Multiple episodes of tectonothermal processes in the Eastern Ghats granulite belt

A suite of rocks from Borra Carbonate Granulite Complex (BCGC) in the Eastern Ghats granulite belt displays superposed structures and overprinted mineral assemblages that reveal multiple episodes of tectonothermal reworking of the complex under granulite facies condition. Five distinct episodes of deformation (D₁, D₂, D₃, D₄ and D₅) and four phases of metamorphism (M₁, M₂, M₃ and M₄) are recorded. The signature of the earliest tectonothermal event, D₁ is a gneissic foliation (S₁) denned by segregation of peak granulite facies mineral assemblages corresponding to prograde M₁ metamorphism. M₂ metamorphic overprint represents an episode of near-isobaric cooling of the complex under a static condition. D₂ represents an episode of ductile deformation manifested by isoclinal folding (F₂) and associated extensional structures, within a broad framework of coaxial bulk deformation. The present study reveals that D₂ took place subsequent to M₂ - Subsequent deformation, D₃, produced F₃ folds and also deformations of boudins formed during D₂. M₃, which is synchronous with F₃, represents a near isothermal decompression of the BCGC. This was followed by a weak structural readjustment (D₄), producing E-W cross folds. The latter was not, however, associated with any recognizable petrological reworking. In the terminal events, deformation (D₅) and mineral reactions (M₄) were localized along narrow intersecting shear zones. The latter acted as channelways for carbonic and still later hydrous fluid infiltration. The available thermobarometric data from BCGC and other areas of the Eastern Ghats belt reveal that reworking during M₂ and M₃ ensued in a thermally perturbed regime. The high thermal regime might also have persisted during carbonic fluid infiltration related to terminal reworking (M₄).     

Pedotransfer functions to estimate soil water content at field capacity and permanent wilting point in hot Arid Western India

Characterization of soil water retention, e.g., water content at field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting point (PWP) over a landscape plays a key role in efficient utilization of available scarce water resources in dry land agriculture; however, direct measurement thereof for multiple locations in the field is not always feasible. Therefore, pedotransfer functions (PTFs) were developed to estimate soil water retention at FC and PWP for dryland soils of India. A soil database available for Arid Western India (N=370) was used to develop PTFs. The developed PTFs were tested in two independent datasets from arid regions of India (N=36) and an arid region of USA (N=1789). While testing these PTFs using independent data from India, root mean square error (RMSE) was found to be 2.65 and 1.08 for FC and PWP, respectively, whereas for most of the tested ‘established’ PTFs, the RMSE was >3.41 and >1.15, respectively. Performance of the developed PTFs from the independent dataset from USA was comparable with estimates derived from ‘established’ PTFs. For wide applicability of the developed PTFs, a user-friendly soil moisture calculator was developed. The PTFs developed in this study may be quite useful to farmers for scheduling irrigation water as per soil type.     

Geology, petrography and geochemistry of rhyolite-hosted uranium mineralization at Mohar, Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh

In the westernmost part of the Bundelkhand Granitoid Complex (BGC), a mesa structure represents a unique outlier, surrounded by brecciated granite and filled with Vindhyan sedimentary rocks locally known as the Dhala Formation near Mohar village of Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh. Uranium mineralisation located in the area is mostly associated with rhyolite of peralkaline to peraluminous in nature, that has a high average uranium concentration (30 ppm). The mineralization is in or adjacent to caldera and is hydrothermal vein-type. Radioactivity is mainly due to coffinite with limited radioactivity due to U-Ti complex, uranium adsorbed in clay and labile uranium along fracture. Coffinite occurs in association with pyrite and chalcopyrite or chlorite with presence of fluorite. Features such as chloritisation, clay formation and sulfide mineralisation manifest hydrothermal alteration. Chemical analysis indicates the aluminous nature of the rock and their high K₂O/Na₂O (3.81–12.84) ratios are suggestive of predominance of potash feldspar over sodic. The alteration index varies from 49.88–92.40, which, reflects high intensity of hydrothermal alteration. Chlorite-carbonatepyrite index (CCPI), a measure of the intensity of replacement of sodic feldspars and glass by sericite, chlorite, carbonate, and pyrite associated with hydrothermal alteration proximal to the ore bodies varies from 3.84–49.66. On the basis of core study, geochemistry and mineralogy, it is envisaged that epigenetic hydrothermal solutions were responsible for concentration of uranium as coffinite, radioactive carbonaceous matter and adsorbed uranium phases in rhyolite with sulfide confined to weak planes.     

Electrical Resistivity Imaging technique to delineate coal seam barrier thickness and demarcate water filled voids

Exploration and exploitation of coal seams is one of the major resources for the energy sector in any country but at the same time water filled voids/water logged areas in the old workings of these seams are very critical problems for the coal mining industry. In such situations, disasters like inundation, landslides, collapsing of the old seams may occur. In this regard, it is necessary to find out the water saturated/water filled voids and zones in the mining areas. Since no established technique is available to find such zones, an experimental study using Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) has been carried out in one of the coal mining areas near Dhanbad, to find out the feasibility of finding the barrier thickness and the water logged area in underground coal mines. The area under study forms part of Jharia coalfield in Dhanbad district, Jharkhand state. The coal bearing rocks of Barakar Formation of Lower Permian age (Gondwana period) occur in the area under a thin cover (10 m to15 m) of soil and or alluvium. Coal bearing Barakar Formations consist mainly of sandstone of varying grain size, intercalation of shale and sandstone, grey and carbonaceous-shale and coal seams. Since the water saturation reduces the resistivity of a formation to a large extent, water filled voids and old coal workings are expected to have significant resistivity contrast with the surrounding host rock. Hence, ERI technique was applied in such an environment as this technique uses high-density data acquisition both laterally and vertically by using multiple number of electrodes. Along with ERI, mise-à-la-masse (also called charged body) technique was also employed at one of the promising sites to find out the connectivity of water logged areas and also detection of these old workings from the surface measurements was analyzed. The interpreted 2D resistivity sections have clearly indicated the water bearing zone(s) along the profile which was well confirmed with the existing water level in the nearby borewells. On the other hand, this technique did not identify the size of the coal pillar and gallery (air filled voids), which might be due to the small size of the voids (i.e. about 2 m × 2 m) below a depth of 15m and more but have indicated altogether as a high resistive zone ranging from 600–1000 Ohm-m.     

Hydrogeochemical Characterization and Groundwater Quality of Jamshedpur Urban Agglomeration in Precambrian Terrain,Eastern India

This paper reports petrography, geochemistry and Rb-Sr age data on the rare metal bearing Neoarchean fertile (Nb-Ta) granite at Allapatna and elucidates its petrogenesis and role in Nb-Ta-Li-Be mineralization. The Allapatna granite (AG) intrudes the Tonalitic-Trondhjemitic - Granodioritic (TTG) Peninsular Gneiss and analysed SiO₂ (72.3-75.6 wt%), K₂O (4.0-5.7wt%), Na2O (3.0-4.4wt%), CaO (0.7-1wt%), MgO (0.13-0.25wt%) and K₂O/Na₂O (>1) indicating evolved nature. The presence of muscovite, biotite and garnet in the mode, peraluminous nature and high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio (0.7284±0.0083) attest to their S-type characteristics. Varying Nb/Ta ratio and high Li with moderate abundance of Cs further indicate affinity to Li-Cs-Ta (LCT) type granite-pegmatite system. TheAG showing whole rock Rb-Sr isochron age of 2803± 68 Ma, is the oldest reported fertile granite in India parental to rare metal pegmatites hosting Nb-Ta, Be, and Li resources. Partial melting of a mixed source consisting of both basement TTG rocks and metapelites has generated such type of granitic magma. Fractionation of such granitic magma possibly has given rise to the rare metal (Ta-Nb-Li-Be) bearing pegmatites intruding the nearby schist belt.     

Rainfall flood hazard at nuclear power plants in India

Flood hazard evaluation is an important input for Nuclear Power Plants external events safety studies. In the present study, flood hazard at various nuclear sites in India due to rainfall has been evaluated. Hazard estimation is a statistical procedure by which rainfall intensity versus occurrence frequency is estimated from historical records of rainfall data and extrapolated with asymptotic extreme value distribution. Rainfall data needed for flood hazard assessment are daily annual maximum rainfall (24?h data). The observed data points have been fitted using Gumbel, power law and exponential distribution, and return period has been estimated. To study the stationarity of rainfall data, a moving window estimate of the parameters has been performed. The rainfall pattern is stationary in both coastal and inland regions over the period of observation. The coastal regions show intense rainfall and higher variability than inland regions. Based on the plant layout, catchment area and drainage capacity, the prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) site is unlikely to be flooded.     

Sixteen Statistical Tests for Outlier Detection and Rejection in Evaluation of International Geochemical Reference Materials: Example of Microgabbro PM-S

A totally objective procedure involving sixteen statistical tests (a total of thirty four single or multiple outlier versions of these tests) for outlier detection and rejection in a univariate sample is applied to a data base of sixty four elements in a recently issued international geochemical reference material (RM), a microgabbro PM-S from Scotland. This example illustrates the relative importance and usefulness of these tests in processing modern geochemical data for possible outliers and obtaining mean concentration and other statistical parameters from a final normal sample of univariate data. The final mean values are more reliable (characterized by smaller standard deviations and narrower confidence limits) than those obtained earlier using an accommodation approach (robust techniques) applied to this data base. Very high quality (certified value equivalent, cve) mean data are now obtained for eleven elements as well as high quality recommended values (rv) for thirty three elements in PM-S. Earlier work using the accommodation approach failed to establish even one cve value for any of the sixty four elements compiled here. The present procedure of outlier detection and elimination is therefore recommended in the study of RMs