The Archean Craton of Southern India: Metamorphic evolution and P-T conditions

The Archaean craton of southern India is characterized by a highly complicated and not yet fully understood geological history comprizing several cycles of sedimentation and volcanism, deformation and metamorphism in the span between about 3400 and 2500 m. y. The large scale regional variation in metamorphic grade observed today is essentially related to a metamorphic event at about 2600 m. y. ago which affected an older migmatite, gneiss-greenstone terrain (2900–3400 m. y.).The southern area is characterized by granulite facies (700–750° C/8–10 kb). An extensive charnockite-khondalite belt has been generated by atectonic transformation of the migmatite-gneiss terrain through the influx of a CO₂-rich fluid. Towards the north of the terrain the metamorphic grade decreases to amphibolite facies (600° C/6–8 kb) and to greenschist facies (400° C) which is restricted to the Dharwar greenstone belts. Metamorphism related to younger shear zones in the southern part of the craton led to retrogression of the charnockite-khondalite series under conditions of amphibolite to greenschist facies.The P-T conditions of metamorphism have been evaluated applying mineral stability data and methods of geothermometry and geobarometry in an area between Shimoga-Chitradurga (North) and Coimbatore-Karur (South).

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Zusammenfassung Der archaische Kraton Südindiens ist durch eine komplexe, noch nicht vollständig aufgeklärte geologische Entwicklungsgeschichte gekennzeichnet. Sie umfaßt mehrere Zyklen von Sedimentation und Vulkanismus, Deformation und Metamorphose in der Zeitspanne von etwa 3400 bis 2500 Ma. Die großregionale metamorphe Zonierung wird im wesentlichen als das Ergebnis eines Metamorphose-Ereignisses vor ca. 2600 Ma angesehen, das den gesamten archaischen Komplex aus granitoiden Gneisen, Migmatiten und Greenstone-Serien erfaßte.Das südliche Gebiet ist durch Bedingungen der Granulitfazies (700–750° C/8–10 kb) charakterisiert. Hier entstand eine ausgedehnte Charnockit-Khondalit-Zone durch post-tektonische Umwandlung der Migmatit-Gneisserien infolge Zufuhr einer CO₂-reichen fluiden Phase. Nach Norden zu nimmt der Metamorphosegrad bis zur niedrigtemperierten Amphibolitfazies (600° C/6–8 kb) und in den Dharwar-Greenstone Belts sogar bis zur Grünschieferfazies (400° C) ab.Eine jüngere Metamorphose von Amphibolit-bis Grünschieferfazies ist auf proterozoische Scherzonen beschränkt. Im südlichen Gebiet führte sie zu einer örtlich unterschiedlich intensiven retrograden Überprägung der Charnockit-Khondalit-Serie.Die P-, T-Bedingungen der Regionalmetamorphose wurden anhand von Mineralstabilitätsdaten und mit Methoden der Geothermometrie und Geobarometrie für das Gebiet zwischen Shimoga-Chitradurga (Norden) und Coimbatore-Karur (Süden) abgeleitet.

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Résumé Le craton archéen de l'Inde méridionale est caractérisé par une évolution géologique complexe et mal connue. Elle comprend plusieurs cycles de sédimentation et de volcanisme, de déformation et métamorphisme d'une durée d'environ 3400 jusqu'à 2500 Ma.La variation du degré de métamorphisme observée aujourd'hui est considérée comme le résultat d'un épisode de métamorphisme datant d'environ 2600 Ma, qui a affecté l'ensemble du domaine archéen composé de granitoïdes et de ceintures de roches vertes.La région méridionale de craton est caractérisée par le faciès granulite (700–750 °C/ 8–10 kb). Une zone étendue de charnockites et khondalites est le produit d'une transformation postdéformative résultant de l'apport d'une phase fluide riche en CO₂. Vers le nord le degré de métamorphisme décroit jusqu'au faciès amphibolites (600 °C/6–8 kb) et même jusqu'au faciès schistes verts (400 °C) dans les ceintures dharwariennes de roches vertes.Un épisode tardif de métamorphisme de faciès amphibolites et schistes verts est limité aux zones à décollement intense d'âge protérozoïque. Dans la région méridionale il s'est produit un rétromorphisme des roches granulitiques dans la zone des charnockites et khondalites.Les conditions de pression et température ont été déduites de l'application de données sur la stabilité des minéraux et de méthodes de géothermométrie et de géobarométrie pour la région entre Shimoga-Chitradurga (nord) et Coimbatore-Karur (sud).

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, . , , 3400 2500 . , , 2600 , , , . (700–750 °, 8–10 ). / - , ₂. (600 °, 6–8 ) Dharwar (400 °). . / , . , Shimoga-Chitradurga () Coimbatore-Karur ().

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The present study is part of a joint project of Benaras Hindu University at Varanasi and University of Kiel. Financial Support by the Deustche Forschungsgemeinschaft is gratefully acknowledged.

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We especially thank M. N. Viswanatha, Geological Survey of India, for his cooperation during the field work.     

Actinometric determination of turbidity parameters in India

Summary A study of the wavelength exponent of aerosol scattering in the Ångström relation for extinction by aerosol has been made from the ground-based measurments of direct solar radiation using Ångström pyrheliometer with and without Schott filters. It has been observed that in India, mainly for the middle part of the year this exponent is zero or even negative which means that the aerosol scattering is nearly neutral which is in marked contrast with the condition prevailing in middle latitudes. It is evident from the -values that the aerosol size distribution in India is far different from that prevailing in middle latitudes. At four representative stations in India, the values of the wavelength exponent and the atmospheric turbidity coefficient have been determined using the method introduced byÅngström [1,2]) and are discussed here.     

Biofilm Formation by Microorganisms Isolated from Paper Mill Effluent and its Public Health Implications

The microbiological assessment of biofilm formation from paper mill effluent discharged through a pipeline revealed a maximum microbial count for Pseudomonas (5·10⁶ cfu/mL) followed by Staphylococcus (4·10⁶ cfu/mL), Bacillus (8.2·10⁵ cfu/mL), Burkholderia (7.2·10⁵ cfu/mL), Enterobacter (5.3·10⁴ cfu/mL), Acinetobacter (4.1·10³ cfu/mL), Alcaligenes (1.2·10² cfu/mL) and Klebsiella (0.8·10² cfu/mL) species. Among these species, the maximum biofilm formation was observed after 24 h of incubation by Pseudomonas sp. using a crystal violet (CV) assay. This isolate was later identified by 16S rRNA amplification to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa PME1. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of P. aeruginosa PME1 in the biofilm showed a reduction in total carbohydrate content (42%) with increased protein (9.0%), hexosamine (3.0%) and uronic acid (1.7%) content as compared to its planktonic form. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that P. aeruginosa PME1 biofilms were 17, 24, 27, 30, and 32 times more resistant to cefotaxime, imipenem, ceftazidime, tazobactam and piperacillin, respectively, than their free flowing counterparts.     

Analysis of fractures inferred from DBTM and remotely sensed data for groundwater development in godavari sub-watershed, Giridih, Bihar

Godavari sub-watershed is a part of buried pediplain developed over ‘Chotanagpur’ granite gneiss. Aquifer is unconfined in nature and groundwater occurs under water table condition. In the study area, groundwater is being exploited only through dugwells which are not capable of sustaining long duration pumping. Groundwater exploration involves the investigation of depth and nature of weathered and fractured horizon. To understand the groundwater storage and retrieval in the area, the basement topography derived from Digital Basement Topography Modelling (DBTM), the lineaments identified on remotely sensed data and geohydrological and physiographic data have been analysed. From DBTM, fracture zones have also been inferred. Lineaments (probable fractures) identified with the help of remotely sensed data are linear features representated on a planner surface. Lineaments in the area are subtle in expression due to deeply buried pediplian. Correlation of lineaments with DBTM reveals that a few lineaments/fractures are deep seated and a few have no sub-surface extensions. Also some sub-surface fractures inferred from DBTM have no expressions on the image. Attempt has been made to delineate more authentic lineaments/fractures with the help of remotely sensed data and DBTM. Correlation of probable fractures inferred from remotely sensed data and fracture zones inferred from DBTM indicated that 40 per cent of lineaments seems to be real fractures. Higher correlation may be achieved where lineaments are prominent and reproducible. It has also been observed that those lineaments which correlate with the fracture zones inferred from DBTM, are also not completely traceable in their linear extent. The exaggeration in length of lineaments may be due to subtle nature of lineaments. Correlation shows that remotely sensed lineaments are improtant for groundwater exploration and its authenticity can be further ascertained with DBTM.     

Glauconites from the Late Palaeocene — Early Eocene Naredi Formation,western Kutch and their genetic implications

Glauconitic minerals are considered as one of the valuable input parameters in sequence stratigraphic analysis of a basin. In the present study glauconitic minerals are reported from subtidal green shale facies in the lower part of the Late Paleocene-Early Eocene Naredi Formation of western Kutch. On the basis of the foraminiferal assemblage the glauconite bearing beds are interpreted to have formed in a mid shelf depositional settings of an unstable marine conditions. XRD studies confirm the glauconite mineralogy of the green pellets and provide an estimation of glauconite maturity. Textural attributes of the glauconites confirm their derivation by different degrees of alteration of precursor feldspar grains. Because of the authigenic origin and autochthonous nature, these glauconites hold promise for understanding sequence stratigraphy of the Palaeogene succession of the western Kutch.     

Application of soft computing techniques for shallow foundation reliability in geotechnical engineering

This research focuses on the application of three soft computing techniques including Minimax Probability Machine Regression(MPMR),Particle Swarm Optimization based Artificial Neural Network(ANN-PSO)and Particle Swarm Optimization based Adaptive Network Fuzzy Inference System(ANFIS-PSO)to study the shallow foundation reliability based on settlement criteria.Soil is a heterogeneous medium and the involvement of its attributes for geotechnical behaviour in soil-foundation system makes the prediction of settlement of shallow a complex engineering problem.This study explores the feasibility of soft computing techniques against the deterministic approach.The settlement of shallow foundation depends on the parametersγ(unit weight),e0(void ratio)and CC(compression index).These soil parameters are taken as input variables while the settlement of shallow foundation as output.To assess the performance of models,different performance indices i.e.RMSE,VAF,R^2,Bias Factor,MAPE,LMI,U(95),RSR,NS,RPD,etc.were used.From the analysis of results,it was found that MPMR model outperformed PSO-ANFIS and PSO-ANN.Therefore,MPMR can be used as a reliable soft computing technique for non-linear problems for settlement of shallow foundations on soils.