Northwestern Libya Research Articles

Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of igneous rocks in Gharyan area (northwestern Libya) for potential industrial valorization

Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of igneous rocks in Gharyan area (northwestern Libya) for potential industrial valorization

Diversity of hard ticks parasitizing farm animals in the Qarabulli region, Northwestern Libya.

There are 26 species of ticks known to exist in Libya. Despite the presence of a number of investigations on ticks in Libya, there are no published studies on ticks in the Al-Qarboulli area. The aim of this study was to identify the tick species infesting farm animals in the Qarabulli region. Ticks were collected manually on a monthly basis from the examined hosts (cattle, sheep, dogs, and camels) that were selected randomly in the period between July 2021 and June 2022. A total of 717 ticks were collected on 775 hosts, eight tick species were encountered: Hyalomma excavatum (41.00%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (23.43%), Hyalomma dromedarii (12.13%), Hyalomma marginatum (9.21%), Hyalomma anatolicum (8.51%), Rhipicephalus annulatus (5.30%), Hyalomma rufipes (0.28%), and Boophilus microplus (0.14%). The mean prevalence of all species was 22.32%. The mean intensity of all species was 0.93 ticks per host. The presence of ticks among the months of the year varied among tick species. The results showed high tick infestation in farm animals of Qarabulli, Libya, suggesting an increased risk of tick-borne diseases. This highlights the need for preventative measures and public awareness to reduce tick populations. Further studies are recommended to understand the spread of tick-borne diseases in the area.

:Technological Styles in the Jebel Gharbi Lithic Industries of the Late Pleistocene (North-Western Libya)

:<i>Technological Styles in the Jebel Gharbi Lithic Industries of the Late Pleistocene (North-Western Libya)</i>

Petrology and geochemistry of sandstone from Lower Cretaceous Kikhla Formation, NW Libya: Implications for provenance and depositional setting.

This study aims to determine and investigate the provenance of the source rocks and the depositional setting of the Kikhla Formation, northwestern Libya. It is mainly composed of mature quartzitic sandstone alternating with conglomerate and clay. The study proved that the sandstone is yellow-white in color and commonly carries quartz granular and small fragments of silicified wood. The environmental deposition is under differing fluvial conditions and by a large braided river. Texturally, the Kikhla sandstone is poorly cemented, coarse to very coarse grained and strongly unimodal and is classified as litharenite and subarkose by the modal composition, which is supported by geochemical studies. According to petrography and geochemistry, the Kikhla sandstone was deposited in a passive continental margin basin, mainly from granitic sources. On the basis of major elements ratios, and petrographic interpretation, the source rocks are most likely recognized as Proterozoic granites that were exposed via rifting. The CIA values (73.28-93.97) indicate a high degree of chemical weathering, which could be attributed to the arid climate conditions in the source area and mainly controlled by the source-rock provenance, hydraulic sorting during transport and deposition, diagenesis and depositional environment. According to chemical investigations, sandstone exhibits significant concentrations of SiO2, Na2O&gt; K2O, and Fe2O3, which is compatible with the modal data.

Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in the City of Zintan and Its Surroundings (Northwestern Libya) by Surface Soil Sampling

The study area is the city of Zintan, in northwestern Libya, which has grown over the past 30 years. Its current population is roughly 30,000. Although the city is in part commercial, most of the population engages in agriculture and primarily grows cereal crops (wheat and barley). The demand of the growing city for agricultural products has increased, intensifying the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides. Consequently, concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the soil have increased. To assess the soil quality (to provide a snapshot of the condition of the soil), systematic sampling was undertaken across a grid of about 2 km × 2 km. The main objective was to determine the chemical and mineral composition of the area of interest, keeping in mind the geological footprint of the terrain. The geologic framework itself is not conducive to elevated concentrations of elements like U, Th, Mo, As, Hg, Pb, and Cr. Therefore, metal concentrations greater than the amounts in the Earth’s crust are most likely of anthropogenic origin. A total of 143 samples were collected and chemical analyses were performed using a Thermo Fisher Scientific Niton XL3t GOLDD+ XRF analyzer for the following elements: Mo, Zr, Sr, U, Rb, Th, Pb, Au, Se, As, Hg, Zn, W, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, V, Ti, Sc, Ca, K, S, Ba, Cs, Te, Sb, Sn, Cd, Pd, and Ag. This paper provides examples of elevated concentrations, potentially harmful to the environment, such as those of the following: sulfur of unknown origin (two to three times higher than the Earth’s crust average); arsenic, given that there are no related natural phenomena (all the samples measured displayed concentrations higher than those found in the Earth’s crust); mercury (concentrations much higher than permissible levels); cesium (additional investigations required to determine the origin); molybdenum; and uranium likely resulting from the use of superphosphates (concentrations nearly always significantly higher than those in the Earth’s crust).

THE EFFECT OF CORPORATE FRUGALITY ON CRISIS PREPAREDNESS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION

This study explores relationships between Corporate Frugality (CF), Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) and Crisis Preparedness (CP). CP was proposed as the surrogate measure for firm performance during actual crises. EO is also examined as a potential mediator in the CF-CP association. The hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling with data collected from randomly selected small businesses operating in the Tripolitania region of northwestern Libya during the current economic instability caused by civil unrest. Further, COVID-19 pandemic cases had significantly risen among the population at the time of the study. The findings show that CF can be instrumental in responding to market crisis requirements, while innovativeness only results in better CP and partially mediates the CF-CP association. These findings validate the CF construct, but entrepreneurs must cautiously proceed when exercising EO in response to crises. Furthermore, the study casts new light on how the association between EO dimensions and performance can differ across contexts. Building on the resource-based view and pecking order theory and integrating them with contingency theory, this study is the first to explore the effect of EO and its dimensions as the mediator between CF and CP.

A conifer Pagiophyllum yafraiensis sp. nov. from the Jurassic Khashm az Zarzur Formation, Yafran, Jebel Nefusa – Libya.

The Jurassic flora from the Khashm az Zarzur Formation in the vicinity of Yafran village in Jebel Nefusa, northwestern Libya was studied. Among which a new species of fossil conifer, Pagiophyllum yafraiensis sp. nov. was described and illustrated. This new species occurred in association with Piazopteris branerii, Brachyphyllum sp., Hirmerella sp., Otozamites sp., and Samaropsis sp. According to the stratigraphic position of the Khashm az Zarzur Formation dated as (Callovian-Oxfordian), however, a Late Jurassic (Bathonian-Tithonian) age has been assigned palynologically. The global paleogeographical distribution of the genus Pagiophyllum is also illustrated herein.

Geochemical Characteristics of Upper Cretaceous Dolomite in Northwestern Libya Implications for Dolomitization and Diagenesis: EI Zintansection as A Case Study

Geochemical Characteristics of Upper Cretaceous Dolomite in Northwestern Libya Implications for Dolomitization and Diagenesis: EI Zintansection as A Case Study

An Innovative Copula in Maghrebi Arabic and Its Dialectological Repercussions: The Case of Copular yabda

Research on copulas in Arabic dialects has hitherto largely focused on the pronominal copula, and has also mostly ignored Maghrebi dialects. Drawing on published literature as well as fieldwork-based corpora, this article identifies and analyzes a hitherto undescribed verbal copula in dialects of Tunisian and northwestern Libya deriving from the verb yabda (“to begin”). We show that copular yabda occurs mostly in predicational copular sentences, with time reference including the habitual present and generic future. It takes nominal, adjectival, and locational predicate types. We also argue for broader inclusion of syntactic isoglosses in Arabic dialectology, and show how copular yabda crosses the traditional isogloss lines established on the basis of phonology, morphology, or lexicon, and therefore contradicts established dialect classifications such as Bedouin/sedentary or Tunisian/Libyan.

Histopathological Aspects of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis due to Leishmania-Major in Libya

Aims: To describes the histopathological characteristics of skin lesions from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in northwestern Libya and correlate with clinical presentation.&#x0D; Study Design: case series study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried on patients referred by the region's healthcare institutions and those presented at the Tripoli Central Hospital or the Libyan National Centre for Disease Control between July 2017 to January 2018.&#x0D; Methodology: The study included 38 patients, aged between 1-73 years, of both sexes, and came from 18 endemic areas in North-Western of Libya. The inclusion criteria were clinical symptoms and microscopic visualization of the parasite on a Giemsa-stained skin smear, in addition, clinical by the slit and smear technique, polymerase chain reaction for L. major. In addition, statistical analysis was conducted for the Histopathological examination.&#x0D; Results: The study found that 36 (94%) of the cases studied were positive by the slit and smear technique, and 32 (88.9%) were positive by PCR for L. major. Five histopathological patterns were observed: (i) diffuse cellular reaction without necrosis (25%); (ii) diffuse cellular reaction with necrosis (31.3%); (iii) exudative and necrotic granulomatous reaction (25%); (iv) exudative granulomatous reaction without necrosis (9.3%); (v) exudative-tuberculoid reaction with typical tuberculoid granuloma (organized) (9.3%). Inflammatory cellular infiltration ranged from mild to severe. Lymph plasmacytosis and lymph histiocytosis were predominant (34.4% and 21.7%, respectively). Necrosis was diffuse or local. The clinical features were correlated with this histological pattern. Epidermal changes included acanthosis, exocytosis, spongiosis, hyperkeratosis, and atrophy.&#x0D; Conclusion: The histopathological changes observed in CL caused by L. major in North-Western of Libya are characterized by an intense diffuse inflammatory reaction in the dermis with the predominance of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Overall, the granulomatous presentation was the main one. Various clinical forms, including papule, plaque, erythematous nodule with hemorrhagic crust, or violaceous nodule with adherent crust and ulcerated nodule, are significantly correlated with the histopathological stages, whereas disease progression could be related to age. The histopathological diagnosis of CL caused by L. major has a sensitivity of 78% relative to PCR.

HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT IN AZINTAN, NORTHWESTERN LIBYA

The groundwater aquifers in Azintan, northwestern Libya suffer from an acute shortage of water. The groundwater was evaluated to determine its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes from major two aquifers in north and south of Azintan area. This study carried out to assess the groundwater quality and to identify major affecting variables. Twelve samples from the two aquifers were collected. The two aquifers were collected and analyzed for total dissolved , 2+ , Mg 2+ solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, Ca . The results show - and HCO3 2- , CO3 2- , SO4 - , Cl + , K+ Na that, the groundwater in many places is dominated by . Two - and HCO3 2- , SO4 - higher concentrations of Cl water types were recognized in this region are Cl-SO4- Na-Ca and Cl-SO4-Na. Gibbs and Piper method, as well as the hardness, soluble sodium percentage and the permeability index all have been used to assess the diagram quality of the groundwater of aquifers. Further, the multiple correlations and Cluster Analysis of groundwater quality parameters were carried out for further classification and interpretation of the groundwater quality. Finally, water qualities in the study area are compared with Libyan standards and WHO guidelines of drinking water and irrigation purposes.

Over-Exploitation of Water and Natural Resources in Al-Hira, Libya

The problem of water scarcity and salinity in North Africa is one of the main important constraints to any development. Libya is considered a Saharan country more than 90% of its area. Average annual rain is about 100 mm while evapotranspiration is more than 2000 mm. The Al-Hira study area belongs to the Al Djfara plain in north-western Libya, which is one of the most important pastoral areas of the region and it was until the 90s considered a good grazing area. The study area covers an area of approximately 269,938 hectares. The study carried out in the Al Hira area belonging to the Djfara plain showed an advanced state of degradation of natural resources: 1) decrease in irrigated areas and shrub vegetation; 2) increase in bare land areas; 3) fair water management (poor irrigation uniformity, bad irrigation scheduling). The irrigated areas were decreased from 18,000 to 12,000 ha between 1996 and 2008; an increase in bare soil was observed (23,000 ha to about 35,000 ha) between 1988 and 2009. The uniformity of localized irrigation under olive trees is often less than 50%, indicating the need to replace all the irrigation networks. In the case of sprinkler irrigation, irrigation equipment appears to meet the standards but the uniformity coefficient obtained at field level is very low (63%). The study on natural resources management in this area is imperative. Also an integrated water resources scheme is necessary for a better use of transferred saline water and aquifer fresh water.

Prevalence of obesity in diabetic patients in the north west of Libya

Diabetes mellitus, or simply “diabetes”, has been commonly defined as a metabolic disorder that interferes with a body’s ability to efficiently turn food into energy. Although the disorder has many different causes, the primary characterization of diabetes is a high level of blood glucose accompanied by disturbed metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates due to defective insulin production or uptake by the body. The main objective of this study is to assess the effect of obesity and lifestyle on diabetes. A total of 500 diabetic patients (215 males and 285 females) of different ages from six primary health care centers in northwestern Libya participated in the study, which was conducted from November 2008 to the end of April 2009. As well, interviews were carried out using a questionnaire to compile information on the patients regarding age, sex, residence, height, and weight. In the study, body mass index was formulated by dividing each participant’s weight (in kg) by his or her height (m2). The results of the investigation indicate that the age at diagnosis ranges between 10-85 years, with a mean age of 54.84 ± 13.73 years. About 36% of the diabetic patients in the study were overweight and 44.4% were obese (males 39.07% and 34.42%; females 33.68% and 51.93%, respectively). Obesity was more prevalent among females than males. Only 96 (19.2%) of the 500 patients were on a diet regimen. It was found that mean BMI was 29.53 kg/m2± 5.07 and mean blood sugar 186.62 ± 69.40 mg/dl.

Creating a Libyan Earthquake Archive: From Classical Times to the Present

Libya’s seismicity has been considered relatively minor, however, several earthquakes of magnitude larger than 5.0 have occurred since Roman times. The scope of this study is to identify and chronicle past seismic frequency and magnitude in Libya by translating, analyzing, and compiling historical sources and archaeological data of Libya’s seismic history. The earliest references to earthquakes have been found in historic records and archaeological data since 262 AD. Archaeological evidence was found to support Latin records that stated that the shock destroyed much Cyrene also affecting most of the Province of Cyrenaica. In 704 AD, a large shock destroyed towns and villages across the Sebha region. While in 1183, a violent tremor shook Tripoli. In 1935 and 1939, a series of large earthquakes struck the Hun Graben area, including one of magnitude 7.1 on April 19, 1935—considered the strongest earthquake in Libyan history. The coast of northeastern Libya in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar areas continues to be a seismically active region. In 1963, the Roman outpost of Barca (modern Al-Marj) was razed by an earthquake of moderate magnitude (5.6 Ml). Offshore earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.6 and 4.9 occurred in Tripoli in 1974 and 1976. In addition, several tremors of 4 to 5.6 magnitude were recorded in northeastern and northwestern Libya between 1990 and 2019. With little previous knowledge of Libya’s quake history, an estimate of seismic periodicity and event consequences is problematic. Such an archive of seismic hazards (frequency, location, magnitude) is fundamental to estimating seismic risk (future events, consequences).

Desert kites in the Tripolitania region: new evidence from satellite imagery

Abstract

First Record of Dericorys albidula Serville, 1838 (Orthoptera: Dericorythidae) in Tunisia and Libya

The humpbacked grasshopper Dericorys albidula (Serville, 1838) (Orthoptera: Dericorythidae: Dericorythinae) is reported here for the first time from Southern Tunisia (Tozeur province) and northwestern Libya. Details on the ecological occurrence of D. albidula are given and compared to available data from Central Asia. A lectotype is designated for D. albidula and its type locality identified as the Sinaï desert in Egypt.

Mineralogy and physicochemical features of Saharan dust wet deposited in the Iberian Peninsula during an extreme red rain event

Abstract. The mineralogy and physicochemical features of Saharan dust particles help to identify source areas and determine their biogeochemical, radiative, and health effects, but their characterization is challenging. Using a multianalytical approach, here we characterized with unprecedented level of detail the mineralogy and physicochemical properties of Saharan dust particles massively wet deposited ( ∼ 18 g m−2) following an extreme red rain event triggered by a northern African cyclone that affected the southern Iberian Peninsula during 21–23 February 2017. Abundant palygorskite and illite, and relatively high carbonate contents, well-known northern and north-western Saharan dust indicators, along with low chlorite content and significant amounts of smectites and kaolinite, whose abundance increases southwards in the western Sahara, complemented by satellite imagery and back/forward trajectories, show that the most probable dust source areas were (i) southern/central Algeria, northern Mali, and northwestern Niger, and (ii) northern Algeria, southern Tunisia, and northwestern Libya. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses, including Z-contrast high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging and analytical electron microscopy (AEM), show that clay minerals include abundant structural Fe (55 % of the total Fe) and typically form nanogranular aggregates covered or interspersed with amorphous/poorly crystalline iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles (ferrihydrite), which account for ∼ 18 % of the free Fe, the rest being goethite and hematite. These nanogranular aggregates tend to form rims lining large silicate and carbonate particles. Such internally mixed iron-containing phases are the main contributors to the observed absorption of solar and thermal radiation, and along with the abundant coarse/giant particles ( &gt; 10 µm) strongly affect the dust direct radiative forcing. The lack of secondary sulfates in aggregates of unaltered calcite internally mixed with clays/iron-rich nanoparticles shows that iron-rich nanoparticles did not form via atmospheric (acid) processing but were already present in the dust source soils. Such iron-rich nanoparticles, in addition to iron-containing clay (nano)particles, are the source of the ∼ 20 % soluble (bioavailable) iron in the studied desert dust. The dust particles are a potential health hazard, specifically the abundant and potentially carcinogenic iron-containing palygorskite fibers. Ultimately, we show that different source areas are activated over large desert extensions, and large quantities of complex dust mixtures are transported thousands of kilometers and wet-deposited during such extreme events, which dwarf any other Saharan dust event affecting southwestern Europe. The past, present, and future trends, as well as impacts, of such extreme events must be taken into account when evaluating and modeling the manifold effects of the desert dust cycle.

Predicting the Classes and Distribution of Salt-Affected Soils in Northwest Libya

ABSTRACTSodicity and salinity can adversely affect soil structure and are common constraints to plant growth in arid regions. Current remote sensing techniques cannot distinguish between the various classes of salt-affected soils. Field and laboratory measurements of salt-affected soils are time-consuming and expensive. Mapping of the salt-affected soils can be used in soil conservation planning to identify regions with different degrees of limitations. There is a need to use existing field and laboratory measurements to create maps of classes of salt-affected soils. The objectives of this study are to classify salt-affected soils, use existing field data to interpolate and validate geospatial predictions of the classes of salt-affected soils using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and create maps showing the different classes and distribution of salt-affected soils. The classification framework for salt-affected soils is based on electrical conductivity (ECe), soil pH and the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and provides four degrees of limitations to salt-affected soils: slight (normal soils), moderate (saline soils), severe (sodic soils), and extreme (saline-sodic soils). Spatial interpolation of the field data from northwestern Libya was verified by cross-validation, and maps of the salt-affected soils in the region were created. The majority of soils in this region of Libya are normal (slight degree of limitation). Twenty percent of the topsoil is saline-sodic (extreme degree of limitation). Land use recommendations and rehabilitation strategies can be developed from such maps of salt-affected soil classes. The methodology followed in this study can be applied to other arid regions around the world, particularly in developing countries where budgetary constraints limit detailed field and laboratory measurements of sodicity and salinity.

Distribution of chromium, nickel, copper and zinc in the Al Zintan area, northwestern Libya

Global population is growing rapidly. As a result, increasingly large areas are being settled and farmed. This devastates soils and causes pollution by heavy metals and other components. Heavy metals in the environment originate from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources generally include rock weathering and the propagation of heavy metals, such as Cr and Ni, from ultrabasic rocks. These are natural processes that generally do not threaten human health. Anthropogenic sources include industry and inappropriate disposal of waste in the environment. In such cases concentrations of heavy metals can be harmful to people and other living beings. Al Zintan is a city located in northwestern Libya, on a plateau mainly built up of Cretaceous sediments. Since the 1980?s, nomadic population has rapidly been settling this area. As a result, a former part of the desert was transformed and is used for farming. Soil sampling at Al Zintan was conducted in 2017, across a 2?2 km grid. A total of 143 samples were collected from depths of about 30 cm. The samples weighed 2 to 2.5 kg and generally comprised sand with a clay component. A Niton Xl3t goldd+ instrument was used for chemical analyses, based on which GIS heavy-metal distribution maps were generated. The distribution of Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn is discussed on the paper.

Frequency of Hepatitis B core antibody and Hepatitis B Virus DNA among apparently healthy male blood donors in Eastern Libya

Background/Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents one of the most serious blood transfusion-transmitted viral infections. By implementation of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening assay, blood banks in Libya have been considerably increased blood transfusion safety in term of protecting against the transmission of HBV infection. However, several studies demonstrated that donors who are HBsAg negative and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive maybe a potential source for posttransfusion hepatitis B. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of anti-HBc and HBV DNA (hepatitis B viral DNA) in healthy HBsAg-negative blood donors in eastern Libya (Tobruk region). Materials and Methods: A total of 500 serum samples were tested for HBsAg and obtained from healthy blood donors in blood bank unit in Tobruk Medical Center. All donors were tested for anti-HBc, using commercial ELISA and microwell methods (MBS-SRL, Milano, Italy). The reactive samples were further tested for the presence of HBV DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: In this study, the seroprevalence rate of anti-HBc sample was 54 (10.8%) among donors. The majority of anti-HBc-positive cases (52 of 54) were in the age group of 20–49 years. Of the 54 anti-HBc-positive samples, 4 (7.4%) were tested positive for HBV DNA by PCR. Conclusion: Among all the samples, the rate of anti-HBc was 10.8%. This finding is comparable to a previous study performed in northwestern Libya. The present study estimated the expected exclusion rate of anti-HBc-positive donated blood that would be an important factor to consider before adopting anti-HBc testing in addition to HBsAg testing as a mandatory screening test to further enhance transfusion safety.