MODIS and NOAA-AVHRR satellite data for derived multi-parameters including land surface temperature (LST), outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR), and mean air temperature (AT) for the moderate, 5.9 magnitude earthquake, which took place on the 27th of October, 2004, inthe seismic region of Vrancea, in Romania. Anomalous thermal infrared signals, reflected by a rise of several degrees celsius (°C) in LSTs, and higher OLR values were seen several days before the earthquake. AT values in the epicentral area also increased almost two days prior to the earthquake and intensified three days after the main shock. Increases in LSTs and OLR disappeared three days after the main shock. The survey and joint analysis of geospatial and in-situ geophysical information on land surface temperatures and outgoing long-wave radiation provides new insights into the field of seismic hazard assessment in Vrancea, a significant area of tectonic activity in Romania and Europe.

Hazard maps of ground subsidence around abandoned underground coal mines (AUCMs) in Samcheok, Korea, were constructed using fuzzy ensemble techniques and a geographical information system (GIS). To evaluate the factors related to ground subsidence, a spatial database was constructed from topographic, geologic, mine tunnel, land use, groundwater, and ground subsidence maps. Spatial data, topography, geology, and various ground-engineering data for the subsidence area were collected and compiled in a database for mapping ground-subsidence hazard (GSH). The subsidence area was randomly split 70/30 for training and validation of the models. The relationships between the detected ground-subsidence area and the factors were identified and quantified by frequency ratio (FR), logistic regression (LR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models. The relationships were used as factor ratings in the overlay analysis to create ground-subsidence hazard indexes and maps. The three GSH maps were then used as new input factors and integrated using fuzzy-ensemble methods to make better hazard maps. All of the hazard maps were validated by comparison with known subsidence areas that were not used directly in the analysis. As the result, the ensemble model was found to be more effective in terms of prediction accuracy than the individual model.

The present work evaluates the state of the environment in Mexico based on indicators of the present status of the country’s natural resource management, social and economical conditions and anthropogenic modifications. The Mexican environment is interpreted as a spatially open system having a historical character that is essentially determined by the continual interaction between nature, society and economy. The landscape approach is followed, considering as units of territorial analysis each one of the 145 biophysical environmental units included in the national physiographic regionalization. The assessment of 16 indicators for each biophysical environmental unit was made considering their regional environmental integrity problems, the degree of disarticulation of their structure and function, and the alteration of their territorial structure, all of which determine whether or not they accomplish their environmental functions and achieve environmental stability. The classification of the state of the environment included 5 categories in 8 combinations represented in the map of the state of the environment in Mexico for the year 2008. The map shows that nearly 47.10% of the country’s surface has an environmental status ranging between unstable and critical, the problematic areas being mostly concentrated in the southeast and center of the national territory.

This study aims to evaluate the activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 228Th and 40K along the beaches of Sithonia Peninsula which are adjacent to the rock-types of the Sithonia Plutonic Complex. These range from 6–673, 5–767, 5–1750, 6–1760 and 185–875 Bq/kg respectively. The (% wt.) heavy magnetic (HM) fraction (epidote, allanite, hornblende, biotite and garnet), the heavy non-magnetic (HNM) fraction (monazite, zircon, titanite and apatite) and the total heavy (TH) fraction, were correlated with the concentrations of the measured radionuclides in the bulk samples. The HNM fraction seems to control the activity concentrations of 238U in all samples, while the HM fraction, at least for the heavy mineral rich samples bearing high amounts of epidote crystals with allanite cores, controls their 232Th content. The measured radionuclides in beach sands were normalized to the respective values measured in the granitic rocks, which are their most probable parent rocks, in order to provide data on their enrichment or depletion. The annual effective dose varies from 0.013 to 0.688 mSv y−1 for local people working on the beach, while for tourists the annual external effective dose ranges between 0.003 and 0.165 mSv y−1.

The current and future wind energy potentials for two square areas (SA) in the region of Freiburg were assessed and analyzed, with the aim of mitigating climate change by increasing the use of wind energy. For future conditions the regional climate models REMO and CLM were taken into account for the IPCC Emission Scenarios (SRES) A1B and B1. One aim was to provide information of the applicability of data from regional climate models in terms of wind energy. As a reference dataset, the wind energy potentials of the two measurement stations of the German Weather Service (DWD) (1961–1990) in Freiburg (SA I) and on the Feldberg (SA II) were assessed. Calculations were carried out by the Wind Analysis and Application Program (WAsP). Results were in terms of visual analysis displayed with maps. While the annual electricity performances of the reference data in SA I and SA II reach up to 7.2 GWh and 10.1 GWh respectively, the calculations for REMO and CLM show an underestimation of the real conditions for every period and Emission Scenario. Hence the applicability of the models in consideration seems to be limited. Nevertheless, with regard to different socio-economic developments (SRES A1B and B1), the results provide an overview of the wind energy potentials’ development in the different periods.