Evaluation of relief aspects morphometric parameters derived from different sources of DEMs and its effects over time of concentration of runoff (T<Subscript>C</Subscript>)

An attempt has been made to study the relief aspects from three different sources of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) viz., Survey of India (SOI) topographic map (1:25,000), Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM-90 m and SRTM-30 m) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER-30 m). These aspects are evaluated to examine differences among them and their influence on time of concentration (T_C) of runoff at Moolbari Experimental Watershed (MEW), Sub Himalayan region (Shimla, District of Himachal Pradesh) India. For detailed study of relief aspects, morphometry parameters, SOI topographic map (as base map) were used. The results show that the relief aspects morphometric parameters derived from the SRTM_30m and ASTER_30m lie between SOI topographic map, and SRTM_90m. We estimated T_C of 21 micro watersheds from different sources DEMs by using Kirpich, Johnstone, Témez, and Barnsby equation only. Témez and Barnsby equation demonstrate high potential for the identification of T_C from SOI Topographic map, SRTM_90m, ASTER and SRTM_30m DEMs. T_{C_Topo} has a positive relationship with T_C__SRTM90m, T_C__ASTER and T_C__SRTM30m for both Témez, and Barnsby equation with R²=0.804_{Topo & SRTM90m}, 0.810_{Topo & ASTER} & 0.839_{Topo & SRTM30m} and 0.712_{Topo & SRTM90m}, 0.747 _{Topo & ASTER} & 0.785 _{Topo & SRTM30m}. Further statistical test of Témez, and Barnsby equation based T_C, only Témez equation based T_C qualify/satisfy the statistical test. by considering all freeware DEMs a Semi-empirical model (SEM) has been developed, where T_C predicted in term of T_C__Topo is a function of T_{C_SRTM90m}, T_{C_ASTER} and T_{C_SRTM30m}. This SEM has R²=0.883 and adjusted R= 0.874, Multiple R=0.907 and with Standard Error =2.131 at 95% confidence level. Comparison of the T_C derived from the multiple regressions among three DEMs with T_C__Topo shows an RMSE of 3.803, R-RMSE of 0.169, NRMSE of 0.342, R² of 0.89, and RMSE% of 3.296 for Témez equation.     

Biogenic wad in Iron Ore Group of rocks of Bonai-Keonjhar belt,Orissa

Outcrop of wad, about 3–5 m thick, associated with low to medium-grade manganese ore deposits in Iron Ore Group (IOG), is present in large quantum in Bonai-Keonjhar belt, Orissa. It is often inter-bedded with volcanic ash layers. Wad is powdery, fine grained, black to blackish-brown in colour, very soft, readily soils the fingers and its hardness on the Mohs’ hardness scale is 1–3. The wad zone is capped by a thin lateritic zone and overlies manganese ore beds of variable thickness in Dalki, Guruda and Dubna mines. Wad constitutes two mineral phases, viz. manganese oxides (δ-MnO₂, manganite, romanechite with minor pyrolusite) and iron oxides (goethite/limonite and hematite) with minor clay and free quartz. Mixed limonite-clay and cryptomelane-limonite are commonly observed. Under microscope the ore appears oolitic, pisolitic, elipsoidal to globular in shape having small detritus of quartz, pyrolusite / romanechite and hematite at the core. The ore contains around 23% Mn and 28% Fe with ～7% of combined alumina and silica. Wad might have developed in a swampy region due to slow chemical precipitation of Fe-Mn-Co enriched fluid, nucleating over quartz/hematite grains. Influence of a marine environment is indicated from δ-MnO₂ phase. Remnants of some microfossils, like algal filament, bacteria, foraminifera and diatomite are observed in wad sample under SEM. These microorganisms might have been responsible for the oxidation of dissolved Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ precipitates. These findings suggest biochemogenic origin of wad in Bonai-Keonjhar belt of Orissa.     

California Bearing Ratio and Brazilian Tensile Strength of Mine Overburden–Fly Ash–Lime Mixtures for Mine Haul Road Construction

The production and utilization of coal is based on well-proven and widely used technologies. Fly ash, a coal combustion byproduct, has potential to produce a composite material with controlled and superior properties. The major challenges with the production of fly ash are in its huge land coverage, adverse impact on environment etc. It puts pressure on the available land particularly in a densely populated country like India. In India the ash utilization percentage has not been very encouraging in spite of many attempts. Stabilization of fly ash is one of the methods to transfer the waste material into a safe construction material. This investigation is a step in that direction. This paper presents the results of an investigation on compressive strength and bearing ratio characteristics of surface coal mine overburden material and fly ash mixes stabilized with lime for coal mine haul road construction. Tests were performed with different percentages of lime (2, 3, 6 and 9%). The effects of lime content and curing period on the bearing ratio and tensile strength characteristics of the stabilized overburden and fly ash mixes are highlighted. Unconfined compressive strength test results cured for 7, 28 and 56 days are presented to develop correlation between different tensile strengths and unconfined compressive strength. Empirical models are developed to estimate bearing ratio and tensile strength of mine overburden–fly ash–quick lime mixtures from unconfined compressive strength test results.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987113000388

The AravallieDelhi and Satpura Mobile Belts(ADMB and SMB)and the Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt(EGMB)in India form major Proterozoic mobile belts with adjoining cratons and contemporary basins.The most convincing features of the ADMB and the SMB have been the crustal layers dipping from both sides in opposite directions,crustal thickening(w45 km)and high density and high conductivity rocks in upper/lower crust associated with faults/thrusts.These observations indicate convergence while domal type refectors in the lower crust suggest an extensional rifting phase.In case of the SMB,even the remnant of the subducting slab characterized by high conductive and low density slab in lithospheric mantle up to w120 km across the PurnaeGodavari river faults has been traced which may be caused by fuids due to metamorphism.Subduction related intrusives of the SMB south of it and the ADMB west of it suggest NeS and EeW directed convergence and subduction during MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence.The simultaneous EeW convergence between the Bundelkhand craton and Marwar craton(Western Rajasthan)across the ADMB and the NeS convergence between the Bundelkhand craton and the Bhandara and Dharwar cratons across the SMB suggest that the forces of convergence might have been in a NEeSW direction with EeW and NeS components in the two cases,respectively.This explains the arcuate shaped collision zone of the ADMB and the SMB which are connected in their western part.The Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt(EGMB)also shows signatures of E eW directed MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence with East Antarctica similar to ADMB in north India.Foreland basins such as Vindhyan(ADMBeSMB),and Kurnool(EGMB)Supergroups of rocks were formed during this convergence.Older rocks such as Aravalli(ADMB),MahakoshaleBijawar(SMB),and Cuddapah(EGMB)Supergroups of rocks with several basic/ultrabasic intrusives along these mobile belts,plausibly formed during an earlier episode of rifting during PaleoeMesoproterozoic period.They are highly disturbed and deformed due to subsequent MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence.As these Paleoproterozoic basins are characterized by large scale basic/ultrabasic intrusives that are considerably wide spread,it is suggested that a plume/superplume might have existed under the Indian cratons at that time which was responsible for the breakup of these cratons.Further,the presence of older intrusives in these mobile belts suggests that there might have been some form of convergence also during Paleoproterozoic period.     

Study of soil gas radon variations in the tectonically active Dharamshala and Chamba regions,Himachal Pradesh,India

Soil gas radon measurements were made in Chamba and Dharamshala regions of Himachal Pradesh, India, to study the correlation, if any, between the soil gas radon, radium activity concentration of soil, and the geology/active tectonics of the study region. Soil gas radon surveys were conducted around the local fault zones to check their tectonic activities using the soil gas technique. Soil gas radon activity concentration at thirty-five different locations in Dharamshala region has been found to be varying from 13.2 ± 1.5 to 110.8 ± 5.0 kBq m^?3 with a geometrical mean of 35.9 kBq m^?3 and geometrical standard deviation of 1.8. Radon activity concentration observed in the thirty-seven soil gas samples collected from the Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh varies from 5.2 ± 1.0 to 35.6 ± 2.5 kBq m^?3, with geometrical mean of 15.8 kBq m^?3 and geometrical standard deviation of 1.6. Average radium activity concentrations in thirty-four soil samples collected from different geological formations of Dharamshala region and Chamba region are found to be 40.4 ± 17 and 38.6 ± 1.7 Bq kg^?1, respectively. It has been observed that soil gas radon activity concentration has a wide range of variation in both Dharamshala and Chamba regions, while radium activity concentrations in soil samples are more or less same in both the regions. Moreover, soil gas radon activity concentration has a better positive correlation with the radium activity concentration in soil samples collected from Chamba region as compared to Dharamshala region.     

Bianchi type VI h perfect fluid cosmological model in f(R,T) theory

In this paper, we have investigated Bianchi type VI _h cosmological model filled with perfect fluid in the framework of f(R,T) gravity, where R is the Ricci scalar and T is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor proposed by Harko et al. (Phys. Rev. D 84:024020, 2011). We have obtained the cosmological models by solving the field equations. Some physical behaviors of the model are also studied.