Evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality in the Jhansi district of Bundelkhand region, India

A base line study involving analysis of groundwater samples from the Jhansi district were carried out to determine the major and trace element chemistry and to assess the hydrogeochemical processes and water quality for domestic and irrigation uses. Study results show that groundwater is mildly acidic to alkaline in nature and HCO₃ ^?, Cl^?, Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ are the major contributing ions for the dissolved loads. The data plotted on the Gibbs and Piper diagrams reveal that the groundwater chemistry is mainly controlled by rock weathering with secondary contribution from anthropogenic sources. In a majority of the groundwater samples, alkaline earth metals exceed alkalies and weak acid dominate over strong acids. Ca–Mg–HCO₃ is the dominant hydrogeochemical facies in the majority of the groundwater samples. The computed saturation indices demonstrate that groundwater is oversaturated with respect to dolomite and calcite. Kaolinite is the possible mineral that is in equilibrium with the water, implying that the groundwater chemistry favors kaolinite formation. A comparison of groundwater quality parameters in relation to specified limits for drinking water shows that the concentrations of TDS, F^?, NO₃ ^?, total hardness and Fe are exceeding the desirable limits in many water samples. Quality assessment for irrigation uses reveal that the groundwater is of good to suitable category. Higher salinity and residual sodium carbonate values at some sites restrict the suitability of groundwater and need an adequate drainage and water management plan for the area.     

Simulations of Severe Tropical Cyclone Nargis over the Bay of Bengal Using RIMES Operational System

The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), an international, intergovernmental organization based in Thailand is engaged in disaster risk reduction over the Asia–Pacific region through early warning information. In this paper, RIMES’ customized Weather Research Forecast (WRF) model has been used to evaluate the simulations of cyclone Nargis which hit Myanmar on 2 May 2008, the most deadly severe weather event in the history of Myanmar. The model covers a domain of 35oE to 145oE in the east—west direction and 12oS to 40oN in the north—south direction in order to cover Asia and east Africa with a resolution of 9?km in the horizontal and 28 vertical levels. The initial and boundary conditions for the simulations were provided by the National Center for Environmental Prediction-Global Forecast System (NCEP-GFS) available at 1o lon/lat resolution. An attempt is being made to critically evaluate the simulation of cyclone Nargis by seven set of simulations in terms of track, intensity and landfall time of the cyclone. The seven sets of model simulations were initialized every 12?h starting from 0000 UTC 28 April to 01 May 2008. Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) precipitation (mm) is used to evaluate the performance of the simulations of heavy rainfall associated with the tropical cyclone. The track and intensity of the simulated cyclone are compared by making use of Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) data sets. The results indicate that the landfall time, the distribution and intensity of the rainfall, pressure and wind field are well simulated as compared with the JTWC estimates. The average landfall track error for all seven simulations was 64?km with an average time error of about 5?h. The average intensity error of central pressure in all the simulations were found out to be approximately 6?hPa more than the JTWC estimates and in the case of wind, the simulations under predicted it by an average of 12?m?s^?1.     

Intensity Oscillation in the Corona as Observed during the Total Solar Eclipse of 29 March 2006

We obtained the images of the eastern part of the solar corona in the Fe xiv 530.3 nm (green) and Fe x 637.4 nm (red) coronal emission lines during the total solar eclipse of 29 March 2006 at Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey. The images were obtained using a 35 cm Meade telescope equipped with a Peltier-cooled 2k × 2k CCD and 0.3 nm pass-band interference filters at the rates of 2.95 s (exposure times of 100 ms) and 2.0 s (exposure times of 300 ms) in the Fe xiv and Fe x emission lines, respectively. The analysis of the data indicates intensity variations at some locations with period of strongest power around 27 s for the green line and 20 s for the red line. These results confirm earlier findings of variations in the continuum intensity with periods in the range of 5 to 56 s by Singh et al. (Solar Phys. 170, 235, 1997). The wavelet analysis has been used to identify significant intensity oscillations at all pixels within our field of view. Significant oscillations with high probability estimates were detected for some locations only. These locations seem to follow the boundary of an active region and in the neighborhood, rather than within the loops themselves. These intensity oscillations may be caused by fast magneto-sonic waves in the solar corona and partly account for heating of the plasma in the corona.     

Soil-geochemistry,radiometric and soil gas helium studies in the uranium mineralized zone of Tumallapalle,Cuddapah Basin,Andhra Pradesh

A geochemical soil sampling survey undertaken at Tumallpalle uranium mineralized zone Cuddapah district, has confirmed the presence of uranium anomalies in soils. Bulk soil samples were collected at every 20 m along the traverse from approximately 30 cm below the surface and were assayed for uranium by x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The uranium anomalies detected by the insitu radiometric survey show a correlation with the helium highs. The soil gas helium studies have aided in delineating the subsurface extension of the deposit. This study endeavors for an integration of different techniques in a known area which could probably aid in delineating uranium zones for optimal exploitation in the future exploration programmes.     

Petrography and geochemical behaviour of trace element,REE and precious metal signatures of sulphidic banded iron formations from the Chikkasiddavanahalli area,Chitradurga schist belt,India

The ～1.2 km long and ～250 m wide Chikkasiddavanahalli (C.S. Halli) hill range consists of mixed sulphidic-oxide banded iron formations (BIFs) and Fe-rich phyllites (±carbonaceous), which overlie carbonated schistose and massive meta volcanics. In stratigraphic succession, the lithologies represent the Ingaldhal Formation and are an integral part of the Chitradurga schist belt in the Western Dharwar Craton. The general strike at C.S. Halli varies from N–S to 340° with vertical to steep dips towards east and west. The sulphides, oxides and silicates exhibit intergrowth replacement textures developed during regional greenschist- and amphibolites- facies metamorphism. The BIFs show mesobands of recrystallised cherts and iron sulphides such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, and silicates such as subordinate grunerite, hornblende, chlorite, muscovite, actinolite and minor carbonates such as ankerite, calcite and magnesian siderite. Chemical data indicate depletion in Ti, Mn, Co, Cu, Cr and Ni in these iron formations. Most chondrite normalized REE patterns of the iron formation show moderate LREE and HREE enrichment coupled with strong positive Eu anomaly; the mineralized portions exhibit characteristic negative Ce and Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu1 0.21 to 3.00). The total REE abundance varies, correlates well with the iron contents of the BIFs, and similar to those exhibited by hydrothermal plumes [Chown, E.H., Dah, E.N., Mueller, W.G., 2000. The relation between iron formation and low temperature alteration in a Archean volcanic environment. Precambrian Research 101, 263–275]. Trace and REE data suggest that primary mantle-derived hydrothermal solutions were added to the pore fluids of sediments of the Chitradurga basin and supplied chemical constituents such as FeO, SiO₂ and REE. Oxidation of FeO to Fe₂O₃ was caused by the photosynthesis of primitive stromatolite-building cyanobacteria. Geochemical data suggest a model involving epigenetic gold mineralisation in close association with shear zone deformation, quartz-calcite vein activity and sulphidation in the mixed sulphide oxide facies BIF and associated iron phyllites in the C.S. Halli area, Western Dharwar Craton, India.     

Application of environmental isotopes and hydrochemistry in the identification of source of seepage and likely connection with lake water in Lesser Himalaya,Uttarakhand, India

Oxygen (\({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\)) and hydrogen (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\) and \(^{3}\hbox {H}\)) isotopes of water, along with their hydrochemistry, were used to identify the source of a newly emerged seepage water in the downstream of Lake Nainital, located in the Lesser Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. A total of 57 samples of water from 19 different sites, in and around the seepage site, were collected. Samples were analysed for chemical tracers like \(\hbox {Ca}^{++}\), \(\hbox {Mg}^{++}\), \(\hbox {Na}^{+}\), \(\hbox {K}^{+}\), \({\hbox {SO}_{4}}^{--}\) and \(\hbox {Cl}^{-}\) using an Ion Chromatograph (Dionex IC-5000). A Dual Inlet Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (DIIRMS) and an Ultra-Low Level Liquid Scintillation Counter (ULLSC), were used in measurements of stable isotopes (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\) and \({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\)) and a radioisotope (\(^{3}\hbox {H}\)), respectively. Results obtained in this study repudiate the possibility of any likely connection between seepage water and the lake water, and indicate that the source of seepage water is mainly due to locally recharged groundwater. The study suggests that environmental isotopes (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\), \({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\) and \(^{3}\hbox {H}\)) can effectively be used as ‘tracers’ in the detection of the source of seepage water in conjunction with other hydrochemical tracers, and can help in water resource management and planning.     

Density dependence of solar emission lines of oxygen-like ions

Assuming steady state conditions, the occupation of 9 levels of oxygen-like ions: Ne iii, Mg v, Si vii, S ix, and Ar xi have been computed as a function of electron density and temperature. The following physical processes have been considered: collisional excitations and spontaneous radiative de-excitations for permitted and intercombination transitions; collisional excitations and de-excitations, photo-excitations and spontaneous radiative transitions among the five levels of the ground term. This study indicates that line intensity ratios for oxygen-like ions can be used as a diagnostic in the determination of these two parameters of the solar plasma.Paper presented at the 4th Astronomical Society of India Meeting, held at Radio Astronomy Centre, Ootacamund, India, 7–10 March 1978.     

Electro-flotation of chalcopyrite fines

Electro-flotation tests were conducted on chalcopyrite particles with a modified Hallimond tube designed for electro-flotation, using platinum anode—copper cathode and graphite anode—copper cathode systems. Flotation tests were carried out for fines of chalcopyrite of size below 20 microns with potassium ethylxanthate as collector. Studies were done on flotation with hydrogen and oxygen separately with the usual variables. Dissolution of chalcopyrite at various current densities, with reagent at optimum conditions and without reagent was also studied. It is observed that electro-flotation particularly with oxygen, is effective in the flotation of fine particles of chalcopyrite.