Crystallochemical studies on davidite from Bichun,Jaipur District,Rajasthan, India

Crystallochemical data on metamict davidite from albitites and albitised rocks from the Bichun area (Jaipur district, Rajasthan, India) of Banded Gneissic Complex (BGC) are provided. Davidite occurs as euhedral, subhedral to anhedral crystals in the form of disseminated grains and also as fracture filled veins. The crystals of davidite are up to 8 cm in length and 6 cm in width. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the heat-treated davidite (at \(900{^{\circ }}\hbox {C}\)) reveals well-defined reflections of crystallographic planes. The calculated unit-cell parameters of the heat treated davidite are: \(\hbox {a}_{0} = \hbox {b}_{0} = 10.3556 \, \text {\AA }\) and \(\hbox {c}_{0} = 20.9067 \, \text {\AA }\), with unit-cell volume \(\hbox {(V)} = 1941.6385 \, \text {\AA }^{3}\); and \({\upalpha }={\upbeta }= 90^{\circ }\) and \({\upgamma }= 120^{\circ }\), which are in agreement with the values of davidite standard. Geochemical data reveals that the investigated davidite contains 51.5–52.6% \(\hbox {TiO}_{2}\), 14.8–15.1% \(\hbox {Fe}_{2} \hbox {O}_{3}\), 9.8–10.2% FeO, 6.97–7.12% \(\hbox {U}_{3} \hbox {O}_{8}\), 6.72–6.92% \(\hbox {RE}_{2} \hbox {O}_{3}\), 3.85–3.61% \(\hbox {K}_{2}\hbox {O}\), 0.9–1.4% \(\hbox {Al}_{2} \hbox {O}_{3}\), and 0.8–1.2% \(\hbox {SiO}_{2}\). The calculated structural formulae of the two davidite crystals are: D-1: \(\hbox {K}_{0.0044/0.004} \hbox {Ba}_{0.0044/0.005} \hbox {Ca}_{0.20/0.20} \hbox {Na}_{0.012/0.012} \hbox {Mn}_{0.053/0.053} \hbox {Mg}_{0.14/0.14} \hbox {Pb}_{0.0076/0.008} \hbox {Fe}_{2.675/2.675} \hbox {Fe}_{1.59/1.59} \hbox {Y}_{0.1175/0.118} \hbox {P}_{0.053/0.053} \hbox {Nb}_{0.008/0.008} \hbox {Sn}_{0.001/0.001} \hbox {Zr}_{0.033/0.033} \hbox {U}_{0.468/0.468} \hbox {Th}_{0.009/0.009} \,\,\hbox {REE}_{0.6829/0.683})_{6.05/6.05} (\hbox {Ti}_{12.15/12.15}\,\, \hbox {Fe}_{1.9022/1.903} \hbox {Si}_{0.372/0.372}\,\, \hbox {Al}_{0.517/0.517}\,\, \hbox {Cr}_{0.018/0.018} \hbox {Co}_{0.009/0.009} \hbox {Ni}_{0.027/0.027})_{15/15} \hbox {O}_{36/36} (\hbox {OH}_{0.319/0.319[]1.681/1.681})_{2/2}\) and D-2: \((\hbox {K}_{0.004/0.004} \hbox {Ba}_{0.005/0.005} \hbox {Ca}_{0.20/0.20} \hbox {Na}_{0.012/0.012} \hbox {Mn}_{0.05/0.05} \hbox {Mg}_{0.094/0.094} \hbox {Pb}_{0.007/0.007} \hbox {Fe}_{2.58/2.58} \hbox {Fe}_{1.71/1.71} \hbox {Y}_{0.112/0.112} \hbox {P}_{0.106/0.106} \hbox {Nb}_{0.006/0.006} \hbox {Sn}_{0.001/0.001} \hbox {Zr}_{0.03/0.03} \hbox {U}_{0.48/0.48} \hbox {Th}_{0.009/0.009} \hbox {REE}_{0.665/0.665})_{6.088/6.088} (\hbox {Ti}_{12.48/12.48} \hbox {Fe}_{1.87/1.87} \hbox {Si}_{0.249/0.249} \hbox {Al}_{0.334/0.334} \hbox {Cr}_{0.019/0.019} \hbox {Co}_{0.008/0.008} \hbox {Ni}_{0.04/0.04})_{15/15} \hbox {O}_{36/36} (\hbox {OH}_{0.098/0.098[]1.90/1.90})_{2/2}\). The calculated structural formulae are not fully stoichiometric, which could be due to metamict nature of davidite. The characteristic feature of distribution pattern of REE in davidite is unusually high concentration of LREE and HREE and substantially low content of MREE. It may be due to the occupation of REEs in two distinct crystallographic sites in davidite structure, i.e., M(1) and M(O) sites. Chondrite-normalised plot of davidite reveals a pronounced negative Eu-anomaly (\(\hbox {Eu}/\hbox {Eu}^{*} = 0.30{-}0.39\)), which suggests extremely fractionated nature of the metasomatising fluids from which davidite had crystallized. Metamict davidite-bearing U ores not only from Rajasthan, but also from other parts of India are likely to yield very high U leachability, thereby making them attractive sources of U, which otherwise are ignored by mineral engineers as uneconomic U ores.     

Combination of multi-scale and multi-edge X-ray spectroscopy for investigating the products obtained from the interaction between kaolinite and metallic iron in anoxic conditions at 90 °C

In the context of radioactive waste repository in geological formation, kaolinite-metallic iron interaction in chlorine solution was conducted in batch experiments, under anoxic conditions at 90 °C during 9 months. After a mineralogical characterization at a global scale, products were analyzed at the micrometer and nanometer scales by X-ray absorption spectroscopic techniques (XAS and STXM). Absorption at Al, Si and Fe edges was investigated to have a complete overview of the distribution and status of constituting elements. Whereas Si K-edge results do not evidence significant evolution of silicon status, investigations at Al K-edge and Fe L-edges demonstrate variations at aggregate and particle scales of ^IVAl:^VIAl and Fe²⁺:Fe³⁺ ratios. Spectroscopic data evidence the systematic crystallization of Fe-serpentines onto the remaining particles of kaolinite and the absence of pure species (kaolinite or Fe-serpentines). Combination of spatially resolved spectroscopic analyses and TEM-EDXS elemental distribution aims to calculate unit cell formulae of Fe-serpentines layers and abundance of each species in mixed particles. For most of the investigated particles, results reveal that the variations of particles composition are directly linked to the relative contributions of kaolinite and Fe-berthierine in mixed particles. However, for some particles, microscale investigations evidence crystallization of two other Fe-serpentines species, devoid of aluminum, cronstedtite and greenalite.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000643

Incipient charnockites represent granulite formation on a mesoscopic scale and have received considerable attention in understanding fluid processes in the deep crust.Here we report new petrological data from an incipient charnockite locality at Rajapalaiyam in the Madurai Block,southern India,and discuss the petrogenesis based on mineral phase equilibrium modeling and pseudosection analysis. Rajapalaiyam is a key locality in southern India from where diagnostic mineral assemblages for ultrahigh-temperature（UHT） metamorphism have been reported.Proximal to the UHT rocks are patches and lenses of charnockite（Kfs + Qtz + Pl + Bt + Opx + Grt + Ilm） occurring within Opx-free Grt-Bt gneiss（Kfs + Pl + Qtz + Bt + Grt + Ilm + Mt） which we report in this study.The application of mineral equilibrium modeling on the charnockitic assemblage in NCKFMASHTO system yields a p-T range of～820℃and～9 kbar.Modeling of the charnockite assemblage in the MnNCKFMASHTO system indicates a slight shift of the equilibrium condition toward lower p and T（～760℃and～7.5 kbar）. which is consistent with the results obtained from geothermobarometry（710—760℃,6.7—7.5 kbar）. but significantly lower than the peak temperatures（>1000℃） recorded from the UHT rocks in this locality,suggesting that charnockitization is a post-peak event.The modeling of T versus molar H₂O content in the rock（M（H₂O）） demonstrates that the Opx-bearing assemblage in charnockite and Opxfree assemblage in Grt-Bt gneiss are both stable at M（H₂O） = 0.3 mol%-0.6 mol%.and there is no significant difference in water activity between the two domains.Our finding is in contrast to the previous petrogenetic model of incipient charnockite formation which envisages lowering of water activity and stabilization of orthopyroxene through breakdown of biotite by dehydration caused by the infiltration of CO₂-rich fluid.T-X_Fe³⁺（= Fe₂O₃/（FeO + Fe₂O₃） in mole） pseudosections suggest that the oxidation condition of the rocks played a major role on the stability of orthopyroxene:Opx is stable at X_Fe³⁺ <0.03 in charnockite.while Opx-free assemblage in Grt-Bt gneiss is stabilized at X_Fe³⁺ >0.12.Such low oxygen fugacity conditions of X_Fe³⁺ <0.03 in the charnockite compared to Grt-Bt gneiss might be related to the infiltration of a reduced fluid（e.g.,H₂O + CH₄） during the retrograde stage.     

Fluoride contamination in groundwater resources of Alleppey,southern India

Alleppey is one of the thickly populated coastal towns of the Kerala state in southern India.Groundwater is the main source of drinking water for the 240,991 people living in this region.The groundwater is being extracted from a multi-layer aquifer system of unconsolidated to semi-consolidated sedimentary formations,which range in age from Recent to Tertiary.The public water distribution system uses dug and tube wells.Though there were reports on fluoride contamination,this study reports for the first time excess fluoride and excess salinity in the drinking water of the region.The quality parameters,like Electrical Conductivity(EC) ranges from 266 to 3900 μs/cm,the fluoride content ranges from 0.68 to2.88 mg/L,and the chloride ranges between the 5.7 to 1253 mg/L.The main water types are Na-HC03,NaCO_3 and Na-Cl.The aqueous concentrations of F~- and CO_3~(2-) show positive correlation whereas F~- and Ca~(2+) show negative correlation.The source of fluoride in the groundwater could be from dissolution of fluorapatite,which is a common mineral in the Tertiary sediments of the area.Long residence time,sediment-groundwater interaction and facies changes(Ca-HCO_3 to Na-HCO_3) during groundwater flow regime are the major factors responsible for the high fluoride content in the groundwater of the area.High strontium content and high EC in some of the wells indicate saline water intrusion that could be due to the excess pumping from the deeper aquifers of the area.The water quality index computation has revealed that 62%of groundwater belongs to poor quality and is not suitable for domestic purposes as per BIS and WHO standards.Since the groundwater is the only source of drinking water in the area,proper treatment strategies and regulating the groundwater extraction are required as the quality deterioration poses serious threat to human health.     

Landslide hazard zonation in and around Thodupuzha-Idukki-Munnar road, Idukki district, Kerala: A geospatial approach

Landslide hazard zonation in and around Thodupuzha — Idukki — Munnar road (TM Road) in Idukki district, Kerala, India has been carried out using geospatial techniques. Being a landslide prone area a hazard zonation is attempted using terrain fragility concept. Based on the traverse mapping, slide prone areas and palaeo-slides along the TM road were identified. Precambrian crystallines consisting of hornblende-biotite gneiss, biotite gneiss, granite gneiss, charnockite and pink granites form the main rock types. Factor maps of various terrain parameters such as slope, landuse, relative relief, drainage pattern, drainage density, landform, and surface material were prepared and their integration carried out on a GIS platform. Based on geospatial analyses, the study area (438 sq. km) is ranked into four classes of relative fragility viz. highly fragile (8.25 sq. km), fragile (41.25 sq. km), moderately fragile (232 sq. km) and stable (156.5 sq. km). The first two categories together form 11% of the area, the most hazardous regions, which require immediate mitigation measures for slope protection. The study forms a basis for evolving a strategy for the development of the entire TM road of Idukki district. The fragility concept used in this study is a fast and cost effective model for identifying landslide prone areas, especially in the Western Ghats.     

Analysis of extreme precipitation and its variability under climate change in a river basin

Natural Hazards - This study investigated the variation of extreme precipitation on a catchment under climate change. Extreme value analysis using generalized extreme value distribution was used to...     

Coastal sensitivity assessment for Thiruvananthapuram,west coast of India

The densely populated coastline of Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, along the southwest coast of India, is sensitive to sea surge and severe coastal erosion. The December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami had inundated several parts of this coastal zone, indicating nature of sensitivity. The present study is an attempt to develop a coastal sensitivity index (CSI) for Thiruvananthapuram coast within the framework of coastal sediment cells. Seven variables, namely (a) coastal slope, (b) geomorphology, (c) shoreline change, (d) mean sea-level rise, (e) nearshore slope, (f) significant wave height and (g) mean tide range, were adopted in calculation of CSI (the square root of the product of the ranked variables divided by the number of variables). Remote sensing data, topographic maps supported by field work and data from numerical models are used in geographic information system environment to generate CS index for each kilometer segment of this 76-km coastline. This study reveals that 72 % of the Thiruvananthapuram coastline falls in the high sensitive category. This exercise, first of its kind for Kerala coast will be useful for disaster mitigation and management.