Block Volume Estimation from the Discontinuity Spacing Measurements of Mesozoic Limestone Quarries, Karaburun Peninsula, Turkey

Block volumes are generally estimated by analyzing the discontinuity spacing measurements obtained either from the scan lines placed over the rock exposures or the borehole cores. Discontinuity spacing measurements made at the Mesozoic limestone quarries in Karaburun Peninsula were used to estimate the average block volumes that could be produced from them using the suggested methods in the literature. The Block Quality Designation (BQD) ratio method proposed by the authors has been found to have given in the same order of the rock block volume to the volumetric joint count (Jv) method. Moreover, dimensions of the 2378 blocks produced between the years of 2009 and 2011 in the working quarries have been recorded. Assuming, that each block surfaces is a discontinuity, the mean block volume (Vb), the mean volumetric joint count (Jvb) and the mean block shape factor of the blocks are determined and compared with the estimated mean in situ block volumes (Vin) and volumetric joint count (Jvi) values estimated from the in situ discontinuity measurements. The established relations are presented as a chart to be used in practice for estimating the mean volume of blocks that can be obtained from a quarry site by analyzing the rock mass discontinuity spacing measurements

Rock mass block quality designation for marble production

Discontinuity spacing measurements are generally carried out along scan lines and/or along the rock mass exposures, quarry benches and/or bore cores for assessing the rock mass quality. Rock mass block quality designation ratio (BQD) has been defined for assessment of the block production capacity of rock mass as BQD% = Sigma S->= 1m/L Where, Sigma S->= 1m cumulative of the discontinuity spacing equal and/or greater 1.0m. L, Scan line length(m). Assessment of the discontinuity spacing measurements made along 2198 m long the scan lines in 6 working and five abandoned limestone quarries in Karaburun area in Western Turkey, have shown that while the working quarries had BQD ratios > 50% and the abandoned quarries had BQD ratios < 50%. Thus, based on our findings the BQD ratio has been proposed to be used for rock mass assessment for the block production in limestone and/or similar quarries (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Landslide susceptibility mapping for Ayvalik (Western Turkey) and its vicinity by multicriteria decision analysis

This paper presents the results of geographical information system (GIS)-based landslide susceptibility mapping in AyvalA +/- k, western Turkey using multi-criteria decision analysis. The methodology followed in the study includes data production, standardization, and analysis stages. A landslide inventory of the study area was compiled from aerial photographs, satellite image interpretations, and detailed field surveys. In total, 45 landslides were recorded and mapped. The areal extent of the landslides is 1.75 km(2). The identified landslides are mostly shallow-seated, and generally exhibit progressive character. They are mainly classified as rotational, planar, and toppling failures. In all, 51, 45, and 4% of the landslides mapped are rotational, planar, and toppling types, respectively. Morphological, geological, and land-use data were produced using existing topographical and relevant thematic maps in a GIS framework. The considered landslide-conditioning parameters were slope gradient, slope aspect, lithology, weathering state of the rocks, stream power index, topographical wetness index, distance from drainage, lineament density, and land-cover and vegetation density. These landslide parameters were standardized in a common data scale by fuzzy membership functions. Then, the degree to which each parameter contributed to landslides was determined using the analytical hierarchy process method, and the weight values of these parameters were calculated. The weight values obtained were assigned to the corresponding parameters, and then the weighted parameters were combined to produce a landslide susceptibility map. The results obtained from the susceptibility map were evaluated with the landslide location data to assess the reliability of the map. Based on the findings obtained in this study, it was found that 5.19% of the total area was prone to landsliding due to the existence of highly and completely weathered lithologic units and due to the adverse effects of topography and improper land use

A combined polarizing microscope, XRD, SEM, and specific gravity study of the petrified woods of volcanic origin from the Camlidere-Celtikci-Gudul fossil forest, in Ankara, Turkey

The fossil forest in the Camlidere-Celtikci-Gudul region of the province of Ankara in Turkey has a large number of petrified coniferous and oak tree remains. Petrification occurred in volcanic ashes and tuffs with permineralization, and Fe, Mg, Ca and Ni ions played important roles in the substitution of Si for C. However, the petrified wood samples are heterogeneous in colouration, weight, toughness, and durability, despite being obtained from the same source. Those features are very important for end-users because petrified woods, if cut and polished, are used widely as both decorative indoor tiles and gemstone objects, but heterogeneous materials suffer large wastage while they are being worked and used

Mapping erosion susceptibility by a multivariate statistical method: A case study from the Ayvalik region, NW Turkey

Erosion is one of the most important natural hazard phenomena in the world, and it poses a significant threat to Turkey in terms of land degredation and desertification. To cope with this problem, we must determine which areas are erosion-prone. Many studies have been carried out and different models and methods have been used to this end. In this study, we used a logistic regression to prepare an erosion susceptibility map for the Ayvalik region in Balikesir (NW Turkey). The following were our assessment parameters: weathering grades of rocks, slope gradient, structural lineament density, drainage density, land cover, stream power index (SPI) and profile curvature. These were processed by Idrisi Kilimanjaro GIS software. We used logistic regression analysis to relate predictor variables to the occurrence or non-occurrence of gully erosion sites within geographic cells, and then we used this relationship to produce a probability map for future erosion sites. The results indicate that lineament density, weathering grades of rocks and drainage density are the most important variables governing erosion susceptibility. Other variables, such as land cover and slope gradient, were revealed as secondary important variables. Highly weathered basalt, andesite, basaltic andesite and lacustrine sediments were the units most susceptible to erosion. In order to calculate the prediction accuracy of the erosion susceptibility map generated, we compared it with the map showing the gully erosion areas. On the basis of this comparison, the area under curvature (AUC) value was found to be 0.81. This result suggests that the erosion susceptibility map we generated is accurate. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Limestone dimension stone quarry waste properties for concrete in Western Turkey

The aim of this paper is to assess the influence of the composition and texture of the limestone on aggregate properties from the five working dimension stone quarries wastes of Karaburun Peninsula in Western Turkey. The limestone samples were tested to determine their petrographic, mineralogic, and chemical characteristics and aggregate properties. Then, the testing concretes were prepared by using these aggregates, and hardened concrete properties were determined. According to the results obtained, limestone was found to be suitable for use as coarse and fine aggregate in normal-strength concrete production. But, the quality of concretes made using the limestone aggregates were found to be dependent on the silica ratio present in them. The threshold value of the silica ratio is determined to be 2 % by weight for the alkali-silica reaction development in concrete made with the Karaburun dimension stone quarries wastes

Anti Wnt-1 Monoclonal Antibody's Conjugated with Gold Nanoparticles, Induced Apoptosis on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines

WOS: 000472033600001Wnt-beta Catenin Pathway has an important role in many cancers. Wnt-1 protein from Wnt protein family that regulate this pathway has a special effect on the development of breast cancer. Monoclonal antibodies attach to metal nanoparticles have an important role in diagnosis and treatment of cancers. In this study, Anti Wnt-1 monoclonal antibody was conjugated to the gold nanoparticles synthesized by Turkevich method. Conjugation was achieved using EDC-NHS method. The density of the monoclonal antibodies that bonded to gold nanoparticles was measured by Roche Cobas Integra 400 Plus device. MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was treated with conjugated nanoparticles for 48 h then Double Staining method was used to detect apoptosis cells. The results showed that inhibition of Wnt-1 protein in extracellular matrix causes apoptosis and gold nanoparticles have a positive effect on Anti Wnt-1 monoclonal antibodies and this positive effect causes apoptosis to increase rate in conjugating nanoparticles

Metabauxite horizons containing remobilized-origin gem diaspore and related mineralization, Milas-Mugla province, SW Turkey

Remobilized-origin gem diaspore and related minerals occur as infill within structurally controlled voids that developed in the upper of two distinct karst unconformity-type metabauxite (diasporite) horizons in the Ilbir Mountains area of the Milas-Mugla province, SW Turkey. Colour-change diaspore (trademarked as zultanite) and associated mineral specimens (greenish muscovite, chloritoid, donbassite, specular hematite, ilmenite, goethite, and younger calcite) occur in fracture zones (veins and open structures) that cross-cut the metabauxite horizons. The mineralized fracture zones do not extend into the enclosing marbles, probably because of the ductility contrast between the brittle bauxite and relatively plastic carbonate beds

Gem-quality transparent diaspore (zultanite) in bauxite deposits of the A degrees lbir Mountains, Menderes Massif, SW Turkey

Several m-thick, karst-unconformity-type metabauxite horizons in the A degrees lbir Mountains of SW Turkey host open-space mineralization of gem-quality diaspore (trademarked as zultanite), associated with muscovite, hematite, ilmenite, chloritoid, and younger calcite. The hydrothermal-metamorphogenic mineralization occurs in fracture zones (veins and open structures) that crosscut the metabauxite horizons, but does not extend into the marble host rocks. The white to dark gray marble sequence (over 2,000 m in thickness) is of Cretaceous depositional age and was affected by Alpine (Paleogene) tectonometamorphism which caused the hydrothermal remobilization of primary bauxite components into crosscutting structures

Investigation of discrepancy between tuff used as building stones in historical and modern buildings in western Turkey

Tuffs located around the town of Alacati, Turkey have been used in building construction for many years in the past. Recently, based on the efforts of the local government to develop a unique identity for the town, this practice is re-initiated. After about five years from construction, tuff used in newly constructed buildings started to show signs of deterioration. Even though tuff used in recent and older buildings in the town appeared to be the same to the naked eye, a similar deterioration has not been observed in the buildings constructed in the past (some are more than 100 years old). A previous research study has documented the suitability of tuff used in new constructions but the reasons for the discrepancy between the tuffs used in construction of the older and newer buildings has not been previously investigated. In this study the different field performances of tuffs used for historical and modern buildings were investigated against deterioration in the same environment based on the material properties and their durability. This comparison showed that the mineralogical composition and amount of clay contents of the tuffs were one of the major factors resulting in difference in deterioration and durability rates of the tuffs used in building construction within the region. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved