Solving archaeological problems using techniques of soil magnetism

Archaeological investigations into the processes and factors controlling the magnetic enhancement of soils were initiated in the 1960s in conjunction with the application of magnetic prospection surveys. After a highly productive period of research, archaeological interest in soil magnetism experienced a downswing, which has just recently been reversed. Continuing research within the fields of rock magnetism and environmental magnetism has refined our understanding of the processes and products of magnetic enhancement and demonstrated the broad applicability of soil magnetic analyses. Using this information, together with recent archaeological studies, we update archaeologists on the variety of soil magnetic techniques and how they can be utilized to define, detail, and understand archaeological sites, features, and environments. A case study at the Cahokia Mounds Site in southwestern Illinois illustrates how soil magnetic techniques can be interfaced with other methods to understand archaeological landscapes and landscape change. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Forecasting of groundwater level in hard rock region using artificial neural network

In hardrock terrain where seasonal streams are not perennial source of freshwater, increase in ground water exploitation has already resulted here in declining ground water levels and deteriorating its’ quality. The aquifer system has shown signs of depletion and quality contamination. Thus, to secure water for the future, water resource estimation and management has urgently become the need of the hour. In order to manage groundwater resources, it is vital to have a tool to predict the aquifer response for a given stress (abstraction and recharge). Artificial neural network (ANN) has surfaced as a proven and potential methodology to forecast the groundwater levels. In this paper, Feed-Forward Network based ANN model is used as a method to predict the groundwater levels. The models are trained with the inputs collected from field and then used as prediction tool for various scenarios of stress on aquifer. Such predictions help in developing better strategies for sustainable development of groundwater resources.     

Substrate control on formation and maturation of glauconites in the Middle Eocene Harudi Formation, western Kutch, India

Formation and maturation of glauconites within the early Middle Eocene Harudi Formation, built up in a lagoon to shelf transition in western Kutch, India is addressed taking recourse to a combined sedimentological, micropalaeontological and mineralogical investigation. The glauconite is authigenic and its occurrence coincides with maximum flooding. The glauconite is more matured within the fecal pellets and is less matured within the intra-particle pores of bioclasts namely, foraminifera, ostracoda, gastropoda and bryozoa. SEM-EDS, XRD and geochemical studies clearly document that the infilling within the intra-particle pores of bioclasts belong to nascent to slightly evolved glauconite (<5 wt% K₂O), while the pellet belongs to slightly evolved to evolved glauconite (5-7 wt% K₂O). Based on chemical characteristics and SEM investigations the glauconitization process can be best explained by the ‘verdissement theory’. The glauconite possibly formed as initial authigenic glauconitic smectite precipitates; while the pellet matured subsequently by addition of K, the process was hindered in case of infillings. The maturation process also involved addition of Si and release of Al, with or without release of Mg. The glauconite maturation was facilitated in case of fecal pellets because of higher porosity, inter-granular nature of pores and availability of necessary elements in semi-confined micro-environments. In contrast, the maturation was aborted at an early stage in case of infillings because of the minute, closed nature of the pores and prevalent alkaline conditions not allowing dissolution of calcitic tests. A low negative cerium anomaly suggests glauconite formation in sub-oxic micro-environments, created by decay of organic matters within the fecal pellets and bioclasts. A clear case of substratum control on glauconitization becomes apparent.     

Central Himalayan crystallines as the primary source for the sandstone–mudstone suites of the Siwalik Group: New geochemical evidence

Geochemistry of the Sub-Himalayan foreland basin Siwalik sediments has been used for interpreting the nature of the source rocks. This study has shown that the compositional changes are a function of stratigraphic height, demonstrated by the upward increase of P₂O₅, Na₂O, CaO, MgO and SiO₂ content from Lower to the Upper Siwalik rocks. On the other hand, K₂O, Fe₂O₃, TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ show decrease with the increasing stratigraphic height. These trends are a clear reflection of time-controlled changes in the source lithology. Ratios such as Eu/Eu*, (La/Lu)_cn, La/Sc, Th/Sc, La/Co, and Cr/Th suggest a prominent felsic source area for the Siwalik sediments. Chondrite-normalized REE pattern with LREE enrichment and moderately flat HREE pattern with sharp negative Eu anomaly are attributed to a felsic source. Contrary to the existing belief, this study has ruled out any contribution from the mafic sources and highlighted the compositional similarities of Siwalik sediments with the crustal proxies like PAAS, NASC and UCC. The geochemical data point to a significant role played by the Precambrian and early Paleozoic granitic rocks of the Himalayan tectogene in shaping the composition of the foreland sediments. The variable CIA values and marked depletion in Na, Mg and Ca exhibited by the Lower, Middle and Upper Siwalik sediments reflect variable climatic zones and variations in the rate of tectonic uplift of the source area. Our results demonstrate that in the Lower Siwalik and part of the Middle Siwalik, Higher Himalayan Crystalline sequence (HHCS) was the primary source area with minor contributions by the meta-sedimentary succession of the Lesser Himalaya. Later, during the deposition of the upper part of the Middle Siwalik and Upper Siwalik, the source terrain switched positions. These two prominent source terrains supplied sediments in steadily changing proportion through time.     

Climatic Versus Tectonic Control on Storm Cyclicity in Mesoproterozoic Koldaha Shale, Vindhyan Supergroup, Central India

The 1.2 Ga-old Koldaha shale, central India reveals three orders of depositional cyclicities in its basal storm-dominated shelf succession. Visual appraisal as well as Fourier and MEM analyses concurs in this respect. Only the major storm events at intervals of a few thousands of years have left recognizable imprints. Interbedding of storm sandstones and fairweather shales is apparently climate-controlled. Packaging of about seven such climatic cycles results the second-order cyclicity befitting eccentricity cycles of contemporary scale. Nonetheless, for the erratic storm bed-thickness trends within the cycles some other factor/s might have played a role. The third order cycles are, more dominantly, correlatable with basinal tectonics.     

Exploring the relationship between local institutions in SAT India and adaptation to climate variability

This paper examines the relationship between local institutions and adaptation to climate variability in four semi-arid villages in India. Based on a qualitative survey, it draws attention to the constraints that farming households face, the role of institutions, and the implications for their capacities to adapt. Using an institutional framework, the study examines the role of local institutions in facilitating community adaptation to perceived climate variability. It was found that at the institutional and community level farmers rely on government schemes that provide social safety nets and the private sector such as moneylenders as sources of adaptation options regarding access to credit. Serious constraints emerged, however, in terms of adaptation to what may be a more challenging future. These constraints were further explored by means of grounded theory. The lack of collective feeling and action has hindered bargaining for better market prices and the development of alternate livelihood options. The need for better financial inclusion and access to more formal systems of finance is necessary to increase the overall adaptive capacity of households. During crisis situations or climatic shocks, the absence of these systems means the sale of household assets and resources especially among small and landless groups of farmers. Overall, rural households perceive that public, civic, and private institutions play a significant role in shielding them against the adverse effects of climate variability. The perceived importance of different institutions is, however, different across different categories of farmers, women, and labourers.     

Characterization of groundwater chemistry under the influence of lithologic and anthropogenic factors along a climatic gradient in Upper Cauvery basin, South India

Hydrogeological and climatic effect on chemical behavior of groundwater along a climatic gradient is studied along a river basin. ‘Semi-arid’ (500–800 mm of mean annual rainfall), ‘sub-humid’ (800–1,200 mm/year) and ‘humid’ (1,200–1,500 mm/year) are the climatic zones chosen along the granito-gneissic plains of Kabini basin in South India for the present analysis. Data on groundwater chemistry is initially checked for its quality using NICB ratio (<±5 %), EC versus TZ+ (~0.85 correlation), EC versus TDS and EC versus TH analysis. Groundwater in the three climatic zones is ‘hard’ to ‘very hard’ in terms of Ca–Mg hardness. Polluted wells are identified (>40 % of pollution) and eliminated for the characterization. Piper’s diagram with mean concentrations indicates the evolution of CaNaHCO₃ (semi-arid) from CaHCO₃ (humid zone) along the climatic gradient. Carbonates dominate other anions and strong acids exceeded weak acids in the region. Mule Hole SEW, an experimental watershed in sub-humid zone, is characterized initially using hydrogeochemistry and is observed to be a replica of entire sub-humid zone (with 25 wells). Extension of the studies for the entire basin (120 wells) showed a chemical gradient along the climatic gradient with sub-humid zone bridging semi-arid and humid zones. Ca/Na molar ratio varies by more than 100 times from semi-arid to humid zones. Semi-arid zone is more silicaceous than sub-humid while humid zone is more carbonaceous (Ca/Cl ~14). Along the climatic gradient, groundwater is undersaturated (humid), saturated (sub-humid) and slightly supersaturated (semi-arid) with calcite and dolomite. Concentration–depth profiles are in support of the geological stratification i.e., ~18 m of saprolite and ~25 m of fracture rock with parent gneiss beneath. All the wells are classified into four groups based on groundwater fluctuations and further into ‘deep’ and ‘shallow’ based on the depth to groundwater. Higher the fluctuations, larger is its impact on groundwater chemistry. Actual seasonal patterns are identified using ‘recharge–discharge’ concept based on rainfall intensity instead of traditional monsoon–non-monsoon concept. Non-pumped wells have low Na/Cl and Ca/Cl ratios in recharge period than in discharge period (Dilution). Few other wells, which are subjected to pumping, still exhibit dilution chemistry though water level fluctuations are high due to annual recharge. Other wells which do not receive sufficient rainfall and are constantly pumped showed high concentrations in recharge period rather than in discharge period (Anti-dilution). In summary, recharge–discharge concept demarcates the pumped wells from natural deep wells thus, characterizing the basin.