Gypsum–anhydrites in 1.9 Ga Vempalle Formation,Cuddapah basin,India: A note on the Palaeoproterozoic environment and diagenetic condition

The Cuddapah basin consists of generally well-preserved Palaeoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic sedimentary and associated volcanic rocks. The detailed lithological studies of sedimentary rocks of Vempalle Formation from the narrow linear belt of 15 km, in the southern margin, show the occurrence of layered gypsum in the cherty dolostone–shale intercalated facies, red shale and phosphatic dolostone facies of the Vempalle Formation. The petromineralogical studies reveal that gypsum is in close association with anhydrites. Microscopically, three different types of gypsum and anhydrite are identified, viz., lath-shaped, equant-shaped and anhedral-shaped grains. The equant variety corresponds to a granular gypsum, whereas the anhedral grains of gypsum exist as the granular and fibrous variety as seen in the hand specimen. The presence of gypsum/anhydrite has been confirmed by the petromineralogical, X-ray diffraction and chemical analytical data. The phosphatic dolostone is the host rock for stratabound type of uranium deposit at Tummalapalle, Cuddapah district, Andhra Pradesh, which is one of the most unique types of uranium mineralisation in the world. Abundant pseudomorphs of gypsum and anhydrite relicts and discontinuous gypsum layers within these dolostones, nodules of chert and gypsum indicate the interrelationship between the diagenesis and genesis of uranium mineralisation which indicates the carbonate precipitation in the sulphate-rich hypersaline environments.     

A Petrological and Geochemical Account of Subsurface Noritic Intrusion in the Western Part of Bundelkhand Massif,Shivpuri District,M.P.

Subsurface exploration for uranium in the northwestern part of Bundelkhand massif, near Khor area, Shivpuri dist., M.P., resulted in intercepting a substantial thickness of mafic rock within Bundelkhand granitoid. Intercepts of this mafic rock at various levels in the boreholes, indicate that the rock mainly occurs as dykelike intrusion and fracture-fills within Bundelkhand granite. It is essentially composed of hypersthene and plagioclase, with or without olivine, leading to the characterisation as hypersthene microdolerite, noritic dolerite and norite (±olivine), depending on the grainsize and variation from intergranular to ophitic texture. Chemically, the rock is characterised by av. 49.09% SiO₂, 2.46%TiO₂, 2.33 Fe₂O₃, 9.45% FeO, 5.75% MgO, 8.37% CaO and 0.96% K₂O. The normative composition ranges from 3.53% quartz, 46.86% plagioclase, 12.58% diopside, 19.24% hypersthene. The olivine normative samples show av. 5.65% olivine. Geochemical plots indicate an intra-plate affinity along with oceanic signature, while presence of mineralogical and normative olivine, together with the REE pattern, point towards a lower crustal or mantle source. The mineralogical and normative presence of either quartz or olivine in these mafic rocks implies that it has an intermediate character between the tholeiitic dolerite dykes and the komatiite-type ultramafics reported from Bundelkhand craton. The complex geochemical signature of the rocks also reveals that both intra-continental as well as a mixture of oceanic- to upper mantle signatures are evident. The present study is a first time report of the occurrence of this hitherto unknown noritic body at depth within the Bundelkhand granite, which has no visible surface expression. The findings may strengthen the existing concept of a continuum between Rajasthan craton in the west and Bundelkhand craton in the east, as a single protocontinent.     

Effect of relative humidity on the scattering properties of urban aerosol particles

The effect of increase in relative humidity on the angular variation of scattered light intensity distribution function and on asymmetry factor has been studied theoretically for three sizes of particles which are representative of urban aerosols. The increase in relative humidity causes change in physical properties of the particles, like radius (r) and complex refractive index (n?ik). The study is based on these changes in physical characteristics. It has been found that there are almost negligible changes in the functioni at low humidities (≤40%) for all the three aerosol sizes studied, which may be due to insignificant changes in the physical properties. At higher values, however, the physical parameters as well as the functioni show significant changes. The changes ini are systematic for the particle very small compared to the wavelength of incident radiation but for the particles comparable or larger it is not so. The asymmetry factor changes with the increase in relative humidity, for smaller particle it increases and for two larger particles changes are of fluctuative nature.     

Landslide hazards and mitigation measures at Gangtok, Sikkim Himalaya

Landslides and other mass movements are serious geo-environmental hazards in the Himalayas. Massive landslides killing tens of thousands of people with catastrophic damages have occurred in the Eastern Himalayan State of Sikkim, which shares common borders with Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. This paper describes the investigations carried out on recent landslides in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, with emphasis on the triggering mechanisms that have contributed to the release and creep of natural slopes in the region. It is believed that the intense rainfall in the region not only contributes to rapid erosion and weathering of the rock mass, but also increases the groundwater level that leads to reduction in the stability of natural slopes. A landslide instrumentation programme that includes placement of settlement pillars and piezometers is underway to predict the behaviour of landslides in the area.     

A Revised Analytical Method for HCO3- and CO32-Determinations in Geothermal Waters: An Assessment of IAGC and IAEA Interlaboratory Comparisons

A statistical evaluation of the results of HCO₃^‐ determinations in geothermal waters during the interlaboratory comparison programmes of the International Association of Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry (IAGC) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicated that the analytical uncertainty increases with decreasing concentration of HCO_3‐ and was ? 25% for 50 μg ml^‐1 and ? 60% for 25 μg ml^‐1 of HCO₃^‐. The analytical method (Method 1) used by chemists and hydrologists works well for waters containing carbonic alkalinity, whereas Method 2 used by geochemists is conceptually incorrect. A stepwise comparison between the theoretical and experimental titration results for a given concentration Na₂CO₃ (0.0988 mol l^‐1) solution was performed to understand the limitations of the titration method for geothermal water analysis. Backward titration from the carbonic acid equivalence point (H₂CO₃EP) to the original pH after CO₂ removal, as had been practised earlier in the geothermal industry, in order to estimate the contribution of silicic and boric alkalinities to the total alkalinity, is incorrect because the amount of standard base (NaOH) added is equivalent to silicic and boric alkalinities plus some OH^‐ alkalinity. In a Na₂CO₃ solution, the added NaOH is equivalent to OH^‐ alkalinity only. Backward titration is only needed from the forward titration end point to the H₂CO₃EP in order to correct the total alkalinity for the excess of standard acid (HCl) added during the forward titration. In the case of a Na₂CO₃ solution, the H₂CO₃EP, after removal of CO₂ during the forward titration, is at pH = 7, not at pH = 4.5 (3.8) as has been considered in literature. Similarly, the liberation of CO₂ during titration occurs well before the point expected theoretically and it is less for shorter titration time. The revised procedure for the determination of carbonic species concentration is presented and illustrated for a water sample from Alchichica Lake, Puebla, Mexico.     

Numerical Simulation of Explosion in Twin Tunnel System

Rapid growth of urban population in Indian cities have led traffic congestion leading to demand for scientific utilization of underground space. Immediate underground level and deep level underground below the major arterial roads are the sustainable spaces available for meeting the demand of the future traffic/transport. Due to recent increased transit activities it has become one of the soft targets by terrorists or prone to catastrophic accidents in recent years which have increased the importance of rock structures study under explosive loading. In this paper, the response of a underground metro tunnel subjected dynamic loads have been investigated including explosive capacity (30 kg TNT), ground characteristics, liner thickness and blast pressure characteristics. Blast pressure representing CONWEP air blast loading model with positive over pressure phase was applied to lining of tunnel. A three dimensional explicit finite element method was used to analyze dynamic response and damage in twin tunnels of underground metro. It is found that liner of thickness 28 cm will start deforming at the explosive loading of more than 65 kg TNT.     

Assessment of vulnerability zones for ground water pollution using GIS-DRASTIC-EC model: A field-based approach

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution is an essential pre-requisite for better planning of an area. We present the groundwater vulnerability assessment in parts of the Yamuna Nagar District, Haryana State, India in an area of about \(800 \hbox { km}^{2}\), considered to be a freshwater zone in the foothills of the Siwalik Hill Ranges. Such areas in the Lower Himalayas form good groundwater recharge zones, and should always be free from contamination. But, the administration has been trying to promote industrialization along these foothill zones without actually assessing the environmental consequences such activities may invite in the future. GIS-DRASTIC model has been used with field based data inputs for studying the vulnerability assessment. But, we find that inclusion electrical conductivity (EC) as a model parameter makes it more robust. Therefore, we rename it as GIS-DRASTIC-EC model. The model identifies three vulnerability zones such as low, moderate and high with an areal extent of 5%, 80% and 15%, respectively. On the basis of major chemical parameters alone, the groundwater in the foothill zones apparently looks safe, but analysis with the help of GIS-DRASTIC-EC model gives a better perspective of the groundwater quality in terms of identifying the vulnerable areas.     

Fluid inclusion study of the Higher Himalayan quartzitic pelites, Garhwal Himalaya, India: Implications for recrystallization history of metasediments

Quartzitic pelites forms a part of Higher Himalayan Crystalline of higher geotectonic zone in Garhwal Himalaya. Quartzitic pelites (locally known as Pandukeshwar Quartzite) in Garhwal Himalaya is sandwiched between high grade metamorphic rocks of Central Crystallines and Badrinath Formation. Fluid inclusion studies are carried out on the detrital, and recrystallized quartz grains of quartzitic pelites to know about the fluid phases present during recrystallization processes at the time of maximum depth of burial. The quartzitic pelite (Pandukeshwar Quartzite) essentially consists of recrystallised quartz with accessory minerals like mica and feldspar. Fluid microthermometry study reveals the presence of three types of fluids: (i) high-salinity brine, (ii) CO₂-H₂O and (iii) H₂O-NaCl. These fluids were trapped during the development of grain and recrystallization processes. The high saline brine inclusions and CO₂-H₂O fluid with the density of 0.90 to 0.97 gm/cm³ are remnants of provenance area. CO₂ density in detrital quartz grains characterise the protolith of the sandstone as granite or metamorphic rock. The H₂O-NaCl fluids involved in the recrystallization processes at temperature-pressure of 430-350°C; 4.8 to 0.5 Kbars as constrained by fluid isochores of CO₂-H₂O and H₂O-NaCl inclusions and bulging and subgrain development during recrystallization processes. The re-equilibration of the primary fluid due to elevated internal and confining pressure is evident from features like ‘C’ shaped cavities, stretching of the inclusions, their migration and decrepitation clusters. The observed inclusion morphology revealed that the rocks were exhumed along an isothermal decompression path.     

IAGC and IAEA Interlaboratory Comparisons of Geothermal Water Chemistry: The Propagation of Uncertainty in the Reservoir pH Calculation

A statistical evaluation of the results of geochemical analyses of geothermal waters during interlaboratory comparison programmes of the International Association of Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry (IAGC) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was performed to estimate the uncertainty of measurement of pH, electrical conductivity, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca2⁺, Mg²⁺, Li⁺, Cl^?, HCO₃^?, SO₄^2?, SiO₂ and B. The uncertainty of measurement was found to increase exponentially with decrease in value (concentration) for all the parameters except for pH, electrical conductivity and SiO₂ and was of the same order of magnitude as the concentrations for values of less than 1 μ ml^?1. There was an overall uncertainty of ± 2.5% in the measurement of pH and ± 30% in SiO₂. For all the other chemical species the uncertainty data were modelled by exponential curves. The sample IAEA14 was prepared by dissolving commercial reagents (i.e., represents a solution of known composition). Thus, the calculated values are considered to be the conventional true values for each chemical parameter. The difference between the measured mean of the data submitted by participating laboratories and the conventional true value for each parameter (i.e., bias of submitted measurements) for the species Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^? and SO₄^2? was ‐3.5, ‐1.1, ‐13.3, ‐53.6, ‐12.6 and ‐86.6%, respectively. The observed bias was of the same order of magnitude as statistical fluctuations (1s) for Na⁺ and K⁺, but significantly higher for Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^? and SO₄^2?. Two methods, uncertainty interval and GUM (“guide to the expression of uncertainty of measurement”) were used to propagate uncertainty in the pH calculation of geothermal reservoir fluid. The application of the methods is illustrated by considering the IAEA10 and IAEA11 samples analysed in the interlaboratory comparisons as separated geothermal waters at atmospheric pressure.     

Dynamic soil properties and seismic ground response analysis for North Indian seismic belt subjected to the great Himalayan earthquakes

The paper highlights the importance of using site-specific shear modulus reduction (G/G_max versus shear strain, γ) curves and damping ratio (D versus shear strain, γ) curves for ground response analysis. In order to develop comprehensive G/G_max–γ and D–γ curves (i.e. over a wide range of strain level), two types of apparatus, viz. resonant column and cyclic simple shear, have been used. The case study considered the geological deposits from the river beds of Yamuna River originating from the Himalayan seismic zone of North India. The tests results have been analysed to develop G/G_max–γ and D–γ curves and compared with standard curves. It has been observed that upper and lower boundaries for the standard curves are remarkably different for the geological deposit under consideration. In order to assess the impact of using standard curves rather than site-specific curves, ground response analysis has been carried out at five sites along the Yamuna River using two types of curves (standard and site-specific developed in this study). The study showed that the amplification of shear waves at these sites based on the experimentally derived curves is much higher as compared to the standard curves. The proposed curves better represent dynamic behaviour of the soil deposits of the region and will provide a realistic response as far as practically possible, for the structures constructed in the states of Haryana and Delhi and nearby areas. It is anticipated that the data presented in this paper will have wide application and usage.