Characterization of an Unstable Slope Using Geophysical, UAV, and Geological Techniques: Karakoram Himalaya, Northern Pakistan

Given active tectonism, rough terrain, and climate, the mountainous ranges in northern Pakistan are prone to geohazards, including earthquakes, unstable slopes, and landslides. The frequent landsliding in the region poses a risk to communities, economic activities, and transportation networks. In this context, the unstable slope above Mayun village calls for a multi-method approach for better assessment of the slope for planning interventions aimed at hazard mitigation. We conducted an integrated study including uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in coordination with geomorphic field observations to image the possible slip surfaces for a comprehensive understanding of a potential future rockslide with significant socioeconomic consequences. UAV-derived results helped delineate the overall extent of the unstable slope and its downslope area in a quick, remote, and safe way. GPR profiles have enabled the reconstruction of the bedrock’s morphology and its internal structure and the depth distribution of cracks running through the overburden and bedrock. The results provided insight into the stable and unstable compartments of the slope due to the thin cover of surficial deposits, high impedance contrast at the overburden-bedrock interface, lateral heterogeneities, and presence of open cracks, and almost detached blocks, respectively. These data on the dynamic properties of a landslide-prone slope could be used for the correct planning of civil infrastructure to minimize the potential risk of building damage in the seismically active Hunza valley.

Late Neoproterozoic – early Paleozoic basin evolution in the Coal Creek inlier of Yukon, Canada: implications for the tectonic evolution of northwestern Laurentia

The age and nature of the Neoproterozoic – early Paleozoic rift–drift transition has been interpreted differently along the length of the North American Cordillera. The Ediacaran “upper” group (herein elevated to the Rackla Group) of the Coal Creek inlier, Yukon, Canada, represents a key succession to reconstruct the sedimentation history of northwestern Laurentia across the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary and elucidate the timing of active tectonism during the protracted breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia. These previously undifferentiated late Neoproterozoic – early Paleozoic map units in the Coal Creek inlier are herein formally defined as the Lone, Cliff Creek, Mount Ina, Last Chance, Shade, and Shell Creek formations. New sedimentological and stratigraphic data from these units is used to reconstruct the depositional setting. In the Last Chance Formation, chemostratigraphic observations indicate a ca. 5‰ δ13Ccarb gradient coincident with the globally recognized ca. 574–567 Ma Shuram carbon isotope excursion. Map and stratigraphic relationships in the overlying Shell Creek Formation provide evidence for latest Ediacaran – middle Cambrian tilting and rift-related sedimentation. This provides evidence for active extension through the Cambrian Miaolingian Series in northwestern Canada, supporting arguments for a multiphase and protracted breakup of Rodinia.

Waterfalls: Forms, Distribution, Processes and Rates of Recession

A waterfall is a very steep (commonly nearly vertical) fall of some magnitude in a river course. Waterfalls are widespread fluvial landforms that have been described from many parts of the world. Thirty-eight World Heritage Properties include waterfalls in their designation. In addition, some waterfalls are actual or potential geomorphosites. Waterfalls occur in almost all climatic environments, though they are particularly common in formerly glaciated areas. They occur on a huge diversity of rock types, although in general, they do not form persistent or large falls on soft or unconsolidated rocks. Waterfalls also occur in a wide range of geomorphological settings: glaciated areas, areas of active tectonism, areas of sea-cliff retreat and sea-level change, great escarpments on passive margins, basins with river capture, rifted and faulted areas and areas that have been subjected to megaflooding. Multiple processes account for waterfall retreat and varying rates of recession. Although the greatest interest has been in rates of waterfall recession, there are examples of waterfalls that prograde as a result of tufa deposition.

Selection of Suitable Dam Axis Location Considering Permeability and Grout Curtain Optimization

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of active tectonism on the construction of hydraulic structures. Apart from the effect of dynamic loads, active tectonism can cause permeability problems. The focus of this study was on overcoming the permeability problems considering the economic yield in terms of grout curtain design and optimum dam axis location. The ground permeability of dam locations is one of the decisive factors affecting the feasibility and economic yield of dam construction. Techniques (such as grouting) for ensuring ground permeability reduction are generally expensive and time-consuming; the experience at the first location of the Turgutlu Dam is a case in point. Construction of the first location of Turgutlu Dam was planned on a fault terrace that is part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone, which is the most important active tectonic feature in Turkey. A grout curtain was planned to provide permeability reduction and ground treatment for the terrace material. However, the base elevation of the adjacent valley is deeper, and thus potential leakage to this valley was expected. In spite of its big reservoir area, the Turgutlu Dam Project became infeasible in terms of economic yield due to the ground remediation (construction of grout curtain) costs for this location. To solve this problem, the dam was relocated downstream to avoid the fault terrace, choosing an optimum grout curtain to minimize cost and improve water retention of the reservoir, and increase economic yield of the dam.

HYDROTHERMAL MINERALIZATION IN JAILOLO WATERS, WEST HALMAHERA, NORTH MALUKU PROVINCE

Halmahera Island tectonically is divided into two main regimes, those are East Arm Regime (EAR) and West Arm Regime (WAR). Both regimes have very different characteristics where the EAR consists of Cretaceous ultramafic rocks and old red shale, while the WAR composed of Neogene sediment. The study area is an area with active tectonism shown by recent seismic activities and volcanic eruptions. Hydrothermal activity is indicated by rocks alteration of andesite, dacite, and diorite such as kaolinite, argilic and montmorilonite. Primary metal type mineralization occured in a strong altered volcanic rocks, while the secondary mineralization occured in the sedimentary placer. AAS, petrographic analysis, and mineralografi obtained mineral pyrite, manganese, chalcopyrite in rocks from coastal and marine offshore up to depth of 100 meters. Analysis of the 36 examples of seabed sediments, showed the presence of anomalous metal minerals of Au, Cu, Mn, and Fe those are content of Au 0.01 - 0.03 ppm; Cu 14-150 ppm; Mn 23-1050 ppm; and Fe 2-10%.Keywords: Jailolo waters, western arm regime (WAR), andesite, dacite and diorite intrusion rocks, mineralization of Au, Cu, Mn, and Fe. Pulau Halmahera tektonik dibagi menjadi dua rezim utama, yaitu East Arm Rezim (EAR) dan Westt Arm Rezim (WAR). Kedua rezim memiliki karakteristik yang sangat berbeda yang EAR terdiri dari batuan ultrabasa Kapur dan shale merah tua, sedangkan WAR Terdiri dari batuan sedimen berumur Neogen. Daerah penelitian sebagai daerah dengan tektonik dan vulkanik aktif yang ditunjukan dengan aktifitas gempa dan letusan gunungapi hingga sekarang. Aktifitas hidrothermal ditunjukkan oleh alterasi pada batuan andesit, dasit, dan diorite. Mineral ubahan yang terbentuk kaolinit, argilik dan montmorilonit. Tipe mineralisasi logam primer terdapat dalam batuan vulkanik terubah kuat, sedangkan mineralisasi sekunder terdapat dalam sedimen plaser. Hasil analisis AAS, petrografi, dan mineralografi didapatkan mineral pirit, mangan, kalkopirit pada batuan di pesisir dan laut lepas hingga kedalaman 100 meter. Hasil analisis terhadap 36 sedimen dasar laut, menunjukan adanya kandungan mineral logam Au,Cu, Mn, dan Fe dengan kadar Au=0.01 - 0,03 ppm; Cu 14-150 ppm; Mn 23-1050 ppm; dan Fe 2-10% . Kata kunci: Mandala lengan barat (MLB), batuan intrusi andesit, dasit, dan diorit, mineralisasi Au, Cu, Mn, dan Fe, Perairan Jailolo, Halmahera Barat.

Stratigraphy, composition and provenance of argillaceous marls from the Calcare di Base Formation, Rossano Basin (northeastern Calabria)

The Calcare di Base Formation is a part of the Rossano Basin characterizing the Foreland Basin System of northeastern Calabria. Messinian argillaceous marls from the Calcare di Base Formation have been studied to characterize the sedimentary evolution of this formation during the post-orogenic phases of the Calabria–Peloritani Arc. The mineralogical assemblage of the argillaceous marls is dominated by phyllosilicates (illite, chlorite, illite/smectite mixed layers and traces of kaolinite), carbonate minerals (calcite, aragonite and dolomite), quartz and traces of feldspars (both K-feldspars and plagioclase), gypsum and celestine. The palaeoweathering index records changes at the source, reflecting variations in the tectonic regime as shown in the A–CN–K plot, where the studied samples describe a trend typical of a source area in which active tectonism allows erosion of all zones within weathering profiles developed on source rocks. The studied samples are derived from an environment in which non-steady-state weathering conditions prevailed. This trend could record deformational events that affected the Mediterranean area during the Miocene. The Th/Sc versus Zr/Sc ratios and Al–Zr–Ti plot suggest that the samples likely record a recycling effect from their basement rocks. The geochemical proxies of these samples suggest a provenance from a mainly felsic source. The Messinian argillaceous marls record that deposition probably occurred in a semi-closed marine environment mainly subject to hypersalinity with local episodes of meteoric water influx, during a period characterized by persistent dry and warm/arid conditions alternating with relatively wet conditions.

Paleoenvironmental analysis of Ediacaran strata in the Catalina Dome, Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland

Ediacaran strata in the Conception and St. John's groups that are exposed in the Catalina Dome, eastern Newfoundland, comprise a succession that is thinner but otherwise broadly similar to that known from the well-studied outcrops near Mistaken Point in southern Avalon Peninsula and Spaniard's Bay in northern Avalon. In all of these areas, strata consist of turbidites deposited in deep-water basin-plain and slope environments, but important differences help to constrain interpretations of basin history and Ediacaran paleobiology of eastern Newfoundland. A turbidite paleocurrent shift from easterly to southerly is consistent with the existing two-phase tectonic model for basin evolution previously proposed for the Avalon Peninsula. In the Catalina Dome, however, this shift occurred stratigraphically higher than at Mistaken Point but lower than at Spaniards Bay in the Avalon Peninsula. Probable seismoturbidites are common in the lower part of the Catalina succession, suggesting particularly active tectonism. Except in the very lowest 20 m of the succession (Drook and lowermost Mistaken Point formations) in which ash is absent, volcanic ash beds are both more common and more volumetrically significant throughout the succession than farther to the south and east, which suggests that deposition occurred closer to the volcanic arc. Volcanic ash beds persist higher stratigraphically, occurring within the Fermeuse Formation, which here contains diverse rangeomorph fossils in contrast with the low-diversity assemblage of Ediacaran discs prevalent in the Fermeuse Formation of the Avalon Peninsula. This distribution strongly reaffirms the importance of taphonomy in controlling the composition of deep-water Ediacaran assemblages.

Origin, weathering, and geochemical composition of loess in southwestern Hungary

Loess geochemistry generally reflects paleo-weathering conditions and it can be used to determine the average composition of the upper continental crust (UCC). In this study, major and trace element concentrations were analyzed on loess samples from southwestern Hungary to determine the factors influencing their chemical compositions and to propose new average loess compositions. All studied loess samples had nearly uniform chemical composition, suggesting similar alteration history of these deposits. Chemical Index of Alteration values (58–69) suggested a weak to moderate degree of weathering in a felsic source area. Typical non-steady state weathering conditions were shown on the Al2O3–CaO+Na2O–K2O patterns, indicating active tectonism of the Alpine–Carpathian system during the Pleistocene. Whole-rock element budgets were controlled by heavy minerals derived from a felsic magmatic or reworked sedimentary provenance. Geochemical parameters indicated that dust particles must have been recycled and well homogenized during fluvial and eolian transport processes.