Papers by Soroush Modabberi
Applied Clay Science, 2015
ABSTRACT Ten Iranian bentonites, sampled fromthe deposits of Chah-Golestan, Chah-Pirouz, Chah-Kes... more ABSTRACT Ten Iranian bentonites, sampled fromthe deposits of Chah-Golestan, Chah-Pirouz, Chah-Keshmir and Chah-Taleb (Sarayan), Gholeh-Gelia and Kharman-Sar (Ferdows, Khorasan), Mehrejan (Khoor) and Manian (Zagros) were analyzed to evaluate their potentialities as pharmaceutical products. The mineralogy, chemistry, pH, microbial content, powder flowcharacteristics, swelling capacity, cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, sedimentation volume, and rheological properties of all samples were determined. The bentonite located in carbonate rocks (Zagros) is made up of calcium montmorillonite (97%) and quartz (3%). The rest of the bentonites are hosted by Eocene volcanic rocks and aremainlymade up of sodiummontmorillonite (47%–84%) and cristobalite (up to 39%), with lesser quantities of quartz, calcite, plagioclase, zeolites and halite. Two of the samples (those located at Manian and Chah-Golestan C) showed appropriate composition, purity and technical properties to be used in pharmaceutical applications, whereas the rest would require purification or improvement of their properties. In particular, the samples could be used for topical dosage forms as rheological additives.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2015
Acid mine drainage (AMD) gives rise to several problems in sulfide-bearing mineral deposits wheth... more Acid mine drainage (AMD) gives rise to several problems in sulfide-bearing mineral deposits whether in an ore body or in the mining wastes and tailings. Hence, several methods and parameters have been proposed to evaluate the acid-producing and acid-neutralizing potential of a material. This research compares common static methods for evaluation of acid-production potential of mining wastes in the Muteh gold mines by using 62 samples taken from six waste dumps around Senjedeh and Chah-Khatoun mines. According to a detailed mineralogical study, the waste materials are composed of mica-schist and quartz veins with a high amount of pyrite and are supposed to be susceptible to acid production, and upon a rainfall, they release acid drainage. All parameters introduced in different methods were calculated and compared in this research in order to predict the acid-generating and neutralization potential, including APP, NNP, MPA, NPR, and NAGpH. Based on the analytical results and calculation of different parameters, all methods are in a general consensus that DWS-02 and DWS-03 waste dumps are acid-forming which is clearly attributed to high content of pyrite in samples. DWS-04 is considered as non-acid forming in all methods except method 8 which is uncertain about its acid-forming potential and method 7 which considers a low potential for it. DWC-01 is acid-forming based on all methods except 8, 9, 10, and 11 which are also uncertain about its potential. The methods used are not reached to a compromise on DWS-01 and DWC-02 waste dumps. It is supposed that method 7 gives the conservationist results in all cases. Method 8 is unable to decide on some cases. It is recommended to use and rely on results provided by methods 1, 2, 3, and 12 for taking decisions for further studies. Therefore, according to the static tests used, the aforementioned criteria in selected methods can be used with much confidence as a rule of thumb estimation.
The Takab area, located in north-west Iran, is an important gold mineralized region with a long h... more The Takab area, located in north-west Iran, is an important gold mineralized region with a long history of gold mining. The gold is associated with toxic metals/metalloids. In this study, Advanced Space Borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer data are evaluated for mapping gold and base-metal mineralization through alteration mapping. Two different methods are used for argillic and silicic alteration mapping: selective principal-component analysis and matched filter processing (MF). Running a selective principal-component analysis using the main spectral characteristics of key alteration minerals enhanced the altered areas in PC2. MF using spectral library and laboratory spectra of the study area samples gave similar results. However, MF, using the image reference spectra from principal component (PC) images, produced the best results and indicated the advantage of using image spectra rather than library spectra in spectral mapping techniques. It seems that argillic alteration is more effective than silicic alteration for exploration purposes. It is suggested that alteration mapping can also be used to delineate areas contaminated by potentially toxic metals.
Environmental Earth Sciences, 2013
ABSTRACT Thermal springs are attractive geological features interesting for tourists because of t... more ABSTRACT Thermal springs are attractive geological features interesting for tourists because of their balneological and therapeutic applications. In Iran, the thermal springs surrounding Mount Sabalan are famous and unique in this regard. Two clusters of thermal springs consisting of 16 springs and mostly used as spas occur in Neer and Meshkinshahr areas. In order to investigate the seasonal changes of field and chemical parameters and to trace element concentrations in dry and wet seasons, springs were sampled twice in May and November. Field data including T, EC, pH and Q were measured on-site and major cations and anions were analysed in the laboratory along with 72 trace elements. Cations show the following order of abundance: Na ≫ Ca ≥ K > Mg and anions follow the order of Cl > HCO3 > SO4. Trace element concentrations indicate that most of the elements show concentrations well beyond the standard guideline values for drinking water. pH, T, spring discharge and elevation are not correlated with each other and with other parameters, indicating that they have had no role on concentrating or depleting trace elements in spring waters. While the two sets of samples were taken within a 6 month interval, the elements and parameters show slight or no variation from the first period to the second and in some cases, they show less than 5 % decrease or increase in the second sampling period. Correlation coefficient and principal component analysis of analytical data indicate that EC, K, Cl, HCO3, As, B, Ba, Br, Li, Na, Rb, Sr and V show very strong mutual correlation coefficients implying their relationship and common source and fate in the hydrothermal fluid that carries them out of the geothermal system. Moreover, they all fall in the component 1 of PCA. This group of elements is supposed to be derived from the magmatic-hydrothermal system through the interaction of hydrothermal fluids with the rocks they have passed through. The mean As value is 160-fold higher than the guideline values (10 μg/l) and Mn and Sb shows an exceedance of 12- and 11.5-fold, respectively. Arsenic shows a variation of 5–5,834 μg/l. Hence, it is supposed that potentially toxic elements may have adverse effects on tourists using the springs as a treatment or recreation. Indeed, the discharge of springs with high values of As and other elements represents a threat for downstream water uses. The higher concentrations of most elements including As, Pb, S, Cl and Sb and the higher pH values found in Neer area springs seem to be more related to an older hydrothermal system present in this area than the Meshkinshahr system that is still active today.
The origin of the Proterozoic Choghart iron oxide deposit in the Bafq mining district of Central ... more The origin of the Proterozoic Choghart iron oxide deposit in the Bafq mining district of Central Iran has been the subject of a long-standing dispute. Some authors believe that it was formed from magma, while others suggest metasomatic
replacement of preexisting rocks. The present study on the basis of new oxygen isotope, REE and geochemical data concludes that neither of these two hypotheses can alone explain the formation of Choghart deposit. Instead, it is suggested that the separation of an iron oxide melt and the ensuing hydrothermal processes dominated by alkali metasomatism were both involved to different degrees in the
formation of Choghart and other similar deposits in Central Iran.
Environmental Geology, Jan 1, 2004
Zarshuran deposit is the most famous and important As-Au mine in Iran. However, there is no infor... more Zarshuran deposit is the most famous and important As-Au mine in Iran. However, there is no information on the impact of mining activity on the surrounding environment, especially on water systems. This paper attempts to document the concentration of arsenic and associated elements in waters and sediments resulting from the mining history of Zarshuran, a period covering hundreds of years. Water and sediment samples collected from Zarshuran Stream indicate high content of some potentially toxic elements, especially of As which ranges from 0.028 to 40 ng/l in water and 182 to 36,000 mg/kg in sediment samples. Mining activity, exposure of a large volume of mining wastes to weathering, and the anomalously high background of trace metals in the mining area are considered to be the main sources of heavy metal pollution.
IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 2012
Analysis of the spatio-temporal patterns and source apportionment of water pollution is important... more Analysis of the spatio-temporal patterns and source apportionment of water pollution is important for proper management and protection of water resources. In this paper, different multivariate statistical methods were used to explore the spatio-temporal patterns of water pollution, and quantitative relationships between the important pollution parameters and environmental variables. Eleven significant parameters measured in 22 monitoring sites were preprocessed spanning between 2001 and 2007. Results of the hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) demonstrated that this method had high flexibility for efficient classification of the monitoring sites. Results of discriminant analysis (DA) revealed that a high number of parameters contributed in discrimination of classes in the spring and summer seasons, especially in the April and September months. Recorded data of river water temperature (RWT), runoff, and two products of the MODIS sensor including the monthly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) for the period of 2002-2007 were used as the explanatory variables. Test of NDVI and LST was based on extraction of their average values in different buffers of 250 up to 1500 m around the streams. Monthly data of group 1, a group with the highest number of monitoring sites resulting from the clustering procedure, was used for the analysis. Rotated principal component analysis (rotated PCA) was used for exploration of the quantitative relationships between the pollution parameters and environmental variables. Absolute principal component score-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR) was applied to quantify the source contributions for each pollution parameter. Results showed that NDVI and runoff can be considered as the efficient indicators of the non-point pollution sources such as the agricultural activities and surface weathering. NDVI showed an important role in reduction of TDS and No . Multiple buffers of NDVI showed temporally variable relations with different pollution sources. LST showed high discrimination potentials for distinguishing pollutions related to biochemical activities. Although the tested environmental variables revealed some relationships with those of the water pollution sources, nevertheless for more detailed analysis of the water pollution problem, the role of other latent environmental variables should be taken into consideration. Index Terms-Absolute principal component score-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), latyan dam basins, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spec-
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2013
This study investigates the possibility of acid mine drainage (AMD) generation in active and dere... more This study investigates the possibility of acid mine drainage (AMD) generation in active and derelict mine waste piles in Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine produced in several decades, using static tests including acid-base accounting (ABA) and net acid-generating pH (NAGpH). In this study, 51 composite samples were taken from 11 waste heaps, and static ABA and NAGpH tests were carried out on samples. While some piles are acid producing at present and AMD is discharging from the piles, most of them do not show any indication on their AMD potential, and they were investigated to define their acid-producing potential. The analysis of data indicates that eight waste piles are potentially acid generating with net neutralization potentials (NNPs) of -56.18 to -199.3, net acid generating of 2.19-3.31, and NPRs from 0.18 to 0.44. Other waste piles exhibited either a very low sulfur, high carbonate content or excess carbonate over sulfur; hence, they are not capable of acid production or they can be considered as weak acid producers. Consistency between results of ABA and NAGpH tests using a variety of classification criteria validates these tests as powerful means for preliminary evaluation of AMD/ARD possibilities in any mining district. It is also concluded that some of the piles with very negative NNPs are capable to produce AMD naturally, and they can be used in heap leaching process for economic recovery of trace amounts of metals without applying any biostimulation methods.
Zarshuran As-Au deposit is the major ore deposit in northwest of Iran. Having been exposed to wea... more Zarshuran As-Au deposit is the major ore deposit in northwest of Iran. Having been exposed to weathering, the accumulated mining waste is consumed to deteriorate regional soil and water quality. Accordingly, 11 composite surface soil samples were collected to evaluate the metallic pollution. Mean concentration of elements As, Sb, Hg and Zn were measured to be 234.9, 19.6, 24.2 and 476.7 ppm, respectively. In comparison with mean earth crust and local guidelines for agricultural soil, the samples are strongly polluted by toxic elements As, Sb, Hg and Zn. The major reason of such high pollution may be contributed to the lasting gold mining activities that ease the exposure of Au-As-Sb rich minerals to the air and moisture. Detailed statistical analysis categorizes the 11 stations into two distinct groups. Stations S1 to S5 (showing lower metallic pollution) belong to the first group and are located in higher elevations than the mining site. Being located in downstream of the mining site, stations S6 to S11 (second group) manifest more severe soil quality degradation. The seasonal inundation of regional river waters plays the key role in polluting the downstream soil. Regarding extremely high concentrations of toxic elements (As, Sb, Hg and Zn) in the soil of the study area, severe threats may be posed to human health through consumption of the harvested crop.
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Papers by Soroush Modabberi
replacement of preexisting rocks. The present study on the basis of new oxygen isotope, REE and geochemical data concludes that neither of these two hypotheses can alone explain the formation of Choghart deposit. Instead, it is suggested that the separation of an iron oxide melt and the ensuing hydrothermal processes dominated by alkali metasomatism were both involved to different degrees in the
formation of Choghart and other similar deposits in Central Iran.
replacement of preexisting rocks. The present study on the basis of new oxygen isotope, REE and geochemical data concludes that neither of these two hypotheses can alone explain the formation of Choghart deposit. Instead, it is suggested that the separation of an iron oxide melt and the ensuing hydrothermal processes dominated by alkali metasomatism were both involved to different degrees in the
formation of Choghart and other similar deposits in Central Iran.