Baseline of organotin pollution in fishes, clams, shrimps, squids and crabs collected from the west coast of India

Organotins, especially tributyltins (TBT) are highly toxic to many marine organisms. These compounds are introduced in marine waters by ship trafficking, ship scrapping activities, as antifouling compounds and sewage disposal. Marine fishes, crustaceans and molluscans are easily prone to organotins contamination. In view of this, a baseline monitoring study was conducted in order to establish the levels of organotins in edible marine fishes, bivalves, shrimps, squids and crabs collected from Mumbai, Goa and Karwar on the west coast of India. At these locations average organotin concentration found in fishes, clams, shrimps, squids and crabs was 108, 852, 179, 70 and 89 ng Sn g⁻¹ dw, respectively. In all the samples butyltins dominated over phenyltins. The levels of organotins suggest that all the organisms were contaminated with organotins and their consumption may pose health problems to humans.     

Characterization of bauxite deposits from Kachchh Area,Gujarat

The bauxites deposits of Kachchh area in Gujarat are investigated to characterize them based on mineralogical and petrographic studies. The major bauxitic mineral in these occurrences is gibbsite, with minor concentration of boehmite and diaspore. Apart from the bauxitic minerals, the other associate minerals are kaolin, calcite, alunite and the iron ore minerals such as hematite and goethite and titanium rich anatase. The iron ore minerals (hematite and goethite) are 10-50microns in size and are disseminated throughout the oolitic and pisolitic bauxitic minerals. At places the goethite exhibits colloform texture. The preservation of basaltic texture in some of the samples indicate that the insitu nature of these bauxites, which are formed by the alteration of calcic plagioclase from the parent basalt. Although, the basalt occurs as the main parent rock for these bauxites, the presence of calcite in some of the samples represent the possibility of having a limestone parent rock at least in some of the bauxite occurrences.     

Potential of satellite data in delineation of wastelands and correlation with ground information

In the present study an attempt has been made to delineate the wastelands at microlevel in Matar taluka of Kheda district. IRS OSS II digital data of 1991 has been used for the study which was analysed on VAX 11/780 image processing system. The digital data was classified following supervised classification algorithm. The three types of wastelands namely waterlogged, pasture/grazing and salt affected lands could be identified and mapped. The area statistics for the different wasteland categories present in the taluka were generated. Chemical analysis was also carried out for soils collected from different categories of wastelands to understand the exact nature of soils of each category.     

Characterization of hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusion in sandstones of Jaisalmer basin, Rajasthan: A preliminary approach

The quartz grains from the sandstone of Jaisalmer, Pariwar and Goru Formations of the Jaisalmer basin, Rajasthan, India, exhibits a variety of primary and secondary fluid inclusions. Most of them are hydrocarbon bearing fluid inclusions. Laser Raman studies indicate that the primary fluid inclusions were mostly having aliphatic hydrocarbons with lower degree of maturity, while the secondary fluid inclusions were generally with aliphatic as well as aromatic hydrocarbons with higher degree of maturity. This inference was consistent with their fluorescence characteristics. The homogenization temperatures of primary monophase CH₄ rich fluid inclusions varied from ?80°C to ?100°C, whereas the primary biphase fluid inclusions (CH₄-CO₂) homogenized between +80°C and +150°C. The secondary petroleum rich monophase fluid inclusions were having homogenization temperature between ?80°C to ?90°C, whereas the secondary biphase fluid inclusions homogenized between +130°C and +180°C. Most of the secondary biphase fluid inclusions were having the mixtures of H₂O-CO₂-NaCl, and were identified on the basis clathrate formation and they got homogenized between +140°C and + 250 °C. The three past events of migration of petroleum inferred in the host rock which were marked by the presence of characteristic secondary fluid inclusions. They were identified on the basis of cross-cutting relationships of different trails of fluid inclusions in the quartz. The cement generation in the basin might have been occurred in two stages as per the fluid inclusion petrography.     

Tectonic geomorphology in parts of Koyna region,Maharashtra

Geomorphic signatures in parts of Koyna region were analysed using satellite images and morphometric indices (stream length gradient index and valley width to height ratio) with limited field checks in key areas for understanding the role of tectonics in this seismically active zone. The Koyna River zone, particularly downstream of Koyna dam wall up to Kajali Nadi, is characterised by incised narrow valleys, steep escarpments and structurally controlled drainage. Presence of knick points at consistent elevations between 825 m to 675 m, steep gradients in an otherwise gradual longitudinal profile and valley width to height ratio less than 1.0 suggest readjustment of the streams along NW-SE and N-S directions. The escarpment slopes in general have en echelon arcuate ridge pattern ～ N45°-N 225° in the western part, and then becomes ～N 10°- N 190° near Donachiwadi, almost orthogonal to the E-W Koyna River. The Donachiwadi fault runs parallel to the escarpment slopes observed near Kodoli. The fluvial system in Koyna thus indicates rejuvenation controlled by basement propagated structures.     

Low-density CO2-rich fluid inclusions from charnockites of southwestern Madurai Granulite Block, southern India; implications on graphite mineralization

Characterization of fluid inclusions in graphite-bearing charnockites from the southwestern part of the Madurai Granulite Block in southern India reveals a probable relation with the formation and break down of graphite during the high-grade metamorphism. The first-generation monophase pure CO₂ inclusions, the composition of which is confirmed by laser Raman spectroscopy, recorded moderate density (0.77–0.87 g/cc) corresponding to low tapping pressure (around 2 kb) than that of the peak granulite-facies metamorphism. The precipitation of graphite, as inferred from graphite inclusions and δ¹³C values of the graphite from the outcrops, is interpreted as the cause of this lowering of fluid density. An intermediate generation of pseudosecondary inclusions resulted from the re-equilibration or modification of the first-generation fluids and the CO₂ formed is interpreted to be the oxidation product from graphite. The youngest generation of fluids which caused widespread retrogression of the granulites is a low-temperature (350 °C) high-saline (32.4–52.0 wt% NaCl equivalent) brine. Carbon isotope data on the graphite from the charnockites show δ¹³C values ranging from −11.3 to −19.9‰, suggesting a possibility of mixing of carbon sources, relating to earlier biogenic and later CO₂ fluid influx. Combining the information gathered from petrologic, fluid inclusion and carbon stable isotope data, we model the fluid evolution in the massive charnockites of the southwestern Madurai Granulite Block.     

Forest working plan inputs through high resolution space photographs—A case study in Dangs forest,Gujarat

For scientific management of forests, working plans are prepared for each forest division in India. Majority of forest type or density mapping in India has been carried out using space borne data at a scale of 1∶1 m or 1∶250,000. A forest compartment, (100–400 ha) the smallest management unit can be delineated atleast on 1∶50,000 or 1∶63,360 scale by using space borne data. In this paper, an attempt has been made to use high resolution MKF-6 and KATE-140 data obtained during SALYUT-7 overpass in April 1984 for providing information at compartment level. This paper describes mapping done for entire Dangs forest showing different density classes in different working circles and ranges. Classification accuracy was found to be 90% at 95 confidence limit.     

Response surface methodology mediated optimization of Remazol Orange decolorization in plain distilled water by Pseudomonas aeruginosa BCH

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa BCH decolorized and degraded the sulphonated azo dye Remazol Orange in plain distilled water. The effects of different parameters, i.e. pH, temperature and cell mass concentration on the biodegradation of dye in aqueous phase was evaluated using response surface methodology. Optimization was carried out using three-level Box–Behnken design. Predicted values were found to be in good agreement with experimental values (R ² 0.9997 and pred R ² 0.9984), which indicated suitability of the employed model and the success of response surface methodology. Optimum dye decolorization was maximized and the favourable conditions were pH 7.43, temperature 29.39 °C and cell mass concentration 2.88 g l^?1, which resulted in 96.01 % decolorization within 5 h. It was validated from the predicted response (97.37 %). According to the analysis of variance results, the proposed model can be used to navigate the design space. 3D plot analysis disclosed the significant interaction between all three tested factors on decolorization process. The combinations of the three variables predicted during response surface methodology were confirmed through confirmatory experiments. Observations indicated that higher cell mass accelerated the decolorization process. Degradation of the dye was verified through high performance liquid chromatography analysis. Phytotoxicity studies carried out with dye and dye metabolites using Phaseolus mungo, Triticum aestivum and Sorghum vulgare indicated the detoxification of dye.