Rock Quarry Research Articles

Floodwater farming and quarrying at Jabal Hamra Arlbieg in the Jordanian desert: Economic support for the classical period Faynan Orefield

Recent research has shown that the Faynan Orefield was a scene of intensive metal production during the Classical Period, but the infrastructure supporting this activity is less well known. We present evidence for previously undetected floodwater-farming and quarrying, which contributed to the economic life of the Faynan complex during Classical times. The site is located on an ancient route, south of the main orefield. We describe the hydrological control features of the floodwater farm and a possible place of habitation. Pollen analysis suggests that olives and cereals were cultivated. Exposures of sediment sequences containing buried walls, and ceramics both within and upon these sediments, all indicate that the activity took place during Nabatean to Late Roman/Byzantine times. Two ancient quarried areas were distinguished from natural landforms by a combination of geomorphic properties and variations in the geochemistry of the Mn-Fe rich desert varnish on long-exposed and quarried rock surfaces. Essentially uncontaminated by metal pollution, the site provided uncontaminated produce and building stone to the Faynan Orefield. Sediments and soils on the site are essentially unpolluted.

Influence of natural discontinuities and mechanical properties on the fragmentation of marble by blasting in Central Africa

Natural discontinuities as well as mechanical properties are the difficult-to-control parameters that significantly influence the fragmentation of marble after blasting. In Central Africa, the Bidzar quarry is the only one producing marble, plagued for decades by block fragmentation problems, requiring multiple blasts that cause huge costs and environmental problems. The objective of this study is to predict the fragmentation of the Bidzar rock quarry and to improve its geological and mechanical knowledge using the Kuz–Ram method. Thus, blastability as a function of the dip of the discontinuity planes as well as fragmentation as a function of the powder factor, compressive strength and drilling mesh were studied. The results obtained show that, the rock quarry is heterogeneous, consisting mainly of fissured marble of medium hardness. Its dip is about 85°, its rock factor is 10.455 and it is class III, with a difficult blastability of 0.2654 kg/m3. The marble from the Bidzar quarry is of excellent quality with an RQD of 93%.The fractures and discontinuity planes are spaced and of class ES2. The density of the fractures and discontinuity planes is low and of class ID2.The rock quarry is intercepted by a network of discontinuity planes marked by three families of direction, major (N30–40E, N40–50E, N160–170E), secondary (N10–20E, N50–60E, N80–90E, N140–150E, N150–160E, N170–180E) and minority (N00–10E, N20–30E, N40–50E, N70–80E, N100–110E, N110–120E, N120–130E, N130–140E). Finally, the variation in fragmentation intensity is caused by differences in the dips of the blasting planes, their compressive strength, and the variation in the drilling mesh.

The Dinosaur Tracks Of Bad Essen-Barkhausen In The UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita (NW Germany): 100 Years Of Development From An Industrial Quarry To An Open-air Museum

The low level of the Jurassic sea in the area of Bad Essen-Barkhausen (Wiehen Mountains, NW Germany) was a precondition for the migration of a herd of sauropods and theropods through this coastal area about 153 million years ago. The dinosaurs left at least 11 trackways on a single fine-grained siltstone layer and several more footprints on another, younger layer. The dinosaur track layers experienced diagenesis and subsequent uplifting during the Late Cretaceous, so that they are presently exposed in sub-vertical position on a quarry rock wall. Since the discovery of the tracks in 1921, their preservation has been challenging. It has not been possible to recover the tracks because of dense jointing in the host rocks, so an in-situ fossil geosite had to be established. Because in-situ geoconservation was not common practice until the 1960s, the dinosaur tracks were initially conserved only as casts. Since the 1960s, the geosite has undergone regular protection measures, including impregnation, cement slurry injections, a drainage system and construction of a glass roof. In 1976, the quarry was granted the status of an open-air museum, which currently offers regularly updated panels, life-sized dinosaur models, guided tours, events, exhibitions and an anchor point in a hiking and cycling trail network. The conservation of the dinosaur track layers and the continuous improvement of touristic and educational programs have only been possible through decades of collaboration between the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita and its partners such as Osnabruck County, the City of Bad Essen, the Natural History Museum “Museum am Scholerberg” in Osnabruck, the Experiential Pedagogical Country Hostel Barkhausen and local associations.

Geochemical and isotopic evidence for pumping-induced impacts to bedrock groundwater quality in the City of Guelph, Canada

Groundwater can be a key water resource in urban environments, providing a source of freshwater for community needs. The City of Guelph relies on groundwater for a population of over 130,000 people. Thus, groundwater quality is a critical component of long-term water management. This study assesses the effect of urban, industrial and agriculture activities on groundwater quality using a suite of multidisciplinary methods including geological, hydrological, geochemical, and isotopic tools. Multi-level systems (with depth-discrete ports), conventional well clusters, and municipal production wells were used to monitor hydraulic head and collect groundwater samples. Geochemical and isotopic measurements included redox parameters, major anions and cations, VOC, tritium and δ34S and δ18O in sulfate. Hydraulic head data show vertical gradient profiles characteristic of a multi-layered flow system within a shallow and deep Silurian bedrock aquifer and an intermediate aquitard varying in occurrence. Head loss disappears near production wells, showing enhanced vertical hydraulic connectivity between shallow and deep aquifers, attributed to pumping and long open intervals. Hydrochemical data show no impact of nitrate and high chloride is observed in the shallow and deep aquifer, attributed to seasonal road salt and the underlying aquitard unit, respectively. The aquitard unit also control the high sulfate in the deep aquifer which is supported by the isotope data on sulfate. Facilitated transport of shallow groundwater into the deeper aquifer is supported by the tritium data, showing the presence of recent groundwater throughout the whole depth of the two aquifers in some areas, likely due to the varying aquitard presence and enhanced vertical flow due to proximity from pumping municipal wells and active rock quarry. The results of this research suggest long term implications for groundwater resource management of sedimentary bedrock aquifers, where there is increasing groundwater demand due to population growth and potential for continual water quality degradation.

Behavior of Quarry Rock Dust, Fly Ash and Slag Based Geopolymer Concrete Columns Reinforced with Steel Fibers under Eccentric Loading

Geopolymer concrete, also known as an earth-friendly concrete, has been under continuous study due to its environmental benefits and a sustainable alternative to conventional concrete construction. The supplies of many source materials, such as fly ash (FA) or slag (SG), to produce geopolymer concrete (GPC) may be limited; however, quarry rock dust (QRD) wastes (limestone, dolomite, or silica powders) formed by crushing rocks appear virtually endless. Although significant experimental research has been carried out on GPC, with a major focus on the mix design development, rheological, durability, and mechanical properties of the GPC mixes; still the information available on the structural behavior of GPC is rather limited. This has implications in extending GPC application from a laboratory-based technology to an at-site product. This study investigates the structural behavior of quarry-rock-dust-incorporated fiber-reinforced GPC columns under concentric and eccentric loading. In this study, a total of 20 columns with 200 mm square cross-section and 1000 mm height were tested. The FA and SG were used as source materials to produce GPC mixtures. The QRD was incorporated as a partial replacement (20%) of SG. The conventional concrete (CC) columns were prepared as the reference specimens. The effect of incorporating quarry rock dust as a replacement of SG, steel fibers, and loading conditions (concentric and eccentric loading) on the structural behavior of GPC columns were studied. The test results revealed that quarry rock dust is an adequate material that can be used as a source material in GPC to manufacture structural concrete members with satisfactory performance. The general performance of the GPC columns incorporating QRD (20%) is observed to be similar to that of GPC columns (without QRD) and CC columns. The addition of steel fibers considerably improves the loading capacity, ductility, and axial load–displacement behavior of the tested columns. The load capacities of fiber-reinforced GPC columns were about 5–7% greater in comparison to the CC columns. The spalling of concrete cover at failure was detected in all plain GPC columns, whereas the failure mode of all fiber-reinforced GPC columns is characterized with surface cracking leading to disintegration of concrete cover.

Rock Procurement in the Early Neolithic in Southern Norway – Significance by Association with People and Places?

Rocks and places of rock procurement can be sig- nificant beyond pragmatic reasons. In the Early Ne- olithic in southern Norway, specific rock types and quarries appear to have been deeply entangled in socio-political strategies that either bound people together or set people apart. Charted variations in the character of lithic procurement and distribu- tion indicate two parallel but diverging processes of “Neolithization” in the western and eastern region respectively. In the west, rhyolite from a quarry atop Mt. Siggjo was especially significant, demonstrated by the intense quarrying and wide distribution of rhyolite along the west coast. Indeed, in the west, certain quarries appear to have been regarded as nodal points, anchoring people’s sense of identity and belonging. In the east, imported flint gained a similar role because of its association with farm- ing and Funnel Beaker–related societies in south- ern Scandinavia. That is, rock was significant not only due to its physical qualities, but by its associa- tion with a specific place, social or cultural group.

Demonstrating the influence of sediment source in dredged sediment recovery for brick and tile production

The most important raw materials for the building industry are natural quarried rocks. Preservation of this non-renewable resource needs valorizing products, the vast majority of which is currently considered as waste. Among these, dredged sediments have gained much attention and should play a key role in non-renewable natural resource preservation.The aim of this paper is to achieve a resource-efficient evaluation for the re-use of fine-grained dredged sediments in the heavy clay industry by investigating relationship between sediment provenance and industrial properties. 86 spot samples from French dam reservoirs and estuaries were studied, focusing on grain-size and mineralogy. Industrial technological tests were performed on 53 samples representative of varied lithological sources. Following PCA analysis, source fingerprinting in four categories is proposed, allowing for direct evaluation of sediment for brick-tile making. Best technological scores, close to industrial values, were obtained for source category (3) mixture of sedimentary, plutonic and metamorphic rocks and low scores for two source categories, (1) sedimentary rocks (high carbonate content), (2) plutonic and metamorphic rocks (lack melting compound). Extrusion failed for samples from category (4) plutonic or metamorphic rocks (lack clay minerals). Consistency between PCA fingerprinting categories, MIF (Mineralogical Industrial Framework) and technological tests shows that even though the sediment source classification is simplified, it constitutes a reference to predict the recovery of dredged sediment for tile or brick making. Insights from this study can be particularly useful to the heavy clay industry managers when making decision regarding the fossil resource preservation by substitution with dredged sediments.

A Parametric Study on Pavement with Geocell Reinforced Rock Quarry Waste Base on Dredged Soil Subgrade

Dredging produces a vast amount of waste from water bodies worldwide, whose valorization is an environmental problem. Weak dredged soil requires some treatment to provide them with adequate strength for construction applications. In the present study, static plate load tests are conducted to understand the effect of high-density polyethylene geocell reinforcement on limestone aggregates and quarry waste on subgrade (dredged soil). Finite element analysis was carried out to compare the results with the experimental analysis. The dolomitic limestone and crushed quarry waste are waste materials readily available in the near vicinity. Static plate load tests were observed for three different geocell heights (100, 125 and 150 mm) in terms of increase in bearing capacity and vertical stress distribution for three different thicknesses of bases (120, 150 and 170 mm). This study aims to present the results in terms of load versus deformation and vertical stress distribution. The results showed that the reinforced layer had undergone a maximum reduction in deformation in comparison to the unreinforced bases. Due to the inclusion of geocell, the average bearing capacity improvement factor enhances, and the vertical stress distribution increases significantly. The average bearing increases by 50% in the case geocell reinforced test section. The results from this study suggest that rock quarry waste can be used as an alternative base material for pavement construction if proper geocell confinement is provided. The present study results will be used as a reference to support that valorization of waste can be beneficial for both nature and the economy.

КОМПЛЕКСНАЯ СТАБИЛИЗАЦИЯ ГРУНТОВ И МАТЕРИАЛОВ ОСНОВАНИЯ ПРИ СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВЕ И РЕМОНТЕ АВТОМОБИЛЬНЫХ ДОРОГ

The article represents the results for investigation of a new technology of complex soil consolidation and stabilization and reuse of the material from stripping of the existing roads (cold recycling technology) with portlandcement and enzyme agent Roadzyme (USA), which allows reducing the energy costs significantly and improving ecological situation. Cold recycling has a number of significant advantages before other means of reconstruction. The absence of environmental pollution is due to the complete use of the material of the old pavement. There is no need in disposal sites, and the volume of the new delivered materials is the minimum one and reduces the area of contamination, which is certain during opening of new borrow-pits and rock quarries. Transportation is very small, therefore the consumption of the energy is considerably reduced, as well as devastating impact of vehicles on the road network. Effect of the use of the agent “Roadzyme” is based on the activation of physics and chemical processes, which increase the strength, water resistance and frost resistance of the consolidated soils and materials, reducing material consumption at provision of the required elasticity modulus for pavement structure due to reduction of the thickness for pavement layers, the use of local materials and saving of binders and inert materials. The decrease is noted for the stiffness of the materials, strengthened by complex method (binder with the agent “Roadzyme”), compared to the treatment only with the binder, which allows forecasting the increase of the crack resistance.

Radiogenic heat production in crustal quarry rocks of Ogun State, south-western, Nigeria

Radiometric survey has been used extensively in quite a lot of fields of science, majorly for geological mapping and mineral exploration. It is used to quantify the proportion of potassium, uranium and thorium in rock and soil. Radiogenic heat production was found to be associated with the radioactive emission from the three primordial radioelements: uranium, thorium and potassium. In this study, the main objectives are to investigate the potential economic heat resource associated with the quarry rocks, delineate the contribution of the radioelements to the heat generated and possible effect posed on the workers. Thirty rock samples from ten different quarries in Ogun State were randomly collected. The rock samples were then processed and subjected to radiometric analysis for geothermal investigation. The mean heat production for the ten quarries investigated was found to range from 0.549 to 3.122 μWm−3. The result revealed that uranium has the largest contribution, with a coefficient of correlation of 83.09%, of the heat produced in the quarry rocks while the lowest contribution was associated with thorium having a correlation coefficient of 15.43%. The low heat produced was found in the shale and limestone region while the high heat generated was associated with coastal plain sand and alluvium area. The mean radiogenic heats estimated across the ten quarry stations were below the 4 μWm−3 recommended value of heat to be considered for economic importance. The result implies that heats are generated across the selected quarry stations, but were not of economic significance. This study showed that heat production varies from place to place and depends solely on the geological composition of the underlying bedrock units.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ПОВЕДЕНИЯ ХИМИЧЕСКИХ ЭЛЕМЕНТОВ В СИСТЕМЕ ВОДА–ПОРОДА РАЙОНА РАЗРАБАТЫВАЕМОГО КАРЬЕРА БУТОВОГО КАМНЯ В ПИТКЯРАНТСКОМ РУДНОМ РАЙОНЕ (КАРЕЛИЯ)

Актуальность. Изучение особенностей перераспределения химических элементов в системе вода–порода в районах, где ведется активная разработка месторождений полезных ископаемых, актуально ввиду потенциального влияния этих процессов на экологическую обстановку и изменение геохимических условий природной среды. В частности, это важно для выбранного района, который входит в площадь водосбора крупнейшего природного резервуара пресной воды в Европе – Ладожского озера. Целью представленного исследования является изучение выноса химических элементов водой из гранитоидных пород, вскрытых карьером, и их дальнейшего поведения в природных водах и донных отложениях района. Объектом исследования являются природные воды и донные отложения района разрабатываемого карьера бутового камня (Питкярантский рудный район, республика Карелия). Авторы проследили изменения химического состава природных вод и связанных с ними донных отложений по мере движения воды от ее сброса из карьера до впадения в речную сеть. Методы. Анализ химического состава природных вод и донных отложений проведен стандартными методами: потенциометрия, титриметрия, ICP-AES, ICP-MS. Исследования минералов в составе пород карьера бутового камня проведено при помощи LA-ICP-MS, химический состав горных пород изучен методами XRF, ICP-MS и ICP-AES. Физико-химическое моделирование форм нахождения в природных водах и осаждения минералов проведено в программном комплексе HydroGeo. Верификация модели проведена на основе анализа химического состава донных отложений. Результаты. В изученных водных объектах в отдельных точках отмечены превышения ПДК Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, V. При удалении от карьера бутового камня снижается величина общей минерализации природных вод и содержание макрокомпонетов, а также Sr, U, V, Mo, Zn, Cd. Концентрация железа, наоборот, увеличивается ввиду роста содержания органического вещества в воде. В донных отложениях пик концентрации многих элементов (Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Cs, Ce, La, Y) наблюдается в точке сброса воды из карьера. Максимальное содержание U отмечается чуть ниже по потоку изучаемых вод, что согласуется с данными по составу донных отложений и моделирования, которые указывают на возможность выпадения уранинита из водного раствора в водоеме, сформировавшемся при сбросе воды из карьера бутового камня и истоке ручья, берущего начало в этом водоеме. Роль органического вещества в изученных водах высока для процесса накопления железа в воде за счет образования устойчивого гидроксо-фульватного комплекса железа, а также для редкоземельных элементов за счет образования комплекса с гуминовой кислотой. Анализ распространенности, форм нахождения и осаждения химических элементов позволили заключить, что эксплуатация карьера бутового камня вносит существенный вклад в перераспределение химических элементов в изучаемом районе.

Heloderma (Helodermatidae; Squamata) from the Apache Local Fauna, Pleistocene, Southwestern Oklahoma

Paleontological occurrences of helodermatid lizards (Helodermatidae) are relatively uncommon and scattered in the North American fossil record. A recently discovered concentration of vertebrate fossils was exposed in a karstic fissure filling in an active rock quarry in southwestern Oklahoma. Underwater screening of the ancient cave fill yielded numerous isolated and fragmentary skeletal elements of a diversity of small, and a few large, vertebrates including unexpected remains of Heloderma sp. as well as extinct large mammals (horse, peccary, Dwarf Pronghorn), indicating Pleistocene age. Radiometric dating of the locality is not possible because of the leaching, but fossils of the Prairie Vole, Microtus ochrogaster, from the locality help to constrain the age of the deposit between 1.21 Ma and 0.01 Ma. The fossils are the first of Heloderma in the Pleistocene of Oklahoma and the southern Great Plains. Based on taphonomic evidence and the relative abundance of rodent teeth, we infer that the fossils accumulated at least partly as the remains of vertebrates fed upon by Ringtails (Bassariscus; Procyonidae) and other small carnivorous mammals. The Pleistocene occurrence of Heloderma in the southern Great Plains of North American has potential implications for the paleobiogeography of the genus and begs further investigation of fossil herpetofaunas in North America.

Evaluation of some Medicinal Plants for Green Belt Development in Rock Quarrying Locations at Lokpaukwu, Abia State, Nigeria

This study evaluated air pollution tolerance plants as well as anticipated performance indices of some medicinal plants growing in the Lokpaukwu rock quarrying area in order ascertain their suitability for green belt development. Two quarry locations A which is older and has a higher level of activity, and B were used for the study with a control location at Abia State University, Uturu. Out of the sixteen dominant plant species identified, five species; Alchornea cordifolia, Baphia pubescens, Napoleona imperialis, Nauclea latifolia and Vitex doniana. were randomly selected for the study. Leaf samples were randomly collected in triplicate from the lowest branch of each selected plants with similar characteristics. Relative water content of plants was significantly higher (p<0.05) at the study area suggesting stomatal occlusion by dust while chlorophyll content was significantly lower at the quarry sites, a clear indication of pollution stress. Chlorophyll content was also lower in all plants at site B, being significant in N. imperialis and V. doniana. N. imperialis had the highest APTI of 19.15 at the quarry site suggesting suitability for green belt development at the quarry site. Based on API, V. doniana is the most suitable for green belt development among the five plant species.

Temporal variations of heavy metals in sediment, soil and dust particulates across the rock quarrying districts of the Oban Massif, Southeastern Nigeria

Concentrations and distribution trends of selected heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni and As) in sediment samples, soil and dust particulates across the rock quarrying districts of the Precambrian basement Oban Massif, southeastern Nigeria were determined. The quarrying district was zoned into A comprises of quarries with operational histories of more than twenty years and B which were of younger age. Calculations from data sets gave information on metal enrichment factor, contamination factor, geo-accumulation index and pollution load index. Results revealed the trend: Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr > As in zone A and Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cd > Cr > Pb > As for zone B. Contamination factors of heavy metals in samples across the two zones were generally low. Enrichment factor indicates mostly deficient to minimal enrichment. However a few localized samples indicate moderate, significant and extremely high enrichments in Pb, Zn and Ni. Pollution load index (PLI) of the heavy metals in sediment samples, soil and dust particulates from both zones indicates no pollution. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) of metals across zones is largely of the unpolluted category. The observed values of heavy metal contamination in sediment, soil and dust particulates as well as their enrichment, PLI and Igeo were generally higher in the older than the younger quarrying zones of western Oban Massif.

Pleural malignant mesotheliomas from environmental exposures to asbestos In Italy

Pleural mesothelioma clusters from outdoor environmental exposure have been highlighted also in Italy and, on the basis of epidemiological surveillance coordinated by the Italian National Mesothelioma Register, their frequency has been estimated at about 4.5%. Epidemiological studies and evaluations of some regional mesothelioma registers have made it possible to highlight that the dispersion of asbestos fibers in the outdoor environment was the only ascertained cause of mesothelioma in subjects from asbestos-cement factories, from the Balangero mine (Piedmont Region), from some serpentine rock quarries with tremolite outcrops in the Southern Apennines and in Alta Val di Susa (Piedmont Region); from chrysotile and serpentine caves in Valmalenco (Lombardy Region). Furthermore, cases of pleural mesothelioma were clearly caused by environmental pollution from fluoroedenite fibers in Biancavilla (Sicily Region). On the other hand, regional mesothelioma registers have also reported other circumstances of environmental asbestos exposure, like in the case of steel industry, shipbuilding, chemical plants, railway lines, and repair/demolition of railway carriages. However, these reports have not found confirmation on the basis of ad-hoc studies and it is likely that there is a lack of homogeneity in the assessment of individual cases. Apart from the scenarios which have been the subject of ad-hoc studies, the assessment of the causal role of environmental exposure to "in place" asbestos in the onset of pleural mesothelioma is problematic without an effort to more carefully examine the circumstances of possible exposure, harmonization of the attribution criteria used in the individual regional registers, analytical assessment of the impact of such exposure on the risk of onset of mesothelioma.

The importance of seismic protection of strategic objectives, in the area of influence of useful rock quarries, in which blasting works are carried out

In this scientific article was studied the main methods for assessing the seismic effect generated during the blasting operations with explosives, from quarries on essential infrastructure elements, in the analyzed situation - railway tunnel and supporting pillars of the railway superstructure in the adjacent area of the quarry, regarding the most appropriate technique for estimating and assessing the seismic effect through the specificity of the evaluated parameter. In order to be able to carry out an activity with as little impact as possible on the environment, the economic operator carrying out career blasting works must apply technical measures to ensure the protection of civil / industrial objectives in the area close to carrying out these works. The establishment of measures leading to the maintenance of the stability and integrity of the objectives, as well as to the protection of the environment, is based on an artificial earthquake assessment process, which highlights the possible effects on the adjacent area. The evaluation of the seismic effect can be done by monitoring some parameters that characterize the seismic waves produced by quarry blasting such as: frequency of oscillations, amplitude of movement, soil particles oscillations velocity, acceleration of oscillations, duration of their manifestation.

Utilization of recycled form of concrete, E-wastes, glass, quarry rock dust and waste marble powder as reliable construction materials

Abstract Due to the elevated price of conventional constructional materials in the market; the cost of an entire civil engineering project is influenced. With increasing consumption & depletion of the naturally found aggregates, it is becoming more of an environmental issue rather than being commercial. Now-a-days, many researchers are contributing to find out the material which can lessen the construction cost without compromising upon durability parameters as well as increase the strength. Recently on the environmental issues, restrictions on local extraction, procurement of natural sources for construction usage and upon “disposal of waste material” are in limelight importance. If waste materials can be incorporated as aggregates in concrete, they can not only be utilized in concrete and other construction materials, but will also provide other cost benefits as well as environmental benefits such as reduction in pollution, energy efficient, cost reduction in landfills etc. In this paper, recycled form of concrete, e-wastes, glass, quarry rock dust and waste marble powder have been investigated. This paper attempts to present a summary of the investigations on the above said in an attempt to make concrete lightweight, economical along with the following discussion, safe & eco-friendly and look for the feasibility of such waste products that can be utilized as reliable construction materials.

Dust Accumulation, Heavy Metal Content and Stomata Morphology of Some Medicinal Plants at Rock Quarrying Locations at Lokpaukwu, Nigeria

Aims: This study evaluated the effect of rock quarrying on dust accumulation, heavy metal content and stomata features of some medicinal plants at Lokpaukwu, Nigeria.
 Place and Duration of Study: Sample collection was carried out at the quarry sites in Lokpaukwu, followed by laboratory analyses which were conducted in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicines and Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD), University of Nigeria, Nsukka between January and March, 2019.
 Methodology: Five (5) commonly used medicinal plants were selected and collected from the two pollution sites (A and B). Same species collected 20 km away from the sites served as control. Clearing method was employed in foliar micro-analysis while heavy metal accumulation in the samples was estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).
 Results: The study showed considerable variation in dust load among the plants from each study site. This led to some observed physiological anomalies– occlusion of stomata pores, plasmolysis, and shrunk epidermal cells. Quantitative stomata parameters were also affected as plants from polluted sites had narrower pores and more number of stomata than the control. Concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Cu) in plants collected from dust polluted sites were also higher than those from the control location. For example, lead and cadmium concentration in most of the plants were in this order: site A > site B > site C.
 Conclusion: These findings have further validated reports of earlier researchers on the deleterious effects of dust pollution as a result of quarrying activities on plant health. Strict compliance to precautionary and mitigation measures by both the inhabitants and quarry companies are recommended for safer environment and good health.

NATURE-BASED DYNAMIC REVETMENT CONSTRUCTION AT NORTH COVE, WASHINGTON, USA

A dynamic revetment was constructed at North Cove, Washington, USA in December 2018 along a historically eroding 2-km shoreline reach of coastal barrier at the northern entrance to Willapa Bay. The revetment is composed of poorly sorted angular quarry rock ranging in size from pea gravel to small boulders as well as large wood debris and structures, a dune ridge, and native vegetation integrated with the revetment. The design, aim, and maintenance of the dynamic revetment is to simulate the functions of naturally forming cobble berms along composite beaches in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The dynamic revetment continues to be adaptively constructed over time, enabling the testing of innovative design approaches and concepts that are rarely possible to do at full-scale in the field. The project provides a unique opportunity to explore nature-based engineering principles and design features.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/5w18tEjEePg

Modeling and Comparison of Data Obtained by GPR, for Geological / Structural Analysis of a Carbonated Ornamental Rock Quarry - Blocometry Validation - Case Study in Valinho De Fátima, Portugal

Portugal, in the continental and insular territory, has raw geological resources in diversity and quality that are materials for the manufacturing industries, particularly linked to the civil construction, architecture and public works with great weight in its exports, revealing to be one big producer of ornamental stones worldwide. In this industry, the presence of discontinuities, grain size, colour, textural anisotropy and porosity are factors that can determine the economic viability of the exploitations. For this, it is important to develop effective prospecting routines that allow the geological/structural fast analysis and economic potential assessment of the massifs and subsequent correct planning and dimensioning of the exploitations. This work intends to model and integrate data from the ground penetration radar (GPR), together with close-range photogrammetry, derived from an Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery. The objective is to identify and determine the spatial distribution of the various elements by modelling the acquired data, as well as verifying the feasibility of the technical disassembly option adopted. We have used GPR as it is non-destructive, fast to deploy, survey, process and interpret. The acquired data were processed using the GPR-SLICE, where a 3D final dataset was obtained and interpreted. GPR and photogrammetric model was integrated and interpreted and validated with direct field observations. The model obtained showed in its upper part, an area corresponding to the presence of sludge from the cut of the rock, followed by a strip that corresponds to the oolitic limestone. Further down to the end of the block, the presence of oolitic limestone with crossed stratification is identifiable. There was a textural and structural correspondence between the GPR data and direct field observations. GPR did not reveal any major morphostructural discontinuity, validating the technical option of choosing the places where the cuts were made for their individualization, as the block was cut clean. The GPR and photogrammetry data integration method revealed to be complementary, where results were obtained easily, fast, and with centimeter accuracy. The same methodology presented, revealed to be cheap and effective for both localized studies and optimization of the overall quarry’s extraction plan and design.