Table of contents

Preface

This volume of IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (EES) contains the papers presented in the "World Multidisciplinary Earth Sciences Symposium" in the city of romance Prague (Czech Republic) during 9-13 September 2019. WMESS 2019 aimed to provide a forum for discussion of the latest findings and technologies in different fields of Earth Sciences, to give opportunities for future collaborations. It is a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences in the fields of Earth Sciences by providing a forum for early career researchers for presentation of their work and discussion of their ideas with experts in different fields of Earth Sciences such as; Tectonics & Structural Geology, Engineering Geology, Geotechnics, Hydro-Hydrogeological Sciences, Natural Hazards, Oil, Gas & Coal, Geothermal Energy, Geomorphology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology, Stratigraphy, Sedimentology & Palaeontology, Geophysics & Seismology, Geodesy, Photogrammetry & Cartography, Informatics, Geoinformatics & Remote Sensing, Mining Engineering, Mineral Processing, Blasting & New Technologies, Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, Energy, Resources & Pollution & the Environment, Environmental Legislation, Biogeosciences, Geological Heritage & Geoparks, Urban Planning, Atmospheric Sciences, Oceonography, Climatology, Glaciology, Modelling and Soft Computing in Earth Sciences, Medical Geology, Occupational Health and Safety.

WMESS 2019 is the 5th of the Annual series with its main mission to contribute in multidisciplinary studies related with Earth Sciences, and improvment of interactions between people within these fields. WMESS 2019 also provided a forum for this diverse range of studies which report very latest results and document emerging understanding of the related systems and our place in it.

We would like to show my deep gratitude to the honored Scientific Committee and Institutional Scientific Partners of WMESS 2019. The Scientific Committee and Institutional Scientific Partners of WMESS 2019 was completed by paying strict attention, and all members were selected from well-known, very much appreciated, productive and representatives of the different countries. We are deeply grateful to the members of the scientific committee and institutional scientific partners.

All the missions of World Multidisciplinary Earth Sciences Symposium – WMESS 2019 were completed, and 174 peer reviewed articles were published. We would like to thank all reviewers for their great effort to achieve the high quality of published articles

We thank to the sponsors of WMESS 2019 (as main sponsors LAMA Energy Group, LAMA Gas and Oil, and to be co-sponsor Prague City Tourism) for their very much appreciated supports during the organization of "World Multidisciplinary Earth Science Symposium "WMESS 2019".

Of course, we would like to express my sincere gratitude to all participants from more than 50 different countries all over the world for their interests and contributions in WMESS 2019.

Another thank goes to the team of WMESS 2019 for their very much appreciated high workload during year. We united our efforts to establish one of the largest and appreciated event of Earth Sciences for one important cause

To work together for better, more clean and more beautiful place where our children will grow up. And, this place is known as the Earth.

We hope to see you once again in the next event 6^th WMESS 2020 that will be held in Prague (Czech Republic) during 7-11 September 2020.

Işik YILMAZ

Marian MARSCHALKO

Marian DRUSA

Gergana ANTOVA

Editors of WMESS 2019

All papers published in this volume of IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the proceedings Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing.

The formation resistivity factor is important as reservoir property because it is required to calculate volume of hydrocarbon in reservoir rocks. It depends on Winsauer's multiplier (a) which is a function of fluid tortuosity and cementation exponent (m). Cementation exponent is a major source of uncertainty in the calculation of hydrocarbon saturation for a given reservoir condition. A small error in the cementation exponent and/or multiplier could give a huge error in the formation factor and have serious consequences. The empirical relationships between reservoir parameters such as P-wave velocity and formation factor depend on local conditions such as environment of deposition, rock type, mineralogy, and diagenesis. For promoting hydrocarbon reservoir development; numerous petrophysical parameters are required. Some of them are measured but the others are sometimes assumed such as cementation exponent (m) and the multiplier (a) of Archie's general equation. The present work offers some empirical models and charts to be used for resolving the cementation exponent and the Winsauer's multiplier. Thirty-nine core samples obtained from the Upper Cretaceous reservoir zones; Gebel Nazzazat, Western central Sinai (Raha, Wata and Matulla formations) were laboratory analyzed for porosity, density, electrical resistivity, and ultrasonic wave velocity. They are composed mainly of clean sandstone, with some limestone and dolomitic limestone. This paper introduces seven innovative charts to estimate formation factor parameters using electrical quality index concept (EQI). They are classified according to the value of multiplier (a = 0.5 – 4.0) which is a function of electric tortuosity. The first chart estimates the multiplier (a) from P-wave velocity. The other six charts estimate the cementation exponent (from m = 1.0 up to 3.0) using fractional porosity and P-wave velocity at the previously determined multiplier (a). The present charts are based on a reliable empirical relationship (R² = 0.82) connecting elastic-electrical parameters as formation resistivity factor and P-wave velocity. The model reliability verification is accomplished using 82 laboratory measurements of porosity and P-wave velocity for sandstone core samples from the Bahariya Formation side by side with 51 empirical estimated multiplier and cementation exponent for different lithofacies (sandstones and carbonates) and obtained from several geographic locations.

Hydraulic-electric flow units represent two different concepts with different measuring units. They are frequently used to confirm each other's for distinguishing the different reservoir flow zones but sometimes give undesirable results. 60 limestone samples were collected from the upper part of the Dam Formation exposed in the Al-Nakhsh area, Southwestern Qatar Peninsula. These samples represent the Upper Dam sediments which are considered as an important aquifer for underground water in its subsurface occurrences in Qatar and nearby areas. Porosity, gas permeability and electrical resistivity were laboratory measured for the collected samples. Saturation exponent (n), cementation exponent(m) and pore throat radius (r35) were calculated for each sample. The vertical profile of gas permeability and pore throat radius (R35) is accomplished. Also, gas-permeability versus porosity is performed. Numerous useful and applicable relationships have been found. The obtained reservoir flow units which are distinguished according to hydraulic flow indicators (RQI and Øz) are only three units. However, the hydraulic-electric cross-plots (i.e. n-R35 and n-FZI) indicate three and four reservoir flow units respectively. In conclusion, the obtained number of reservoir flow units in the study area ranges from 3-4. It means that the hybrid hydraulic-electric combination sometimes shows flow units in concordance with the single type parameter, but occasionally give dissimilar results. An innovative nomograph is constructed according to an empirical equation related to the Dam Formation [1] to estimate the water saturation (SW) in oolitic carbonate facies. The present nomograph is verified by carbonate facies, deltaic distributary channel and barrier bar sandstone. The obtained values of water saturation from the proposed model are acceptable in case of both resistivity ratio ( Rt/Rw) and porosity (Ø) are available.

The city sprawl phenomenon, responsible for incorporating new suburbs into cities, is constantly changing our landscape. The results of this phenomenon are the rapid decrease of forest cover, fragmentation of green areas and loss of biodiversity. The paper examines studies and contemporary Green Infrastructure practices in response to find a solution for an increasing demand for new residential and recreational green areas in urban environment. The subject of the analysis is related to the problems of, both, nature protection and well-balanced development of the built-up areas. This paper was motivated by the three pillars of sustainability – environmental, economic, and social to take an interdisciplinary approach to GI in the context of system of GI linkages. It is focused on the role of green linkages in the integrity of GI network, and their influence on ecological, cultural and landscape functions, in extremely transformed and polluted urban environment. The research makes an attempt to define the role of landscape linkages in the Green Infrastructure.

This study focused on the sulphate ion concentration interference with different divalent cations ratio, used in low salinity water flooding in dolomite reservoirs by comparing the oil recovery with the altered amount of divalent cations dissolved in brine, occurred from rock surface equilibrium shifting. The oil recovery from injecting different potential determining ions concentration is measured by core flood experiment. The process of detecting the amount of divalent cations begins with establishing oil adsorption on the dolomite grain surface. Then, the grain is stirred in brine with different formula, which is later titrated in order to gather the desired data. Finally, the phenomena occurred during flooding with different potential determining ion concentration is described by combining the result of oil recovery with altered amount of divalent ions. The results showed that at high temperature (70°C), the oil recovery from each case is not much different because high amount of calcium sulphate precipitation can be compensated by high rate of rock dissolution and magnesium carboxylate complex formation. However, at low temperature (30°C), the oil recovery tends to be lower when the sulphate concentration is higher because calcium ion tends to form or precipitate with sulphate ion rather than forming the carboxylate complex. Due to low dissolution rate, the amount of calcium ion is insufficient for oil recovery mechanism, especially when the sulphate ion concentration exceeds the solubility limit. Furthermore, for the case that the ratio of magnesium to calcium ion is high, it is observed that some amount of magnesium ion can form the carboxylate complex to compensate the lost amount of calcium ion. From the result, it can be concluded that at low temperature, which the dissolution reaction occurs slowly, the effect of changing the divalent cation ratio, including sulphate concentration, is large because the formation of magnesium carboxylate complex is not much at this temperature, however calcium sulphate precipitation reduces the number of active calcium ions in oil recovery mechanism. On the other hand, because the dissolution reaction occurs faster and the formation of magnesium carboxylate complex is more favourable at high temperature, therefore the values of oil recovery, even at different concentration of potential determining ions, are not much different at this temperature. Furthermore, it is also found that the carboxylate complex formation can be induced by high concentration of either type of divalent ions when the sulphate ion concentration is not too high.

Premature mine closure causes serious economic losses to mining projects. Premature mine closure occurs due to numerous factors, including economic, environmental, and social conditions. In order to reduce the adverse effects of premature mine closure, it would be of great help to use the risk management techniques. The present study aims to propose a model through which the risks having roots in mine closure are calculated and the safety factor for investments in the mining industry is measured. Using statistical analysis and the multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDM) methods, the risk matrix and its components, including the probability and intensity of risks, are identified and the risk factor is calculated. In the proposed model, the types of minerals (the K index) and the types of ores (the O index) are added to the risk matrix and the risk of mine closure is computed for all types of minerals and ores. Moreover, the risk factor for all types of minerals is computed. To verify the validity of the model, 2400 premature mine closures in Iran (until the 1st of August, 2017) were investigated. The risks of mine closure for each group of minerals and for each type of minerals in their corresponding group were determined. It was found that the risk factor of premature mine closure for the Iranian building stone mines and the safety factor of investment were 1.52% and 0.9848, respectively. The findings show that equipment efficiency, lack of technology, high royalties, decreased pricing, loss of market, and high mining and processing costs are among the main reasons for premature mine closure in Iran.

The study area is located in the N of the town of Sultanhisar in the northern part of the continental rift zone of the Büyük Menderes within the Menderes Massif. In the area, the Paleozoic rocks consisting of intercalations of mica schists and marbles form the basement rocks which are overlain by Miocene and Pliocene sediments. The deep circulated geothermal waters in the area are of Na-HCO₃ type and immature origin and were represented in terms of conceptual modelling in this study.

Geothermal waters of Alaşehir are located in the southern part of the Gediz rift zone within the Menderes Massif and form biggest potential in the area with a capacity of up to 200 MWe. Geologically, Paleozoic metamorphic rocks with intercalations of micaschists, quartzites and marbles the gneisses from impermeable basement in the area underlying Precambriann to Cambrian gneisses. The both rocks are overlain by a Miocene intercalation of sedimentary rocks consisting of conglomerates, sandstones and clay stones and Plio-Quaternary intercalation of sedimentary rocks composed of conglomerates, sandstones and claystones discordantly. In the study area, Paleozoic quartzites and marbles form the main reservoir hydrogeologically. Geothermal waters with Na+K>Ca>Mg cations and HCO₃>Cl> anions are of Na-HCO₃ type and partial equilibrated waters. Geochemical thermometers show reservoir temperatures of up to 185 °C in accordance with measured temperatures in the production wells. Plot of δ¹⁸O versus δ²H in geothermal waters of Alaşehir deviate from the GMWL indication an intensive water-rock interaction. In the area of Alaşehir, geothermal waters are of meteoric origin. Finally, geothermal waters of Alaşehir are distinguished by a 2,0 percent CO₂ of productions in geothermal power plants especially which can represent an environmental danger in the area for future unless the steams with CO2 contents do not reinjcct into the geothermal reservoir.

In the area of Ivrindi, the Çaldağ limestones in Permian age form the basement which is overlain by metamorphic rocks of Lower Triassic age in which there are intercalations of marbles. The Kinik formation of Lower Triassic age overlies metamorphic rocks, consist of conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones, limestones and volcanic rocks. Yürekli formation in Upper Miocene to Pliocene age overlies the last rock sequence and consists of dacitic to rhyodacitic volcanics. Soma formation in the same age age consists of sedimentary rocks with intercalations of further sedimentary rocks. Geothermal waters in the area of Ivrindi display Na-Ca-HCO₃ type. In comparison, groundwaters in the area can be classified as Ca-Mg-HCO₃ type. Geothermal waters show cation abundances of Na+K>Ca>Mg and anion abundances of SO₄>HCO₃>Cl in the area of Ivrindi. In the Plot of Na1/100-K1/100-√Mg1/2, geothermal waters in the area represent immature waters.

This study focuses on the concentration of trace-, microelement- and organic components in initial horizons of sandy soil (Arenosole) and of the tissues of Corynephorus canescens, a pioneer species typical of unstable environments that initiates pedogenic processes by enriching poor quartz sand in organic- and mineral matter from its own tissues. Soil samples were taken from a root-zone humus horizon (A) averaging ∼15 cm in thickness and from parent rock. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Si, Al, Zn, Mn, Co, Cd, Pb, Sr, Mo, C, N and P in plant material and soil were analyzed. High concentrations of Si (6368±16.3 mg·kg-1), K (2310±165.2), Ca (302±24.6 mg·kg-1), Fe (2196±316.3) are found in the above-ground part of the plant whereas Si (9150±20), Fe (5948± 43), K 3752±3.21) and Al (2370±52.6 mg·kg-1) dominate in the roots. Soil organic carbon (OC) contents in the humus horizon and in parent rock are 0.276±0.041 and 0.206±0.041%, respectively. The concentration of nitrogen in the humus horizon shows a high (0.92) correlation with OC. The soil shows both acid (4.2±0.51 in KCl) and low-acid (5.1±0.23 in H2O) characteristics. Heavy-metal contents differ significantly among the study sites. Organic compounds of Corynephorus canescens and of soil organic matter (SOM) were investigated by pyrolysis-GC/MS (Py-GC/MS). In the organic content of the grey hair-grass tissues, typical compounds such as normal chain aliphatics (29%), and furane- and pyrane derivatives (12%), dominate. Nitrogen-containing substances such as amines, nitro compounds, heterocycles and amines are also important (27%). The main ecopedological role of C. canescens involves the fixing of loose sand thanks to its well-developed root system. The xeromorphic structure of stems and leaves allows it to function in such extreme open areas of unstable ground and high insolation. The initial stage of the formation of a humus horizon involving Corynephores canescens is documented.

The work focuses on analyzing and reason of occurrences of rare and protected species by European and Polish low. These species are growing in the areas of former sand exploitations quarry and have different ecological requirements. The origin of such quarries is strictly connected strictly connection with development of coal mining in the Silesian Upland (Southern Poland). From the end of exploitation the processes of spontaneous vegetation ecosystems have been observed. The research was conducted in Southern Poland in the area of the Kuznica Warężyńska sand quarry with an area of approximately 8 km², exploited in the years 1972 - 2003. In results of work has been confirmed by 2 types of habitats which are included in I Annex Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora forms in zone of groundwater outflow. They are 7140-transition mires and quaking bogs and 7230 - alkaline fens. In these communities, numerous population of 22 protects spiecies as Dactylorhiza maculata, D. majalis, Epipactis atrorubens, E. helleborine, E. palustris, Malaxis monophyllos, Lycopodiella inundata, Pinguicula vulgaris, including Liparis loeselii found in Annex II of the Habitats Directive occur. These are early-successional species, whose numbers in next successions phases decrease or after several years completely disappear. The analyzed flora differs in terms of life forms, ecological requirements related to the habitat mosaics. The fragments of sand quarry that were where are not reclaimed can play important role in nature conservation not only in local level but even on supra-regional scale. Hence, this object is a place for many rare, threatened with extinction species and plant communities as substitute habitats. The conservation of such species and plant communities in sand quarry needed active protection. It consists in maintaining the initial stages of succession and preventing the formation of the forest.

This study assesses the impact of basic stream abiotic parameters on the quality of aquatic habitat and inserts them to the aquatic habitat quality assessment of the mountain and piedmont streams. The created methodology was applied on the Nitrica River. The study is based on the objectification and modification of parameters of habitat suitability curve for the depth. The habitat suitability curve is one of the many basic parts of the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM). IFIM is the methodology where the quality of aquatic habitat is interpreted according to a bioindication. The bioindication is provided by ichthyofauna. For this study, the minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) was chosen as a bioindicator. The main reason for selecting the minnow as a bioindicator was that there was a sufficient frequency during the ichthyologic survey on the studied river. The basic result from the field measurement is the habitat suitability curve for depth. This measured habitat suitability curve is not adequate to describe the aquatic habitat. The suitability curve derived from just one measurement does not take into account the fact that the increase in flow has not changed the quality of the habitat until the time when the fish starts to be flushed out of the environment. This is the reason why this scientific research was oriented on the modification of habitat suitability curve for a wider range of flow. The evaluation was done by the System of Environmental Flow Analysis (SEFA). SEFA is a new software that implements the substance of the IFIM. The modification of the habitat suitability curve is applied on the Nitrica River.

The article discusses petrography and features of the chemical composition of the Mesozoic alkaline intrusions of the Khokhoi ore field located within the Upper Amga gold-mining district in the Aldan Shield. This gold-mining district is located in the Aldan-Stanovoy Province rich in gold. Tectonic position and magmatic events of this Province are close to those positions and events of Shandong Gold Province of Sino-Korean Craton. The investigation of the genesis of the magmatic rocks and comparison of the Provinces can shed light on the genesis and regularity of location of the gold deposits in them. Intrusions of the Upper Amga gold-mining district passed through the metamorphic rocks of the Precambrian and intruded into the Cambrian carbonate rocks and the Jurassic sandstones. Petrographic observations found that large intrusive massifs of the ore field consist mainly of potassic feldspar and plagioclase. Mineral composition, structure and texture of the rocks correspond to syenite and monzonite. Blocks of melanocratic rocks – presumably tephrites are rare on the surface. Several generations of feldspar and dark-colored minerals are observed within all these rocks, indicating melt fractionation. High Sr and K contents were identified in the rocks. Contents decrease in the series of tephrite-syenite-monzonite. This feature, judging by other petrochemical data, can be associated not only with magmatic differentiation, but also with the melting and interaction of the lithosphere. In sienites, ovoids of quartz and the first-generation potassic feldspar melting margin were found. It could be possibly resulted from the capture of surrounding rock material and changes in the thermodynamic conditions of crystallization. It is found out that potassium and silicon contents in rocks depend inversely on calcium content. Interaction of melts and the host carbonate rocks with removal of silicon and potassium and formation of gold-bearing sericite-quartz and feldspar-quartz metasomatites is assumed. The loss of potassium probably has led to potassium metasomatism at the contacts of intrusions. This metasomatism produced the gold ores.

In applied hydrology, it is problematic to assign the flood wave volume values with a certain probability of exceedance to given corresponding T-year discharges. This dependence is highly irregular, and requires knowledge the flood wave course of the given probability. For this reason, this work deals with the determination of the annual maximum discharge volumes on the Topl'a River for the time duration of 2-, 5-, 10-, and 15-days (V_tmax). The series of 84 years (1931-2015) mean daily discharges of the Topl'a River at Hanušovce above Topl'a station was used as input data to calculate the maximum annual volumes of runoff of the Topl'a River. Subsequently, the theoretical curves of exceedance of the maximal discharge volumes V_tmax were determined by the Log-Pearson distribution of the Type III. This type of probability distribution is used to estimate maximum (extreme) values across a range of natural processes. The results showed relatively small differences in estimated T-year volumes when compared to other types of theoretical distribution functions used in hydrological extreme analyses in Slovakia (Gamma, Log-normal, etc.). The second part of our work was focused on the bivariate analysis of the relationship between T-year maximum volumes with different duration and peak discharges by the three Archimedean copula functions (Clayton, Gumbel-Hougaard and Frank). The LPIII distribution was used as marginal probability distribution function. Subsequently joint and conditional return periods of the T-year maximum annual flows and T-year maximum volumes with different time duration were calculated. The first one defines joint return periods as the return periods using one random variable equalling or exceeding a certain magnitude and/or using another random variable equalling or exceeding another certain magnitude. The second one is conditional return periods for one random variable, given that another random variable equals or exceeds a specific magnitude.

The paper deals with assessment of the changes of the hydrological balance in the Topl'a River basin (Eastern Slovakia) up to the hydrological gauge Hanušovce nad Topl'ou during the period 1961/62-2014/15. Firstly we compared changes of hydrological balance of the Topl'a River basin in two separated periods: 1961/62-1987/88 and 1988/89-2014/15. From the 54-years annual data we derived the empirical relationship for the estimation of runoff on precipitation amount and air temperature. From it follows, that if precipitation amount will decrease by 100 mm then runoff will decrease by 50 mm. But if air temperature will rise by 1°C it will bring the decrease of Topl'a River runoff by 25.5 mm. Then we applied calibrated water balance model BILAN to assess the share of individual runoff components in monthly step. Base flow creates 50.38%, interflow 28.16% and direct runoff 21.48% from total Topl'a River runoff. Finally we used the BILAN model for simulation of runoff volume according to the four incremental scenarios – increasing air temperature and decreasing/increasing precipitation. The simulated mean monthly runoff volumes from the Topl'a River basin are the outputs of the model. If precipitation depth decreases by 100 mm, then runoff decreases by 77 mm. If air temperature will rise by 1°C it will bring the decrease of Topl'a River runoff by 29 mm. These values are higher than those from empirical equation. The worst scenario (increased air temperature by 1°C and decreased precipitation depth by 100 mm) indicates that the runoff from the Topl'a River basin will be reduced by 44% in comparison with actual status.

A model of the natural thermoelectric element was developed. The basis of the element is long-lived deep faults with graphite ores inside, which provide continuous electrical connection between the upper part of Earth's crust and the mantle. Temperature difference between them can reach 1000 °C and more because of the geothermogradient. That is why thermopower and thermoelectrical currents, which move directly upwards to arise (from the hot end to the cold one), appear in the geothermogradient because of the Seebeck effect. That is the reason why natural electric potentials of high intensity up to -2...-10 V are registered over graphite ores because of the presence of thermpower. Electrical characteristics of the geothermoelectric element of the Earth's crust (thermoelectrical current, its density, total natural potential) were quantified. There is found a mathematical solution which allows to calculate the temperature of the geothermoelectrical element's lower part, which is directly related to the overheated area of the deep tectonic process. There is also suggested a method of watching the dynamics of the total electric potential which is registered in the upper part of the geothermoelectrical element. Eventually, systematical observations over those total potentials can help to study tense zones of Earth and control the dynamics of thermal deep processes, which are often related to volcanic activity and seismic events. As a result, the resources of the geophysical method of the natural electric field can broaden greatly. It can help science to study directly both the dynamics of deep thermal processes of the Earth's crust and its areas related to sources of tensions of exogenous and endogenous nature.

Rock moisture content, temperature and physical and chemical conditions of water in the rock mass vary under different geoenvironmental conditions. These factors are critical in the mechanical and chemical disintegration of rocks with time. Changes in weathering characteristics of a rock mass correlate with major changes in shear strength and deformability of rocks. Therefore, durability is an important parameter for rocks and weathered rocks in predicting and assessing long term problems in their use for engineering purposes. Carbonate rocks are generally considered as durable strong rocks. It is important to test this claim in the UAE, where carbonate rocks are the main available rock materials in many locations e.g. in Al Ain city. The slake durability index (SDI), with tests involving several cycles of wetting and drying, is widely recognized and has been used to measure the durability of weathered rocks. Carbonate rocks in the Jabel Hafit mountain, Al Ain region, have highly fractured and cavernous surface and near surface structures. In this study, degradability of samples from three different carbonate sequences: the Rus, Dammam, and Asmari Formations, were studied petrographically, mineralogically and texturally before and after slaking. A number of slaking tests were performed on twenty-one rock samples, seven from each rock formation, in order to investigate the effects of various geoenvironmental conditions on carbonate rocks weatherability at various pH levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14. Detailed mineralogical examinations, rock thin sections, Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were employed to reveal the relationship between mineralogy and weathering characteristics of rocks on the representative rock samples, before and after the slake durability tests. Furthermore, the index properties of all samples such as unit weights (dry, γ_d and saturated, γ_sat), the water absorption (W_a), the porosity (n), void ratio (e) and the specific gravities (G_S,(OD), G_S,(SSD), G_S,(A)) were measured. The study reveals that the weathering characteristics of carbonate rocks under different geoenvironmental conditions is strongly controlled by the mineralogical composition and textural features of the rocks. The impact of slaking fluid in the degradability of limestone is very limited due to chemical reaction of CaCO₃ especially in lower pH level acidic fluid, which reduced the bonding strength between grains. The findings will certainly help to resolve durability problems associated with engineering applications such as tunnels, slope stability, and etc. in the region and elsewhere.

Water flow through soil layers (infiltration) encompasses the key element of the hydrologic cycle, where it characterizes the pathway of contribution to the groundwater aquifers. Infiltration tests are carried out in the field to measure the soil layers' infiltration rate and their corresponding hydraulic conductivity. The investigation site, Wadi Al Bih dam, represents one of the significant locations for water harvesting and storing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The dam plays essential role in preventing and mitigating the flash flooding and assist the infiltration process to recharge the shallow groundwater aquifer. This study targets to measure the infiltration rate on both sides of the dam and emphasize the relationships between the precipitation and water percolation downwards as well as the dam ability to accumulate and store the surface water especially during the intensive water storm events. The results reveal a remarkable variability of the infiltration and the hydraulic conductivity values in both the upstream and downstream of the dam. The average infiltration rate varies from 23.9 to 27.71 cm/h and the average hydraulic conductivity ranges between 9.82 and 39.67 cm/s. This shows the noticeable changeability of the soil cover to absorb the surface water and push it down to recharge the shallow aquifer.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in six samples from Bulgarian Lignite Dumps Maritsa Iztok are tracked and amounts are determined. For isolation of soluble organic matter (SOM) ca: 40 g of powdered dump samples were Soxhlet extracted by chloroform. After asphaltenes precipitation, maltenes were separated via column chromatography. The first two fractions were further analyzed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to appreciate organic matter sources and to identify and quantify PAHs in the samples. The set of PAHs determined pointed out that 3 and 4 ring unsubstituted PAHs as dominant in the dump extracts. Total organic carbon (TOC) values of the samples varied in the range 1.18-5.63 wt.%. Phenanthrene + Methylphenanthrene amounts were in the range 0.44-2.98 mg/kg TOC, while for Fluoranthene + Pyrene were in the range 0.06-0.52 mg/kg TOC. Total amounts of PAHs varied in the range 7-41 microg/kg sample. Values were compared with the legislation norms for PAHs in soils. All magnitudes were under the regulation norms for harmful substances in soil published by the Bulgarian National Legislation (2008). In conclusion, the study is in an equivocal proof for the negligible amounts of PAHs in dump materials from Maritsa Iztok lignite mining. However, their amounts in dumps should be measured and monitored bearing in mind the huge territories covered by these waste materials of mining industry.

Anatomical and morphological features which are used to describe alveolinid species, and their changes during Eocene are the subjects of this study. Changes in some of these features in time and place are important when interpreting geological history of the species. Thus, preliminary results of an ongoing research on Eocene of Inner Western Anatolia are exampled herein, and the relationship between the species is tried to be interpreted. Faunal associations and environmental characteristics of the species are mentioned. The obtained data show that the most important criteria for describing of alveolinids are as follows: test shape, index of elongation, flosculinisation, and coiling types throughout ontogeny. In addition, shape and size of septula and chamberlets, axial thickening, shape and size of the protoconch, and the ratio between the thickness of basal layer and the height of chamber are also important to be considered.

The investigation focuses on benthic foraminifera and their paleoecology, particularly on the Orbitoides genus in the Maaastrichtian sediments from the northern and western Ankara City (Turkey). The hard and soft rock samples from two measured sections, namely as Malibogazi (N Ankara) and Daryaka-Irmak (W Ankara, Kirikkale) were evaluated. More than one hundred equatorial and axial sections of the Orbitoides genus were prepared. The benthic foraminifera of the Maastrichtian sediments are as follows: Dorothia sp., Marssonella sp., Lenticulina sp., Saracenaria sp., Oolina sp., Cibicides sp., Gavelinella sp., Orbitoides apiculatus, O. gruenbachensis, O. medius, Pseudomphalocyclus sp., Omphalocyclus macroporus, Lepidorbitoides sp., Sirtina sp., Sulcoperculina globosa, S. vermunti, Siderolites calcitrapoides, Laffitteina mengaudi, Laffitteina sp. In the Malibogazi area, biometric data based on the internal and external parameters of the Orbitoides genus present reliable interpretations for paleoecological approaches of the Maastrichtian time. The calcareous siliciclastics comprise abundant Orbitoides apiculatus and O. gruenbachensis species. We have identified two ichnospecies as Maeandropolydora osmaneliensis and Curvichnus semorbis in the Orbitoides tests. It is thought that meandered microboring activity are related to parasitic life modes while cave shaped ones are associated with hermit type life modes. Orbitoides bearing siliciclastics overlies reefal sediments including biostromal limestones with rich rudist fauna, Thalassoniodes rich carbonates and massive, thick bedded limestones in the Maliboğazi area. In contrast, siliciclastics indicating open sea sediments outcrop widespreadly in the Irmak area. The obtained stratigraphical, sedimantological and paleontological data show that northern part of the Ankara was shallower than western part of the Ankara during the late Maastrichtian.

"New cities" are perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the construction, existence and subsequent development of the Central Industrial District. These settlement units founded "in cruda radis" have all a similar and characteristic layout structure. A newly established industrial plant of strategic production profile (usually associated with arms manufacturing) was directly or indirectly connected with a residential/services unit, which subsequently evolved into a city. The analysis of new settlements development in the COP area leads to identification of four groups, that vary in terms of transformation effects and current status. These are: small cities, medium cities, villages with urban characteristics and villages absorbed by previously shaped urban units. It seems that among these groups, the group of small cities deserves special attention, as it presents an explication of construction process and urban structure transformation, analysis of which may be easily achieved due to the size such units. This article presents the outline of layouts and the development history of the settlement units that were parts of functional/spatial structure created through the construction of industrial and residential estates in the Central Industrial District. The aim of the study was a framework analysis of how these cities originated and how the tissue of presented urban complexes transformed. The tools used to present these origins and basic urban development transformations included the analysis of available literature, museum/archive resources, general analysis of cartographic materials and also field studies.

In Poland, underground mines of copper ores, which belong to KGHM Polish Copper JSC, have been struggling with seismic dynamic events such as tremors and rock bursts since almost the first years of exploitation i.e. the 70s of the twentieth century. Mining activities infringe the original stress balance and make the rock mass accumulate energy and then release it, which triggers seismic hazard even far away from a tremor epicentre. Therefore, prediction of the position, time and energy of tremors plays a significant role in mining operation especially in work safety. For this purpose, many observation methods including seismology, seismic, geotechnical-geological monitoring, are used; unfortunately, most of them help describe the state of the rock mass after but not prior to the occurrence of the seismic phenomena. Only passive seismic tomography is promising since it can be used to forecast, to some extent, the location of places of seismic energy excessive accumulation. In this method, on the basis of seismic events recorded in a given period, zones of high and low seismic wave velocity are determined (calculated), which in the near future may pose areas of increased seismic activity. The phenomenon of the increase of seismic longitudinal wave velocity with the increase of stress in rocks makes the ground of tomography calculations. The prime purpose of the paper is to assess passive seismic tomography as a means for forecasting and evaluation of seismic and rock burst hazard. To accomplish this, the analysis of seismic activity and archival seismic tomography results (seismic wave velocity zones and seismic anomaly zones) with reference to seismic phenomena, their energy, number and location were carried out. On the basis of obtained the results, the effectiveness of seismic hazard forecast with the use of passive seismic tomography was assessed. The research was carried out for one mining division of the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine and covered ten years. This division was selected due to its high seismic activity and the permanent use of the passive seismic tomography to assess the seismic risk. Linear correlation and determination coefficients between seismic activity characteristics and seismic anomaly as well as longitudinal wave velocity were calculated. It was found that in the study area the effectiveness of passive seismic tomography in forecasting the seismic hazard is relatively satisfying since about half of the tremors were located within zones of high seismic activity (substantial velocity of P-waves and seismic positive anomalies)..

In underground mines of copper ores, which are situated in Lower Silesia in SW Poland, the most common and dangerous threats pose seismic tremors and rock bursts. Copper ore exploitation is carried out in three mines, which are owned by KGHM Polish Copper JSC, i.e. Lubin mine, Rudna mine and Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine. Despite many rock burst preventive operations carried out over several decades of mining activity and aimed at counteracting seismic dynamic events, these phenomena have not been eliminated. The applied rock burst prevention measures only limit or mitigate the effects of seismic events. In mining, a concept of seismicity is used, which is defined as the tendency of an intact rock mass to seismic tremors induced by mining work in an area that was previously aseismic. Tremors and their results i.e. rock bursts affect not only excavations and underground infrastructure, but also the terrain surface. In the KGHM's mines, seismic activity is monitored by the Mining Geophysics Stations. The number, coordinates and energy of tremors and rock bursts are registered, which helps determine the rock mass reaction to the adopted system and operation technology. The main purpose of the paper is to analyse seismic dynamic phenomena damaging mining excavations, i.e. rock bursts, in the Lubin mine, which took place from the beginning of the mine's operation in 1975 to 2016 (over 41 years) and to identify and investigate geological and mining factors (parameters) facilitating the growth of seismic and rock burst hazards. The following factors (parameters) favourable for the occurrence of dynamic phenomena with damaging effects in excavations were taken into consideration: the seismic activity of the rock mass (spontaneous and provoked tremors), the deposit depth and thickness, geomechanical properties of rocks, exploitation systems, the method of elimination of mined-out space, the occurrence of gobs, tectonic disturbances and the life time of excavations. The results of the observation of selected parameters made it possible to determine the causes of rock bursts as well as to evaluate the impact of the exploitation system including the technology and rock burst prevention on seismic and rock burst hazard. Moreover, seismic activity of the mining division with the highest number and energy of rock bursts was analysed. The effectiveness of rock burst prevention measures used in this division was assessed too. The results of the analyses indicated some interdependencies between factors that may affect the phenomena discussed.

The lack of updating and unreliability of information has become one of the main problems that occur in the area of management of unpaved roads in developing countries as Colombia. Therefore, a GIS-based application was developed which allows keeping updated all the information at the structural and functional level of the road, and to control the premature pavement deterioration favouring the support for making decisions in management activities of the unpaved road network. In the municipality of Urrao (Antioquia), a research proposal on "La Encarnación" road was proposed. The Road Trial Section (RTS) is part of a bidirectional 3rd level road, which has 240 m-length and a 4 m-width. The RTS was divided into eight segments or cells (30 m-length), where each of them was stabilized with different conventional and unconventional materials (cement, hydrated lime, coal ash, brick dust, sulfonated oil, polymer and sugarcane sludge). Based on the results gathered in six pavement performance follow-up and evaluation campaigns, a geospatial database (GDB) was designed. This GDB is the core of the application "SGVVT Urrao v1.0" which is able to represent graphically the behaviour of the tests of functionality and the bearing capacity carried out (International Roughness Index, slip resistance, surface macro texture, lightweight deflectometer and visual inspection). The application is able to forecast the deterioration values allowing the prioritization of rehabilitation activities for the most affected sections in a given time period which is possible to extend the useful life of the roads, reduce the operation cost of the vehicles, and guarantee the road safety and the comfort of the unpaved road network users.

The paper presents measurable benefits resulting from optimization of selection, appropriate for local ground-water conditions, type of foundation of a high residential and service building with ten residential floors, two service and two underground ones. The original design solution expected the replacement of up to 8.5 m p.p.t. soft cohesive soils (including organic ones) on gravel mixed with sands. The foundation of the high building is planned as a direct foundation on depth of 6.9 m below ground surface on a foundation slab under a residential part and the service part on a foundation framework on the prepared substitute-subsoil. After a detailed analysis of the data, the contractor reported the possibility of engineering optimization initially the pre-engineering adopted in the project foundation, significantly reducing the investment costs. It was proposed to change the direct foundation on indirect on short foundation piles with a diameter of 600 mm, the base of which is located in the subsoil, shallowly located layer of gravel mixed with coarse sands, about 2,0 m thick. Below the granular soilslayer there is at least several dozen meter thick layer of Krakowiec clays. Numerical simulations of the foundation were made, from which it appears that due to the settlement of the building, it is more advantageous to form the piles shallowly in the non-cohesive soils layer rather than deeper. An additional benefit of the adopted solution - foundation of the building on concrete piles - allowed to reduce the trench by 1.5 m and to protect the sheet piles with only one level of struts inside the trench. The settlements values predicted in the numerical model, have been verified by monitoring, which was carried out during construction as well as during the five-year operation of the building. The real settlements of the building reached the level of 45.8% of settlements values of the numerical model, of which 37.5% of real settlements occurred at the stage of completion shell of the building. The discrepancy between the real and model values of settlements may result from the underestimation of the soil medium parameters in the numerical model.

The purpose of the present study is to elaborate a new model of the macroseismic intensity attenuation using all observed intensities data for the crustal earthquakes in Romania and then, based on this relationship, to calibrate the Bakun-Wentworth method, one of the modern methods most used to estimate the parameters of the historical earthquakes (localization, moment magnitude-Mw). The study is based on 14 calibrating earthquakes (4.5 < Mw < 5.7, 811 IDPs, II < I_i < VIIIO EMS) and 7 validation earthquakes (3.5 < Mw < 5.4, 215 IDPs, II <I_i < VIIIO EMS) produced mainly in western part of Romania and for which the reported macroseismic intensities were revised in a homogeneous manner and their locations and moment magnitudes were instrumentally determined. The method was tested using earthquakes produced in neighbouring regions, expanding its application space for earthquakes produced, for example, in the extra-Carpathian areas and Pannonian Depression. The comparative analysis with the results obtained with other methods confirms the high performance and the scientific rigour of the new attenuation relationship and of the Bakun-Wentworth method and their effective applicability for testing and validation of the results obtained in the process of the Romanian earthquakes catalogue revision.

The goal of the presented research was syntheses of the ultrafine and nanopowder blends by Mechanical Alloying from Fe-W-Al-Ti-Ni-B-C compositions for further application as a precursor for fabrication bulk High-Entropy Alloy (HEA) by explosive compaction technology. The presented paper describes the preliminary investigations of mechanical alloying of Fe-W-Al-Ti-Ni-B-C powders. Laboratory vibrating sieve equipment was used for sorting the initial powders for the reduction of particle size. For the experiments were used powders of Fe-W-Al-Ti-Ni-B-C system consisting of five major metallic and two minor non-metallic B and C elements were used for mechanical alloying. The crystalline coarse Aluminum, Titanium, Carbon and Nickel, fine-grained iron and tungsten and amorphous Boron powders were used as initial components. The Fe, W, Al, Ti and Ni powders were preliminary checked by "Explorer 5000 XRF" by Skyray instrument and verified. Based on the literature review, theoretical investigation and phase diagrams for mechanical alloying were selected two compositions with the following molar ratio: Fe₂₀W₁₅Al₁₅Ti₂₀Ni₂₀B₅C₅; Fe₂₅W₂₅Al₁₀Ti₁₅Ni₁₅B₅C₅; The mechanical alloying was realized on the high energy ball mill with zirconium oxide jars and balls. The ball to powder mass ratio was 10:1, the rotation speed was 500rpm. The process was carried out in dry conditions. The time of mechanical alloying was 5h, 10h and 14 h. The powders were prepared for preliminary analyses and assessment of particle size. The SEM and optical microscopy results of mechanical alloying are presented in the paper.

In China, pore water is one of the major water hazards of coalmines, accountable for severe pit flooding and human casualties. This article introduced the two types of water-sand conducting channels, primary and man-made, contributing to water-sand inrush when mining under pore aquifer of the bottom Quaternary loose strata; the four situations of water-sand inrush mechanism caused by man-made channels channelling pore aquifer, man-made channels involving pore aquifer via primary channels, and waterproof coal pillar caving when mining on steep-slope coal seam; as well as analysis of the correlation between the critical hydraulic gradient and the coarse particles ratio based on results from penetration test. It is to provide references for countries confronting similar problems and to facilitate international discussions on pore water control.

The creation of the adaptation strategy on impacts of the climate change in urban area comes out from assumption that the adaptation is not just a single shot but a cyclic dynamic process which has to be systematic and coordinated taking into account the necessity and effectiveness. Those cities which are or will be able to integrate the adaptation into planning process will better resist to reality which is affording the new period of climate change. One of those cities is the Trnava City in Slovakia. The analysis of the present climate change in the Trnava City and its surrounding assumes growing trend of temperature increase during the year and especially the increased extremeness. The combination of temperature and precipitation trends will affect the soil moisture and changes of run-off regimes of rivers. The main goal of proposal of water retention measures on the Trnavka River flowing through the city is the improvement of the water level by retaining the water what should attract public places and to cool down the air in the residential area of the city. The research was concentrated on evaluation of possible realisation of such water retention measures from water quantity and quality point of view. The solution consisted in design of several inflatable rubber weirs, its analysis and prognosis of water level and discharge regime in the Trnavka River using mathematical modelling connected with field measurements and updated detailed geodetic survey.

Difficult and complex geological conditions are often an obstacle to the efficient implementation of construction works related to the erection of objects, in particular, earthworks and foundations. In the event of an additional occurrence of adverse weather conditions, there may be a delay in the final effect of the work and exceeding the construction costs. The article presents the stage of the implementation case in which these factors were compiled. The SWOT analysis was an element helpful in analyzing the situation and also allowing to make decisions regarding implementation. Through this analysis, the contractor identified the possible activities, including opportunities and strengths, which allowed for the development of a scenario. This is important because the lack of action would cause even greater delays and financial losses than those already existing.

Yakutites (polycrystalline diamonds with lonsdaleite admixture) from the Ebelyakh placer (Yakutia, Russia) have been studied by optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and neutron diffraction in order to reveal their difference from tagamite-hosted diamonds of the Popigai impact crater. The yakutite aggregates are 2.0 mm to 13.0 mm in size and have a shapeless morphology or sometimes preserve hexagonal contours of primary graphite. Raman spectra are characterized by a broadened line in the region of cubic 3C diamond, which is interpreted as the sum of spectra from cubic 3C diamond and three peaks related to Lonsdaleite: 1338 (E1g), 1280 (A1g) and 1224 (E2g). On the surface of yakutites revealed the presence of a silicate glass film. The main elements are iron, silicon from the surrounding silicate matter. Neutron stress diffractometry showed the content of diamond and Lonsdaleite in the sample of yakutite by 50%, two cases of preferential orientation of two phases were recorded: (110) diamond // (110) Lonsdaleite; (111) diamond // (001) Lonsdaleite. Both yakutites and tagamite-hosted diamonds are of impact origin and share similarity in the phase composition consisting of more abundant diamond and subordinate amounts of lonsdaleite. Differences between them depend on the place of their formation. Yakutites were formed in the epicenter of the explosion and were thrown out of the crater at a distance of more than 550 km in radial directions, and from the vertical ejection - they got back to the crater. In tagamites, impact diamonds were formed simultaneously with the rock melting due to the shock wave that came from the epicenter. The presence of a silicate glass film on the surface of yakutites indicates that they were hardened after ejection from the crater. Yakutites represent distinct mineral fraction outside the crater. They are found as placers along with common diamonds and other detritus. Within the crater they are genetically related to suevites – tuffaceous component of the impactites and enter the crater placers due to the physical weathering of suevites. Tagamite diamonds practically do not occur in the crater placers, because tagamite is a very hard rock and in the absence of chemical weathering these diamonds can't be released. Thus, diamonds from tagamites and yakutites, having a common impact nature, differ in some properties determined by the place of formation and post-impact history.

Polyethylene terephthalate, which is used in many applications today, is very important in terms of nature and source in order to ensure recycling by appropriate methods after use. Because polyethylene terephthalate is a durable and long-lasting thermoplastic which is resistant to many environmental influences. Recovering residual plastics has become mandatory. In this study, the conversion of waste plastic to a new liquid fuel by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pyrolysis method was investigated. Sodium boron hydride (NaBH₄) was used as both catalyst and hydrogen donor in the pyrolysis experiments. Pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a batch reactor under catalytic and non-catalytic conditions, reaction time of 15-90 minutes, reaction temperature of 325-425 °C, solid/solvent ratio of 1/4 and initial nitrogen gas pressure of 20 bar. According to the results obtained, the most suitable reaction temperature was found to be 375-425 °C and the reaction time was 30 minutes. At the reaction times of 30 minutes, the maximum total conversion in non-catalytic conditions of waste polyethylene terephthalate samples was 53.1% at 400 °C reaction temperature and the highest oil + gas yield was 43.7% at 425 °C reaction temperature. In the pyrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate samples in the presence of sodium boron hydride, the maximum total conversion was 55.3% at 400 °C reaction temperature and the highest oil + gas yield was 44.6% at 425 °C reaction temperature. As a result, it can be argued that sodium boron hydride used in pyrolysis experiments of waste polyethylene terephthalate acts as both catalytic and hydrogen donor.

The publication presents a statistical analysis of workplace accidents in Polish mining in 2009-2017. Collecting and studying information on accidents at work is essential element necessary to improve the organization of work and to introduce preventive activities that will reduce the probability of the workplace accident. The analysis was based on the data of the Statistics Poland and the State Mining Authority. Based on the collected data, it has been shown that the number of workplace accidents and persons injured in these accidents in the studied years decreased and amount to 30% (according to the Statistics Poland) less in 2017 than in 2009. Whereas, the incidence rate of accidents at work (defined as the number of injured people per 1000 persons employed) in Polish mining ranges from 13.97 (in 2013) to 17.82 (in 2010) and is twice higher than the incidence rate of workplace accidents for all industries in Poland. The accidents at workplace in the mining industry in the analysed period occured on average every 137.88-223.43 thousand Mg of mined minerals. Additionally, the causes of workplace accidents and the number of persons injured were analysed depending on the age of the persons injured, length of work seniority, specific physical activities performed by the persons injured at the moment of workplace accident and the type of injuries. The highest number of accidents at workplace is related to inappropriate behaviour of a person at work and workplace accidents were most often suffered by persons injured aged 20-49 years (89.47%), who performed different activities at the moment of an accident at workplace: movement (31.46% persons injured), handling of objects (20.22% persons injured), carrying by hand (19.91% persons injured) and working with hand-held tools (13.26% persons injured). The most frequent types of injuries suffered by persons injured at the moment of accident are wounds and wounds and superficial injuries (34.05%), fractures of bones (30.12%) and dislocations, sprains and strains (20.91%).

Agricultural territory planning is the omitted item of land management in Bulgarian legislation. This causes unofficial, chaotic and non-holistic use of the Agricultural Territory with future negative consequences for farm, regional and state economy development. The objective of this study is to present a concept for strategic and on-farm planning of the Agricultural Territory and to suggest changes in legislation. Documentary analysis of normative, strategic, historical and other documents in respect of spatial and land-use planning has been conducted, including the National Strategy for Regional Development 2012-2022 and the National Concept for Spatial Development 2013-2025, Ordinances of the Council of Ministers, acts of Municipal Services of Agriculture, Analytical Reports on sustainable agriculture management on municipal level, land use plans and maps. Quantitative and qualitative methods for collecting and processing economic, geographic and statistical information were used. The paper presents an outline of a modern Agricultural Territory Development Concept (ATDC). Approaches for long-term strategic land planning on municipal level and short-term land planning on farm level are proposed. ATDC offers completion of Spatial Development Plan on municipal level with details of Agricultural Territory; includes recommendatory development zones that are based on the natural recourses distribution, quality of land and zoning of agricultural production in the country; outlines regimes and optionality of the territorial elements and development zones. The Concept gives general characteristics of a Land Use Plan (instead of Specialized Detailed Development Plan) and its territorial elements on farm level. As a result of the study, amendments to the regulatory framework are proposed too.

Many difficulties can occur during the well is being drilled directionally, as cuttings may accumulate either in a bed at hole high angles. It is to highlight that the speed of the cuttings depends on the geometry of the drilling and the amplitude of the ROP. Hole cleaning is still among the most important problems to solve during the drilling operations. The difficulty in removing cuttings bed during drilling appears due to the interaction between drilling mud and the cuttings in cuttings bed leading to the formation of a cuttings bed gel. Inefficient cleaning of the wellbore can cause decrement in the stuck pipe, lost circulation, wellbore instability, high torque and drag, loose control on density, bad quality cement jobs, etc. These problems have a major impact on the economics of the drilling process. Optimization of the hole cleaning during the drilling operations is very important to enhance the drilling rate. In this study, the Rubiandini and Zhou models have been applied to the well for the prediction of the flow rate required to the ascent of cuttings to the day and to prevent the formation of the beds. The results show the critical flow rate value calculated by the Zhou model (544 l/min) to be lower than the in-situ applied flow rate (720 l/min), while for the Rubiandini model, the critical flow is higher (843.16 l/min for the rotary and 783.01 l/min for the sliding). The model of Rubiandini was chosen to make the sensitivity study because the flow rate calculated by this model is close to reality. We highlighted the effect of major drilling parameters, such as ROP, mud rheology, specific gravity of fluid, density of cuttings, dimension of cuttings, flow rate, flow regime, androtating speed of the drill stringon cuttings transport efficiency are analysed.

Each year, more than one hundred kilometres of new dog headings are mined in underground hard coal mines. Such headings are ventilated by means of an air duct system. A stream of fresh air is supplied to the working face of the mined heading through an air duct with a view to ensuring proper chemical composition and temperature of the mining atmosphere. This is because this heading is being exploited and the ventilation must provide adequate working conditions for the crew. While dog headings are being mined in the body of coal, they are additionally filled with methane, which is released in this process. Due to the risk of its combustion and explosion, methane is a highly dangerous gas. It represents one of the greatest hazards in underground mining. Therefore, a particularly essential issue during the mining of dog headings is to reduce the potential for dangerous methane concentrations to occur. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to select adequate parameters for the fresh air supplied through the air duct and the position of this air duct. It is the position of the air duct that appears to be a very significant element in the ventilation process of dog headings. Model-based tests were conducted to determine how the position of the air duct affects methane concentration levels. Their results have been presented in the paper. The tests were conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The related calculations were performed in ANSYS Fluent, based on the finite volume method (FVM). The analyses performed made it possible to identify the concentrations levels of methane and the physical parameters of the flowing gas mixture at each spatial point of the area under examination, for the boundary conditions adopted. The purpose of the tests was to determine whether and to what extent the position of the air duct, which is used to supply fresh air to the mined dog heading, influences methane concentration in this heading. The tests were conducted for an actual mining region in which a dog heading was mined. The input parameters for the model (boundary conditions) were therefore adopted from the actual system. The model-based tests helped to determine the distributions for methane concentration depending on the position of the air duct. The analysis mainly encompassed the distance between the outlet of the air duct and the surface of the mined body of coal. The use of model-based tests which employed numerical methods made it possible to determine a series of significant physical and chemical parameters of the resulting mixture of gases. Their distributions and values in selected points for the variants under analysis have been presented in the paper. The results obtained unambiguously demonstrate that the position of the air duct has a significant impact on the distributions of methane concentration levels in the mined dog heading. In the Authors' opinion, these results may constitute an essential source of information for service teams responsible for ensuring ventilation-related safety in mines. This is because they allow for predicting the distribution of methane concentration and other parameters of the gas mixture that occurs in dog headings during the mining process.

One of the most common and, at the same time, the most serious threats in underground hard coal mining, which often requires long rescue operations, is the methane hazard. It is related to the potential ignition and/or explosion of methane in mixture with air. The hazard grows along with the increasing depth of mining works and the concentration of production in mine headings. Methane, as an organic gas, is released to the mining atmosphere in the exposed body of coal. Accumulation of explosive concentrations of methane in a mine heading, as well as adequate oxygen concentration levels and the presence of a trigger (e.g. in the form of a spark) may lead to methane explosion or combustion. Methane ignition and combustion leads to a series of chemical reactions, which cause the emission of harmful and poisonous gases of high temperature into the mining atmosphere (the temperature of methane combustion in mixture with air is approx. 1,875°C, with methane content of approx. 10%). These gases are formed during methane combustion. Countering the methane hazard primarily involves elimination of the potential for dangerous methane concentration levels and application of suitable protective measures to prevent methane ignition. However, despite the preventive measures in use, there were 34 incidents related to the methane hazard in Polish hard coal mines in the years 2008–2018, including 10 cases of methane ignition in the mined dog headings. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out research in order to predict the consequences caused by methane combustion in mine headings. Taking into consideration the remarks above, it was assumed that the numerical analysis of methane combustion in the mined dog heading and of the impact of this combustion on the parameters of the air stream flowing through this heading would be conducted using the CFD method. The objective of the analysis was to determine the effects of methane combustion on the composition of the mining atmosphere and the physical parameters of the gas mixture generated in this process. The paper presents the distributions for the physical parameters of the resulting gas mixture and the concentration of fire gases. Moreover, it demonstrates the distributions for temperature and oxygen concentration levels in the heading under analysis.

In this study, geothermal waters of Havran were studied in detail. In the area, Karakaya formation in Early Triassic age is the basement consisting volcanic and sedimentary rocks such as of basalts, mudstones, and radiolarites in which there are intercalations of limestone, sandstones and conglomerates. Granodiorite intrusions in Oligocene to Miocene age occur in association with intense volcanic events in the area. From Upper Oligocene to Early Miocene, andesitic and dacitic pyroclastics occur due to intensively volcanism in the area. Later, lacustrine sediments consisting of conglomerates, sandstones, claystones, marls and limestones form from Middle to Upper Miocene. Geothermal waters in the area of Havran are of Na-Ca-(SO₄)-HCO₃, Na-(SO₄)-HCO₃ and Na-SO4 type. The geothermal waters display immature waters and were represented within this study as a hydrogeological model.

Typomorphic features of placer gold of the Anabar and Bolshaya Kuonamka river basins are studied with the aim of determining its indicators and forecasting potential primary sources. All analytical work was carried out in the department of physico-chemical methods of analysis IGABM SB RAS. A detailed study of the morphology, surface microrelief, photographing was performed on a JSM - 6480 LV scanning (microscope) microscope of JEOL company with Oxford Instruments analytical prefixes (wave and energy dispersive spectrometers). Gold fineness is determined on Camebax-micro X-ray microanalyzer a «Cameca» firms. It is shown that the main sources for the gold are auriferous reservoir rocks of Neogene-Quaternary age. The indicator typomorphic features of the gold include a small size (-0.5 mm), scaly and platy forms, rough shagreen surface with casts of minerals pressing, and high fineness (900-999%o). The most highly informative feature is a strongly modified internal structure of the gold showing evidence of granulation and recrystallization. Autochthonous gold of ore habit is also found. Characteristic features of this type of gold are a very small size (-0,2 mm), angular-cloddy forms of individual particles, rough porous surface, widely ranging fineness (535 to 999% ), heterogeneous chemical composition, and a complex, multi-phase internal structure. This indicates the presence of neighboring primary sources. Hydrothermal-metasomatic formations with disseminated gold-sulfide mineralization, discovered at the places of tectonic jointing of carbonate rocks, developed in fault zones could be such sources. Considering epigenetic mineral associations, quartz-potassium feldspar and quartz hydrothermal-metasomatic formations are identified. Ore mineralization of disseminated type is represented by (in decreasing order) pyrite, gold, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite and silver. Gold is found in native form and in association with pyrite (quartz metasomatites) and potassium feldspar metasomatites). Thus, as a result of performed studies, indicator typomorphic features of autochthonous fine gold are identified. Near-fault hydrothermal-metasomatic formations with gold-sulfide disseminated mineralization are discovered in the studied area for the first time and examined.

The Republic of Bulgaria is situated on the edge of the Eurasian tectonic plate. This is defined by active tectonic and seismic activity, which is an issue in the implementation of the official coordinate reference system in the country - the ETRS89, as far as precise solutions are concerned. The reason is that the intraplate, relative to Eurasia, tectonic movements south of Stara Planina are about 5 times larger than those north of it. Over a period of time (about 10 years), the coordinate errors of the points from a static network become bigger than the uncertainties of GNSS measurements and thus limit their potential. Thanks to the presence of networks of continuously operating reference GNSS stations (CORS networks), and advanced methods of processing and analysis of the results, it is possible to monitor the crustal deformations with sufficient precision. A model of horizontal intraplate velocities was developed based on measurements from different epochs of the CORS networks operating on the territory of Bulgaria. Precise coordinates and velocities of the stations were estimated using the Bernese GNSS Software v5.2, and the deformation modeling was performed using a method of determining parameters of local deformation and Euler poles of distinctive tectonic blocks to which the country is divided according to the authors. This paper presents the practical applicability of this model for interpolation the velocities of stations from static networks and verification of the official results for the points of the National GPS Network. The results are encouraging for the practical realization of ETRS89 on the territory of Bulgaria.

The behavior of the disordered systems in the conditions of the strong compression attracts particular interest in materials science. Natural impact glasses, being with a metastable state, can keep features of the structure for millions of years, form essential volumes compare to experimentally possible high-pressure products. The complex analysis of geological, mineralogical-petrographic, petrochemical features and degree of crystallinity of tagamites, vein glasses and vitro-clastic formations of the origin type of melt impactites of the Kara astrobleme including their phase state composition have been studied. The melt Kara impactites have dependence on the initial character of the melted sedimentary target and cooling velocity of an impact melt. The lowest order has been described for ultrahigh pressure vein-type glasses which contain silica drops with single crystalline coesite and firstly found melt-crystallized high pressure variety of smectite. The vein melt impactites consist of solidified impact melt presented by totally amorphous alumina silicate glass with augite microcrystallites and ultrahigh pressure silica glass with coesite microcrystals and "drops" of firstly found melt-crystallized high pressure variety of smectite. The boundary between alumina silicate and silica glass is characterized with liquated amorphous Fe-rich drops. The special feature of the studies melt impactites is low alteration in spite of 70 Ma age and high content of water. The large volumes of an impact melt created massive tagamite bodies have longer cooling underwent with the almost complete crystallization. The obtained data indicate the specific nature of melt glasses of vein type and prospects of their further research for fundamental study of amorphous state under ultrahigh pressure and propose new materials.

2D and 3D Raman mapping allows to observe "in situ" distribution of phases and relationship of minerals in rock samples, different mineral aggregates, mineral inclusions within crystals and other quantitative spectroscopic studies of mineral substances and materials. The method is realized in accumulating and processing of big data array of Raman spectra (RS) from selected areas of a studied sample with subsequent visualization in XY plane at 2D mapping or in the form of 3D experimental models with XYZ coordinates in a case of 3D Raman mapping. During the mapping different analytical data can be visualized as maps such as spatial distribution of mineral phases, degrees of their crystallinity, orientation of crystallites and their size, residual tension in minerals and inclusions and many other parameters. As 3D Raman mapping demands higher requirements to quality of samples, takes significantly long time expenditure and big data for processing, 2D Raman mapping looks to be the most effective for different mineralogical applications. In this work we demonstrate advantages of 2D Raman mapping on the example of studying of the impact ultrahigh-pressure high-temperature (UHPHT) vein glasses with melt-crystallized ultrahigh-pressure silica phase – coesite, for the first time found within diamondiferous impactites of the giant Kara meteorite crater. The mapping was produced with processing of typical spectra ranges of recognized mineral phases met in analyzed areas. As a result of the conducted studies it has been established what according to spectroscopic data coesite hangs to central parts of UHPHT silica glass located in general matrix of aluminosilicate glass. The sites of silicate glass are characterized by fully amorphous state that is obviously shown in its typical ranges. The areas with a high luminescence correspond to inclusions of smectite micro-drops in UHPHT silica glass isolations that has been confirmed with the accompanying study with use of electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron diffraction (ED). The used 2D Raman mapping to the impact vein glasses of the Kara meteorite crater allowed to reveal distribution of mineral phases in UHPHT glass, showing distribution of amorphous and crystalline phases that is undoubted advantage of the Raman spectroscopy. In full text of the paper technical features of Raman 2D mapping are shown that can be useful for similar mineral objects and materials with complex phase structure and different degree of ordering.

Impact diamonds are technical material with valuable mechanical properties. Despite of a quite long story from their discovery and huge diamond storages at the Popigai astrobleme (Siberia, Russia) they were not involved into industrial production, first of all because of remoteness of objects, complexity of extraction and economically more favourable synthesis of technical diamonds in the seventies of the past century. However, due to the high hardness of impact diamonds and also to the high demand of new carbon materials, including nanomaterials, the interest towards this type of natural diamonds is significantly increased in the recent years. Although the mentioned Popigai astrobleme is situated in a remote part of Russia it has been studied in more details. At the same time, the less known Kara giant meteorite crater (Pay-Khoy, Russia) is situated essentially closer to the industrial infrastructure of the European part of Russia. This astrobleme, similarly to Popigai, is enriched in impact diamonds as well. But, till recent years it was not deeply studied using modern analytical methods. During our studies in 2015 and 2017 at the territory of the Kara meteorite crater we have distinguished and described 5 varieties of impactites – bulk melt impactites which form cover-like and thick dike bodies; melt ultrahigh-pressure vein bodies and at least 3 types of suevites formed after specific sedimentary target rocks. These varieties have typomorphic features regarding the crystallinity and mineral composition. It was found that all of them have high concentration of microdiamonds formed by high-pressure high temperature pyrolysis mechanism from precursor materials like coal and organic relicts. Using a set of modern mineralogical methods we have found two principal types of diamond morphologies within the Kara impactites – sugar-like after coal diamonds and diamond paramorphs after organic relicts. The Kara diamonds have several accompanying carbon substances including newly formed graphite, glass-like carbon and probably carbyne. The studied diamondiferous Kara impactites provide an essentially novel knowledge of impact processes in sedimentary targets.

The article presents the possibilities of using time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to determine the water content and electrical conductivity of mineral soil with biochar addition. The TDR method consists in measuring the time of electromagnetic pulse transmission and reflection from the obstacle back to the source point. The impulse is a step signal of voltage. The reflected signal contains information on the dielectric properties of the material being tested. Therefore, qualitative, and quantitative properties of the material can be detected. The tests were carried out using a mobile reflectometric device as an electronic humidity and conductive meter. Based on the obtained results, the usefulness of reflectometric methods in the study of the water content and electrical conductivity of mineral soil was determined.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the relation of temperature of the soil surface to a biochar dose used in the field cultivation. Material from observations in a vegetation season of 2018 was used in the studies. Based on the research that was carried out it was reported that the strongest relations of the temperature of air with the temperature of soil occurred for all biochar doses. In summer, relations of biochar to the soil temperature were stable and statistically significant.

The article presents analysis of retention properties of mineral soil formations enriched with biochar and an attempt was made to characterise the states of hydration. Due to a complex and time-consuming process of direct measurement of hydration and retention soil characteristics (the so-called pF curve). The paper investigates the relation between a biochar dose and the amount of water retained in soil at the set capillary potential (pF).

According to the standards ISO 6184/4 and EN 14373, the efficacy of explosion suppression systems is estimated by maximum reduced (suppressed) shock wave overpressure, recorded in a suppressed explosion event. In addition to this, a significant interest is the capability of explosion protection systems to reduce the dynamic loads on the human body. This task is not considered in standards. The G. Tsulukidze Mining Institute has been studied mitigation of dynamic loads on human by water barrier, generated using the protective system. The system composed of a blast detector, a wireless device for activation and an absorber. During an accidental explosion, the proposed system immediately forms a protective water barrier in the zone to be protected to reduce the overpressure generated by a shock wave. A prototype model has been manufactured, installed and tested under real explosion conditions in the underground experimental base of the G. Tsulukidze Mining Institute. An anthropomorphic test device Hybrid III 50th was used during testing. To register dynamic load generated during an explosion, 7 sensors were installed in different zones of the dummy. Tests were conducted both with the use of the protective system and without it, in conditions when the charge weight was 2 kg, and the distance from the charge to the dummy was 8,5 m. Comparative analysis showed that the protective system, which contains one absorber (may contain several absorbers), reduces the dynamic loads generated in different zones of a human body by 30-50%.

The Vistula Lagoon has been evolving since its formation in the late Atlantic period. At the beginning, the changes were mainly driven by the stabilization of the Baltic Sea level, and the development of hydrographic network. Later on, anthropogenic activities have become an important factor. Hydrotechnical works conducted at the turn of the 20th century, aimed at regulating the outflow of the Vistula River waters, have significantly limited the riverine input into the lagoon. In the past, the Vistula Lagoon contained freshwater and was constantly filing with sediments that made the basin shallow. With time, the lagoon has filled with brackish water, while its area became subjected to strong interactions between the driving forces of marine and terrestrial origin. As a result, the regime of sedimentation processes in the lagoon have been changed. The interpretation of sedimentation conditions for clastic sediments was based on the analysis of grain-size parameters that had been determined on the samples of bottom sediments and suspension collected in November 2016. The obtained results were compared to the pertinent data on bottom sediments collected by the Polish Geological Institute National Research Institute in 1994. Significant contrasts in particle size distributions were found. Also, the conducted study allowed the determination of underlying causes of these changes. Due to the shallow depth of the Vistula Lagoon, the sedimentation processes in this basin are significantly influenced by resuspension phenomenon. Resuspension is responsible for the differentiation and redistribution of sediment that originates from various sources, on the bottom of the basin. The process takes place in shallower areas, but this study indicates that its effectiveness increases in the deeper areas of the lagoon, which manifests itself in the replacement of clayey silt with silt. In connection with the plans of the Polish side of the cross-cutting of the Vistula Spit, the sedimentation conditions of Vistula Lagoon will be changed.

Heavy metals are important environmental pollutants threatening the health of human populations and natural ecosystems. Like other inorganic and organic contaminants, the fate of heavy metals in the environment is largely controlled by sorption reaction with soil colloids. The ecological effects of heavy metals in soils are closely related to the content and speciation of the elements in the solid and liquid phases of soils. In connection with the possible binding mechanisms of heavy metals in soils, the concept of specific and non–specific adsorption was discussed. Recent results have indicated that the adsorption of heavy metals on the soil particles is not only restricted to the formation of surface complexes but can also take place in the interior of minerals. Heavy metal sorption by the organic residues at all concentrations was very high. A positive relationship between the rate of adsorption and dosage was obtained indicating that the adsorption process was influenced by increasing the dosage of the residue as well as the shaking period. The sorption data obtained were fitted Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms out of which the Freundlich adsorption model was found to have the best fit for Pb. Movement and attenuation of heavy metals in soils are among other processes controlled by sorption onto the surfaces of soil particles. Processes like precipitation/coprecipitation, complexation and competitive effects of other cations may also influence the attenuation, but in all cases, sorption will be involved, and at natural and slightly polluted concentration levels sorption may be the predominating attenuation process. The Pb sorption on ten investigated soils from the Žitný ostrov area (Slovakia) has been studied in laboratory conditions. The aims were the estimation of adsorbed amount of lead S, determination of adsorption parameters for several soil types (L1, L2, L3, L4 loam soils, SL1, SL2, SL3, SL4 sandy-loam soils, CL5 clay-loam soil, C6 clay soil) and comparison of the obtained results with the results introduced in publishing works. Batch adsorption experiments were performed with a very wide range of lead concentrations (0,01-500 mg/l Pb²⁺) at a constant soil/solution ratio. The parameters K_F, n of Freundlich isotherm and parameters Q_max, K_L of Langmuir isotherm were determined experimentally.

The subject of this study was the diatom taphocoenoses preserved in the surface sediments of the northern part of Puck Bay, southern Baltic Sea. Three subbotom sedimentary cores ZP1/0518, ZP2/0518 and ZP3/0414 collected in the vicinity of the Hel Peninsula from a water depth of 65 m, 47 m and 50.2 m, respectively were analyzed with respect to diatom flora. Over 500 valves of diatoms were counted in each sample in order to estimate the percentage abundance of particular taxa. Habitat, salinity, trophy and saproby requirements of all identified species were established according to literature. The percentage content of distinguished ecological groups was counted in each core. Diatomological analysis indicates that the diatom flora observed in muddy and silty sediments of the study area was generally abundant, taxonomically diverse and well preserved. However, some valves were mechanically broken or/and chemically destroyed. In all cores anthropogenic assemblage with small sized planktic diatoms tolerating higher nutrient and pollution concentration as well as lower transparency of water column predominated. The most important components were euhalobous species Thalassiosira levanderi and mesohalobous one Cyclotella choctawhatcheeana. Both species achieved the highest frequency (up to ca. 80% and 38%, respectively) in core ZP1/0518. Other eutraphentic, α/β mesosaprobous taxa belonged to oligohalobous halophilous (Actinocyclus normanii f. subsalsa, Cyclotella atomus, C. meneghiniana) and oligohalobous indifferent (A. normanii f. normanii, Cyclostephanos dubius, Aulacoseira spp.) were observed rarely. Benthos was also dominated by diatoms preferring the high content of nutrients and organic matter. This group was represented by marine/brackish-water taxa (i.e. Catenula adhaerens, Cocconeis hauniensis, C. scutellum, Diploneis didyma, D. smithii, D. stroemii, Opephora krumbeinii) and freshwater ones (i.e. Amphora copulata, A. pediculus, Cocconeis neodiminuta, C. neothumensis). Our results clearly indicate the apparent human impact on the structure of the diatom flora in the northern part of the Puck Bay. At least two sources of anthropopressure can be determined in the vicinity of Hel Peninsula i.e. (1) at a local scale harbor in Hel city and municipal sewage linked to development of tourism, and (2) at a regional scale the Vistula River waters, which is the major source of pollution in the Gulf of Gdańsk.

The most important step in a feasibility study of a mining project is the determination of reserves in situ. But the question which arises that no method of estimation can give exact value since there is inevitably an associated error when it is important to know the order of magnitude. Decision-makers need to know if the estimated content is correct or not. Geostatistics can help the mining engineer to obtain from the available information, and thus, enable him to decide if the project deserves more investments. Geostatistics provides not only the estimated value but also with the kriging variance, a measure of the accuracy of the estimate. This is one of the superiorities of geostatistics over traditional methods of estimating reserves. In this article, the Kieselguhr deposit reserve of the Sig mine (western Algeria) was evaluated according to the linear geostatistical method with ordinary Kriging (OK), to know the economic value of this mine that allows the exploitation of this deposit, and to carry out study cartography accompanied by 2D modeling of deposit. Finally, we obtained maps in which we could estimate exploitable and geological reserves, and know the characteristics of the deposit.

The characteristics of extreme precipitation, including dominant trends, were analyzed for eight stations located on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea for the period 1951-2010. Maximum 1-day and 5-day precipitation totals, events exceeding the 90th and 95th percentile calculated for the period 1961-1990 applied as indices enabling the assessment of the frequency of wet conditions. Annual trends were calculated using the standard linear regression method, while the fit of the model was assessed with the t-test at the 95% confidence level. Annual precipitation reaches values from 775 mm on the east coast to 683 mm on the central coast and shows positive trends on six out of eight analyzed stations, from 0.8 mm·year-1 in Swibno to 2.5 mm·year⁻¹ in Dziwnow. The maximum 1-day precipitation totals range between 58.7 mm on the western coast to 105.0 mm on the central coast and show statistically significant trends (0.1 - 0.2 mm·year⁻¹) in this area. There are, on average, six to seven 5-day rainfall periods recorded annually in the investigated area. The annual number of 5-day precipitation periods shows positive statistically significant trends in the central and eastern part of the South Baltic coast (0.2-0.3 per 10 years). The median of the maximum 5-day precipitation totals ranges from 21.6 mm in Swinoujscie to 78.6 mm in Ustka. Trends in changes in maximum 5-day rainfall totals reach the level of 0.1-0.2 mm·year⁻¹ and are statistically significant in stations from Swinoujscie to Ustka and in Gdynia. The values of the 90th percentile of 1-day precipitation total are equal to 8-10 mm. Annually, there are about 16-18 days with such precipitation recorded in the area under investigation. The trends are positive (0.1-1.0 day per 10 years) on the central coast. The values of the 95th percentile of 1-day precipitation totals reach 11.5-14.0 mm. Annually, there are about 8-9 days with such precipitation recorded in the area under investigation. The trends are positive (0.3-0.4 days·10 years⁻¹) on the western and central coast.

Analysis of modern geological and planetological data indicates hot accretion of the Earth. Impact melting during its formation led to origin of layered global magma ocean. Kimberlites were from residual melts of its lower peridotite latyer. This explains high content of meltphylic (lithophylic) components in kimberlites. Prolonged cooling and crystallization of magma ocean from top to bottom in the Earth's history is the cause of mainly the Phanerozoic age of kimberlites. Moving apart of lithosphere and products of magma ocean fractionation contained therein when oceanic areas are formed, explains absence of kimberlites in these areas and Clifford rule nature. Low temperature of kimberlite magmas and high content of volatile component in them was caused by formation from residual melts. Increased temperature of crystallization of volatile-poor melts and emission of volatile components from magmas at shallow stages of upwelling led to solidification of upper parts of magmatic columns and their explosion during further upwelling under impact of high pressure of gas phase preserved by solidification. This explains the fact that, kimberlites formed mostly explosion pipes, and that kimberlite lavas are lacking. Diamonds were crystallized as a result of carbon accumulation in residual melt. Evolution of its composition during crystallization from peridotite through eclogite to kimberlite was responsible for existence of xenoliths of the same composition in kimberlites and inclusions in diamonds, and decrease of their average isotope age in this sequence. Degree of the saturation of the melt with carbon during its fractionation increased. Due to that, layer growth was followed by radial one, and morphology of originating diamond crystals was evolved from octahedrons to dodecahedrons and then to cubes and aggregates, and sculptures were formed on them. Accumulation of meltphylic components in residual melts is causes increase of nitrogen, light carbon isotope and other admixtures content in later diamonds.

Reliability of Digital Terrain Model created with geospatial data is a parameter in evaluation of its quality that takes into consideration both the method as well as the quality of data. Bathymetric surveys – dynamic measurements of a moving transducer of a singlebeam or multibeam echosounder used for depth measurements in water are a string of interrelated phenomena that determine the quality (accuracy) of geospatial coordinates. Inclusion of all factors influencing the accuracy of measurements, such as echosounder's calibration, is a prerequisite for minimisation of systematic measurement errors. Random and gross errors are inevitable, and are eliminated during the cleaning process of geospatial data. High reliability, preliminarily filtered cloud of data is the initial source of the data for the creation of the Digital Sea Bottom Model. Comparison of two models using interpolation methods on the basis of discrete data carries the risk of the outcome being blurry. Cell size optimization on the basis of echosounder beams geometry is one of the essential parameters in quality assessment – two surface models comparison. Dynamic calibration of multibeam echosounder, based on the comparison of depths of outer edges of the bathymetric swath, is carried out utilizing raw data. Correct spatial orientation of echosounder's head(s), due to the angular regulation of the echosounder's head, minimizes discrepancies and increases the reliability of the data that is to be used to create the Digital Sea Bottom Model. This article presents the results of the analysis of accuracy of DSBM created with geospatial data acquired by multibeam echosounder, based on the calibration soundings that are the enabling stage for hydrographic surveys using MBES. The data used was recorded by R2Sonic multibeam echosounder in shallow waters (up to 30m depth), deriving from general rules of depths carting on nautical charts.

Dynamic surveys of the sea bottom that rely on determination of reflection points of the acoustic wave transmitted by the echosounder use the wave field theory for determination of the trajectories of the acoustic ray. Complex multibeam echosounder systems that use diagonal beams to determine the coordinates of reflecting points on the sea bed, must take into consideration the refraction phenomenon. Beam inflexion depends on the variability of sound's velocity in water. It is increasingly more important for beams most inflected from the plumb line. It is a determinant of the angle zone of echosounder's beam and swath width. The efficiency of bathymetric surveys relies on the swath width. It is 3-5 times the water depth for a multibeam echosounder and up to 12 times water depth for an interferometric one. High value of swath width achieved for high beams inflexion decreases the reliability of the Digital Sea Bottom Model built by data recorded during the bathymetric surveys. This article presents results of correction of the phenomenon of non-linear propagation of the acoustic wave in the multibeam echosounder calibration process in the area where the depth does not exceed 30m. A calibration test was utilised on the perpendicular profiles to determine the variance of depths. Depths measured by the diagonal beams were verified using a vertical beam during surveys on perpendicular profile. Popular models for determining the trajectory of an acoustic wave were used – one based on Snell's law and another, a new one developed by TU Delft. The geospatial data was sourced using R2Sonic multibeam echosounder during the preliminary stage of bathymetric sounding.

The flow velocity and discharge are important characters of hydrodynamics of a stream. This article presents the results of measurements of discharge and flow velocity in a cross-section profile by ADV (Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter) device - Flow Tracker device (SonTek / YSI) and by indicator method. In principle, ADV device is used to measure the flow velocity (by the 3D probe) at various locations within a cross-section profile of a stream and the area to which each measurement refers is determined as well. Indicator method requires the instantaneous release of a known tracer concentration, and the subsequent measures of the tracer concentration in a downstream cross-section profiles measurement section. There were determined and compared the discharge value, mean velocity of discharge cross section (vm) and section velocity (vs) - mean velocity between two cross-section profiles. Measurements were carried out in four cross-section profiles (H0 - H3) in the Hron River (various distances → 720, 922 and 1109 meters). Results showed that values of discharge measured by ADV device are lower than by the indicator method (not for all cross-section profiles). When it comes to vm, values obtained by ADV device are lower than the vm values obtained by the indicator method for the first and second cross-section profile. In the third cross-section profile, the situation is reversed. This fact is valid for to the vm and vs.

Romania is one of the most seismic-prone countries in Europe due to the periodically occurrence of strong intermediate-depth earthquakes in Vrancea seismogenic zone. The Vrancea area is located beneath the South-Eastern Carpathian Arc bend, at the contact between the East - European plate and the Intra-Alpine and Moesian sub-plates. An intense seismic activity is recorded in the mantle, within a narrow, almost vertical descending volume between 60 and 180 km depth. Earthquakes with magnitudes larger than 5.0 (Mw) and macroseismic effects exceeding V MSK degrees on extended populated area occur in Vrancea seismic zone, with a return period of around 2 years. Besides the extended scientific studies, the near real time estimation of the macroseismic intensity recently became mandatory for the insurance companies to cover some of the losses and damages that earthquakes might cause to houses, belongings, and other buildings. The first approach to obtain intensity values was to develop an online environment for collecting people feedback regarding the effects of earthquakes and for the automatic approximation of the intensity. The automatic intensity estimation code from the online feedback proposed by [1], [2] and adopted by [3] for the Romanian earthquakes was improved and used for this study. Additionally, there were used prediction equations to obtain intensity values from the epicentral intensity, and epicentral and hypocentral distances. Besides the estimation of macroseismic intensities from online people feedback and from attenuation relations, equations for conversion of peak ground acceleration in macroseismic intensity were also required for a rapid evaluation of ground motion effects. In order to avoid the increase of the prediction uncertainties, the data must be selected in such a way that they represent the parameters' rank for which the prediction will be accomplished and the selected data must be representative for the investigated regions and seismic source. In this paper were developed conversion methods from PGA to macroseismic intensity for moderate intermediate depths earthquakes with 4.5<Mw<6.0. All the studies were realised in the case of Vrancea recent (2014-2019) moderate intermediate depth earthquakes, felt on the extra-Carpathian region.

A correct seismic hazard assessment and intensity-based shake maps of a seismic zone depend on the determination of parameters that emphasize the distribution and the macroseismic intensity attenuation for that seismogenic zone. Due to the reduced number of strong ground motion records, macroseismic intensity information available for previous earthquakes which have occurred in studied area were the only source of information utilized for developing attenuation relationship for that zone. The aim of this paper is to test the existing equations published for various crustal seismic sources and develop a new macroseismic intensity attenuation law for the Vrancea crustal seismic source. The Vrancea crustal seismogenic zone had experienced moderate earthquakes in the past with magnitudes which did not exceed 5.9 [1] and macroseismic maralps had been constructed by various authors for these earthquakes representing intensity pattern and decrease of this parameter with distance on different azimuths. Some of the selected attenuation laws were tested for different values of epicentral intensity and with reference to eight directions. The input data consist of macroseismic intensities collected for 4 small and moderate earthquakes (Mw ≥ 3.9) that had occurred during the last hundred years with epicentral/maximum intensity in the range IV to VI MSK degrees. The seismic events used to verify the attenuation laws were selected based on the magnitude and number of macroseismic observations collected for each event. Using this data, attenuation relationships of macroseismic intensity with distance will be tested and modified. The deduced attenuation equation might be used for rapid intensity assessment of the potential future earthquakes occurred in this seismic zone.

Over the past few years the amount of digital memory and network traffic used by sequenced biological data has increased dramatically. Genomic projects such as HapMap, 1000 Genomes, etc., have come to the collection and description of genomes of 2,504 individuals from 26 populations, and they contributed to exponential growth of databases of this type and to the development of increasingly efficient technologies. Thanks to the large-scale sequencing of samples of DNA, the interest and the new research in these areas by the scientific community are suddenly grown. In a very short time researchers have developed hardware tools, analysis software, algorithms, private databases and infrastructures to support genomics. In this paper we analyse different approaches for compressing digital files generated by Next-Generation Sequencing tools containing nucleotide sequences and we discuss and evaluate the compression performance of generic compression tools such as gzip and bzip2 by confronting them with a specific system that was designed specifically for genomic file compression: quip.

The authors have been working for a long time on the development of sophisticated flat roof renovation that would allow renovation without the need of removing the existing roof layers and so will have a positive environmental impact. The solution is based on the detailed hydrothermal analysis of flat roof and using the potential of the original materials. Subsequently, new layers of the flat roof with optimal parameters for a certain case and possibly other construction modifications are designed. The aim of the development is to create a methodology to achieve equilibrium humidity by perforation of the original waterproof layer. In the paper, the authors describe the key points of this methodology. However, the paper focuses on the economic aspect that this sophisticated renovation brings. Economic evaluation is described through two methodological approaches. The authors compare the developed method with the method involving renovation of flat roofs with the need of removing the existing roof layers. The comparison takes into account the use of different materials for waterproofing and thermal insulation. In order to determine the costs, the authors used the building software to create budgets. The presented economic evaluation confirms the essence of the developed method.

Our work was aimed on the study of mobility of steel trace elements (STEs), using single-step extraction procedure (Na₂EDTA) and ecotoxicity in suburban soils from the Košice, Slovakia. The total element contents were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and As in extracts and elements contents in earthworms tissues by the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after 7 days bioassays (chronic tests of mortality). An ecotoxicological study was performed with earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta) for the screening evaluation of element mobility of urban grass and agricultural soils samples. Elements concentrations (Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni and As) in the suburban soils of Košice, indicating the significant contamination with Cd, and As were measured at sites located south of the ironworks. From the results of Pearson correlation analysis of yields, it can be seen that Pb - Zn, Cd, As; Cd - Zn, As; and As - Zn have obvious correlation, and the correlation between chemical parameters and nickel is not relevant.

The contemporary sedimentation processes participate in the formation of fluxes of the solid substances in an urban area, forming together a source of pollution, transit and depositing media. The patterns of forming the urban surface deposited sediments were determined on the example of Russian metropolis Nizhny Novgorod. Two schemes of the research were implemented in residential districts of the city in the summer field season 2018. The first research design scheme represented a detailed survey of residential quarters of the city. It included a collection of 25 samples of environmental compartments from five residential quarters with multi-storey buildings. The sampling was conducted in various functional landscape parts at the courtyard and facade areas. Each sample was separated into particle size fractions. Chemical and mineral analysis was performed in each granulometric subsample of the collected samples. The second scheme represented the urban geochemical study based on sampling the sediments from local surface depressed zones of microrelief in the city. The 40 samples were collected at the territory of the city on an irregular grid. The sampling was carried out in residential areas in blocks with multi-storey buildings. One sample represented a combined sample of sediments from local surface zones of microrelief by 3-5 localizations from the area of the block. Chemical analysis of the collected samples was conducted. The maximum content of dust (0.002-0.01 mm) 39% was found in soil, while the lower mean dust content was found in the samples of sediment from local surface depressed zones of microrelief (30 %) and in the road deposited sediments (30 %). The mineral composition of soil and sediment in Nizhny Novgorod is represented by quartz sand (approx. 55 %). In the samples of sediments, the minerals' content is basically characteristic for acid and metasomatic rocks. Building materials' content in the sediments reaches up to 20%. The maximum organic matter content was found in fine dust fraction 2-10 microns 21% in soils and 5% on the roads. Differentiation of the mineral content in the samples is observed for the various particle size fractions and different functional parts of the quarters. The highest content of metals of anthropogenic association (such as Pb, Zn and Cu) was found in the dust fraction. The Pb and Zn concentrations in samples of sediment of depressed areas of microrelief and road dust were significantly lower than in the soil.

The paper presents the analysis of characteristics of abnormal geophysical fields of the ore control of the Malo-Tarynskoe orogenic gold deposit in Verkhoyano-Kolymsky folded area, the Northeast of Russia. It is located in terrigenous rocks of the top Triassic, poorly contrast on petrophysical characteristics. Ore bodies of the Malo-Tarynskoe deposit are presented by the mineralized crushing zones with veinlet-disseminated and vein-disseminated mineralization. To identify the features of manifestation the ore control in geophysical fields land geophysical surveys are conducted by the methods of high-precision magnetic exploration and electroinvestigation. Magnetoprospecting works have established the low-amplitude mosaic structure of the magnetic field of the Malo-Tarynskoe deposit. The main magnetorevolting structure is the Samyr granitoid massif which is allocated with a magnetic minimum (-99 nT). Extreme positive values of the magnetic field are connected with hornfelsed ores in the zone of contact metamorphism (170 nT). Various anomalies as low-magnetic, mainly linear ones caused by explosive violations are distinguished (-12 – 20 nT). In the electric field, the abnormal zones have the linear nature of various extent and intensity. Pro-deleting of anomalies changes from sublongitudinal to northwest. The anomalies of low electrical resistance, generally trace zones of crushing and jointing (208-2300 ohm*m). In general, they are grouped in three "regional" abnormal areas of the northwest and North northwest orientation of low electrical resistance and correlated with the situation of the ore control zones of the Malo-Tarynskoe fault (208 – 1600 ohm*m). Sites with frequent alternativeness and alternating electric anomalies indicate lithologic heterogeneity of the environment (2500 – 10000 ohm*m). The study has shown magnetoprospecting to be effective when mapping magmatic formations and explosive violations. They allow delineating intrusive bodies and allocating hornfelsed zones. The electric profiling application by the method of a median gradient solves a wide range of geological tasks. Apart from allocation of the structures controlling gold mineralization in faint terrigenous ores, electro-investigation allows to carry out the lithologic partition of permafrost rocks in the territories blocked by friable deposits of considerable power.

The Bílina surface quarry belongs to the largest brown coal mining company in the Czech Republic, Severočeské doly a.s. Mining activities within the POPD quarry Bílina take place in the territory of this quarry for the period of years 2010 to 2030. For a smooth, safe and economical process of the whole quarry in new territorial ecological limits, the process of overburden cuts needs to be extended as soon as possible to the south to the limit of new mining limits. However, this extension is limited by the current line of valid POPD. For the continuation of mining in the territorial ecological limits pursuant to the Resolution of the Government of the Czech Republic No. 827/2015, which is entirely in accordance with §30, par. a) of the Mining Act No. 44/1988 Coll., ie when using reserved deposits it is necessary, in particular, to extract the reserves of the reserved deposit as completely as possible, with the least possible losses and pollution. It is necessary to have a new POPD based on mining - technological procedures of OPV DB (Mining to new territorial environmental limits by 2035) approved by 2021 at the latest. However, these procedures will require a more complex methodology, because it will be necessary to mine in places, which could not be extracted within a valid POPD. Another intention is also to prolong the life of the quarry, and securing supplies to heating plants, power plants ČEZ a.s. (joint-stock company), as well as supplying quality low-sulfur brown coal to small customers throughout the Czech Republic.

Discussed are characteristics of veinlet-disseminated mineralization in the northern part of South Verkhoyanye, in the sections located far away from the known gold deposits. The mineralization is represented mainly by quartz and pyrite enclosed in the Upper Carboniferous terrigenous rocks. Mineralogical-geochemical studies of mineralization are made, and isotopic compositions of oxygen in quartz and sulfur in pyrite are determined. The main trace elements in pyrite are Co, Ni, and Sb, with rare As, Cu, and Zn. Quartz contains significant amounts of Sr, W, and Co. The REE content in quartz is an order of magnitude higher than that seen in chondrites. Pyrite is light in sulfur isotopic composition (δ³⁴S = -2.7... – -7.1%o). Quartz contains isotopically heavy oxygen (δ¹⁸O=18.2-19.1%o). The data obtained indicate that the veinlet-disseminated mineralization hosted by the Upper Carboniferous rocks in the northern South Verkhoyanye was developed as a result of metamorphogenic-plutonogenic processes.

Within the Nakyn kimberlite field, kimberlites with a unique diamond tenor are spatially associated with different-aged basites of various composition and explosive breccias. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the specific material composition of the basites, the sequence of their formation, the relationship with kimberlites, and the age of formation of magmatites in the region. Intrusions of the Vilyui paleorift were formed first 368.5 - 374.4 myr ago (Tomshin et al. 2018). The most common are basites formed during prevailing extension of magma-controlling faults within the rift structures. These are typical basites of the Middle Paleozoic paleorifts of the eastern part of the Siberian platform. They are composed mainly of prismatic-ophitic gabbro-dolerites. According to the total content of potassium and sodium, compositions of dolerites vary within the limits of the tholeiitic and subalkaline series. Paleomagnetic data indicate that the extension mode of rift valleys was repeatedly replaced by compression conditions. This resulted in the closure of magma permeable zones and formation of local conditions for the origin of deep-seated intermediate chambers. Fractionation of a tholeiitic melt at depths of 35–40 km promoted protocrystallization of basic plagioclase and the formation of horizons and lenses of anorthositic gabbro-dolerites. Bytownite, chrysolite, moissanite, garnet, and chrome spinel are identified as the early magmatic minerals. Next manifestation of the deep evolution of the basite melt is represented by a complexly differentiated two-phase dike, which includes monzonite-porphyry. Such bodies are formed when the processes of crystallization differentiation of the tholeiite melt in a shallow-depth (no more than 20 km) intermediate chamber are combined with those in intra-chamber conditions. The dike is located in a kimberlite pipe and divides it into two bodies. At the turn of Devonian and Carboniferous (363-364 Ma), kimberlite bodies were formed in the Nakyn kimberlite field. The kimberlite-controlling faults (338.2-345.6 Ma) were pathways for ascending magma that produced post-kimberlite basites near the kimberlite pipes. High contents of potassium and titanium and low SiO₂ values are distinctive features of post-kimberlite basites. Formation of the bodies of this group of basites was followed by eruptive activity with the formation of explosive breccias. This is a characteristic feature of the intrusions of post-kimberlite alkaline magmatites. Most of the intrusions are composed of fine-grained almond-shaped rocks with slightly crystallized glassy mesostasis. Magmatic activity completed within the Nakyn kimberlite field 331-324,9 myr ago with the formation of explosive breccias after bodies of alkaline basites and their host sedimentary rocks. The disintegration of rocks was followed by the manifestation of active Mg-K-metasomatism. Alkaline-type basites together with accompanying explosive breccias are good indicators of fluid-permeable zones, thus locating the kimberlite-controlling structure. Their temporal and spatial proximity to kimberlites makes it possible to use intrusions of alkaline basites as an indicator of primary diamond deposits.

Landslides, rock blocks falls, liquefaction, the appearance of the surface fault and flood present the principle geological-hazard in relationship with earthquakes which will be mapped in the region of Algiers. The determination of these areas passes through a qualitative and quantitative analysis based on a recognition of the soil conditions; geological, lithological, hydro-geological, topographic, morphological and geotechnical. The assessment and mapping of the degree of induced hazard allows individualizing homogeneous areas that can behave similarly during the earthquakes.

Lubsko is a city in the Lubuskie province (western Poland) with a population around 15 000. The use of raw clay minerals in this region has its beginning in the Middle Ages. Through the years the production has changed to the centralised mining industry. The end of this branch has begun in the late 1980s due to the political changes in Poland. Nowadays, the signs of this significant history of the city are ruined or in bad conditions. The reason for organising geotouristic path is to protect the geoheritage of this region, mainly old open-pits and the infrastructure. Proposed stops will teach about the mining heritage in Lubsko, the geology of the glacial region, the processing of raw clay minerals and various usages of this material. Moreover, connecting both didactic and recreational use may give the chance to integrate touristic sites in the city. The development of such a path may attract tourists from Poland and Germany, which may result in an improvement of the financial situation of Lubsko. Considering the possible benefits and obstacles the SWOT analysis is presented in the article.

The solar radiation affects the life on Earth and it is important in meteorology, climatology, solar energy, agriculture, hydrology and seismology, too. The Sun warms the earth which reflects a part of the energy. An effect of tectonic stress increases the ground temperature that is radiated into the atmosphere. We study the possibility to use the variation of reflected energy in correlation with seismicity, radon concentration, CO2 emission, ULF radio waves, telluric currents, air ionization, temperature in borehole and acoustic noise. In this case, the solar radiation is a precursor factor. This research is important to study the effects of climate change. Analyzing the solar energy budget we find information about the atmosphere: aerosols, ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and pollution. Our multidisciplinary network (AeroSolSys) monitors Vrancea, a Romanian area characterized by deep earthquakes. For this study, we use two stations, Plostina and Vrancioaia, where we have a net radiometer and a pyranometer. The first sensor includes two pyranometers (up and low) and two pyrgeometers (up and low), a Pt-100 and a Thermistor. The spectral range covers both the Solar Radiation, 0.3 to 3 micrometers, and the Far Infrared Radiation, 4.5 to 42 micrometers. In this case, we measure and determine the temperature of sensor necessary for pyrgeometers, pyranometer short-wave radiation up and low EyU - EyL, pyrgeometers long-wave radiation up and low EgU - EgL, Albedo, net solar radiation NSR, net far infrared radiation NFIR, net total radiation NTR, sky temperature SkyT and, land surface temperature LST. In Vrancioaia, we have a pyranometer with range 0.3 – 2.8 micrometers and maxim 1600 W/m2. Two video cameras monitor the sky and the measurements are correlated with meteorological equipment installed in each location. We use information about solar activity from NOAA satellites and Copernicus CAMS. The humidity of ground is important in energy budget and it is estimated from meteorological data and telluric currents. The interval of analysis is 3 hours, between 2016.01.01 – 2018.05.31. It is difficult to notice the effect of tectonic stress since the daily and seasonal variations of solar radiation are high but global warming is obvious. Solar radiation monitoring helps us to understand other phenomena like radon emission or air ionization.

Low temperature technologies creating metals oxides are a promising solution for formation integral circuit elements. In this report the electric properties of zirconia (ZrO₂) received by low temperature (∼ 400° C) UV stimulated plasma anodizing have been investigated. Zirconia is a potential high-k dielectric material with potential applications as agate insulator in transistors. This dielectric distinguished by good electric parameters. For this purpose, we used C-V characterization technic and calculate dielectric constant, flatband voltage, threshold voltage, bulk potential, work function, oxide effective charge, charge concentration. The C-V measurement was carried out on Keithley Instrument Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer 4200, oxide thickness was measured by reflectometer – MprobeVis System.

In the present work, we report the result of the study of electron and γ-radiation effect on the parameters of normally open and normally closed field effect transistors with Shottky barrier on GaAs. It has been shown that normally closed transistors are more sensitive to the action of radiation than normally opened transistors. Both transistors are more sensitive to the electron radiation. As substrates ware used epitaxial structures of GaAs of n-type conductivity doped with tellurium with N_D=2×10¹⁷ cm³ with surface orientation [100]. Electron irradiation was conducted on the linear accelerator of RELUS type with electron energy 4 MeV at the room temperature, with the intensity of electrons flow of 2.5×10¹² e/cm² sec. Integral doses made 1×10¹⁴ e/cm², 5×10¹⁴ e/cm², 1×10¹⁵ e/cm² and 3×10¹⁵ e/cm². The γ-radiation was conducted using the source ⁶⁰Co at the room temperature with the intensity of 5×10³ P/sec. For the γ-radiation, visible changes of saturation flow current are observed at the doses of more than 10⁵ Grey (GaAs). As whole, the γ-radiation makes an action on the parameters of MESFET in the less degree than electron irradiation. The annealing of the irradiated samples of MESFET at the temperature of 573 K in the nitrogen atmosphere for 45 min provides complete restoration of their parameters. The possible reasons for the mentioned effects are given.

The research presented in this paper deals with the issue of invasive plant species. Invasive plants are characterized with the high regeneration potential and with a negative effect on populations of our native species and habitats. The occurrence of these plant taxon at a given site is not natural, and their appearance outside of their natural habitat is most often due to anthropogenic activity. Our research is focused on plant species Fallopia japonica and Impatiens glandulifera. The aim of the study is the determination of suppressing possibilities of their negative impact on riverbank vegetation. From the results of the first stage of the research, it is known that plant material is transported downstream, the ability of reproduction of the plant material maintain for at least for 4 weeks, and after being caught on the riverbank, it can establish a new population. The overgrowth of these invasive species presents a risk to the original riverbank vegetation, and the ecological stability is being disturbed. The eradication and prevention system is a necessary solution to this problem. The research is conducted on the Blatina River in Pezinok, Slovakia. The first method of eradication was the mechanical removal of Fallopia japonica. The two selected localities were cut. In the next growing season, an increase in the population of Fallopia japonica was recorded, and one new location was created. The second method of eradication was the chemical method. For chemical eradication, spraying based on the Invasive Plant Removal Guidelines for the Slovak Republic was used. An important finding was that the effectiveness of the chemical eradication is dependent on the area of the sprayed leaves and independent on the concentration of the solution. The next step was the comparison of vegetation cover after mechanical and chemical eradication. A soil probe was performed on two selected areas; area after the mechanical eradication and the area after chemical eradication. A root sample was taken from both areas. Subsequently, the viability of the root system and its stabilizing function with respect to bank erosion were evaluated. The effectiveness of chemical eradication was much stronger. The most optimal way is to remove the plant at their early stage of the growing cycle when the leaf area is smaller. The result is then ecologically and economically more advantageous. After chemical eradication, it is necessary to remove dead plant residues in the autumn to create optimal light and wet conditions for the growth of potential natural vegetation. Invasive plants in riverbank vegetation have a negative impact on stability and potential natural vegetation. The best way to control their incidence is eradication.

An important problem faced by mining enterprises is the impact of their activities on the natural environment, as well as on the health and life of people. The exploitation of mineral deposits leads to changes in land relief, degradation of soil and lands, damage to vegetation, hydrogeological and hydrological transformations and atmosphere pollution. Nevertheless, perceiving mines only in terms of the damage resulting from the exploitation is unfair. Therefore, the article presents three Polish representatives of the mining industry in the context of the requirements they have met, acting in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Selection of KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. (copper ores and other accompanying elements), Lubelski Węgiel Bogdanka S.A. (hard coal) and the Capital Group Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. - Mining and Conventional Energy S.A. (lignite), dictated by their significant share in the mining industry in Poland. The article lists and groups aspects related to the society both in terms of working conditions and the relationship of companies with the local community. The analysis of aspects resulted from a detailed study of reports of integrated mining companies prepared annually, in accordance with the guidelines of global corporate social responsibility standards. The benefits resulting from the care of enterprises for the society in the region of their activity were specified, and furthermore, aspects which are omitted, and according to the article authors should be included in reports, were indicated.

The publication deals with the studies on the diversity of species composition of fungi in various layers of soils (red, sod-podzolic, marsh, urban) of the Adjara. The aim of the study was to identify and determine the composition of fungi; Establishment of the scale of development and spread of fungi in adverse and favorable conditions; Ecological status evaluation of soils in Batumi City. For the isolation of fungi in various soil samples, a sterilization method, serial dilution, and a scattering method were used. The presence of fungi was detected in various soil samples based on morphological characteristics, percentage frequency, growth rate, and colony forming units. The study has found 59 species taxa of soil fungi, belonging to the divisions of Ascomyota (39 species), Zygomyta (15 species), Basidiomycota (2 species), Deuteromycota (3 species). 7 species of fungi involved in forming of the consortium have been specified as well. The most widely distributed fungi in soil samples were of the genera Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. niger, A. versicolor), Paecilomyces (P. variotii), Trichoderma (T. koningii, T. hamatum, T. polysporum, T. viride), Mucor (M. circinelloides, M. hiemalis, M. racemosus, Mucor sp.), Rhizopus (R. oryzae) the genus of phytopathogens Fusarium (F. oxysporum, F. solani), Verticilium (V. lateritium, V. sp.), Phytophthora (Ph. Sp.), Rhizoctonia (R. sp.), Pythium (P. sp) and of genus Sporothrix (S. schenckii). Mong them Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Chaetomium sp. And Acremonium sp. were dominant fungi in all soil samples. Frequency percentage showed that marsh soil is rich in fungal population as compared to red and sod-podzolic soils, yet the greatest biomass is inorganic soil. A lower level of biological activity in the urban soils was found. Morphometric trait differences in test objects activated on the soil samples have been observed. The study was found specialized species of fungi from each ecotype of soil. The soil samples collected from polluted sites were more affected by waste water which affected the population densities of fungi. Experiments have shown that Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Trichoderma koningii, T. Hamatum and T. Viride grew well on contaminated soil containing heavy metals. On this basis, we will study them further in order to determine their stability to heavy metals.

The principle of designing the railway track structure is based on two baseline assessments. The first assessment verifies the resistance of the railway track structure against the traffic load, which is represented by static and dynamic effects from rail transport. The assessment of railway track structure against the non-traffic load is also important for the correct and relevant design of railway track structure. This load is represented by climatic factors such as frost, water, wind and sunlight. The paper presents the results of experimental monitoring of moisture conditions in the various railway tracks structures. The experimental stand Department of Railway Engineering and Track Management (DRETM) was built for this purpose. The monitoring of thermal regime and water regime of railway track is carried out at this experimental workplace. In the introductory part of the paper are presented individual measuring profiles of the experimental stand DRETM, which were progressively built in a scale 1:1, during the past 7 years. The experimental stand DRETM consists of 6 measuring profiles, which differ from each other by track bed structure and shape of track substructure. The measurement of moisture conditions in individual measuring profiles was performed by a non-destructive method using a TDR test probe. The next part of the paper presents the measured results and the evaluation of the moisture conditions (variation of the moisture conditions) in the individual measuring profiles of the experimental stand DRETM. The final result of this experimental monitoring is represented by the design moisture values of the individual building materials applied to the track bed structure. Subsequently, these moisture values serve for numerical modelling of the non-traffic load on various railway tracks structures.

Graptolite reflectance is one of the main parameters for assessing thermal maturity of pre-Devonian rocks in which vitrinite does not occur. However, microstructure of the graptolite periderm has been known only recently, and still little is known about low-reflectance graptolites. The purpose of the work was to determine microstructural features of the graptolite periderm in the oil window shales and compare them to those known from the previous studies, in which more matured organic matter was investigated. Four samples were collected in the Holy Cross Mountains (Central Poland), in two localities (Bardo Stawy and Prągowiec ravine). Reflectance (R_r) measurements as well as micro-Raman analysis were carried out on the sections parallel to the bedding. Micro-Raman analysis was performed on unpolished surfaces to exclude influence of polishing on microstructure. The obtained spectra were curve-fitted using four Lorentzian (G, D1, D2 and D4 band) and one (D3 band) Gaussian lines. Graptolites (R_r=0.70-0.77%; Vitrinite Reflectance Equivalent VRE=0.67-0.72%) occur in the Silurian dark grey clay shales of the Llandovery (Bardo Stawy) and Wenlock - Lower Ludlow (the Prągowiec ravine) age. Graptolite periderm represents poorly organized carbonaceous material, which is inferred from the occurrence of the D3 and D4 bands, and overlapping D2 and G bands. Microstructure does not vary significantly between the samples from the two considered localities (the exception being the D1 band FWHM), which corresponds to the narrow range of graptolite reflectance. Compared to the Raman spectra obtained from graptolites with higher reflectance, the G peak is significantly moved to the lower and the D1 peak to the higher wavenumbers. The FWHM of the G band is higher, while the I_D1/I_G ratio usually smaller. Taking into account the results from the previous study, it can be concluded that in the reflectance range of 0.7-1.8% the G band position first moves to the higher, and at R_r>1.2% to the lower wavenumbers, while the D1 peak gradually shifts to the lower wavenumbers. The G band FWHM decreases with increasing graptolite reflectance, which reflects improvement in structural ordering, while the I_D1/I_G ratio starts to increase at Rr≈1.5%, indicating the growth of the coherent domains within the graptolite periderm.

Nanosecond laser annealing of GaAs amorphized with B+ ions implantation was investigated. The recrystallization process observed in the experiment does not depend on the initial temperature of the samples (77K or 300K) and can be additive; the efficiency of laser annealing (LA) is determined by the light generated nonequilibrium charge carriers (NCC) rather than by crystal heating; the results of the experiments cannot be explained by the purely thermal mechanism of LA. The hypotheses for the low-temperature LA of semiconductors based on the concept of the change in the quantum state of valence electrons affecting a chemical bond are proposed. If the power of LA ensures light generation of antibonding quasiparticles with a concentration of n_cr in the thickness equal to or greater than the amorphous (defective) layer, melting occurs with further epitaxial growth on the substrate, which agrees well with the results of the experiment where the concentration of light generated NCC was Δn≈ 4·5 10¹⁹cm^-3.

Medieval defensive earthen architecture is typically represented by big and well maintained defensive walls, lookout towers or castles despite mostly represented by remains of tower walls or defensive walls. While studies on natural hazards have been carried out concerning these castles or lookout towers, there are no studies on defensive walls. Both are certainly significant from a cultural heritage perspective, despite the fact that the latter are less popular for the general public. In Southeast Spain, most of this kind of architecture has been affected, and occasionally reconstructed, by destructive earthquakes and/or landslides, in accordance with historical chronicles or field evidence, however, there are no records of low-scale natural hazards. Hence, aware of the importance of the prevention of natural hazards regarding the conservation of the cultural heritage, a National Emergency and Risk Management Plan for the Cultural Heritage, a National Plan for Preventive Conservation as well as a National Plan for Defensive Architecture have been enacted by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. According to these plans, a risk charter, including natural and man-made hazards, should be completed in order to improve investment programming. Cultural heritage risk and cultural assets maps should be connected in order to become an instrument for managing preventive conservation. Natural hazards studies should be conducted in order to protect cultural heritage, though they are not usually performed, most likely due to their cost. However, some natural hazards studies have been published in scientific journals, mainly signed by university researchers or various Spanish research institutions such as the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain. Some of them, including the Spanish Seismic Network or the old Ministry of Environment (currently known as the Ministry for Ecological Transition), have published several hazard and risk maps which can be usually used in GIS format. Yet, most of them are not even known by researchers on cultural heritage due to the different administrative levels in charge of natural hazards. In this paper, some recommendations to prevent natural hazards in medieval defensive earthen architecture will be discussed.

Reducing green urban infrastructure pose a huge threat to cities sustainability. It is important to monitor and track the health of vegetation. For efficient planning of urban development and maintenance of green urban infrastructure, the key is to have up to date maps. Using satellite imagery is the easiest way to cover large city areas. In order to map vegetation, there are many possible solutions; however, the most effective way is using machine learning methods. Machine learning is divided into supervised and unsupervised classification and each can be divided into several different methods. Many authors have considered different methods and they use them to access accuracy on satellite image information extraction. They have used different satellite images and naturally higher resolution imagery results in better classification. However, there is still lack of comprehensive analysis of more supervised machine learning methods in similar cities. This paper aims to provide analysis of four different machine learning methods: support vector machine, artificial neural network, naïve Bayes and random forest. The objective of the support vector machine algorithm is to find a hyperplane in an N-dimensional space that distinctly classifies the data points where hyperplanes are decision boundaries that help to classify the data points and support vectors data points that are closer to the hyperplane and influence the position and orientation of the hyperplane. Artificial neural networks are brain-inspired systems which are intended to replicate the way that humans learn. Neural networks consist of input and output layers, and hidden layers. They are excellent tools for finding patterns which are far too complex or numerous for a human programmer to extract and teach the machine to recognize. A Naive Bayes classifier is a probabilistic machine learning model that is used for classification task and the crux of the classifier is based on the Bayes theorem. Random Forest creates a forest and makes it random and is an ensemble of Decision Trees, most of the time trained with the bagging method which general idea is that a combination of learning models increases the overall result. All of the mentioned methods will be tested on Sentinel-2A imagery. Sentinel-2A multispectral imager has thirteen sensors which is useful in vegetation extraction. Methods will be compared using error matrix and kappa statistics.

The article considers features of geochemical composition of the Mesozoic igneous rocks of the Khokhoi ore field, spatially located in the Upper-Amga gold-mining district of the north-western part of the Aldan-Stanovoy shield, at the junction of two large structural units - the Olekma granite-greenstone region and the Aldan granulite-gneiss area, in the zone of meridional deep Amga fault. Magmatic formations are represented by the Northern Boskho, Western Boskho and Upper Khokhoi massifs of the Lebedinsky monzonite-syenite-granite complex, intruding rocks of the crystalline basement and terrigenous-carbonate complex of the Siberian platform cover, and by rare tephrite dikes. Due to the accessibility of the study area, little attention was focused on the mentioned igneous rocks until recently. The study showed that magmatic formations of the ore field are geochemically specialized in lithophile and siderophile elements, and they belong to derivatives of trachy-andesite and andesi-basalt magma. All studied rocks have sufficiently close spectra of rare-earth element distribution, in particular, the rocks are poor in heavy rare-earth elements relative to light rare-earth elements. Presence of low negative Eu-anomaly for the Northern Boskho and Upper Boskho massifs may indicate the fact that they were formed from residual differentiates during fraction crystallization of rock-forming minerals with the involvement of plagioclases. Low Eu/Eu* values also indicate the fact that these rocks were formed during the late stage of the area evolution. Negative niobium anomaly, identified for all igneous rocks of the ore field, indicates magma contamination with continental crust. Considering interpretation of rare-earth elements and their ratio, it was supposed that igneous rocks of the ore field were formed in intracontinental conditions. It was generally concluded that there was an intensive mantle-crust interaction throughout the magmatism evolution of the Khokhoi ore field, beginning from intrusion of tephrite dikes bodies to intrusion of syenite rocks. The presence of long-lived mantle source, as well as contamination with crust material, was responsible for heat and fluid inflow that supplied circulation of thermal spring in the system. Heat and fluids caused additional mobilization of ore material from surrounding rocks, with further formation of gold-sulfide mineralization close to tephrite dikes and the Northern Boskho massif.

The article presents new data on the mineralogical and thermobarogeochemical research of Dyvok ore occurrence. The aim of the research is to learn about the mineral-geochemical characteristics of the ore occurrence as well as about the formation of auriferous mineralogical associations at the occurrence. At the moment, Verkhnealgominsk auriferous area consists of several ore occurrences and a deposit. The area is located within famous Stanovaya auriferous area, South Yakutia. Dyvok ore occurrence is subjected to the influence of Tyrkandinski fault. The host rocks are Early-Archaean K-spar-quartz metasomatites, beresited and argillated rocks with sulphide-quartz veins and mineralised zones of beresited rocks with sulphide and quartz-sulphide mineralisation. Now, there are 3 productive ore zones at the ore occurrence. We found mineral associations that contain native gold and described the variety of its forms, seizes and composition. The mineral associations are 1) gold-arsenopyrite-pyrite-quartz; 2) gold-sphalerite-chalcopyrite; 3) quartz-boulangerite; 4) quartz-telluride. We carried out thermobarogeochemical investigation of fluid inclusions in quartz to learn about the formation conditions of productive mineral associations, the quartz was extracted from gold-arsenopyrite-pyrite-quartz, gold-sphalerite-chalcopyrite and quartz-telluride associations. Microanalyses helped to discover monophase, diphase and three-phase inclusions. Early association had the temperature of 270-335°C. The rated pressure is 0.4 kbar. The inclusions contain carbon dioxide, water, methane and carbonate ion. The solid phase contains dawsonite and native sulphur. The deposition temperature of gold-sphalerite-chalcopyrite association is 186-219°C, and the one of quartz-telluride association is 199-200°C. The pressure of the latter two associations remains unknown due to the lack of coexisting three-phase inclusions. Raman spectroscopy showed the presence of carbon dioxide and methane in early association, as well as of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen (impurity) in late-phase quartz. Therefore, we claim that all the associations in question were formed in shallow- and mid-depth and oxidizing conditions with the involvement of deeper sources for the ore constituents.

Thanks to its properties, wood as a building material has unbelievable potential. It simultaneously provides answers to frequently discussed questions concerning the renewability of resources and the energy performance of buildings. The material most frequently used as sheathing for timber structures is planar large-format oriented strand board (OSB). The unfavourable effects of the weather on unprotected wood and timber products can cause changes to the mechanical and chemical properties of the wood, and if unchecked can do irreversible damage. It is therefore always necessary to apply additional surface finishes to sheathing. In the case of peripheral walls, these surface finishes usually comprise an outer thermal insulation system, while in the case of internal surfaces, extra sheathing made from board materials is added via adhesion or mechanical attachment. It is possible to glue extra layers directly onto OSB, but only if suitable adhesives are used, and the range of products is limited. The research described in this article focuses on the treatment of OSB substrate so that it is possible to employ cement adhesives that are commonly used for the gluing of thermal insulation but which cannot normally be used on an untreated base without the danger of adhesion loss. The research concerns a comparison of test specimens with various kinds of penetrative coating or bonding primer applied under predefined conditions and subjected to different forms of applied loading. The contribution contains a definition of the substrate material, test specimens, test methods and a selection of 5 different types of material for the surface treatment of the test specimens. Tables comparing the influence of the individual finishes on the adhesion itself are included in the outputs. The conclusion contains the test results as well as a presentation of the effects of individual treatments, and potential further research is suggested. The results are of benefit to subjects involved in the preparation and realization of construction work that deal not only with timber structures in particular but also with the general use of OSB structures as a part of the building envelope.

Rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves are of great practical importance in the water resources management, e.g., for the design of hydraulic structures and urban drainage systems, and for the estimation of flash flood risks and flood protection design. Due to the impacts of climate change, there is an evidence that short-term rainfalls have been observed to occur at a higher frequency than before in Europe; the need for a re-evaluation of the design values of short-term rainfall has therefore become important. This study analyzes observed and projected changes in the short-term rainfall events during the warm season (April – October) in an ensemble of a set of Regional Climate Model (RCM) simulations. The analysis was aimed at the seasonality and changes in the scaling exponents that influence the estimation of IDF curves on ungauged sites. The analysis was performed for the selected stations in southern lowland and northern mountainous parts of Slovakia. The characteristics of maximum rainfall events were analyzed for two scenario periods, i.e., one past and one future (1960 – 2000 and 2070 – 2100) and compared to the characteristics of the actual events observed in the past. The main findings from the analysis show a shift in the seasonality, which is different for the rainfall durations and also for the stations analyzed. It can be observed from the comparisons of the IDF that the derived design short-term rainfall values are higher for mountainous regions. A significant difference can be seen in the duration of 240 min. This finding reveals that in the future, very extreme short-term rainfall can be expected in the mountainous areas of Slovakia.

Knowledge of soil erosion and runoff processes leads to changes in attitudes towards a rational use of soil. Agricultural practices have a wide range of negative environmental impacts, including accelerated soil erosion, degradation, and increases in the volume of surface runoff. It is, therefore, necessary to investigate these negative influences on arable land. The study area is the municipality of the village of Vrbovce. It is situated in the north-western part of Slovakia in the White Carpathian Mountains. Due to its specific geological (heterogeneous rock masses of flysch) and geomorphological conditions (hilly country, uplands), that part of Slovakia is prone to accelerated soil erosion and mud flood formations. Nevertheless, a significant part of the municipality of Vrbovce is classified as agricultural land. The aim of this study is the soil erosion and runoff volume modelling that is focused on changes in the land cover/land use. We calculated soil loss with the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) for agricultural parcels in the cadastral area of the village of Vrbovce. We are offering a set of suitable measures and agricultural procedures for this area as a result of our research. We estimated the direct runoff for the Teplica River basin up to the Teplica water gauge and five ungauged subcatchments in the cadastral area of the village of Vrbovce (Haluznikov creek, Lulovský creek, Zahutník creek, Zápasečník, and an unnamed creek). The Teplica river is poorly gauged with only a 10-year observation period. That length of hydrological measurements is not enough for the required period for calibrating a hydrological model. We used 3 modifications of the curve number (CN) method for estimating the volume of the direct runoff with various return periods, i.e., the standard CN method with values for the current land use, the worst land use an alternative, and the DesQ program method. We also applied the Pearson Type III distribution for the estimation of the peak flow with a higher frequency of occurrence for the Teplica gauging station. The results of the specific runoff were compared with the values of the specific runoff calculated for the Sobotište water gauge, which is situated downstream of the Teplica river. The results show that the most suitable modification of the CN method is the standard CN method with the use of the values for the current land use. The predictions of the long-term average annual rate of erosion on each parcel from the land parcel identification system (LPIS) were calculated by the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE).

The archipelago of Madeira (Portugal), of volcanic origin and situated in the intraplate region of the African plate, was formed during the Miocene and seats in a full oceanic domain. Since the settlement of the island (15^th century), several destructive landslides have happened. In the Island of Madeira, housing is an important expression of the action of man over nature, thus creating a harmonious landscape between the built and its surroundings. In response to the accentuated Topography, terraced platforms appeared to soften this inclination. Vernacular building traditions are repeatedly cited in the academic literature as exemplary models of environmental practice. Therefore, research that addresses the vernacular traditions of the Island of Madeira may emphasize its potential for continuity and viability for maintenance and rehabilitation. Sustainability is indissolubly linked to vernacular architecture and the lessons learned from this architecture of the past can teach us which knowledge to apply in the future. The demand for sustainable buildings with minimal environmental impact is increasing, thus leading the construction industry to adopt new technologies for building design. Achieved for generations, this architecture shows us the art of a population in the construction. The rural housing of Madeira revealed itself as a wise design, where the masters of the craft created a perfect communion between the space, utility, comfort and the volumetric balance, thus creating a new artificial element that connects perfectly with the natural space. Passive strategies have been used around the world for centuries. In the last decades, inhabitants became dependent on mechanical systems with rising economic and environmental impacts. Learning from the past to understand how houses evolved to respond to the surrounding environment is important. The analysis of the local vernacular dwellings will provide insight into well-adapted popular solutions to deal with the local climatic conditions in order to promote responsive passive building technologies and a sustainable proposal is also presented.

Vernacular housing in the Island of Madeira (Archipelago of Madeira, Portugal) is built anonymously. This architecture is made by the people and for the people without the aid of an architect. This built heritage demonstrates the relationship between the population and its surroundings, through the care with which they treated the climatic constraints and that is clearly related to the seasonal variation of temperature, regardless of cultural differences and of the level of development of each community. The Island of Madeira has temperate climates characterized by mild temperatures all year round. The climate is largely influenced by the Eastern branch of the Azores anticyclone especially from spring to autumn. These buildings are strongly marked by an agricultural economy and are characterized by great regional diversity. The agricultural feature took care of the fertile alluvial land, giving rise to the first settlements. However, with the growth of the population began the conquest of the coast, occupying the dense forest that provided them with good timber for local consumption and for export. With the land tamed, the next challenge was to control the waters, the first paths between the places of difficult access, which carried the waters of irrigation at various locations, including the north and the south shores. The built vernacular heritage of the Island of Madeira had a primary function of shelter, and then housing and nowadays new uses are being implemented. The research and study of the essence, the behaviour, the possibilities of traditional technologies used in a specific territory are like the rediscovery, always renewed, of the profound meaning of the Portuguese architecture. This paper analyses through surveys whether a very specific type of vernacular heritage housing in the Island of Madeira provides comfort. In fact, questionnaire responses from the initial survey regarding 66 vernacular houses were analysed to understand the residents' satisfaction with the existing conditions through post-occupancy evaluation. Several variables were associated with dwelling and thermal comfort. This way, a post-occupancy evaluation is proposed including energy monitoring for fine-tuning and increasing energy efficiency as well as for gathering knowledge for planners and developers. This study not only provides valuable information for future housing sustainable rehabilitation but also it may enable the identification by the Local Authority of ways of improving the quality of life for residents.

The first Cistercian monasteries appeared in Portugal in the 12^th century. The Portuguese Cistercian monasteries were set to the image of Clairvaux, the Cistercian branch which they mostly came from and which defined the typology of the place. Cistercian foundations were usually built in valleys, but many Portuguese Cistercian monasteries are the result of affiliations rather than foundations. There is a great concentration of monasteries in the north and centre of the country as opposed to all the territory to the south of the river Tagus. History and strong climatic contrasts had their repercussion in the implantation of the Cistercian monasteries in this territory. However, implantation errors happened and, for that reason, it was possible to change the site (as permitted by the Cistercian legislation) that is the change of a monastery from one place to another (as was the case of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas or the Monastery of S. Pedro das Águias). In a Cistercian monastery, water was an essential resource, not only essential to everyday life, regarding hygiene and energy needs, but it also had a very specific meaning and symbolism. 12^th-century Cistercian hydraulic system was something extraordinarily new and water was always a constant element in the choice of Cistercian implantation sites. Some monasteries were the origin of settlements, thus reaching some important features and dimensions. This was the cases of Odivelas, which was settled alongside the Monastery of S. Dinis de Odivelas. and of the city of Alcobaça or Valado dos Frades (former farm of the "Coutos" of Alcobaça). The monastic space can be understood as a territorial organism in the way that it adapts itself to the territory, thus modelling and altering it according to its needs. In fact, this paper aims at discussing this process regarding not only the specificities of Portugal, as a country, but also the specificities of the Cistercian land management since the 12th century: this is from the cloister to the city.

The sulphurous groundwater aquifer systems of the Dão River basin in Portugal have been the subject of studies by some authors, as there are several Medical Spas, where over time there has been a need to increase their flow rates to guarantee more available mineral water and better quality. It is known that those waters resurface with anomalous temperatures, and that they are associated with very deep aquifer systems where the reservoir temperature is relatively high. Thus, the present work aims to contribute to the knowledge of the reservoir temperature and its depth, in the sense of taking to the planning of construction of deep wells, so that their results to be favourable, allow energy utilization, that function of the temperatures to be obtained, can allow from the production of electricity, to heating of buildings, heating of domestic water, to aqua-ludic uses in medical spas and leisure areas. After presenting the generic aspects of geomorphology, geology, climatic elements, and global conceptualization from the numerical models of the Dão River basin, the results of physical-chemical analyses of groundwater are presented. It should be noted that the groundwaters with the greatest geothermal potential are associated with deep aquifer systems, semi-confined to confined, fissured type (very localized), with sulphurous water, with pH values higher than 8.0, conductivity above 350 μS/cm, and surface temperatures between 15.7 and 50.9°C. It is important noting the occurrence of five main sectors with geothermal potential, which from upstream to downstream of the river basin are: Cavaca, Sezures, Alcafache, Sangemil and Granjal. By applying geothermal thermometers, in the results of physical-chemical analyses of the groundwaters of those sectors, the reservoir temperatures were obtained between 92 and 116°C and also reservoir depths generally greater than 2200m.

Disposal of obsolete munitions is a permanent process, during which colloidal gunpowder are liberated and accumulated. Especially large quantities of such materials were accumulated in the countries ofthe former Soviet Union, including Georgia. Warehousing and storage of such materials and/or direct application may cause a serious threat/risks in terms of ecological and unauthorized use. Therefore, today's colloidal gunpowder is mainly stored and the expenses of their storage permanently increase, in addition, there is a permanent threat of their unauthorized use, because they belong to the class of explosives. The long-term storage of the overdue gun powders and rocket fuels contains self-blasting risks. So, this problem is urgent at the local and global levels. Traditional ways of problem solution area simple creation of new explosive materials on the base ofthe application of ingredients possessing better properties. In distinct from the traditional methods, the essence of the offered works is a creation of new type industrial explosive compounds and application of fuel removed from utilized missiles/shells of military designation in the role of components of explosive materials. A number of hints have been identified in the process of studying the exploitation of industrial explosives on the base of gunpowder and solid rocket fuel. They have created a prerequisite that the cartridges made on the basis of colloidal gunpowder can be initiated using the malware. This method of initiation allows us to a gradual increase of the gas pressure in the chamber of the critical size at which the pressure of the gas will break through the impact of the shaft and thus the breaking of the rock. In the process of research, explosives characteristics of pyroxylene and ballistic fuel mixtures have been studied. It was established that the granulomatrium composition of the mixture is significantly influenced by these characteristics. For example, if the diameter of the granules varies between 3-20 mm, the reaction of the collapse of the mixture is carried out steadily with blast mode, without switching to the detonation. If 10% or more granules in the explosive mixture are smaller than 1 mm, the combustion process can be transferred to the detonation.

To understand the origin of the Siberian trap province, it is necessary to know its internal structure in detail. Only two areas were described, the Noril'sk and Maimecha-Kotuy, while the most important part of the province, the Tunguska syneclise, is still poorly characterized. The main goal of our study is an investigation of the structure and geochemistry of volcanic rocks located in the central part of the province. We have studied basalts and tuffs and compared them with the rocks of the Noril'sk area. All studied rocks belong to three formations: Korvunchansky, Nidymsky and Kochechumsky. The whole thickness of this cross-section is around 1,000 m. Our geochemical data demonstrate that the lower part of the cross-section comprises basalts with TiO₂=1 wt% while the upper part consists of the basalts with the average TiO₂ content 1.4-1.5wt%. Based on this data, these rocks can be correlated with Morongovsky and Mokulaevsky formations located in the Noril'sk area. Despite many similarities between the volcanic rocks of these two areas, the basalts and tuffs of the Tunguska syneclise have their specific features, i.e. many tuff horizons, small thickness of flows and their poikiloophitic structure that reflect the rock formation near the boundary of the Tunguska syneclise.

In this study, a total of 12 coal samples were collected. Physical and chemical cleaning were employed on these collected coal samples. In order to characterize the kinetics of each coal sample, activation energies of each corresponding coal sample were determined. Arrhenius equation was employed for the determination of above mentioned activation energies. Activation energies for both physically and chemically clean coal samples were determined. Activation energy of coal sample after chemical cleaning is observed to be higher the one that is obtained after physical cleaning. Referring to these differences, increase in activation energy after chemical cleaning was considered to be side effect of chemical cleaning, since higher activation energy means higher heat requirement for sample to be activated. Corresponding differences of activation energies were compared with the calorific values change respectively after physical cleaning and after chemical cleaning.

In this study, a total of 12 coal samples were collected. Physical and chemical cleaning were employed on these collected coal samples. In order to understand the effect of physical & chemical cleaning on these samples, samples characterization were performed in terms of proximate and ultimate analysis. Calorific values of each corresponding clean coal samples were also determined. After chemical cleaning calorific values of each sample decreased, while chemical cleaning resulted in ultra clean coals as regards to ash content (average of 0.5 % ash content). Volatile matter content each corresponding sample after chemical cleaning have higher percentage with respect to the ones after physical cleaning. However for some specific sample, the increase in volatile matter content after chemical cleaning is more than 200 %. Fixed carbon percentages do not show tremendous changes as regards to chemical cleaning, however they decrease for some and increase for some other after chemical cleaning. Calorific values decreases for the all samples after chemical cleaning. Ultimate analysis (C, H, N and O) was also determined after physical and chemical cleaning. Sulphur decreased for all samples after chemical cleaning as expected. Taking these variations into consideration, calorific value decrease were deducted and possible reasons of this decrease was inferred. Corresponding differentiations were compared to calorific value differentiation and the most significant reasoning of the calorific value decrease was evaluated.

In this study, a total of 12 coal samples were collected. In order to have reactivity determination samples were thermo-gravimetrically analysed. Thermo-gravimetric analysis was carried out not only on physically clean coal samples but also on chemically clean coal samples. Reactivity program within thermos-gravimetric analysis consists of volatiles burning in N₂ atmosphere which is fast reaction and residual carbon burning in dry air atmosphere which takes places right after. Reactivity parameter for each coal sample is considered as an important parameter since it characterize the burning profile of residual carbon matter after de-volatilization. In order to have reactivity determination, samples were objected to temperature increase up to 700 °C in N₂ atmosphere and then the temperature was set to 500 °C in dry air atmosphere. Reactivity of each corresponding sample after physical and physical-chemical cleaning was determined. The determined reactivity (R₅₀₀) values changed between 0.06 and 0.221 for physically clean coal samples and they are between 0.11 and 0.24 for the chemically clean coal samples. Reactivity (R₅₀₀) values increased after chemical cleaning. Due to coal structure difference, the increase in reactivity (R₅₀₀) after chemical cleaning is different for each sample. For example for TB6 sample, reactivity (R500) increased more than 60 % while for TB5 sample it only increased by 6 % after chemical cleaning. Chemical cleaning followed by physical cleaning results in increase in reactivity and this increase depends on the nature of the coal type.

In this study, coal samples were collected from 2 coal seams of Üzülmez coal mine of Turkish Coal Enterprise operating in Zonguldak coal basin. Firstly collected coal samples were sieved into 5 size groups ("-100+50", "-50+18", -"18+10", "-10+6", "-6+0.5" mm). Secondly, float and sink analysis was carried out on each size group coal samples. Zinc chloride solutions with the densities of 1.30, 1.40, 1.50, 1.60, 1.70, 1.80 and 1.90 g/cm3 were used in the order of float and sink analysis. Float and sink analysis on each size group resulted as a total number of 70 coal samples. Thirdly ash content and calorific values of each of this 70 samples were determined. Finally a prediction method of calorific value in terms of ash content of coal sample for Zonguldak coal is proposed. According to the proposed prediction method, calorific value is strongly related to ash content of each coal sample. In other words, one can easily estimate the calorific value of a coal with defined ash content. Correlation between measured and predicted calorific values is statistically significant (R2=0.99). This prediction method of calorific value is going to be very user friendly and confident tool for field engineers, coal consumers and operators of coal cleaning plants. Initial quick estimates of calorific value employing just the ash content within 99% accuracy for a specified coal seam would be a possible. Future scope of this study is to establish an index of ash content and calorific value relevance for each coal seam in Zonguldak Coal Basin.

In this study, Zonguldak, a Turkish city popular with coal mining, was taken into consideration. Coal was the main source of energy for domestic heating in Zonguldak and tonnes of ash were dumped to environment. The ash samples were containing carbon and this carbon was aimed to recycle from these waste. In the order of this recycling, firstly classification of collected ash samples in terms of size groups was carried out. For each size groups sink and float analysis was carried out. Sink and float analysis was carried out with densities (1.30, 1.45, 1.60, 1.90 g/cm³) for a total of 5 size groups of ash (+18.00mm, -18.00+10.00mm, -10.00+6.00mm, - 6.00+2.36mm, -2.36+0.50mm) and each floated product was analysed in terms of final ash percentage. Size group -18+10 mm was floated at 1.30 g/cm³ and it was observed that this group of coal ash has the highest percentage (%58.84) carbon.

In this study a total of 12 coal sample was collected. 7 of these samples are local coal samples and 5 of them is exported coals. These coals samples were fractionated into two size groups, i.e. -10+3.15, -3.15+05. Float and sink analysis was performed on this two size groups of samples with Ca(NO₃)₂ medium at the density of 1.50 g/cm³. Latter within the scope of this study, chemical cleaning was employed on this samples. Chemical cleaning on coal samples was carried out with acids (HF and HNO₃) at specific conditions. Samples have different calorific values after physical and chemical cleaning. Although some impurities have been removed with both cleaning methods, physical cleaning resulted in higher ash content coals at the end while with chemical cleaning almost no ash content coals were obtained. However, it was observed the fact that chemical cleaning resulted lower calorific values of samples. This might be because of chemical cleaning results in the decomposition of the coal matrix structure.

In the paper, the landscape-geographic disasters, caused by natural spontaneous events (landslide-gravitational, mudflow, rock fall, snow slides), are considered. It has been noted that at such locations, the use of constant monitoring and creation of a single system of communications plays an important role in the activity of state institutions and organizations, the operation of which is associated which controls natural disasters or is used for reduction of the negative effects caused by catastrophic events.

The research has been carried out for many years, the aim of which is to thoroughly identify sedimentation conditions in the area of the Gulf of Gdańsk. This process is conditioned by many factors, among which the quantity, type and quality of sedimentary material subject to sedimentation, the dynamics of the reservoir, its depth as well as the morphology of the bottom should be mentioned. Research sediments were collected in April 2014, during a research cruise on ORP Heweliusz. Sediment cores with a length of approx. 25 cm were taken in parts of the basin characterized by a different bathymetry, dynamics and a different distance from the main sources of supply of the terrigenous material. The GD core was taken from the Gdańsk Deep, the PB from the Puck Bay and the other two cores within the Gdansk Deep slope: UP near Hel and VR at the level of the Vistula estuary. The sediments from collected cores were subjected to wet sieve analysis and pipette analysis. The obtained results allowed to determine the type of lithological sediment and the calculation of graining indices, on the basis of which the interpretation of the sedimentation conditions was carried out. In the sediments, the carbon content was determined using the Perkin Elmer 2400 CHNS / O elemental analyzer. It was found that clayey silts and silty clays dominated in the PB, UP, GD core throughout the profile. Only in the VR core, there was a clayey sand, which proved that the sedimentation environment is more dynamic, conditioning the deposition and the periodic redeposition of sediments. It is the shallowest located station near the source of supply with terrigenous sediments (estuary of the Vistula). In the surface layer of the cores, the total organic carbon (TOC) content exceeds 4.7% and reaches up to 8.3%. The lowest TOC content, ranging from 0.8 to 2%, was found in the VR core. The total inorganic carbon (TIC) ranged from 0.18% (VR) to 1.77% (UP). In all profiles, both carbon forms decreased with depth. The greatest dynamics of changes in the surface layer of sediments (10 cm) characterized the UP core (4.1–6.6%), while the smallest changes characterized the PB station (4.7–4.9%). The parameter relations indicate a close relationship between the carbon content and the dynamics of the sedimentation environment and the proximity of the power sources.

An important aspect of lake restoration is the reduction of phosphorus (P) concentrations in water. To achieve this effect, various methods are used, including chemical inactivation by means of the addition of different substances into the water column or sediment. Although the efficiency of chemical methods is high, there are numerous concerns related to the introduction of large amounts of atypical compounds to aquatic ecosystems, eg. the possibility of the appearance of their toxic forms, such as aluminium as a result of pH changes. The aim of the research was to evaluate the possibility of using water-permeable nonwovens as P sorbent carriers. A bag made of nonwoven is filled with the sorbing material. When placed in the water column, sorbent present in the bag reduces orthophosphate (PO₄^3-) concentration in the water due to the water inflow into the bag. The bag is then removed from the water together with the sorbent and sorbed PO₄^3-, which enables permanent removal of P and sorbent from the water reservoirs. Three synthetic sorbents were used in the study: SINOBENT (form: paste, composition: calcium, iron and magnesium embedded in a bentonite carrier), HYDROPHOSBIND (hydrogel capsules, biopolymer with embedded FeCl₃), precipitated calcite (PCC, powder, CaCO₃) and one natural sorbent: ground calcite (GCC, powder, CaCO₃). Water samples for the study were taken from the eutrophic lake from the epi- and hypolimnion zone. Sorbents efficiency was tested in low (0.043 and 0.067 mg PO₄^3-/L) and high (0.230 and 0.540 mg PO₄^3-/L) concentrations at two temperatures (6°C and 20°C). Sorption of PO₄^3- was tested for the sorbents placed in a bag made of permeable nonwovens. The dose of materials was 1g/L, except for HYDROPHOSBIND (5 g/L). Additional experiments were carried out with the addition of effective microorganisms to check their effect of the sorption behaviour of the tested sorbents. An unambiguous PO₄^3- loss from the solution was observed for three materials: PCC, GCC and HYDROPHOSBIND. Given for 1g of the sorbent, the highest losses (19-79%) were found in PCC and the lowest (5-13%) in HYDROPHOSBIND treatments. For these materials, the effectiveness of PO₄^3- removal raised with rising temperature and the initial PO₄^3- concentration. The addition of probiotic organisms favoured the reduction of PO₄^3- concentration, especially in the presence of PCC. The addition of SINOBENT usually resulted in an increase in PO₄^3- concentration and pH decrease even to pH=6.45.

Fossil foraminifera are a treasure trove of information in applications ranging from microevolution to paleoclimatology. The architecture of their tests is of the key importance in systematic and phylogenetic studies and can reveal micro-evolutionary traits through the biometric analyses. In the present paper, we analyze the laws of growth that control planktonic foraminifera shell morphology. We report the results of a biometric study of the temporal variation in the shell shape and chamber size of the cosmopolitan, subpolar to temperate species Globigerina bulloides d'Orbigny from core top sediments in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. Morphological variation in terms of test shape and adult chamber size in G. bulloides, has been measured in 116 down core sediment samples from the tropical waters (19°N) of the northern Antarctic Ocean and has resulted in a model that simulates the basic morphology (chamber size and spatial arrangement) of planktonic foraminiferal shells of that species. The investigated samples comprise a continuous record that spans the last 200 kyrs. The specimens for this morphometric study were picked from a restricted sieve fraction and were mounted for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. The restricted size of the specimens constrained the analysis to adult specimens and minimized ontogenic effects while allowing the documentation of very small overall changes in the parameters under investigation in time. The dimensions that were measured for each test were its height, width and the diameters of the last seven chambers. This allowed the determination of chamber centers and their analogies resulting in a mathematical model based on a logarithmic spiral equation that describes the evolution of the test with the growth during their adult phases. The model presented herein belongs to a family of so-called "fixed-axis" coiling models.

In the extractive industry of carbonated ornamental rocks, the presence of discontinuities, size of grain, colour, textural anisotropy and porosity are factors that determine the extraction planning and their economic viability. This characterization is important for the planning and scaling of the exploitation. The objective of this work was in first, using the penetration radar in the soil (GPR), to identify and determine the spatial distribution of these elements. The choice of this non-destructive geophysical method to perform the work was because it is a fast method of inspection, having a good horizontal and vertical resolution, and relative precision. for this purpose, a PULSEEKKO GPR (SENSORS & SOFTWARE) acquisition equipment was used, with a system of two bi-static antennas (transmitter and receiver), unshielded, with a frequency of 100 MHz, using the reflection method with a common offset and with an antenna separation of 1,00 meter (m), at the pre-defined locations at each level of the quarry. The acquired data were subsequently processed in the REFLEXW® vers. Software. 7.5.9, from SANDMEIER-GEO®. The multiple profiles obtained (radargrams) [1], [2], which were compared with the corresponding exploitation fronts. This comparison allows validating the methodology used in the identification of existing structures, their vertical and horizontal limits and spatial relations between them.

The paper deals with a determination of the monthly time series of flows in catchments where this quantity is not measured. While determining unknown flows, the authors have assumed that the historical climatic data for the given area and flows in nearby and similar catchments are available. So-called "analogy" methods are possible to use for such a defined task. In these methods, unknown flows are determined based on an "analogy" with known data from similar, nearby catchments. The authors have compared hydrological modelling and statistical and machine learning regression methods. They have determined that if at least short-term measurements are available for the river catchment studied, the most suitable method is a regression with LASSO regularisation, as LASSO eliminates the problem of multicollinearity in the input data. The use of the Support Vector Machines and Neural Network with Bayesian regularisation seems to be other suitable methods. The precision of hydrological modelling results is slightly less than the results from regression methods, but the authors have demonstrated that these results are still suitable in the context of water management calculations.

The present study describes the Pliocene paleoenvironmental evolution and the main paleoclimatic trends of Cyprus Island (southeastern Mediterranean) reconstructed using planktonic foraminifera. The Essovouyes-Exovouyes section, which is located on the boundary of Messaoria basin in the north and Larnaka basin in the south, corresponds to a continuous record from 5.21 to 1.8 Ma and therefore provides good data for the paleoclimatic reconstruction northeast of the Troodos mountain range. The sedimentary sequence of the studied section is about 90 meters thick and characterized of pinkish to brownish massive marls, rhythmic sedimentary cycles of yellow to light grey homogeneous marls and brownish organic-rich laminated layers, brown to light grey sandy marls, light yellow marly sands enriched in macrofossils, and yellow massive fine- to coarse-grained bioclastic calcarenites at the top. We particularly focused on its middle part (3.9-3.0 Ma time interval), which consists of well-preserved cyclic marine sediments, including organic-rich laminated brownish sapropelitic layers alternating with grey homogeneous marls. This part of the section was measured and sampled at 0.1 to 0.55 m intervals, which allowed us to perform a detailed biostratigraphic analysis. Seven astronomically dated planktonic foraminiferal bioevents were recognized and constrained the age model of the studied interval through the linear interpolation. Within this biostratigraphic framework, the first occurrence of Globorotalia crassaformis is highlighted in this study and confirms the presence of the Zanclean/Piacenzian boundary (3.6 Ma). Integrated micropaleontological, sedimentological, and geochemical (Total Organic Carbon; TOC, and stable oxygen and carbon isotope; δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C) analyses revealed the presence of numerous cycles that resulted in the sapropelitic/homogeneous marl alternations. The sapropelites developed around the Zanclean/Piacenzian boundary suggest a climate characterized by fluctuations of warm/temperate to humid conditions associated with a highly stratified water column at times of precession minima. Moreover, long term trends in oxygen isotopes are correlated with the sea surface temperature (SST) record derived from the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages (Planktonic Paleoclimatic Curve; PPC) and mostly reflect changes in global climatic conditions, with a more local or regional signal superimposed on this record. In particular, both the PPC and δ¹⁸O records indicate three distinct warm periods interrupted by two cooling events centred at 3.62 and 3.54-3.36 Ma respectively. Furthermore, the statistical analysis of the planktonic foraminifera revealed that the surface primary productivity and temperature show the highest explanatory power for their distribution and influence the hydrological regime of the studied area. Overall, this work confirms that multidisciplinary strategies and multiproxy study performed on Neogene sections can provide a powerful tool for monitoring the palaeoclimatic evolution of the eastern Mediterranean in relation to the global climatic system over the Pliocene.

Natural fluvial sediments are predominantly composed of river transported debris resulting from weathering and erosion of the basin. Understanding both the concentration and the distribution of metals in the river bed sediments in headwaters is essential to provide a scientific reference for the protection of water resources and the control of water pollution downstream. Sequential chemical fractionation studies of elements in various phases in the environment are widely used in investigating the effects of a particular element in the ecosystem. In this study, determination of aluminum (Al) bound to six phases operationally defined (soluble/exchangeable/specifically adsorbed, bound to manganese oxides, associated with amorphous compounds, bound to oxidizable organic matter, associated with crystalline iron oxides, and residual fraction) in the river bed sediment samples was performed in order to evaluate its potential environmental availability in the monitoring area. Aluminum contents were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The pattern of fractionation of Al in the sediments that are studied suggests that this element does not pose a risk to the aquatic environment under the current environmental conditions since it is mainly part of the potentially less bioavailable geochemical fractions.

Reliable knowledge of marinas is crucial for the water tourism. The tourist information base of sailing ports on inland waterways should be updated every year. In addition to the basic information about the marinas, aerial photographs of the port and its surrounding are now in demand. A small four-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) can be an ideal tool for such an inventory. Unlike airplanes or fixed-wings, small and cheap unmanned aircrafts do not require much open space to start an air mission. A properly configured Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) can bring camera equipment to the location where the pictures are to be taken. The drone can hover over an object allowing the operator to take the right shots. After the mission, a UAV can automatically return and make a safe landing. Photos taken with the drone provide potential users (sailors or fishermen) with basic information about the object's location: size, number of mooring spaces for boats, the difficulty of manoeuvring in the ports, as well as attractiveness of the adjacent area. The article presents an example of the application of DJI Phantom 4 Pro to the inventory of sailing ports on the route of the Great Masurian Lakes in Poland.

The way of the Earth's resources are used is one of the basic elements determining the quality of today's economy. Problems related to the urbanization are among the main areas affecting the preservation of development potential for the future generations, which from the start have been taken into account in the doctrine of sustainable development. The growth of the human population and also civilizational transformations require an increase in the volume of buildings and urban areas, which is an inherent part of the development. However, it is important in what way the development of the built environment takes place. The problem of urban sprawl occurs globally not only in regions with high and increasing population density, but also in regions with a declining population, e.g. in Europe. The urban sprawl reflects an inappropriate and unsustainable way of using the environment and its resources, not only depleting the Earth's natural assets and reducing ecosystems, but also adversely affecting people's quality of life and health, and contributing to the social problems. This creates specific requirements for a spatial policy regulating not only the design and implementation of new cities and settlements, but also the management of already urbanised areas, which are also undergoing development and transformation processes affecting on the way they are used on. The article focuses on a strategy of densification of cities, as a method of ensuring their sustainable development allowing better use of the potential of the natural assets which are already being exploited, and to reduce the need for new resources. Four methods of densification the urban areas were distinguished and characterised: - increasing the efficiency of the use of the existing buildings by transforming their functions (changing functions, adapting unused space), - building up on free spaces in the city (construction, extension, infill), - transforming space below and over existing buildings (downward and upward extensions), - replacement of existing buildings (demolition of existing and construction of new buildings). Advantages and disadvantages of the relevant methods were discussed and the determinants for their application were defined. In each case, in order to use the methods of urban densification, it is necessary to perform a proper diagnosis of the initial situation and prediction of a development scenario and also appropriate formal regulations allowing for densification within the limits set by the sustainability criteria. Reasonable densification of cities or their parts is an important and effective way to support sustainable development.

This paper describes the dispersion process in sewer pipes, which is from the hydraulic point of view a prismatic stream channel with relatively constant roughness of streambed. In such hydraulic conditions should the effect of "dead zones" not occur, but this effect was observed during the field experiments. The reason for this was the presence of bed sediments and deposits, which form together with other small obstacles irregularities in the sewer pipe such dead zones. Dead zones are areas with small flow velocities, which act as a zone with transient (temporary) storage, where the pollution is accumulated and released gradually later. This process modifies the dispersion process in sewer systems and causes irregularities in the transport process. Field experiments were performed in a straight sewer section and also in the part with directional changes of sewer line, both under dry weather flow conditions, i.e. with relatively low pipe filling, discharges and velocities. Sewer pipes had a low slope, so a lot of deposits and sediments were present. Paper presents the results of field experiments and analyse the impacts of sediments and deposits in sewer system on the transport and dispersion process, which is reflected in the value of dispersion coefficient. In the case of sewer pipelines, the most important is the longitudinal dispersion coefficient D_L. Comparing the values of D_L in the straight part and in the part with directional changes, D_L values in the straight part were higher than from the section with directional changes. The maximal value of the dimensionless longitudinal dispersion coefficient p reached 25.2 in a straight section; in the part with the directional changes p it was up to 39.3. This result indicates that in the straight part of the sewer line, the longitudinal dispersion of the substance is dominant in the total dispersion process, whereas in the sewer part with directional changes, the transversal (lateral) dispersion contributes to the whole mixing process (dispersion process is also influenced by the velocity gradient in the transverse direction). Within the measured channel section, there were three directional changes - angles of 90°, 135° and 105°. The influence of the direction change angle to the longitudinal dispersion coefficient within the performed measurements has not been clearly determined yet.

Composition of clinopyroxenes in vertical sections of some ore-bearing basic intrusions in the Noril'sk area has been studied by EPMA. These data formed the basis for the calculation of the pyroxene crystallization temperatures using the El Negro monopyroxene geothermometer (Fe-Mg exchange between M1-M2 positions). The results of the calculations allowed estimating the variations of temperature crystallization within the magmatic chambers from early to the late stages. The temperature varies from 1200 for idiomorphic crystals in equilibrium to liquid and up to 400 degrees (in solid intra exchange) for xenomorphic grains and marginal zones of pyroxenes. We reconstructed the regimes of crystallization of the magmatic chamber by this data. The vertical distribution of paleotemperatures of the intrusive chamber there is the evidence of absence vertical move crystals into such magmatic chambers.

Adsorption on a suitable adsorption material is the most frequently used methods in water treatment. In terms of plant operation, filtration (sorption) process represents a simple, effective and economical friendly method of heavy metals removal namely for the possibility of using a large scale of substances with a sorption ability - sorbents. Oxides, oxyhydroxides and hydroxide containing iron are among the most frequently used sorbents of the heavy metal removal. The quality of the treated water (pH, silica, phosphorus, fluorides, sulphates, total mineralization, iron and manganese, organic matter, etc.), redox conditions, the valency of metal and filtration conditions has the impacts on heavy metal removing efficiency. The objective of this work was to verify the sorption properties of granular iron-based sorption materials (CFH12, CFH18, Bayoxide E33, GEH) in removal of arsenic, antimony and nickel from drinking water. Under the given operational conditions (average concentration of arsenic in raw water 52,96 μg/L, average velocity 5.6 m/h, concentration As 10 μg/L at the outlet of media) adsorption capacity of filtration material CFH12 and Bayoxide E33 for arsenic was 1.203 mg/g and 1.463 mg/g, respectively. The limit of 10 μg/L of as was exceeded after 24048 BV and 28623 BV (Bed volume), respectively. According to the model tests (concentration of nickel in raw water of about 50 μg/L, filtration rate 5.8 m/h, concentration Ni 20 μg/L at the outlet of media, pH 7.0) the adsorption capacity of nickel for Bayoxide E33 was set to 198 μg/g, for CFH18 107.5 μg/g, GEH 97.5 μg/g and CFH12 38.1 μg/g. The limit of 20 μg/L of Ni was exceeded after 4808 BV for Bayoxide E33, 1409 BV for CFH12, 3007 BV for CFH18 and 3218 BV for GEH. For the average antimony concentration of 58.35 μg/L in raw water and filtration rate between 4.27-4.51 m/h, the limit concentration of 5 μg/l at the outlet of the sorption column was reached at the bed volume 3470 for GEH, 2225 for CFH 12 and 1274 for Bayoxide E33. The adsorption capacities were as follows: 167.8 μg/g for GEH, 105.7 μg/g for CFH12 and 90.9 μg/g for Bayoxide E33. The experiments proved that iron-based sorption materials GEH, CFH12, CFH18 and Bayoxide E33 can help reduce the concentration of heavy metals in water below the limit of the Slovak Republic Decree No. 247/2017 on Drinking Water.

The general characteristics of humic substances (HS) and their negative effect on water quality and its treatment are described. The paper presents the results from the removal of humic substances from the Hriňová (Slovakia) water reservoir using 1) granular activated carbon (GAC) from two producers (Chemviron, Cabot) at three different pH levels, 2) by coagulation with two coagulants (aluminum sulfate and ferric sulfate), and 3) by an advanced oxidation process using UV radiation with the addition of the oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide. The effectiveness of the removal of humic substances (expressed by the TOC parameter) from water with adsorption by GAC, depending on the contact time with the water, ranged from 14 % for one hour to 50% for eight hours of contact time. The calculated GAC adsorption capacity of the humic substances ranged from 0.05 mg/g for one hour to 0.19 mg/g for eight hours of contact time. The pH of the water had no significant effect on the level of efficiency. A high level of efficiency (50%) and the lowest value of TOC are obtained at a pH of 6.5. The humic substances remain in the water though the optimal dose of the coagulant was used. The ferric sulfate coagulant is more suitable for removing of humic substances from water as aluminum sulfate. A dose of 16 mg/L of 1% solution Fe₂(SO₄)₃, which is the equivalent of 4.47 mg/L Fe3+, is sufficient for the reduction of humic substances below 1 mg/L. The effectiveness of the removal of humic substances with coagulation using iron sulfate was 83% for a parameter of HS and 50% for TOC or COD_Mn. The iron sulfate has the influence on a reduction in pH of water, therefore pH of water should be adjusted after coagulation. A laboratory study of removal of humic acids from surface water by UV radiation and addition of hydrogen peroxide in order to increase the oxidation of organics are presented. The results showed that UV radiation and addition of H₂O₂ during the first few minutes of irradiation increases the concentration of the humic substances, COD_Mn and TOC in water. After 3 minutes of exposure to UV radiation, these values were reduced to baseline, and in the next irradiation phase the values of the monitored parameters decreased. The highly reactive OH radicals with a high oxidation potential oxidize humic substances to various intermediates (a lower molecular weight substances). After 20 minutes of irradiation, a decrease in the parameters of approx. 39% for TOC, 62% for COD_Mn and 37% for humic substances was observed.

In copper ore deep mines of KGHM Polska Miedၺ S.A., the first stage of the transport department is to deliver the spoil to the screen. This stage is carried out by self-propelled mining machines. Transport can be done in two ways: by loaders or loaders cooperating with dump trucks. The amount of dump truck cycles during a single work shift can be used as indicators of a machine and operator performance evaluation. In order to increase the mining potential, it is necessary to continuously acquire and analyze information on work efficiency. The ability to synthesize the obtained data and case-study the relationship between them allows deepening knowledge of industrial processes and supports decision-making. Dump trucks used in the KGHM copper ore mines are equipped with a self-unloading mechanism. The paper describes a developed method and described an algorithm for segmenting signals coming from a dump truck with a self-unloading crate. The operation of the algorithm has been verified on data from a machine operated by several operators, taking into account various operational events.

The risk of drought impacting the drinking water and agricultural production is worrying in the developed countries, especially in a changing climate context. To manage and prevent this phenomenon, real-time monitoring and predictive systems are emerging as the key solutions. In the field of artificial intelligence, neural networks are one of these predictive systems. This family of parameterized models is a composition of neuronal functions, which apply a non-linear transformation from their inputs to their outputs. These networks are able to learn a hydro(geo)logical system behaviour using a database composed of observed inputs (rainfall, evapotranspiration, etc.) and outputs (groundwater level, discharge, etc.), thanks to an algorithm minimizing a cost function between observed and simulated outputs. However, it remains difficult to assess the uncertainty generated by these models, possibly leading to misinterpretations by the end users. These uncertainties are mainly of three types. The first is related to the input data. Indeed, hydrosystems are surface elements whereas meteorological inputs are punctual elements. The interpolation error can, therefore, be significant because of the lack of knowledge between gauging stations. The second is the neural network model architecture itself. It is possible to deal with this source of uncertainty using regularization methods. Finally, the neural networks are submitted to uncertainties related to parameter initialization, before the training step. The initial parameters may have an important impact on the results. In this paper, we address the prediction of the Blavet groundwater level (Bretagne, France). In order to assess uncertainties, we will first focus on the parameters initialization of the model. Neuronal models are optimized using cross-validation and early stopping. Then, an ensemble model is realized, in which each member is the result of a unique set of parameters initialization. The purpose of the study is to define how many initializations are necessary to obtain a reasonable confidence interval for forecasts, with the smallest interval and the higher rate of observed points inside this interval. The best model will be determined using cross-validation scores thereby ensuring optimal robustness. We show that, in this case study, an ensemble model of 20 different initializations is sufficient to estimate uncertainty while preserving quality. In the second part, the resulting ensemble model will be used to estimate the global model uncertainty using probability density functions (pdf) applied to the distribution of groundwater level data and cross-validation scores of forecasts. It reveals that the groundwater level predictions are composed of two mixed distributions. Therefore, we will use the expectation-maximization algorithm (EM) to obtain parameters of mixed models. Mixed normal and mixed Gumbel laws, among five mixed distributions assessed, give the best groundwater distribution and are able to generate an abacus drawing uncertainty of model.

The rock blasting is the first phase of production in the surface and underground mining operations. Because blasting works affect the efficiency of every activity that follows it, they are considered to play a significant role in the whole mining process. Furthermore, it is stated that the most significant parameter is an ore material fragmentation. Information about particle size distribution is relevant from blasting methods point of view. It enables not only to examine the results of blasting operations but also to select proper parameters of blasting operations. This paper presents the analysis and the assessment of grain size distribution of blasted rock in open pit granite mine using the indirect image analysis method. The photogrammetric techniques and the Split Desktop 4.0 computer application were used to perform the research. The photographic documentation of the entire blasted muck pile was prepared in two variants: the first one after blasting operations and the second one after removing 50% of the blasted ore material. Moreover, the whole process of preparing photographs, scaling and delineation are discussed as well as results generated by Split Desktop 4.0. The main objective of the paper is to determine the particle size distribution and the percentage share of oversized fraction both in two variants individually and in the entire blasted muck pile. As a result of the analysis, some relationships between particle size distribution and blasting operations parameters are outlined. The obtained values of size distribution analysis of the rock fragmentation may play a significant role in the blasting operations optimization in the analysed granite mine.

The constant growth of the intensity and volumes of automobile transportation causes the necessity of the increasing the requirements to the serviceability of transport facilities. The issue of the serviceability and safe operation of the existing highway or pedestrian bridges, which were built many years ago, is always relevant. Therefore, there is a choice: either to restore and strengthen the existing facilities or to replace them completely. It is expedient and efficient to use a steel cut and stretchy sheet in the form of the external ribbon reinforcement at the strengthening of the reinforced concrete span bridge structures. In the future, the steel cut and stretchy sheet is properly attached to the surface of the structure and the filling of the sheet cell is done by the layer of the cement and sandy solution (the process of concrete spraying) or protected by a concrete layer for the prevention of the sheet corrosion. Such a cut and stretchy sheet can be effectively used in new structural elements at new construction as a working longitudinal or transversal reinforcement. An effective version of the use of the cut and stretchy sheet is possible for the strengthening not only bending structures but also compressed and compressed out of center reinforced concrete and stone ones. Thus, the issue of the research and modeling of the work of the steel cut and stretchy sheet in the array of concrete under the linear stressed state conditions is of vital importance. The article presents the results of the experimental and theoretical research of the work of the steel cut and stretchy sheet under load; provided the physical model of such a process; substantiates the effectiveness of its use and the placement in span beam bridge structures.

The use of steel-concrete structures in which, external or extra-strong non-stressed sheet reinforcement are widely used in the stretched (sometimes in the compressed zone) in industrial construction as well as in the process of bridges and tunnels construction. Such structures are continuously thermal loaded during operation. Existing calculation methods of steel-concrete structures do not allow accurate estimation of the influence of freeze-thaw temperatures because there are contradictions considering this problem. The method of frost resistance calculating in Ukraine researches concrete cubes but it does not take into account the existence of reinforcement in the construction, its quantity and placement in the cross-section. This problem became even more relevant under conditions of Ukraine transition to the European design standards. According to the demand of the Eurocode the number of cross reinforcement in the back-up area is increased in comparison with national design standards. Single-span steel-concrete beams were manufactured and examined in order to determine the influence of freeze-thaw temperature on the constructions. Flat deformed reinforcement was adopted for the perception of tensile forces. To determine the strength characteristics of concrete, cubes and prisms were additionally made from the same concrete as the beams. To determine the freezing point of the beam and measure its internal temperature, 10 thermocouples were introduced into the beam's body. On the basis of the adopted research method a graph of the freezing rate of the experimental beams and the destructive influence of freeze-thaw temperature on the load-bearing capacity of the steel-concrete beams were obtained.

Due to the energy crisis in Ukraine, the problem of significant increase in the efficiency of production, transportation and use of energy is of particular importance. Considering the significant role in energy supply of the country, the issues of efficient use of heat energy in all areas of these systems are solved: generation for heating water or for steam generation; transportation to the consumer, as well as when using it by the consumer. On the heat exchange surfaces of the systems, scale occurs, which leads to deterioration of heat and mass transfer processes and heat energy indices [6]. This affects the overall performance of the process. In this paper, the question of determining the parameters of an electromagnetic field in the process of treatment of pure water is solved and physical models of the change of the structure of pure water after treatment in the electromagnetic field and the change in the nature of its interaction with different surfaces are developed. To improve the efficiency of the system perform preliminary cleaning and softening water before feeding it to the heat pump by the method of processing it in fields of constant current and in the field of permanent magnets. Next, filtration and water treatment in the field of electromagnets with certain parameters of high frequency of electric current and field induction are carried out. The scientific principles of changes in structural and thermophysical properties of water, ecological and technical technologies, which include the implementation of its basic principles, in which environmental and anthropogenic factors perform a functionally unifying role, are developed.

The paper summarizes the results of the numerical modelling of plate load tests on unsaturated silt loams in laboratory conditions using two different constitutive models and different software packages. The first part of the paper presents laboratory measurements on large specimens of compacted unsaturated silt loams with a constant degree of saturation during the experiments. It comments on the issues of the classical interpretations of static plate load tests including the influence zone theory and further issues with calibration of numerical models using the parameters gained from the classical approach. The second part of the paper dedicated to the problems of numerical modelling of these soils presents results of the Cam-Clay constitutive model modified for capturing the influence of the moisture content implemented in the SIFEL software package and results of the Hypoplastic constitutive model for clays implemented in the GEO 5 software package. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the advantages and drawbacks of both constitutive models in details and comments on the possible issues when using them for more topologically complex tasks.

Polymer concretes (PC) unlike common concrete (produced based on cement, as cohesive material) are notable for the high durability on compression – 50...90 MPa, and especially, on tension – 6...10 MPa, with unique corrosion resistance. However, they are also associated with such negative properties, such as high deformability, creep. Because PC works well on tension, their application is perspective for production of shock resistant construction material, but for this, it is necessary their strengthening by additional reinforcing mechanisms. In addition, because of the differences in the durability and deformability on compression, as well as on tension, is important that stipulates the necessity of reinforcement of PC tensile and bent elements. This work presents and discussed the reinforcement of PC by hybrid fibers. The major goal of this work is the production of such hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer concrete (HFRPC) with high durability on tension and high shock resistance that preserves these properties in conditions of aggressive environments. The primary cohesive methods are unsaturated polyester resins, as polymers. The fiber reinforcements (course and fine) are primarily basalt and steel fibers, andesite selected for their chemical resistance and durability the technological parameters for the production and processing of nano and ultrafine dispersive powders from the rock using vibration and planetary mills, and the physical and mechanical properties of these concretes are presented and discussed. The data on the corrosion resistance coefficient of these processed PC (corrosion resistance coefficient - K_cr, diffusion coefficient of aggressive liquids - K_d) is also presented and discussed.

The soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects can substantially alter the behaviour of structures during earthquakes. Implementation of SSI within the seismic analysis often leads to lower stresses in the structure and therefore a more economical design. The recently introduced provisions in European and American codes allow for this type of approach. However, consideration of SSI can also lead to the observation of unfavourable effects (undetectable in a fixed-base analysis) due to the modification of the structure's dynamic properties. Examples of unfavourable effects include higher global displacements or story drifts, increases of the base or story shear forces, higher post-elastic demands in the structural members or the collision of adjacent buildings separated by an insufficient structural joint. These unfavourable effects can be related to various parameters such as the structural system (frames or shear walls), foundation type (shallow or piles), geometry of the foundation, height of the building, soil type, seismic input, presence of adjacent buildings, etc. Under these circumstances, the integration of SSI into the current structural design becomes essential. As the mathematical formulation of the phenomenon is very complex and involves many parameters, the definition of complete numerical models is difficult. The provisions in the codes are often general and do not give the practicing engineers clear modelling solutions. An analysis of the current situation in the field of SSI is carried out, with a focus on the design of reinforced concrete structures. Based on an extensive literature review, the unfavourable seismic effects and the main parameters that determine them are identified. Conclusions are drawn regarding the situations when SSI should be mandatory and on the different possibilities of implementing SSI in the structural design.

In order to obtain some clarity in the matter of assessing the seismic effects from industrial explosions of the state rock massif. Variations of the electrical properties of rock mass before and after explosions were studied by electro tomography. The monitoring studies on the experimental profile selected across the strike one of the regional faults that cut across the career field of the Neryungri was conducted. Observations were made before the explosion, immediately after the explosion, and subsequent observations at intervals of one hour. The electrical resistance increases in the rock mass of tectonic disturbance on the geological structure, which located on the side of the explosion. The electrical resistance decreases in the fault zone, some changes in the electrical resistance of the hanging geological structure. It has been found that the spatial orientation of the fracturing of the rock mass affects the pattern of change in the geoelectric properties of the rock mass. The electrical properties changes in the rock mass from the location of the explosion block in concern to the direction of fracture of the rock mass. In the case when the front of the blast wave propagates along the strike of fractures, the fractures open and the intensity of moisture migration increases significantly, which involve a significant decrease in electrical resistance not only in the zone of tectonic disturbance but also in the underlying geological structure. When the wave front propagates perpendicularly to the stretch of rock mass fractures, cracks also close and moisture migration along the cracks caused by changes in the stress-strain state of the rock mass, is not significant, which is reflected in a slight change in the geoelectric properties of the rock mass in the section of the profile under study.

The units situated in Southeast Anatolian Orogenic Belt within the Bitlis-Zagros suture zone, are still controversial. Therefore, it is important to obtain new data from the subduction/accretion complexes along the southeast Anatolian-Zagros suture belt in the Eastern Mediterranean. Hence, this study was carried out to find out whether the pelagic limestones overlying the volcanogenic rocks in the Maden area (southeast of Elaziğ) belong to Yüksekova Complex or Maden Complex. The lavas intercalated with pelagic limestones are dark-colored, pillow shaped and massive basalts. They are commonly amygdaloidal structured showing surface cavities filled with secondary minerals. The thick-bedded limestones are mainly represented by rare planktonic foraminifera bearing wackestone and mudstone depositional texture. Rare planktonic foraminifera in the rocks are mainly represented by double keeled marginotruncanids, which are characteristic organisms of the Turonian-Santonian interval of the Late Cretaceous. Poor planktonic foraminifera assemblages obtained from the micritic limestones comprise Marginotruncana aff. marginata and M. cf. paraconcavata. According to these taxa, the age of the volcanogenic formation is Turonian-Santonian. The volcaniclastic sequence discussed in this study, were considered to be part of the Middle Eocene Maden Complex in previous studies. But, the results show that the studied volcaniclastic succession belong to the Yüksekova Complex as the age of the micritic limestones is Late Cretaceous but not Middle Eosen.

The Late Cretaceous Yüksekova Complex within the southeastern Anatolia orogenic belt consists of mafic volcanic and subvolcanic rocks representing oceanic crustal products, which are the main focus of this study. The studied mafic lithologies from the İçme-Kesikköprü province east of Elaziğ are characterized by a primary mineral assemblage of olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase, and mainly display porphyric, intergranular, intersertal, vesicular, and amygdaloidal textures. Based on Raman peak positions, the pyroxenes of these mafic lithologies from Aşaği Igme, Pirimezartepe and Yolüstü were determined as augite. The studied mafic rocks are chemically classified as basalt and display tholeiitic-calc-alkaline transitional characteristics. In spider diagrams, they show prominent negative Nb anomalies, while their chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns are LREE-depleted to almost horizontal [(La/Sm)_N: 0.54-1.42, (La/Lu)_N: 0.54-1.85]. The immobile trace element systematics suggests that these mafic volcanic and subvolcanic rocks have originated from a metasomatized mantle source fluxed by slab-derived fluids/melts. Overall geochemical features are consistent with their generation in an oceanic arc environment.

Dynamic properties of the building materials are not often under investigation because of complexity and difficulty of the dynamic problems, which need to be solved. Foam concrete (FC) is a material that has wide application and utilization in the civil engineering structures. FC is a mixture of cement, water, additives and technical foam and principle of fabrication is well known for more than 30 years. Currently, it is mainly used in the floor structures of the buildings, thus static parameters are investigated. Its usability can be much wider thanks to its specific properties. A research aimed at the application of the foam concrete in the pavement structures takes place at our workplace. FC could be utilized as a sub-base layer at the road reconstructions, excavations or as a structure layer of the new pavements. This paper presents the preliminary outputs of the experimental and numerical analyses of the selected dynamic properties of the FC. Results were obtained from the dynamic hammer testing and the Finite Element (FEM) simulation as a background for the design procedure of the pavement structures. Relevant dynamic parameters such as dynamic modulus of elasticity at low strain or damping parameters were determined in this article. This paper is also aimed at the estimation of the Rayleigh damping coefficients. For the Rayleigh damping coefficients, a half-power bandwidth method was selected. Conclusions indicate some dispersion of the observed quantities and further testing and analysis to increase the reliability of the determined characteristics is required. Obtained dynamic parameters will be a background for the pavement design using the FC.

The article discusses the nature of the relationship between the natural landscape and the transformed landscape. The description of these ties was limited to two interdependent and simultaneously contrasting creatures - a river of a fully natural landscape and a city as an artificial landscape resulting from the Anthropos genic transformations. The relationship between these two opposing types of landscapes is centuries-old and thus constitutes a rich source of search and study of human-environment relations. The direct reason for addressing this issue is a gradual change in the approach to landscape shaping of the river valley existing with the urban landscape. Clear transformations of these dependencies and the creation of a return of the city to the river can be observed, for example, in the London docks or Mill Island in Bydgoszcz in Poland. The research area is the coastline of two administratively, culturally and historically different European cities: the Wislok coastline in Rzeszow, the capital of the voivodeship in south-eastern Poland, and the Danube coastline in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. In Budapest, the coexistence of the river and the city is very clear, and their mutual connections are historically anchored and clearly visible in the city's urban structure. On the other hand, the dynamic changes that have taken place over the centuries in the riverbed of Wislok in Rzeszow caused that the river is not the urban axis of the city and did not significantly affect its urban layout in the past. Throughout most of its existence, the city was formed in fear of the river. The comparison of the shape of the coasts of the cities mentioned above resembles a master - pupil relationship. The two cities share a historical link with the river valley, but the degree of development of these relations varies considerably. The observation was used as a research method. The selected cases are the family towns of the authors, which made it possible to confront the results of literature research, mainly related to the historical layer, with long-term observations of the discussed areas. The article also defines the features distinguishing riverside cities and the advantages and fears resulting from the coexistence of these two seemingly contrasting landscapes.

The study analysis of the land surface temperature (LST) is crucial to maintain the environmental quality of climatic conditions, particularly in Jember as the forest buffer region in the eastern part of Java, Indonesia. In this paper, the land surface temperature (LST) distributions were investigated using Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS images in about 24,008.67 ha of the southern part of Jember. The land surface emissivity (LSE) is also provided in deriving the land surface temperature (LST) from satellite images. The LSE value in the Earth's surface is retrieved from NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and fractional vegetation cover (Pv). In this case, the reflectance of NIR (Near Infrared) and red bands of Landsat 8 OLI sensor have been acquired to derive NDVI and Pv distribution. Therefore, the LST can be obtained from the LSE coefficient result and brightness temperature (BT) of Landsat 8 TIRS. The results showed that the LST average in the study area increased significantly from 20°C in 2013 to 26°C in 2018. This condition was triggered by the decreasing area with a high vegetation density about 5% of the study area from 2013 to 2018, which was figured out from the spatial distribution of NDVI and LSE.

Cyclic behavior of saturated soil under cyclic loading, such as earthquake, is one significant cause of the strain accumulation which can lead to the foundation destruction. This paper presents the relationship between hardening rules in the multi-surface plasticity and hardening function in the bounding surface plasticity, because both of them need to calculate the plastic modulus at every current stress state, applying the newly developed hardening rule into the hardening function to calculate the variable plastic modulus, this new idea adds the adversity of plasticity model, and a new bounding surface is established. The simulation result of undrained triaxial test verified the reliability of the new bounding surface model.

Urban parks are of great importance for the sustainability in the cities. The multiple influences that the parks and green spaces offer both to humans and to the environment have been widely recognized in the literature and include the physical and mental health of citizens. The urban parks are oxygen sources for cities, they make people feel close to nature, they contribute to the reduction of anxiety and they also offer many activities to the people. The impact of green spaces is of vital importance as they contribute to the reduction of temperature and they offer a cool environment improving the microclimate this way. The purpose of this study is to estimate the value that people attribute to urban parks applying the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). This value is estimated through urban park visitors' willingness to pay a hypothetical entrance ticket. For the purpose of our study, a survey was conducted to visitors of the Niarchos Park in Attica, Greece from July of 2018 to February of 2019. Subsequently, the empirical analysis is based on regression models. The demographic characteristics, such as the age, the educational level, the employment and the number of household members were found to be significant prognostic factors for people's willingness to pay or not in order to use the park, as also the importance that people give to green spaces. The visitors' expenses for the park visit were also taken into consideration and they are statistically important. The differentiation that may exist between a hypothetical scenario which is presented to the park's visitors and of a real situation should be taken into account.

Stakeholders have increasingly demanded the adoption of sustainable strategies and the increase in sustainability reports from the business. At the same time, the assessment and measurement of corporate performance now extend beyond its established financial return. This paper follows the argument that it is important for companies to be an entity that plays an active role in sustainable development. However, it is commonly accepted that there is no single, integrated way of assessing this performance. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for understanding and measuring corporate sustainability in the banking sector. More specifically, the paper aims to fill the gap in the corporate sustainability assessment in the banking sector because there is, in fact, a tendency to underestimate the indirect impact these sectors have on environmental issues and social responsibility. A theoretical framework of an integrated composite sustainability index is analyzed based on the adoption of the GRI sustainability guidelines and the application of the analytic hierarchy process. The construction of a composite sustainability index includes the economic, environmental and social dimension of entrepreneurship. Each of the three sub-indices is a synthesis of several key performance indicators, which are usually the subjects of annual sustainability reports of an organization. This process is used to benchmark a company over a period of time and provides an indicative tool in order to analyze banking companies. Managers can use this analysis as a valuable component for comparing them over time, so as to adopt appropriate sustainable strategies and to improve the economic, environmental and social performance. A key tool to achieve sustainability in the banking sector is to analyze the corporate performance of the organizations. This will give a competitive advantage to the bank operators.

Measurements in terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) are not perfect and are subject to errors caused by various factors affecting the quality of the capture process and the resulting final product. Careful consideration of all these factors and errors provides a good basis for assessing the quality of the data and the information received. The accuracy of the 3D model obtained from laser scanning is influenced by the density of the measurements and the modelling methods. 3D modelling algorithms allow accuracy to be improved, but modelling software cannot solve all the problems, and it is impossible to achieve high quality 3D modelling without taking into account the factors that affect the accuracy of the measurements. The investigation of error sources in TLS measurements is rather complicated due to the large number of influencing factors that are interconnected. In addition to angular and longitudinal measurements, most scanning systems also offer a measure of the intensity of the reflected signal. Because the TLS is a non-reflective geodetic technology, it means that the measurement results are highly dependent on the reflectivity of the materials. The energy of the reflected signal depends on the following physical factors: object material properties, surface colour of the object, surface temperature, surface humidity, illumination. From the experimental studies it has been confirmed that the illumination and humidity of the scanned surfaces have a significant impact on their reflecting ability and the density of the received point cloud. Evaluation of digital model accuracy is made with a plane approximation and comparison with control points. Areas with different point densities were created in order to analyse the accuracy of 3D model and to determine the optimum scanning density.

Human civilization brings the need for energy sources and construction materials. A large amount of materials are extracted from deep and open pit mines. Mining activities are inevitably related to the large direct impact on the local environment (dewatering, landscape). A lot of spoil material is produced in the course of mining production and further processing of extracted products. Various issues of the use of waste material from empty rocks, enrichment tailings and demolition works in civil engineering as a backfilling material should be analyzed. All factors must be considered depending on the amount of the material to be used for the construction of embankments or fillings, the cost of its processing before reuse and environmental cost of the transport. The implementation of sustainable technologies may reduce the costs for the mining waste disposal in dumps, as well as minimize the negative impact of mining enterprises on the region ecology and comfort of inhabitants. The same benefits can be observed on a smaller scale when construction waste material (debris) is considered. The work presents overall conditions for abandoned working in the deposits underground development in selected regions of Russia and some experiences gathered at numerous construction sites in Poland where the working of machines (rollers, impulse compactors) imposed vibrations on neighboring areas. In order to take into account the totality of all forms of the impact of geotechnology on the natural environment and neighboring human activities in the course of extraction of the minerals and to improve measures for the rational use of natural resources, a complete change in the concept of environmental protection is necessary. It is necessary to move from purely protective measures to the planned management of natural resources and to develop a mathematical model of the impact of geotechnology on the environment. It is also crucial to increase the role of environmental issues in mining and civil engineering education at universities and specialized institutions to form a new generation of mining engineers and civil engineers who will take into account all the aspects of sustainable and responsible work.

There are two different sources of dynamic effects observed on buildings and structures - natural phenomena and human activities. Both may be related to the mining production or civil engineering construction. Ground vibrations induced by human activities characterize much lower intensity compared to the natural phenomena like earthquakes. However, due to the high urban development and sustainable development ideas, preventing the destructive effect of man-made vibrations belongs to the most important problems considering the structure and soil dynamics. Construction activities, road and railway traffic, and operation of machines, including crushing of spoil material (debris) from demolition works are the main categories in the classification of human activities which can generate ground vibrations. This paper takes a special interest in the first of the factors mentioned above. It is evident that the main construction or demolition activities causing dynamic problems in close proximity of structures are caused by pile or sheet pile driving and dynamic soil compaction by means of vibratory rollers or impulse compactors; as well as by demolition of structures, rock excavation and soil deep compaction by explosives. The vibration monitoring process needed to prevent structures from damage is described by various standards. They give particular criteria depending on various technologies and construction materials. The reduction of man-made ground vibrations is now the crucial scope of interest due to the need for sustainable technologies implementation. The negative environmental impact may be reduced at the source. Some new specialized methods are also proposed for minimizing the vibration transmission with the use of an active generator. The aim of the presented paper is to describe the modelling of dynamic vibratory soil compaction, using finite element method. The presented solution is addressed to short time vibration, generated by geotechnical works. This conclusion can be helpful by panning geotechnical works in the neighbourhood of vibration sensitive buildings/structures.

Rapid Impulse Compaction technology makes it possible for improving the ground physical properties, especially when the large thickness of non-cohesive material layers is considered. It is also very efficient for compaction of large deposits of spoil rock from the mining industry or from the demolition works. It also allows making columns out of mining recycled aggregate or construction debris to improve weak cohesive soils. Equipment used in this method ensures fast completion of the work; however, it may cause large noise and severe vibrations. This environmental impact on the neighbourhood and adjacent structures may bring some threats and cause discussions over the technology application limits. Nevertheless, there are effective monitoring tools enabling a control over the whole process, achieving good engineering effects and running the work without negative influence (or within acceptable criteria) to the surrounding buildings and infrastructure facilities. The presented case studies show: how the intensity of vibrations is dependent on the distance from the source of the dynamic impact. In the case of analysed Rapid Impulse Compaction. The results were compared to the previously published results of computer modelling of such an impact. All the research activities were granted by DABI SM BUDNY Company as a part of their Research and Development program. Numerous cycles of vibration monitoring control were conducted on the building site in Wrocław (Poland). The major part of readings was made in course of compaction of non-cohesive layers, partially replaced by sorted debris from crushing of concrete elements from demolition works. Similar results were achieved in course of forming controlled fills composed of spoil material (crushed rock) from the mining industry. The presented research result is a part of the joined Polish-Russian program of training periods under the supervision of Jaroslaw Rybak, PhD from Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

The paper examines the possibilities of maintaining the longitudinal connectivity of the Târnava Mică R water courses in the context of hydrotechnical works execution. The main reason why the longitudinal connectivity needs to be analysed is that the transverse obstacles may prevent the migration of upstream fish species in order to reproduce the species concerned. In this way, the state of aquatic ecosystems is affected, which the Water Framework Directive aims to protect. The European Commission has launched two infringement procedures against Romania due to the destruction of unique habitats by not ensuring the longitudinal connectivity. The current methodology for the restoration of longitudinal connectivity provides that the longitudinal connectivity of a water body is ensured if there are no transverse obstacles on the river, or if these obstacles meet certain criteria which make the pressure given by them insignificant. In addition, longitudinal connectivity is an important criterion for defining the natural water bodies and heavily modified water bodies. The most widespread measure is the fish scale. The advantage is given by the lowest cost compared to the other variants and the fact that in many cases, it can be applied to the already existing constructions. However, there is a construction height limit for which it is recommended. In the National Administration of Romanian Waters methodology, the height limit is 15 m. The case study in this paper will also present the numerical modelling (1d) for a fish scale at Bălăuşeri on the Târnava Mică water stream from the Mureş River catchment area. The purpose of the case study of the longitudinal connectivity of the Târnava Mică River was to restore water connectivity to ensure favourable conditions for aquatic species dependent on riparian habitats.

Composting municipal solid waste is a beneficial recycling tool. Its use in safe conditions in agriculture depends on the quality of the compost. Composting a maximum amount of greenery and food waste (from households and institutions, courtyards, gardens, parks, markets and street waste) is one of the proposed targets for reducing biodegradable waste. The paper aims at presenting a model of the composting process in the best technical and environmental conditions. Considering that for Romania, the most important issue to be addressed is the reduction of the amount of waste to be deposited; this can be done through a real selective collection and the production of compost from biodegradable waste. If the sorting of biodegradable waste is done at the site of production to obtain compost, that means not only the reduction of the amount of waste to be deposited but also a source of money, and the amount of leachate and biogas produced would be much diminished. Also, the presence of the specific creatures of this ecosystem would decrease considerably. Taking into account the limited nature of natural resources, the recovery, regeneration and sustainable use of resources are the essential elements of an environmental policy. Composting thus provides the opportunity to create SMEs as well as to increase employment and professional qualifications. Not all wastes have to be dumped, they can be utilized, separated and thus large amounts of raw materials and energy resources can be saved, and the area occupied by landfills can be reduced. In the waste management process, an important role is played by the local public authorities (municipalities and local councils), who have the obligation to collect selectively and transport in time the entire quantity of waste produced.

Fe-Ti-V deposits related to the basic-ultrabasic intrusions are widespread within eastern Siberia, in its northern and southern parts. Two large massifs are located in the Kodar-Udokan trough Siberian Platform, and in the Taimyr Peninsula. They are the Chineysky intrusion and the Dyumtaleysky massifs consequently. The problem of ore origin includes an estimation of parental melt composition and its evolution. To solve it, we have studied the internal structure, composition of rocks and ores from these massifs. The Chineysky lopolith has a thickness of 2.5 km and consists of four rock groups formed during different stages. Layering is a typical feature of the second group of rocks enriched in titanomagnetite. Economic Cu-Ni sulfide mineralization (Cu/Ni=10-100) concentrates within the lower boundary of the massif and includes the endo-and exocontact ore. Chineysky massif consists of basic rocks with typical crustal characteristics (Ta-Nb negative and Pb positive anomalies). The Dyumtaleysky intrusion represents a tabular body of 600 m in thickness. It consists of two groups of rocks - gabbro (upper zone, 300 m) and peridotites (lower zone, 300 m). It was suggested that they were formed at two stages. The upper zone is characterized by thin layering which is similar to the layering of the Chineysky massif. Sulfides are concentrated within the massif (between upper and lower zones) and in its endocontact zone. The mineralization consists of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite, millerite, cubanite; Cu/Ni= 1-0.5. In contrast to the rocks of the Chineysky massif, the rocks of the Dyumtaleysky intrusion are characterized by patterns without Ta-Nb anomaly. Gd/Yb ratio demonstrates the origin of these two massifs from different magma sources: shallow for the Chineysky intrusion and deep (with garnet) for the Dyumtaleysky one. Thus, Fe-Ti-V deposits could be formed from different magmas but contain the same type of ores because the leading process of ore formation is a multiple fractional crystallization.

The present study was carried out at the coastal region of Santa Catarina State, near the banks of the Tubarão River (Laguna / SC). The occurrence of natural gas leakage on the surface was investigated with the execution of geophysical surveys (resistivity and refraction seismic) to identify the gas saturate zone. The leaked gas is mainly composed of methane of biogenic origin, according to the isotopic studies. The gas origin is probably related to the burial of ancient Tubarão River branches enriched with the organic matter. The geophysical surveys identified that the gas concentration in the subsurface has an inverted mushroom shape with the base occurring at 15 meters depth. The natural leakage probably should originate from the fractures that occur in overlying seal rock.

Rock slope stability is one of the major challenges in the rock engineering. In this paper, Kinematical analysis on the right bank slope of Nam Phoun Hydropower station dam site project has been performed according to the planar sliding and wedge sliding. Field investigation was realized and geometrical properties of rock mass collected, the objective in this paper is to evaluate the stability of the dam site and predict the probable mode of failure; Lower hemisphere stereographic projection of different joints set was realized using a commercial Rocscience program called Dipv.6. Planar sliding and wedge sliding failure performed, show that no probable planar sliding and wedge sliding failure can occur on the right bank slope and for the excavation process; the slope face is stable for dip angle equal to 45°.

The article presents a comparison of the use of a ball mill and an electromagnetic mill for the grinding sandstones, taking into account the obtained grain fractions. The simplified principle of an electromagnetic mill operation has been described, as a relatively new device, which is increasingly gaining popularity. The same amount of feed was mixed with similar values of individual fractions in both devices. On the basis of the obtained results, the performance of both mills was compared and the effectiveness of using an electromagnetic mill was determined for further use.

The life cycle of the product is an assessment of the potential impact of the product on the natural environment. During the product life cycle, we take into account the stages through which the product passes throughout its entire life cycle. At every stage of the life cycle, transportation is a necessary element which is, unfortunately, significantly harmful to the environment. The paper presents costs and remuneration related to the transportation of waste and finished products. The price of diesel oil has the largest share in the structure of transportation costs. The analysis presents remuneration for the transportation of waste and finished product, taking into account all costs incurred by the carrier. The profitability of product transport is greater than the transportation of waste.

Increasing the ecological awareness of society has contributed to the fact that the natural environment is no longer perceived only as a resource, but above all as a system necessary for protection and preservation for the future generations. Particular branches of industry, as well as consumption, cause multidimensional environmental damage. One of the industries that raise the standard of living, but also plays a significant role in environmental degradation is the construction industry. It is, therefore, necessary to strive to mitigate the effects of erecting building objects. The article made an environmental assessment of the life cycle of a building using the One Click LCA software, which was officially approved by BRE to categorize objects according to the Mat 01 procedure. The evaluation covered the production of construction materials, transport, construction process, use of a residential building, maintenance, repairs and replacements, operating energy and water consumption, total energy consumption and demolition phase.

The studied successions in the Central Taurides were mainly deposited in a shallow marine environment during the Early Carboniferous time. Conodonts are one of the most important microfossil groups for the Lower Carboniferous biostratigraphy. The measured sections are not rich in conodonts but important species including those of the Lower Carboniferous boundary conodonts. The conodont elements recorded in this study include Gnathodus cuneiformis, Gnathodus girtyi girtyi, Gnathodus girtyi simplex, Kladognathus sp., Lochriea commutata and Vogelgnathus campbelli. Based on the recovered conodont assemblages, Visean - Serpukhovian boundary has been recognized by the first occurrence of Gnathodus girtyi simplex. Conodont faunal variations in Paleozoic to Triassic marine deposits are generally environmentally controlled. Within the context of paleoenvironmental interpretations, different microfacies types could be determined by microfacies criteria reflecting patterns of the depositional environments. The types of microfacies and their environmental interpretations can provide a framework for conodont paleoecology. The defined facies types in BSE section are mainly crinoidal bioclastic packstone, bioclastic grainstone, sandy oolitic grainstone, quartz-peloidal grainstone and quartz arenitic sandstone facies. Crinoidal bioclastic packstones and bioclastic grainstones are suitable facies for conodonts owing to environmental conditions. Bioclasts associated with the conodonts are mainly crinoids, fusulinids, algae, echinoids, brachiopods and ostracods. Conodont elements could not be recorded from sandy oolitic grainstone and quartz arenitic sandstone facies due to the deposition in high energy environments under unstable conditions.

In the article, the example of the rebuilding of the real bridge object shows, how to take into account the impact of mining area deformations on small frame railway viaducts integrated with the embankment. General principles are given, how to determine additional forces induced in the construction, such forces arise as a result of mining deformations on the surface of the area. It is discussed, how to shape the geometry of the bridge structure, so that in the future it will be possible to raise the level of the railway track even by several meters (in order to eliminate the local mining hollow), without rebuilding of the viaduct. Attention is paid to the necessity of shaping the foundations so that the impact on the subsoil tension under the embankment and under the viaduct is the same, so that the viaduct can settle in the same way as the adjacent railway embankment. In addition, technological aspects related to the adjustment of the viaduct to ground conditions (shallow, thin layers of cohesive-plastic soil typical for post-glacial areas in Poland on Silesia Upland) and protection of railway traffic continuity through a bridge type relieving construction are shown. The article is supplemented by the results of 8-years measurements of subsidence and displacements of the viaduct on the deforming mining ground and conclusions from observations. This method of analysis and conclusions may be used in further studies of the interaction between the embankment and the viaduct embedded in the embankment in the situation of active mining deformations of the area.

An experimental research on joint application of engineering-geological and geophysical measurements is presented in this paper. Experimental results obtained from the filter paper method and four electrode resistivity measurements were presented to characterize unsaturated saline soil samples collected in a test area in Lian Yungang City (in Jiangsu Province), which aimed at defining both soil suction and electrical resistivity curves versus water content at different salt contents. From the matching of the experimental data, the relationships between electrical resistivity and suctions were retrieved for the investigated soil. It was concluded that suctions increase with the increase of electrical resistivity and the increase of soil salt content. The outcomes of the study would provide proper understanding about the influence of physical characteristics of unsaturated soils on their electrical responses.

Reinforced concrete was invented and developed simultaneously by several people in the mid-nineteenth century. Besides versions "classical" fiber reinforced concrete (by using steel bars, whatever "style" of them), there are new ways to further concrete strength. Transparent concretes (translucent) are gaining much ground in the construction of West Europe. "Light Transmitting Concrete" is a concrete-like product, which is translucent due to the mixture of fiber glass, plus a combination of finely divided crushed stone, cement and water. After the strengthening of composition, blocks of various shapes are obtained with features of concrete and glass. Transparent concrete is a translucent material created by the combination of concrete and thousands of optical fiber wires acting as fillers.

The authors identified several varieties of different ore content of the late-orogenic and anorogenic granites of the North-east of the Verkhoyansk-Kolyma orogenic region. The purpose of the research was a detailed study of petrography, chemistry, crystallization conditions and geochemical features of granites of one of such massifs – Geramdachansky, which is associated with rare-earth mineralization. The belonging of granites to A-type of the late-orogenic or anorogenic geodynamic setting and wide development of dikes of leucogranites and pegmatites is determined. Typomorphic features of the composition of rock-forming and accessory minerals of granites indicate the beginning of crystallization from the high-temperature melt of the lower crust genesis and saturation of the residual melt of water. Isochronous Rb-Sr age of granites 86-94 million years. Considering the value of primary isotopic ratios of strontium (I₀ from 0.71246+/-0.00072 to 0.7213+/-0.0034), granites are derivatives of melting of the crustal material with a model age of protolith on average 2223±151 million years. The presence of almandine-grossular garnet, comparable to eclogite garnets, among the minerals of granites; high-temperature zircon of crust-mantle morphotypes D and J and enriched with native iron chromium can be explained by the presence of the basic rocks within the magma-forming substrates. A rapid increase of the content of all rare earth elements, as well as uranium and thorium from the granites of the main facies to leucogranites and pegmatites up to commercial values, was identified. The melts that formed all these rocks have close and stable high (920-1000°C) temperatures, which suggest the presence of an external heat source, constantly active during the process of formation. These facts and the presence of the dikes of alkaline-basic composition near the granite outcrops with high concentrations of REE allow us to conclude that massif was formed the under the impact of heat and fluids produced by deep mantle magmas.

The Yüksekova Complex is one of the parts of oceanic crust representing the Bitlis-Zagros suture zone in the eastern Turkey. The volcanosedimentary rocks of the unit, which is widely exposed around the Elaziğ (E-NE Turkey) province are located in the Seki-Hacihasan district (E Elazığ) and Asker Mountains (NE of Elazığ). In this area, the planktonic foraminifera bearing pink-red micritic limestones and related volcanogenic rocks were examined and aged. The volcanogenic rocks related to the micritic limestones are mainly spilitic and pillow shaped basalts. The volcanogenic rocks contain mainly of plagioclase ± pyroxene ± partly olivine set in amygdaloidal, intersertal, hyalo-microlitic porphyric textures. The sediments consist mainly of thin- to- medium-bedded muddy limestones. The pelagic red limestones are represented mostly by biomicrite and contain a large quantity of planktonic foraminifera and slight amount of thin shelled bivalve fragments, radiolaria, and echinoderm fragments. The planktonic foraminifera are composed mainly of Globotruncana arca, G. gagnebini, G. lapparenti, G. cf. falsostuarti, Globotruncanita stuarti, Gt. stuartiformis, Gt. conica, Globotruncanella citae and Rosita fornicata scattered into a micritic matrix. Small amounts of silt and sandsized quartz grains are also observed in some thin sections. Accordingly, based on planktonic foraminifera bearing micritic limestones, the age of the Yüksekova Complex is proposed Late Campanian-Late Maastrichtian. Thus, the Late Campanian-Late Maastrichtian aged red pelagic limestones of the Yüksekova Complex were deposited in the deeper parts of the Late Cretaceous Ocean, probably a deep shelf edge.

Large-scale vibrating screens are widely used in minerals processing industry. One of main components in any vibrating screen is a set of springs supporting the main body of machine with sieving material inside. These springs are subjected to cyclic loading and fatigue. Changing of their stiffness and subsequent failures have influence on the sieving efficiency and are difficult to predict, hence, online condition monitoring is required. Visual inspection and non-destructive diagnostic methods are not sufficient in this case. Noisy signals from vibration sensors installed on bearings supports of rotating unbalanced exciters are preferably used for diagnostics of spring failures. In this research, vibrating screen motion is represented by multi-DOF (degree-of-freedom) dynamic model, which accounts stochastic disturbances from incoming material and impacts on sieving decks. Specific features of vibration signals are analysed to identify springs deterioration modelled as the bilinear stiffness characteristics. Phase space plots (PSP) are considered as the promising method to recognise nonlinear behaviour of system under the presence of spring damage. Advantages are assessed of spring stiffness change and failures diagnostics as compared with other methods.

The paper presents a 2D numerical modelling of the water flow transit under an altered regime on Strei River, specifically for a 633m stretch influenced by a driveway crossing concrete structure of four gaps (about 71m total span) on a national road outside of Deva Town, Romania. The analysis considers a possible (and requested by specialised regulations) accidental highwaters flow development as assimilated from a specific hydrologic phenomenon that occurred on site during the special spring season of 2000. Taking into consideration the findings and general flow improvement suggestions of a technical expertise ordered by the rivers national administration, the present developed hydraulic model follows the technical recommendations of a formerly feasibility study with respect to streambed correction in the range of the mentioned bridge, specifically the downstream accomplishment of a bottom step (for scourings re-siltation) and two left side river groins (to direct the stream flow towards the central span of a following railway bridge, not covered by present model), accompanied by banks protection and alluvia deposits removing works. Under the given flow and geometry conditions, the study accomplished by the help of HEC-RAS 5.0.6 specialized software package looks to estimate the water surface level and velocity development in space and time, and so to draw the future state of flow transition along the analysed sector. As about the simulation output, the most important conclusions are that the riverbed would be able to discharge the significant flow of 0.1% overrunning probability at a maximum surface level below the structure safety values. In the same time, the reached velocity and particle tracking visualizations suggest a more stable and efficient riverbed time behaviour.

The paper presents a 1D numerical modelling of sediments transit on Someș River downstream of its confluence with Agrij tributary, specifically for a 352 m sector affected by a driveway crossing bridge right outside of Jibou Town building area, about 25 km from Zalău Municipality in the North-West of Romania. There was considered a quasi-transitory flow regime as assimilated from a three years data available period of time, i.e. from August 1st, 1985, to July 31st, 1988. As considering the on-site findings and concluding general riverbed restoration suggestions of a technical expertise ordered by the Rivers National Administration, the performed numerical model comes in support of the technical solutions stipulated by a feasibility study conducted by the authors with respect to streambed balance achievement in the range of the mentioned bridge. Specifically, the following main interventions were implied: the accomplishment of a downstream bottom step to break the general scouring phenomenon in the structure vicinity and to produce the re-siltation of the central gaps, and the execution of two upstream river groins designated to lead the flow and carried alluvia towards the bridge central area. Thus, the numerical simulation performed by the help of HEC-RAS 5.0.6 specialized software package looks to establish the optimum location and geometry for the bottom step as correlated with bridge area re-siltation and general scouring on the modelled river sector. Specific structural results and flow parameters outcome – water surface level and velocity development – together with important general sediments transport information (e.g. flexible streambed configuration evolution) was concluded from the reached graphical output.

Whereby the water course is considered a continuous system with hydrological connectivity – longitudinal, lateral, vertical – and variable in time, the design and implementation of barraging steps on water courses will have to follow the river dynamics and to respect the ecological concepts. Looking to diminish the negative impact on the environment, the promoted technical solution needs to consider a series of principles and criteria specific to the river basin for the conservation of nature and biodiversity. A specific river development assuming the accomplishment of a low head overflowing step ending with a water energy dissipater will have to be additionally endowed, according to nowadays legislation, with a corresponding fishway structure preserving the natural passing. The paper presents a numerical simulation of the water discharge transported by the fish stepped passage associated to the low head overflowing Livezeni Dam on Jiu River in Hunedoara County, Romania, considering the possible accidental high waters phenomenon given as a synthetic levels' hydrograph. The hydraulic model looks to analyse the maximum discharges for the special structure and also to estimate the maximum values for water velocity in the strangled cross sections. As a consequent, the adjustment of the steps geometry or number can be studied in order to fulfil the nowadays regulation on the subject.

Deep mining extraction causes deformations on the surface, which have a negative impact on road pavements located in the area of their influence. Discontinuous deformations are a special case of surface mining deformations, which arise in the area of impact of deep mining extraction where longwalls in subsequent seams are overlapped. These deformations take the form of surface thresholds, which are often accompanied by the discontinuity of the subsurface soil layer. In the article, this type of damage which occurs on the roadway, in particular on the road pavement, was characterized. The damage leads to the deterioration of longitudinal evenness of pavement, which causes discomfort during driving, and may even pose a threat to road traffic safety.

The issue of the impact of subsoil deformations on above-ground steel pipelines, especially district heating pipelines, located in mining areas in Poland was discussed. The pipelines constructed from steel pipes joined by welding and supported by slide, guide and fixed rigid supports were taken into account. Expansion joints in district heating pipelines are installed due to significant changes in their length caused by temperature changes. Subsoil deformations in mining areas cause displacements of supports and thus pipelines are subjected to additional displacements, forces and bending moments. Pipelines are protected against this impact by the use of additional expansion joints or expansion joints with an increased operating range. In the article, the way of assessing the possibility of transferring mining deformations of the subsoil by existing above-ground pipelines was presented. Evaluation of the possibility considers: a. the assessment of the technical condition of the pipelines and supports based on the conducted inventory in the field, b. the assessment of the current ability to transmit the subsoil deformations by expansion joints, c. the kinematic analysis of the pipelines, taking into account the extreme values of support displacements, resulting from predicted values of mining deformations of the subsoil, d. the static and strength analysis for selected elements or sections of the pipelines.

Nature conservation, or the preservation of the natural capital, is an important factor in ensuring prosperity for present and future generations. The essence of the concept of sustainable development is to ensure the use of natural resources in such a way that society's needs can be met most effectively while maintaining the possibility of biological regeneration of the environment. This concept does not mean abandoning the production and consumption of goods but indicates the need for a number of structural and technological changes that will allow for the relatively smallest depreciation of natural capital. An effective tool for monitoring progress in this area can be the continuously developed material flow account. Studies indicate that in highly developed countries GDP growth is possible with a relatively smaller increase in material demand and energy use. The aim of the article is to examine the dependencies that occur between the GDP growth rate and the growth rate of imports of goods and services, while reducing energy consumption and consumption of materials. The study was based on data concerning the economies of selected European Union and Poland. The article presents the method of modeling the decoupling phenomenon using the panel data technique.

The main purpose of the research was to design a database for collected measurements of the Computer System for Monitoring River Embankments (ISMOP) project. The ISMOP project aimed to conduct research on comprehensive monitoring and forecasting the flood embankments condition. As a part of the project, measurement data were collected continuously, transformed, interpreted and analysed using computer simulations. The assumption of the database was to achieve high availability of data in a short time, allowing quick (in less than 15 minutes) decision about the state of the flood embankment. The warehouse project contains large amount of time series data sets, 2D numerical models, analysis results of flood embankments condition and additional measurements like thermographic simulations. Simple database structure was proposed. Data were loaded into small number of tables, data types were adjusted for high accessibility. Such structure allows to use quick data selection for analysis and visualization and prevents from unnecessary data redundancy. To effectively visualize and analyse sensor's data an additional ArcGIS plugin tool was created. The plugin offers the spatial visualization functionality of sensor placement (2D and 3D views), their selection, distance and area measurements, statistical calculations and spatial analysis. The tool also provides ability of manual modification and exporting data into shape and spreadsheet files for further analysis. For the examples that were carried out, the database structure and the plugin were efficient and results were quickly achievable. Data were presented in a manageable way in form of 2D charts and 3D visualizations.

The possible effect of the reductions to the measured distances between the points in a geodynamic geodetic network on the reliability of the subsequently calculated deformations has been analysed. Experimental investigations on the basis of doubly measured spatial chords from the real network and their analogues in UTM-projection have been planned and implemented. Reduction adjustments have been indisputably found to lead to distortion of the deformation model. The problem about block-determined Earth crust deformation has been discussed. A method for calculation of the elements of deformation by geodetic determined linear deformations has been proposed.

In this paper, we examined the increased risk of urban flooding due to incorrect or insufficient maintenance of small hydrological basins. In particular, the effects of a peak rainfall event on a water drainage canal near to a town in central Italy were considered. By means of the RiverFlow2D commercial computational software, the Shallow water technique was chosen, which is based on the Finite Volume Element and on the Godunov-Riemann technique. We also experimented with parallel computing, by performing the same calculations with GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) and we were able to significantly reduce the total time by 80 times. The study area is located in Pianello di Ostra district (Ancona, Marche, Italy). The peak rain data, which is publicly available, were recorded by the Corinaldo pluviometric station (9.1 km from the area) between April 26^th and May 2^nd 2014 and it caused a subsequent flooding event lasting two days. We integrated pluviometric data with available cartography, a rigorous site inspection, interviews with inhabitants and a high-resolution topographic survey (30 x 30 cm) acquired with a drone. To process rainfall data, we selected the Curve-Number (CN) empirical method, developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (SCS). The parametric simulations on Fosso della Trocca basin were performed considering both pre-flooding maintenance state, with obstructions of the channel and the presence of a small bridge, and optimal maintenance state, with no obstructions and no bridge. The computer-simulated depth of the flooding water was compatible with what was observed during the real flood. Thus, the effects of increasingly intense rainfall events were estimated. However, we found that threshold values exist above which no ordinary maintenance is sufficient to avoid flooding phenomena.

The growing importance of the cost of electricity in coal mining, changes in the value chain in recent years and new commodity exchanges cause that mine operators independently or vertically integrated with power plants have possibility to buy and sell coal and electricity and create a specific spread. The study of risk based on the concept of a new indicator: an intrinsic spread. The intrinsic spread is calculated as a difference between the income from the sale of coal and the cost of purchasing the energy required for the coal production. This indicator shows a market risk in the coal mine in a better way, because except for income it includes a part of the cost of exploitation which can be hedged in the exchange market. Spread calculations were made on historical data and simulation modelling. Based on time series of coal and energy prices for various contracts and spot prices obtained from the EEX the impact of the type of contracts on the volatility of the intrinsic spread in subsequent periods measured by the standard deviation of returns has been analysed. It was found that hedge using futures helps to reduce the risk in the mine. Modelling of coal prices and electricity was carried out by conventional financial market econometric models. The best-fitting econometric models are multivariate models and models based on the copulas. The simulation results show that the use of futures contracts contributes little to reducing the intrinsic spread volatility. An econometric model with the technical and economic parameters of the mine typical for hard coal mine has been built. Changes in fixed and variable costs have been simulated based on triangular distributions. Parameters for simulation were estimated based on the economic data from the mines. Additionally, coal and energy prices were dependent on the market volatility. Based on the economic model and Monte Carlo simulation it has been found that the proposed method may be helpful in reducing the coal mine market risk.

The paper presents results of the project: Cultural Heritage Through Time (CHT 2, http://cht2-project.eu) realized accomplished within the framework of the "Joint Programming Initiative in Cultural Heritage" JPI-CH (http://www.jpi-culturalheritage.eu) by an international consortium: Politecnico di Milano (IT), Newcastle University (UK), Salamanca University (ES), and Stanislaw Staszic Scientific Association SSSA (a non-profit organization), (PL). The aim of the project was the integration of 3D models of buildings, cities and landscapes for monitoring and preservation of the cultural heritage. The research was conducted on three levels of detail according to the CityGML standard: LoD0 – regional, landscape scale, LoD1/LoD2 – urban scale, LoD3 – architectural scale, level of detail - building outside. Basing of this assumption, four test sites were selected: i. the city centre of Milan (IT) – urban scale, ii. the medieval walls and the historic centre of Avila (ES) - urban/architecture scale, iii. Hadrian's Wall and its landscape (UK) – landscape scale, iv. the Fortress Cracow Krakow (PL) - architectural scale. Final 4D models were published on the Internet. The paper presents state-of-the art of the technology of 4D models sharing on the internet. 4D models were understood as 3D models solid one and point clouds changing through the time. Results of the practical initial tests of different software (commercial: Hexagon and CityEngine from ESRI and open-source: 3DHOP and Potree) are also shown. Web site: https://cht2.eu was created where the 4D models are placed for all the project partners.

Jamda-Weixi continent marginal arc belt is an important component to understand the evolution of Paleotethyan. For the first time, the occurrence of peperite is being reported at the bottom of Pantiange Formation in western Yunnan, China. Two types of peperites have been identified, namely fluidal peperite and blocky peperite. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating results (253.6±0.7Ma) of dacitic lava showed that the peperite was formed during the late Permian. The peperite was formed during the alternation of active period and quiet period of the volcano in an apparent shallow ocean margin.

In order to study the spatial and temporal pattern variations of grassland resources and to promote the sustainable utilization of grassland resources, this paper, taking Huize County as an example, discusses the temporal and spatial pattern variations of grassland resources from the perspective of grassland resources comprehensive dynamic degree, different topographic conditions, geoscience information map and landscape pattern index. Remote sensing images in 2009 and 2016, the second national land survey database and the 2016 land use variation survey database were selected as the basic data source. The results show that: 1) from 2009 to 2016, Xinjie town and Tianba town have great variations in the comprehensive dynamic degree of grassland resources, while Wuxing town and Jinzhong town are the smallest variations. The number of grassland resources in the study area presents a spatial feature of "high in the north and south parts and low in the middle"; 2) topographic conditions have a certain impact on grassland resources. The grassland resources in the study area mostly exist in the areas with the elevation of 1800-2500m, the slope of over 25° and the aspect of sunny and semi-sunny. From 2009 to 2016, grassland resources net increase was 21134.51hm₂. 3) From the perspective of geomatics information map and landscape pattern index, grassland resources have both increased and decreased from 2009 to 2016. The land conversion categories that have increased and decreased mainly include cultivated land, garden land, forest land, construction land, water area and other land types, among which the proportion of forest land variations greatly. Although the area of grassland resources increased, the number of grassland resources patches decreased. The average patch area increased, the proximity and aggregation between patches increased, and landscape fragmentation decreased, and the overall landscape pattern developed towards the aggregation direction.

As part of the project of specific university research at the Institute of Municipal Water Management of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, a laboratory test was carried out to try and remove to pharmaceuticals from water using selected sorption materials. The goal of the laboratory test was to compare two selected adsorbents as Filtrasorb F100 and Bayoxide E33 in terms of pharmaceutical removal effectiveness from water. Salicylic acid was selected as a pharmaceutical; which is a colourless organic acid, which is of great importance in the field of dermatology and is a proven tool for various dermatological problems including acne. This is a pharmaceutical that is obtained from the bark of a willow white. Sorbent Filtrasorb F100 is in practice commonly used for the removal of micropollutants, as opposed to the sorbent Bayoxide E33, which is used to remove metals from water. In order to remove pharmaceutical from water, two glass columns were used with internal diameter 4.4 cm filled with said sorption materials. Height of sorbent was elected as recommended by the producer of filter material at least 75 cm. Model water was prepared in laboratories by mixing liquid pharmaceutical into drinking water. Samples of filtered water were taken after 0.5 minute and after or 1, 2, and 4 minutes respective. Totally 9 samples including model water were taken. The analysis of water samples after filtration from individual columns with said sorption materials showed found that Filtrasorb F100 reliably removed to concentration of salicylic acid after half a minute, while Bayoxide E33 started remove the acid but from one minute higher concentrations were onwards measured again. This means that the latter material was oversaturated, and therefore gradually ceased to remove the acid.

This paper summarized the human hair sampling, treatment and determination methods for heavy metal testing, also organized the researches and analyzed the spatial distribution characteristics of 11 heavy metals (Hg, As, Pb, Mn, Se, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Sb, ΣREEs) contents from human hair pollution caused by the mining activities in China.

This paper reviews the various aspects of the Xiaolongtan Lignite deposit mine and summarizes the geological disasters of Buzaoba pit, Xiaolongtan pit and Xindenger dump, including landslides, floods, bench erosion, the physical-mechanical changes caused by spring water and lignite spontaneous combustion.

Our presentation describes the evolution of single brick products with an emphasis on the dimensional disproportions, which had changed extremely mainly in the second half of the 20th century. We have to notice that the evolutionary lineage of fired bricks reaches the period of 25.000 years B. C. Around the year 8000 B. C., the production of full bricks started. Another turning point is apparent in the day of 14th April 1883, when in the Czech Republic after the metric reformation, the format of full brick has been set. After that the creation of brick CDm, smooth brick block so-called CDk blocks. In the 60s of the 20th century, the brick blocks of the system "spring, groove" were being created. Since then, the dimensional revolution has begun.

Our presentation describes the evolution of brick special products. Among them, it is possible to incorporate products, which we can find on vertical, but also horizontal constructions. Possibly, we can come across them on the aesthetical element of constructions. When we remind that the first ceramic decorative figure was The Venus of Věstonice. After obtaining this knowledge, we have known for 10.000 years. Many types of modification of full bricks. Not until the last 50 years, we were not able to come across the rapid development. Up to the year 1950, only full bricks were created but in different modifications. Then the boom followed.

The field of energy raw materials, including caustobioliths, still plays a priority role in the raw materials policy of many states. One of the important areas in which these reserves are currently mined is the Sokolov Basin in the Czech Republic. The current question on this deposit is the increased sulfur content in some locations of the Antonín seam.

At this article are presented membrane separate processes – microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration in water treatment and materials and modules used in application of various membrane technologies. Theoretical part is completed with results from pilot plant experiments realised in water treatment plant Klenovec, where was used the microfiltration technology for removal of insoluble substances (expressed by a number of particles) from water. Over the last years water quality has deteriorated in water-supply reservoir Klenovec and this technology was tested for the purposes of modernization of the inefficient technology in water treatment plant. The pilot-plant tests for membrane filtration examination were carried out by using the microfiltration unit AMAYA 5 with a performance of 5 m³/h. Coagulation and flocculation run in two stages. At the first stage, the coagulant is dosing into a static mixer, which led the mixture to the second stage from. The second stage represents the tubular flocculator. In the membrane module, there is placed one ceramic element with a membrane surface of 25 m², pores size of 0.1 μm, and consisting of 2000 tubules with a diameter of 2.5 mm. The results obtained from pilot plant experiments in WTP Klenovec supported theory, that this process with high efficiency of treatment surface water is suitable for this kind quality of water to obtain water for drinking purposes.

Nowadays, sustainable production is vitally important in consideration of limited raw materials and an environmental welfare. Sustainable production encourages the use of several industrial wastes as raw materials in different fields. Water and aggregate are among the most consumed items on the earth. Waste powders, with a size of 75 μm or less, formed during the aggregate production process affect both the environment and human health negatively. For sustainable aggregate production, it is important that the waste powder generated during the aggregate production phase is used in the concrete industry. Limestone, basalt and dolomite are commonly used as concrete aggregate. In this study, limestone, basalt and dolomite waste powders were replaced with fine aggregate (sand). Reference samples (0 %) and 20%-30% waste stone powder produced by replacing standard sand with mortar. The freeze-thaw effect (40 cycles) on compressive strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, weight loss are analysed. For this purpose, a total of 105 (21×5) 40×40×160 mm prism samples were produced. Under the influence of freeze-thaw cycles, the loss of weight in samples produced by replacement of standard sand and waste stone powders is less than that of the reference samples. The ultrasonic pulse velocity tend to increase in general as the number of freeze-thaw cycles increases. The flexural strength rises as the replacement rate is increased, and after the freeze-thaw cycle, a slight decline is observed. The compressive strength values decrease as the replacement rate is increased. It decreases at the end of the 10th freeze-thaw cycle but the variability tend decrease at extending cycles (20-40).

One of the fundamental disputes in the contemporary urban design is principal of shaping urban systems. The main focus of disputes and research is the clash of urban interior (and its multiplication – residential quarter) systems with freestanding building urbanism. The issue is also discussed from perspective of neighbourly bonds, contact with nature and access to transport. The concept of linear systems was supposed to be an alternative solution to the dispute. The father of the idea of linear cities was Arturo Soria y Mata. The first drafts about the concept appeared in 1882. Its priorities were based on transport accessibility and green zones. In the Polish urban design, the original concepts of linear systems were created by Oskar Hansen (Linear Continuous System) and Włodzimierz Gruszczyński (Ribbon City of Conjugate Transportation) at the turn of 60's into 70's. The theory of Hansen predicts creation of four stripes North-South across Poland. The theory was based on demographical and geographical research. To certain extend, Hansen managed to achieve some aspects of the theory. The examples can be seen in the housing estate Przyczółek Grochowski in Warszawa and in the housing estate Lubelska Spółdzielnia Mieszkaniowa in Lublin. The article tackles upon the strengths and weaknesses of linear systems. Their main assets are: transport accessibility, contact with greenery and ability to counteract the urban sprawl. However, the basic weaknesses are schematism and dullness of buildings and the problem of residential cell divided into two parts by long transport belt. Another discussed aspect is comparison between urban interior systems and linear systems. Transforming the structure of linear systems includes three processes – reduction of the scale of systems, naturalisation of the central transport belt and individualisation of the structure of building range. One of the methods opposing the dullness is integration of various types of buildings – "hybridisation."Besides the enumerated above transformation processes, I think that it is crucial to break the schematism of the linear systems. The parallel belts of residential areas should be replaced by networks. Such networks would leave the enormous fields to untamed and natural space.

The paper describes the current state of cadaster and land registration in Bulgaria. The objects of cadaster are clarified. The necessity of information about rights, restriction and responsibilities increases in complex spatial situations. After a brief review of cadastral and land registration legislation, the possibility of future development of a 3D presentation of the cadastral objects is presented, taking into account the current state of the cadastral system in Bulgaria. The prerequisites, the possibilities and the means for application of 3D cadaster in Bulgaria are clarified and the challenges to its realization. Problems concerning the design of an efficient system for land administration, possible technologies and standards for realization of 3D cadaster are described. The possible data sets, in accordance with ISO 19152, which should be present in the realization of 3D cadaster in Bulgaria are analyzed. In addition to the data from the digital model of the cadaster, specialized data is also needed. Some of the specialized objects require a three-dimensional representation, which is a prerequisite for 3D cadaster development. Many of the various specialized objects impose restrictions on land immovables, even though the presence of the object itself is not required. Schematically are described the necessary steps to go through to unify data and achieve interoperability.

The area is located in the northern shoulder of the eastern part of the E-W trending continental rift zone of the Büyük Menderes and consists of Paleozoic rocks, Mesozoic limestones and sedimentary rocks in age of Eocene, Pliocene and Quaternary. The marbles, quartzites and carbonate rocks, limestones, sedimentary rocks, alluvium and travertine deposits are of passable rocks for geothermal waters. Geothermal waters of Pamukkale show outlet temperatures ranging from 35 to 48 °C and reservoir temperatures of between 150 and 180 °C and are of Mg-Ca-SO₄-HCO₃ type waters. Geothermal waters in Pamukkale are distinguished by Mg>Ca>Na+K as dominant cations and HCO3>SO4> Cl as dominant anions. The diagram of Na1/1000-K1/100-√Mg shows that the samples of Pamukkale are of immature waters. Finally, the geothermal waters in Pamukkale were represented as a hydrogeological model.

The area of Urganlı is located in the western part of Gediz graben and consists of Paleozoic metamorphic rocks with intercalations of various schists and marbles, Mesozoic limestones and ultrabasic rocks, and Pliocene to recent travertine deposits and alluviums. Mica schists as intercalations in Paleozoic metamorphic rocks form impermeable basement rocks hydrogeochemically. The marble as intercalations in metamorphic rocks is of reservoir rock for geothermal waters. Moreover, these marbles are also aquifer for groundwaters. As impermeable rocks, sedimentary rocks with high quantities of clay contents in Pliocene to recent age play an essential role for enhancement of geothermal waters. Geothermal waters of Urganlı with temperatures of up to 75 °C and reservoir temperatures of up to 180 °C are of Na-HCO₃ type whereas groundwaters display Ca-Mg-HCO₃ type. Geothermal waters of Urganlı were represented as an hydrogeological model within this study. The Kula volcano in the Gediz rift zone with a last eruption age up to 18,000 a is responsible for heating geothermal waters.

The purpose of this paper is to present solutions chosen for the treatment of leachate resulting from the storage of non-hazardous solid wastes, from a landfill site. The technical characteristics of the installations dealing with the leachate of the compliant landfills must be designed so that the characteristics of the effluent correspond to the limits of pollutant loading of industrial and urban waste water into the discharge into the treatment plants or natural receptacles. From a technical point of view, water management solutions at the complaint landfill site provide a distinct separation of the rainwater from the site and the compliant landfill leachate resulting from wastes moisture content and rainwater that percolates the waste cell in operation. The sewage treatment plants aim to treat the leachate from the body of the landfill and do not interfere in the water balance in the related service area inside the landfill location.