Arabian Journal of Geosciences最新文献

{"title":"Heavy metal contamination of soil and water from waste landfill sites in the second-largest city of Bangladesh","authors":"Imranul Kabir,&nbsp;Yaqub Ali,&nbsp;Nahidur Rahman,&nbsp;S M Mijan Uddin","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12580-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12580-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Globally, unregulated waste landfill sites are major sources of heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), posing serious risks to soil, water, and human health. Comprehensive assessments of landfill-derived heavy metal contamination remain scarce in Bangladesh, particularly in Chattogram City. This study was conducted at two landfill sites in Chattogram (Ananda Bazar and Arefin Nagar) using systematic sampling of soil, irrigation water, and drinking water. The results revealed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations with distance from landfill sites. Soil within 30 m showed the highest Cd (17.17 ppm) and Pb (131.85 ppm) in Ananda Bazar, exceeding WHO standards of 0.8 ppm and 85 ppm, respectively. In irrigation water, Cr concentration was consistently high with a peak of 0.45 ppm at 30 m in Ananda Bazar. Although Pb and Cd concentrations varied significantly, they showed a general decreasing trend with increasing distance. Drinking water in Ananda Bazar showed hazardous Pb (0.06 ppm) concentration surpassing WHO permissible levels (0.01 ppm), while Cr concentration slightly exceeded safe levels in some samples, the Cd remained within safe limits. Significant spatial differences in heavy metal concentrations were observed across most samples (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), whereas drinking water samples from Arefin Nagar did not show significant variation (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). This pattern emphasizes the risk of localized contamination and the need for regular monitoring and management interventions to reduce further contamination. These findings provide a scientific basis for Chattogram to adopt evidence‑based interventions such as protective well buffers, improved landfill engineering, and routine monitoring to ensure safe and sustainable urban waste management.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydro-chemical variations of spring water quality in Matwi catchment – Salfeet / Palestine","authors":"Marwan Ghanem,&nbsp;Wasim Ahmad,&nbsp;Holger Schuttrumpf,&nbsp;Rawan Mlih,&nbsp;Ghaleb Natour","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12579-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12579-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Springs are the major source of groundwater in the Matwi catchment in the West Bank, Palestine. The objective of the research is to determine the variation characteristics of the spring water and their contribution to groundwater quality. The novelty of this study lies in the integration of multi-season physical, hydrochemical, trace-element, and microbiological analyses with hydrogeochemical classification techniques (Piper, Durov, and Wilcox diagrams) within a catchment-scale assessment. This integrated methodological framework enables simultaneous evaluation of spatial and temporal variations in groundwater quality while distinguishing the effects of carbonate lithology from anthropogenic pollution sources, thereby providing a comprehensive basis for groundwater quality assessment in a karst environment. The sampling campaigns were conducted for eight springs and one groundwater well for physical, hydrochemical, and microbiological analyses in 2019 and 2020. The hydrochemical parameters of the major ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻), trace elements (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Mn, Al, Pb, Cr, B, As, Se, Ba, Ti), and microbiological parameters including total and fecal coliforms were analyzed. The physical parameters of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured. The hydrochemical parameter concentrations showed slight to considerable spatial variations among the investigated springs. The spring water samples were classified using the Piper diagram, revealing an earth-alkaline water type with prevailing bicarbonate, while the Durov diagram identified a dominant calcium–magnesium–bicarbonate facies consistent with the karstic nature of the aquifer. The integrated interpretation of hydrochemical facies, trace-element distributions, and microbiological indicators allowed identification of localized influences of geological conditions and potential wastewater-related contamination pathways across the catchment. The microbial parameters of total and fecal coliforms showed similar variations between the two sampling campaigns. This integrated approach provides one of the first comprehensive hydrochemical characterizations of the Matwi catchment and offers a robust scientific framework for groundwater monitoring, pollution assessment, and integrated water resources management in Mediterranean karst catchments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148783313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated gravity-based structural characterization of the Sana’a Basin, Yemen using WGM2012 data, spectral analysis, and GM-SYS modeling","authors":"Bassim S. Al Khirbash,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Alaydrus,&nbsp;Mohammed A. Mokaber,&nbsp;Roa’a Kh. Abu Reem,&nbsp;Enas M. Al Ashmali,&nbsp;Ayman M. Al Dhafari","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12582-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12582-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Sana’a Basin is one of the most important intramontane basins in Yemen, hosting significant groundwater resources and a complex geological succession influenced by regional tectonic processes associated with the Afar Triple Junction, Red Sea rifting, and Gulf of Aden opening. Despite extensive geological and hydrogeological investigations, uncertainties remain regarding the deep structural framework, basin geometry, and tectonic controls governing its evolution. This study investigates the subsurface architecture of the Sana’a Basin through the integration of satellite-derived gravity data, geological information, borehole records, spectral analysis, and gravity-constrained forward modeling. Gravity data extracted from the World Gravity Model 2012 (WGM2012) were processed using Oasis Montaj v8.3 through terrain correction, Complete Bouguer anomaly calculation, frequency-domain filtering, and regional–residual anomaly separation using a first-order Butterworth filter with a cutoff wavelength of 20 km. Structural lineaments were subsequently extracted using the Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) Grid Analysis tools. Radially Averaged Power Spectrum Analysis identified two principal source populations at average depths of approximately 2.8 km and 4.25 km. The shallower depth is interpreted as reflecting major density contrasts within the volcanic-sedimentary succession, whereas the deeper component represents a major basement-controlled structural level governing the long-wavelength gravity field and basin architecture. These interpretations were independently evaluated using lithostratigraphic information from deep exploratory wells (DS-1 and DS-2) and fence-diagram correlations constructed from twenty-three boreholes distributed across the basin. To further constrain subsurface geometry, 2D gravity forward models were developed along NW–SE and NE–SW profiles using the GM-SYS module. The resulting models achieved satisfactory agreement between observed and calculated gravity responses, with RMS misfits of 0.934 and 3.2 respectively. The interpreted structure reveals a fault-controlled basin architecture characterized by normal faulting, basement segmentation, asymmetric graben-like geometries, and significant spatial variations in volcano-sedimentary thickness. The Integrated interpretation indicates that the Sana’a Basin evolved under prolonged extensional tectonics associated with regional rifting processes. Structural trends are dominated by NW–SE-oriented fault systems accompanied by subordinate NE–SW and NNW–SSE trends, reflecting multiple tectonic deformation phases. The strong agreement among gravity anomalies, spectral depth estimates, borehole information, fence-diagram correlations, and GM-SYS models demonstrates the reliability of the adopted methodology and provides a robust geophysical framework for future geological, hydrogeological, and three-dimensional subsurface investigations within the basin.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148783312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated gravity-based structural characterization of the Sana’a Basin, Yemen using WGM2012 data, spectral analysis, and GM-SYS modeling","authors":"Bassim S. Al Khirbash,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Alaydrus,&nbsp;Mohammed A. Mokaber,&nbsp;Roa’a Kh. Abu Reem,&nbsp;Enas M. Al Ashmali,&nbsp;Ayman M. Al Dhafari","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12582-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12582-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Sana’a Basin is one of the most important intramontane basins in Yemen, hosting significant groundwater resources and a complex geological succession influenced by regional tectonic processes associated with the Afar Triple Junction, Red Sea rifting, and Gulf of Aden opening. Despite extensive geological and hydrogeological investigations, uncertainties remain regarding the deep structural framework, basin geometry, and tectonic controls governing its evolution. This study investigates the subsurface architecture of the Sana’a Basin through the integration of satellite-derived gravity data, geological information, borehole records, spectral analysis, and gravity-constrained forward modeling. Gravity data extracted from the World Gravity Model 2012 (WGM2012) were processed using Oasis Montaj v8.3 through terrain correction, Complete Bouguer anomaly calculation, frequency-domain filtering, and regional–residual anomaly separation using a first-order Butterworth filter with a cutoff wavelength of 20 km. Structural lineaments were subsequently extracted using the Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) Grid Analysis tools. Radially Averaged Power Spectrum Analysis identified two principal source populations at average depths of approximately 2.8 km and 4.25 km. The shallower depth is interpreted as reflecting major density contrasts within the volcanic-sedimentary succession, whereas the deeper component represents a major basement-controlled structural level governing the long-wavelength gravity field and basin architecture. These interpretations were independently evaluated using lithostratigraphic information from deep exploratory wells (DS-1 and DS-2) and fence-diagram correlations constructed from twenty-three boreholes distributed across the basin. To further constrain subsurface geometry, 2D gravity forward models were developed along NW–SE and NE–SW profiles using the GM-SYS module. The resulting models achieved satisfactory agreement between observed and calculated gravity responses, with RMS misfits of 0.934 and 3.2 respectively. The interpreted structure reveals a fault-controlled basin architecture characterized by normal faulting, basement segmentation, asymmetric graben-like geometries, and significant spatial variations in volcano-sedimentary thickness. The Integrated interpretation indicates that the Sana’a Basin evolved under prolonged extensional tectonics associated with regional rifting processes. Structural trends are dominated by NW–SE-oriented fault systems accompanied by subordinate NE–SW and NNW–SSE trends, reflecting multiple tectonic deformation phases. The strong agreement among gravity anomalies, spectral depth estimates, borehole information, fence-diagram correlations, and GM-SYS models demonstrates the reliability of the adopted methodology and provides a robust geophysical framework for future geological, hydrogeological, and three-dimensional subsurface investigations within the basin.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heavy metal contamination of soil and water from waste landfill sites in the second-largest city of Bangladesh","authors":"Imranul Kabir,&nbsp;Yaqub Ali,&nbsp;Nahidur Rahman,&nbsp;S M Mijan Uddin","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12580-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12580-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Globally, unregulated waste landfill sites are major sources of heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), posing serious risks to soil, water, and human health. Comprehensive assessments of landfill-derived heavy metal contamination remain scarce in Bangladesh, particularly in Chattogram City. This study was conducted at two landfill sites in Chattogram (Ananda Bazar and Arefin Nagar) using systematic sampling of soil, irrigation water, and drinking water. The results revealed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations with distance from landfill sites. Soil within 30 m showed the highest Cd (17.17 ppm) and Pb (131.85 ppm) in Ananda Bazar, exceeding WHO standards of 0.8 ppm and 85 ppm, respectively. In irrigation water, Cr concentration was consistently high with a peak of 0.45 ppm at 30 m in Ananda Bazar. Although Pb and Cd concentrations varied significantly, they showed a general decreasing trend with increasing distance. Drinking water in Ananda Bazar showed hazardous Pb (0.06 ppm) concentration surpassing WHO permissible levels (0.01 ppm), while Cr concentration slightly exceeded safe levels in some samples, the Cd remained within safe limits. Significant spatial differences in heavy metal concentrations were observed across most samples (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), whereas drinking water samples from Arefin Nagar did not show significant variation (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). This pattern emphasizes the risk of localized contamination and the need for regular monitoring and management interventions to reduce further contamination. These findings provide a scientific basis for Chattogram to adopt evidence‑based interventions such as protective well buffers, improved landfill engineering, and routine monitoring to ensure safe and sustainable urban waste management.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydro-chemical variations of spring water quality in Matwi catchment – Salfeet / Palestine","authors":"Marwan Ghanem,&nbsp;Wasim Ahmad,&nbsp;Holger Schuttrumpf,&nbsp;Rawan Mlih,&nbsp;Ghaleb Natour","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12579-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12579-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Springs are the major source of groundwater in the Matwi catchment in the West Bank, Palestine. The objective of the research is to determine the variation characteristics of the spring water and their contribution to groundwater quality. The novelty of this study lies in the integration of multi-season physical, hydrochemical, trace-element, and microbiological analyses with hydrogeochemical classification techniques (Piper, Durov, and Wilcox diagrams) within a catchment-scale assessment. This integrated methodological framework enables simultaneous evaluation of spatial and temporal variations in groundwater quality while distinguishing the effects of carbonate lithology from anthropogenic pollution sources, thereby providing a comprehensive basis for groundwater quality assessment in a karst environment. The sampling campaigns were conducted for eight springs and one groundwater well for physical, hydrochemical, and microbiological analyses in 2019 and 2020. The hydrochemical parameters of the major ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻), trace elements (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Mn, Al, Pb, Cr, B, As, Se, Ba, Ti), and microbiological parameters including total and fecal coliforms were analyzed. The physical parameters of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured. The hydrochemical parameter concentrations showed slight to considerable spatial variations among the investigated springs. The spring water samples were classified using the Piper diagram, revealing an earth-alkaline water type with prevailing bicarbonate, while the Durov diagram identified a dominant calcium–magnesium–bicarbonate facies consistent with the karstic nature of the aquifer. The integrated interpretation of hydrochemical facies, trace-element distributions, and microbiological indicators allowed identification of localized influences of geological conditions and potential wastewater-related contamination pathways across the catchment. The microbial parameters of total and fecal coliforms showed similar variations between the two sampling campaigns. This integrated approach provides one of the first comprehensive hydrochemical characterizations of the Matwi catchment and offers a robust scientific framework for groundwater monitoring, pollution assessment, and integrated water resources management in Mediterranean karst catchments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-proxy geophysical delineation of structurally controlled hydrothermal copper mineralization: a case study from Wadi Nesyrin and Wadi Ager, Southwest Sinai, Egypt","authors":"Tamer E. Attia,&nbsp;El Arabi H. Shendi","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12574-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12574-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Located within the Neoproterozoic Arabian–Nubian Shield of South Sinai, this study integrates geological and geophysical investigations in the Wadi Nesyrin and Wadi Ager regions to delineate subsurface copper mineralization. Given the region’s documented surface occurrences, research focused on identifying high-priority mineral targets within the crystalline basement. A ground radiometric survey across 876 stations revealed three anomalous zones (A, B, and C) hosted in calc-alkaline granites. Diagnostic radioelement ratios eU/eTh (1.8–3.2) and eU/K% (0.9–2.5) indicate significant uranium enrichment and hydrothermal mobilization under oxidizing conditions. Subsequent high-resolution surveys including VLF-EM, Turam-EM, and Vertical Magnetic Gradient (VMG) identified nine major anomalies. Fraser filtering of VLF-EM tilt-angle data delineated conductive bodies striking NE–SW, NW–SE, and N–S, aligning with regional tectonic trends. Quantitative modeling estimates the depth of these causative sources between 45 m and 127 m. The spatial correlation between high radiometric ratios, negative VMG anomalies, and strong EM phase shifts confirms that mineralization consists of structurally controlled, sulfide-bearing quartz veins (chalcocite, bornite, and chalcopyrite). The novelty of this study lies in the first integrated application of airborne radiometric, ground gamma-ray spectrometric, VLF-EM, Turam-EM, and vertical magnetic gradient (VMG) data to delineate structurally controlled hydrothermal copper mineralization within this previously underexplored granitic terrain. The proposed hierarchical exploration workflow demonstrates how regional radiometric anomalies can be progressively refined using complementary geophysical methods to prioritize drilling targets and reduce exploration uncertainty.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-proxy geophysical delineation of structurally controlled hydrothermal copper mineralization: a case study from Wadi Nesyrin and Wadi Ager, Southwest Sinai, Egypt","authors":"Tamer E. Attia,&nbsp;El Arabi H. Shendi","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12574-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12574-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Located within the Neoproterozoic Arabian–Nubian Shield of South Sinai, this study integrates geological and geophysical investigations in the Wadi Nesyrin and Wadi Ager regions to delineate subsurface copper mineralization. Given the region’s documented surface occurrences, research focused on identifying high-priority mineral targets within the crystalline basement. A ground radiometric survey across 876 stations revealed three anomalous zones (A, B, and C) hosted in calc-alkaline granites. Diagnostic radioelement ratios eU/eTh (1.8–3.2) and eU/K% (0.9–2.5) indicate significant uranium enrichment and hydrothermal mobilization under oxidizing conditions. Subsequent high-resolution surveys including VLF-EM, Turam-EM, and Vertical Magnetic Gradient (VMG) identified nine major anomalies. Fraser filtering of VLF-EM tilt-angle data delineated conductive bodies striking NE–SW, NW–SE, and N–S, aligning with regional tectonic trends. Quantitative modeling estimates the depth of these causative sources between 45 m and 127 m. The spatial correlation between high radiometric ratios, negative VMG anomalies, and strong EM phase shifts confirms that mineralization consists of structurally controlled, sulfide-bearing quartz veins (chalcocite, bornite, and chalcopyrite). The novelty of this study lies in the first integrated application of airborne radiometric, ground gamma-ray spectrometric, VLF-EM, Turam-EM, and vertical magnetic gradient (VMG) data to delineate structurally controlled hydrothermal copper mineralization within this previously underexplored granitic terrain. The proposed hierarchical exploration workflow demonstrates how regional radiometric anomalies can be progressively refined using complementary geophysical methods to prioritize drilling targets and reduce exploration uncertainty.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into compositional signatures and technical attributes of soils: a case of clays from tropics","authors":"Ismail Adeniyi Okewale,&nbsp;Hendrik Grobler,&nbsp;Antoine F Mulaba-Bafubiandi","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12575-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12575-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this paper, further insight has been provided on the index, geochemistry, mineralogy and compression characteristics of tropical clays. Tropical clays are vast in deposit and they are commonly encountered by practitioners and applied for diverse engineering applications. This was achieved by conducting index and physical tests, microstructural and elemental analyses using scanning electron microscope equipped with electron dispersive spectrometry SEM/EDS, geochemical analysis through X-ray fluorescence XRF, mineralogical analysis using X-ray diffraction XRD and oedometer tests on clay samples from Nigeria, Cameroun, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. The mean particle size (D₅₀), fines content (Fc), coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and plasticity index (Ip) are 0.15 mm, 40.25%, 18.63 and 7.7% respectively, and this indicates that clays are relatively coarse, well-graded and have low plasticity. Clay fabrics are isotropic, homogeneous and characterized by separate particles and particle aggregation forming clusters with inter-particle and inter-cluster voids. Silicon, aluminum and iron are the major elemental compositions in clays with an average proportions of 54.07%, 23.30% and 13.22% respectively. The chemical compositions of clays are predominantly silica, alumina and hematite with an average proportions of 52.45%, 24.12% and 14.30% respectively. The mineralogy of clays is dominated by quartz, kaolinite and clinochlore with an average proportions of 51.01%, 48.43% and 15.75%. The clays have convergent behaviour and narrow range of initial specific volume (v) from 1.521 to 1.695. Clays have low compressibility (Cc) ranging from 0.15 to 0.20 which could be linked to chemical and mineralogical compositions. Compressibility of clays has strong effects on the intensity of weathering of clays.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12517-026-12575-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wind energy in fragile states: a high-resolution geospatial assessment of Yemen’s untapped renewable potential under present and future climates","authors":"Hussein Gadain,&nbsp;Brigadier Libanda","doi":"10.1007/s12517-026-12583-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12517-026-12583-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Yemen faces one of the most severe energy access crises globally, yet its renewable energy potential remains underexplored due to persistent data limitations and institutional fragility. This study provides the first high-resolution, long-term geospatial assessment of wind energy resources across Yemen using ERA5 reanalysis data for the period 1981–2022, integrated with turbine hub-height modeling and climate projections from CORDEX regional models. Results reveal a highly heterogeneous wind regime, with coastal and island regions, notably Lahj/Taizz, Socotra, and Hadramaut, exhibiting sustained wind speeds exceeding 6 m s⁻¹ and wind power densities above 300 W m⁻², meeting thresholds for utility-scale deployment. Vertical extrapolation demonstrates a substantial increase in wind speeds of ~ 39.5% at 100 m hub height while gains beyond this height are at ~ 0.2 m s⁻¹, indicating that 100 m is an optimal design threshold for cost-efficient deployment. Trend analysis further identifies a statistically significant increase in wind speeds over recent decades, aligning with emerging global reversals in terrestrial stilling and suggesting improving long-term resource viability. Future projections indicate that key coastal corridors will retain, and in some cases enhance, their suitability under mid- and high-emission scenarios, with wind power densities reaching <i>excellent</i> to <i>superb</i> classifications at higher turbine elevations. This study advances a data-driven foundation for renewable energy planning in conflict-affected contexts by coupling climatological rigor with spatially explicit resource mapping. The findings position wind energy as a strategically viable complement to solar systems, particularly for decentralized electrification, while highlighting critical infrastructure, financing, and governance constraints that must be addressed to unlock Yemen’s wind energy potential.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":476,"journal":{"name":"Arabian Journal of Geosciences","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.827,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}