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This paper looks at the changes in urban air quality and the effect on building materials, particularly concerning their deterioration arising from pollution due to vehicles. The paper aims to review basic information on the likely effect of ozone on calcareous building materials (limestone, marble, dolomite, and calcareous cemented sandstone). Controlling factors in the reaction and oxidation of sulphite to sulphate is the type and porosity of the stone. The level of humidity, is effected by the nature of the oxidants and to a lesser extent the presence of other extraneous reactants, e.g. metal oxides, chlorine and ammonia salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle Jurassic terebratulide brachiopods from the Jordan Valley, northwestern Jordan, are herein revised and systematically described and new taxa are added to the faunal list. A new genus and species Jordanithyris ardainensis gen. et sp. nov., is introduced from the upper Bathonian (Hamam Formation) and lower Callovian (Mughanniyya Formation) of the Arda section. In the upper Bathonian Hamam Formation (consisting of limestone, dolomite, alternating sandstone, and marlstone beds), Ptyctothyris quillyensis occurs. The assemblage Arabatia bihinensis, Ectyphoria sinaiensis, Ptyctothyris quillyensis, Dorsoplicathyris dorsoplicata, and Tubithyris jurayfahiensis is recorded in the lower Callovian limestone beds with marlstone interbeds of the Mughanniyya Formation. Brachiopods of the Jordanian Hamam and Mughanniyya formations can be correlated with the fauna of the Aroussiah Formation in Sinai and the Zohar and Matmor formations in southern Israel. The sedimentary environment is interpreted as the protected shallow inner shelf, and nutrient rich habitat resulting in high faunal diversity. The high degree of endemism of this fauna is yet another confirmation of the representative pronounced Middle Jurassic endemism along the southern Tethyan margin of the Ethiopian Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock parameters are important to be considered in mine design. Physical-mechanical tests were carried out on oil shale and dolostone samples from the Attarat Um Ghudran oil shale area in central Jordan, in order to determine the rock mass properties. It was necessary for assessing the feasibility of excavation and processing. Half-core and core samples were compressed up to failure during the Point Load Test (PLT) and Uniaxial Compressive Strength Test (UCST), respectively, and the PLT index (PLTI) and compressive strength were calculated. A conversion factor between PLTI and UCS for Jordan oil shale and dolostone was determined. The Crushing Resistance Test (CRT) on samples was conducted. Taking into consideration confidence limits, the recommended conversion factor 1 for Attarat oil shale and dolostone is respectively 14 and 12 and the recommended conversion factor 2 is 33 and 12, respectively. This knowledge is relevant in designing selective excavation and dry separation of oil shale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]