On the Possibility of Gly and Ala Amino Acids on Titan’s Surface

In view of the possible production of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in Titan’s atmosphere, the production of α-amino nitriles, the precursors of Glycine and Alanine amino acids, is explored in the upper atmosphere of Titan. The presence of Glycine and Alanine amino acids or their precursor amino nitriles can be used as a diagnostic, respectively for the presence or absence of water locally on the surface of Titan.     

Problems in Himalayan geology

The Central Crystalline Axis of the Great Himalaya holds clues to the solution of many problems dealing with the crystallines, metamorphics and geological contrasts encountered in the areas to the north and south of the Axis. The problems discussed include criteria for deciphering the stratigraphy in the Himalayan zone to the south of the Crystalline Axis, age of Jutogh and Chail groups, their relationship with each other and with the Crystalline Axis, nature of the Simla Slates, Jaunsar, Blaini, Infra-Krol, and Krol formations, unfossiliferous nature of the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sediments, relationship between the Lower, Middle and Upper Tertiaries and the age, presence and absence, and also the cause of metamorphism. It has been found that high grade metamorphism is not a Tertiary phenomenon. Very low grade metamorphism in the sedimentaries and the absence of plutonic intrusives from the Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Tertiary sedimentary rocks indicate that magmatism, regional metamorphism and orogeny are not always mutually associated in space and time. Orogenic and epeirogenic episodes other than Cretaceous-Tertiary hold clues to many problems of Himalayan Geology.

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Zusammenfassung Die zentrale kristalline Achse des Gro\en Himalaya bietet den Schlüssel für die Lösung vieler Probleme für die im Norden und Süden gelegenen Metamorphite und die geologischen GegensÄtze. Neue Daten für die Deutung der Stratigraphie in der Himalaya-Zone südlich der kristallinen Achse, das Alter der Jutogh- und der Chail-Gruppe, ihre Beziehung untereinander und zur kristallinen Achse, die Natur der Simla Slates sowie der Jaunsar-, Blaini-, Infra-Krol- und Krol-Formation, die Fossilleere der palÄozoischen und mesozoischen Sedimente, die Beziehung zwischen unterem, mittlerem und oberem TertiÄr und schlie\lich Alter, Vorkommen und Fehlen sowie die Ursache der Metamorphose werden gegeben. Hochgradige Metamorphose ist nicht an das TertiÄr gebunden. Niedriggradige Metamorphose in den Sedimenten und das Fehlen plutonischer Intrusiva aus palÄozoischen, mesozoischen und tertiÄren Sedimentgesteinen weisen darauf hin, da\ Magmatismus, regionale Metamorphose und Orogenese nicht immer zeitlich und rÄumlich miteinander verknüpft sind. Orogene und epirogene Episoden au\erhalb von Kreide und TertiÄr können wichtig für die Himalaya-Geologie sein.

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Résumé La zone axiale cristalline du Grand Himalaya apporte la clé pour la solution de nombreux problèmes concernant les métamorphites situées au Nord et au Sud, et les contrastes géologiques qu'elles présentent. De nouvelles données sont apportées sur la stratigraphie dans la zone de l'Himalaya au sud de l'axe cristallin, sur l'âge des groupes de Jutogh et de Chail, sur leurs relations mutuelles et avec l'axe cristallin, sur la nature des formations des phyllades de Simla, de Jaunsar, de Blaini, de l'Infrala nature des formations des phyllades de Simla, de Jaunsar, de Blaini, de l'Infra-Krol et de Krol, sur l'absence de fossiles dans les sédiments du PaléozoÏque et du MésozoÏque sur la présence et l'absence du métamorphisme, ainsi que sur sa cause. Le métamorphisme de degré élevé n'est pas lié au Tertiaire. Le métamorphisme de degré faible dans les sédiments et l'absence d'intrusions plutoniques dans les roches sédimentaires paléozoÏques, mésozoÏques et tertiaires montrent que le magmatisme, le métamorphisme régional et l'orogenèse ne sont pas toujours associés dans l'espace et le temps. Les épisodes orogéniques et épeirogéniques survenant en dehors du Crétacique et du Tertiaire peuvent Être importants pour la géologie himalayenne.

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Chemical weathering of the Indo-Gangetic alluvium with special reference to release of fluoride in the groundwater,Unnao district,Uttar Pradesh

In the central part of Indo-Gangetic alluvium in the Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh there are many pockets where groundwater shows high fluoride content. Drinking of fluorinated ground water has effected a large population and in many villages more than 80% of the population is suffering from fluorosis. The source of this fluoride appears to be the alluvial sediments deposited in the geological past as no hard rock terrain is present in the nearby areas. The area is dominantly made up of mud with pockets of sand. The sand fraction is made up of quartz, plagioclase, microcline, muscovite and biotite along with some accessory minerals like garnet, epidote, chlorite, tourmaline, hornblende, kyanite and a few opaque minerals. Moreover, the fluoride content in the groundwater varies both spatially and with depth indicating a sporadic occurrence. The surface water is devoid of high content of fluoride but is reported in hand pumps and in the dug wells. This paper deals with the geochemical study of the sediments up to a depth of 45m as most of the hand pumps are up to this depth to understand the source of fluoride. ¹⁴C dates of calcretes have suggested that the 45 m thick succession must have been formed in about 45000 years.     

Study of morphogenetic characteristics of surgad catchments for watershed management

The problem of surveying watersheds for strategic planning in the Himalayan terrain has attracted the attention of the land surveyors recently. A small watershed in Surgad Catchment has been surveyed to select various parameters that determine soil loss, which can be studied using aerial photo-interpretation technique with a view to watershed management. Soil, slope, landuse and micro climatic factors have been used to delineate different morphogenetic categories. The result shows that on steeper slopes, well developed soils are found which indicates a high tolerance limits of these soils. In Himalayan terrain soils and vegetation are therefore, better indices of sediment losses than slopes. Small scale aerial photographs can be successfully used to judge the tolerance limits of soils in Himalayan terrain.     

Semi-empirical method for calculation of maximum subsidence in coal mines

Summary Most empirical methods of subsidence prediction are based on the prior knowledge of the maximum possible subsidence, S_max, for a particular coalfield. The subsidence profile and other associated parameters along a desired line may be derived, in most cases, as a function of S _max. These methods are site specific and are not based upon the rational concepts of mechanics. Purely mechanistic methods, on the other hand, could not find wide application because of their limitations in representing the complex behaviour of a rockmass.Therefore a semi-empirical method of calculation of S _max or S, which is an improvement over the empirical method reported elsewhere (Bahuguna et al., 1991a), has been derived from combining the mechanistic and empirical approach. The effects of various parameters are studied by numerical modelling. These qualitative results are then used to influence the development of a more general semiempirical method. The method has been tested for 125 coal mine workings in India and 22 mines of the North Appalachian basin. The method is easily adaptable to other countries.     

Influence of Temperature on the Toxicity of Phenol and its Chloro- and Nitro-derivatives to the Fish Notopterus notopterus (PALLAS)

There is determined the LC₅₀ for 24 … 96 h of phenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol and pentachlorophenol as sodium salt by static assay at water temperatures of 16, 23 and 36°C. In addition, the combinations of the three substances were tested in the same way. With decreasing temperature, the toxicity of the individual substances decreased by 6.5 … 22%, that of the mixtures by 10 … 87%; with rising temperature, the toxicity increased by 38 … 747% and 75 … 744%, respectively. The safety limits at 23°C lie between 0.3 μg/l for a synergistically acting mixture and 0.9 mg/l for an antagonistically acting one; for the individual substances this range is 3.5 μg/l to 0.5 mg/l.     

A comparative evaluation of groundwater suitability for irrigation and drinking purposes in two intensively cultivated districts of Punjab, India

Punjab is the most cultivated state in India with the highest consumption of fertilizers. Patiala and Muktsar districts are two agricultural dominated districts of Punjab located in extreme south-east and south-west of the state. This paper highlights temporal variations of the groundwater quality and compares its suitability for irrigation and drinking purpose in these two districts. Water samples were collected in March and September 2003, representing the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. Water samples were analysed for almost all major cations, anions, dissolved heavy metals and turbidity. Parameters like sodium adsorption ratio, % sodium, residual sodium carbonate, total hardness, potential salinity, Kelley’s ratio, magnesium ratio, index of base exchange and permeability index were calculated on the basis of chemical data. A questionnaire was also used to investigate perception of villagers on taste and odour. Comparison of the concentration of the chemical constituents with WHO (world health organization) drinking water standards of 2004 and various classifications show that present status of groundwater in Patiala is better for irrigation and drinking purposes except for a few locations with a caution that it may deteriorate in near future. In Muktsar, groundwater is not suitable for drinking. Higher total hardness (TH) and total dissolved solids at numerous places indicate the unsuitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation. Results obtained in this forms baseline data for the utility of groundwater. In terms of monsoon impact, Patiala groundwater shows dilution and flushing but Muktsar samples show excessive leaching of different chemical components into the groundwater leading to the enrichment of different anions and cations indicating pollution from extraneous sources. No clear correlation between the quality parameters studied here and perceived quality in terms of satisfactory taste response were obtained at electrical conductivity values higher than the threshold minimum acceptable value.     

Fractional Reaction-Diffusion Equations

In a series of papers, Saxena et al. (2002, 2004a, 2004b) derived solutions of a number of fractional kinetic equations in terms of generalized Mittag-Leffler functions which provide the extension of the work of Haubold and Mathai (1995, 2000). The subject of the present paper is to investigate the solution of a fractional reaction-diffusion equation. The results derived are of general nature and include the results reported earlier by many authors, notably by Jespersen et al. (1999) for anomalous diffusion and del-Castillo-Negrete et al. (2003) for reaction-diffusion systems with Lévy flights. The solution has been developed in terms of the H-function in a compact form with the help of Laplace and Fourier transforms. Most of the results obtained are in a form suitable for numerical computation.     

The Klippfisk Formation—a new lithostratigraphic unit of Lower Cretaceous platform carbonates on the Western Barents Shelf

A new Lower Cretceous lithostratigraphic unit of the Western Barents Shelf, named the Klippfisk Formation, is formally introduced. The formation represents a condensed carbonate succession deposited on platform areas and structural highs, where it consists of limestones and marls, often glauconitic. The limestones may have a nodular appearance, and fossil debris, which are dominated by Inoceramus prisms, may be abundant. The Klippfisk Formation is composed of two members: the Kutling Member defined herein from cores drilled on the Bjarmeland Platform, and the coeval Tordenskjoldberget Member described on Kong Karls Land. The base of the formation is defined by the abrupt decrease in gamma-ray intensity, where the dark shales of the underlying Hekkingen or Agardhfjellet formations are replaced by marls. It is often unconformable. The Klippfisk Formation is of Berriasian to Early Barremian age and appears to be time-transgressive over parts of the Western Barents Shelf (including Kong Karls Land). It passes laterally into the basinal Knurr Formation. On Kongsøya (Kong Karls Land) a thin shale unit, bounded by unconformities, earlier included in the Tordenskjoldberget Member, represents the northernmost extension of the overlying Kolje Formation in the Barents Shelf.     

High temperature phase equilibria in a solar-composition gas

Using recent additions to thermochemical data on minerals and information on their solid solution behavior, new equilibrium phase diagrams have been computed in a system of solar gas composition (Si, Al, Mg, Ca, Fe, Ni, Ti, Na, K, C, H, O, S, N) in the pressure and temperature ranges of 1 to 10^?6 bar and 1153 to 1773 K respectively. These calculations show that Fe-Ni alloy condenses before all silicates included here (except melilite) down to a pressure of 2 · 10^?4 bar below which plagioclase and clinopyroxene condense first. Orthopyroxene condenses next followed by ilmenite. Pressure-temperature variation of the chemical composition of melilite, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, metal alloy and plagioclase may be used for cosmothermometry and cosmobarometry for equilibrium assemblages.The major transition from the refractory oxides and melilite (the meteorite ‘inclusion assemblage’) to an assemblage of Fe-Ni alloy, olivine, plagioclase and pyroxenes (‘planet-forming’) takes place within a narrow interval of pressure and temperature. Small fluctuations of either pressure or temperature across this narrow region result in drastic changes in types and modes of minerals, which may explain the wide mineralogical varieties of meteorites.