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Elsevier

Books in Earth and planetary sciences

Elsevier's Earth and Planetary Sciences collection brings together pioneering research on the complexities of our planet and beyond. Covering topics from Earth's structural dynamics and ecosystems to planetary exploration, these titles support advancements in geoscience, environmental science, and space studies, offering essential insights for researchers, professionals, and students.

  • Mine Winding and Transport

    • 1st Edition
    • S.C. Walker
    • English
    Changes in size and power of available mining transport equipment, combined with improved means of control involving leaky feeder radio and computers, demands a new look at the problem of mine winding and transport. Such changes require the traditional mining engineer to have a much greater engineering application. This book is intended to satisfy that requirement.All the important means of transporting operatives and minerals are addressed, both below ground and on the surface. Safe, speedy and economic transport from the point of mineral extraction to leaving the mine is paramount. This work covers all aspects of the problem including: (1) the design and application of steel wire ropes to a variety of industrial applications, and the various drums and pulleys necessary; (2) a ready means of calculating output/throughput of various transport modes, and relating such to their power requirement; and (3) information on transport modes that enables the most suitable system for given conditions to be determined.A ``first principle'' approach has been adopted throughout, and extensive use of practical examples allows the solution of virtually all associated problems. Although formulae are used where necessary for an understanding of the content, the numerous tables included enable the practicing engineer to make short cuts to more quickly solve particular problems. In addition, the provision of a considerable number of operational constants, many not previously published, enable a more speedy and accurate solution to be effected. By comparing the calculated solutions to a particular problem, the most economic transport mode may be determined.Mining, mechanical and electrical engineers concerned with the safe movement of men or material will find this book of particular use, as will the student preparing for examinations on the subject.

  • Geochemical Exploration 1976

    • 1st Edition
    • C.R.M. Butt
    • English
    Geochemical Exploration 1976 is a compilation of 30 papers presented at an International Geochemical Exploration Symposium. The first five papers included in this journal are entitled World Mineral Supplies-the Role of Exploration Geochemistry; Application of Gold Compositional Analyses to Mineral Exploration in the United States; Tellurium, a Guide to Mineral Deposits; Geochemical Prospecting for Volcanogenic Sulfide Deposits in the Eastern Black Sea Ore Province, Turkey; Anomalous Trace Elements in Pyrite in the Vicinity of Mineralized Zones a Woodlawn, N.S.W., Australia; and Application of Lead Isotopes and Trace Elements to Mapping Black Shales Around a Base Metal Sulfide Deposit. Other papers included in this volume are about primary dispersion; sulfur isotope and trace metal composition of stratiform; geochemistry of the mammoth copper deposit; geochemical indications of concealed copper mineralization; Zinc-Lead-Silver deposit; and geochemical dispersion patterns. The book also discusses sulfide mineralization, serpentinites containing nickel iron sulfides, geochemical analytical techniques in determining ""total"" compositions of some lateritized rocks, natural gamma radiation, Uranium, Uranium isotopes, and soil hydrocarbon geochemistry. The last three papers presented in this volume are entitled Detection of Naturally Heavy-Metal-Poisoned Areas by LANDSAT-1 Digital Data; Recognition of Mineralized Areas by a Regional Geochemical Survey of the Till Blanket in Northern Finland; and Sequential Soil Analysis in Exploration Geochemistry.

  • Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs V3

    Biology 2
    • 1st Edition
    • O.A. Jones
    • English
    Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, Volume III: Biology 2 covers the major advances made in the biological aspects of coral reef problems. This book discusses the ecology, animal associates, and toxicity of coral reefs. Composed of 11 chapters, the book initially describes the diversity of animals permanently or temporarily associated with living corals despite the formidable nematocyst batteries possessed by corals. The text goes on discussing some specializations of some shrimps and prawns permanently associated with living corals, thus, augmenting the number of biological niches available for colonization. The subsequent chapters deal with the appearance and distribution of coral reefs echinoderms and their biogeography; the role of fishes in the energetic of the coral reef system; the high incidence of toxic fishes in coral reef waters; and the origin, transmission, detection, pharmacology, and chemistry of ciguatoxin. The book also discusses natural and man-induced destruction of coral reef communities and the rate, manner, and extent of recovery of such destruction. It also describes the types of vegetation that grow on the limestone substratum provided by coral islands. Another chapter provides distributional data on the birds of the Great Barrier Reef region and the behavior and evolution of island populations of sea birds. The concluding chapters present the general biology of sea turtles and the factors that influence the number and types of organisms found on coral islands. This book will acquaint readers with some of the exciting developments in coral reef biology and will provide information that will enable them to assess the status of research in different fields.

  • Natural Phenomena

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 14A
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 14A: Rockslides and Avalanches, 1: Natural Phenomena focuses on attempts to provide a foundation for studies of mass movement phenomena in the Western Hemisphere. The selection first elaborates on Albert Heim's observations on landslides and relevance to modern interpretations, Frank rockslide in Alberta, Canada, and Lower Gros Ventre slide in Wyoming, U.S.A. Discussions focus on geologic environment, events triggered by rise and fall of slide lake level, description of slide mass and zone of detachment, stability analysis, travel distance of sturzstrom deposits, and geometry of the Elm sturzstrom deposits. The publication then takes a look at Madison Canyon rockslide in Montana, U.S.A., Little Tahoma Peak rockfalls and avalanches in Mount Rainier, Washington, U.S.A., Sherman Glacier rock avalanche in Alaska, U.S.A., and Nevados Huascaran avalanches in Peru. Topics include rockslide kinematics, associated seismic activity, meteorological and hydrological conditions, mode of emplacement of other Alaskan rock avalanches, and applicability of mechanical fluidization to other rock avalanches. The text examines the mechanics of glacier movement, dynamics of snow avalanches, failure of snow slopes, and role of gravity in plate tectonics. The selection is a valuables reference for researchers wanting to study further rockslides and avalanches.

  • Computational Methods in Subsurface Flow

    • 3rd Edition
    • Peter S. Huyakorn
    • English
    Computational Methods in Subsurface Flow explores the application of all of the commonly encountered computational methods to subsurface problems. Among the problems considered in this book are groundwater flow and contaminant transport; moisture movement in variably saturated soils; land subsidence and similar flow and deformation processes in soil and rock mechanics; and oil and geothermal reservoir engineering. This book is organized into 10 chapters and begins with an introduction to partial differential and various solution approaches used in subsurface flow. The discussion then shifts to the fundamental theory of the finite element method, with emphasis on the Galerkin finite element method and how it can be used to solve a wide range of subsurface problems. The subjects treated range from simple problems of saturated groundwater flow to more complex ones of moisture movement and multiphase flow in petroleum reservoirs. The chapters that follow focus on fluid flow and mechanical deformation of conventional and fractured porous media; point and subdomain collocation techniques and the boundary element technique; and the applications of finite difference techniques to single- and multiphase flow and solute transport. The final chapter is devoted to other alternative numerical methods that are based on combinations of the standard finite difference approach and classical mathematics. This book is intended for senior undergraduate and graduate students in geoscience and engineering, as well as for professional groundwater hydrologists, engineers, and research scientists who want to solve or model subsurface problems using numerical techniques.

  • W-Sn Skarn Deposits

    and Related Metamorphic Skarns and Granitoids
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 24
    • T.A.P. Kwak
    • English
    Intended as a reference for the academically-oriente... geologist as well as the practising economic geologist, this book is concerned with the study of skarn deposits having anomalously high tin or tungsten contents, or both. Unlike many other books on economic geology, both economic W-Sn skarns and non-economic examples are covered, in order to enable the academically-oriente... reader to grasp the full range of such deposits, and also to aid the economic geologist in distinguishing between W-Sn skarns having economic potential and those which do not.W-Sn skarns are notoriously complex, containing a wide range of textures, grain sizes, mineral assemblages, bulk compositions and structures. The lack of a sufficiently detailed data base, coupled with some unsupportable genetic models, has led to many misunderstandings and has often resulted in needless expenditure and effort on fruitless mineral exploration. Thus, the first aim of this book is simply to provide an adequate data base with sufficient references to enable an interested worker to define a skarn deposit and know where to find additional information on similar examples. To aid this, as much data as possible is presented as tables and diagrams.The second aim of the book is to show the reader how to separate skarn rocks found in W-Sn-bearing environments into those produced by metamorphic, isochemical processes (metamorphic skarns) which are uneconomic, and those produced by the introduction and exchange of components from an ore solution (ore skarn). W-Sn skarns are also separated into genetically logical subdivisions so that, if a deposit or a specific geological environment can be identified, then skarn zonation or the potential of finding specific skarn types can be predicted. This is particularly important to the practising exploration geologist because often only a small part of a skarn or only certain skarn types contain economic mineralization.In addition, the book provides an insight into how to assess where mineralogical complications may occur, especially with respect to Sn-skarns, and in which environments such complications may be expected. It also provides enough information for the reader to be able to conceptualize suitable models for W-Sn skarns based on primary data.

  • Regional and Specific Deposits

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 9
    • Bozzano G Luisa
    • English
    Handbook of Strata-Bound and Stratiform Ore Deposits, Volume 9: Regional and Specific Deposits focuses on the processes, methodologies, principles, and approaches involved in the identification of regional and specific ore deposits. The selection first elaborates on the timing of mineralization in stratiform copper deposits, oolitic iron formations, and metalliferous deep-sea sediments. Discussions focus on marine distribution and nature of surface and near-surface deposits, structural setting and associated deposits, principal types of deep-sea metal-enriched sediments, chronological development of oolitic-inland-sea iron formation, and complementary sources and transport mechanisms. The text then tackles heavy-metal accumulation in limnic sediments, trace metals in fresh waters, nature and origin of Archaean strata-bound volcanic associated nickel-iron-copper sulphide deposits, and the significance of pyritic black shales in the genesis of Archean nickel sulphide deposits. Topics include lithological associations, oxidation and supergene alteration of ores, temporal and tectonic setting, dissolved metal concentrations in large freshwater systems, and transport phases of heavy metals in river water. The publication examines strata-bound tin deposits, geology of the Pine Point lead-zinc district, and genesis of the Rammelsberg ore deposit near Goslar/Upper Harz in the Federal Republic of Germany. The selection is a valuable reference for researchers wanting to explore ore deposits.

  • Limit Analysis in Soil Mechanics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 52
    • W.F. Chen + 1 more
    • English
    During the last ten years, our understanding of the perfect plasticity and the associated flow rule assumption on which limit analysis is based has increased considerably. Many extensions and advances have been made in applications of limit analysis to the area of soil dynamics, in particular, to earthquake-induced slope failure and landslide problems and to earthquake-induced lateral earth pressures on rigid retaining structures. The purpose of the book therefore is in part to discuss the validity of the upper bound work (or energy) method of limit analysis in a form that can be appreciated by a practicing soil engineer, and in part to provide a compact and up-to-date summary of recent advances in the applications of limit analysis to earthquake-induced stability problems in soil mechanics.

  • Soil Properties and Behaviour

    • 1st Edition
    • R. Young
    • English
    Soil Properties and Behavior defines the structure of the soil-water system. This book provides the background of the nature of mineral particles and the existing forces between the particles in the soil system. It also examines the structure and fabric of soil, as well as their relationship with water. Furthermore, the book explores water movement and soil performance, which are related to the physics of soil-water movement and volume changes. This book illustrates the common clay minerals in soils and discusses the methods for their identification. It also reviews the theory of one-dimensional consolidation and discusses the soil structure in consolidation and compression. The book also presents the concepts of yield and failure in soils, yield criteria, and failure theories. It also focuses on granular and cohesive soil strength, including friction properties, the intrinsic friction angle, the volumetric strain, and pore-water pressure. The last part of the book discusses soil freezing and permafrost.

  • Engineering Geology

    • 1st Edition
    • Q Zaruba
    • English
    Engineering Geology attempts to provide an understanding of relations between the geology of a building site and the engineering structure. It presents examples taken from real-life experience and practice to provide evidence for the significance of engineering geology in planning, design, construction, and maintenance of engineering structures. The book begins with an introduction of geological investigations, distinguishing between the reconnaissance investigation, the detailed investigation, and investigation during construction. It then explains the significance of geological maps and sections; the mechanical behavior of rocks; subsurface investigation for engineering construction; and geophysical methods. The remaining chapters discuss the physical and chemical weathering of rocks; slope movements; and geological investigations for buildings, roads and railways, tunnels, and hydraulic structures. This book is intended particularly for civil engineering students and students of engineering geology in the university faculties of natural sciences. It describes geological features so as to be comprehensible to Technical College students and to explain construction problems intelligibly for geology students. The book will also be of assistance to planners, civil engineers, and graduate engineering geologists.

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