Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics

On 20-th September of 2002 the tragic event occurred, which took aback the entire population of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania – sudden collapse of the glacier Kolka. Analysis of available instrumental data shows the correspondence of the basic stages, obtained on the different stations of the local network of the seismological observations of RNO-A. For the purpose of the more detailed investigation of the glacier Kolka collapse process data of the seismic stations given by Georgian collegues was investigated.

Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2013, 1(1), 47-49. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-1-1-8
Pub. Date: January 17, 2014

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Composition of Amphiboles from Toro Dioritic Complex, Northcentral Nigeria: A Potential Petrogenetic and Geothermobarometric Indicator

by O. A Dada and E. C Ashano

Original Research

The Toro symmetrical complex is localized within the Precambrian Basement Complex of the north central Nigeria. The complex is composed of three granites types surrounding an orthoenstantite dioritic core. Amphiboles samples from the diorite have higher Mg/ (Mg+Fe) values and are richer in Si, Ti and poorer in Al and Na+K than those in the granites. The calculated P-T results show that diorite crystallized at pressures between 4.7 kbar and 5.4 kbar and temperatures of 796°C to 821°C. The hornblende-biotite granite crystallized at pressures between 5.8 kbar to 8.5 kbar and temperatures between 633°C to 771°C. The average pressure (5.1 kbar ) for dioritic amphibole corresponds approximately to 19 km in depth of emplacement for the diorite and 24km in depth of emplacement for both hornblende-biotite (average pressure = 6.5 kbar) and porphyritic hornblende-biotite granites (average pressure = 6.4 kbar). Nature of dioritic amphibole evolution, coupled with its P-T suggests that the Toro diorite may have originated earlier with non consanguineous magma source different from the granites, which corresponds to a model of origin involving melting in the lower crust under granulite facies conditions.

Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2013, 1(1), 41-46. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-1-1-7
Pub. Date: December 22, 2013

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The Role of Paleontology in the Formation of Scientific World-View

by Svetlana T. Remizova

Review Article

Paleontology is the key for getting the knowledge about the history of our planet. Only fossils are the evidences of the origin and long evolution of life on the Earth. Nevertheless, many anti-evolutional theories reappear today as well as at the dawn of scientific cognition of the world. Mass media may be unwittingly promoting those ideas into the social consciousness. The views of catastrophic extinction of some fossil groups recently have become very popular again. In addition, apologists of the catastrophic explanations of extinction ignore many factors of intricate relationships into a biocenosis. The main factors that should be taking into consideration are a protracted period of extinction of any taxonomic group and a selectivity of extinction. Those data contradict the catastrophic ideas in the evolution theory. The main task of the paleontologists is to advocate more profound study of Earth history and the reality of life’s evolution on it. Most of the macroevolution’s consistent patterns were established after obtaining paleontological data. And now we can demonstrate them on many fossils groups. In this report, we discuss the evolutionary path of Paleozoic foraminifera.

Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2013, 1(1), 36-40. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-1-1-6
Pub. Date: December 18, 2013

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Morphometric Analysis with Reference to Hydrogeological Repercussion on Domri River Sub-basin of Sindphana River Basin, Maharashtra, India

by Jadhav Snehal I and Md. Babar

Original Research

The morphometric analysis of Domri river sub-basin is carried out in order to hydrological implication. For this purpose some basic parameters are measured including basin perimeter, basin length, elevation and other aerial parameters were calculated by using Arc Map (10.1) software. Total area of the sub-basin is 274.68 km². Geologically investigated area is covered by Deccan volcanic basalts which are Cretaceous to lower Eocene and Quaternary alluvium occurred along the gullies and both banks of the river. Quantitative analysis of drainage network shows that the dendritic to sub dendritic drainage pattern is developed in the sub-basin. Bifurcation ratio of Domri river sub-basin increases from 1^st and 2^nd order but decreases in 4^th and 5^th order stream because it is not affected by any structural control. Drainage texture in the investigated sub-basin indicates massive and resistant rocks cause coarse texture. Drainage morphometry is useful to signifying the construction sites for artificial recharging structures for implication of hydrology.

Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2013, 1(1), 29-35. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-1-1-5
Pub. Date: December 17, 2013

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Erosion Hazard Mapping in the Runde Catchment: Implications for Water Resources Management

by Godfrey MUTOWO and David CHIKODZI

Original Research

Soil erosion not only makes agricultural lands unproductive, it also contributes to sedimentation of water bodies leading to the eventual filling up of these water bodies. The control of sedimentation in reservoirs requires that the potentially significant sources of sediments be known and characterised. Knowledge of the spatial variations in the erosion hazard of a catchment is a good starting point. Using the Soil Loss Estimation Model for Southern Africa (SLEMSA) within a Geographic Information System (GIS), we characterized the spatial variations in erosion hazard in the Runde catchment in Zimbabwe. Results from this study show that the greater part of the catchment (around 64%) is in the moderate to negligible erosion hazard classes. Around 17% of the total catchment is in the moderately high to extremely high categories. We concluded that under the current land cover and land use regimes, water bodies in the Runde catchment are not at risk from abnormal rates of sedimentation.

Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2013, 1(1), 22-28. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-1-1-4
Pub. Date: December 15, 2013

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Palynostratigraphy and Age of the Sequence Penetrated by the Kolmani River 1 Well in the Gongola Basin, Northern Benue Trough, Nigeria

by Nwojiji C.N., Osterloff P., Okoro A. U and Ukeri P. O

Original Research

Sediments from the Kolmani River -1 well in the Gongola Basin, Northern Benue Trough, Nigeria, have been analyzed for palynomorphs from 900 ft to 9140ft. The main lithologies encountered in the well consist of sandstones, sandy shales, mudstones and siltstones. The result of the pollen analysis shows that angiospermous pollens and pteridophyte spores dominate the five palynological Assemblage Zones delineated in the well. Each zone represents a time stratigraphic unit.correlatable to the identified lithostratigraphic units penetrated by the well. The Aquilapollenites minimus Assemblage Zone (Late Maastrichtian) correlates with the Kerri Kerri Formation. The Longapertites marginatus Assemblage Zone (Early Maastrichtian – Late Campanian) correlates with the Gombe Formation. The Dictyophyllidites harrisii Assemblage Zone (Early Santonian), the Syncolporites subtilis Assemblage Zone (Coniacian) and upper part of the Steevesipollenites binodosus Assemblage correlate with the Pindiga Formation while the lower Steevesipollenites binodosus Assemblage Zone (Turonian – Cenomanian) correlates with the Yolde Formation. The absence of the Late Santonian confirms the presence of the Santonian unconformity in the northern Benue Trough. Based on quantitative and qualitative biostratigraphic and sedimentological analyses, the overall depositional environment of the analyzed interval of the well varies from coastal plain/estuarine to open marine.

Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2013, 1(1), 15-21. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-1-1-3
Pub. Date: November 20, 2013

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Spatial Modelling of Malaria Risk Zones Using Environmental, Anthropogenic Variables and GeograPhical Information Systems Techniques

by David Chikodzi

Original Research

Malaria is one of the major public health problems in Zimbabwe. The research was aimed at deriving a predictive model for malaria epidemiology in the Masvingo province of Zimbabwe at a scale that is sensitive to local changes in risk factors. Eight risk factors were used in the model build up. Each risk factor was first spatially classified in a geographic information system (GIS) according to how it promotes malaria incidence. The factors were then weighted using a pair wise comparison matrix which is part of analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The final malaria prediction model was then prepared by combining all risk factors and their derived weights through the index overlay model in a GIS. Results showed that northern districts of Chivi, Masvingo and Gutu have the least risk of malaria epidemic while as the southern districts of Chiredzi and Mwenezi have the highest risk. In terms of area, places classified as low risk covered 18.86%, moderate risk 35.67% and high risk 45.45% of the total area of the province. Predictions made by the derived model compared favourably with observations from field trials, health clinics and other models being used in Zimbabwe but had finer spatial coverage than previous models.

Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2013, 1(1), 8-14. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-1-1-2
Pub. Date: November 11, 2013

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How to Apply the Fundamental Parameters Method to the Quantitative X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Geological Materials

by Richard Rousseau

Original Research

The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of geological materials requires a robust analytical method because a large variety of elements to determine can be present in each sample and the concentration range of each one can be very large. In order to extract the maximum accuracy from the measured XRF intensities, a Fundamental Parameters (FP) method is proposed, but an adapted one to such an analytical context. The proposed adapted FP method consists of an appropriate sample preparation, a unique concentration calculation method and calibration procedure. It includes also a management of volatile components.

Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2013, 1(1), 1-7. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-1-1-1
Pub. Date: May 09, 2013

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27934 Views9132 Downloads34 Likes7 Citations