A new kinematic evolutionary model for the growth of a duplex — an example from the Rangit duplex, Sikkim Himalaya, India

The Lesser Himalayan duplex (LHD) is a prominent structure through much of the Lesser Himalayan fold–thrust belt. In the Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalaya a component of the LHD is exposed in the Rangit window as the Rangit duplex (RD). The RD consists of ten horses of the upper Lesser Himalayan Sequence (Gondwana, Buxa, Upper Daling). The duplex varies from hinterland-dipping in the north, through an antiformal stack in the middle to foreland-dipping in the south. The Ramgarh thrust (RT) is the roof thrust and, based on a balanced cross-section, the Main Himalayan Sole thrust is the floor thrust at a depth of ~ 10 km and with a dip of ~ 3.5° N.Retrodeformation suggests that the RD initiated as a foreland-dipping duplex with the Early Ramgarh thrust as the roof thrust and the RT as the floor thrust. The RT became the roof thrust during continued duplexing by a combination of footwall imbrication and concurrent RT reactivation. This kinematic history best explains the large translation of the overlying MCT sheets. The restoration suggests that RD shortening is ~ 125 km, and the original Gondwana basin extended ~ 142 km northward of its present northernmost exposures within the window.     

An Analytical Solution for Predicting Transient Seepage into Partially Penetrating Ditch Drains Receiving Water from a Ponded Field

A transient analytical model is worked out for predicting seepage from a ponded field of infinite extent to a network of equally spaced ditch drains in a homogeneous and anisotropic soil underlain by an impervious barrier at a finite distance from the surface of the soil. The solution can account for finite width and finite level of water in the ditches, finite penetration of the drains in the soil, and also a variable ponding field at the surface of the soil. The study highlights the fact that the transient state duration of a partially penetrating ponded drainage scenario may be considerable should the drains be dug in a lowly conductive soil with a high storage coefficient, particularly if the underlying impervious layer lies at a large distance from the bottom of the ditches and the separation between the adjacent ditches is also large at the same time.     

Geochemical studies and petrogenesis of ~2.21–2.22 Ga Kunigal mafic dyke swarm (trending N-S to NNW-SSE) from eastern Dharwar craton,India: implications for Paleoproterozoic large igneous provinces and supercraton superia

The Archean eastern Dharwar craton is transacted by at least four major Proterozoic mafic dyke swarms. We present geochemical data for the ~2.21–2.22 Ga N-S to NNW-SSE trending Kunigal mafic dyke swarm of the eastern Dharwar craton to address its petrogenesis and formation of large igneous province as well as spatial link to supercontinent history. It has a strike span of about 200 km; one dyke of this swarm runs ~300 km along the western margin of the Closepet granite. Texture and mineral compositions classify them as dolerite and olivine dolerite. They show compositions of high-iron tholeiites, high-magnesian tholeiites or picrites. Geochemical characteristics of the sampled dykes suggest their co-genetic nature and show variation from primitive (Mg#; as high as ~76) to evolved (differentiated) nature. Although geochemical characteristics indicate possibility of minor crustal contamination, they show their derivation from an uncontaminated mantle melt. These mafic dykes are probably evolved from a sub-alkaline basaltic magma generated by ~20 % batch melting of a depleted lherzolite mantle source and about 15–30 % olivine fractionation. Paleoproterozoic (~2.21–2.22 Ga) mafic magmatism is recognized globally as dyke swarms or gabbroic sill complexes in the Superior, Slave, North Atlantic, Fennoscandian and Pilbara cratons. Possible Paleoproterozoic Dharwar–Superior–North-Atlantic–Slave correlations are constrained with implications for the configuration of supercraton Superia.     

Laboratory Investigation of Hollow and Solid Shaft Helical Soil Nail by Displacement Controlled Pullout Testing

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - A sequence of laboratory pullout tests was conducted to examine the installation and pullout behavior of hollow and solid shaft helical soil nails. The...     

Alternative PWM-estimators of the Gumbel distribution

Probability weighted moments (PWM) are widely used in hydrology for estimating parameters of statistical distributions, including the Gumbel distribution. The classical PWM-approach considers the moments β_i=E[XFⁱ] with i=0,1 for estimation of the Gumbel scale and location parameters. However, there is no reason why these probability weights (F⁰ and F¹) should provide the most efficient PWM-estimators of Gumbel parameters and quantiles. We explore an extended class of PWMs that does not impose arbitrary restrictions on the values of i. Estimation based on the extended class of PWMs is called the generalized method of probability weighted moments (GPWM) to distinguish it from the classical procedure. In fact, our investigation demonstrates that it may be advantage to use weight functions that are not of the form Fⁱ. We propose an alternative PWM-estimator of the Gumbel distribution that maintains the computational simplicity of the classical PWM method, but provides slightly more accurate quantile estimates in terms of mean square error of estimation. A simple empirical formula for the standard error of the proposed quantile estimator is presented.     

Are Majhgawan-Hinota pipe rocks truly group-I Kimberlite?

The diamond bearing pipe rocks in Majhgawan-Hinota (more than four pipes) occur as intrusives in sandstones of Kaimur Group. These Proterozoic (974 ±30-1170 ±20 Ma) intrusive rocks, occupying the southeastern margin of Aravalli craton, were called as ‘micaceous kimberlite’ in tune with the reported kimberlite occurrences from other parts of the world. Judging from the definition of kimberlite, as approved by the IUGS Subcommission on Systematics of Igneous Rocks, it is not justified to call these rocks as ‘micaceous kimberlite’. Rather the mineralogical assemblages such as absence of typomorphic mineral monticellite (primary), abundance of phlogopite cognate, frequent presence of barite and primary carbonate mostly as calcite coupled with ultrapotassic and volatile-rich (dominantly H₂O) nature and high concentration of incompatible elements (such as Ba, Zr, Th, U), low Th/U ratios, low REE and no Eu-anomaly clearly indicate a close similarity with that of South African orangeites. Thus orangeites of Proterozoic age occur outside the Kaapvaal craton of South Africa which are much younger (200 Ma to 110 Ma) in age.     

Did the Harappan settlement of Dholavira (India) collapse during the onset of Meghalayan stage drought?

Radiocarbon dating of archaeological carbonates from seven cultural stages of Dholavira, Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK), the largest excavated Harappan settlement in India, suggests the beginning of occupation at ~5500 years BP (pre-Harappan), and continuation until ~3800 years BP (early part of the Late Harappan period). The settlement rapidly expanded under favourable monsoonal climate conditions when architectural elements such as the Citadel, Bailey, Lower and Middle Town were added between the Early and mid-Mature Harappan periods. Abundant local mangroves grew around the GRK sustaining prolific populations of the edible gastropod Terebralia palustris. Oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) sclerochronology of Early Harappan gastropod shell suggests seasonal mixing of some depleted (δ¹⁸O ~ −12‰) river water in summer/monsoon months (through ancient Saraswati and/or Indus distributary channels) with seawater that periodically inundated the GRK. Evaporation from this semi-enclosed water body during the non-monsoon months enriched the δ¹⁸O of water/shell carbonates. The humid fluvial landscape possibly changed due to a catastrophic drought driving the final collapse of the settlement of Dholavira exactly at the onset of the Meghalayan (Late Holocene) stage (~4300–4100 years BP ). Indeed, Dholavira presents a classic case for understanding how climate change can increase future drought risk as predicted by the IPCC working group. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water Quality Monitoring of Tropical Ponds: Location and Depth Effect in Two Case Studies

The variability in water chemistry of samples taken on a monthly basis (March 1999 to February 2000) from two shallow tropical ponds was studied. The effect of location and pond depth on water chemistry was also examined. The study demonstrated that intraannual variability in nutrient concentration is high. Thus, a high annual sampling frequency is required to provide representative annual mean water quality data. Routine monitoring during the monsoons is important for studies on dissolved oxygen and macrophyte growth. Significant differences were found between the topmost and bottommost points for samples of dissolved oxygen collected from the deepest part of both ponds. For nutrient analysis (nitrogen and phosphorus), sample from any location was found to be representative of the whole pond.     

Geoenvironmental impact analysis of G.B. Pant Sagar reservoir (Rihand Reservoir), U.P. and M.P.

A comparison of aerial photointerpreted data around G.B. Pant Sagar (Rihand Reservoir) for pre-dam (1944) and post-dam (1967) periods and satellite imagery of 1988 shows that slope stability of the hills surrounding the reservoir has not been affected adversely as a result of impounding of the reservoir as no landslides are observed in the area in post-dam period. However, significant changes in the landuse of the area surrounding the reservoir are noticed in the post-dam aerial photographs and satellite imagery. Large areas show decrease in vegetation density as a result of deforestation while the areas bordering the reservoir show increase in vegetation density. The area under cultivation has decreased on the western side due to development of a number of coal fields in post-dam period. Improper management of coal ash disposal from a number of thermal power plants located around the reservoir is causing siltation of the reservoir.