Assessment of Man-made and Natural Hazards in the Surroundings of Hydropower Projects under Construction in the Beas Valley of Northwestern Himalaya

Mountain ecosystem,on the earth,has plenty of natural resources. In Himachal Pradesh all the rivers are snowfed and therefore rich in water resources. These resources have been supporting enough for the generation of electricity through introducing hydropower projects since the last decade. However,every developmental activity has its own negative impacts on the surrounding environment. Due to the fragile nature of topography and delicacy of ecology of the Himalaya,it results in lot of disturbances because of high degree of human interferences like construction of major hydropower projects. The increased extent of geological hazards,such as landslides,rock fall and soil erosion,have mainly due to alike developmental interventions in the natural ecosystem. So understanding and analysing such impacts of the hydropower projects have mainly been on the environment in various forms but natural hazards have been frequent ones. The present study,therefore,focuses mainly on the Parbati Stage Ⅱ (800 MW) and the Parbati Stage Ⅲ (520 MW) hydropower projects; both of which fall within the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Based on the perception survey of the local communities,the existing land use pattern,status of total acquired land of the residents by hydropower projects,frequent natural hazards and resultant loss to the local communities due to upcoming construction of hydropower projects surrounding to the Parbati Stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ have been analysed in the paper. Also,the preventive measures to mitigate these adverse impacts have been suggested to strengthen these projects in eco-friendly manner in the mountain context.     

喜马拉雅造山带中段亚东地区石榴角闪岩的成因：岩石学和锆石U- Pb年代学

喜马拉雅造山带中段出露的基性麻粒岩是理解印度大陆前喜马拉雅期演化历史和新生代碰撞造山作用的理想研究对象。本文对亚东多庆湖地区的石榴角闪岩进行了岩石学、全岩主微量元素地球化学和锆石U- Pb年代学研究,揭示了其原岩类型和新生代的变质作用过程。石榴角闪岩的原岩很可能为新元古代(~890 Ma)的玄武岩,具有E- MORB型岩石的地球化学特征。石榴角闪岩具有三期矿物组合：① 进变质矿物组合可能为石榴子石+角闪石+斜长石+钛铁矿+石英,即石榴子石核部及其中包裹体;② 峰期矿物组合为石榴子石+角闪石+斜长石+黑云母+石英,即石榴子石边部和基质矿物;③ 退变质矿物组合为角闪石+斜方辉石+斜长石+黑云母+石英,包括退变质域和石榴子石边部的后成合晶矿物。矿物温压计和相平衡模拟表明,石榴角闪岩进变质、峰期和退变质条件分别为609~621℃和0. 59~0. 65 GPa、805~845℃和0. 91~1. 04 GPa、825~840℃和0. 61~0. 68 GPa,经历了峰期高压麻粒岩相的变质作用。锆石U- Pb年代学研究表明,石榴角闪岩的峰期变质时间为34. 8~20. 3 Ma,退变质时间为18. 1~17. 7 Ma,可能经历了一个较长期的部分熔融过程。本文研究认为,亚东石榴角闪岩是印度板块向欧亚板块长期俯冲、地壳增厚成因的基性麻粒岩,原岩可能与Rodinia超大陆拼合相关;其以加热埋藏、近等温降压为特征的顺时针P- T轨迹指示了喜马拉雅造山带中段的大喜马拉雅岩系上部构造层位经历了长期持续的地壳增厚和高温麻粒岩相变质作用,以及早中新世(21~17 Ma)相对快速的减压抬升和随后(17 Ma之后)相对缓慢的折返至地表的演化过程。     

Mica Inclusions inside Host Mica Grains from the Sutlej Section of the Higher Himalayan Crystallines, India—Morphology and Constrains in Genesis

Abstract: Biotite and muscovite inclusions inside mica host minerals from the Sutlej section of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline were studied under an optical microscope. These inclusions formed possibly by local recrystallization of mica grains during regional prograde metamorphism, with some affected by top-to-SW shear leading to parallelogram shapes. Recrystallization may have been assisted by solution transfer along the cleavage planes of the host grains. The relative competency of deformed phyllosilicate inclusions with the same or different composition to the host depends on the size and orientation of (001) cleavage planes of the inclusions relative to the host. Shearing of mica inclusions led to their parallelogram geometries within the contained mica inclusions. Some of the sheared inclusions deflect cleavage planes in the host minerals and define flanking microstructures. Trapezoid-shaped inclusions are a new finding that deserves more attention for their genesis. These structurally anisotropic inclusions did not originate from sub-grains, secondary infillings or retrogression. These inclusions are also not related to pseudomorphism, isomorphism, folding of the bulk rock etc. Some of the inclusions formed by recrystallization of the host mineral during top-to-SW ductile shear.     

西藏拉隆穹窿淡色花岗岩中石榴子石矿物学研究及对岩浆-热液过程的指示

为建立淡色花岗岩演化和稀有金属成矿的矿物学指标,本文选取了北喜马拉雅拉隆淡色花岗岩的石榴子石为研究对象,对其开展电子探针分析和矿物原位LA-ICP-MS微量分析,结果表明MnO含量从白云母花岗岩(12.42%~13.48%)到钠长石花岗岩(16.83%~22.09%)逐渐增高,白云母花岗岩石榴子石主要为铁铝榴石,钠长石花岗岩中石榴子石主要为锰铝榴石,其均为典型岩浆成因的石榴子石。石榴子石微量元素结果显示白云母花岗岩和钠长石花岗岩石榴子石稀土均呈现HREE富集、LREE亏损,Eu负异常的特征。从白云母花岗岩到钠长石花岗岩,石榴子石中Zn含量增加,Sc、Y和HREE等元素含量降低,特别是当HREE含量小于1000×10^-6时,稀有金属元素Be、Nb和Ta含量增加,标志着岩浆演化从正岩浆阶段进入了岩浆-热液过渡阶段。形成于岩浆-热液过渡阶段的锰铝榴石可以作为拉隆淡色花岗岩Be-Nb-Ta稀有金属矿化的矿物学指标,此外,石榴子石中Sc、Y和HREE等元素的变化也可以作为淡色花岗岩稀有金属矿化的判别标志。     

The Himalayan Collisional Orogeny: A Metamorphic Perspective

This paper introduces how crustal thickening controls the growth of the Himalaya by summarizing the P-T-t evolution of the Himalayan metamorphic core. The Himalayan orogeny was divided into three stages. Stage 60–40 Ma: The Himalayan crust thickened to ~40 km through Barrovian-type metamorphism (15–25 °C/km), and the Himalaya rose from <0 to ~1000 m. Stage 40–16 Ma: The crust gradually thickened to 60–70 km, resulting in abundant high-grade metamorphism and anatexis (peak-P, 15–25 °C/km; peak-T, >30 °C/km). The three sub-sheets in the Himalayan metamorphic core extruded southward sequentially through imbricate thrusts of the Eo-Himalayan thrust, High Himalayan thrust, and Main Central thrust, and the Himalaya rose to ≥5,000 m. Stage 16–0 Ma: the mountain roots underwent localized delamination, causing asthenospheric upwelling and overprinting of the lower crust by ultra-high-temperature metamorphism (30–50 °C/km), and the Himalaya reached the present elevation of ~6,000 m. Underplating and imbricate thrusting dominated the Himalaya’ growth and topographic rise, conforming to the critical taper wedge model. Localized delamination of mountain roots facilitated further topographic rise. Future Himalayan metamorphic studies should focus on extreme metamorphism and major collisional events, contact metamorphism and rare metal mineralization, metamorphic decarbonation and the carbon cycle in collisional belts.     

Paleo-glacial reconstruction of the Thajwas glacier in the Kashmir Himalaya using 10Be cosmogenic radionuclide dating

Quantitative glacial chronologies of past glaciations are sparse in the Himalaya, and mostly absent in the Kashmir Himalaya. We used cosmogenic ¹⁰Be exposure dating, and geomorphological mapping to reconstruct glacial advances of the Thajwas Glacier (TG) in the Great Himalayan Range of the Kashmir Himalaya. From ¹⁰Be exposure dating of ten moraine boulders, four glacial stages with ages ～20.77 ± 2.28 ka, ～11.46 ± 1.69 ka, ～9.12 ± 1.39 ka and ～4.19 ± 0.78 ka, were identified. The reconstructed cosmogenic radionuclide ages confirmed the global Last Glacial Maximum (gLGM), Younger Dryas, Early Holocene, and Neoglaciation episodes. As per area and volume change analyses, the TG has lost 51.1 km² of its area and a volume of 2.64 km³ during the last 20.77 ± 2.28 ka. Overall, the results suggested that the TG has lost 64% of area and 73% of volume from the Last glacial maximum to Neoglaciation and about 85.74% and 87.67% of area and volume, respectively, from Neoglaciation to the present day. The equilibrium line altitude of the TG fluctuated from 4238 m a.s.l present to 3365 m a.s.l during the gLGM (20.77 ± 2.28 ka). The significant cooling induced by a drop in mean ambient temperature resulted in a positive mass balance of the TG during the gLGM. Subsequently the melting accelerated due to the continuing rise of the global ambient temperature. Paleo-glacial history reconstruction of the Kashmir Himalaya, with its specific geomorphic and climatic setting, would help close the information gap about the chronology of past regional glacial episodes.     

喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩

在青藏高原南部的喜马拉雅地区,分布有两条世界瞩目的淡色花岗岩带。南带主要沿高喜马拉雅和特提斯喜马拉雅之间的藏南拆离系(STDS)分布,俗称高喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩带,构成喜马拉雅山的主体。北带淡色花岗岩位于特提斯喜马拉雅单元内,又被称之为特提斯喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩带。这些花岗岩多以规模不等的岩席形式侵入到周边沉积-变质岩系之中,或者呈岩株状产出于变质穹窿的核部。岩体本身大多岩性均匀,变形程度不等,但岩体边缘可见较多的围岩捕虏体,并在部分情况下见及围岩的接触变质作用,反映它们的异地侵位特征。上述两带中的淡色花岗岩在矿物组成和岩石类型上表现为惊人的相似性,主要由不同比例的石英、钾长石、斜长石、黑云母(5%)、白云母、电气石和石榴石等构成二云母花岗岩、电气石花岗岩和石榴石花岗岩三大主要岩石类型。从不同地区的野外观察来看,二云母花岗岩为喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩的主体岩石类型,而电气石花岗岩和石榴石花岗岩主要以规模不等的脉体形式赋存于二云母花岗岩之中,反映前两者晚期侵位的特征。地球化学特征上,这些花岗岩具有高Si、Al、K,低Ca、Mg、Fe、Ti的特点,接近花岗岩的低共熔点组分。绝大多数淡色花岗岩具有较高的含铝指数,属于过铝花岗岩。微量元素表现为较大的变化范围,但总体上表现为富集大离子亲石元素K、Rb和放射性元素U,而不同程度亏损Ba、Th、Nb、Sr、Ti等元素。稀土元素总量总体上明显低于世界上酸性岩的平均丰度,且绝大部分表现为轻-中等程度的稀土元素分馏和不同程度的Eu负异常。传统认为,喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩是原地-近原地侵位的纯地壳来源的低熔花岗岩。但本文通过分析提出,该花岗岩可能是从一种高温的花岗岩浆演化而来,其岩浆源区的性质或成因类型目前还难以确定。该岩浆在上升侵位的过程中曾经历过大规模地壳物质的混染,并发生了高度分离结晶作用。因此,喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩首先是一种高分异型的花岗岩,是真正意义上的异地深成侵入体,而并不是原地或半原地的部分熔融体。这种以大规模地壳混染和结晶分异作用为特征的花岗岩系,在花岗岩的研究内容中还未被充分地讨论。以前根据相关信息认为这些岩石来自于沉积岩部分熔融的结论,只是较多地注意到了后期地壳混染和结晶分异作用的特征。即使这些岩石的原始岩浆将来被证明真的来源于沉积岩系的部分熔融,那以前的结论也只能说是"歪打正着"。根据形成年龄和地质-地球化学特征,本文将这些花岗岩划分为原喜马拉雅(44~26Ma)、新喜马拉雅(26~13Ma)和后喜马拉雅(13~7Ma)三大阶段。其中第一阶段对应印度-亚洲汇聚而导致的大陆碰撞造山作用,而后两个阶段同加厚的喜马拉雅-青藏高原碰撞造山带拆沉作用有关,对应青藏高原的全面隆升。根据这些淡色花岗岩的岩石与地球化学特征,我们还不能支持青藏高原存在广泛的中地壳流动的模型。相反,俯冲的高喜马拉雅岩系在深部的部分熔融及随该岩系折返而发生的分离结晶作用可很好地解释淡色花岗岩所具有的系列特征。     

Resource Flows of Villages with Contrasting Lifestyles in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Central Himalaya, India

Resource use efficiency analyses of village ecosystem are necessary for effective and efficient planning of resource utilization. This paper deals with economic and energy input-output analyses of different components of village ecosystem in representative buffer zone villages, which are practicing transhumance and settled way of lifestyles in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve （NDBR） of Garhwal Himalaya. While the villages practicing transhumance used various natural resources spatially segregated,the villages practicing settled way of lifestyle have to manage resources from a limited spatial area through rotation and varied extraction intensities. Forests subsidized the production activity in both type of villages and the per capita resource extractions were found to be greater in tran~humance village than settled village. Though crops provided maximum energy, in terms of economic criteria, animal husbandry played important role in both settled and transhumance villages. As villages representing both the situations showed different ways of adjustments to the conservation oriented land use changes, management authority needs to address the eco-development plans fulfilling the aspirations of all people traditionally using the resources of the Reserve to reduce the conflicts and encourage their participation in the conservation of the area.     

Systems for Hazards Identification in High Mountain Areas： An Example from the Kullu District, Western Himalaya

Methods and techniques for the identification, monitoring and management of natural hazards in high mountain areas are enumerated and described. A case study from the western Himalayan Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh, India is used to illustrate some of the methods. Research on the general topic has been conducted over three decades and that in the Kullu District has been carried out since 1994. Early methods of hazards identification in high mountain areas involved intensive and lengthy fieldwork and mapping with primary reliance on interpretation of landforms, sediments and vegetation thought to be indicative of slope fail ures, rock falls, debris flows, floods and accelerated soil surface erosion. Augmented by the use of airphotos and ad hoc observations of specific events over time, these methods resulted in the gradual accumulation of information on hazardous sites and the beginnings of a chronology of occurrences in an area. The use of historical methods applied to written and photographic material, often held in archives and libraries, further improved the resolution of hazards information. In the past two decades, both the need for, and the ability to, accurately identify potential hazards have increased. The need for accurate information and monitoring comes about as a result of rapid growth in population, settlements, transportation infrastructure and intensified land uses and, therefore, risk and vulnerability in mountain areas. Ability has improved as the traditional methods of gathering and manipulating data have been supplemented by the use of remotesensing, automated terrain modeling, global positioning systems and geographical information systems. This paper focuses on the development and application of the latter methods and techniques to characterize and monitor hazards in high mountain areas.     

Infilling of the Younger Kathmandu–Banepa intermontane lake basin during the Late Quaternary (Lesser Himalaya,Nepal): a sedimentological study

The Kathmandu and Banepa Basins, Central Nepal, are located in a large syncline of the Lesser Himalayas. The Older Kathmandu Lake evolved during the Pliocene and early Pleistocene; the Younger Kathmandu Lake, which is the focus of this study, is infilled with late Quaternary sediments. Three formations, arranged in stratigraphical order, the Kalimati, Gokarna and Thoka Formations formed during the infilling stage of this lacustrine basin. Structural and textural sedimentological analyses, a chemical survey across the basin and mineralogical investigations of fine‐grained sediments form the basis of this palaeogeographical study. The basin under investigation was covered by a perennial freshwater lake before 30 000 yr BP. The lake was infilled with alluvial and fluvial sediments delivered mainly from the mountains north of the basin. A fairly low gradient was favourable for the formation of diatomaceous earths, carbonaceous mudstones and siltstones, which were laid down in the centre of the lake and in small ponds. Towards the basin edge, lacustrine sediments gave way to deltaic deposits spread across the delta plain. Crevasse splays and anastomosing rivers mainly delivered suspended load for the widespread siltstones and mudstones. The proximal parts of the alluvial–fluvial sedimentary wedge contain debris flows that interfinger with fine‐grained floodplain deposits. Three highstands of the water‐level (>30 000 yr BP, 28 000–19 000 yr BP, 11 000–4000 yr BP (?)) have been recognised in the sedimentary record of the younger Kathmandu Lake in the Late Quaternary. Second‐order water‐level fluctuations are assumed to be triggered by local processes (damming by tectonically induced landslides). First‐order water‐level fluctuations are the result of climatic changes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.