Some aspects of volcanic ash layers in the Central Indian Basin

 Intercalated volcanic ash layers in two deep-sea sediment cores from the Central Indian Basin (CIB) are examined for the possibility of an in situ source of suboceanic volcanism. An in situ source has been predicated based on the bottom morphological structures and activation of seamounts during the geological past. The tentative correlation between depositional ages of the ash layer horizons and the period of global climatic cooling events reinforces the hypothesis that the suboceanic volcanic episode might have been initiated during the onset of glaciation. Received: 20 June 1995 / Revision received: 11 May 1998     

Five Dimensional Magnetic Universe

Possibility of a persistent structure of source free pure magnetic field contained by the curvature of a static cylindrically symmetric space-time associated with its own strength of energy density in five dimensional Kaluza-Klein space-time is investigated. It may be considered as the generalization of Melvin's 4D ‘magnetic universe’ in five dimensional K-K space-time. Time like and null geodesics are studied in order to investigate the nature of gravitation produced by it and are found not to deviate much from those noted in Melvin's spacetime. It is further interesting to note that near the axis of symmetry our 5D space-time exhibits the conical defect similar to that in the case of a string. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The microbial community in the layered sediments at Laguna Figueroa,Baja California,Mexico: Does it have Precambrian analogues?

In the hypersaline lagoon at Laguna Figueroa vertically stratified diverse communities of microorganisms thrive. The modern sediments of Baja California at Laguna Figueroa contain cyanobacterial communities and sedimentary structures produced by these blue greens that have already been studied by Horodyski and his colleagues. This paper provides an introduction to the complex microbial communities, primarily those that underlie the laminated Microcoleus mats. They are composed of anaerobic photosynthetic and heterotrophic bacteria.The following genera of cyanobacteria at least are components of these mat communities: Lyngbya, Microcoleus, Entophysalis, Phormidium, Pseudoanabaena, Anabaena and Schizothrix. Among the photosynthetic bacteria several species of Thiocapsa-like microbes formed major surface components of certain mats and scums; rhodospirilli, rhodopseudomonads, chromatis and others were seen.The following nonphotosynthetic bacteria were identified: Nocardia sp., three types of spirilli, two types of Spirochaeta sp., two types of Desulfovibria sp., a new strain of red Beneckea and four distinctive unidentified coccoid and filamentous bacteria. Reasons are given for believing several of the species are new to science and that the microbial diversity is far greater than the approximately twenty species reported here. Eukaryotes are extremely rare. Only one species of animal, a herpachtechoid copepod, was ever seen in the 8-km long microbial communities of the hypersaline basin. Dunaliella salina, a chlorophyte and Aspergillus sydowi, an ascomycetous fungus were the only eukaryotes that were observed to be regular components of mat communities. Ciliates, amoebae (including a chrysarchnion-like microbe) and diatom tests, mostly empty, were the only other eukaryotes observed. Attempts to enrich for eukaryotic microorganisms were not successful whereas attempts to enrich for bacteria, especially anaerobes led to such a profusion of forms that to continue detailed study of them was beyond our means. Unidentified small rods and cocci constituted the largest fraction of individuals in the subsurface community. The microbes isolated from mats are adapted for alternating dry and wet conditions as well as high concentrations of salt and low concentrations of oxygen.     

Inhomogeneous perfect fluid cosmologies in (4+1) dimensions

Exact solutions are obtained in (4+1) dimensions for plane symmetric and cylindrically symmetric inhomogeneous spacetimes. In the former case the three space depends on time only while the metric corresponding to the extra dimension is dependent on space as well as time coordinates. The cylindrically symmetric nonstatic solutions for the perfect fluid have no singularity near the axis, but show big bang type of singularity in the finite past. One of the classes of such solutions satisfies the barotropic equation of state of the form =p. Static solutions with cylindrically symmetric solutions are also obtained in 5 dimensions.     

Natural remanent magnetization of carbonaceous chondrites

We have observed natural remanent magnetizations (NRM), ranging from 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁵ Gauss cm³/g, at least two orders of magnitude greater than 10⁻⁷, the noise level of our spinner magnetometer, in the carbonaceous chondrites, Orgueil, Cold Bokkeveld, Nogoya and Mighei. Preliminary alternating field demagnetization of two samples of Orgueil showed a moderate sized stable component of 10⁻⁴ Gauss cm³/g. Microscopic study reveals that a grey spinel oxide, Ni-Fe and an Fe sulphide are the principal opaque minerals in both Cold Bokkeveld and Orgueil; the oxide phase predominates in both, while the Ni-Fe is more visible in the former. Coercive force determinations in Orgueil and Cold Bokkeveld indicate single domain particles as the NRM carrier. These meteorites are suitable for the determination of the magnetic field intensity in the primary solar nebula.     

Imprints of late quaternary climatic and sea level changes on East and South Indian coast

Along the coast of East and South India, a slow and minor sea level fall as an immediate response to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) followed by strong aridity and fast retreat of the sea to the outer shelf are indicated by coastal ironstones, traces of channels in nearshore shallow seismic reflectors, and submerged, structureless, multimineral placer sands. Nearshore peat beds and inland beach ridges reflect perturbations during Early to Mid-Holocene sea level rise. The Little Ice Age witnessed shifts in littoral sediment budget, possibly as a result of reduced transport of sediments from the Himalaya to the Bay of Bengal.     

Mineral chemistry of Carlsberg Ridge basalts at 3°35′–3°41′N

Mineral chemical analyses of transitional basalts from the Carlsberg Ridge show plagioclase (An ~ 87 mole %), phenocrysts, and microphenocrysts have a K₂O depletion as compared to the laths (An ~ 79 mole %). Olivine (Fo ~ 91 mole %) are few and rarely zoned. The composition of plagioclase and olivine indicate low pressure equilibrium crystallization. The basalts were probably derived through fractional crystallization at shallow depths under low partial melting conditions. Morphology of plagioclase phenocrysts and bulk rock chemistry suggest magma mixing and fractional crystallization for the origin of these basalts. (Detailed chemical analyses can be obtained from the authors.)     

Study of precipitation chemistry over an industrial city

The growing trend of industrialization has marked impact on the atmospheric chemistry around the globe. Such impacts are also predicted for developing countries like India. Acid precipitation due to secondary pollutants is one of them. The present investigation was conducted with an aim of studying the precipitation chemistry over Asansol city, India during the monsoon season. The rain water samples, collected on event basis during the period of June to September 2006, were analyzed for HCO₃ ^?, Cl^?, SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and pH using standard procedures. The study revealed that the precipitation was alkaline in nature with mean pH value of 6.08. Dominant anion in rain water samples was HCO₃ ^? (36 %), whereas Ca²⁺ was highest among the cations (53 %). The observed acidic events, based on pH value, were only 17 %, indicating the alkaline components effectively neutralize rain water over the area. This was also supported by the total alkaline to acid ion ration of 1.05. The ratio of (NO₃-^?+Cl^?) and SO₄ ^2? was >1, indicating that acidic properties were influenced by HNO₃ and HCl. In the ratio between (Ca²++NH₄ ⁺) and (NO₃ ^?+SO₄ ^2?), values >1 were obtained, indicating significant alkaline influence, which effectively prevented acid depositions in the area.