A HFSE- and REE-enriched ferrodiorite suite from the Bolangir Anorthosite Complex, Eastern Ghats Belt, India

The massif-type anorthosite complex at Bolangir in the northern part of the Eastern Ghats belt occurs in a milieu of predominantly supracrustal granulite-grade rocks. The massif is separated from the host gneisses by coarse-grained garnetiferous granitoid gneisses which are interpreted as coeval crustallyderived melts. Melanocratic ferrodiorite rocks occur at the immediate contact with the anorthosite massif which they intrude in cross-cutting dikes and sheets. The emplacement age of the anorthosite diapir and the associated igneous suites is deemed to be pre-D₂. Recrystallization of the igneous assemblages of the ferrodiorite suite (750–800°C, 7–8kbar, ) during a period of near-isobaric cooling from the igneous crystallization stage to the regionalP-T regime led to extensive development of coronitic garnet at the interface of plagioclase phenocrysts with the mafic matrix assemblage (opx + fay + cpx + ilm ± amph, bio). Abundant accessory phases are zircon, apatite and thorite. The mafic phases have extremely ferrous compositions (X_Fe gar: 0.93-0.87, fay: 0.90-0.87, opx: 0.80-0.60, cpx: 0.70-0.47, amph: 0.81-0.71) reflecting the low Mg-number (16-8) of the rocks. Compared to worldwide occurrences of similar rocks, the Bolangir ferrodiorites (SiO₂ 36–58 wt.%, FeO*: 39-10 wt.%) are characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of HFSE and REE (TiO₂: 4.8-1.0 wt.%, P₂O₅: 1.7-0.5 wt.%, Zr: 5900-1300 ppm, Y: 240-80 ppm, La: 540-100 ppm, Ce: 1100-200 ppm, Yb: 22-10 ppm, Th: 195-65 ppm). Well defined linear variation trends for major and trace elements reflect progressive plagioclase accumulation towards the felsic members of the suite. The ferrodiorites are interpreted to represent residual liquids of anorthosite crystallization which after segregation and extraction from the ascending diapir became enriched in HFSE and REE through selective assimilation of accessory phases (zircon, monazite, apatite) from crustal felsic melts. Ferromonzodioritic rock presumably formed through hybridization between the ferrodiorite and overlying felsic melts.     

The origin of chloritoid – 3‐mica pseudomorph growth in staurolite–muscovite schist,Bangriposi (Eastern India)

At Bangriposi, variable stages in replacement of staurolite by chloritoid – Na–K–Ca mica shimmer aggregates in muscovite schists provides insight into the complex interplay between fluid flow, mass transfer, and dissolution–precipitation during pseudomorph growth. Idioblastic chloritoid growing into mica caps without causing visible deformation, and monomineralic chloritoid veins (up to 300 μm wide) within shimmer aggregates replacing staurolite attest to chloritoid nucleation in fluid‐filled conduits along staurolite grain boundaries and crystallographic planes. The growth of shimmer aggregates initiated along staurolite margins, and advanced inwards into decomposing staurolite along networks of crystallographically controlled fluid‐filled conduits. Coalescence among alteration zones adjacent to channel fills led to dismemberment and the eventual demise of staurolite. Mass balance calculation within a volume‐fixed, silica‐conserved reference frame indicate the shimmer aggregates grew via precipitation from fluids in response to mass transport that led to the addition of H₂O, K₂O, Na₂O and CaO in the reaction zone, and Al₂O₃ was transported outward from the inward‐retreating margin of decomposing staurolite. This aided precipitation of chloritoid in veins and in the outer collars, and as disseminated grains in the shimmer aggregates at mid‐crustal condition (~520 ± 20 °C, 5.5 ± 2.0 kbar). Computation using one‐dimensional transport equation suggests that staurolite decomposition involved advection dominating over diffusive transport; the permeation of externally derived H₂O caused flattening of chemical potential gradients in H₂O and aqueous species, for example, and , computed using the Gibbs method. This suggests that staurolite decomposition was promoted by the infiltration of a large volume of H₂O that flattened existing chemical potential gradients. In the initial stages of replacement, chloritoid super‐saturation in fluid caused preferential nucleation and growth of chloritoid at staurolite grain boundaries and in crystallographic planes. As reaction progressed, further chloritoid nucleation was halted, but chloritoid continued to grow as the 3‐mica aggregates continued to replace the remaining staurolite in situ, while the chloritoid‐compatible elements were transported in the water‐rich phase facilitating continued growth of the existing chloritoid grains.     

The formation of superdense gaseous cores in the nuclei of disk galaxies: II

In a previous paper (hereafter referred to as Paper I) we have tried to show that superdense cores in the nuclei of disk galaxies can be formed by accretion of gas ejected by the evolved stars which populate the central bulge of these galaxies. Solving the equations for radial flow of a magnetized gas, we found that the accretion of an explodable mass at the core can be achieved over a time-scale ranging from a few times 10⁷ and a few times 10⁸ yr. It was shown, however, that the accretion process is seriously inhibited if the gas possesses sufficient rotational velocity but lacks any dissipative, mechanism within the system. Since rotational velocity is an observed parameter of the stars which shed the gas to be accreted, one must consider the existence of some dissipative force in it in order that the accretion process may be efficient. In the present paper, therefore, we have solved the problem of the flow of a rotating, viscous (variable), magnetized gas. With plausible assumptions regarding some of the parameters involved, the time-scale for the accretion of an explodable mass (10⁹ M ) at the core again turns out to be ranging between a few times 10⁷ and a few times 10⁸yr. Such time-scale has been proposed by several authors as that for repeated explosions in nuclei of these galaxies. It has also been proposed by many authors that the spiral arms are generated and destroyed in disk galaxies over the same time-scale. Our solution also yields a nearly linear rotational velocity law which is usually observed in the central regions of these galaxies.     

On short period signals obtained from explosions within the earth

Summary Propagation of dilational waves in radial directions from a spherical cavity in a medium with velocity varying periodically with distance has been considered. It has been shown that when the wave-length of the propagating wave is twice the wave-length of variation of the velocity in the medium the displacement even at a large distance is very great.     

Bearing capacity of two interfering strip footings from lower bound finite elements limit analysis

A rigorous lower bound solution, with the usage of the finite elements limit analysis, has been obtained for finding the ultimate bearing capacity of two interfering strip footings placed on a sandy medium. Smooth as well as rough footing–soil interfaces are considered in the analysis. The failure load for an interfering footing becomes always greater than that for a single isolated footing. The effect of the interference on the failure load (i) for rough footings becomes greater than that for smooth footings, (ii) increases with an increase in ?, and (iii) becomes almost negligible beyond S/B > 3. Compared with various theoretical and experimental results reported in literature, the present analysis generally provides the lowest magnitude of the collapse load. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parmanu-Gunak: Data Reduction Software for Isotope Dilution Analysis

Isotope dilution (ID) is a widely used analytical technique to determine elemental abundance to a high degree of accuracy and precision, using a spiked isotope tracer. This technique also enables efficient correction of the inevitable phenomenon of analytical mass fractionation during mass spectrometric analysis. It is also used to determine stable isotope variations of an element in a sample relative to a reference material, using tracers enriched in two isotopes (popularly known as the double spike method). Isotope dilution data reduction can be performed in Microsoft® Excel™ using different algorithmic approaches. Additional software such as iolite and MATLAB® offer algorithm implementations to perform these calculations. These are however limited to use within particular laboratories/research groups, or either require additional cost-bound software or some degree of knowledge in computer programming languages for use, or all of these. To ease this situation, a graphical user interface-based software is proposed (here named Parmanu-Gunak, meaning Atom-Calculator in Sanskrit text) to invert both single and double spiked isotope data, with the aim of making it a standard tool for ID data reduction. Examples of Nd and Mo isotopes are used to demonstrate the robustness of the program.     

Concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment cores of Sundarban mangrove wetland, northeastern part of Bay of Bengal (India)

The paper presents the first comprehensive survey of congener profiles (12 congeners) of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in core sediment samples (<63 microm) covering seven sites in Sundarban mangrove wetland (India). Gas-chromatographic analyses were carried out in GC-Ms/Ms for tri- to hepta- brominated congeners. Results pointed out a non-homogenous contamination of the wetland with summation operator(12) PBDE values ranging from 0.08 to 29.03 ngg(-1), reflecting moderate to low contamination closely in conformity to other Asian aquatic environments. The general order of decreasing congener contribution to the total load was: BDE 47>99>100>154, similar to the distribution pattern worldwide. Although tetrabromodiphenyl ether BDE 47 was found in all samples followed by hexabromodiphenyl ether BDE-154, they were not necessarily the dominant congeners. No uniform temporal trend on PBDE levels was recorded probably due to particular hydrological characteristics of the wetland and/on non-homologous inputs from point sources (untreated municipal wastewater and local industries, electronic wastes from the dump sites, etc.) of these compounds. Because of the propensity of PBDEs to accumulate in various compartments of wildlife and human food webs, evaluation of biological tissues should be undertaken as a high priority.     

Characterisation of recharge processes and groundwater flow mechanisms in weathered-fractured granites of Hyderabad (India) using isotopes

In order to address the problem of realistic assessment of groundwater potential and its sustainability, it is vital to study the recharge processes and mechanism of groundwater flow in fractured hard rocks, where inhomogeneties and discontinuities have a dominant role to play. Wide variations in chloride, δ¹⁸O and ¹⁴C concentrations of the studied groundwaters observed in space and time could only reflect the heterogeneous hydrogeological setting in the fractured granites of Hyderabad (India). This paper, based on the observed isotopic and environmental chloride variations of the groundwater system, puts forth two broad types of groundwaters involving various recharge processes and flow mechanisms in the studied granitic hard rock aquifers. Relatively high ¹⁴C ages (1300 to ～6000 yr B.P.), δ¹⁸O content (?3.2 to ?1.5‰) and chloride concentration (<100 mg/l) are the signatures that identified one broad set of groundwaters resulting from recharge through weathered zone and subsequent movement through extensive sheet joints. The second set of groundwaters possessed an age range Modern to ～1000 yr B.P., chloride in the range 100 to ～350 mg/l and δ¹⁸O from ?3.2 to +1.7‰. The δ¹⁸O enrichment and chloride concentration, further helped in the segregation of the second set of groundwaters into three sub-sets characterized by different recharge processes and sources. Based on these processes and mechanisms, a conceptual hydrogeologic model has evolved suggesting that the fracture network is connected either to a distant recharge source or to a surface reservoir (evaporating water bodies) apart from overlying weathered zone, explaining various resultant groundwaters having varying ¹⁴C ages, chloride and δ¹⁸O concentrations. The surface reservoir contribution to groundwater is evaluated to be significant (40 to 70%) in one subset of groundwaters. The conceptual hydrogeologic model, thus evolved, can aid in understanding the mechanism of groundwater flow as well as migration of contaminants to deep groundwater in other fractured granitic areas.     

Soft-sediment deformation structures from an ice-marginal storm–tide interactive system,Permo-Carboniferous Talchir Formation,Talchir Coalbasin,India

Permo-Carboniferous Talchir Formation, Talchir Coalbasin, India, records sedimentation during a phase of climatic amelioration in an ice-marginal storm-affected shelf. Evidences of subtidal processes are preserved only under thick mud drapes deposited during waning storm phases. Various soft-sediment deformation structures in some sandstone/siltstone–mudstone interbeds, like syn-sedimentary faults, deformed laminations, sand–silt flows, convolute laminations and various flame structures, suggest liquefaction and fluidization of the beds due to passage of syn-depositional seismic shocks. In the Late Paleozoic ice-marginal shelf, such earthquake tremors could be generated by crustal movements in response to glacioisostatic adjustments of the basin floor.     

A reappraisal of polymetamorphism in the Eastern Ghats belt — A view from north of the Godavari rift

Evidence collated from different parts of the Eastern Ghats belt north of the Godavari rift (barring the “Western Charnockite Zone” ) indicates that this sector evolved through a series of compressive structures (F₁ to F₃), with prolific migmatization in quartzofeldspathic and metapelitic gneisses synchronous with F₁ shortening, as was the syn-F₁ emplacement of profuse megacrystic K-feldspar-bearing granitoid bodies. Thereafter, melt productivity of the rocks (synchronous withF ₂– F₃ folding) sharply decreased. Mineral parageneses stable in the S₁, S₂ and S₃ fabrics indicate persistence of granulite facies conditions. P-T estimates on orthopyroxene + garnet + plagioclase + quartz assemblages anchored to recrystallized mosaic that overgrow all penetrative fabric elements in mafic granulites, granitoids and quartzofeldspathic gneisses are in the range of 900‡-950‡C and P≅ 8–9 kbar. This estimate is comparable to those retrieved from sapphirine-bearing paragenesis in Mg-Al metapelites that appear to be diachronous in relation to the fabric elements, and arguably disrupt the granoblastic mosaic. These facets in the northern sector of the orogenic belt are compatible with either a single cycle of tectonic events (i.e., F₁, F₂ and F₃ in continuum), or temporally-separate thermo-tectonic events, with the peak of earlier metamorphism (pre- to syn-F₁) at lower temperature (in the granulite facies) in comparison to the record of high post-F₃-T_max values. It is suggested on the basis of the above evidence that the late Proterozoic/Pan-African granulites in the Eastern Ghats belt north of the Godavari rift, are unlikely to be reworked equivalents of any older granulitic crust, such as the ∼1.6 Ga granulites south of the rift. Instead, the temporally disparate sectors may represent different crustal segments with unconnected pre-amalgamation tectonic history. However, if the ∼ 1.6 Ga granulites of the Western Charnockite Zone continue northwards across the rift, as suggested by recent isotope data, there are serious doubts as to the validity of a north-south division within the Eastern Ghats belt.