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Abstract: The increasing awareness of some local and international authorities has promoted the appearance of new legislation and the rising of research works focused in the prevention of damage to the cultural heritage in karstic caves. Nevertheless, karstic areas usually imply complex studies, and a universal methodology is very difficult to establish. This work exposes the basic methodology for the geological risk assessment in archaeological site and/or rock art bearing karstic caves getting a strategy that provides flexibility to adjust specific methods according to the conditions of different cases. The integrated use of basic geological (mapping, petrology, stratigraphy…) and geotechnical (rock mass quality analytical methods and indexes) techniques used in engineering geology is proposed. Those techniques permit the geological characterization of the rock mass, the hazard identification and the analysis and the geological risk assessment of the research area. Obtained geological risk areas could be included in protection areas that could be used as the basis for the selection of the areas where further investigations and the application of prevention/mitigation measures would have a better cost/benefit ratio. The geological risk should be considered together with other type risk evaluations in order to define effective protection areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work compares the quantities of labile metals removed from the Vire River (Normandy) sediments by a sequential extraction procedure to those liberated by single leaches (Mg(NO3)2, HCl and EDTA). Compared to the other extractions, Mg(NO3)2 underestimated the mobility results. The sequential procedure was the most aggressive, except for Ca and Pb. The hypothetic correlation between quantities of an element removed by single leaches and its fractionation in the sediment according to the sequential procedure was not satisfying. Finally, it should be underlined that enrichments of Cd, Pb and Zn were noticed in the Vire sediments. To cite this article: L. Leleyter, F. Baraud, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In northern Nunavik, orientation of ice-flow features and dispersal patterns of lithologic indicators suggest three major regional ice-flow phases. The oldest ice-flow phase is related to the buildup of an outflow centre, the Ungava centre, over the high plateaux located north of the Povungnituk Hills. During that event, probably of Early Wisconsinan age, ice flows towards the south and southeast carried Cape Smith Belt rock fragments over a maximum distance of 65 km. The second phase is characterized by ice flow mainly towards the north from an outflow ice centre located south of the studied area (Payne centre). The most recent ice-flow phase is related to the presence of the northern extension of the New-Quebec ice divide. From that northwest-trending ice divide extending between Ivujivik and Lake Nantais, ice was flowing outward on the peninsula. The orientation of most of the ice-flow features and dispersal patterns is associated with that last ice flow. North of the Cape Smith Belt, glacial transport was at least 70 km. In Hudson Strait, ice-flow and glacial transport data support the existence of an eastward flowing ice stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]