Abstract: A 300 km network of khettara (qanat) subsurface irrigation channels was excavated in the Tafilalt basin beginning in the late 14th century. More than 75 of these chains provided perennial water following the breakup of the ancient city of Sijilmassa. Khettara continued to function for much of the northern oasis until the early 1970s, when new technologies and government policies forced changes. Data on origins, maintenance, and current use were collected from archival sources, aerial photographs, Landsat imagery, and from interviews. Insufficient water resources and unsustainable practices have dramatically lowered the water table, drying up khettara. This has resulted in a loss of local control over water resources, abandonment of a sustainable irrigation system, and progressive desiccation.

Abstract: We present a first paragenetic study of the Wuyier, Wuyisan, Wuyiyi and Shihongtan sandstone-hosted roll-front uranium deposits, northwest China. The mineralization is hosted by Lower–Middle Jurassic coarse- to medium-grained sandstones, which are dark-gray to black due to a mixture of ore minerals and carbonaceous debris. The sandstone is alluvial fan-braided river facies. Minerals associated with these deposits can be broadly categorized as detrital, authigenic, and ore-stage mineralization. Ore minerals consist of uraninite and coffinite. This is the first noted occurrence of coffinite in this type of deposit in China. Sulfide minerals associated with the uranium minerals are pyrite, marcasite, and less commonly, sphalerite and galena. The sulfide minerals are largely in textural equilibrium with the uranium minerals. However, these sulfide minerals occasionally appear to predate, as well as postdate, the uranium minerals. This implies that there are multiple generations of sulfides associated with these deposits. The ore minerals occur interstitially between fossilized wood cells in the sandstones as well as replace fossilized wood and biotite. The deposits are generally low-grade. Primary uranium minerals associated with the low-grade deposits are generally too small, ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 μm in diameter, to be observed by optical microscopy and are only observed by electron microscopy. Mineral paragenesis and textures indicate that these deposits formed under low temperature (30–50 °C) conditions.

Abstract: In the present study, the ground water quality parameters were monitored during pre- and post-monsoon seasons across Narmada district, Gujarat, India. Monitoring was done in 89 drinking water samples collected by grid sampling method from the study area. Uranium and fluoride were analyzed along with associated parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, Cl−, NO3−, F−, SO42−, total alkalinity, total dissolved solids and hardness. In 4% samples the fluoride content was found to be above WHO permissible limits of 1.5 mg/L (2.36 mg/L in Undaimandava, 1.55 mg/L in Shira, 3.04 mg/L in Fatehpur and 1.83 mg/L in Dholivav) during pre-monsoon season (PRM) and 4.74 mg/L, 2.41 mg/L, 2.34 mg/L and 3.99 mg/L respectively in Bantawadi, Shira, Undai Mandava and Fatepur villages during post-monsoon (POM). The uranium level was within WHO limits in both POM and PRM seasons. The quality of the water was evaluated by Principal Component and Pearson Correlation statistical analysis techniques. The PRM and POM correlation study indicated a strong correlation of TDS with EC, Chloride, total alkalinity and bicarbonate and U while moderately strong correlation of TDS with fluoride were observed indicating that chloride, total alkalinity, bicarbonate, U and fluoride contributed to TDS and EC. Principal component analysis was applied for 14 variables, from which 3 factors were extracted during PRM and POM seasons. The extracted components, contributed 84.391% and 83.315%, to variation during PRM and POM seasons respectively. The study indicated that the analyzed water samples in Narmada district were safe for drinking purpose. However, Tilakwada tehsil groundwater was observed to be unsustainable for drinking, without further water treatment, but was appropriate for agricultural purposes. The study will help the residents of the district to understand the present water quality status and will also help in future management to protect the ground water of Narmada district.

Abstract: Floods are one of the most common natural disasters, resulting in the extensive destruction of infrastructure, property, and human life. The destructive potential of a flood depends on numerous factors, including the size of the flood, the rate of flooding, the time it takes for the water to move through a given area, the river’s planform and cross-section geometry, and other similar factors. The present study is a unique analysis of flood mapping that was accomplished with the help of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Frequency Ratio (FR), and hydrogeomorphic response to floods by integrating geospatial analysis and unit stream power modeling. The Indus catchment region of Pakistan is where the subject topic is put into practice. According to the hydrologic analysis of the yearly peak discharge, the hydro-station in Gilgit-Baltistan can move boulders measuring up to 0.5 m in height during significant flooding. On the other hand, there will be no change to the geometry of the cross-section throughout 1980–2020 in Gilgit-Baltistan. The flood susceptibility map is constructed using data from twelve influencing parameters, including elevation, proximity to the drainage network, slope, drainage density, geomorphology, rainfall, the curvature of the topography, flow accumulation, geology, land use, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), and Stream Power Index (SPI). The area under the curve (AUC) approach, which demonstrates a substantial degree of accuracy (85% and 83%), is utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the AHP and FR. The current study fills the gaps between the geospatial approach and the hydrogeomorphic assessment of flood to determine flood susceptibility.