Day 2 :
- Track 1: Environmental Geology Track 3: Geology and Mineral Resources Track 4: Exploration Geophysics Track 5: Engineering Geology Track 9: Geology and Civil Engineering
Session Introduction
Hasan Arman
United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Title: Slake durability test on lower oligocene limestones from Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates
Time : 11:25-11:50
Biography:
Hasan Arman is a Professor at United Arab Emirates University, College of Science, Geology Department since 2008. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Hacettepe University, Turkey in 1984 and PhD degree from University of Arizona, USA in 1992. He worked as a Postdoc at the University of Nevada, Reno, USA from 1992 to 1993. He was as a faculty member at Sakarya University, Civil Engineering Department, Turkey between 1993 and 2008. He has been teaching several different courses in undergraduate and graduate levels related to engineering, environment, geology and energy. His research interests include soil and rock mechanics, environmental geology, environmental degradation, water resources, global warming, climate change, renewable and sustainable energy sources.
Abstract:
Weathering, mechanical and chemical weathering has an important role in rock engineering applications since weathering can induce a rapid change of rock material from initial rock-like properties to soil-like properties. A term of durability, which controls the stability of surficial and underground cavities, is usually used to describe the resistance of a rock to weathering and the rate of occurrence of such changes. To assess the durability of rocks, the slake durability test were widely used for evaluation of physical changes and/or slaking behavior of rocks as result of wetting-drying processes. First time, large number of laboratory tests will be conducted to understand durability of the Lower Oligocene limestones, which have extensively fractured and cavernous features. Since Al Ain city is located on the foundational level of these limestones bedrock, it has been motivated to conduct detailed laboratory study to characterize the durability behavior of the bedrocks. The area of Jabel Hafit and surrounding hills will be selected as a targeted study area due to the easily accessible of rock outcrops. This study is a unique and will tackle problems related rock engineering such as underground openings and slope stability, which have been encountered in the study area during and after any engineering applications. Furthermore, the study may help better understanding of durability problems, mitigate any possible causality and reduce loss of property today and/or in the future, too.
Recep Çelik
Dicle University, Turkey
Title: GIS based assessment effect of irrigation on groundwater level changes in agricultural areas: A case study on the Bismil plain in the Upper Tigris Basin
Time : 11:50-12:15
Biography:
Recep Çelik is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Dicle University, Turkey. He has completed his University (Civil Engineering) and Master’s Programme (Geotechnical Engineering) in Ä°stanbul Technical University and PhD (Hydraulic Engineering) from Fırat University. He has been working in Dicle Engineering Faculty at Civil Engineering Department since 2013. He has published more than 10 papers and presented 7 papers in International Congresses and Symposia. He has studied groundwater, water resources and GIS modelling.
Abstract:
In the recent years, the use of groundwater in agricultural areas for irrigation is being increased rapidly. Unconscious usage of water for irrigation threatens groundwater reserves. There is no need of discussing the importance of the groundwater resources. Economic activities at Bismil, a district of the Diyarbakir province, depend mainly on agriculture and animal husbandry in the Upper Tigris Basin. Tigris River lies through the middle part of the Bismil plain. Bismil plain agricultural irrigation is obtained especially from groundwater by wells. And at coasts of Tigris River, irrigation is provided by pumping the water directly from the river during the irrigation session. However, the consumption more than feeding of the groundwater resources poses a serious threat for the groundwater resources. For this reason, the changes in the groundwater levels have been studied using the data relevant to the water wells during the last 15 years. Three hundred and sixteen wells drilled for watering purposes between the years, 1996-2011 have been examined. The drilling data was ranked with the aid of Microsoft Excel software, and the coordinates have been arranged accordingly. These data were run on the ARC Map software. The data that have been converted to shape (shp) format have been modelled through Spatial analyze.
Mohamed Abdel Kader Barakat
Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Egypt
Title: Geochemical characteristics and potentiality of oil shale in Wassief and Rabah mines, Safaga, Red Sea Region, Egypt
Time : 12:15-12:40
Biography:
Mohamed A K Barakat has completed his PhD from the College of Engineering and Applied sciences, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA (in 1985). His Post-doctoral studies focused on the main sedimentlogical and geochemical characteristics of the oil fields in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. In 1995, he is elected as an active member of the New York Academy of Sciences. He published more than 40 research papers and 16 unpublished scientific reports covering various fields of structural geology, groundwater, hydro- geochemistry and pollution studies. From 1997 to 2005, he acted as a Professor of Geology, Geochemistry, Hydrogeology and Head of the Drilling dept. of the Higher Institute for Water Affairs (Libya). From 2005 to present, he has been working as a Professor in Geology and Sedimentology in The Exploration Dept. EPRI. He participated as a Speaker in International Geological Conferences held in across the world. He is an active member in the following scientific societies: The Geological Society of Egypt, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), The Sedimentological Society of Egypt, The New York Academy of Sciences and The International Union of Geological Sciences, Kyoto, Japan.
Abstract:
The increasing demand for energy and the progressive depletion of crude oil resources have renewed interest in oil shale as an alternative fuel resource especially in Egypt. This paper focuses on studying the potentiality of oil shale in Wassief and Mohamed Rabah mines, Safaga, Red Sea region, by using inorganic and organic techniques. With mineralogical analysis by (XRD of bulk samples) have shown the main component are calcite, kaolinite, quartz and pyrite. While the organic results of samples confirmed that high total organic carbon (TOC) content ranges from 4.34% to 24% in Wassief mine and form 2.17% to 22.69% in Mohamed Rabah mine which considered very good source rock. The examined samples show kerogen of types I and II that prone oil and oil-gas, indicating marine organic matter derived mainly from algae and phytoplankton organisms which proposing typical oil source rock. The average of the potential index (PI) value is 0.02 mg HC/g rock, which indicates the beginning of a considerable amount of oil generation. The Tmax values range from 409 to 423. Based on the Tmax data and PI values, the studied oil shale samples are immature to early mature for hydrocarbon generation. In general, the organic matter of all studied kerogen isolates is immature and lies within the diagenesis state of maturation regardless of the vitrinite reflectance value.
Sulaiman Alaabed
United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Title: Calcination of the UAE limestones: A laboratory experiment
Time : 12:40-13:05
Biography:
Sulaiman Alaabed is a 2000 Ohio State University PhD alumni. He taught multiple geological courses, supervised many student organizations or programs at the UAEU, and involved in several research projects funded internally and externally. He has about 27 conference presentations and 14 published papers. He participated in many conferences, forums, workshops and special programs at the UAE and abroad. He performed several educational workshops, peer-reviewed a number of journal papers and contributed in number of specialized & development committees. He holds three major management positions at the College of Science of UAEU: Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (2001- 2003), Internship Unit Director (2007-2013) and Assistant Dean for Professional Development (2013- now).
Abstract:
Calcination is a heat treatment process in industry to produce lime from pure limestones. This method was applied in a laboratory scale on representative samples from UAE limestones to examine their eligibility for lime production. Limestone rocks occur in several places in the UAE, but largely outcrop in AlAin and Ras Alkaimah zone. Wadi AlBih, Jabal Faya “Buhays”, and Jabel Hafit are the main areas where the limestone representative samples are collected. Mineralogical, chemical and morphological characteristics of the studied limestones were investigated through several analytical techniques such as XRD, XRF, cathodoluminescence and SEM. Calcination was performed by loading the limestone samples in porcelain crucibles and firing for 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 h at 800, 900, 1000 and 1100°C in a lab scale electrical muffle furnace. After each calcination run, the lime grains were immediately examined for their microfabric characteristics, free lime content and hydration rate. The investigated samples represent six different formations, in which the resulted lime is not the same in all. Ghalilah limestone includes an oxide impurity with the lowest hydration rates indicating an undesirable material for the lime production. Dammam and Asmari limestone preserves a flicker of the original limestone microfabric and may need more testing at higher firing conditions that may fit for a dead-burnt lime. Musandam, Shauiba and Muthaymimah limestone records a higher hydration rate probably attributed to smaller lime crystallites and the dominance of the post-calcination micro-cracks. Therefore, the limestone of the last three formations is more proper for a quicklime production. The above outcomes have proved the strong connection between mineralogical, chemical and morphological characteristics of the calcined limestone and the attribute of the produced lime.
Nabil Sayed Embabi
Ain Shams University, Egypt
Title: New findings in the geomorphology of Egyptian sand dunes
Time : 14:00-14:40
Biography:
Nabil Sayed Embabi obtained his PhD in 1967 from Bristol University, UK. His Post-doctoral studies were carried out in the Egyptian Deserts. He held the position of Head of the Department of Geography, Ain Shams University, for 8 years. He published more than 50 papers in English and Arabic, some of which feature in international reputed journals. He is also the author of a book titled, “The Geomorphology of Egypt, The Nile Valley & the Western Desert”. He was a member of several scientific expeditions in the Egyptian Deserts.
Abstract:
Many studies indicate that Egypt is the cradle of dune research in the world. Dune studies started in Egypt at the end of the 19th Century and continue until the present time. According to most of the research work to date, there are 6 sand seas and 7 dune fields in Egypt, and the most recurrent forms in these sand accumulations are the linear and crescent ones. In addition, there are numerous minor sand accumulations that can be seen in various localities in the country. Detailed examination using available tools, especially high resolution space images and aerial photographs enabled the discovery of some previously unknown aspects about the geomorphology of Egyptian sand dunes. This work, therefore, addresses three findings. The first finding is a new dune field in the southern part of the Eastern Desert, which extends from Wadi El-Allaqi southwards and crosses the Egyptian-Sudanese borders. The second finding is the discovery of Star Dunes in the northern section of the Great Sand Sea and the southern section of South Qattara Sand Sea. Finally, the third finding is the Giant Ripples in the Central Section of Ghard Abu Moharik. Curiously, the face of these Giant Ripples is inclined northwards unlike that of dune faces which look southwards, a fact which is confirmed by field check. Grain size analysis revealed that the sand of the Giant Ripples is bimodal and that the windward side is composed of very coarse sand (2-3 mm), and the lee side is composed of medium-fine sand (0.250-0.0125 mm).
Mustafa M Hariri
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
Title: Importance of methods’ selection in the geosciences studies and exploration
Time : 14:40-15:05
Biography:
Mustafa Hariri is Associated Professor at Geosciences Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals. He obtained his PhD from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, USA in 1995. His field of expertise is in structural geology and remote sensing application in geology. His research interest is in fractures and lineaments studies and their importance in hydrocarbon and mineral resources. He had also developed interest in e-learning and teaching geology using technology. He was Chairman of Earth Sciences department during 1997-2004 and he was also the Director of e-learning Center at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) during 2006-2014. Before joining KFUPM, he worked as geologist at DMMR (Deputy Ministry of Mineral Resources). He is a member in several scientific societies (GSA, AAPG, Economic Geology and DGS). He has also served as member in the boards of Research Institute of KFUPM and the Saudi Geosciences Survey (SGS).
Abstract:
Selection of methods of study in geosciences and natural resources exploration was always a concern for geosciences communities and industries. Financial cost and effectiveness of the methods are the most important issues. Additionally, integration between different methods and their application order are very essential to reach the best cost effectiveness and optimization. Methods such as remote sensing, mapping, various geophysical and geochemical surveys, and drilling are among the methods that were used for long time. Those methods were also integrated, recently, with more sophisticated and advanced techniques such as petro-physics, and wireline logs analysis in hydrocarbon industry, and organic bound and electro-geochemical behavior in minerals studies. To optimize the cost and efficiently utilize the resources, careful selection of applied method is essential. Moreover, the phase that selected method will be used needs to be clearly defined and justified. The careful selection of specific method should be based on the needs and targeted results. Recently available free and low cost methods and tools should also be considered as a substitute for the higher cost conventional ones. New tools such as Google Earth, DEM, LIDAR and GIS can be used very effectively in revealing information that used be obtained by more costly methods such as mapping and field surveys. This paper highlights the importance of selecting the different methods for geosciences studies and exploration. The paper emphasizes the fact that selecting the method and utilizing it in the exact phase will help in reaching the right decision and obtaining results with low cost. Moreover, the recent available free or low cost techniques should also be considered in the geosciences studies in place of traditional high cost methods.
Ahmed M Bishady
Menoufia University, Egypt
Title: Mineralogy of graphite from the graphite-bearing schist of Wadi Lawi, south eastern desert, Egypt
Time : 15:05-15:30
Biography:
Ahmed M Bishady is currently the Professor of Mineralogy and Petrology at the Department of Geology, Menoufia University, Egypt. He has completed his PhD from Ain Shams University, Egypt in 1975. He has about 40 scientific articles published in edited journals and international conferences in the fields of petrology, geochemistry and mineralogy. He is also the Reviewer for some Egyptian scientific bulletins and journals.
Abstract:
The graphitized schist of Wadi Lawi, south eastern desert, Egypt had been investigated to exhibit the mineralogy of the graphitic material and its structural state to reveal its conditions. The graphite is included in quartz- plagioclase-actinolite-graphite schist and actinolite-talc-chlorite-graphite schist. It occurs as bundles and laths, showing Rmax in oil from 10 to 14. Magnetite is the major associate with graphite or disposed in the groundmass. XRD, DTA patterns, TEM and TMD investigations of separated graphitic material, show that it ranges in its structure from semi-graphite (graphite-d1) to graphite (full-ordered graphite). δË¡³C (PDB) with an average of 23.06 ‰, in addition to IR investigations for these graphitic materials indicate their organogenic origin. The present author suggests the possibility that Wadi Lawi graphitic material is related to post depositional contaminations. XRD and DTA can also declare that the graphitic material was formed under conditions of green schist faces in a temperature range of 400 to 600áµ’ C under a pressure of 4 to 6 kb.
Sankaran Rajendran
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Title: Discrimination of Oman exotics using Landsat and ASTER satellite data
Time : 15:50-16:50
Biography:
Sankaran Rajendran received the PhD degree in Geology from the Bharathidasan University, India, in 1996. From 2002 to 2010, he was a Assistant Professor with the Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, India. Currently, he is working in the Department of Earth Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. His research interests involve mapping mineral and environmental resources of earth using remote sensing and GIS techniques.
Abstract:
Applications of remotely sensed satellite data are wide and unique in mapping of different lithology, economic mineral resources and ore deposits. The ‘Oman exotics’ are the industrial rocks which have economic importance in the Sultanate of Oman. The present study maps the exotics using Landsat ETM and ASTER satellite data and image processing method namely decorrelation stretching and shows the advantages of the sensors to the discrimination of the exotics. The results of study are verified in the field. The samples of exotics collected from the field are measured to study the spectral absorption to map the exotics.
Muhamed Fakhri Omer
Salahaddin University, Iraq
Title: Cathodoluminescence petrography for provenance studies of the sandstones of Ora Formation (Devonian-Carboniferous), Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq
Time : 16:50-17:15
Biography:
Muhamed Fakhri Omer is a Lecturer at Geology Department-Salahaddin University in Erbil-Iraq since 2002. He got M.Sc.in 2000 and Ph.D. in 2012 at Baghdad University on Paleozoic Formations which are exposed at mountains of Northern Iraq. He is expert in cathodoluminescence and scanning electron microscopy that was obtained through three months training course at Aarhus University in Denmark in 2011. He got Postdoctoral scholarships for one year at Warsaw University, Poland in 2014. He participated in many local and international conferences with oral presentations; the last one was the 2nd international conference on GEOShale held in Warsaw (Poland) in September 2014. He published many papers in the Journal of African Earth Science in 2014 and 2015. He has been serving as a reviewer in many international journals.
Abstract:
Advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscope hot- cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) as well as petrography are applied to investigate the paragenetic sequence and provenance of intertidal-tidal flat sandstones of the Ora formation which is exposed in northern Iraq. The formation consists mostly of supermature quartzarenites with subordinate immature subarkoses and sublitharenites. The mean framework composition of the thinly bedded sandstones of Ora Formation is Q95.7F2.8R1.4 where 90% of the quartz grains are monocrystalline and texturally supermature. Meanwhile the mean composition of the thickly bedded sandstones is Q85.4F9.7 R4.8 with 84% of the quartz grains are monocrystalline and texturally immature. The provenance of the Ora sandstones is dominantly craton interior and less recycled orogeny. The Ora formation has undergone intensive and complex episodes of eogenesis, mesogenesis, and telogenesis. Compaction and quartz cementation is more dominant than other diagenetic processes evident from tight grain supported fabric which predated authigenic illite formation; this is also evident from close packing of detrital framework that resulted in reduction of primary porosity. Albitization has postdated eogenesis of K-feldspar cements. Cathodoluminescence study indicated four main distinctive fabrics in quartz grains, (1) healed fractures, (2) mottled textures, (3) low-intensity dark CL streaks and patches, and (4) shocked quartz. The results indicate the dominance of brown to dark blue CL for quartz of low-temperature metamorphic origin; bright blue colors for the felsic plutonic and high-temperature metamorphic quartz; with considerable amounts of detritus that has originated from felsic and mafic volcanic rocks and are characterized by red, violet colors luminescence.
Biography:
Muna Ghaboush El Dawi is an Associate Professor at Al Neelain University, Sudan.
Abstract:
There are many kinds of intrusive igneous rocks distributed in Bayanhaote basin like granites, diabase, diorites and basalts. The igneous rocks distributed in Bayanhaote basin have high magnetism because the depths of the igneous are large in that area. The igneous bodies always diffuse along the faults and intrude into the sediments strata so their scale is not very large but they can produce different scale magnetic anomaly. Accordingly, the regional magnetic anomaly is caused by the undulation of metamorphic basement of Pre-Cambrian, and the local magnetic anomaly is caused by igneous bodies intrude into low magnetic sedimentary rocks. By using the method of second vertical derivatives, these intrusive bodies are located. It is proved that it is not easy to locate the igneous bodies by using the magnetic method alone. It must be confirmed by using several geophysical methods like magneto-telluric and gravity methods.
Maghawry Shehata Diab
Menoufiya University, Egypt
Title: Assessing the magnitude of the Arab water crisis and the response
Biography:
Maghawry Shehata Ibrahim Diab is currently the President, Menoufiya University, Egypt. He had done his B. Sc. in Chemistry/Geology and M.Sc. in Geology/Hydrogeology from Ain Shams University, Egypt. He completed his Ph. D. in Geology/Hydrogeology from Assiut University. His research interests include Hydrogeology, groundwater management, drainage basins hydrology, surface water hydrology, environmental hydrology, hydrogeochemistry.
Abstract:
The Arab region is experiencing one of the fastest growing water deficits in the world. The majority of the countries in the region have been consuming more water than their renewable supply for quite some time. However, this is no longer an option due to its high costs and negative environmental consequences that have been leading to a vicious cycle linking deteriorating status of water resources, in terms of quantity and quality to deteriorating livelihoods in the region. As a matter of fact, societies in the Arab region have been suffering for a long time from serious capacity gaps at various levels that hinder their ability to face social, economic and political challenges facing the management of their water resources. The general lack of familiarity with participatory and integrated management approaches; fragmented institutional structures with conflicting mandates; inadequate valuation and pricing; imbalanced sectoral water allocation; persistence in resorting to expensive supply augmentation projects and delegation of responsibility without the necessary devolution of power and financial resources in decentralization plans are some of the problems facing effective water governance in the Arab region. The Arab region represents 10% of the world's area; its population represents 5% of world population. However, it possesses only 0.5% of the world's renewable fresh water resources. This is due to the fact that the arid and semi-arid weather dominates 82.2% of the whole region. Rainfall precipitation is estimated to be 2,228 billion cubic meters (bern). The losses amount to 90.4% due to evaporation. The Arab region, which is home to 5 percent of the world's people contains less than 1 percent of the world's annual renewable freshwater. The water demand in the region is growing fast and the population has more than doubled in the past 30 years to about 280 million and could double again in the next 30 years. Thus, water demand for domestic and industrial uses has exploded in recent decades. At the same time, tube-well technology and the development of agriculture have increased water use in rural areas.
Mohamed EL-Bady
National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
Title: Potential ecological risk index of the Northern Egyptian Lagoons, South of Mediterranean Sea, Egypt
Biography:
Mohamed EL-Bady is a Researcher at National Research Center, Egypt. He has done his Ph.D Environmental Geology from Mansoura University, Egypt. His research interst includes Geomorphologic change detection by field and satellite images, Soil & Surface water properties, Coastal sand dunes and so on.
Abstract:
The Northern Egyptian Lagoons are (from east to west) Bardawil Lagoon, Manzala Lagoon, Burullus Lagoon, Edku Lagoons and Mariute Lagoon. These lagoons have received the bulk of drainage water from the lands of Delta and from the other coastal areas where, the heavy metals can be introduced to Lagoons environments through a variety of sources, including industries, wastewaters and domestic effluents. The potential ecological risk index (RI) calculation of the bottom sediments of the northern lagoons depends contamination factor (CF), potential ecological risk factor and proposed toxic response factor (Tr). The average degree of contamination and modified degree of contamination of the northern lagoons were in the following descending order Bardawil>Mariute>Manzal>Edku>Burullus, while, the potential ecological risk index in the following descending order Bardawil>Manzal>Mariute>Edku>Burullus.
Mahmoud Lotfy
Housing and Building National Research Centre, Egypt
Title: The effect of nanolime on Sheikh Fadl ornamental hardened limestone facies
Biography:
Mahmoud Lotfy Abd El-latif has completed his PhD from Menofyia University. He is the Director of Geological Investigation and Petrographic Laboratory. He has published 3 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Hardened limestone (Marbled limestone) is one of the most common building materials generally, in the Eastern Mediterranean region particularly in Egypt. Sheikh Fadl quarries considered as a type locality for hardened limestone production. Five representative samples of this limestone were selected from one quarry at Sheikh Fadl, Red Sea to study their different characteristics. The aim of this paper is mainly to study the positive effect of Nanolime as consolidates on different physico-mechanical and durability of this hardened limestone. Finally, using nanolime as consolidating material leads to occurrence of observed enhancement in physico-mechanical average values of Sheikh Fadl and also their durability particularly against salt weathering.
Ibrahim Hassan Ibrahim
Nuclear Materials Authority, Egypt
Title: Origin and mode of occurrence of Abu Rusheid-Sikait Mylonite Rocks, South Eastern Desert, Egypt
Biography:
Ibrahim Hassan Ibrahim has completed his PhD from Ain Shams University. He is Professor in Geology, Unconformity Radioactive Deposits Department in Nuclear Materials Authority. He has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals and is sharing about 12 internal reports in NMA.
Abstract:
Abu Rusheid-Sikait area forms part of the Arabo-Nubian basement exposures that is situated at the northern peripheral contact between the Central and the South Eastern Desert. Abu Rusheid mylonites are a ductile deformed fault rocks originated from the parent granitic rocks that were formed as sheet like body injected along major antiform and affected later by ductile shearing. Four deformation phases are recognized in Abu Rusheid-Sikait area during the late Pan-African event. The first two compressional phases (D1 & D2) and the second two deformations are mainly extensional phases (D3 & D4). The D3 is mainly development of sub-horizontal mylonite rocks with a bout maximum thickness of 50 m along ductile shearing. Shear sense indicators give a consistent regional transport direction to the SSE. Abu Rusheid-Sikait mylonites have two stages of mineralization; the first one is mainly magmatic stage related to the parent granitic rocks during which monazite, thorite, uranothorite, allanite, columbite, xenotime, fluorite and zircon minerals were formed. The second stage is secondary minerals due to precipitation of uranium-bearing hematite, uranophane, torbernite, kasolite and epidote minerals in micro-fractures. In situ gamma-ray spectrometry measurements support these two stages of mineralization. The av. eTh/eU ratio varies from 3.2 to 13.3 in mylonites and pegmatitic pockets within mylonites indicate thorium is enriched rather than uranium supporting the magmatic origin (first stage), while the fractured mylonites are enriched in eU over than eTh (eTh/eU ratio from 0.1 to 1.1) indicates U-remobilization and give the second stage of mineralization.
Yongliao Zou
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Title: Overview of CE-4 mission scientific objectives and possible instruments
Biography:
Yongliao Zou is a professor of National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), deputy director of General Office of China Lunar and Deep Space Exploration of CAS. He has completed his Master Degree at the age of 23 years from Institute of Geochemistry of CAS in 1990, and published more than 70 papers in journals.
Abstract:
Chang’E-4 mission, being undertaken by phase two of China Lunar Exploration Program, represents China’s first attempt to exploration farside of lunar surface. CE-4 mission includes lander, rover and a telecommunication relay, presently scheduled to launch in 2018. The scientific objectives of CE-4 mission will be implemented to investigate the characteristics and formation mechanism of lunar surface floating dust, measure remanent magnetism of the lunar surface materials and figure out the interaction between the remanent magnetism and the solar wind, detect lunar surface temperature and radiation environment and study their characteristics, distribution and change, detect and study the lunar regional geological characteristics, make the first radio-astronomy measurements from the most radio-quiet region of near-earth space. The rover will operate for at least 3 months, the lander for half year to support the goals of CE-4 mission, and the relay for no less than 3 years of extended operation. The CE-4 instruments are: Cameras, dust-analyzer, magnetometer, temperature-instrument, wide band low frequency digital radio astronomical station for lunar farside surface LF-MF-HF astronomy, infrared imaging spectrometer, penetrating radar, and flash camera. This paper describes the CE-4 objectives and measurements that support exploration of the Moon and that address the scientific objectives outlined. We also describe data accessibility by the science and exploration community
Habes Ghrefat
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Title: Multivariate statistical analysis and assessment of metal contamination in the Gulf of Aqaba Soils, Northwestern Saudi Arabia
Biography:
Habes Ahmad Ghrefat is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. He had done his Ph.D. Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso. His main area of research interest include Remote Sensing, Geostatistics and Geology.
Abstract:
A total of 23 soil samples were collected from the scattered agricultural farms along the Gulf of Aqaba coast. In addition, 25 granitic and marine sedimentary samples were collected from the study area. Following their treatments by total digestion technique, these samples were analyzed for different metals (such as Pb, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, Mn, Fe, Hg, Mo, and Cd) using the inductively coupled plasma. Relationships among these metals for the study area were then examined by correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results from correlation analyses reveal a variable degree of correlations among different metals in the study area. Principal component analysis identified two factors, which are responsible for ~60% of the total variance of the data set. These two factors allowed to group the selected metals according to their geochemical features. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the studied metals into different groups based on the similarity of their characteristics. The level of metal contamination in the study area has been assessed using enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index, showing relatively high percentage of enriched metals in the study area. The studied rock samples show a significant variation in mean metal contents from one rock type to another, but their results are in good agreement with those obtained from soil samples. High concentration of Cd in the studied soil samples is mainly due to extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides in the agricultural farms or due to sewage.
Ikhlas Alhejoj
University of Jordan, Jordan
Title: Macrofauna as indictor of water quality in the lower Jordan River catchment-eastern side
Biography:
Ikhlas Alhejoj has received her PhD degree from Karlsruhe University (KIT), Germany. She is currently a Lecturer at Department of Geology, University of Jordan. Her research focuses on macro-organisms as bio-indicators of environmental conditions and water quality of Jordan. She is also interested in macro-fossils in the Pliocene-Pleistocene deposits of Jordan and deformed fossils and related structures as paleo-stress indicators in Jordan. She has published several scientific articles and books related to Jordanian fossils and biological environmental indicators field.
Abstract:
In this study, the qualities of surface water bodies feeding the lower Jordan River from its eastern side were studied and found reflected in the types of aquatic species of macrofauna surviving in them. Water, especially, in semi-arid countries such as Jordan with unpredictable seasonal rainfall are subjected to scarcity of water due to increasing demand as a result of population growth. This represents a great problem and challenge for scientists, planners and policy-makers. Surface water resources in Jordan have been during the last few decades negatively impacted by development through the addition of urban, industrial and sewage wastes to the environment. The prevailing conditions make it imperative to protect Jordan's surface water resources in order to keep these aquatic systems in healthy and productive conditions. This must also apply to other countries with similar environmental conditions. Different aquatic fauna were studied on their types, sizes and species and were identified and correlated with the chemical and physical properties of the water they are living in. It is concluded that aquatic macrofauna can easily be used as indicators of water quality and it is a fast and trustful way of indicating changes taking place in the water quality, especially water salinity, trace elements contents and pollution parameters.
Abdullah M Al-Amri
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Title: Geotectonics and structures of the Arabian Peninsula
Biography:
Abdullah M. S. Al-Amri is a Professor of Geophysics & Director of Seismic Center, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. He is awarded Ph.D. in Geophysics from University of Minnesota, USA. He holds B.Sc. in Geology from University of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and M.Sc. in Applied geophysics and Hydrogeology from University of South Florida, USA. His research interests reflect in his/her wide range of publications in various national and international journals.
Abstract:
Arabian Peninsula is an area, which is characterized by poor seismic activities. While for the Arabian Shield and Arabian Platform are aseismic, the area is ringed with regional seismic sources in the tectonically active areas of Iran and Turkey to the northeast, the Red Sea Rift bordering the Shield to the southwest, and the Dead Sea Transform fault zone to the north. Red Sea is considered one of the few places in the world undergoing active continental rifting and formation of new oceanic lithosphere. We determined the seismic velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle of the Arabian Shield and Red Sea using a variety of analysis techniques on broadband seismic waveform data recorded by KACST and SGS seismographic networks. Teleseismic P- and S-wave travel time tomography provided an image of upper mantle compressional and shear velocities related to thermal variations. Regional Pn tomography delineated compressional velocity structure of the shallow mantle. Modeling of teleseismic P-wave receiver functions estimated crustal and upper mantle discontinuity structure. Finally, measurements of teleseismic shear-wave splitting estimated upper mantle anisotropy. Generally speaking, new results for the lithosphere suggest that the mantle lithosphere is thin and the LVZ is significant near the Red Sea, where rifting is active. The mantle lid thickens away from the Red Sea in the Arabian interior. Furthermore our results indicate the presence of polarization anisotropy in the lithospheric upper mantle, in the vicinity, as well as farther away from the Red Sea. Our modeling suggests vSV>vSH in the southern part of the Red Sea, consistent with vertical flow, and vSH>vSV in the northern part of the Red Sea and the continental interior, as is commonly reported in the continents. We would suggest that low velocity beneath the Gulf of Aqabah and southern Arabian Shield and Red Sea at depths below 200 km are related to mantle upwelling and seafloor spreading. Low velocities beneath the northern Arabian Shield below 200 km may be related to volcanism. The low velocity feature near the eastern edge of the Arabian Shield and western edge of the Arabian Platform could be related to mantle flow effects near the interface of lithosphere of different thickness.
Markus Anda
Agency for Agricultural Research and Development, Indonesia
Title: Promising potential for using natural rocks and fresh volcanic materials to rejuvenate soil properties: Implementation of basic science to overcome problems of infertile soils
Biography:
Markus Anda has completed his PhD from University Putra Malaysia and Postdoctoral research from University of California Davis, USA. He is the Head of Soil Mineralogical Laboratory and a Senior Principal Researcher in soil mineralogy, soil classification and land evaluation for agricultural crops at the Indonesian Agency of Agricultural Research and Development. He has published more than 60 papers in refereed journals and has been serving as a reviewer of many international reputed journals.
Abstract:
Limited attempt has been made to implement voluminous basic science in geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology and volcanology to overcome very low nutrients of many soils worldwide. It is well known that the fresh rocks experience weathering processes to release their nutrient constituent into the soils but naturally need very long time (e.g. 1 cm soil need 100-150 years). The breakthrough technology is needed to change the natural rocks and volcanic ash as potential soil amelioration. Success to do this will result a great impact at a world level to increase soil fertility since many soils have low fertility associated with advanced weathering stages. The weathering processes could be mimicked and accelerated by making powder of rocks and ash volcanic materials to speed up dissolution of elemental compositions of minerals in rocks. The released elements as nutrients for crops may replenish the losses of nutrient from soils which have been uptaken by plants or leached out of the soils. The application of finely ground powder rocks in alleviating soil acidity, increasing various soil nutrients and increasing crop yields has been reported under tropical conditions, where intensive agricultural practice and high leaching of nutrients occurred owing to high rainfall. Success in rejuvenating poor infertile soil using finely ground rocks or freshly volcanic eruption as sources of various crop nutrients could increase soil productivity with the implication to increase food availability to feed many hungry people (serious world problems) especially in many less developed countries worldwide. Application of finely ground rocks or freshly volcanic eruption to generate fertile soils is firm scientific bases to increase agricultural productions and avoid or reduce chemical fertilizers that results negative impact in environmental quality.
Amin Beiranvand Pour
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
Title: Gold mineral prospecting using phased array type L-band synthetic aperture radar (PALSAR) satellite remote sensing data
Biography:
Amin Beiranvand Pour has completed his PhD from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He is Senior Lecturer in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He has published more than 25 papers in Geology and Remote Sensing Journals.
Abstract:
The Bentong-Raub Suture Zone (BRSZ) of Peninsular Malaysia is one of the significant structural zones in Sundaland, Southeast Asia. It forms the boundary between the Gondwana-derived Sibumasu terrane in the west and Sukhothai arc in the east. The BRSZ is also genetically related to the sediment-hosted/orogenic gold deposits associated with the major lineaments and form-lines in the central gold belt Central Gold Belt of Peninsular Malaysia. In tropical environments, heavy tropical rainforest and intense weathering makes it impossible to map geological structures over long distances. Advances in remote sensing technology allow the application of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in geological structural analysis for tropical environments. In this investigation, the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) satellite remote sensing data were used to analyze major geological structures in Peninsular Malaysia and provide detailed characterization of lineaments and form-lines in the BRSZ, as well as its implication for sediment-hosted/orogenic gold exploration in tropical environments. The major geological structure directions of the BRSZ are N-S, NNE-SSW, NE-SW and NW-SE, which derived from directional filtering analysis to PALSAR data. The pervasive array of N-S faults in the study area and surrounding terrain is mainly linked to the N-S trending of the Suture Zone. N-S striking lineaments are often cut by younger NE-SW and NW-SE-trending lineaments. Gold mineralized trends lineaments are associated with the intersection of N-S, NE-SW, NNW-SSE and ESE-WNW faults and curvilinear features in shearing and alteration zones. Lineament analysis on PALSAR satellite remote sensing data is a useful tool for detecting the boundary between the Gondwana-derived terranes and major geological features associated with suture zone especially for large inaccessible regions in tropical environments.
Usama F. Zaineldeen
Al Azhar University, Palestine
Title: Structural style and fault kinematics of the lower eocene rus formation at Jabal Hafit area, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Biography:
Usama Zaineldeen is a Professor at Department of Geology, Al Azhar University, Palestine. He is awarded Ph.D. in Structural Geology and Remote Sensing from Ghent University, Belgium. He holds M.Sc. in Structural Geology from Ohio University, USA and B.Sc. in geology from University of Assiut, Egypt. His research interest include -Intraplate tectonic stress, Intracontinental deformation, Brittle and ductile deformation, Structural controls of sedimentary basins, Active tectonics, Earthquake activity and Remote Sensing
Abstract:
The current contribution presents aspects of the structural style and fault kinematics of the Rus Formation that expose at Jabal Hafit, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Although the major structure of Jabal Hafit is an anticlinal fold, fractures (joints and faults) are the prominent structure of the study area. The fractures can be interpreted as the distributed effect of deep-seated basement fault reactivation or to be as reactivation of deep-seated basement faults. These fractures were created during two main tectonic stress regimes. The first is a WNW–ESE SHmax strike-slip stress regime, responsible for producing E–W to ESE–WNW joints and E–W dextral strike-slip and NNE–SSW reverse faults. This stress is interpreted to be post-Early Eocene in age and related to the second phase of thrusting in the Oman Mountains in the Miocene. The second stress regime is a NNE–SSW SHmax transtensional (strike-slip extensive) stress regime that was responsible for N–S to NNE–SSW striking joints and NE–SW sinistral strike-slip and N–S normal faults. This regime is interpreted to be post-Middle Eocene in age. This stress was the response to the collision of the Arabian–Eurasian Plates which began during the Late Eocene and continues to the present day.
Biography:
Sanae Berred currently pursuing her second year Doctoral studies at the University Mohammed V Agdal-Rabat, on “Development and protection of the natural potential based on interactive digital carthography service of Geopark Jbel Bani Tata-Draa (Anti-Atlas)â€. She took her Master's degree from the University Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah in Fez, entitled “Geosciences, mineral resources and geomaterialsâ€.
Abstract:
The Anti-Atlas of Morocco recorded the tectonomagmatic signatures induced respectively by Eburnean, Panafrican and Hercynian orogenies, forming him a NE-SW oriented chain, whose roots are attached to the West African Craton. It extends from the southern foot of the High Atlas to the North, highlighted by the major accident southeast Atlas, to the north-western parts of the Sahara desert in the south, limited by the belt of large Hamadas. It consists of grounds from age Paleoproterozoic to Quaternary. These lands have undergone succesive tectonic events, generating long mountain ranges exposed to long periods of erosion during the Secondary and Tertiary, which adds to hostile climate to make the geology of the Anti-Atlas in outcrop,easier to read and more fascinated to contemplate,compared to other geological domains of Morocco. The major tectonic events leave their traces on the surface expressions as outcrops, mainly scientific interest, which gives their qualities both educational and touristic to both scientists and general public, where does the initiation ofthe new projectof Geopark Jbel Bani Tata-Draa. This last aims to implement a policy or appropriate, for the management, recovery and preservation of geological heritage in geological, geomorphological and paleogeographicinterest, for the local and regional population on one handand to encourage future generations to get involved on the other hand more. As part of the natural heritage, geological heritage of southern Morocco can serve as a model and concept for rational exploitation visibility for socio-economic development within the territory of the Geopark Jbel Bani Tata-Draa.
Novita Wulandari Sinaga
Padjadjaran University, Indonesia
Title: Geological mapping at Pasawahan District, Ciamis Resident, West Java Province
Biography:
Novita Wulandari Sinaga is currently studying Bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering at Padjadjaran University, Indonesia.
Abstract:
Geographically research area were in 10830’ 39.7584†EL - 10836’ 6.498†EL and 735’ 23.1576†SL - 729’ 59.3988†SL coordinate. Administratively research area was in Pasawahan District, Ciamis Resident, West Java Province. This research area was in part of Digital Earth Surface Maps (Bakosurtanal), which is Selasari Quadrangle Map (1308-223). Geomorphology unit has been divided into five (5) types, there are Structural Slightly Sloping Plain unit, Structural Sloping Hills unit, Karst Slightly Sloping Hills Unit, Structural Slightly Sloping Hills unit, and Volcanic Steep Hills unit. The Drainage patterns that has been developed in research area are dendritic, radial and subparalel. Geological units in the research area has been divided into four (4), there are from the older to the younger units: Volcanic Breccia units (Tmbv), Limestone units (Tmbg), Sandstone unit (Tmbp) and Sandstone with Carbonate substances (Tmbpk). Geological structure that developed in the research are are Fold, Joint and Fault. The folds that developed in the research area are CekdamKudungsero Syncline, Karanglegok Anticline, DesaBojong Syncline, Sukadana Anticline, Karangsari Syncline and Kaligamping Anticline. Faults with NE-SW direction is Kalimanggis Oblique slip Fault. Because the main direction of the fault is NE-SW, therefore we can conclude the age of the fault in Pliocene-Pleistocene. In early Miocene, Volcanic breccia unit are the oldest unit formed in the research area. Hereafter suppressed uncomformity by Middle Miocene Limestone unit. Next it has been deposited comformity by Sandstone with carbonated substances unit in Middle Miocene and followed by Sandstone unit deposition. Furthermore in Pliocene-Pleistocene Epoch, Anticline and Syncline formed in research area followed by Kalimanggis Fault to be formed. Geological resources in research area are Andesite and Alluvium Gravel for Building Material. The potential for disaster that may happen in research area are landslide and tsunami wave.
Chaïma Ahmedat
Mohammed V University, Morocco
Title: The impact of mining exploitation on the natural environment in Morocco
Biography:
Chaïma Ahmedat has completed her Bachelor’s in Applied Geology from Mohammed V University and Master’s degree studies from Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences. She is currently a PhD student at Mohammed V University, Faculty of Sciences in Applied Geology and Natural Resources Laboratory (LGAEN) directed by Professor Mohamed El Wartiti.
Abstract:
Morocco with its geological diversity and its long history of mining activities has the most important two pillars of mineral deposit variety and economic development. The mining activities are the main anthropic sources of heavy metal contamination especially in mining areas. The impact of pollutants dissemination in the environmental components, has a serious impact on the natural resources and ecosystem stability, in fact it threats the human health as well. The large number of metalliferrous sites existing in the country is controlled by several factors, including regional climate, mining methods and geological conditions, which in most of cases, increase the negative impact on the natural environment whether the given site is active or abandoned. The accumulation of mine tailings and waste rocks on soil may lead to acid mine drainage (AMD), due to metals release from the tailing by exposing to climatic agents, which convert the superficial water draining in the mining sites, and acid liquid by the oxidation of metal sulfides existing in mine wastes. The transportation of trace metals dissolved in water by (AMD) phenomenon, negatively affects the quality of soils which in turn affect the quality of underground water and local agriculture. Many of soil and water sampling are performed in several mining sites in Morocco, reveal a contamination by heavy metals specialty into Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd and/or Hg, according to the paragenesis of each metalliferous deposits, this contamination causes many of health problems in humans and animals, in addition to visual problems that can be summarized in the disfigurement of geological and/or ecological fascinating landscapes which degrades the quality and aesthetics of natural environment, thus threatening local, sometimes regional, touristic activity. The issue of mining impact on the environment must be the subject of more several studies, to highlight the problems of the transfer mechanism and the dissemination of harmful metals in natural resources especially drinkable water used by local populations living near or in mining areas.
Safiur Rahman
Atomic Energy Center, Bangladesh
Title: Characterization of groundwater quality using water evaluation indices, multivariate statistics and geostatistics in central Bangladesh
Biography:
Safiur Rahman is presently working as a principal scientific officer (PSO) in the field of environmental analytical chemistry at Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. He received his MASc and PhD in Environmental Engineering at Dalhousie University, Canada. He has B.Sc., M.Sc. and M.Phil Degrees in Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Rajshahi University, Bangladesh, where he was the recipient of “Gold Medal†in recognition of his distinguished academic accomplishments. He has extensive research experience at Dalhousie University (2005-2014) and at St. Mary’s University (during 2004-2005). He has a good number of research papers, book chapters. His expertise is in the areas of drinking water quality improvement, and environmental restoration. Before coming to Canada, Mr. Rahman worked as a scientist for Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) from 2000 to 2005. During that period, Mr. Rahman carried out research works related to the distribution and environmental impacts of toxic trace elements in surface and ground water of Bangladesh. He has got experience of working with the scientists of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), International Atomic Energy (IAEA). He is a member of Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia (APENS), Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), American Water Work Association (AWWA), Canadian Water Network (CWN), Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (CSCE), Bangladesh Chemical Society (BCS), Bangladesh Atomic Energy Scientists Association (BAESA), and Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (ASB).
Abstract:
This study investigates the groundwater quality in the Faridpur district of central Bangladesh based on preselected 60 sampling points. Water evaluation indices and a number of statistical approaches such as multivariate statistics and geostatistics are applied to characterize water quality, which is a major factor for controlling the groundwater quality in term of drinking purposes. The study reveals that EC, TDS, Ca2+, total As and Fe values of groundwater samples exceeded Bangladesh and international standards. Ground water quality index (GWQI) exhibited that about 47% of the samples were belonging to good quality water for drinking purposes. The heavy metal pollution index (HPI), degree of contamination (Cd), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) reveal that most of the samples belong to low level of pollution. However, Cd provide better alternative than other indices. Principle component analysis (PCA) suggests that groundwater quality is mainly related to geogenic (rock-water interaction) and anthropogenic source (agrogenic and domestic sewage) in the study area. Subsequently, the findings of cluster analysis (CA) and correlation matrix (CM) are also consistent with the PCA results. The spatial distributions of groundwater quality parameters are determined by geostatistical modeling. The exponential semivariagram model is validated as the best fitted models for most of the indices values. It is expected that outcomes of the study will provide insights for decision makers taking proper measures for groundwater quality management in central Bangladesh.
Akobundu Amadi
Federal University of Technology, Nigeria
Title: Groundwater contamination by fluoride in Hong area, North-eastern Nigeria
Biography:
Amadi A N completed his PhD from Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. He is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. He has published more than 90 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of Journal of Disaster Risk Management and Reviewer of the journal, Environmental Technology and Science and Journal of Information, Education, Science and Technology.
Abstract:
Groundwater contamination by fluoride in Hong area, North-eastern Nigeria was investigated in this study. Groundwater samples, soil samples and rock samples were collected in both dry and wet seasons and subjected to field and laboratory analysis to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of groundwater with emphasis on fluoride. Results of analysis were compared with World Health Organisation and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality. The hydrochemical facies analysis indicate the water type in the area as Ca-Mg-HCO3 type, fluoride concentration in groundwater in Hong area ranged from 0.08 mg/l to 2.58 mg/l as against the maximum permissible value of 1.5 mg/l for a safe drinking water. The analysis of the rock and soil samples revealed the presence of sodium-calcium-phosphate-fluoride, a fluoride bearing mineral called nacaphite (Na2CaPO4F) in granitic rocks from the area. This implies that the high fluoride concentration in groundwater system in the area is from geogenic source as a result rock/soil-water interaction, bedrock dissolution, chemical weathering, infiltration and leaching processes. Children and adults in the area are having dental fluorosis presently. Results of rock, soil and groundwater analysis shows high fluoride concentration above the tolerable limit of 1.5 mg/l. The results obtained from the study lead to the production of dental fluorosis prevalence map and health risk map for the area. The study further revealed that a total of 16,600 people in 8 villages out of 123,865 in 13 villages in the area have dental fluorosis while 112,165 people are potential dental fluorosis carriers. It was recommended that government should as a matter of urgency provide another source of drinking water for the household and community within the fluoride endemic zone.
Adimalla Narsimha
Osmania University, India
Title: Evaluation of groundwater quality and contamination of fluoride, Medak Region, Telangana, South India
Biography:
Adimalla Narsimha has completed his PhD (in the year of 2012) from Osmania University and worked as a Research Associate for period of one and half years (i.e., December 2012 to June 2014) and presently working as a Young Scientist in the Department of Applied Geochemistry since July 2014 DST-SERB sponsored project New Delhi. He is working on origin and sources of fluoride in drinking water and its health implications agriculture usage and GIS techniques in parts of Medak district. He has 19 papers to his credit in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Hydrogeochemical investigation of fluoride contaminated groundwater samples from Medak district in Telangana are undertaken to understand the quality and portability of groundwater from the study area, the level of fluoride contamination, the origin and geochemical mechanisms driving the fluoride enrichment. The groundwater is the main source of water for their living. The groundwater in villages and its surrounding are affected by fluoride contamination and consequently the majority of the people living in these villages has health hazards and is facing fluorosis. The purpose of this study is to identify geochemical processes and using characterization of the major physico-chemical parameters of groundwater from study area. For this purpose, 194 groundwater samples have collected and analyzed for different water quality parameters, such as pH, EC, TDS, TH, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, nitrate, sulfate and fluoride with the help of standard methods recommended by American Public Health Association. The results of the analyzed parameters formed the attribute database for geographical information system (GIS) analysis and final output maps. Fluoride ion concentrations ranged between 0.4 and 7.1 mg/L with mean values of 1.69 mg/L in the groundwater suggest that favourable conditions exist for the dissolution of fluoride bearing minerals present in the granite and gneissic rocks in the study area, whereas, distribution pattern showed high concentrations in the vicinity of Siddipet, Chinnakodur and Nangnoor. Due to the higher fluoride level in drinking water, several cases of dental and skeletal fluorosis have appeared at alarming rate in this region. The highly alkaline conditions indicated fluorite dissolution as major process responsible for high concentration of fluoride in eastern part of the Medak. Fluoride has a very weak correlation with pH which may be due to the increase of alkalinity resulting from the increase of bicarbonate ions. While the deficiency of calcium ion concentration in the groundwater from calcite precipitation favours fluorite dissolution leading to excess fluoride concentration. The comparison of TDS versus Na/(Na+Ca) and Cl/(Cl+HCO3) points to the dominance of rock weathering as the main process, which promotes the availability of fluoride in the groundwater. The presence of high fluoride in groundwater poses a serious health threat to the rural populace in the region.
- Track 2: Petroleum Geology Track 6: Sedimentology and Coastal Process Track 8: Mining Geology Track 13: Geological Consulting
Session Introduction
Mohamed Ibrahim Dosouky Helal
Cairo University, Egypt
Title: Use of nanotechnology in remediation of heavy metals polluted soils
Time : 10:00-10:50
Biography:
Mohamed Ibrahim Dosouky Helal is the Professor of Soil Chemistry at Cairo University Egypt. He has done his Ph.D. in Soil Science from Cairo University in 1988. He is also the Vice President of National Committee of Soil Sciences. He published 8 articles in international journals as recorded by Scopus data base. He has 1- Membership in Egyptian Soil Science Society since 1984 and with African Soil Science Society since 1988.
Abstract:
Heavy metals polluted soils are a significant worldwide environmental problem. The crops cultivated in polluted soils often contain significant levels of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, etc.) that can impair human health. The current technologies such as removing up of pollutants, stabilization/solidification of pollutants, vitrification, soil capping, etc., used in remediation of polluted soils are not adequate. Smarter and cheaper techniques still to be addressed to decontaminate polluted soil. In the present study, nanotechnology has been adopted to immobilize heavy metals in polluted soil, in which nano-particles; nano-scale zero valent iron, bentonite-nZVI, nano alginite, nano carbon and dendrimers are used as immobilizing agents. Six soil samples collected from different locations in Egypt which have been polluted by either sewage sludge, industrial wastes, or vehicle exhausts, are treated with nano-immobilizing agents, at three rates of 0.1, 0.5 and 1%. The treated soil samples are incubated for two months which were subjected to eight wetting and drying cycles. At the end of the incubation period, the soils were analyzed for the determination of total, plant available as extracted using DTPA solution, and various chemical fractions of Cd and Pb. The results showed that all nano-immobilizing agents proved high efficiency to reduce the level of DTPA extractable-Cd and Pb. The magnitude of the reduction varied as both agent and rate of application varied. The efficiency of the tested nano-agents to immobilize Cd and Pb increased as the rate of application increased. The sequential extraction experiment showed that, nano immobilizing agents successfully altered Cd and Pb from mobile to immobile form as the exchangeable Cd and Pb significantly decreased in all tested soils, whereas, carbonate- and oxides- bound-Cd and-Pb significantly increased. Also, the results of the pot experiment showed that application of nano-materials to polluted soils at rates of 1% and 2% significantly increased fresh and dry weight of crop Garden Rocket (Eruca sativa) and decreased uptake of Cd and Pb.
Sankaran Rajendran
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Title: Mapping of volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits of using satellite data
Time : 10:50-11:15
Biography:
Sankaran Rajendran received the PhD degree in Geology from the Bharathidasan University, India, in 1996. From 2002 to 2010, he was a Assistant Professor with the Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, India. Currently, he is working in the Department of Earth Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. His research interests involve mapping mineral and environmental resources of earth using remote sensing and GIS techniques.
Abstract:
Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits are typical Cyprus-type and occur in the Oman Ophiolite as clusters of pyritic copper-rich mounds with gold bearing gossans. The occurrence of deposits is abundant in Sohar–Shinas region of East Al-Batina coast region of the Sultanate of Oman. This work describes the spectral absorption characters of the minerals of the deposits and demonstrates the methods to map the deposit. The spectral absorption character of minerals namely epidote, chlorite, pyrophyllite, illite, calcite, dolomite, pyrite, siderite and hematite are studied and the image processing methods namely band ratios, principal component analysis (PCA), spectral angle mapper, linear spectral unmixing (LSU) and spectral feature fitting (SFF) were applied to map and discriminate the minerals and rocks of the deposits using Landsat 8 and ASTER data. The results of study evaluated in the field to show the sensor capability potential of the image processing methods.
Frank Mattern
Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman
Title: Identification, Analysis and Depositional System of Ancient Sand-Rich Submarine Fans (SRSFs)
Time : 11:35-12:35
Biography:
Frank Mattern received his PhD from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. His specialty areas are Sedimentology, Basin Analysis and Structural Geology/Tectonics. He has instructed in Germany, Mexico, the USA and is presently an Associate Professor at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman. Current research concerns the sedimentology of Paleozoic marine sandstones and Cenozoic limestones of Oman as well as structural/tectonic aspects of the region. In addition, he presently works on the facies interpretation and basin setting of Upper Triassic submarine fan deposits of the Langjiexue Group of southern Tibet as well as the tectonics of the Songliao Basin, NE China.
Abstract:
To distinguish different SRSF environments, detailed measured sections, their comparison and correlation are essential. Unchannelized outer fan deposits display simple, parallel bedding of high lateral continuity. Mid-fan channels exhibit complex bedding patterns with vertical and lateral random distributions of channel fills, axial erosion, bed convergence towards the channel margins and linear bed continuity. Only outer fan beds can be laterally correlated on a local to regional scale. Inner fans/fan valleys are rarely exposed. Fan environments can further be distinguished by (1) different turbidite facies associations: mainly B, C and D in outer and A, B, C, D, and channel margin facies in middle fans, (2) greater average bed and layer thicknesses in mid-fans than in outer fans, (3) more frequent amalgamations in channel fills than in outer fans, (4) more frequent tabular amalgamations in outer fans, (5) more frequent nontabular amalgamations in mid-fan channels, and (6) more frequent dish structures in mid-fan channels. Fan valley fills comprise coarse conglomerates. In their vicinity mud-rich basin slope deposits may occur. SRSFs occur in restricted continental basins, either isolated or as coalescing fans. Lateral fan extent often measures close to 25 km with thicknesses usually Ë‚300 m. Their shape in plain view (radial, curved) depends on the basin floor slope. SRSF formation is closely related to tectonics. Their sand is immature, deriving from nearby sources and transported by short rivers with a steep gradient. Tectonics provide for narrow shelves, making SRSFs relatively insensitive to sea-level changes. Submarine canyons may intercept sand from longshore drift and/or rivers and funnel it to the fans.
Heri Safrizal
Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities Republic of Indonesia (SKK Migas), Indonesia
Title: Characteristic of East Java carbonate: The backbone of carbonate reservoir producer in Indonesia
Time : 12:35-13:00
Biography:
Heri Safrizal has joinned Executive Agency For Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities Republic of Indonesia (SKK Migas) for 6 years. Mainly jobdesk at his company is monitoring all of oil and gas activity including technical review to optimize oil and gas development startegy. He joined special task force for some projects for reservoir characterization and production forecast from carbonate reservoir at Banyu Urip Field with ExxonMobil, Sukowati Field with PetroChina, West Madura Offshore Area with Pertamina, and the others. He has completed his Master Program at Gadjah Mada University with thesis research carbonate reservoir characterization in West Java Basin.
Abstract:
East Java area carbonate contributes significant oil production for Indonesia with production around 145 MBOPD (18% national production) and next year will contribute around 240 MBOPD (30% national production). Based on the seismic section from North to South, shows Kujung Reservoir in Northern area of East Java shallower than the Southern areas. Implication of this morphology, Northern part have been exposed with good reservoir properties, such as in West Madura offshore indicate patch reef morphology with intensive vuggy porosity. When transgressions happened at the end of Kujung Formation, Southern part carbonate experiencing drowning and can’t grow up, but northern part Kujung Formation still grow up. Subsurface modeling in Northern and Southern area required different method. Northern area, focused on using seismic attributes that can detect hydrocarbon potential, such as AVO that used for mapping hydrocarbon potential in each patch reef. Southern part, the focus is for interpreting reservoir properties with Amplitude impedance. For production performance, Southern part produces more than Northern part. Dimensions of build-up reef in Southern area is quite large with connected pressure (pressure maintenance are applicable). One well in northern part can be produced with initial production 300–1,000 BOPD, cumulative production 500–800 MBO. Southern part one well can be produced 7,000–14,000 BOPD with cumulative production 17,000–20,000 MBO. Because of the unique carbonate system, detail evaluation is needed on geological conditions, reservoir characterization, and production analysis of East Java carbonate, so it could be a reference for developing other carbonate reservoirs in other area.
Biography:
Mohamed Ahmed Found Ghoneim is currently working as a Professor of Geology at Tania University, Egypt. He is also the member of the Egyptian Geological Society and Egyptian Scientific Association.
Abstract:
A group of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks are located south of Wadi Abu Ziran, central eastern desert. These rocks have diverse petro-graphic compositions ranging from gabbros to granites with their volcanic equivalents. They belong to four distinct Neoproterozoic units of the eastern desert, namely; “metagabbros (MG), older granites (OG), metavolcanics (MV) and younger granites (YG)â€. Both major and trace elements are compiled to deduce their genetic relationships. 1/Sr vs. Rb/Sr and Rb/Ba vs. Rb plots suggests that these rock units exhibit comparative magmatic relationships. The trace elements data and the numerical modeling are treated according to the general equation of partial melting and Rayleigh equation of fractional crystallization. These rock types favor complex petro-genetic processes during their generation. The magmatic model is based on “in-sequence†genesis between partial melting and fractional crystallization as well as magma mixing processes in the late stage. It is evident that these rocks are resulted from five essential stages during magmatic evolution of the area; the gabbroic rocks (MG) were derived by partial melting (42.5-45.93%) of oceanic crust followed by fractional crystallization (30-50%) of the resulted ultramafic magma; rocks of granodiorite (OG) were derived throughout partial melting (30-39.47%) of gabbroic parent followed by (55-80%) fractional crystallization of gabbroic magma; the metandesite (MV) was generated throughout partial melting (0.4%) of granodiorite (OG) followed by fractional crystallization (25-50%); the monzogranite (YG) was derived throughout (3-6.02%) partial melting of granodiorite (OG) followed by (40-65%) fractional crystallization of granitic magma, finally; the recorded hybrid granodiorite rocks (YG) were generated by partial melting of both gabbroic rocks (MG) (29.58%) and granodiorite (OG) (6.02%) followed by magma mixing and (35-60%) fractional crystallization.
Habes Ghrefat
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Title: Multivariate statistical analysis and assessment of metal contamination in the Gulf of Aqaba Soils, Northwestern Saudi Arabia
Biography:
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Abstract:
A total of 23 soil samples were collected from the scattered agricultural farms along the Gulf of Aqaba coast. In addition, 25 granitic and marine sedimentary samples were collected from the study area. Following their treatments by total digestion technique, these samples were analyzed for different metals (such as Pb, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, Mn, Fe, Hg, Mo, and Cd) using the inductively coupled plasma. Relationships among these metals for the study area were then examined by correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results from correlation analyses reveal a variable degree of correlations among different metals in the study area. Principal component analysis identified two factors, which are responsible for ~60% of the total variance of the data set. These two factors allowed to group the selected metals according to their geochemical features. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the studied metals into different groups based on the similarity of their characteristics. The level of metal contamination in the study area has been assessed using enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index, showing relatively high percentage of enriched metals in the study area. The studied rock samples show a significant variation in mean metal contents from one rock type to another, but their results are in good agreement with those obtained from soil samples. High concentration of Cd in the studied soil samples is mainly due to extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides in the agricultural farms or due to sewage.
Gehan A M Aly
Nuclear Materials Authority, Egypt
Title: Geochemistry of some rare metals mineralization in gibbsite sediments at Abu El Mogherat Area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt
Biography:
kghli
Abstract:
Gibbsite sediments occur in Abu El Mogherat area, located about 40 km to the east of Abu Zenima town, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt. These sediments occur as a blanket or karst on the surface of the Lower Carboniferous Um Bogma Formation. Kaolinite, goethite, hematite, alunite, quartz, REE minerals (Bastansite and Cerianite) and accessories bearing REEs and radioactivity (xenotime and zircon), celestite, barite, chalcophanite, lithiophorite and coronadite beside concentrations of some base metals as Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni are associated with gibbsite. The studied gibbsite is relatively enriched in Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, Bi, W and U. The REE content (341 to 5111 ppm) shows a relative enrichment in LREE than HREE. The chemically analyzed U (Uc) and its radiometric equivalent (eU) in Abu El Mogherat gibbsite are estimated to be 345 and 281 ppm, respectively. This suggests a disequilibrium state. The high content of U and its disequilibrium state besides the almost complete absence of Th, suggest secondary supergene enrichment of U.
Marwa M Abdel Azeem
Nuclear Materials Authority, Egypt
Title: Mineral genesis and radioactivity of the upper part of the Adediya Formation, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt
Biography:
ty3
Abstract:
The upper part of the Adediya Formation (Cambro-Ordivician) exposed in southwestern Sinai represents a very interesting succession. It contains mineralizations which are exceptionally rich in radioactive and rare earth elements as well as heavy metals. Field and several laboratory studies were carried out on this part of the Adediya Formation exposed in four stratigraphic sections distributed in a geographically wide area in southwestern Sinai. The radioactive mineralizations exist in sandstones, ironstone bodies and, to a much lesser extent, siltstones. Each of these rock types has a relatively wide range of textural characteristics. The recorded mineral assemblage consists of a large number of essential and accessory minerals some of which are radioactive and REE-bearing. The obtained field and laboratory data were implemented to determine the sedimentary history of the host rocks and the genesis of the mineral species which constitute the mineralizations. This included the identification of the types and effects of the various diagenetic processes and hydrothermal activity which led to the genesis of the recorded mineralizations. Also, the relative roles played by these post-depositional processes in determining the mineral, chemical and radioactive characteristics of the mineralizations and host rocks were assessed. These roles resulted in redistribution of the various elements especially the radioactive and rare earth elements as well as heavy metals during the epigenetic phase particularly by the action of supergene processes. A genetic model for the studied mineralizations is proposed.
Hassan Baioumy
Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia
Title: Compositional variations and sedimentology of black shales outcrops in Malaysia
Biography:
Hassan Baioumy has completed his PhD from Tokyo University, Japan and Postdoctoral studies from Tokyo University (Japan), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutes (USA) and Technical University Munich (Germany). He is currently Associate Professor at UTP. He has published more than 65 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as reviewer in many international journals.
Abstract:
Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic black shales that can be a potential source of energy and precious metals are widely distributed in Malaysia Peninsula, Sarawak and Sabah. These black shales cover wide range of geological ages as well as sedimentological settings. Palaeozoic black shales outcrops were reported in West Malaysia and range from Cambrian to Permian. Some of these black shales were deposited in tidal environment as indicated from the associated HCS sandstone and abundance of burrows. Triassic black shales both in West and East Malaysia associate the turbidites. Paleogene black shales outcrop in West Malaysia with coals beds suggesting deposition in delta environment. The Neogene black shales outcrop in East Malaysia either as non-marine black shales associated with coals beds or marine turbidites with sandstones. Mineralogical investigations indicated variations among the studied black shales. Although illite was identified in almost all black shales, other clay minerals show significant variations. Some of the studied black shales are composed entirely of illite, while others show abundance of kaolinite. Smectite has been reported only in the drop stone of the Devonian-Permian Singa Formation. The compositional variations among the studied black shale can be attributed mainly to the variations in the source rock composition and the study localities used to receive sedimentary supply from a local source(s).
Elhoucine Essefi
University of Gabes, Tunisia
Title: State of the art of research methodologies and major findings of Martian geology: Challenges in face of Emirate Mission to Mars
Biography:
Elhoucine Essefi is an Assistant Professor in Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Gabes, obtained his PhD in Geology from the National Engineering School of Sfax in 2013 titled ‘Wet Aeolian sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy within the terrestrial analogues in Eastern Tunisia: Implications for wet Aeolian sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy on Mars’. In 2009, he obtained the Master’s degree from the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax titled ‘Multidisciplinary study of Sidi El Hani saline environment: The geological history and the climatic variability’. In 2003, he obtained the ‘Maitrise’ degree in Earth Sciences from the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax. In 2011, he obtained the License in Linguistics and Anglophone Civilization from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Sfax. In 2015, he obtained the Master’s degree in Specialized English titled ‘Suggested solutions to some problems of Tunisian novice researchers with academic writing in English: case studies of a Research Article (Gallela et al., 2009) and a Master Thesis (Essefi, 2009)’. He has published more than 35 conference and research papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute journals.
Abstract:
This work is an extended literature review about the evolution of Martian exploration. For instance martian exploration experienced a noticeable improvement in terms of methodology and reached findings. Mars exploration may be conducted based on different types of missions: Remote sensing, independent landers, networks, penetrators, rovers, balloons, airplanes, and samples return missions. Our knowledge about the red planet has significantly increased. As a synonym for Mars' geology, the term areology (from the Greek word Arēs, i.e. Mars) sometimes appears in the popular media and works of science fiction but the term is rarely, if ever, used by professional geologists and planetary scientists. Divided into different sub-disciplines, martian geology argues full similarity with the field of terrestrial geology. As a sign of remarkable proliferation, the term Mars geology fully incorporates all branches of terrestrial geology such as geophysics, geochemistry, mineralogy, geodesy, hydrology, hydrogeology, tectonics, geodynamics, climatology, cartography, sedimentology, and stratigraphy. In the Arab word, few are the studies dealing with Mars. In this vein, Emirate Mission to Mars is a first ambitious notice. Nonetheless, this mission should be well integrated within the state of the art of areology to provide with relevant data helping in understanding the as yet unsolved issues. In addition, it should target the site candidate to contain the most relevant geological and potential biological processes. Our recent work presents Argyre basin as a prime target for in situ Astrobiological Exploration of Mars. For this reason, I propose the Argyre basin as target site of Emirate Mission to Mars.
Ahmed Askar Al Ahmed
University of Al Nahrain, Iraq
Title: Geochemical characteristics of Amara crude oils within Zagros fold belt, South Iraq
Biography:
Ahmed Askar Al Ahmed is an Assistant Professor at Al-Nahrain University, Iraq. His main area of resear4ch interests include Geochemistry, Geology, Paleontology
Abstract:
A comprehensive geochemical study shows genetic relationships among 15 crude oil samples recovered from different formations, ages of marine carbonate and non-degraded. The levels of maturation are relatively varied for each sample from low to moderate, sourced from Jurassic age. Various oil fields in South Iraq; Al-Fakka (FK-2, FK-3 & FK-8), Buzerkan (BU-11, BU-20), Abo Gharab (AG-1, AG-7 & AG-10), Halfaya (HF-1 & HF-2) and Amara (AM-3) oil fields. These samples suggest the ages and paleo-environments of their source rocks. The samples were collected from Jurassic to tertiary reservoirs of 15 developed oil fields where about 15 billion barrels of recoverable oil have been reserved. The oil density varies in rather wide range, between 12.2 and 39.2_API. Twelve oil samples are ˂25o API referring to heavy oil and only oil samples recovered from Hf-1, Am-3 and Bu-11 which are 25-35o API are medium oil. Canonial Variables (CV) according to the Tissot and Welte’s classification (1984), most of the oils can be classified as “high sulfur†oils/indicate that these samples are of marine origin. Stable Carbon Isotope Composition C15+ saturate and aromatic is relatively approximate values giving good supporting evidences for the same family which is Middle Jurassic Age (sourced from Sargelu Formation), generated within the sedimentation of the bituminous calcareous shale and Limestone in Mesopotamian basin extends from North-South Iraq. This basin consider as one of the most formative, potential and promising basin in the Middle East according to the typical total petroleum system elements. This family was generated by marine carbonate-intra shelf sub basin source rocks, occurring in Jurassic-Cretaceous-Neogene reservoir rocks in both Zagros fold belt and Mesopotamian basin which are geochemically similar to the extracts from Middle-Upper Jurassic age (Sargelu and Naokelekan formations), yielding the majority of petroleum oil and gas fields in north and south Iraq.
Biography:
S. Ganno has completed his PhD in Structural Geology and Mineral Exploration in 2010. He is spent 10 years in mining industry as senior exploration geologist. His main scientific interest comprises igneous petrology and metallogenis in organic systems, and has published many papers in relevant journals. At present he works as a senior lecturer at the University of Yaounde 1(Cameroon)
Abstract:
The Kouambo iron deposit with a typical banded iron formation is located in the northwestern margin of the Congo craton. The BIFs are hosted in Palaeoproterozoic Nyong series, a dominantly metasedimentary formation, and were metamorphosed into greenschist to amphibolite facies. The Kouambo BIFs belong to oxide facies iron formations and are characterized by fine- to medium-grained, very well banded and consist of alternating of Si-rich and Fe-rich mesobands. Geochemistry analyses reveal that these iron formations have a very simple chemical composition, with Fe2O3T and SiO2 representing more than 96 wt.% of the average composition; suggesting chemical precipitates of silica and iron. Moreover, these BIFs have low concentrations of Al2O3, TiO2 and HFSEs (high field strength elements, e.g., Zr, Hf, Ta, Pb and Th), suggesting that terrigenous detrital materials contributed insignificantly to the chemical precipitation. The PASS-normalized REE-Y patterns display minor LREE depletion and HREE enrichment, positive Y anomalies similar to seawater-like signature. However, they display weak positive Eu and negative Ce anomalies, a primitive chondrite-like “CHARAC†signature (23
Elhoucine Essefi
University of Gabes, Tunisia
Title: State of the art of research methodologies and major findings of Martian geology: Challenges in face of Emirate Mission to Mars
Biography:
Elhoucine Essefi is an Assistant Professor in Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Gabes, obtained his PhD in Geology from the National Engineering School of Sfax in 2013 titled ‘Wet Aeolian sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy within the terrestrial analogues in Eastern Tunisia: Implications for wet Aeolian sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy on Mars’. In 2009, he obtained the Master’s degree from the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax titled ‘Multidisciplinary study of Sidi El Hani saline environment: The geological history and the climatic variability’. In 2003, he obtained the ‘Maitrise’ degree in Earth Sciences from the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax. In 2011, he obtained the License in Linguistics and Anglophone Civilization from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Sfax. In 2015, he obtained the Master’s degree in Specialized English titled ‘Suggested solutions to some problems of Tunisian novice researchers with academic writing in English: case studies of a Research Article (Gallela et al., 2009) and a Master Thesis (Essefi, 2009)’. He has published more than 35 conference and research papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute journals.
Abstract:
This work is an extended literature review about the evolution of Martian exploration. For instance martian exploration experienced a noticeable improvement in terms of methodology and reached findings. Mars exploration may be conducted based on different types of missions: Remote sensing, independent landers, networks, penetrators, rovers, balloons, airplanes, and samples return missions. Our knowledge about the red planet has significantly increased. As a synonym for Mars' geology, the term areology (from the Greek word Arēs, i.e. Mars) sometimes appears in the popular media and works of science fiction but the term is rarely, if ever, used by professional geologists and planetary scientists. Divided into different sub-disciplines, martian geology argues full similarity with the field of terrestrial geology. As a sign of remarkable proliferation, the term Mars geology fully incorporates all branches of terrestrial geology such as geophysics, geochemistry, mineralogy, geodesy, hydrology, hydrogeology, tectonics, geodynamics, climatology, cartography, sedimentology, and stratigraphy. In the Arab word, few are the studies dealing with Mars. In this vein, Emirate Mission to Mars is a first ambitious notice. Nonetheless, this mission should be well integrated within the state of the art of areology to provide with relevant data helping in understanding the as yet unsolved issues. In addition, it should target the site candidate to contain the most relevant geological and potential biological processes. Our recent work presents Argyre basin as a prime target for in situ Astrobiological Exploration of Mars. For this reason, I propose the Argyre basin as target site of Emirate Mission to Mars.
Kurniawan Adha
Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia
Title: Pore pressure estimation used thermophysical properties investigation and characterization in sandstone reservoir due to hydrocarbon production
Biography:
Kurniawan Adha has completed his degree in Geology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) majored in Petroleum Geology. After graduation, he pursued his career as Junior Geologist in Pertamina EP-BWP Meruap for several months before he started his Master’s in Petroleum Geoscience in Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) by research under reservoir characterization cluster. In addition, he is a member of American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), International Association of Geosynthetics Installers (IAGI) and European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE).
Abstract:
The correct pore pressure data has important impact in oil gas activities. Besides preventing hazardous compounds, the availability of pore pressure data also contributes in reducing the operation cost. This paper presents the overview of the pore pressure behaviors which will reflect in changes of thermophysical properties since these thermophysical properties are dependent on pore pressure. This is also related to the heat flow across the earth whereas it is a function of thermal conductivity and temperature gradient in a conductive environment. The purpose of this empirical study is to carry out and investigate the relationship of pore pressure and the thermophysical properties in the subsurface for pore pressure estimation. These studies consist of laboratory experiment and data analysis for producing the model of pore pressure changes in hydrocarbon production from thermophysical sides. Different fluids saturation is used for illustrating the hydrocarbon production. This concept will form the basis for a new approach in pore pressure estimation.
Saleh Ibrahim Bute
Gombe State University, Nigeria
Title: Petrochemical and tectonogenesis of the uranium-mineralized granitoids in the Wuyo-Gubrunde Horst, Northeastern Nigeria
Biography:
Saleh Ibrahim Bute is currently a Junior Lecturer at Department of Geology, Gombe State University. His area of interest is in the aspect of Petrology, Mineralogy and Economic Geology.
Abstract:
The major rock units in the Wuyo-Gubrunde Horst, northeastern Nigeria are gneisses, porphyritic granite, altered granite, sheared granite, basalts and sandstone. Uranium has been reported in rhyolite and sheared rocks within the area. Petrogenetic evolution of the uranium-mineralized granitoids and associated rocks in the area were evaluated in the light of new geochemical data, which showed that uranium mineralization is within the altered granite rock and hydrothermal related. The granitoids are metaluminous, sub-alkaline, S-type granite that evolved by partial melting of crustal material emplaced at moderate depth of 20-30 km in a syn-to late-collisional within plate tectonic setting. The negative Eu/Eu* anomaly and higher (La/Yb)N ratio of the granitoids are indicative of magma fractionation. The lower SiO2 (<53%) and higher Fe2O3 (10%) of the altered granite compared to other similar rock units suggested pervasive alteration. The associated basalts are tholeiitic, emplaced within continental plate and enriched in Ni (122 ppm), V (169 ppm), Nb (39 ppm), Sr (570) and Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs). The uranium content, P2O5, Fe2O3, TiO2, MnO, Co, Nb, Sr and V of the altered granites are higher while the Na2O, K2O, SiO2, Th and Rb contents are lower than those of the other rock units in the area. This supported hydrothermal source for the uranium mineralization. The basaltic rocks have similar SiO2, Fe2O3, V, Th and Co contents with the mineralized altered granite suggesting rock-fluid interactions and element mobilization. The uranium mineralization in the area was through secondary enrichment, hydrothermally sourced and remobilized by induced post-magmatic volcanic events.
Alireza Zarasvandi
Shahid Chamran University, Iran
Title: Environmental geochemistry and origin of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the street dust of Mahshahr City, Iran
Biography:
Alireza Zarasvandi has completed his PhD from Shiraz University. He is the member of Iranian Academy of Science and Editor-in-Chief of Iranian Journal of Advanced Applied Geology (2013 till now). He has published more than 31 papers in international journals.
Abstract:
The Mahshahr city is exposed to a wide variety of pollutants due to the presence of various environmental polluter sources. The aim of present work is the assessment of concentration and source of heavy metals, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the dust streets of Mahshahr city. In this way, dust street samples were collected from areas with different utility (e.g., industrial, commercial, educational, high traffic, hospitals, residential, and park). After sample preparing, heavy metals concentration like, Sb, Pb, Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Mo, V, Fe and PAHs were measured using ICP-OES and GC-MS analyses respectively. The average values of enrichment factor for Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb is intermediate. Calculation of geoaccumulation index (Igeo) indicate that heavy metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb in the dust samples belong to contaminated to medium contaminated categories, while other heavy metals (i.e., Co, Sb Cr, Mn, Ni, Mo, and V) belong to uncontaminated class. Statistical analyses such as principal component analyses (PCA) and clustering analyses (CA) was used to assess the natural and/or anthropogenic origin of pollutions. The results of these analyses indicate that heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons mostly originated from anthropogenic sources, owing to the presence of petrochemical industries, and vehicles traffic. PAHs with high molecular weight (HMW) are dominant in all selected dust street samples. Also, it is confirmed that PAHs in dust have a pyrogenic origin. Importantly, the sum of carcinogenic PAHs in all sampling sites is higher than sum of non-carcinogenic PAHs. The ratios of IND/(IND+BghiP) vs. (BaA/(BaA + Chr) proved that biomasses, together with oil and coal combustion could be considered as the source of PAHs in the dust street samples of Mahshahr.
Bahia M Ben Ghawar
University of Tripoli, Libya
Title: Lithology investigation of Shaly sand reservoir by using wire line data, “Nubian Sandstone†case study, SE Sirt Basin
Biography:
Abstract:
Identify the rock lithology has important meaning for estimating the reserve of petroleum as reservoir capacity and storage ability. The lithology identification from well log based on not conventional cross plot proposed and studied, which is more easier instead of rock core data observation results. However, this work carried out comparison between manual chart and analytical solution of matrix parameters (Ïma and ΔTma) estimation values of producer Shaly sand reservoir, and present the main depositional environment affects. Incompatible and compatible cross–plotting between measured wire line data recorded over than 750 feet produced Upper Nubian Sandstone belong to two oil fields, SE Sirt Basin. Rock physics and petrophysics are studied for specific purposes to understanding the relationships between rock physics parameters and lithology. Consequently, variety of matrix parameters values is contributed by different clay minerals present in this reservoir type. This Shaly reservoir divided into three main units (R, E and F), and each unit has been subdivided into three subunits (F3, F2, F1, E3, E2, E1, R3, R2 and R1) from bottom to top according to depositional and petrophysical properties.
Sanda Rajitha
Osmania University, India
Title: Evaluation of groundwater quality in parts of Alladurg Mandal, Medak District, Telangana State, India
Biography:
Sanda Rajitha completed PhD (Applied Geochemistry) in the year 2012 from Osmania University and working as a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Applied Geochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, since May 2014. She has 8 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Thirty water samples from open and bore-wells were collected during the post-monsoon period 2015, in parts of Alladurg area of Medak district to assess the quality of water for both drinking and irrigation purpose. The suitability of the water from the groundwater sources for drinking and irrigation purposes was evaluated by comparing the values of different water quality parameters with World Health Organization guideline values for drinking water. In connention to that different parameters like pH (6.7–7.8), Electrical Conductivity (400–2600 mg/l), Total Dissolved Solids (256–1664 mg/l), Total Hardness (85–540 mg/l), and major cations [Na+ (0–19.09 mg/l), K+ (1.17–30.03 mg/l), Ca2+ (20.04–170.34 mg/l), and Mg2+ (6.08–96.06 mg/l)] and anions [CO3−(0–231 mg/l) HCO3− (122–719.8 mg/l), Cl− (17.72–730.27 mg/l), SO4− (15.84–213.12 mg/l), F− (0.25–2.8 mg/l), and NO3− (7.83–484 mg/l)] were estimated and calculated various indices like Sodium Absorption Ratio, Sodium Percentage, Residual Sodium Carbonate. HCO3− and Ca2+ were the dominant ions in groundwater samples and also major hydrochemical facies were Ca–HCO3, and Ca–Mg–Cl types. Majority of the samples are suitable for drinking purposes except fluoride and nitrate and far from drinking water standards. The results showed that the high fluoride concentration is southern region while high nitrate concentration zone was middle part of the study area. Based on the US Salinity Laboratory diagram, groundwater samples were classified as C3S1 (>80%) and C2S1 were the most dominant classes in groundwater samples are due to high concentration of bicarbonate. The groundwater quality is above the sufficiency level for both drinking and irrigation, and appropriate management measures are recommended for sustainable development.
Jassim M Thabit
University of Baghdad, Iraq
Title: Azimuth resistivity survey to delineate subsurface seepage of hydrocarbon contaminated water at Karbala governorate, Iraq
Biography:
Jassim has completed his PhD at the age of 38 years from Baghdad University. He is assistant professor in Department of Geology-College of Science-University of Baghdad. He has published more than 35 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a University Teaching in Dept. of Geology in Mosul and Baghdad University since 1986 .He is supervised more than 16 thesis for MSc and PhD, and he is working as Consultant in Ministry of Irrigation and Ministry of Housing and Building.
Abstract:
Non symmetrical azimuthal resistivity survey was applied with three different types of electrode arrays: Wenner, Schlumberger and polar dipole-dipole in two sites near water well contaminated with hydrocarbon materials in Karbala governorate for delineating underground seepage of contaminated water. A subsurface plume of contaminated water was detected moving to northeast direction. It is found that all the used arrays show the ability to delineate the contaminated water plume but polar dipole-dipole array was the best to delineate the exact axis of that plume. Symmetrical azimuthal resistivity survey with Wenner electrode array was applied in four stations near contaminated well 8 in order to detect moving direction of contaminated water spill from the well. This technique gave good results in detecting spill direction where the major amount of spill moving from the well towards northwest direction, then the spill divided into two parts; major part moving to northeast direction and the second part moving to southwest. Azimuthal resistivity techniques can be successful in detecting contaminated water spill under proper conditions. Deep VES survey (maximum distance between current electrodes was 800 m) in four VES points was applied in order to study the deep hydrocarbon contaminant-bearing layer (layers) with respect to its depth and thickness in its actual deep position. It is found that VES technique is not effective to detect this hydrocarbon contaminant-bearing layer (layers) in its actual position at the surveyed area, whereas the boundary between Dibdibba and Injana formations and the depth to the upper boundary of Dammam formation were detected.