Effect of mining on geochemistry of groundwater in Permo-carboniferous Gondwana coalfields: Raniganj Basin, India

Lack of proper reclamation strategy and indiscriminate mining of various economic resources, particularly coal from Permo-carboniferous Gondwana coalfields affects the groundwater quality of the concerned regions. Leaching from mine-tailings along with seasonal fluctuation of water table caused a significant change in groundwater geochemistry of Raniganj coalfield area. Gondwana sequences, developed in intracratonic rift basin, are characterized by numerous longitudinal and cross faults. This results in the formation of many small aquifer systems which may be interconnected laterally as well as vertically providing the conduit for homogenization of aquifers. Although the predominance of major cations (Ca>Na>Mg>K) and anions (HCO₃>Cl>SO₄>NO₃) remain same irrespective of season, the dominance of Na and SO₄ have significantly increased in post-monsoon season. The types of groundwater in pre-monsoon and postmonsoon seasons are CaMgCl and CaHCO₃ respectively. Leaching of SO₄ from surface sources (mine tailings) has increased TDS in post-monsoon. Base exchange (direct and reverse) reactions have taken place between aquifer materials and groundwater.     

An Operational Circulation Modeling System for the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Region—Part I: Basic Elements

The basic elements of a prototype operational data assimilation modeling system that can provide near-real-time information on the ocean water property and circulation environment in the Gulf of Maine (GOM)/Georges Bank (GB) region are described in this paper. This application of the Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA) model includes development of protocols for the following: 1) the production of model initial fields from an objective blending of climatological and feature model (FM) hydrographic data with fishing-boat-measured bottom temperature data, 2) the ldquowarm startrdquo of the model to produce reasonably realistic initial model fields, 3) converting real-time Fleet Numerical Meteorological and Oceanographic Center (FNMOC, Monterey, CA) model nowcast and forecast winds and/or National Data Buoy Center (NDBC, Stennis Space Center, MS) operational wind measurements to model wind stress forcing fields, and 4) the assimilation of satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST). These protocols are shown herein to evolve the initial model fields, which were dominated by climatological data, toward more dynamically balanced, realistic fields. Thus, the model nowcasts, with the assimilation of one SST field, are well positioned to produce reasonably realistic ocean fields within a few model days (MDs).     

Waveform modelling of teleseismic S, Sp, SsPmP, and shear-coupled PL waves for crust- and upper-mantle velocity structure beneath Africa

We describe a waveform modelling technique and demonstrate its application to determine the crust- and upper-mantle velocity structure beneath Africa. Our technique uses a parallelized reflectivity method to compute synthetic seismograms and fits the observed waveforms by a global optimization technique based on a Very Fast Simulated Annealing (VFSA). We match the S , Sp, SsPmP and shear-coupled PL phases in seismograms of deep (200–800 km), moderate-to-large magnitude (5.5–7.0) earthquakes recorded teleseismically at permanent broad-band seismic stations in Africa. Using our technique we produce P - and S -wave velocity models of crust and upper mantle beneath Africa. Additionally, our use of the shear-coupled PL phase, wherever observed, improves the constraints for lower crust- and upper-mantle velocity structure beneath the corresponding seismic stations. Our technique retains the advantages of receiver function methods, uses a different part of the seismogram, is sensitive to both P - and S -wave velocities directly, and obtains helpful constraints in model parameters in the vicinity of the Moho. The resulting range of crustal thicknesses beneath Africa (21–46 km) indicates that the crust is thicker in south Africa, thinner in east Africa and intermediate in north and west Africa. Crustal P - (4.7–8 km s⁻¹) and S -wave velocities (2.5–4.7  km s⁻¹) obtained in this study show that in some parts of the models, these are slower in east Africa and faster in north, west and south Africa. Anomalous crustal low-velocity zones are also observed in the models for seismic stations in the cratonic regions of north, west and south Africa. Overall, the results of our study are consistent with earlier models and regional tectonics of Africa.     

A Reappraisal of Stratigraphy of Bagh Group of Rocks in Dhar District,Madhya Pradesh with an Outline of Origin of Nodularity of Nodular Limestone Formation

Upper Cretaceous Bagh Group of rocks in M.P. have been studied by many workers. Several stratigraphic successions have been proposed. It has resulted in controversies in terms of applicability, absence of characterization of contact surfaces, no mention of locality names where characteristic features are well visible. Hence a new stratigraphic succession has been proposed. Besides, the entire area is characterized by different types of nodularity at least in the lower part of carbonates. This worldwide unique characteristic has not been resolved earlier. The present authors have tried to explain the origin of this nodularity on the basis of adequate field evidences and came to the conclusion that overburden mechanical compaction produced by Lametas and Deccan Trap and subsequent chemical compaction are the ultimate cause of nodularity in the carbonates. Later entire area was reactivated and churned by Thallassinoid burrow producing organism, the presence of which bears testimony.