List of articles (by subject) Environmental Geology
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Open Access Article
1 - Contamination of arable topsoil by organic and inorganic pollutants around petroleum products handling facilities
Gregory Sikakwe Bennet IlaumoThe concentrations of heavy metals (inorganics) and poly aromatic hydrocarbons (organics) were determined in soils around fueling stations and automobile workshops. Mean concentrations of nickel, lead, cadmium and vanadium were 636, 1379, 12.0 and 18.0 µg/kg, resp MoreThe concentrations of heavy metals (inorganics) and poly aromatic hydrocarbons (organics) were determined in soils around fueling stations and automobile workshops. Mean concentrations of nickel, lead, cadmium and vanadium were 636, 1379, 12.0 and 18.0 µg/kg, respectively. Flourene, benzo (a) pyrene, benzo (b) fluoranthene and benzo (ghi) pyrelene recorded means of 2.01, 2.014, 1.14 and 1.12 µg/kg, respectively, but other poly aromatic hydrocarbons recorded means <1. Heavy metals levels were higher at sites of activities than the control site. Phenanthrene, naphthalene and benzo (k) fluoranthene were present at control site but absent in some locations of activity. These showed they were not only from petroleum products handling facilities. Mean levels of both inorganics and organics were below world standards for agricultural soil quality. Principal component analysis of heavy metals produced two principal components that explained 40.72% and 36.90% of the total variance. These reflect geological weathering, automobile exhaust and petroleum combustion sources. Analysis of poly aromatic hydrocarbons data produced four principal components, which explained 36.30%, 19.96%, 15.19% and 12.81% of total variance. The sources of these organics are internal combustion of gasoline, kerosene and rock weathering. Diagnostic ratios ranged from 0.3-0.94 showing that poly aromatic hydrocarbons are of pyrogenic and petroleum combustion origin. Single pollution index means ranged from 0.0002-0.02 and Numerov composite pollution index attained a mean of 0.028. Therefore, the soil is unpolluted and heavy metals levels are not toxic to human health. The study provides information on sources of soil pollutants and their environmental and health risks. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
2 - Potential impact of drought on Mikkes River flow (Morocco)
Kaltoum Belhassan Ashok Vaseashta Mohammed Abdelbaset Hessane Hafizullah Rasouli Mohammed KA Kaabar Emad Kamil Hussein Muhammad AdnanMikkes River Basin is located in the north-center of the Kingdom of Morocco (North-West of Africa). It comprises of three different zones which represent diversified geologies and which shelter a phreatic and confined aquifer in Saïs plain and a shallow aquifer in MoreMikkes River Basin is located in the north-center of the Kingdom of Morocco (North-West of Africa). It comprises of three different zones which represent diversified geologies and which shelter a phreatic and confined aquifer in Saïs plain and a shallow aquifer in El Hajeb Ifrane Tabular. This research aims to highlight the potential impact of drought on Mikkes River flow through climate indexes including rainfall, temperature and evapotranspiration during the period 1968-2009. Monitoring the evolution of rainfall, temperatures and evapotranspiration in the Mikkes basin during the period 1968-2009 shows that rainfall decreases, temperature and evapotranspiration increase from South to North of the basin (spatial drought). Also, these climatic indicators highlight a decrease in rainfall, increase in temperatures and evapotranspiration after 1980 (temporal drought). Flow deficit of Mikkes River between the period 1968-1979 and 1980-2009 is around 76%. This high River flow may due to the drought which the region has experienced since 1980 and also to the overexploitation of groundwater resources to satisfy water demands. The Mikkes basin is suffering severe depletion of groundwater piezometric levels, especially in the confined aquifer. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
3 - Evaluation of slope disaster susceptibility based on GIS and three-level fuzzy evaluation method
Ming YangIn the past, the fuzzy evaluation model of slope stability is mainly two-level model, and the classification level is relatively single, which cannot map the influencing factors of slope disaster comprehensively and objectively. In order to improve the accuracy of evalu MoreIn the past, the fuzzy evaluation model of slope stability is mainly two-level model, and the classification level is relatively single, which cannot map the influencing factors of slope disaster comprehensively and objectively. In order to improve the accuracy of evaluation results, a three-level fuzzy hierarchy evaluation model for slope hazard is proposed. A total of 22 factors affecting slope stability in 4 categories and 9 sub-categories were selected to constitute the basic evaluation system. Taking the highway slope of the multi-line connecting line as an example, the weight was determined by AHP method, and the weight was adjusted by the back analysis of the typical highway slope. Finally, the stability of other highway slopes in the study area is evaluated on the spot, and use the information concentration formula to check, then the susceptibility level prediction of slope disasters in the whole section is realized based on GIS platform. The analysis results show that among the 77 highway slopes studied, unstable slopes account for 7.8% of the total slopes, less stable slopes account for 22.1%, quasi steady slopes account for 42.8% and steady slopes account for 27.3%. Therefore, the disaster prone zoning of highway slopes along the connecting line of Chengdu Mianyang double track line is obtained. In fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, information set formula can be used to modify the evaluation results to a more extent. In this study,compared with the second-level model, the accuracy of the three-level model improved by about 16.7%. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
4 - Accumulation of lead, antimony and arsenic in soil and water in Khunik gold prospecting area, Eastern Iran
Saeed Saadat Maliheh Zafarimoghadam Aliasghar AriaeeKhunik gold prospecting area is located in the eastern part of Lut block, eastern Iran. Main rock units are andesite, agglomerate, latite, dacitic lava, rhyodacite, volcanic breccia and conglomerate. Geological and geochemical evidences indicate low to medium sulfide go MoreKhunik gold prospecting area is located in the eastern part of Lut block, eastern Iran. Main rock units are andesite, agglomerate, latite, dacitic lava, rhyodacite, volcanic breccia and conglomerate. Geological and geochemical evidences indicate low to medium sulfide gold mineralization. Mining activates accumulate heavy metals in soil and water that are associated with harmful effects on human health. The object of this research is to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals in soil and groundwater resources and assess the effects of the mineralization zone. All investigated metals in soil samples are below world concentration except arsenic, antimony, and iron. Based on the assessment of pollution, high enrichment of silver, medium to high enrichment of antimony, arsenic, lead, and selenium in some samples were detected. The high correlation of silver, gold, and arsenic is due to the sulfide mineralization of gold in the Khunik area. Chemical analysis of water samples comparing International Standards confirms that water resources in this area have been polluted by heavy metals and it is not drinkable. MI and HPI values denote the dangerous pollution of groundwater, which has been described as serious in most sites. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
5 - First report of the SardinellaSardinites (Heckel, 1850) in the Kond formation in the Saran area, Central Alborz in Iran
Saeedeh Senemari Leila Fazli Alireza CheginiInvestigating the fossil-bearing horizons of the Kond Formation in the Saran area resulted in the identification of Sardinellasardinites (Heckel 1850) belonging to the family of Clupeidae Bonaparte (1831) for the first time the east of Tehran province. Furthermore, bios MoreInvestigating the fossil-bearing horizons of the Kond Formation in the Saran area resulted in the identification of Sardinellasardinites (Heckel 1850) belonging to the family of Clupeidae Bonaparte (1831) for the first time the east of Tehran province. Furthermore, biostratigraphic analyses based on the presence of benthic and planktonic foraminifera in this area demonstrate that the sedimentary sequence including strata of conglomerate, tuff, shale, gypsum, limestone, and marl with a thickness of 376 m in the Saran area belongs to the Priabonian, which is discontinuously located on Middle Eocene green tuffaceousshales. In the present study, 18 species belonging to 9 genera from the benthic foraminifera were identified. In the late Middle Eocene, the performance of the orogenic Pyrenean phase led to the rising of the sedimentary strata and subsequent retreat of the sea and then the sea re-advanced during the Priabonian stage. The presence of a conglomerate at the base of the formation reveals the next activity of the tectonic phase. In this study, the rock unit of the Lower Red Formation belonging to the Oligo-Miocene is located on the deposits of the Kond Formation. Manuscript profile