Provenance, tectonics and palaeoclimate of Proterozoic Chandarpur sandstones, Chattisgarh basin: A petrographic view

Sandstones of early Neoproterozoic Chandarpur Group, Chattisgarh Supergroup, central India display progressive change towards greater textural and mineralogical maturity from base to top of the succession. The clay-silt matrix decreases, sorting of sand grains improves, frequency of rounded grains increases, monocrystalline quartz content increases with concomitant decrease in polycrystalline quartz, feldspar and rock fragments. The trend of variations in different mineralogical and textural attributes, however, exhibits inflections at different stratigraphic levels. The sandstones of the basal Lohardih Formation are alluvial fan deposits, characterized by high matrix and feldspar content, iron-oxide impregnated highly angular grains and poor sorting. Petrographic properties collectively indicate that the sandstones were derived from a weathered granitic crust under a humid climatic condition. Abundance of well rounded grains within the alluvial fan and overlying braided fluvial deposit indicates prolonged wind action during episodes of high aridity. The shallow marine deposit overlying the fluvial deposits in the upper part of the Lohardih Formation exhibits bed-to-bed variation in the frequency of angular grains, feldspar content and overall maturity suggesting environmentally controlled segregation of sediments. The abrupt appearance of coarse-grained immature sandstones with concomitant reappearance of iron-oxide impregnated/altered feldspar grains in the upper part of the shelf deposits of the Chaporadih Formation point to a phase of tectonic uplift that possibly triggered a regression. Continued regression and peneplanation heralded the deposition of supermature medium-grained purple quartzarenite of the upper shoreface Kansapathar Formation in the uppermost part of the Chandarpur succession under a hot desertic climatic condition. The provenance analysis revealed that the Chandarpur clastics were derived from granites and granite-gneisses of a continental block tectonic provenance. Petrographic studies further indicate that high grade metamorphic rocks did not make any perceptible contribution to the Chandarpur system. The Eastern Ghats Granulite Belt apparently did not emerge till the early Neoproterozoic.     

The peculiar cluster MACS J0417.5-1154 in the C and X-bands

We present 5.5 and 9.0 GHz Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) observations of the cluster MACSJ0417.5-1154, one of the most massive galaxy clusters and one of the brightest in X-ray in the Massive Cluster Survey (MACS). We estimate diffuse emission at 5.5 and 9.0 GHz from our ATCA observations, and compare the results with the 235 MHz and 610 MHz GMRT observations and 1575 MHz VLA observations. We also estimate the diffuse emission at low frequencies from existing GLEAM survey data (using the MWA telescope (http://www.mwatelescope.org)), and find that the steepening reported in earlier studies may have been an artefact of underestimates of diffuse emission at low frequencies. High-frequency radio observations of galaxy cluster mergers therefore provide an important complement to low-frequency observations, not only for a probing the ‘on’ and ‘off’ state of radio halos in these mergers, but also to constrain energetics of cluster mergers. We comment on the future directions that further studies of this cluster can take.     

Torsional vibration of an orthotropic Cylindrical Shell

Summary This paper is concerned with the determination of torsional vibration of an orthotropic Cylindrical Shell assuming the elastic constants to be proportional to thenth power of the distance from the axis of the shell. The solution is obtained in terms of Bessel functions.c/o Dr. A. K. Dutta, P. 7. A H. B. Town, Block A, P. O. Sodepur, Dt. 24-Paraganas, West Bengal, India.     

Some distinct effects of tropical monsoon clouds as derived from atmospherics

Summary The electrical effects due to monsoon clouds in conjunction with the VLF atmospherics data have been extensively analyzed. The cloud distribution and rainfall pattern during the SW monsoon period are examined. The diurnal curves of rainfall show that the maximum rain generally occurs in the afternoon hours between 13 to 18 IST. The coefficient of variation (CV) of monsoon rainfall plotted against rainfall amount reveals that CV decreases with increasing rainfall amounts upto about 40 inches. The differences in the mean dry bulb temperature as well as mean relative humidity values at the standard levels between strong and weak monsoon are studied. The monthly median of the hourly average together with the respective upper and lower decile values of atmospherics have been considered. Also, the frequency dependence of afternoon maximum (or late afternoon minimum) to morning minimum in the sferics level is taken into account to determine the seasonal variation. During monsoon months the sferics level with higher cloud amount (4 okta) increases considerably but the width of the sferics is reduced. The results are interpreted by considering the activity of the sources involved at such times.With 10 Figures     

Antioxidant Enzymes Response in Vetiver Grass: A Greenhouse Study for Chelant‐Assisted Phytoremediation of Lead‐Contaminated Residential Soils

In a previous study we have demonstrated the suitability of using vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) for the phytostabilization of lead‐based paint contaminated residential soils. Vetiver did not show any growth retardation or toxicity symptoms despite high soil Pb levels. Antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) reportedly allow plants to combat metal stress. Thus, we hypothesized that in vetiver, these antioxidant enzymes can play an important role in combating Pb induced stress, and that chelant‐bound Pb is less toxic to vetiver compared to free Pb in soil. The response of antioxidant enzymes was studied in vetiver grass grown in Pb paint‐contaminated residential soils collected from San Antonio, Texas and Baltimore, Maryland. Chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) were used to mobilize Pb from bound fractions to the labile pool, facilitating Pb uptake by vetiver. Although the Pb concentration in vetiver from these treatments was significantly higher than those grown in the absence of a chelant, the antioxidant enzymes activities were lower compared to the latter. Antioxidant enzymes activity of vetiver plants grown in the presence of chelants is lower compared to those in without chelant treatment, while they tended to increase with dose in treatments with varying chelant concentrations. Data obtained support the proposed hypothesis.     

Effects of soil types and forms of arsenical pesticide on rice growth and development

For decades, repeated and widespread use of arsenical pesticides has significantly contributed to arsenic contamination in soils. Residues from the overuse of these arsenicals may result in phytotoxicity to crops, which will depend on soil types, plant species and the toxicity of arsenical pesticides. A greenhouse column study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two pesticides, i.e. one organic (dimethylarsinic acid) and one inorganic (sodium arsenate), on the vegetative response of rice as a function of soil properties. Four soils with varying arsenic retention capabilities at two different pesticide amendment rates (675 and 1500 mg/kg) representing the worst case scenarios in superfund sites were used. Results showed that arsenic availability to rice was mainly influenced by soil physicochemical properties. The soil with the lowest arsenic retention capacity had the highest arsenic concentration in the leachate as well as in the plant tissue. In contrast, for soils with higher arsenic retention capacity, higher concentrations of arsenic were found in the surface soil which resulted in the inhibition of plant growth. There was no significant difference between labile arsenic / plant-available arsenic irrespective of the form of arsenical pesticide used. Plant growth parameters such as biomass, shoot height, root length decreased with increased arsenic concentrations in all soils. A significant negative correlation (P<0.05) was observed between the phytoavailable arsenic and plant growth response. Interestingly, the form of arsenical pesticide used did not impact arsenic uptake or shoot growth but significantly impacted root growth.     

Phase transition to quarks in dense neutron matter: Effect of instanton interactions

Instanton effects are found to affect non-trivially the neutron matter to quark matter phase transition density. The relevance of the results for neutron stars is pointed out.     

Major and trace element geochemistry of olivine from an ENE-trending picrite dyke,genetically linked to the ca. 1.89–1.88 Ga Hampi swarm,western Dharwar craton: Implications for plume induced melting of a mixed peridotite-pyroxenite source

The presence of recycled crust in the lithospheric mantle of the Dharwar craton has been investigated using trace element geochemistry of olivine grains from an ENE-trending Paleoproterozoic picrite dyke (associated with the ca. 1.89–1.88 Ga Hampi dyke swarm) emplaced in the western Dharwar craton. Olivine grains are purely magmatic, formed as early phenocrysts in a fractionated basaltic melt. They exhibit enrichment in NiO contents (0.32–0.43 wt%) and depletion in Ca (1366–2105 ppm), Mn (1578–2663 ppm) and 100 1 Mn/Fe (1.28–1.48). Further, the compiled whole-rock geochemical data of the picrite dyke and associated dyke swarm illustrates relatively low CaO/MgO (0.55–1.78), intermediate FeO/MnO (47–54), negative to positive PX# (?0.34 to +1.86), and high values of FC3MS (0.24–0.90) and FCKANTMS (0.19–1.11). These chemical markers are not consistent with the derivation of the primary melt from a pure peridotite or a pyroxenite source; therefore, contribution from a mixed type of source having both peridotite and pyroxenite end members (pyroxene rich and olivine poor lithology) is suggested. The amount of pyroxenite and recycled crust varies from 46% to 86% and 14% to 44%, respectively. The Al-in-olivine based thermometer estimates the maximum crystallization temperature as 1407 °C, which is 137 °C higher than the average temperature of MORB and accordant with several well-established plume-induced large igneous provinces (LIPs) worldwide. Therefore, it is suggested that the studied picrite dyke is derived from a primary melt generated by plume-induced melting of a peridotite-pyroxenite mixed source. The ca. 1.89–1.88 Ga Hampi dyke swarm, being genetically linked with the studied dyke, could also be derived from this same source. Further, the recycled crust in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle of the western Dharwar craton may have generated the pyroxene rich mafic source during the Neoarchean convergence between eastern and western Dharwar craton.     

An instrument for seismic velocity measurements

Summary The construction and performance of an instrument for the measurement of seismic velocity in rock specimens is described. In the instrument, the transducer which receives the seismic velocity after its travel through the specimen has been excited by a method from a stable quartz crystal pulser to generate synchronised time markers at intervals of 110 millimicrosecs. The method of measurement is accurate and needs no calibration. The instrument is specially suited for the study of seismic velocity variations with pressure. The accuracy of measurement is about 1% in a 10 cm long sample in which the velocity is 6.40 km/sec.This paper is published by the kind permission of the Director General, Geological Survey of India.