Review Of Potential Methods Research Articles

Machine Learning of Mineralization-Related Geochemical Anomalies: A Review of Potential Methods

Research on processing geochemical data and identifying geochemical anomalies has made important progress in recent decades. Fractal/multi-fractal models, compositional data analysis, and machine learning (ML) are three widely used techniques in the field of geochemical data processing. In recent years, ML has been applied to model the complex and unknown multivariate geochemical distribution and extract meaningful elemental associations related to mineralization or environmental pollution. It is expected that ML will have a more significant role in geochemical mapping with the development of big data science and artificial intelligence in the near future. In this study, state-of-the-art applications of ML in identifying geochemical anomalies were reviewed, and the advantages and disadvantages of ML for geochemical prospecting were investigated. More applications are needed to demonstrate the advantage of ML in solving complex problems in the geosciences.

Using a spatial overlap approach to estimate the risk of collisions between deep diving seabirds and tidal stream turbines: A review of potential methods and approaches

It is likely that there will be a substantial increase in the number of tidal stream turbines within the UK over the next decade. However, the ecological impacts upon marine top-predators, including seabirds, remain largely unknown. Although tidal stream turbines could have many direct and indirect impacts upon seabird populations, it is the risk of direct collisions between individuals and moving components that currently causes the most concern. Species such as Auks Alcidae sp., Cormorants Phalacrocorax sp. and Divers Gavia sp. almost certainly face higher risks than others. However, it is likely that they are not equally vulnerable. Part of predicting which are most vulnerable involves the estimation of spatial overlap between their foraging distributions and the location of tidal stream turbines. This paper reviews potential methods and approaches that should help to predict whether a population would: (1) exploit areas suitable for tidal stream turbines, (2) dive near tidal stream turbines within these areas, or (3) dive to depths where moving components are found? Answering these questions in a hierarchical manner (from 1 to 3) could help to predict the extent of spatial overlap for vulnerable populations. These approaches require a fundamental understanding of the mechanistic links between physical conditions, prey characteristics and foraging opportunities. Therefore, multi-disciplinary approaches incorporating methods usually associated with oceanographic and fisheries studies are needed to document physical conditions and prey characteristics over large and small spatial scales. Answering these questions also requires collaborative efforts and a strategic governance approach to collating the wide range of distributional, prey and physical datasets currently being collected.

Tracing cultured pearls from farm to consumer: A review of potential methods and solutions

This article reviews various methods that could be used to determine the geographic origin of cultured pearls, potentially allowing a consumer to trace them back to the farm. Chemical marking using different substances is possible due to the porosity of the nucleus and nacre. It is also possible to affi x a logo marker to the nucleus that can later be imaged using X-radiography. In addition, radio-frequency identifi cation chips are today so small that they can be housed within the nucleus of a cultured pearl. Also discussed is the potential of using trace-element chemistry to differentiate mollusc species and pearling regions. Carbon and oxygen isotopes could also be useful given that they refl ect the waters in which a cultured pearl grew, and DNA testing may offer options in the future.

Reclamation On Brine Spills In Upland Boreal-forested Areas

Introduction Large volumes of brine are produced in the oil fields of Alberta each year and disposal lines carrying salt water to the disposal wells occasionally rupture. Much of the oil and gas exploration is centred in the forested portion of the province, yet there is little information on the reclamation of salt spills in the boreal forests. Two spill sites were established in 1977 and four main treatments and three sub-treatments were applied in 1978. Flushing the brine-treated plots with water rapidly lowered the salt content of the soil compared to brine-treated plots. That is, flushing reduced the length of time the soil colloids and flora were exposed to high salt concentrations. The addition of gypsum in combination with flushing lowered the sodium adsorption ratio of soil in the 0 – 30 cm depth and prevented dispersion (liquefaction), thereby substantially reducing the erosion hazard. In contrast, soil/or the 0–30 cm depth in the brine-treated plot that was left to natural forces became a jelly-like mass (liquefaction). Four vascular species were monitored during this study and their response indicated that a combination of flushing, gypsum, fertilizer and a cover crop was superior. The calcium in the gypsum probably had a beneficial physiological effect on the flora. By the fall of 1981, all treatment plots had a complete cover but the brine-treated plots with no flushing had mainly salt-tolerant invader species. Flushing should be undertaken promptly following a spill together with containment plus a follow-up application of gypsum, moderate fertilization and establishment of a cover crop. Introduction Abundant information is available regarding the reclamation of agricultural land affected by waters high in sodium. The Dutch were pioneers in this work because food production in Holland depended on their ability to reclaim land that had been inundated by sea water. Closer to home, White and de Jong(1) conducted a literature review of potential methods for reclamation of salt-damaged soils in Saskatchewan. de Jong(2) then prepared a field manual for the Canadian Petroleum Association outlining actions that should be undertaken to reclaim nonforested lands affected by salt spills in the oil fields of Saskatchewan. However, apart from monitoring studies (Edwards and Blauel(3); Rowell and Crepin(4)), there is little information in the literature regarding the reclamation of forested lands that have been contaminated with brine. The reclamation techniques used for agricultural and nonforested areas may not be applicable to forested areas. In farm lands, amendments normally can be tilled into the soil and there is a good choice of salt-tolerant crops. In forested areas, however, amendments normally should not be tilled into the soil because understory flora (shrubs and mosses) should not be disturbed. To further complicate matters little is known about the effects of concentrated brines on the survival of many of the forest species. Yet, a major portion of oil-related salt spills occur in forested regions of Alberta. Brine production in Alberta over the seven-year period; 1971 to 1978 increase from 16 million m3 to 63 million m3 (100 million to 400 million barrels).