La prospection gravimétrique dans la modélisation d'un substratum sous formation sédimentaire : apport à l'hydrogéologie d'une zone semi-aride du Sud de Madagascar

A gravimetric survey has been carried out in a sedimentary basin, south of Madagascar, in order to define the bedrock morphology. The bedrock is made up of crystalline and volcanic rocks. The objective of the survey was to demonstrate whether a relationship could be established between bedrock morphology and groundwater mineralisation. Indeed, bedrock morphology has been successfully mapped and it is confirmed that most of the low mineralisation wells are located in areas where the slope of the bedrock is trending to the south-west, which ensures a higher hydraulic conductivity, i.e. a faster water flow, than in the other parts of the survey area. To cite this article: H. Rakoto et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

A Modified Neural Network for Improving River Flow Prediction/Un Réseau de Neurones Modifié pour Améliorer la Prévision de L'Écoulement Fluvial

Abstract

Artificial neural network (ANN) models provide huge potential for simulating nonlinear behaviour of hydrological systems. However, the potential of ANN is yet to be fully exploited due to the problems associated with improving the model generalization performance. Generalization refers to the ability of a neural network to correctly process input data that have not been used for calibrating the neural network model. In the hydrological context, better generalization performance implies higher precision of forecasting. The primary objectives of this study are to explore new measures for improving the generalization performance of an ANN-based rainfall–runoff model, and to evaluate the applicability of the new measures. A modified neural network model (entitled goal programming (GP) neural network) for modelling the rainfall–runoff process has been developed, in which three enhancements are made as compared to the widely-used backpropagation (BP) network. The three enhancements are (a) explicit integration of hydrological prior knowledge into the neural network learning; (b) incorporation of a modified training objective function; and (c) reduction of network sensitivity to input errors. Seven watersheds across a range of climatic conditions and watershed areas in China were selected for examining the alternative networks. The results demonstrate that the GP consistently outperformed the BP both in the calibration and verification periods and three proposed measures yielded improvement of performance.     

Hydrochimie et faciès géochimiques des eaux souterraines,Plaine de Bekaa

Résumé

L'étude géochimique des eaux souterraines dans la Plaine de la Bekaa montre un faciès calco-magnésien, bicarbonaté, à saturation vis-à-vis de la calcite et de la dolomite, à faible minéralisation et de faible conductivité. Les formations carbonatées (calcite et dolomite) constituent les roches encaissantes des eaux souterraines dans la Plaine de la Bekaa. La recharge des nappes souterraines est à haute altitude et a comme origine les eaux des précipitations qui tombent sur les hautes montagnes qui encadrent la Bekaa à l'est et à l'ouest. Une dissolution des formations gypseuses existe. La minéralisation se fait en système ouvert. Par conséquent le CO₂ d'origine biogénique joue un rôle important dans la minéralisation.

Citation Awad, S. (2011) Hydrochimie et faciès géochimiques des eaux souterraines, Plaine de Bekaa. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(2), 334–348.     

Ni-Co sulphide segregation in the Mamb pyroxenite intrusion, Cameroon

The amphibole metapyroxenite intrusion from Mamb (Cameroon) consists of enstatite, diopside-augite, edenite, and traces of plagioclase, biotite and rutile. It contains notable amounts of sulphides (pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and Co-rich violarite). The sulphide phase segregated during magma crystallization as immiscible droplets (≤ 1 mm) included in growing ferromagnesian minerals or aggregated in the silicate crystal mush to form an interstitial phase. However, observed sulphide assemblages are likely to result from low-T (≤ 300 °C) re-equilibration of high-T monosulphide solid solutions, more particularly during the Pan-African metamorphic event. The Mamb amphibole pyroxenite intrusion is tentatively considered as a potential source for Ni and Co mineralization.     

Contrôle karstique de minéralisations nickélifères de Nouvelle-Calédonie

Fracturing associated with the nickeliferous mineralisations of New Caledonia has been successively considered as pre-dating and then post-dating the metallogenic processes. On the basis of a study of the dynamics of karst contemporaneous with lateritisation, a new emplacement model is proposed for the mineralisation: a network of hydraulic fractures of the crack-seal type governs the emplacement of mineralisation, associated with a network of normal faults that controls the sinking and evacuation of the karst products. To cite this article: A. Genna et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

La mine médiévale d'argent du Pontet,une fente alpine contemporaine de la surrection des massifs cristallins ?

This study of the Pontet mine aimed at updating the understanding of ore-structural geology setting and, in terms of archaeology, at pointing out how the geometry of structures influenced the medieval workings and the shape of the galleries. The mineralisation and the WNW–ESE dextral normal faults controlling its emplacement are assigned to the Eocene by analogy with the neighbouring La Gardette structure. This confirms the Late Eocene to Oligocene age classically proposed for Phase 1 and places it in the Eocene. The Prégentil-type P1 folds described by Lameyre (1958) are here attributed to Phase 1, which raises the question as to whether the contemporaneous tectonic uplift of the crystalline basement should also be assigned to Phase 1 rather than to Phase 2. To cite this article: J.-L. Feybesse et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

An Investigation of the Reliability of HF Acid Mixtures in the Bomb Digestion of Silicate Rocks for the Determination of Trace Elements by ICP‐MS

The influence of the mixtures HF‐HNO₃ and HF‐NH₄F‐HNO₃ in bomb digestion for trace element determination from different rock types was studied using ICP‐MS. It is shown that the HF concentration, not the ratio of reagents in the decomposing mixture, controls the digestion process of a rock. Data for Zr in the granite G‐2 as a function of HF concentration gave the same results as reaction mixtures of various compositions. A complete digestion in 50‐mg sample bombs was achieved by 1.0 ml of HF alone, or with a mixture of other acids at a HF concentration of at least 35% m/m at 196 °C over 18 h. The results of the analysis of basalts BCR‐1, BIR‐1, mica schist SDC‐1, shale SBC‐1, granites G‐2, SG‐1A, garnet‐biotite plagiogneiss GBPg‐1, rhyolite RGM‐1, granodiorite GSP‐1, trachyandesite MTA‐1 and rhyolite MRh‐1 are given and compared against available data. The reproducibility of the element determinations by ICP‐MS and XRF as an independent non‐destructive analysis for a quality check in the range of concentrations typical for routine rock samples is given.     

Te-Rich argyrodite occurrence in Roşia Montană ore deposit,Apuseni Mountains,Romania

A new argyrodite occurrence has been discovered in the Ro?ia Montan? ore deposit located in the South Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Argyrodite is associated with common base metal sulfides and sulfosalts (galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite ± alabandite, pyrite, and marcasite), tellurides (hessite, altaite, sylvanite) and rare electrum grains in the Ag-rich Cârnicel vein hosted by an extracraterial phreatomagmatic breccia within the Cârnic massif. SEM and EPMA analyses revealed that this argyrodite is Te-rich and a mean Ag_8.04Ge_0.9Te_2.07S_3.77 formula was calculated. This phase could be the germaniferous equivalent of the previously-described Te-rich canfieldite. To cite this article: L. Bailly et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).