There is a great need for more precise absolute ages for sedimentary rocks. We have been actively involved in developing techniques to directly date sedimentary rocks, rather than using associated igneous rocks, or using relative dating techniques. Sedimentary phosphate nodules (i.e. coprolites) are ideal candidates for absolute dating of sedimentary rocks. Phosphates occur commonly within the ...

In the desert of Abarkoh Basin, Central Iran, the influence of playa-lake level fluctuations on recent sedimentation mode of a terminal ephemeral fluvial-fan system and adjacent lacustrine/aeolian sediments of a playa fringe environment has been investigated. The surface geomorphology-sedimentology and its relationship with shallow subsurface sediments along a >25 km transect, has been studied....

Two-dimensional lattice particle models have been used to simulate dynamic thrust faulting and its effects on near-fault ground motions. The lattice particle modeling approach has been demonstrated as an efficient way to model the dynamic rupture phenomena observed from a foam rubber experiment on dipping faults. We constructed a 42 dipping fault model to simulate near-fault ground motions unde...

Seamounts and their influence on the surrounding environment are currently being extensively debated but, surprisingly, scant information is available for the Mediterranean area. Furthermore, although the deep Tyrrhenian Sea is characterised by a complex bottom morphology and peculiar hydrodynamic features, which would suggest a variable influence on the benthic domain, few studies have been ca...

The diversity of microorganisms active within sedimentary rocks provides important controls on the geochemistry of many subsurface environments. In particular, biodegradation of organic matter in sedimentary rocks contributes to the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and other elements and strongly impacts the recovery and quality of fossil fuel resources. In this study, archaeal diversity was in...

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Rock alteration and rind formation in analog environments like Antarctica may provide clues to rock alteration and therefore paleoclimates on Mars. Clastic sedimentary rocks derived from basaltic sources have been studied in situ by martian rovers and are likely abundant on the surface of Mars. However, how such rock types undergo alteration when exposed to...

Virtual geographic environments (VGE) are environments pertaining to the relationship between post-humans and 3-D virtual worlds. Post-humans are defined as a combination of humans in the real world with 3-D avatars in 3-D virtual worlds. VGE can be a platform for the public participation in spatial data analyses, in model computation and simulation, and in environmental planning and decision m...