Organic Petrological and Geochemical Evaluation of Jurassic Source Rocks from North Iraq

Immature Jurassic oil shale is widely distributed and frequently outcropping in North Iraq. The organic-rich Jurassic sedimentary sequence, including prolific oil shale, was recorded in Banik area in Duhok Governorate of North Iraq. This sequence was systematically sampled from the geological formations; Sehkanyian, Sargelu and Naokelekan. The organic geochemical parameters were analyzed for 72 samples as well as one oil sample. A detailed study of petrologic properties was carried out for 12 samples. Based on TOC content, the Sargelu and Naokelekan formations can be considered as good to excellent source rocks, whereas Sehkanyian Formation has no potential since the TOC does not exceed 0.1 %. The samples of Sargelu and Naokelekan formations contain both kerogen types I and II indicating marine organic matter mainly derived from algae and phytoplankton organisms proposing typical oil prone source kerogen. This is further confirmed by the predominance of alginite and liptodetrinite macerals, where liptinite maceral group contribute more than 90% relative to other maceral contents. In general, Sargelu Formation samples have Production Index (PI), Tmax and fluorescence parameters (λmax and red/green quotient) suggesting immature to early mature stage of thermal maturity. The calculated ratios of Pr/Ph, Pr/nC17 and Ph/nC18for the extracted bitumen and the oil sample, suggest generation of bitumen from marine organic matter deposited under reducing conditions at an early thermal maturity stage

Morphological and imaging evaluation of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints in healthy and lame donkeys

The donkey is of socio-economic value yet imaging techniques in both healthy and abnormal limbs are a limiting factor in research and medicine. The objective was to determine anatomical features of both healthy and clinically abnormal donkey metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints (n=13) using anatomical dissection, casting, x-ray and computed tomography. The joint capsule contained two palmar/plantar and two dorsal recesses. The proximal-palmar or plantar recess was larger than the distodorsal recess and potential sites of approaches to the recesses were determined. Soft tissue structures were distinguished using computed tomography at 300mA which was superior to 120mA. This methodology gave better assessments of the synovial tendon sheath, joint recesses and cruciate, collateral and short sesamoidean ligaments. Computed tomography provided outstanding discrimination between the cortex and medulla of the third metacarpal, the proximal sesamoid bones, the proximal phalanx and excellent details of the osseous structures. Although the joints appeared free from exostosis using x-ray; the position and extension of exostosis in pathologically affected donkeys (a novel finding) was revealed using computed tomography with 300mA in comparison to 120mA. The study also provided an anatomical record of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints using the latest technology which could impact on clinical situations including anesthesia injection sites

Hydrogeochemical evolution of inland lakes’ water: A study of major element geochemistry in the Wadi El Raiyan depression, Egypt

Wadi El Raiyan is a great depression located southwest of Cairo in the Western Desert of Egypt. Lake Qarun, located north of the study area, is a closed basin with a high evaporation rate. The source of water in the lake is agricultural and municipal drainage from the El Faiyum province. In 1973, Wadi El Raiyan was connected with the agricultural wastewater drainage system of the Faiyum province and received water that exceeded the capacity of Lake Qarun. Two hydrogeological regimes have been established in the area: (i) higher cultivated land and (ii) lower Wadi El Raiyan depression lakes. The agricultural drainage water of the cultivated land has been collected in one main drain (El Wadi Drain) and directed toward the Wadi El Raiyan depression, forming two lakes at different elevations (upper and lower). In the summer of 2012, the major chemical components were studied using data from 36 stations distributed over both hydrogeological regimes in addition to one water sample collected from Bahr Youssef, the main source of freshwater for the Faiyum province. Chemical analyses were made collaboratively. The major ion geochemical evolution of the drainage water recharging the El Raiyan depression was examined. Geochemically, the Bahr Youssef sample is considered the starting point in the geochemical evolution of the studied surface water. In the cultivated area, major-ion chemistry is generally influenced by chemical weathering of rocks and minerals that are associated with anthropogenic inputs, as well as diffuse urban and/or agricultural drainage. In the depression lakes, the water chemistry generally exhibits an evaporation-dependent evolutionary trend that is further modified by cation exchange and precipitation of carbonate minerals