Effects of monsoonal rainfall on waste dump stability and respective geo-environmental issues: a case study

The stability of mine waste dumps is of critical importance and an issue, the mining industry of Goa, India is continually facing. The State of Goa receives high rainfall of around 3,000 mm annually. This heavy monsoonal rainfall is often believed to be the cause of dump slope instability. In light of several dump collapses encountered in the State and their damaging effects on both mine operations and local geo-environmental conditions, this paper examines their stability considering various geotechnical factors and the downstream environmental effects of a slope failure. The mechanical properties of dump waste material are reported at different compaction levels. The effect of these properties and changes in pore-water pressure are specifically examined using limit equilibrium analysis. An empirical formula is developed relating dump height, material mechanical parameters and pore-water pressure to the factor of safety of the slope. It was found that the level of compaction experienced by the material had a significant effect on the factor of safety.     

Velocity of ground water percolation at Indaram, Godavari sub-basin, India

We present values of velocity of ground water percolation (Vg) over large depth intervals, varying from shallow to deeper depths in Indaram area of Godavari sub-basin. The velocities have been estimated using available measured geothermal data. Sub-surface temperatures were measured in seven boreholes. Terrestrial heat flow values are calculated using temperature data and measured values of thermal conductivity of core samples. The results show that Vg is ～3.4 ×10^?7 cm /sec in the top layers (70–150 m) and decreases to ～0.04×10^?7 cm/sec in the deeper levels around 350 m depth and becomes negligibly small thereafter, thereby, indicating that the overall permeability of the sub-surface layers, due to the occurrence of successions of permeable, semi-permeable layers gets reduced to more or less zero at depths around 350 m. The value of Thermal Peclet Number, which is the ratio of the heat transfer through convection to that through conduction, naturally becomes negligible around this depth in the area. The observed consistency of the magnitude of heat flow through various deep sections is a clear indicator that water percolation is practically reduced to zero at depths around 320–400 m and that conduction is the dominant mechanism of heat transfer below the inferred depth section, while the upper layers are dominated by recharge at various depths by near surface water from streams at Indaram.     

Katol meteorite shower, Maharashtra: A preliminary study

A meteorite shower occurred in Katol (21° 15′ 30″ N; 78° 35′ 00″ E; at an elevation of 415 m above msl), Nagpur district of Maharashtra state, India on May 22, 2012 between 14:00 to 14:30 hrs (Indian Standard Time) with a presently observed strewn field of ～5.0 sq km area. The event was experienced by the hundreds of inhabitants with a loud noise and fire ball between Akola in the west to Nagpur in the east. The Geological Survey of India has so far collected 27 meteorite pieces with a total weight of 3500 gm. The locations, size, shape and surface features of the individual meteorite pieces have been recorded. Based on their physical properties, mineralogy, mineral chemical mapping and REE chemistry, the Katol meteorites have been classified as olivine-rich H5 type differentiated stony meteorite with reconstituted chondrules. The preliminary evidence suggests the presence of pre-solar grains in Katol meteorite.     

Hybrid attenuation model for estimation of peak ground accelerations in the Kutch region, India

The Kutch region of Gujarat in India is the locale of one of the most devastating earthquake of magnitude (M _w) 7.7, which occurred on January 26, 2001. Though, the region is considered as seismically active region, very few strong motion records are available in this region. First part of this paper uses available data of strong motion earthquakes recorded in this region between 2006 and 2008 years to prepare attenuation relation. The developed attenuation relation is further used to prepare synthetic strong motion records of large magnitude earthquakes using semiempirical simulation technique. Semiempirical simulation technique uses attenuation relation to simulate strong ground motion records of any target earthquake. The database of peak ground acceleration obtained from simulated records is used together with database of peak ground acceleration obtained from observed record to develop following hybrid attenuation model of wide applicability in the Kutch region: $$ \begin{aligned} \ln \left( {\text{PGA}} \right) & = - 2.56 + 1.17 \, M_{\text{w}} - \, 0.015R - 0.0001\ln \left( {E + 15} \right) \\ &\quad 3.0 \le M_{\text{w}} \le 8.2;\quad 12 \le R \le 120;\quad {\text{std}} . {\text{ dev}}.(\sigma ): \pm 0.5 \\ \end{aligned} $$ ln ( PGA ) = ? 2.56 + 1.17 M w ? 0.015 R ? 0.0001 ln ( E + 15 ) 3.0 ≤ M w ≤ 8.2 ; 12 ≤ R ≤ 120 ; std . dev . ( σ ) : ± 0.5 In the above equation, PGA is maximum horizontal ground acceleration in gal, M _w is moment magnitude of earthquake, R is hypocentral distance, and E is epicentral distance in km. The standard deviation of residual of error in this relation is 0.5. This relation is compared with other available relations in this region, and it is seen that developed relation gives minimum root mean square error in comparison with observed and calculated peak ground acceleration from same data set. The applicability of developed relation is further checked by testing it with the observed peak ground acceleration from earthquakes of magnitude (M _w), 3.6, 4.0, 4.4, and 7.7, respectively, which are not included in the database used for regression analysis. The comparison demonstrates the efficacy of developed hybrid attenuation model for calculating peak ground acceleration values in the Kutch region.     

Neoarchean suprasubduction zone arc magmatism in southern India: Geochemistry,zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes of the Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex

The Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex (SAC) in southern India is one of the well exposed Archean layered anorthosite-gabbro-ultramafic rock associations. Here we present high precision geochemical data for the various units of SAC, coupled with zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotopic data for the anorthosite. The zircon ages define two populations, the older yield a concordia age of 2541 ± 13 Ma, which is interpreted as the best estimate of the magmatic crystallization age for the Sittampundi anorthosite. A high-grade metamorphic event at 2461 ± 15 Ma is suggested by the upper intercept age of the younger zircon population. A Neoproterozoic event at 715 ± 180 Ma resulted in Pb loss from some of the metamorphic zircons. The magmatic age of the anorthosite correlates well with the timing of crystallization of the arc-related ~ 2530 Ma magmatic charnockites in the adjacent Salem Block, while the metamorphic age is synchronous with the regional metamorphic event. The geochemical data suggest that the rocks were derived from a depleted mantle source. Sub-arc mantle metasomatism of slab derived fluids and subsequent partial melting produced hydrous, aluminous basalt magma. The magma fractionated at depth to produce a variety of high-alumina basalt compositions, from which the anorthositic complex with its chromite-rich and amphibole-rich layers formed as cumulates within the magma chamber of a supra-subduction zone arc. The coherent initial¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios and positive εHf values (1.7 – 4.5) of the magmatic zircons in the anorthosite are consistent with derivation of a rather homogeneous juvenile parent magma from a depleted mantle source. Our study further confirms that the southern part of the Dharwar Craton was an active convergent margin during the Neoarchean with the generation and emplacement of suprasubduction zone arc magmas which played a significant role in continental growth.     

Depositional environment in and around Tamiraparani estuary,and off Tuticorin,Tamil Nadu,India: clues from grain size studies

The sediments of the estuaries and offshore Tuticorin along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu were studied for their textural variation. Ninety sediment samples were collected from three sectors (river, estuary, offshore) on the basis of prevailing energy conditions and oceanographic parameters. Frequency curves show unimodal to bimodal in nature. Offshore samples also fall in bimodal with medium and fine sand where sediment is additionally deposited by the Tamiraparani River. The mean values ranging from 1.69 to 2.01 φ with medium to fine sand. The fine sand in the riverine region indicates the depositional nature of the sediments. In pre-monsoon, the standard deviation ranges from 0.29 to 0.81 φ, which falls in the very well sorted to moderately well sorted. Estuary ranges from 0.63 to 1.30 φ, with moderately sorted, whereas in the marine sediments ranges from 0.4 to 1.01 φ, with moderately to moderately well- sorted and some patches of poorly sorted is observed. In both monsoons, the grain size variations are mostly influenced in river and offshore samples compared to the estuaries. The CM pattern indicates the deposition of sediments in graded suspension. In estuary, the sediments are medium sand with moderately to poorly sorted, fine skewed which are indicative of denudation processes taking place there. In marine, the sediments are medium-to-fine, moderately-to-well sorted, and fine skewed to very fine skewed sediments, probably as a result of the influence of palaeo-sediments deposited by rivers from inland as well as by waves and currents from offshore. Further, the marine samples also highlight depositional processes.     

On the Use of Roche Equipotentials in Analysing the Problems of Binary and Rotating Stars

Kopal (Adv. Astron. Astrophys., 9, 1, 1972) introduced the concept of Roche equipotentials to analyse the effects of rotational and tidal distortions in case of stars in binary systems. In this approach a mathematical expression for the potential of a star in a binary system is obtained by approximating its inner structure with Roche model. This expression for the potential has been used in subsequent analysis by various authors to analyse the problems of structures and oscillations of synchronous and nonsynchronus binary stars as well as single rotating stars. Occasionally, doubts have been expressed regarding the validity of the use of this approach for analysing nonsynchronous binaries and rotationally and tidally distorted single stars. In this paper we have tried to clarify these doubts.     

生态遥感新锐——轻小型无人机的应用

基于研究对象视角梳理轻小型无人机遥感手段在生态学研究中的应用现状，重点分析了无人机在不同生态对象应用的优势和局限：优势主要在于其能够高灵活性、高分辨率地获取各生态对象的数据，为较大规模的生态研究提供了便利。在农田生态系统应用中主要关注农田信息检测、自动化农作等方面，但在这方面的应用还比较单一，缺乏更深层更全面的系统化应用；在森林草地中主要关注植被结构参数提取、生物量反演等，在数据采集过程中应注意设备的稳定性避免对数据准确性造成影响；城市生态系统主要集中在城市环境监测和测绘方面，同时城市方面飞控政策尚待完善；水生生态系统主要关注水生动植物监测和潮间带观测等，大规模监测也对设备续航和数据标准化处理提出了要求；动物研究应用中主要关注动物迁徙规律、物种分布等方面，在监测过程中需注意不要对动物栖息造成干扰。总的来说，无人机应用局限主要在于其获取的数据处理尚未标准化，飞控政策尚未成熟和硬件续航等方面。在此基础上探讨了未来无人机遥感在生态学研究的应用趋势：随着无人机智能化的软硬件发展和云端生态大数据的建立，无人机数据的获取和处理将更加智慧化，多源的无人机遥感数据将会更好地服务于生态学研究。