The current study aimed to evaluate the petroleum generation potential of the Sakesar Formation. This study interprets and presents a depositional environment model, microfacies, and geochemical and petrophysical data of the Eocene Sakesar Formation in the Potwar Basin, Pakistan. Twenty well-cutting samples from two wells and six fresh outcrop samples were thoroughly studied. Results of total organic carbon and Rock-Eval pyrolysis of Sakesar Formation sediments show fair to good TOC contents ranging from 1.2-1.67 wt%. S2 values of samples showed fair to good generation potential. Sediments appear mature, having primarily mixed Type II-III kerogen with good oil/gas-generation potential. Three microfacies have been identified in the Sakesar Formation at the Tatral section: Bioclastic wacke-packstone, Lockhartia-rich mud-wackestone, and benthic foraminiferal wackestone. The microfacies of the Sakesar Limestone depict the deposition of the Sakesar Limestone from the distal middle ramp to restricted inner ramp settings. Petrophysical well logs analysis of the Sakesar Formation showed an average porosity of ~9.12%; the lithology was identified as limestone, having an average water saturation of ~22.32% and an average hydrocarbon saturation of ~77.68%. Thus indicating average to good reservoir properties with very good hydrocarbon saturation. Sakesar Formation sediments characteristics interpretation showed that it can act as both source rock and reservoir rock in the Potwar Basin.

The occurrence and types of ophiolites in the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes have not been identified in terms of their tectonic settings and geochemical features. Therefore, the study of the tectonic setting and subduction zones in the ophiolites’ magmatic evolution becomes a significant issue. The Ginebra Ophiolitic Complex (GOC) is located on the western flank of the Central Cordillera in the Valle del Cauca Department, southwest of Colombia, assigned to the Lower Cretaceous period, as indicated by the contact of the GOC with the Buga Batholith. The GOC is formed by three main lithologies: amphibolite, gabbro, and ultramafic rocks (pyroxenite and peridotite), according to Ossa (2007). The rocks in the Puente Piedra section, located in the northeast of Ginebra municipality, are part of the gabbroic cumulates within the ophiolitic sequence. This sequence comprises interspersed layers of gabbroic cumulates, gabbrodiorites, and diorites; interpreted as a result of crystal accumulation and fractional crystallization processes. The mafic rocks of the GOC are sub-alkaline and correspond to the low potassium (K2O wt% 0.03-0.06) tholeiitic series. Geochemically, they have SiO2 wt% ranging from 49 to 61 and an aluminum oxide saturation index of approximately ~0.4 and ~0.8, indicating a metaluminous type. The geochemistry of the studied rocks from Puente Piedra section indicates that the GOC formed through fractional crystallization and accumulation processes from a single magma source. Cluster analysis, used to compare the geochemistry of GOC rocks and the Amaime Complex basalts, suggests a similar magma source, possibly linked to multiple recharge events that underwent fractional crystallization, melt extraction, and accumulation processes. The geochemical parameters are indicative of a suprasubduction zone ophiolite, characterized by a low potassium tholeiitic series affinity, TiO2 values typically <1.2 wt%, Th enrichment typical of subduction zones, high Pb content, and low values of Ti, Y, Yb, Ta, Nb, Zr, and Hf.

The demand for economical means of evaluating soil nutrients’ unpredictability triggered the use of physical factors against the costlier, laborious, and time-consuming chemical approach. This drive led to resolving its capability in evaluating intricate soil properties as a productivity checker. This study aimed at assessing the physical parameters as a useful alternative to the conventional chemical examination of nutrient inconsistency. A petrographic examination was conducted on four rock samples for their classifications. Apparent Electrical Conductivity (ECa) measurements were seasonally executed in the wet (912-station) and dry (906-station). Ten cored soil samples were subjected to a permeability test. Twenty soil samples were examined for pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), available phosphorus, acidity, Na, Mg, K, and Ca using standard soil science procedures. The mineralogical composition of six samples was determined with X-ray diffraction. The rock is biotite granite gneiss containing plagioclase (22%), microcline (24%), orthoclase (4%), quartz (25%), biotite (7%), and others (18%). The soils ECa were 10-344 µS/cm; categorised as low (1-49 µS/cm), moderate (50-99 µS/cm), and high (>100 µS/cm). The ECa distribution varied from moderate (61%) to high (64%) suggesting a heterogeneous pattern of soil attributes. The infiltration rate was slow in high ECa (5.56x10-5-1.67x10-4 cm/s) signifying good retention capability whereas the low and moderate ECa (moderate-moderately rapid) sections promote nutrient leaching. The cation exchangeable capacity was low (2.99 cmol/kg) in the low ECa and moderate (3.30-4.85 cmol/kg) in the moderate and high ECa; with varying basic cation saturation in the high (81.38%), moderate (73.34%) and low (71.89%) ECa regions and high ECa had higher fertility status. The high ECa had low quartz (41.3%) and microcline (15.7%), but high kaolinite (31.1%) had an affinity to ads orb more cations compared to other ECa regions. ECa variability is practicable in predicting the spatial distribution of soil properties and delineating the management zones. Key words: Granite gneiss, electrical conductivity, permeability, soil composition, mineral assemblages

The road network in Colombia, as reported by the National Roads Institute of Colombia (INVIAS), comprises a total of 206,708 kilometers, with 142,284 kilometers falling under the rural roads with low traffic volume network category. Sadly, an estimated of 96% of these roads are in poor condition. The primary reason behind this issue is the presence of subgrades that exhibit inadequate mechanical performance, largely due to the lack of proper stabilization methods. Moreover, these roads often serve as the sole access and exit routes for rural communities, significantly impacting their connectivity with nearby urban centers. Recognizing this critical issue, this article proposes the use of coal ash for subgrade stabilization during the construction of low-traffic-volume roads. The study conducted demonstrates that coal ash can enhance the mechanical properties of subgrades, leading to an increase in strength and load-bearing capacity. The improved mechanical properties are attributed to the binding and reactive characteristics displayed by the coal ashes, which greatly contribute to soil stabilization. To verify these claims, a series of physical, mechanical, and strength characterization tests were conducted on both natural and treated clayey sand samples obtained from a rural population in Colombia. The detailed analysis of the results shows an improvement in the mechanical properties of the soil due to the use of coal ash as a stabilizing agent.

Taking the Xinshan iron ore mine as an example, this paper, based on collecting and analyzing the actual production data and similar simulation test data of this iron ore mine, analyses various factors affecting ore depletion by bottomless column segmental chipping method by using hierarchical analysis method (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method (FCE), and establishes an evaluation system for comprehensively assessing the depletion of the ores. The results show that structural parameters, blasting parameters, loading parameters, and geological conditions are the main factors affecting ore depletion. The structural parameters are the most important factors, accounting for 35%. With the increase of the released amount, the released grade gradually decreases, the depletion rate gradually increases, and the comprehensive evaluation value gradually decreases. The released body is an approximate ellipsoidal block with a wide upper and narrower lower part. The end wall plays an obstructive role in the flow of the bulk body, which makes the end of the released grade higher and the middle of the released body higher. At the same time, due to the influence of blasting and shovel loading, the particles in the release body show some sorting phenomena. This paper provides a scientific basis and reference for predicting and controlling ore depletion in the bottomless column segmental chipping method.

Low-density precipitation measurements impair the ability of hydrological models to estimate surface water resources accurately. Remote sensing techniques and climate models can help to improve the estimation of the space-time rainfall variability. However, they alone are not good enough to be used in surface models built to support water management. In this research, we test the improvement of rainfall field estimation by using hydrological modelling based on the premise that a higher hydrological performance generally implies that precipitation is more consistent with streamflow observations and evaporation estimates in the basin. The SWAT model was forced with two satellite and rain gauge blending techniques and with the traditional IDW deterministic interpolation method from stations. The three simulated streamflows were compared separately against observed records. We do not only focus the comparison on one hydrological performance metric but also conduct a deeper evaluation using several hydrological signatures and statistics. We included the bias, the temporal correlation, the relation of general variability, and an analysis of the Flow Duration Curves (we found that low and medium segments were estimated correctly, whereas the high segments were underestimated). We conclude that either combination technique has its advantages over the other and that both outperform the performance achieved by the IDW in most of the defined criteria, with an overall 10% improvement and with individual streamflow gauge performance enhancement up to 50%.

Contamination due to rapid urban development, industrialization, and agricultural sources is increasingly threatening the groundwater resources of the plioquaternary phreatic aquifer of the Middle Western Cheliff. An intrinsic vulnerability assessment was carried out based on the DRASTIC method on parameters involved in the vertical transfer of pollution from the soil surface. The vulnerability maps obtained showed a high extension of areas of medium vulnerability (54%). On the other hand, areas of low vulnerability occupied about 36%. The high and very high vulnerability was mainly related to low water depth values (8% and 2%, respectively). The results of a sensitivity analysis using the two tests—the single parameter sensitivity analysis and the map removal sensitivity analysis—show that every parameter is, without fail, required for the computation of the vulnerability index. The validation of the vulnerability map produced by the DRASTIC method confirmed the evolution of this sensitivity which decreases towards the S.W. of the plain with nitrate concentrations between 30 and 120 mg/L. Planners can use the produced risk maps as tools to make a preliminary choice of priority locations for various forms of environmental sustainability.

Ismenius Cavus (33.76° N, 17.05° W) is a large Martian basin that has been interpreted as an ancient paleolake. It is situated in the middle of the path Mamers Valles traces from the Cerulli Crater to the Borealis Basin. This ancient lake served as a key deposition area (or depocenter) for multiple lake chains originating in the southern highlands. The collected water was then transported downstream to the Borealis Basin. The ancient hydrologic activity of this zone is evidenced in the widespread appearance of valley networks and fretted channels, but especially in the presence of deltaic deposits converging in Ismenius Cavus. We made a hydrological and geomorphological analysis of two of these deltas, which compose a three-crater lake chain system. It was interpreted that both deltas, although being close to each other, were created by different processes and at different times. The Aracataca Delta was deposited during the Noachian by a valley network system. The Ariguani Delta, in turn, was the result of the discharge of a fretted channel carved by groundwater sapping. The transformations of the hydrologic systems in the Ismenius Cavus region were established by analyzing the change in the deltaic pulses over time. It was determined that the first hydrologic stage was dominated by widespread valley networks that probably represent subglacial hydrologic systems, a second stage started when these systems were replaced by groundwater activity; and finally, when the water sources were exhausted, a final stage of glacial processes prevailed until the present.

Rakhi Nala (Gorge) section of Eastern Sulaiman Range, Pakistan hosts world-class geological sections from the Cretaceous to the Recent. Here, Late Eocene Kirthar Formation is having a conformable lower contact with the greenish grey massive shale of the Baska Member of the Ghazij Formation. The rusty beds of the Oligocene Chitarwatta Formation are overlying the Kirthar Formation. To understand the detailed microfacies and depositional setting, detailed fieldwork was carried out in the Kirthar Formation in the outer Sulaiman Foldbelt. The late Eocene Kirthar Formation includes Habib Rahi Limestone, Domanda Shale, Pirkoh Limestone, and Drazinda Shale. Domanda Shale Member was deposited in transgression before Habib Rahi Limestone Member was deposited. It was followed up by the deposition of the second member Pirkoh Limestone and Marl Member. Habib Rahi Limestone, Pirkoh Limestone, and Marl Member have catch-up-to-keep-up deposition with rise and fall of sea level. Some facies of Drazinda and Domanda Shales represent a restricted setting supported by the presence of gypsum, while deep sea facies were also identified. This study will provide a guide for evaluating sedimentological concepts and understanding complex facies in highly oil and gas-prone stratigraphic sequences especially in the Eastern Tethys Region.

This paper assessed soil degradation over land use in the Kebbi area, Northwestern Nigeria. The specific objectives entailed identifying major forms of soil loss in the study area, estimating soil loss, and examining the responses of soil physico-chemical properties over dominant land use types. Slope angles were determined using a GPS, a handheld Abney level, ranging poles, and a 30 m measuring tape while gully depths, widths, and lengths were taken at 5 m-30 m intervals. Key soil physico-chemical parameters were determined using standard procedures. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation were used to summarize the data generated from the study. The analysis of variance and the student’s t-test were used to test for significant association between and within pairs of land uses. The results show that slopes range from 4⁰ - 16⁰, while the magnitude of soil loss ranged between 3580.32 m3 in K1 (Kalgo 1), 3550.89 m3 in G2 (Goru 2) and 161.01 m3 in A1 (Angwar Daji 1). Results show significance at p≤ 0.05 in bulk density values over the different land uses, with the highest bulk density value of 1.78 g/cm3 in badland and the lowest value of 1.35 g/cm3 in plantation land use. Total nitrogen ranges between 0.01 – 0.38%, with the lowest values in badland and scrubland, while soil base saturation is highest over plantation (76.3%) and lowest in badland (50.4%). The study concludes that the dominant geomorphic responses identified in the study area are gully initiation and development and varying amounts of soil degradation over the different land uses. The findings should facilitate policy initiation to rehabilitate degraded lands and adopt sustainable soil management practices like tree planting while linking geomorphological information to infrastructural planning and development.