Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability?

Loess provides a valuable terrestrial record of past environmental conditions, including the dynamics and trajectories of air mass circulation responsible for dust transport. Here we explore variations in the luminescence sensitivity characteristics of sedimentary quartz and feldspar as possible tools for identifying changes in source down a loess-palaeosol sequence (LPS). Luminescence sensitivity is a rapidly measurable index which is the product of interplay between source lithology and the history of the quartz or feldspar clasts. Variations in sensitivity of down profile may therefore reflect changes in sediment provenance as well as other factors such as weathering through pedogenesis. We undertake an empirical investigation of the luminescence sensitivity of quartz and feldspar from different grain-size fractions from the Schwalbenberg LPS in the German Rhine valley. We compare samples from a 30 m core spanning the last full glacial cycle with samples of oxygen isotope stage (OIS) 3–2 age exposed within nearby profile. We find an overall inverse relationship between quartz and feldspar sensitivity, as well as variability in sensitivity between different quartz grain sizes. Statistical analyses yield a significant correlation between IR50 sensitivity from unprocessed sediments and clay content, and feldspar sensitivity and Si/Al ratios down the core. Since Si/Al ratios may indicate changes in provenance, the latter correlation suggests that IR50 measurements on unprocessed samples may be used to provide a reliable, rapid scan of source variability over millennial timescales.

ECO-Friendly approach in strengthening the different grain size particles by utilizing Sporsarcina pausterii NIOT1

A distinct grain size of 600, 425 and 212 μm sand column was developed to test the efficiency of bacterial strain Sporsarcina pausterii NIOT-1. The bacterial strain was effectively able to precipitate calcite crystals between the soil particles through enzymatic hydrolysis of urea which increases ammonium concentration to the maximum of 371.43 mM, 314.54 mM, 302.49 mM, EC of 98.81 ms/cm, 101.84 ms/cm, 101.34 ms/cm and pH of 8.80, 8.90, 8.80 respectively. The synthesized biomaterials have the maximum UCS of 2400 Mpa with 212 μm grain size followed by 425 and 600 μm with 2200 and 2100 Mpa. Scanning Electron Microscopy and XRD results justify the precipitation of CaCO3 bridging the sand particle. In the study, the maximum UCS attained with fine sand particle size and reduced with the increasing grain size. The current study observed an inverse relationship between grain size and strength. The current green synthesis study also attempts for the feasibility approach to reduce coastal erosion.

A Bidimensional Model of the Tagliamento River

The propagation of a flood wave is a very challenging topic, crucial in managing the flood risk. In the literature, several numerical models have been proposed to deal with this issue; most of them need the roughness coefficients to be assigned by the operator. The bottom roughness calibration of floodplains and channels represents a key point for flood studies, because it can heavily influence the results of any kind of numerical simulation. In this study, a numerical model is applied to the Tagliamento River, in North-East Italy. One of the main characteristics of this river is its natural environment, which changes from a very wide braided channel in the middle course to a narrow meandering river moving towards the sea. This makes the bed roughness extremely variable along the river, with different kind of vegetation, braiding, different grain size, meandering, etc. In this regard, particular care should be devoted to the roughness coefficient attribution and calibration. In the present paper, we present the detailed step of calibration and validation of a bidimensional numerical model on the Tagliamento River. A novel method to assign and calibrate roughness coefficient is introduced. Finally, the model is validated against two main flood events occurred in 1966 and 1996.

Effect of Different Precursors Solution of NiO on the Properties of ZnO/NiO Nanocomposites Thin Films Grown by Spray Pyrolysis

In this paper, the influence of the precursors of nickel oxide (NiO) on the properties of ZnO/NiO nanocomposites thin films, grown by spray pyrolysis method, has been investigated. The nickel sulfate, nickel chloride and nickel nitrate have been used as precursors of NiO, each precursor has been mixed with Zinc oxide (ZnO)’ precursor to elaborate ZnO/NiO nanocomposites thin films with the method mentioned above. The aim of this paper is to confirm the similitude of precursors in the nanocomposites. For this reason, and to reveal this goal, some techniques were used as the structural analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) which a high intensity has been detected corresponds to the ZnO / NiO films with nickel chloride precursor, UV-Visible characterization depicts the presence of a maximum adsorption band appears in the ultraviolet range, the morphological characterization with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) reveals the roughness and the different grain size of particles, the big one of the latter agree, also, with to nickel chloride precursor used. The values of optical band gaps Eg are globally equal with high value noticeable agree with films that prepared with nickel chloride and zinc chloride precursors. The results obtained confirm the aim and a good agreement with the latter were found.

Capillary Barriers during Rainfall Events in Pyroclastic Deposits of the Vesuvian Area

In the present paper, the capillary barrier formation at the interface between soil layers, which is characterized by textural discontinuities, has been analyzed. This mechanism has been investigated by means of a finite element model of a two-layer soil stratification. The two considered formations, belonging to the pyroclastic succession of the “Pomici di Base” Plinian eruption (22 ka, Santacroce et al., 2008) of the Somma–Vesuvius volcano, are affected by shallow instability phenomena likely caused by progressive saturation during the rainfall events. This mechanism could be compatible with the formation of capillary barriers at the interface between layers of different grain size distributions during infiltration. One-dimensional infiltration into the stratified soil was parametrically simulated considering rainfall events of increasing intensity and duration. The variations in the suction and degree of saturation over time allowed for the evaluation of stability variations in the layers, which were assumed as part of stratified unsaturated infinite slopes.

Liquefaction field reconnaissance following the 29th December 2020 Mw 6.4 Petrinja earthquake (Croatia)

<p>Earthquakes and related coseismic effects at the surface, both primary and secondary, such as liquefaction and lateral spreading, can impact humans due to induced economic or social disruptions (e.g. slope, bridge and building foundation failures, flotation of buried structures). In this respect, it results of primary interest to map liquefaction induced evidences soon after an earthquake. On the 29th December 2020, a major earthquake (Mw 6.4) occurred in Croatia, close to Petrinja, 45 km south of Zagreb, generating widespread liquefaction and lateral spreading phenomena in a radius of approximately 20 km from the epicentre. A European team of researchers (geologists and engineers), in strict collaboration with the Croatian Geological Survey, performed field reconnaissance campaigns with the aim to provide a detailed identification and characterization of the primary and secondary geological and geotechnical coseismic effects induced by the Croatian earthquakes. Specifically with reference to the liquefaction phenomena, the Working Group integrated the data collected directly in the field with those from remote survey by drone aerial photos acquired in the post-event immediate. The adopted process allowed the collection of the liquefaction record with the highest possible completeness both in terms of pattern and distribution of the phenomena. The database includes several detailed case studies typified by the following characteristics: (1) liquefaction occurring on alluvial plain sites (Kupa river, Sava river and Glina river); (2) blows made by sand and/or gravel with local presence of shells and armored mud balls; (3) lateral spreading phenomena along road and river embankments; (4) sand ejecta of different grain size and matrix, even at the same site; (5) sand and/or gravel ejecta along fault traces. The characteristics of these features are discussed with reference to the alluvial setting and tectonic context. All together, the detailed survey of these recent liquefaction features will assist to build new empirical relations, to update the existing ones and to mitigate the effects of future earthquakes recognizing liquefaction prone areas for a correct land use planning, as for seismic microzonation studies.</p>

Selective recording of a tectonic forcing in different grain-size fractions in the Oligocene/Miocene Eastern Alpine Molasse Basin

<p>Sedimentary archives are the main source of information for climatic and tectonic changes in Earth’s history. We investigate how the tectonically triggered early (28±1 Ma) exhumation of the Tauern Window in the Eastern European Alps is recorded in the Oligocene/Miocene Northern Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB) in Upper Austria. We combined Nd isotopic compositions on clay-sized bulk sediment and of sand-sized single-grain apatites with additional trace-element geochemistry, fission track (AFT) and U-Pb dating to investigate the timing of when this tectonic signal reaches the sediment archive within these different grain-size fractions.</p><p>This well-investigated basin offers an excellent opportunity to investigate environmental signal propagation. From ~27 to 19 Ma, a deep-marine basin-axial, gravity-flow dominated channel controlled the West to East directed sediment transport in the Upper Austrian NAFB. The sediments were sourced in the Eastern and Central Alps. At 19 Ma, channel sedimentation ceased and clinoforms prograded from the southern margin northward into the basin. This change in sediment-routing direction cut off the Central Alpine sediment source.</p><p>Drill cuttings of one well on the northern basin slope and drill cores from 12 wells were sampled for clay and the single-grain analysis. Clay eNd values remain stable around -9.7 (±0.5) from 27 to 19 Ma but increase afterwards to -8.7 (±0.2) at 18.3 Ma. In contrast, apatite single-grain results significantly change at 23.3±0.3 Ma from a domination of apatites from low-grade (<upper amphibolite-facies) metamorphic sources, Permo-Mesozoic and late Variscan U-Pb ages and AFT ages >40 Ma to a domination of high-grade metamorphic apatites with late Variscan U-Pb ages and an increasing number of AFT ages <30 Ma. The high-grade metamorphic apatites have slightly more positive eNd values (-2.2 ± 3.9) than the low-grade metamorphic apatites (-4.4 ± 4.2).</p><p>The changes in the single-grain data sets have been previously interpreted to mirror the exposure of a new Upper Austroalpine nappe as a consequence of the ongoing early Tauern Window exhumation. The total signal lag time between the beginning of the exhumation and the arrival of the signal within the apatite assemblage in the sedimentary archive is therefore 3.4 to 6 Myrs. The clay eNd values do not record this change in provenance at 23.3±0.3 Ma as they stayed stable until 19 Ma when they increased slightly. This might point towards a delayed recording of the provenance change revealed at 23.3±0.3 Ma by the apatites. The difference in signal recording is caused by the characteristics of the applied methods. Whereas single-grain distributions of orogen-wide sediment-routing systems can be dominated by geographically small areas with high erosion rates and high mineral fertility, bulk-rock methods integrate over the entire drainage area, a process that diminishes extreme values. The disconnection of the Central Alpine sediment source at 19 Ma, increased the relative proportion of the more positive eNd values of the Upper Austroalpine Nappe in the drainage area, leading to an increase in clay eNd values in our data set. Our results show that different information from the hinterland is recorded in the different grain-size fractions and methods.</p>