Calibration of AGRS System Using Transportable Pads in India: An Application to AGRS Data of Aravalli Basin,Banswada Block,South Rajasthan

Calibration of airborne gamma ray spectrometric system (AGRS) over standard radioactive sources of known elemental abundances is essential before carrying out airborne surveys. In India, fixed calibration pads were constructed in 1985. Since then calibration of AGRS system was carried out over the fixed pads. However the fixed pads are expensive to build and maintain. Also the large pads are subject to variations in radiation output due to variable moisture content and radon loss. Alternate approach is to construct transportable calibration pads which are discussed in this paper.Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration & Research (AMD) under Department of Atomic Energy has recently constructed five transportable calibration pads. Three pads i.e. K, U and Th have been spiked with the respective radioelements while keeping the minor radioelements to the least in order to obtain pure spectra. A composite pad has been constructed which contains all the three radioelements. This helps in cross verifying the obtained calibration results. A background pad has also been constructed which is helpful to obtain the background values during calibration.Analysis of the data acquired over the transportable pads with airborne gamma ray spectrometer (16.8 ltr) has been carried out and presented in this paper. A comparison with the data acquired over the fixed calibration pads is also included. There is a good agreement of results which suggests the use of transportable pads in future.     

Magnetic Mapping of Banded Iron Formation of Sandur Schist Belt,Dharwar Craton,India

High ground magnetic anomalies are observed at western basin of the Sandur schist belt (SSB) near Muraripura village, Karnataka. Sources for these anomalies are inferred due to presence of exposed banded iron formations hosted by metabasalts, arenaous and argillaceous rocks associated with the Donimali Formation of the schist belt. Two varieties of BIF bands are observed in the study area viz. Band 1 and Band 2. The bands 1 and 2 are displaced by lateral strike-slip fault. Band 1 is dominantly composed of banded iron formation, rich in iron ore minerals and silica chert. Band 2 is largely composed of ferruginous quartzite and quartz arenites. Qualitative analysis of the magnetic data indicates that the study area can be divided into three lithologically important BIF/BQ formations. Spectral and quantitative analysis of the magnetic data indicates, the average depth of band 1 is 70 m and band 2 is 130 m. The magnetic data results are well correlated with chemical analysis of borehole and surface rock samples data.     

Geochemistry and distribution of sediments in the East Indian shelf,SW Bay of Bengal: implications on weathering,transport and depositional environment

Forty-two substrate sediment samples and three cores procured from the shelf region between Chennai and Cuddalore were analyzed to understand the spatial and vertical sediment distribution. Samples subjected to grain size, bulk and clay mineralogical analyses, REE and trace element geochemistry yielded interesting results about the sediment characteristics with respect to the modern day environment. The present study revealed that the study area is characterized by high energy environment marked by predominant composition of medium sand. Results confirmed the evidence of more illite than kaolinite, smectite, and chlorite in the clay mineral assemblage indicating a terrigenous source. Geochemical data also revealed that the enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE) in the sediments is due to continental source of Precambrian times. High feldspar content in the sediments which is emphasized by bulk mineralogical data displayed positive Eu anomaly. By using the paleoredox index, the area of interest is considered to have undergone no major changes in its depositional settings.     

Age and Provenance Areas of Terrigenous Rocks of the Dzhida Terrane: Results of U—Th—Pb (LA-ICP-MS) Geochronological Study of Detrital Zircons

The results of U—Th—Pb (LA-ICP-MS) geochronological studies of detrital zircons from terrigenous rocks of the Dzhida terrane of the Central Asian Fold Belt (CAFB) are presented. The data obtained allow us to distinguish the following age maxima (Ma): 578 and 634 (Vendian); 720, 823, and 919 (Late Riphean); 1922, 2090, 2225, and 2321 (Early Proterozoic). A number of zircons have Late Archean age in the interval of 2670–2980 Ma. Taking into account Late Cambrian age (504–506 Ma) of intrusive rocks that intruded the Dzhida terrane, a possible sedimentation period of sequences of this terrane is estimated to be in the interval of 580–510 Ma (from Vendian to Late Cambrian). The possible provenance areas of terrigenous sediments are proposed and the previously proposed models of geodynamic evolution of the Dzhida terrane are correlated with new geochronological data.     

Conodont geothermometry in pyroclastic kimberlite: constraints on emplacement temperatures and cooling histories

Kimberlite pipes from Chidliak, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada host surface-derived Paleozoic carbonate xenoliths containing conodonts. Conodonts are phosphatic marine microfossils that experience progressive, cumulative and irreversible colour changes upon heating that are experimentally calibrated as a conodont colour alteration index (CAI). CAI values permit us to estimate the temperatures to which conodont-bearing rocks have been heated. Conodonts have been recovered from 118 samples from 89 carbonate xenoliths collected from 12 of the pipes and CAI values within individual carbonate xenoliths show four types of CAI distributions: (1) CAI values that are uniform throughout the xenolith; (2) lower CAIs in core of a xenolith than the rim; (3) CAIs that increase from one side of the xenolith to the other; and, (4) in one xenolith, higher CAIs in the xenolith core than at the rim. We have used thermal models for post-emplacement conductive cooling of kimberlite pipes and synchronous heating of conodont-bearing xenoliths to establish the temperature–time history of individual xenoliths within the kimberlite bodies. Model results suggest that the time-spans for xenoliths to reach the peak temperatures recorded by CAIs varies from hours for the smallest xenoliths to 2 or 3 years for the largest xenoliths. The thermal modelling shows the first three CAI patterns to be consistent with in situ conductive heating of the xenoliths coupled to the cooling host kimberlite. The fourth pattern remains an anomaly.

     

Granitoid Massifs of the Krasnoleninsky Arch in Western Siberia: Composition,Structure, Age,and Formation Conditions

Geotectonics - In our research we summarized data obtained on the composition, structure, and geochemical characteristics of the granitoid plutons of the eastern part of the Krasnoleninsky arch of...     

Depositional Environments and Paleogeographic Evolution during the Formation of Upper Paleozoic Terrigenous Rocks in Taimyr

Lithology and Mineral Resources - Upper Paleozoic sections in Taimyr comprise genetic rock complexes of different zones: deep-water shelf; offshore transition zone; shoals, deltas, and beaches of...     

Modeling and Simulating Ground Motion from Potential Seismic Sources to Kuwait: Local and Regional Scenarios

Geotectonics - The urban development in Kuwait is growing rapidly in the past few years. Recently, a large number of new bridges, tall buildings and other infrastructures are constructed in Kuwait....     

Observational Procedure for the Prediction of Ultimate Swell

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - Montmorillonitic soils pose problems in the field as they are capable of exhibiting appreciable swelling when come in contact with water. In this context,...     

Nature And Age of Granites in the Central Part of the Western Siberian Platform (Case Study of the Krivolutskii Batholith)

Doklady Earth Sciences - The study of granites in the basement of the Western Siberian platform is highly relevant since they are associated with hydrocarbon deposits, which are located not only...