Genetic reinterpretation of crystallographicintergrowths of jacobsite andhausmannite from natural assemblages

Summary Crystallographic intergrowths of jacobsite and hausmannite (vredenburgite) occur in association with braunite in the Precambrian Sausar Group of rocks, India, that were metamorphosed under 600-700°C and P 6 kb. Quartz, hematite, rhodochrosite and a later hausmannite may occasionally occur as minor associates. Detailed characterization of the intergrown phases reveals that hausmannite lamellae, oriented in 4 or 5 crystallographic directions in the jacobsite host, show a wide variation in thickness and tapered intersections at low angles. The lamellae may be locally deformed. Analytical data reveal that the composition of natural hausmannite and jacobsite in the intergrowths cannot be approximated within the system Fe₃O₄ -Mn₃O₄, as has been conventionally done. These really belong to the Fe₂O₃-Mn₃O₄ subsystem. In the two phase intergrowths, hausmannite is depleted and the jacobsite is enriched in Fe in higher grade rocks. Mineral associations and petrographic considerations suggest that the jacobsite-hausmannite intergrowth originated through prograde decarbonation-oxidation reactions of a carbonatic precursor in an unbuffered X CO₂ situation, but f O₂ was held between hematite-magnetite and bixbyite-hausmannite buffers at the ambient physical conditions of metamorphism. Subsequent oxidation yielded a strong oxygenbuffering assemblage jacobsite, hausmannite, braunite, hematite and quartz. This study negates the commonly held idea that hausmannite jacobsite crystallographic intergrowth (vredenburgite) originates through unmixing of a high ([ldvredenburgite) originates through unmixing of a high temperature spinel_ss temperature spinel_ss during cooling.

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Genetische Reinterpretation der kristallographischen Verwachsungen von Jakobsit und Hausmannit in natürlichen Vorkommen

Zusammenfassung Kristallographische Verwachsungen von Jakobsit und Hausmannit (Vredenburgit) treten in Verbindung mit Braunit in Gesteinen der präkambrischen Sausargruppe in Indien auf. Die Gesteine wurden bei Drucken von ca. 6 kbar und Termperaturen von 600–700°C metamorphosiert. Quarz, Hämatit, Rhodochrosit, und Hausmannit als Spätphase treten gelegentlich als untergeordnete Gemengteile auf. Hausmannit-Lamellen, die in vier oder fünf kristallographischen Richtungen in Jakobsit orientiert sind, haben sehr unterschiedliche Durchmesser und bilden versetzte Zwickel in kleinem Winkel mit dem Jakobsit. Die Lamellen können lokal deformiert sein. Analytische Daten zeigen, daß die Zusammensetzung von natürlichem Hausmannit und Jakobsit in Verwachsungen nicht, wie bisher angenommen, in dem System Fe₃O₄-Mn₃O₄ dargestellt werden kann. Diese Verwachsungen gehören vielmehr in das Fe₂O₃-Mn₃O₄ System. In höher-gradigen metamorphen Gesteinen ist Fe in zwei-phasigen Verwachsungen im Hausmannit ab- und im Jakobsit angereichert. Die Mineralzusammensetzung und petrographische Gesichtspunkte lassen darauf schließen, daß die Jakobsit/Hausmannit Verwachsung durch prograde Dekarbonatisierung/Oxydationsreaktion eines karbonatischen Vorläufers in einem nicht gepufferten X CO₂ Milieu entstanden ist. F O₂ wurde durch Hämatit-Magnetit und Bixbyit-Hausmannit Puffer unter den gegebenen physikalischen Bedingungen der Metamorphose stabil gehalten. Eine nachfolgende Oxydation führte zu einer starken Sauerstoff-puffernden Assoziation von Jakobsit, Hausmannit, Braunit, Hämatit und Quarz. Diese Untersuchungen widerlegen die allgemein verbreitete Ansicht, daß die kristallographische Verwachsung von Hausmannit und Jakobsit (Vredenburgit) durch Entmischung eines Hochtemperatur-Spinells während der Abkühlung entstanden ist.

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Nonlinear kinetic analysis of phenol adsorption onto peat soil

Phenolic compounds are considered as a serious organic pollutant containing in many industrial effluents particularly vulnerable when the plant discharge is disposed on land. In the present study, the phenol removal potential of peat soil as adsorption media was investigated as the adsorption process are gaining popular for polishing treatment of toxic materials in industrial wastewater. Batch experiments were performed in the laboratory to determine the adsorption isotherms of initial concentrations for 5, 8, 10, 15, and 20 mg/L and predetermined quantity of peat soil with size ranges between 425 and 200 μm poured into different containers. The effects of various parameters like initial phenol concentration, adsorbent quantity, pH, and contact time were also investigated. From experimental results, it was found that 42 % of phenol removal took place with optimized initial phenol concentration of 10 mg/L, adsorbent dose of 200 g/L, solution pH 6.0 for the equilibrium contact time of 6 h. The result exhibits that pseudo-first-order (R ² = 0.99) and Langmuir isotherm models are fitted reasonably (R ² = 0.91). Adams–Bohart, Thomas, Yoon–Nelson, and Wolborska models were also investigated to the column experimental data of different bed heights to predict the breakthrough curves and to determine the kinetic coefficient of the models using nonlinear regression analysis. It was found that the Thomas model is the best fitted model to predict the experimental breakthrough curves with the highest coefficient of determination, R ² = 0.99 and lowest root mean square error and mean absolute performance error values.     

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 in Delhi,India

This study presents the chemical composition (carbonaceous and nitrogenous components) of aerosols (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) along with stable isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) collected during winter and the summer months of 2015–16 to explore the possible sources of aerosols in megacity Delhi, India. The mean concentrations (mean?±?standard deviation at 1σ) of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were 223?±?69 µg m^?3 and 328?±?65 µg m^?3, respectively during winter season whereas the mean concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were 147?±?22 µg m^?3 and 236?±?61 µg m^?3, respectively during summer season. The mean value of δ¹³C (range: ??26.4 to ??23.4‰) and δ¹⁵N (range: 3.3 to 14.4‰) of PM_2.5 were ??25.3?±?0.5‰ and 8.9?±?2.1‰, respectively during winter season whereas the mean value of δ¹³C (range: ??26.7 to ??25.3‰) and δ¹⁵N (range: 2.8 to 11.5‰) of PM_2.5 were ??26.1?±?0.4‰ and 6.4?±?2.5‰, respectively during the summer season. Comparison of stable C and N isotopic fingerprints of major identical sources suggested that major portion of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ at Delhi were mainly from fossil fuel combustion (FFC), biomass burning (BB) (C-3 and C-4 type vegitation), secondary aerosols (SAs) and road dust (SD). The correlation analysis of δ¹³C with other C (OC, TC, OC/EC and OC/WSOC) components and δ¹⁵N with other N components (TN, NH₄⁺ and NO₃^?) are also support the source identification of isotopic signatures.

     

Photogeologic mapping north of Khairwara,Udaipur district,Rajasthan

Photogeologic mapping of a sample area defined by latitudes 24° O to 6′N and longitudes 73° 30′ to 45′ E from a part of the Aravalli orogen, illustrates the advantages, as well as limitations, of photo-interpretation (PI) in terrains comprsing, highly deformed ancient rock formations. Discrimination between psammitic and pelitic metasediments is easy, using micro-relief and drainage parameters as PI elements; but that between pelites, ultra-basic schists and impure marbles is difficult and less reliable. Trends of foliations, several sets of joints and faults are distinct on the aerial photographs, but complete reconstruction of the superposed fold geometry is not possible. Within the area studied, dominantly pelitic, psammitic and a little clacareous metasediments, intruded by ultra-basics, exhibit a prominent and persistent NNE trend defined by lithologic contacts, bedding and foliations, with steep northwesterly dips. In its central part, bands of psammites within the pelites exhibit a hook shaped fold interference pattern (type 3 of Ramsay, 1967) with the later upright (Fleuty, 1964) fold axial trace trending northwesterly.     

Interpretation of magnetic fabrics in the Dalma volcanic rocks and associated meta-sediments of the Singhbhum Mobile Belt

The present work deals with the generations of Fe–Ti oxides and the variation in magnetic fabrics of the Dalma lavas and associated meta-sediments of the Singhbhum Mobile Belt (SMB) in relation to tectonics. Generations of the Fe–Ti oxides are different in meta-sediments and volcanics, the former preserving upliftment related oxidised grains, whereas the latter contains fresh grains prompting towards their upliftment due to plume upwelling before the volcanic eruption. In the meta-sediments, the magnetic fabric has close accordance with \(\hbox {D}_{2}/\hbox {F}_{2}\) event revealing synchronous development with \(\hbox {D}_{2}\). The Dalma thrust developed a sudden break in the homogeneity of the magnetic fabrics of the rocks where the magnetic foliations are all parallel to the Dalma thrust. This also causes \(P_{j}\) to be highest in this sector. The magnetic fabrics of volcanic rocks are different from the meta-sediments and record no signature of deformation. The pattern of distribution of susceptibility axes are in accordance with the subaerial lava flows. However, their \(\hbox {K}_{1}\) and \(\hbox {K}_{2}\) dispersed throughout the periphery with \(\hbox {K}_{3}\) clustering at the centre. This infers towards the fact that although the volcanism took place in a subaerial environment, calm aqueous environment was locally present where the oblate grains settled on the eruption surface with their \(\hbox {K}_{3}\) vertical.     

Mineralogy and genesis of the metamorphosed manganese silicate rocks (gondite) of Gowari Wadhona,Madhya Pradesh,India

Manganese silicate rocks, interbanded with manganese oxide orebodies, constitute an important stratigraphic horizon in the Mansar formation of the Sausar Group of Precambrian age in India. The manganese silicate rocks of Gowari Wadhona occupy the westernmost flank of the manganese belt of the Sausar Group. These rocks are constituted of spessartite, calcium-rich rhodonite, quartz, manganoan diopside, blanfordite (manganese bearing member of diopside-acmite series), brown manganese pyroxene (manganese bearing aegirine-augite), winchite (manganese bearing richterite-tremolite), juddite (manganese bearing amphibole with richterite, tremolite, magnesioriebeckite and glaucophane molecules), tirodite (manganese bearing amphibole with richterite, cummingtonite and glaucophane molecules), manganophyllite, alurgite, piedmontite, braunite, hollandite (and other lower oxides of manganese) with minor apatite, plagioclase, calcite, dolomite and microcline. A complete mineralogical account of the manganese-bearing phases has been given in the text. It has been shown that the juxtaposition of manganese silicate rocks with dolomitic marble, regional metamorphism to almandine-amphibolite facies and assimilation of pegmatite veins cutting across the manganese formation, were responsible for the development of these manganese silicate rocks and the unusual chemical composition of some of the constituent minerals. It has been concluded that the manganese silicate rocks of Gowari Wadhona were originally laid down as sediments comprising manganese oxides admixed with clay, silica etc. and were later regionally metamorphosed to almandine-amphibolite facies. All evidences indicate that rhodochrosite was not present in the original sediment and the bulk composition of the sediments was rich in manganese. These rocks agree entirely to the detailed nomenclature of the gondites enunciated by Fermor (1909) and amplified by Roy and Mitra (1964) and Roy (1966).     

Geochemistry of braunite and associated phases in metamorphosed non-calcareous manganese ores of India

In the metamorphosed manganese oxide ores of India, braunite is ubiquitous in all assemblages from chlorite to sillimanite grades. Chemical analyses of braunite from different prograde assemblages confirm the presence of a fixed R²⁺ (=Mn²⁺+Mg+Ca) SiO₃ molecule in the mineral. Element partitioning between coexisting braunite and bixbyite indicates a near-ideal mixing of Fe⁺³/ -Mn⁺³ in the phases. This also indicates that braunite became relatively ferrian while equilibrating with associated phases such as bixbyite, hollandite and jacobsite during prograde reactions. Petrogenetic studies show that as a general trend, prograde lower oxide phases appeared by deoxidation of higher oxide phases. But braunite, a more reduced phase than bixbyite, appeared early from deoxidation of pyrolusite in presence of quartz. Bixbyite could appear later from the reacting pyrolusite-braunite-quartz assemblage. Inferred mineral reaction paths and the general trend of pro-grade deoxidation reactions suggest that the composition of ambient fluid phase was internally buffered during metamorphism.     

Exploration of geothermal activity using time series analysis of subsurface gases data from Bakreswar hot springs area,eastern India

Geothermal power seems to be a potential source of green energy in India. But these renewable energy resources are still ignored in India even after having a lot of potential sources as seen in more than 300 hot springs scattered throughout different geothermal areas of the country. Many of them could be utilized for power generation using the earth’s internal heat. More hours are needed to explore these geothermal areas using geochemical, geophysical techniques, and statistical analysis to qualitatively estimate power harnessing capabilities and sustainability of the areas for generation of geothermal power. In the present paper, attention has been focused to investigate Bakreswar geothermal field of India by continuous (24*7) and online monitoring of terrestrial gases such as He and radioactive gases (²²²Rn) in hot spring emanations of the geothermal area for more than 5 years along with discrete measurement of some other geochemical and geophysical parameters. The discrete measures imply that the seven hot spring vents at the study area are linked to the aquifer through different ways covering non-uniform rock assemblies and ascertain the presence of high amount of radioactive minerals at the underneath terrains. Stable activities with a high-out flux of ²²²Rn and He for a prolonged time period is expected within the reservoir present at the study area as consequence of analysis of the temporal variations and statistical measures of the continuous data sets. Seasonal variation of time series data also recommends that the high amount of radioactive sources present at the crust of the reservoir is able to produce enough quantity of heat irrespective of meteorological effects. The investigation on the power spectra interferes that the geothermal system is still in quite active phase on the influence of tectonic activities. Therefore, the geothermal reservoir present at the Bakreswar geothermal area may be utilized as a constant and continuous heat source for a long time period to run a geothermal power plant.