Author: geosciencejournal

Abstract

The Houston area, and the Gulf Coast in general, is laced by numerous growth faults which are geological hazards that are known to impact and damage house slabs, building-support structures, highways and associated foundations. Water-supply wells and pipelines, oil and gas wells and pipelines, and other anthropogenic structures are also affected by growth faults, and have cost millions of dollars to repair over the years as a result of the small, but significant, movement of these faults. At depth, these faults have created economically important oil and gas reservoirs, sulfur and uranium deposits, and geopressured-geothermal energy. But they also provide pathways for dissolved uranium and radionuclides (e.g. 226radium and 222radon) and natural gas to migrate from great depths upward into Houston’s groundwater supplies in various areas within the Evangeline and overlying Chicot Aquifers. Such pathways also allow other hazardous substances from human activities to migrate vertically or from one water-bearing unit to another. Such faults impact the Houston environs as a subsurface geological hazard although their full significance has gone unrecognized for decades since the U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) budgets for mapping the faults in the Houston area were eliminated in the late 1970s. Houston’s building foundation repair industry has since flourished in faultprone areas unsuitable for construction without foundation design accommodations. This would require a more complete knowledge of fault locations throughout the Houston area.

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http://sciaeon.org/articles/Growth-Faulting-and-Subsidence-in-the-Houston-Texas-Area-Guide-to-the-Origins-Relationships-Hazards-Potential-Impacts-and-Methods-of-Investigation-An-Update.pdf

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Over the past years, I2M Associates personnel and associates noticed an increase in the number of inaccurate, misleading, and deceptive articles that were produced by various types of media on the subject of nuclear power, uranium exploration and mining, and other associated environmental issues. So did other professionals {(more) and (more)} on nuclearpower matters, and especially on the natural gas industry regarding hydraulic fracturing (more). These reports came from the national media, film producers, national and local adversarial groups, local citizens groups and the attorneys who represent them (more). Because they all seem to exhibit many shortcomings in common, we began in 2007 to examine some of the egregious articles in detail. In early 2010, I2M Associates, LLC, our new company, agreed to continue to encourage I2M personnel to review and comment on articles selected through a process involving at least three and perhaps additional associates, and to publish our reviews as an educational contribution to the general public. It should be noted that the opinions expressed herein are the views of the authors, not necessarily those of I2M Associates, LLC.

For more details:
http://sciaeon.org/articles/Confronting-Media-and-other-Bias-against-Uranium-Exploration-and-Mining-Nuclear-Power-and-Associated-Environmental-Issues.pdf

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Abstract

It is paramount to identify areas surrounded by water for the safety of individual should in case the water level rises beyond a reasonable doubt and might cause a flood. The procedure is to develop models of the area around the catchment or watershed using satellite images and other input data from the Geographic Information System (GIS). In this study, the soil water assessment tool (SWAT) was used in the delineation of the watershed. The data collected from the satellite ASTER DEM was processed using ArcGIS 10.3 to crop the boundary of the catchment. The result is the established 3D models of flood risk zones in the study area reflecting sustainability and mitigation of the future flood event that will be occurring whenever there is high rainfall. The study will be useful to high authority, the private sector, urban planners as well as an individual tourist in taking accurate majors in controlling the demarcated and delineated areas been modeled to ensure suitability.

For more details:
http://sciaeon.org/articles/3D-Modeling-and-Watershed-Delineation-of-Flood-Risk-Zones-Using-GIS-and-Remote-Sensing-in-Terengganu-River.pdf

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Abstract

For the past decade OPEC has published the World Oil Outlook (WOO)[1]. This month (November 2017) launched the 2017 report which offers a thorough review and assessment of the medium- and long-term prospects to 2040 for the global oil industry, as well as analysis of various sensitivities that have the potential to impact the petroleum industry in the years ahead. It clearly identifies that Gas is the future of energy with use of Renewables the fastest-growing power source to 2040. The identified uncertainty is the uptake of electric cars and the resulting decrease in petrol consumption.

For more details:
http://sciaeon.org/JGG/decadal-energy-prediction-a-bright-future-for-oil.php

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Abstract

In the early 1970s, the late, great Professor John J.W. Rogers, then Chairman of the Geology Department, arranged a fellowship for me to come to Rice University as a senior graduate student to bring diversity to his geology department. I had just spent 10 years in industry working on mineral exploration and environmental projects and he decided that my presence in directing early EPA projects on groundwater development and other projects involving mineral exploration would expose the graduate students and staff to perspective beyond pure geological research that Rice was well known for in world-wide applications in basic geological to applied geological research, as in that needed in the developing environmental field and in economic geological research. I noticed this lack of transition from academic research to applied (for industrial needs) in my research for the text Water Well Technology, published by McGraw-Hill in early 1973. I emphasized this need in an editorial in the journal Ground Water in late 1973 (here). Second, I soon realized that the geosciences and engineering had compartmentalized over the years and that one specialization within one sub-field did not communicate much with the other.

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http://sciaeon.org/geology-and-geoscience/home

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Abstract

Mining properties located southwest of Hanoi, Vietnam in the Đồi Bù District, Hòa Bình Region were visited during January, 2014. The key conclusions of the assessment were: 1) The subject areas have not been explored in any detail for decades if not longer. The Chinese (pre- 1900s) and then later the French (pre-1960s) conducted basic reconnaissance and produced the early maps of the area. During the 1960s and 1970s, the USSR explored the area in some detail via outcrop sampling programs and some drilling, but many sites within the area of interest remain poorly investigated and untested. The general area has received only superficial investigation to date of the obvious fracture zones and associated outcropping geological structures; 2) Since the late 1980s, the Vietnamese Geological Survey and associated universities have undertaken the systematic assembly and cataloging of all available geological, geophysical, and mining information on the reported minerals present in Vietnam, almost all of which are in Vietnamese; 3) Various Government departments are involved in all mineral exploration and mining programs in Vietnam for the purpose of supporting exploration and mining and for purposes of regulating the exploration and mining activities to ensure that the health and safety of the local inhabitants, farm animals, and the local surface water and groundwater are protected for long-term use by the people of Vietnam; 4) After a review of the available literature and selected translations of the reports relating to the areas of interest (combined with the information gained during the visit of January, 2014), and based on the samples taken from outcrop, evaluated, and tested at an international laboratory, the authors have concluded that the subject areas discussed here have an unusually high potential for world-class ore bodies of precious and base metals present at shallow depths(600 m); 5) Of the 31 samples obtained from outcrop in the Hop Hoa, Vai Dao, Lang Sen, and Lien Son areas, 42% of the total number of samples analyzed show gold values in excess of 1 gram per tonne (g/t), seven of those contain greater than 5 g/t with two higher than 25 g/t (i.e., 25.6 and 68.9 g/t). Although the high analyses might be the result of the “nugget” effect, they can show nothing about the available volume of mineralized rock surrounding the samples and their metal content until drilling is conducted to determine the horizontal and vertical extent of the zone and grade of associated precious metals and other metals; 6) The type of mineralization present in the area of interest (Au-Mn-As-Pb-Ga-Mo) indicates that other metals of economic significance would likely occur with the gold making any mining and processing design a multi-metal venture; 7) Based on sampling of the tailings at the Cam Vao Processing Plant near Cam Ram, the associated tailings pond, and adjacent creek, all three areas contain high concentrations (in environmental terms) of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead. An environmental assessment should be conducted on and around the processing plant extending to and including the associated down gradient rice paddies.

For more details:
http://sciaeon.org/JGG/gold-and-other-metals-in-the-cao-ram-area-doi-bu-district-hoa-binh-region-southwest-of-hanoi-vietnam.php

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Abstract

In order to achieve the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) ground water management for protecting ground water quality and quantity has assumed a key role. Socio-Hydrogeology (SHG) is a new branch of water related sciences which promotes taking hydrogeology or the ground water science to the society, especially to the rural society and farmers, as the farmers are the greatest users of ground water. SHG stresses the need to educate the civil society regarding the principles of hydrogeology in simple language so as to ensure society’s participation and cooperation in conservation and reducing pollution of ground water. In order to practise SHG, the research work and the research funds available to Universities and Government Institutes should be oriented towards solving the practical problems faced by the society. SHG includes an active role for hydrogeologists for communication with rural society about water related Geohazards like drought, flood, desertification, aquifer salinization, tsunami, etc. and for effective remediation after their occurrence. Many NGOs and industries in India, especially the cement manufacturing industries, are following the principles of ‘responsible resource development’ related to surface water and ground water and are in a way promoting Socio-Hydrology (SH) and Socio-Hydrogeology (SHG), respectively.

For more details:
http://sciaeon.org/JGG/socio-hydrogeology-and-its-application-for-promoting-ground-water-management-in-india.php

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Elevated chloride concentrations (>250 mg/l) were reported to the Ohio State Environmental Protection Agency in the early 2000s by a rural resident using groundwater for domestic consumption from a private water well. An adjacent commercial oil and gas pipe yard had spread relatively small volumes of oilfield brines from 1998 through 2000 to control dust during summers and to de-ice on the property driveways, and county and state agencies used halite and other brines on surrounding rural county and state highways during the winter. There are multiple sources in the immediate area that might have contributed to local groundwater by varying degrees, resulting in elevated chloride concentrations reported in the samples from the on-site monitoring wells and from the neighborhood water wells over the years prior to 2004, the time of our investigations. An independent investigation was undertaken to characterize the local hydrogeological and geochemical conditions below and surrounding the pipe yard, which has the highest elevation in the area. Data collection to support the investigation consisted of: 1) the installation of nested groundwater monitoring wells (shallow and deep) located at six sites along the periphery and central part of the pipe yard, 2) stratigraphic core drilling, recovery and examination of 220 feet of core, 3) natural gamma and caliper logging of core hole, 4) groundwater sampling for geochemistry and periodic on-site measuring of water levels in each of the monitoring wells, surrounding off-site rural water wells, and up-gradient rural water wells. Formal interviews with residents concerned their use and management of water wells, and any water-softening and/or septic-tank systems’ operational histories, and 5) local reconnaissance of spring/seep sites around the area, and sampling a local stream. 

For more details:
http://sciaeon.org/articles/Anatomy-of-a-Case-of-Elevated-Chloride-in-the-Shallow-Black-Hand-Sandstone-Providing-Rural-Drinking-Water-Supplies-in-North-Central-Ohio-USA-Hydrogeological-and-Hydrochemical-Characterization-by-Majo.pdf

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Abstract

Headstones located at St Mary’s churchyard situated in Scarborough, UK were photographed with a scale and measurements taken of distinctive wick tides. These were measured at maximum height on the front of headstones. Out of 339 headstones photographed in this study, 76 (22.4%) had (distinctive) lens-shaped wick tides. Measurements of maximum wick height were acquired both through photographic means and compared with some field-based measurements. Topography was also photographically assessed as well as examined remotely using online-accessible Google Earth satellite images. The photographic measurements in the current study were very comparable to those attained either in the field or remotely. It can be concluded based on the findings of this study that digital photography can be manipulated to acquire accurate measurements of such physical attributes affecting headstones as cultural heritage landforms located in an urban churchyard. The level of accuracy possible in this study was within a 5% error margin, which is adequate for most research purposes.

For more details:
http://sciaeon.org/JGG/photo-based-measurementation-of-the-wick-effect-and-gradient-at-an-urban-english-churchyard-scarborough-uk.php

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Abstract

The dynamic portrait Yellowstone`s volcano in the form of a detailed analysis of the key parameters in real time is represent. Important preliminary conclusions: active volcanoes energetically open systems with the strong influence of outward astrophysical components, primarily solar fluxes of muons and neutrinos. It is necessary to take into account the forecast of their activity. Astrophysical component is one of the main mechanisms of synchronization super volcano activity. Similar to the Earth, the Solar system is also prone to volcanoes synchronizing effects astrophysical components, i.e. the solar system has a common general geophysical rhythms. Now we are analyzing more interesting processes and new data.

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http://sciaeon.org/JGG/yellowstones-volcano-and-sun-fragments-selected-works.php

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