Open Access Published by De Gruyter Open Access

Volume 5 Issue 4

December 2013

Issue of Open Geosciences

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Journal Overview

Open Access January 8, 2014

Cation exchange capacity of loess and overlying soil in the non-carbonate loess sections, North-Western Croatia

Nenad Tomašić, Štefica Kampić, Iva Cindrić, Kristina Pikelj, Mavro Lučić, Danijela Mavrić, Tajana Vučetić

Page range: 457-464

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Abstract

The adsorption properties in terms of cation exchange capacity and their relation to the soil and sediment constituents (clay minerals, Fe-, Mn-, and Al-oxyhydroxides, organic matter) were investigated in loess, soil-loess transition zone, and soil at four loess-soil sections in North-Western Croatia. Cation exchange capacity of the bulk samples, the samples after oxalate extraction of Fe, Mn and Al, and after removal of organic matter, as well as of the separated clay fraction, was determined using copper ethylenediamine. Cation exchange capacity (pH∼7) of the bulk samples ranges from 5 to 12 cmolc/kg in soil, from 7 to 15 cmolc/kg in the soil-loess transition zone, and from 12 to 20 cmolc/kg in loess. Generally, CEC values increase with depth. Oxalate extraction of Fe, Mn, and Al, and removal of organic matter cause a CEC decrease of 3–38% and 8–55%, respectively, proving a considerable influence of these constituents to the bulk CEC values. In the separated clay fraction (<2 μm) CEC values are up to several times higher relative to those in the bulk samples. The measured CEC values of the bulk samples generally correspond to the clay mineral content identified. Also, a slight increase in muscovite/illite content with depth and the vermiculite occurrence in the loess horizon are concomitant with the CEC increase in deeper horizons, irrespective of the sample pretreatment.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Mollusc-based paleoecological investigations of the Late Copper — Early Bronze Age earth mounds (kurgans) on the Great Hungarian Plain

Gábor Szilágyi, Pál Sümegi, Dávid Molnár, Szilvia Sávai

Page range: 465-479

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Abstract

The malacological material of the mound bodies (kurgans) of the Great Hungarian Plain indicates a mixed vegetation of dry and humid environments, developed on a mosaic of alkaline and chernozem soils in the period of the construction of the kurgan. The malacofauna that evolved in the upper soil horizon of the mound indicates the extremely dry environmental conditions of steppes, charaterized by the dominance of thermoxerophilous species. Dominant species of this kurgan are Chondrula tridens, Helicopsis striata, Granaria frumentum and Cepaea vindobonensis. The species composition shows that there are differences in the malacofauna of the Danube-Tisa Interfluves region compared to that of the lowlands east of River Tisza, indicated by the higher dominance of Granaria frumentum and Helicopsis striata in the former region. Following the construction of the kurgans an island-like, dry habitat developed on their surface, covered by black soil and populated by a steppe fauna, the composition of which is comparable mostly with the mollusc fauna of loess steppes and forest steppe, irrespectively of the floodplain or wind-blown sand character of the original surface.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Eruptive history of the Barombi Mbo Maar, Cameroon Volcanic Line, Central Africa: Constraints from volcanic facies analysis

Boris Tchamabé, Dieudonné Youmen, Sébastien Owona, Issa, Takeshi Ohba, Károly Németh, Moussa Ngapna, Asobo Asaah, Festus Aka, Gregory Tanyileke, Joseph Hell

Page range: 480-496

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Abstract

his study presents the first and detail field investigations of exposed deposits at proximal sections of the Barombi Mbo Maar (BMM), NE Mt Cameroon, with the aim of documenting its past activity, providing insight on the stratigraphic distribution, depositional process, and evolution of the eruptive sequences during its formation. Field evidence reveals that the BMM deposit is about 126m thick, of which about 20m is buried lowermost under the lake level and covered by vegetation. Based on variation in pyroclastic facies within the deposit, it can be divided into three main stratigraphic units: U1, U2 and U3. Interpretation of these features indicates that U1 consists of alternating lapilli-ash-lapilli beds series, in which fallout derived individual lapilli-rich beds are demarcated by surges deposits made up of thin, fine-grained and consolidated ash-beds that are well-defined, well-sorted and laterally continuous in outcrop scale. U2, a pyroclastic fall-derived unit, shows crudely lenticular stratified scoriaceous layers, in which many fluidal and spindle bombs-rich lapilli-beds are separated by very thin, coarse-vesiculatedash-beds, overlain by a mantle xenolith- and accidental lithic-rich explosive breccia, and massive lapilli tuff and lapillistone. U3 displays a series of surges and pyroclastic fall layers. Emplacement processes were largely controlled by fallout deposition and turbulent diluted pyroclastic density currents under “dry” and “wet” conditions. The eruptive activity evolved in a series of initial phreatic eruptions, which gradually became phreatomagmatic, followed by a phreato-Strombolian and a violent phreatomagmatic fragmentation. A relatively long-time break, demonstrated by a paleosol between U2 and U3, would have permitted the feeding of the root zone or the prominent crater by the water that sustained the next eruptive episode, dominated by subsequent phreatomagmatic eruptions. These preliminary results require complementary studies, such as geochemistry, for a better understanding of the changes in the eruptive styles, and to develop more constraints on the maar’s polygenetic origin.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Sequence stratigraphic controls on reservoir characterization and architecture: case study of the Messinian Abu Madi incised-valley fill, Egypt

Mohamed Abdel-Fattah, Roger Slatt

Page range: 497-507

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Abstract

Understanding sequence stratigraphy architecture in the incised-valley is a crucial step to understanding the effect of relative sea level changes on reservoir characterization and architecture. This paper presents a sequence stratigraphic framework of the incised-valley strata within the late Messinian Abu Madi Formation based on seismic and borehole data. Analysis of sand-body distribution reveals that fluvial channel sandstones in the Abu Madi Formation in the Baltim Fields, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt, are not randomly distributed but are predictable in their spatial and stratigraphic position. Elucidation of the distribution of sandstones in the Abu Madi incised-valley fill within a sequence stratigraphic framework allows a better understanding of their characterization and architecture during burial. Strata of the Abu Madi Formation are interpreted to comprise two sequences, which are the most complex stratigraphically; their deposits comprise a complex incised valley fill. The lower sequence (SQ1) consists of a thick incised valley-fill of a Lowstand Systems Tract (LST1)) overlain by a Transgressive Systems Tract (TST1) and Highstand Systems Tract (HST1). The upper sequence (SQ2) contains channel-fill and is interpreted as a LST2 which has a thin sandstone channel deposits. Above this, channel-fill sandstone and related strata with tidal influence delineates the base of TST2, which is overlain by a HST2. Gas reservoirs of the Abu Madi Formation (present-day depth ∼3552 m), the Baltim Fields, Egypt, consist of fluvial lowstand systems tract (LST) sandstones deposited in an incised valley. LST sandstones have a wide range of porosity (15 to 28%) and permeability (1 to 5080mD), which reflect both depositional facies and diagenetic controls. This work demonstrates the value of constraining and evaluating the impact of sequence stratigraphic distribution on reservoir characterization and architecture in incised-valley deposits, and thus has an important impact on reservoir quality evolution in hydrocarbon exploration in such settings.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Oil formation volume factor modeling: Traditional vs. Stochastically optimized neural networks

Parisa Bagheripour, Mojtaba Asoodeh, Ali Asoodeh

Page range: 508-513

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Abstract

Oil formation volume factor (FVF) is considered as relative change in oil volume between reservoir condition and standard surface condition. FVF, always greater than one, is dominated by reservoir temperature, amount of dissolved gas in oil, and specific gravity of oil and dissolved gas. In addition to limitations on reliable sampling, experimental determination of FVF is associated with high costs and time-consumption. Therefore, this study proposes a novel approach based on hybrid genetic algorithm-pattern search (GA-PS) optimized neural network (NN) for fast, accurate, and cheap determination of oil FVF from available measured pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) data. Contrasting to traditional neural network which is in danger of sticking in local minima, GA-PS optimized NN is in charge of escaping from local minima and converging to global minimum. A group of 342 data points were used for model construction and a group of 219 data points were employed for model assessment. Results indicated superiority of GA-PS optimized NN to traditional NN. Oil FVF values, determined by GA-PS optimized NN were in good agreement with reality.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Application of plurigaussian simulation to delineate the layout of alteration domains in Sungun copper deposit

Hassan Talebi, Omid Asghari, Xavier Emery

Page range: 514-522

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Abstract

An accurate estimation of mineral grades in ore deposits with heterogeneous spatial variations requires defining geological domains that differentiate the types of mineralogy, alteration and lithology. Deterministic models define the layout of the domains based on the interpretation of the drill holes and do not take into account the uncertainty in areas with fewer data. Plurigaussian simulation (PGS) can be an alternative to generate multiple numerical models of the ore body, with the aim of assessing the uncertainty in the domain boundaries and improving the geological controls in the characterization of quantitative attributes. This study addresses the application of PGS to Sungun porphyry copper deposit (Iran), in order to simulate the layout of four hypogene alteration zones: potassic, phyllic, propylitic and argillic. The aim of this study is to construct numerical models in which the alteration structures reflect the evolution observed in the geology.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Geochemistry and geodynamics of the Mawat mafic complex in the Zagros Suture zone, northeast Iraq

Hossein Azizi, Ayten Hadi, Yoshihiro Asahara, Youssef Mohammad

Page range: 523-537

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Abstract

The Iraqi Zagros Orogenic Belt includes two separate ophiolite belts, which extend along a northwest-southeast trend near the Iranian border. The outer belt shows ophiolite sequences and originated in the oceanic ridge or supra-subduction zone. The inner belt includes the Mawat complex, which is parallel to the outer belt and is separated by the Biston Avoraman block. The Mawat complex with zoning structures includes sedimentary rocks with mafic interbedded lava and tuff, and thick mafic and ultramafic rocks. This complex does not show a typical ophiolite sequences such as those in Penjween and Bulfat. The Mawat complex shows evidence of dynamic deformation during the Late Cretaceous. Geochemical data suggest that basic rocks have high MgO and are significantly depleted in LREE relative to HREE. In addition they show positive ɛ Nd values (+5 to+8) and low 87Sr/86Sr ratios. The occurrence of some OIB type rocks, high Mg basaltic rocks and some intermediate compositions between these two indicate the evolution of the Mawat complex from primary and depleted source mantle. The absence of a typical ophiolite sequence and the presence of good compatibility of the source magma with magma extracted from the mantle plume suggests that a mantle plume from the D″ layer is more consistent as the source of this complex than the oceanic ridge or supra-subduction zone settings. Based on our proposed model the Mawat basin represents an extensional basin formed during the Late Paleozoic to younger along the Arabian passive margin oriented parallel to the Neo-Tethys oceanic ridge or spreading center. The Mawat extensional basin formed without creation of new oceanic basement. During the extension, huge volumes of mafic lava were intruded into this basin. This basin was squeezed between the Arabian Plate and Biston Avoraman block during the Late Cretaceous.

Open Access January 8, 2014

A survey of the repository of groundwater potential and distribution using geoelectrical resistivity method in Itu Local Government Area (L.G.A), Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria

J. Ibuot, G. Akpabio, N. George

Page range: 538-547

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Abstract

Vertical electrical sounding (VES), employing a Schlumberger electrode configuration, was used to investigate the sediments and aquifer repositories in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, southern Nigeria. This was done in sixteen (16) locations/communities with the maximum current electrode spread ranging between 800–1000m. The field data were interpreted using forward and iterative least square inversion modeling, which gives a resolution with 3–5 geoelectric layers. The observed frequencies in curve types include 31.25% of AKH, 18.8% of AAK and HK and 6.25% of K, QHK, AKH, KA and KHQ, respectively. These sets of curves show a wide range of variabilities in resistivities between and within the layers penetrated by current. The presence of K and H curve types in the study area indicates the alteration of the geomaterials with limited hydrologic significance to the prolific groundwater repository. A correlation of the constrained nearby borehole lithology logs with the VES results shows that the layers were all sandy formations (fine and well sorted sands to gravelly sands or medium to coarse-grained sands as described by nearby lithology logs) with some wide ranges of electrical resistivity values and thicknesses caused by electrostratigraphic inhomogeneity. The geologic topsoil (motley topsoil) is generally porous and permeable and as such the longitudinal conductance (S) values for the covering/protective layer is generally less than unity of Siemens (S < 1Ω−1), the value considered for efficient protection of the underlying aquifers by the topmost and overlying layer. The spatial orientations and the leveling patterns of the most economically viable potential groundwater repository within the maximum current electrode separations has been delineated in 2-D and 3-D contoured maps. The estimated depth range for the desired groundwater repository is 32.6–113.1m and its average depth value is 74.30m. The thickness of this layer ranges from 27.9–103m while its average depth has been evaluated to be 63.02m. Also, its resistivity range and average value have been estimated to be 507–5612m and 3365.125Ωm

Open Access January 8, 2014

Atmospheric circulation and storm events in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea

Galina Surkova, Victor Arkhipkin, Alexander Kislov

Page range: 548-559

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Abstract

Extreme sea storms are dangerous and a potential source of damage. In this study, we examine storm events in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, the atmosphere circulation patterns associated with the sea storm events, and their changes in the present (1961–2000) and future (2046–2065) climates. A calendar of storms for the present climate is derived from results of wave model SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) experiments. On the basis of this calendar, a catalog of atmospheric sea level pressure (SLP) fields was prepared from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis dataset for 1961–2000. The SLP fields were subjected to a pattern recognition algorithm which employed empirical orthogonal decomposition followed by cluster analysis. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data is used to evaluate the occurring circulation types (CTs) within the ECHAM5-MPI/OM Atmosphere and Ocean Global Circulation Model (AOGCM) for the period 1961–2000. Our analysis shows that the ECHAM5-MPI/OM model is capable of reproducing circulation patterns for the storm events. The occurrence of present and future ECHAM5-MPI/OM CTs is investigated. It is shown that storm CTs are expected to occur noticeably less frequently in the middle of the 21st century.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Utilization of a comparison of curvatures for land surface segmentation

Libor Burian, Jozef Minár

Page range: 560-569

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Abstract

Utilization of a new geomorphometric variable for land surface segmentation — the angle of absolute curvatures — is a main goal of the paper. The angle of absolute curvatures is defined as the difference between the orientation of maximal curvature (field independent) and the orientation of the greater of the profile or the tangential curvature. Land-forms separated by three types of borders (A, B, C) can be delimited from the field of angles of absolute curvatures. Borders of A type are connected with a local extreme of slope. Borders of B and C type are connected with a change to the priority of either profile or tangential curvature, as shown in computation, respectively. Fields of altitude, slope, profile curvature, tangential curvature and rotor curvature are reflected by an algorithm. Distinct borders in the field of the angles of absolute curvatures are connected with a sudden change of value and with zero isolines in the previously mentioned fields. Spatially closed entities generated by this proposed algorithm are considered to be a variant of the elementary forms of the land surface. The quality of information generated by this algorithm depends on the size of the grid mesh of the input digital elevation model. The algorithm in its current state is suitable for locating the borders of some elementary forms in the first stage of geomorphology mapping.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Cylindrical probe with a variable heat flow rate: A new method for the determination of formation thermal conductivity

Lev Eppelbaum, Izzy Kutasov

Page range: 570-575

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Abstract

The thermal conductivity of a geological formation is one of the important petrophysical parameters which are preferable to study in situ in geophysical well logs. A new technique for the determination of formation thermal conductivity has been developed. We assumed that formation dry density, porosity, and pore fluids saturations could be determined from core samples or cuttings. In this case the specific heat and density of a formation can be quantitatively estimated. It is also assumed that the instantaneous heat flow rate and time data are available for a cylindrical probe with a variable heat flow rate placed in a wellbore. A semi-theoretical equation describing the temperature of the probe’s wall is used to determine in situ the formation conductivity as a function of the temperature increase. The formation thermal diffusivity is also calculated. A field example is presented.

Open Access January 8, 2014

Ambiguous versus non ambiguous characterization of components from pictures of cataclasites

Norbert Kohlmayer, Bernhard Grasemann

Page range: 576-587

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Abstract

The quantitative analysis of shape parameters of components in cataclastic rocks is often complicated by the fact that the individual components are difficult to identify. Frequently, the components have the same mineralogical composition as the matrix and the size distribution of components and the resolution of the images make it difficult to discriminate between the individual fragments. This work investigates the differences of component shape analysis from processing pictures of cataclasites digitized by different persons. The approach undertaken herein assumes that the ambiguity of the forms is expressed in a diversity of component identification, respectively in different selection of the components. The extent of this diversity is quantified and analyzed as to how far statistical parameters reflect this ambiguity. Components in the samples may be more or less unambiguous with respect to the identification of particle shape parameters. The present study demonstrates that two parameters, the Aspect Ratio and the angularity (Elliptical Parisfactor) might be used in order to reflect this ambiguity in the component identification.

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