Original Research Paper
Samir Derouiche; Khadidja Benoune; Achouak Kenioua
Abstract
The aim of this work is to assess the impact of red clay on the physiological and biochemical alterations in rats exposed to lead acetate. The experimental study was carried out in the laboratory on 18 male Wistar rats, which were divided into three groups of six rats in each, the first group served ...
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The aim of this work is to assess the impact of red clay on the physiological and biochemical alterations in rats exposed to lead acetate. The experimental study was carried out in the laboratory on 18 male Wistar rats, which were divided into three groups of six rats in each, the first group served as control, the second group contaminated with lead, and the third group contaminated with lead and treated with red clay. Some biochemical, haematological, and oxidative stress parameters are analysed. Regarding the characterization of the clay, the results of infrared spectroscopy and X-ray spectroscopy indicate the presence of several bands indicating the mineral richness of red clay. From the analysis of our results, we observe a considerable change in the body weight, and an increase in the relative weight of liver and testis in the rats contaminated with lead compared to control. The results also show a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the serum calcium and iron. However, serum transaminases (GPT, GOT) activities are increased in the rats contaminated with lead in comparison with control. The results obtained reveal also a decrease in the Hb, HCT, and MCV levels and in the GSH concentration and an increase in the PLT, MDA, GST, and SOD levels compared to control. Also the results clearly show alterations in the structures of the liver and testis in comparison with the controls. Treatment with red clay partially ameliorates the previous parameters, with protection and regeneration of the tissue against free radical attacks caused by lead. In conclusion, this study shows that treatment with red clay induces a positive effect against lead toxicity at molecular and tissue level.
Original Research Paper
Ahmed Abd El-Dayiem Abd El-Fatah; Ahmed Ali Madani; Adel Abd Allah Surour; Mokles Kamal Azer
Abstract
The present work aims to enhance the utilization of Landsat-8 data in geological mapping when they are paired with spectroscopic measurements and field observations. This is applied to map and differentiate the different plutonic rocks in the Gebel El-Bakriyah pluton, a peculiar igneous body in the central ...
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The present work aims to enhance the utilization of Landsat-8 data in geological mapping when they are paired with spectroscopic measurements and field observations. This is applied to map and differentiate the different plutonic rocks in the Gebel El-Bakriyah pluton, a peculiar igneous body in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Therefore, we use a combination of remote sensing techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), band ratios, fusion technique, and spectroscopic measurements to interpret igneous lithologies, and produce a new geologic map of the Gebel El-Bakriyah area. A false-color composite principal component image PC1, PC2, and PC3 in red, green, and blue (RGB) discriminates between alkali feldspar granite, syenogranite, and younger gabbro. In general, the spectral profiles of granites exhibit three distinct absorption features in the 1.4, 1.9, and 2.2 μm wavelength regions. These features are attributed mainly to altered mineral products such as kaolinite, sericite, and chlorite. The spectral profiles of pink and alkali feldspar granites show a broad absorption feature at 0.9 μm, which is attributed to a considerable Fe content. The spectral profiles of fresh, younger gabbros exhibit absorption features around 1 μm and 2.2 μm. A false-color composite image provides the most accurate discrimination of the three varieties of younger granites with band ratios of 7/4, 6/3, and 3/1 in RGB. The data that appear in the present work strengthen the usefulness of Landsat-8 imagery and spectroscopic measurements as a prevailing grouping to discriminate and map Neoproterozoic shield rocks in the Eastern Desert of Egypt.
Original Research Paper
Kwang Hyok Kim; Tok Hyong Han; Un Chol Han; Ryo Myong Hong
Abstract
This paper focuses on a study concerned with estimation of the platform motion at the lower loading station in the Trucklift slope hoisting system with varying profile of track. The TruckLift slope hoisting system is an innovative transport technology for open-pit mines, and considerably accelerates ...
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This paper focuses on a study concerned with estimation of the platform motion at the lower loading station in the Trucklift slope hoisting system with varying profile of track. The TruckLift slope hoisting system is an innovative transport technology for open-pit mines, and considerably accelerates and cheapens transport from mine. When a truck drives onto or drives off the platform at the lower loading station in the Trucklift slope hoisting system with varying profile of track, the platform motion influences the operation of the Trucklift slope hoisting system, and the configuration of inclined rope hitched to the platform is varied. The simulation result by using the ADAMS (Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems) software shows that the horizontal distance between lower loading station and platform varies when a truck drives onto or off the platform and the initial horizontal distance that is the distance between lower loading station and platform when the winder is applied the brake, can be an important factor in operation of the Trucklift slope hoisting system with varying profile track.
Original Research Paper
Deemah Saad Mahmoud; Ahmed Ali Madani; Said Mohamed Said; Mohamed Mokhtar Yehia; Tamer Nassar
Abstract
The eastern border of the Nile valley south of Cairo is distinguished by numerous springs and associated surface water bodies, e.g. Ain El-Sira, Helwan, and Atfih. Except the latter, all of them were disseminated in urban areas, and were hardly detected by remote sensing data. Thus, studying the surface ...
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The eastern border of the Nile valley south of Cairo is distinguished by numerous springs and associated surface water bodies, e.g. Ain El-Sira, Helwan, and Atfih. Except the latter, all of them were disseminated in urban areas, and were hardly detected by remote sensing data. Thus, studying the surface water of Atfih spring is key to understanding the nature of the east Nile spring system. Change in this surface water has been detected based on the integration between the spatiotemporal analysis of the multi-spectral satellite images and the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA-2) rainfall data from 1987 to 2019, and the field investigation. The normalized differential water index analysis reveals an increase in the surface area of the Atfih water body by two to three times during the years 2016-2017. The results clarified the relationship between the appearance of the surface water of Atfih spring and rainfall amounts. Another factor controlling the Atfih water body treated in this work is the geological structures. A field survey aided by the processed satellite data revealed the presence of three fault populations: WNW-ESE, E-W to ENE-WSW, and NNE-SSW. The E-W to ENE-oriented faults are the main faults and have a right-lateral strike-slip sense of movement. This fault pattern and Pliocene shale have a substantial impact on the appearance of the Atfih water body. These faults act as a horizontal channel that allows lateral movement of meteoric water through Eocene carbonate, and water recharge occurs at the highly fractured strike-slip transfer zones.
Original Research Paper
Rahul Shakya; Manendra Singh; Narendra Kumar Samadhiya
Abstract
An earthquake is a random occurrence that can happen anytime in highly seismic active areas. Therefore, it might happen even when the metro-train is moving. In such a scenario, the vibrations produced by the dynamic loading of a moving metro-train and the dynamic loading due to an earthquake will impact ...
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An earthquake is a random occurrence that can happen anytime in highly seismic active areas. Therefore, it might happen even when the metro-train is moving. In such a scenario, the vibrations produced by the dynamic loading of a moving metro-train and the dynamic loading due to an earthquake will impact the dynamic response of underground metro-tunnels. In this work, an effort is made to comprehend how the Delhi Metro's underground tunnels will respond to the combined dynamic loading from the earthquake and the running train. Therefore, the dynamic response of underground metro-tunnels is primarily influenced by the vibrations generated due to the dynamic loading of a running metro-train and the dynamic loading due to an earthquake. Both these loadings cause vibrations at the ground surface and the tunnel utilities. In this paper, an attempt is made to understand the response of Delhi metro-underground tunnels to the combined dynamic loading due to the earthquake and the train's motion. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element analyses are carried out using the Plaxis software. The research work finds that the overall response at the ground surface increases due to the combined dynamic loading of the train and earthquake compared to the train's or the earthquake's sole dynamic loading. Maximum displacements in the soil-the tunnel system and forces in RC liners are found to be more significant for the combined loading of the earthquake and the train motion than those due to individual loadings.
Review Paper
Kanwarpreet Singh; Vanshika Bhardwaj
Abstract
Natural hazards are naturally occurring phenomena that might lead to a negative impact on the environment and also on the life of living beings. These hazards are caused due to adverse conditions of weather and climate events, and also due to certain human activities that are harmful to the environment. ...
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Natural hazards are naturally occurring phenomena that might lead to a negative impact on the environment and also on the life of living beings. These hazards are caused due to adverse conditions of weather and climate events, and also due to certain human activities that are harmful to the environment. Natural hazards include tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, etc. Among these natural hazards, landslides are among the most common natural hazards resulting in loss of life and property each year, leading to socio-economic impact; thus to avoid such losses, a comprehensive study of landslides is required. Landslides generally occur in hill region with steep slopes, heavy precipitation, loose shear strength of soil or due to many human activities like afforestation or construction activities. To resolve the problem of landslides in a hilly region, much research is conducted annually, providing a predicted landslide susceptibility zonation (LSZ) mapping of the area of research. The predicted landslide susceptibility maps are verified based on the past landslide data, an area under the curve (AUC), and other methods to provide an accurate map for landslide susceptibility in any area. In this study,93 research articles are reviewed for analysis of LSZ, and various observations are made based on the recent trends followed by various researchers over the world over the past ten years. The study can be useful for many researchers to practice their research on landslide susceptibility zonation.
Original Research Paper
Zahra Rezaee Shahzadehaliakbari; Mohsen Pourkermani; Mehran Arian; Ali Solgi; Anahita Keynezhad
Abstract
The Gazkhizan Copper deposit is located in the Troud-Reshm zone, Central Iran. It is situated in a shear zone bounded by the Anjilo and Troud sinistral strike-slip faults from the north and south, respectively. Mineralization is done by siliceous-shear veins along with copper mineralization. About 41 ...
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The Gazkhizan Copper deposit is located in the Troud-Reshm zone, Central Iran. It is situated in a shear zone bounded by the Anjilo and Troud sinistral strike-slip faults from the north and south, respectively. Mineralization is done by siliceous-shear veins along with copper mineralization. About 41 mapping points carried out around the fault outcrops, along with the interpretation of the Win Tensor software data and geometrical analysis of structural features paved our way to study the Riddle pattern in the region. The structural features include sinistral and dextral strike-slip faults, normal faults, reverse faults (rarely), and mineralized veins, as well as different types of shear zone fractures with different grades of copper ore. The mineralized veins in the area are frequent in four types including the R´, R, T, and X fractures, respectively. The highest number of the veins have been formed within the Riddle fractures. Because of the hybrid nature of the fractures, the veins are formed within the tensile fractures, and then they are aligned along the R fractures’ strike by the clockwise rotations. The importance and necessity of this research work is as what follows. The definitive reserve of this mineralized area is 434,500 tons of copper ore with an average grade of 1.61% of copper. For this reason, it is necessary to determine and classify the fractures that host this reserve.
Original Research Paper
Mohammad Omidi manesh; vahab sarfarazi; nima babanouri; amir rezaei
Abstract
This work presents the Semi-Circular Bend (SCB) test and Notched Brazilian Disc (NBD) test of shotcrete using experimental test and Particle Flow Code in two-dimensions (PFC2D) in order to determine a relation between mode I fracture toughness and the tensile strength of shotcrete. Firstly, the micro-parameters ...
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This work presents the Semi-Circular Bend (SCB) test and Notched Brazilian Disc (NBD) test of shotcrete using experimental test and Particle Flow Code in two-dimensions (PFC2D) in order to determine a relation between mode I fracture toughness and the tensile strength of shotcrete. Firstly, the micro-parameters of flat joint model are calibrated using the results of shotcrete experimental test (uniaxial compressive strength and splitting tensile test). Secondly, numerical models with edge notch (SCB model) and internal notch (NBD model) with diameter of 150 mm are prepared. Notch lengths are 20 mm, 30 mm, and 40 mm. The tests are performed by the loading rate of 0.016 mm/s. Tensile strength of shotcrete is 3.25 MPa. The results obtained show that by using the flat joint model, it is possible to determine the crack growth path and crack initiation stress similar to the experimental one. Mode I fracture toughness is constant by increasing the notch length. Mode I fracture toughness and tensile strength of shotcrete can be related to each other by the equation, σt = 6.78 KIC. The SCB test yields the lowest fracture toughness due to pure tensile stress distribution on failure surface.
Original Research Paper
Leila Nikakhtar; Shokroallah Zare; Hossein Mirzaei Nasir Abad
Abstract
Surface settlement induced by tunneling is one of the most crucial problems in urban environments. Hence, accurate prediction of soil geotechnical properties is an important prerequisite in the minimization of it. In this research work, the amount of surface settlement is predicted using three-dimensional ...
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Surface settlement induced by tunneling is one of the most crucial problems in urban environments. Hence, accurate prediction of soil geotechnical properties is an important prerequisite in the minimization of it. In this research work, the amount of surface settlement is predicted using three-dimensional numerical simulation in the finite difference method and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). In order to determine the real geotechnical properties of soil layers around the tunnel; back-analysis is carried out using the optimization algorithm and monitoring data. Among the different optimization methods, genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) are selected, and their performance is compared. The results obtained show that the artificial neural network has a high ability with the amounts of R=0.99, RMSE=0.0117, and MSE= 0.000138 in predicting the surface settlement obtained from 150 simulations from randomly generated data. Comparing the results of back-analysis using the optimization algorithm, the genetic algorithm shows less error than the particle swarm algorithm in different initial populations. In all cases of analysis, the calculation time for both algorithms lasts about 5 minutes, which indicates the applicability of both algorithms in optimizing the parameters in mechanized tunneling in a short time.
Original Research Paper
Amir Mohammad Nasrollahzadeh Bafti; Mohammad Jahani Chegeni; Ahmad Moghooeinejad; Zahra Manafi
Abstract
Flotation is the most important method for processing sulfide copper ores. Due to the high cost and environmental hazards caused by the chemical reagents used in this process (collectors, frothers, pH regulators, depressants, etc.), the possibility of replacing all these reagents or at least some of ...
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Flotation is the most important method for processing sulfide copper ores. Due to the high cost and environmental hazards caused by the chemical reagents used in this process (collectors, frothers, pH regulators, depressants, etc.), the possibility of replacing all these reagents or at least some of them are of special importance through environmentally friendly methods such as bio-flotation using halophilic bacteria. These bacteria have the ability of growth and proliferation in salty media and relatively neutral pHs such as sea salty water. In this research work, the four types of halophilic bacteria Halobacillus sp., Alkalibacillus almallahensis, Marinobacter sp., and Alkalibacillus sp. are studied to replace frothers (MIBC and F7240), depressant (sodium metabisulfite), and pH regulator (lime) in sulfide copper flotation using a Denver laboratory flotation cell. The results obtained indicate that each of the four types of bacteria mentioned above along with collectors (gasoil, Z11, and C7240) as the only chemical reagents (bio-flotation + collector) can depress pyrite better than the bacteria-free mode (flotation + all chemical reagents). Iron recovery in tailings in the standard flotation test is 46.8%, which is, respectively, increased to 91.9%, 74.5%, 70.3%, and 76.9% using the halophilic bacteria of Halobacillus sp., Alkalibacillus almallahensis, Marinobacter sp., and Alkalibacillus sp. On the other hand, the recovery of chalcopyrite using the bio-flotation method is lower than its recovery using the flotation method. Copper recovery in the concentrate in the standard flotation test is 89.1%, which is reached to 58.8%, 71.4%, 62.5%, and 69.4%, respectively, using the above bacteria in the bio-flotation method.
Original Research Paper
Enayatallah Emami Meybodi; Syed Khaliq Hussain; Mohammad Fatehi Marji
Abstract
In this research work, X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests and petrographic studies are performed to analyze the mineral composition and lamination in the shale rock specimens. Afterward, point load (PL) and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests are carried out on the anisotropic laminated shale rock. ...
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In this research work, X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests and petrographic studies are performed to analyze the mineral composition and lamination in the shale rock specimens. Afterward, point load (PL) and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests are carried out on the anisotropic laminated shale rock. Based on the macro-mechanical properties of these tests, the discrete element method implemented in a two-dimensional particle flow code (PFC2D) is adjusted to numerically simulate the shale rock specimens. The aim of this work is to validate the numerical models by failure process, stress-strain curves, and peak failure strengths of the shale samples. Therefore, point load test is used for assessing the pattern failure mechanism, and uniaxial compressive strength test is performed for obtaining the stress-strain curves and peak strength failure points in the laboratory shale rock samples. Validation of peak strengths criteria provides the best results; the determination coefficient values for lab and numerical modeling with (R2 = 0.99). Several numerical models are prepared for estimating the mechanical behavior of shale rocks in PFC2D. The smooth joint model (SJM) is used for preparing the consistent and appropriate constitutive models for simulating the mechanical behavior of laminated shale. It is concluded that SJM provides more reasonable results for laminated shale rock that can be used for several petroleum engineering projects, especially in the central geological zone of Iran.
Original Research Paper
Mohammad Rezaei; Navid Nyazyan
Abstract
Rock drilling is one of the most important processes in the mining operations, which involves high costs. Deep knowledge of the drilling conditions and rock mass properties can help the optimum selection of drilling system, precise determination of type and number of drilling equipment, and accurate ...
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Rock drilling is one of the most important processes in the mining operations, which involves high costs. Deep knowledge of the drilling conditions and rock mass properties can help the optimum selection of drilling system, precise determination of type and number of drilling equipment, and accurate prediction of drilling rate. The above process leads to enhance the drilling efficiency and mining productivity. In this work, relationships between the rock the physico-mechanical properties and horizontal drilling rate (HDR) are investigated. For this purpose, HDR is firstly measured during the drilling process at the Malawi marble quarry mine, Islamabad-e-Gharb, Iran. Then core samples are prepared from the representative minor rock blocks to conduct the laboratory tests and evaluate the influence of rock properties on HDR. The experimental results prove that natural density (ρn), dry density (ρd), slake durability index (Id), Schmidt hammer rebound (SHR), compression wave velocity (Vp), point load index (PLI), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), and modulus of elasticity (E) have inverse relationships with HDR. Conversely, HDR has a direct relationship with porosity (n), water content (Wa), Los Angeles abrasion (LAA), and Poisson ratio (ν). Generally, it is proved that HDR is more associated with the rock's physical properties than the mechanical characteristics. Moreover, sensitivity analysis confirm that n and ρd are the most and least effective variables on HDR. Furthermore, new optimum empirical equations with acceptable accuracy are proposed to predict HDR based on the statistical modeling. Finally, experimental verification analysis confirm the superiority of this study compared to the prior similar studies.
