Some regional indicators of the Tertiary–Quaternary geodynamics in the paleocoastal part of the Bengal basin (India)

Sedimentary processes in the paleocoastal part of the Bengal basin that occured in the Tertiary and Quaternary have been addressed. Three indicators were used: sedimentary bedding forms, microstructure of the sediment, and trace fossils. Various forms of sedimentary structures developed under the influence of dynamic geomorphic processes in the study area in the Quaternary. The microstructure analysis of the sedimentary materials was made by two methods: microphotography and Digital Color Analysis (DCA). The microstructure analysis shows that the geomorphic process remained very dynamic in the Quaternary, influencing the form, thickness, and mineral composition of the sediment strata. The enrichment of the sediments in heavy minerals evidences either oscillating or combined flow sedimentation, while under stable conditions light-mineral deposition took place. The digital data of microfabric study by the DCA method also show that larger particles deposited in the oscillating or high-flow environment and evidence a greater amount of heavy minerals like ferruginous materials. Trace fossils found in the sediments of this area also strongly support the concept that the environment remained dynamic during the Tertiary and Quaternary. The Late Tertiary deposition shows that, during these periods, the sediments were transported from tide-dominated marine coast with low flow energy, which is typical of hot and humid conditions. From Late Tertiary to Early Quaternary, the macrotidal coast became mesotidal (wave-dominated). The second phase is the Middle Pleistocene, when the environment was stable, favoring the continuous deposition of finer particles under low- to medium-flow energy conditions. The third phase, the Recent, is marked by the shoreline shift and modification of the environment. In the Early–Middle Holocene, the shoreline started to shift, which modified the geomorphic conditions of this place from coastal to estuarine and, finally, inland fluvial.     

Darkness on the Edge of Town: Mapping Urban and Peri-Urban Australia Using Nighttime Satellite Imagery

This article explores the use of nighttime satellite imagery for mapping urban and peri-urban areas of Australia. A population-weighted measure of urban sprawl is used to characterize relative levels of sprawl for Australia's urban areas. In addition, the expansive areas of low light surrounding most major metropolitan areas are used to map the urban–bush interface of exurban land use. Our findings suggest that 82 percent of the Australian population lives in urban areas, 15 percent live in peri-urban or exurban areas, and 3 percent live in rural areas. This represents a significantly more concentrated human settlement pattern than presently exists in the United States.     

Liquefaction Identification Using IRS-1D Temporal Indices Data

One of the major after effect of Bhuj Earthquake which occurred on January 26, 2001 was wide spread appearance of liquefaction of soil in the Rann of Kachchh and the coastal areas of Kandla port covering an area of more than tens of thousands of kilometers. Remote sensing data products allow us to explore the land surface parameters at different spatial scales. In this work, an attempt has been made to identify the liquefied soil area using conventional indices from IRS-1D temporal images. The same has been investigated and compared with Class Based Sensor Independent (CBSI) spectral indices, while applying fuzzy based noise classification as soft computing approach using supervised classification. Seven spectral indices have been investigated to identify liquefied soil areas using temporal multi-spectral images. The result shows that the temporal variations can be accounted by using appropriate remote sensing based spectral indices. It is found that CBSI based TNDVI using temporal data yields the best results for identification of liquefied soil areas, while CBSI based SR gives best results for water body identification.     

Geospatial Technologies for National Geomorphology and Lineament Mapping Project – A Case Study of Goa State

A three level classification system, based on the genesis of landforms, was used to map the geomorphology of the Goa state. The first level corresponds to the process that was responsible for landform generation, the second level or the intermediate level was assigned based on the morphography, and the third level corresponds to the individual landforms units identified based on the morphostructure. The mapping was carried out using IRS-P6 LISS-III (23.5 m) satellite image as the primary data source. Ancillary data such as geological map, topographic map, digital elevation model (DEM), field data collected by global positioning system (GPS) and web portals for image visualisation, were also used for the mapping purpose. A new software designed for mapping landforms based on the genesis, was used in this study to create a seamless geomorphology and lineament database of the Goa state in a GIS environment. A total of 58 landforms within six types of genetic classes were mapped in this area. Similarly, structural and geomorphic lineaments were also delineated using the satellite data. The database created has multi-purpose usability such as environmental studies, mining activity assessment, coastal zone management and wasteland development, since the classification system used is focused on processes, not theme specific.     

Deformation Modulus of Fly Ash Modified with Lime and Gypsum

Deformation modulus of fly ash is one of the most important mechanical properties generally used in different design problems and also as an input parameter to sophisticated numerical techniques employed to assess the response of different structures resting on fly ash fill or embankment made of fly ash. Deformation modulus is usually expressed in terms of compressive strength. This paper presents the deformation modulus of fly ash modified with lime alone or in combination with gypsum at different strain levels. The values of deformation modulus obtained from both unconfined compression test and unconsolidated undrained triaxial test results are presented herein. The specimens for unconfined compression test and for undrained triaxial tests were cured up to 90 and 28 days, respectively. The effects of addition of lime (4–10%) and gypsum (0.5 and 1.0%) on the deformation modulus of class F fly ash are highlighted. With addition of lime and gypsum, the class F fly ash achieved the deformation modulus in the range of 190 MPa in UCS test and up to 300 MPa in triaxial test specimens tested under all round pressure of 0.4 MPa. Based on the present test results empirical relationships are developed to estimate deformation modulus of modified fly ash from unconfined compressive strength and relationships between initial tangent modulus and secant modulus at different strain levels are also developed.     

Seismic interference of two nearby horizontal strip anchors in layered soil

In the present analysis, an attempt is made to explore the seismic response of two nearby horizontal strip anchors embedded in non-homogenous c-? soil deposit at different depths. The analysis is performed by using two-dimensional finite-element software PLAXIS 2D. Each anchor carries equal static safe-working load without violating the ultimate uplift capacity under static condition. The soil is assumed to obey the Mohr?CCoulomb failure criterion. The behavior of single isolated anchor subjected to an earthquake loading is determined first to study the interference effect between two anchors. The horizontal acceleration response obtained from the Loma Prieta Gilroy Earthquake (1989) is considered as the input excitation in the analysis. A parametric study is performed by varying the clear spacing (S) between the anchors at different embedment ratios (??). The magnitude of vertical displacement, shear stress, and shear strain developed at different locations of the failure domain is determined for different clear spacings between the anchors.     

A generalized geo-hazard warning system

An automated geo-hazard warning system is the need of the hour. It is integration of automation in hazard evaluation and warning communication. The primary objective of this paper is to explain a geo-hazard warning system based on Internet-resident concept and available cellular mobile infrastructure that makes use of geo-spatial data. The functionality of the system is modular in architecture having input, understanding, expert, output and warning modules. Thus, the system provides flexibility in integration between different types of hazard evaluation and communication systems leading to a generalized hazard warning system. The developed system has been validated for landslide hazard in Indian conditions. It has been realized through utilization of landslide causative factors, rainfall forecast from NASA??s TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) and knowledge base of landslide hazard intensity map and invokes the warning as warranted. The system evaluated hazard commensurate with expert evaluation within 5?C6?% variability, and the warning message permeability has been found to be virtually instantaneous, with a maximum time lag recorded as 50?s, minimum of 10?s. So it could be concluded that a novel and stand-alone system for dynamic hazard warning has been developed and implemented. Such a handy system could be very useful in a densely populated country where people are unaware of the impending hazard.     

Petrography and major element geochemistry of the Permo-Triassic sandstones, central India: Implications for provenance in an intracratonic pull-apart basin

Detrital mode, composition of feldspars and heavy minerals, and major element chemistry of sandstones from the Permo-Triassic succession in the intracratonic Satpura Gondwana basin, central India have been used to investigate provenance. The Talchir Formation, the lowermost unit of the succession, comprises glacio-marine and glacio-fluvial deposits. The rest of the succession (base to top) comprising the Barakar, Motur, Bijori, Pachmarhi and Denwa formations, largely represent variety of fluvial depositional systems with minor fluvio-deltaic and fluvio-lacustrine sedimentation under a variety of climatic conditions including cold, warm, arid, sub-humid and semi-arid. QFL compositions of the sandstones indicate a predominantly continental block provenance and stable cratonic to fault-bounded basement uplift tectonic setting. Compositional maturity of sandstones gradually increases upwards from the Early Permian Talchir to the Middle Triassic Denwa but is punctuated by a sharp peak of increased maturity in the Barakar sandstones. This temporal change in maturity was primarily controlled by temporal variation in fault-induced basement uplift in the craton and was also influenced by climatic factors. Plots of different quartz types suggest plutonic source rocks for the Talchir sandstones and medium-to high-rank metamorphic plus plutonic source rocks for the younger sandstones. Composition of alkali feldspars in the Permo-Triassic sandstones and in different Precambrian rocks suggests sediment derivation from felsic igneous and metasedimentary rocks. Compositions of plagioclase in the Talchir and Bijori sandstones are comparable with those of granite, acid volcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Precambrian basement suggesting the latter as possible source. Rare presence of high-K plagioclase in the Talchir sandstones, however, indicates minor contribution from volcanic source rock. Exclusively plagioclase-bearing metasedimentary rock, tonalite gneiss and mafic rocks are the probable sources of plagioclase in the Upper Denwa sandstones. Quartz-rich nature of the sandstones, predominance of K-feldspar over plagioclase and albite rich character of plagioclase in the sandstones is consistent with deposition in an intracratonic, pull-apart basin like the Satpura Gondwana basin. Composition of garnet and its comparison with that from the Precambrian basement rocks suggests mica-schist and amphibolite as possible sources. Predominance of dravite variety of tourmaline in the Permian sandstones suggests sediment supply from metasedimentary rocks. Presence of both dravite and schorl variety of tourmaline in subequal amount in the Triassic sandstones indicates sediment derivation from granitic and metasedimentary rocks. However, schorl-bearing rocks are absent in the basement complex of the study area. A-CN-K plot suggests granites, acid volcanic rock and meta-sediments of the basement as possible sources of the Talchir sandstones and metasedimentary rocks for the Barakar to Pachmarhi sandstones. The Denwa sandstones were possibly derived from K-feldspar-free, plagioclase-bearing metasediments, mafic rocks and tonalite gneiss. Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values suggest low intensity source rock weathering for the Talchir sandstones and higher intensity source rock weathering for the others. Various bivariate plots of major oxides composition of the sandstones suggest passive to active continental margin setting and even arc tectonic setting for a few samples.     

Petrogenesis of zincian spinel from mamandur base metal sulphide prospect,Tamil Nadu

Zincian spinels (gahnites) from the Mamandur Zn-Pb-Cu prospect of the Southern Granulite Terrain have been studied. Gahnites in the quartzofeldspathic gneiss occur either as (a) porphyroblastic grains closely in association with cordierite and sphalerite or as (b) inclusions in poikiloblastic quartz grains, restricted within quartz veinlets. Compositionally these gahnites belong to two different clusters corresponding to two modes of occurrences. The origin of the porphyroblastic gahnites is linked with the process of desulphidation of sphalerite whereas those occurring as inclusions within poikiloblastic quartz are direct crystallisation products from silica rich hydrothermal solution. A new compositional field for this latter group of gahnites is proposed here.