Sedimentology of a Proterozoic erg: the Venkatpur Sandstone, Pranhita-Godavari Valley, south India

Reappraisal of the Late Proterozoic Venkatpur Sandstone indicates that the bulk of the sandstone is aeolian in origin. Aeolian stratification types, namely (i) inverse graded translatent strata, (ii) adhesion laminae, (iii) grainflow strata and (iv) grainfall strata, are present throughout the outcrop belt. Nine facies have been identified that represent both aeolian and related aqueous environments within a well-developed erg. Cosets of large cross-beds at the Bellampalli section in the NW of the study area record dune fields in the interior of the sand sea. To the SE, at the Godavari River and Ramgundam sections, a progressive increase in the relative proportion of the flat-bedded to cross-bedded facies and intercalated non-aeolian facies delineates the transition from the dune-field to sand-sheet environment. An alternating sequence of aeolian and marine sediments at Laknavaram, in the extreme SE, marks the termination of the sand sea. Palaeocurrent data suggest that the NW-SE trend of the sections represents a transect across the sand sea in a direction normal to the resultant primary palaeowind direction. Abundant horizontally stratified units in the Vankatpur Sandstone do not always represent the interdune sediments. On the basis of the thickness and geometry of the units, nature of bounding surfaces and associated facies sequence, the facies is variously interpreted to represent interdune, inland sabkha, sand sheet and coastal sand flat deposits.     

MAPPING OF CRUSTAL DISCONTINUITIES BY WAVELENGTH FILTERING OF THE GRAVITY FIELD1

A statistical technique, based on the concept of a 1D energy density spectrum of the observed gravity field, has been used to compute ensemble average depths to various horizons containing causative sources of random geometric shape, size, density, etc. The plot of the logarithm of the energy of the observed Bouguer anomaly versus the angular frequency can be approximated, over a certain frequency band, by a linear segment whose slope is related to an average ensemble depth around which a random distribution of numerous anomalous sources exists. Suitable matched filters, based on the computed values of intercepts and slopes of several linear segments approximating the spectrum, have been used to deconvolve the gravity effects associated with the causative sources, occurring around their respective mean depths. The individual deconvolved gravity effects thus separated out have been modelled using the sin x/x method by assuming a fluctuating interface between two formations. The applicability of the present method has been assessed using two observed Bouguer anomaly profiles: one from Ujjain to Mahan, and the other from Jhansi to Mandla where Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) results are available. The proposed geological crustal models along these two profiles exhibit reasonably good agreement with those obtained from DSS results. A geologically plausible model of the crust in a virgin region has been presented along a Bouguer anomaly profile from Jaipur to Raipur. The following main conclusions have been drawn from the present analysis: (1) The depths to the Moho and Archaean basement interfaces fluctuate between 33.2 and 36.8 km and between 4.6 and 7.0 km respectively. (2) The Narmada-Son Lineament (NSL) does not coincide exactly with the Moho upwarp beneath it. However, this offset is greater in the eastern part of the NSL rather than in the western part. (3) The development of the Satpura horst structure is due to a rise in the Moho interface in a compressional regime. (4) The intrabasement feature (depth from 5 to 12 km) represents a hybrid massif possibly formed due to an admixture of sialic and simatic crust under a tensional regime in the Ujjain-Mahan section.     

Oldest Asian Record of Snapping Shrimps (Malacostraca: Alpheidae) from the Kutch Basin, Western India and Associated Biota: Biostratigraphic, Paleoenvironmental and Paleoecological Significance

The oldest Asian record of alpheid shrimps, assigned to genus Alpheus, based on snapping claw fingertips from the Miocene Khari Nadi Formation in the Kutch Basin, western India reported herein, extends the fossil record of the family Alpheidae from Asia by ~22 million years. An early Miocene (Aquitanian) age is estimated based on the associated assemblage of calcareous nannofossils, Sphenolithus disbelemnos, Cyclicargolithus floridanus, and Reticulofenestra haqii. The co-occurring microbiota includes bony fish otolith remains, identified as “genus Gobiidarum”, isolated teeth of Dasyatis rays, Sphyrna sharks, and teleosts, ctenoid and placoid scales, ostracods, belonging to the genera Paractinocythereis, Alocopocythere, Ruggieria? Aglaiocypris, Bairdoppilata, and echinoid spines. Taken together, the microfossil assemblage and data from chemical analyses using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction and Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence of host and associated lithologies suggests prevalence of a shallow (neritic) to coastal marine (intertidal) depositional paleoenvironment.     

Carbon isotopic composition of fossil leaves from the Early Cretaceous sediments of western India

Stable carbon isotope analysis of fossil leaves from the Bhuj Formation, western India was carried out to infer the prevailing environmental conditions. Compression fossil leaves such as Pachypteris indica, Otozamite kachchhensis, Brachyphyllum royii and Dictyozamites sp. were recovered from three sedimentary successions of the Bhuj Formation, Early Cretaceous in age. A chronology was established based on faunal assemblage and palyno-stratigraphy and further constrained by carbon isotope stratigraphy. The three sampling sites were the Karawadi river bank near Dharesi; the Chawad river bank near Mathal; and the Pur river section near Trambau village in Gujarat. The Dharesi sample was also analyzed to investigate intra-leaf δ ¹³C variability. The mean δ ¹³C of the leaf was − 24.6 ± 0.4‰ which implied negligible systematic change along the leaf axis. The Mathal sample was fragmented in nature and showed considerable variation in carbon isotopic composition. The Trambau sample considered to be the oldest, dating to the middle of Aptian (ca. 116 Ma), shows the most depleted value in δ ¹³C among all of them. The overall δ ¹³C trend ranging from mid Aptian (ca. 116 Ma) to early Albian (ca. 110 Ma) shows a progressive increase in δ ¹³C from −26.8 to −20.5‰. Based on these measurements the carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric carbon dioxide of the Aptian–Albian period is estimated to be between −7.4 and −1.7‰. The ratio of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in leaf to that of the ambient atmosphere calculated based on a model is estimated to be similar to that of the modern plants. This indicates that the Early-Cretaceous plants adapted to the prevailing high carbon dioxide regime by increasing their photosynthetic uptake.     

Palaeoseismicity in relation to basin tectonics as revealed from soft-sediment deformation structures of the Lower Triassic Panchet formation,Raniganj basin (Damodar valley), eastern India

The Raniganj basin in the Damodar valley of eastern India is located within the riftogenic Gondwana Master-Basin. The fluvio-lacustrine deposits of the Lower Triassic Panchet formation of the Damodar valley in the study area preserve various soft-sediment deformation structures such as slump folds, convolute laminae, flame structures, dish-and-pillar structures, sandstone dykes, pseudonodules and syn-sedimentary faults. Although such soft-sediment deformation structures maybe formed by various processes, in the present area the association of these structures, their relation to the adjacent sedimentary rocks and the tectonic and depositional setting of the formation suggest that these structures are seismogenic. Movements along the basin margin and the intra-basinal faults and resultant seismicity with moderate magnitude (2–5 on Richter scale) are thought to have been responsible for the soft-sediment deformations.     

Modified theory of gravity and the history of cosmic evolution

A continuous transition from early Friedmann-like radiation era through to late time cosmic acceleration passing through a long Friedmann-like matter dominated era followed by a second phase of radiation era has been realized in modified theory of gravity containing a combination of curvature squared term, a linear term, a three-half term and an ideal fluid. Thus the history of cosmic evolution is explained by modified theory of gravity singlehandedly. The second phase of radiation-like era might provide an explanation to the hydrogen and helium reionization at low redshift.     

Modelling a discrete spatial response using generalized linear mixed models: application to Lyme disease vectors

Predicting disease risk by identifying environmental factors responsible for the geographical distribution of disease vectors can help target control strategies and optimize preventive measures. In this study we present a hierarchical approach to model the distribution of Lyme disease ticks as a function of environmental factors. We use the Poisson framework natural for count data while allowing for spatial correlations. To help identify environmental factors that best explain tick abundance, we develop an intuitive procedure for covariate selection in the spatial context. These methods could be useful in analysing effects of environmental and climatological changes on the distribution of disease vectors, and the spatial extrapolation of vector abundance under such scenarios.     

Petrography and geochemistry of the Middle Siwalik sandstones (tertiary) in understanding the provenance of sub-Himalayan sediments in the Lish River Valley,West Bengal,India

A petrography–geochemistry-based evaluation of the provenance of the sandstones of the Tertiary Middle Siwalik Subgroup in the Lish River Valley, West Bengal, is presented. The framework grains in the sandstones suggest mixing of sediments from spatially separated gneissic, quartzitic and phyllitic source rocks. Modal values of different framework minerals suggest that recycled sediments in an orogenic setting were deposited in the Middle Siwalik basin in the area. The major and trace element ratios suggest dominantly felsic input and mixing with subordinate basic material in an upper continental crustal setup. The major and trace element data also indicate that rocks of a passive margin setting acted as the source to the sediments. The present paper postulates that the Middle Siwalik sediments were derived from pre-Himalayan gneissic and metabasic rocks of an erstwhile passive margin setting and presently forming the Higher and Lesser Himalaya, respectively.     

Elicited Data and Incorporation of Expert Opinion for Statistical Inference in Spatial Studies

Spatial data are often sparse by nature. However, in many instances, information may exist in the form of soft data, such as expert opinion. Scientists in the field often have a good understanding of the phenomenon under study and may be able to provide valuable information on its likely behavior. It is thus useful to have a sensible mechanism that incorporates expert opinion in inference. The Bayesian paradigm suffers from an inherent subjectivity that is unacceptable to many scientists. Aside from this philosophical problem, elicitation of prior distributions is a difficult task. Moreover, an intentionally misleading expert can have substantial influence on Bayesian inference. In our experience, eliciting data is much more natural to the experts than eliciting prior distributions on the parameters of a probability model that is a purely statistical construct. In this paper we elicit data, i.e., guess values for the realization of the process, from the experts. Utilizing a hierarchical modeling framework, we combine elicited data and actual observed data for inferential purposes. A distinguishing feature of this approach is that even an intentionally misleading expert proves to be useful. Theoretical results and simulations illustrate that incorporating expert opinion via elicited data substantially improves the estimation, prediction, and design aspects of statistical inference for spatial data.