Geology Of India Research Articles

Understanding the provenance and depositional conditions of Triassic sedimentary rocks from the Spiti region, Tethys Himalaya, India

The Spiti region, renowned as the Museum of Indian Geology, is a world-famous sedimentary succession containing well-exposed sequences from Neoproterozoic to Cretaceous age. In this study, Triassic siliciclastic sedimentary rocks of the Lilang Supergroup were chosen to understand weathering history, provenance, paleoclimate, and depositional conditions using a geochemical and isotopic approach. Triassic shales show more or less similar compositions with substantial enrichment in CaO compared to PAAS (Post Archean shales from Australia), which may be attributed to the association with limestones in the region. However, the sandstones display significant depletion in the trace element concentrations signifying the effect of quartz dilution. The relative depletion of mobile elements (Rb, Ba) as against immobile elements (Zr, Nb, Hf) can be noticed in the trace element spider diagram of the shales. The Triassic sedimentary rocks are characterized by enriched LREE and depleted HREE patterns with pronounced negative Eu anomalies. The Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA; 56–86) indicates low to intense chemical weathering in the source area. The unusual decrease in CIA and other weathering indices in the stratigraphically up section is attributed to changes in climate and environmental conditions during the deposition of sediments in the Triassic period. Detangling the signatures is crucial to understanding the mass extinction crisis, particularly the role of anoxia in these events. Triassic black shales represent suboxic to anoxic depositional conditions in the redox-sensitive elemental binary diagrams. The carbon isotope data of the present study is very well supported by the Total Organic Carbon (TOC), which infers that the oceanic biological system tried to recover from the depletion of biological life. The εNd and 87Sr/86Sr systematics record a shift in source terrains from the Early to Late Triassic period. The Early Triassic samples show much older depleted mantle model ages (TDM = 1.94–1.98 Ga) compared to Late Triassic sediments (TDM = 1.76–1.91 Ga). Similar interpretations can be drawn from Th/Sc ratios (from ∼ 6 to ∼ 0.05) and (La/Yb) N ratios (from ∼ 32 to ∼ 5), which record an increase in these ratios from Early Triassic to Late Triassic formations of the Spiti sedimentary rocks. Overall, trace elemental ratios and radiogenic isotopic signatures of the Triassic rocks of the Spiti region point towards Pan African granitic origin with minor impressions from the juvenile mafic-rich sources, such as Panjal Traps, the African craton, and Arabian-Nubian shield.

Obituary: Haribhau S. Kale (1966-2022)

On 14th April 2022 we lost a great teacher, a benevolent person and a helpful heart, Dr. Haribhau S. Kale, Associate Professor, Post Graduate Department of Geology, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), Nagpur and Former Treasurer and Secretary of Gondwana Geological Society (GGS), Nagpur at a young age of 56 years due to massive cardiac arrest on duty. Dr. Haribhau S. Kale was born on 28th August 1966, at Janori Village, Balapur Taluka, District Akola, Maharashtra. He completed his Bachelor of Science with Geology as one subject, from Amravati University in the year 1989. Later on, he completed M. Sc. Geology in 1991 and M. Sc. Tech Applied Geology in 1992 with Mineral Exploration as a specialization from Vikram University, Ujjain. He then pursued his passion for research by enrolling for doctoral work on Ore Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Genesis of a part of Dalli- Rajhara Iron Ore Belt, Durg district, M.P. and was awarded with the doctoral degree in the year 1998 from Vikram University, Ujjain. He worked as NET-JRF during 1993 to 1995 and NET- SRF during 1995-1996. His life was never easy and full of hurdles. In spite of being NET qualified in 1992 and doctorate in the year 1998, he struggled a lot in getting a permanent job in the teaching field. He joined as a lecturer on contractual basis at KESNNP, Engineering College Pen, District Raigarh, Maharashtra in the year 1996 and worked there till 1999. Later on, he worked as a lecturer on Clock Hour Basis (CHB) at Arts, Science and Commerce College, Chikhaldara, Amravati District from 1999 till 2002. After struggling for almost 11 years, he finally succeeded in getting selected as a lecturer in the Post Graduate Department of Geology, RTMNU, Nagpur in the year 2003. In spite of going through ups and downs in professional life he decided to have a stable life on the personal front and married his better half Ms. Vandana in the year 1993. From 2003 onwards he devoted himself to teaching, research and also to the service of mankind. In 2006, he edited one book entitled “Modelling of Indian Mineral Deposits (Part I), Vol. 3 (1-2)” along with K.L. Rai and R.M. Umathay, published by South Asian Association of Economic Geologists, (Received: 24 May 2022; Accepted: 30 May 2022) Hindustan Publishers, New Delhi. In 2007, his second book as an Editor is published on, “Modelling of Indian Mineral Deposits (Part II) covering Central Indian Deposits, along with K.L. Rai and R.M. Umathay, published by South Asian Association of Economic Geologists, Hindustan Publishers, New Delhi. He had 20 research papers published in various National and International Journals of good repute. He was life member of SAAEG, Raipur; Gondwana Geological Society, Nagpur; Geological Society of India, Bangalore and Indian Geological Congress, Roorkee. In addition to the life member of the GGS, he had also worked as its Treasurer and Secretary during 2015-2017 and 2018-2020, respectively. Along with academics, he excelled in work related to examinations. He has successfully handled the additional duties such as the Deputy Chief and later the Chief of the Spot Valuation Centre, RTMNU, Nagpur in 2004 and during 2006-2010, respectively. Dr. H.S. Kale was not only a good academician and researcher but also a human being with golden heart. For him, service to mankind was his top priority. He used to worship the place where he served. He had always extended his helping hand to the needy students by paying their fees for the geological excursions and donating laptops to economically poor students to minimize their hardships. Dr. H.S. Kale lived a simple but magnificent life in his own way making his place in heart of many students and teaching fraternity. Dr. Haibhau Kale was indeed a great inspiration for many of us and students who believed in humanity. His dedication and devotion to his service is unparalleled. On behalf of the Post Graduate Department of Geology, RTMNU, Nagpur and the GGS, I deeply acknowledge the immense loss to the geosciences community and pray that peace prevails upon him. Dr. Haribhau Kale is survived by his wife Mrs. Vandana and his three daughters Pranita, Komal and Renuka.

The Tertiary sequence of Varkala coastal cliffs, southwestern India: An ideal site for Global Geopark

Varkala, along the southwestern coast of Peninsular India, has a unique place in Indian geology and geomorphology due to the presence of coastal lateritic cliffs, which exposes the entire Mio-Pliocene sequence of Warkalli Formation, and is declared as the type area. Stratigraphically, this formation exposes carbonaceous clay with lenses of lignite and sticks of marcasite, followed by variegated clays and sandstone. The presence of variegated lithounits endows beauty to these cliffs. Varkala cliffs, edging the Arabian Sea, run for a length of 7.5 km. These cliffs, together with confined beaches, made Varkala a popular tourist destination. Several geodiversity spots within the Varkala Cliff geoheritage site make Varkala geologically unique, just like the vestiges of the last separation of Indian subcontinent from the Mascarene Plateau; showcasing lateritization and distribution of beach placers, and jarosite, formed as a diagenetic replacement mineral from marcasite and considered as a Martian analog, are distinctiveness of the cliff. Additionally, Varkala is an internationally acclaimed beach tourist destination. Furthermore, there are several geoheritage sites as well as socio-cultural-historical sites in the hinterland of Varkala Cliff geoheritage site, which are within the proposed Varkala Global Geopark jurisdiction. Thus, this area fulfills all the criteria to be a Global Geopark. The socio-economic-environmental analysis showcases the changes that have occurred in these 3-end members. When the economic sphere was unaffected, the social scenario was slightly affected (25%) whereas the environmental aspect then drastically deteriorated by 75%. But, the SWOT analysis still elects Varkala as a potential Global Geopark. The concept of geopark contributes to at least one of the 17 goals in Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (UN). Consequently, this work also aims at propagating, not only the need for converting the geologically prominent areas to a geopark, but also attaining SDG, whatever is possible through geoparks.

Indian geology research as reflected by Web of Science during 1998-2017

The paper intends to analyse the collaboration pattern of the Indian geologists as well as the impact of their research output. The published articles which are indexed in the Web of Science Database have been analysed. A total of 583 records were retrieved from the database for the period of 20 years i.e. 1998-2017. The value collaboration co-efficient (0.62) indicates that articles are contributed in collaboration rather isolation. Maximum articles (55.4%) were collaborated at domestic level as compared to international level (34.3%). However, internationally collaborated articles received more number of citations (CPP=22) as compared to domestically collaborated articles (CPP=8). Out of 583 articles 16% have not been cited so far, and for the rest 84% CPP is 13. In terms of affinity towards India, USA dominates with 56 papers out of 200 internationally collaborated papers and AFI=20 followed by UK (AFI=9) and Germany (AFI=9). Internationalization index is having the value of 138.5 Maximum articles (81.3%) have been published in the top ten journals of which Himalayan Geology holds first rank. Articles published in the journal Geology received highest citation per paper (CPP=39).

Developments in the metamorphic geology of India

Developments in the metamorphic geology of India

India Road Tests Its E&P Growth Plan

Mike Watts is the cofounder of Magna Energy, an exploration and production (E&P) startup with no operations and a contrarian business strategy targeting Indian oil and gas. At a recent presentation in Houston promoting India’s upcoming bid round of small field discoveries, Watts, who led Cairn Energy’s exploration program when it made big deals and discoveries in India, played up the country’s unrealized oil and gas potential. “You need to be passionate and believe in the geology of India,” Watts told the 150 people who attended the road show publicizing the bid round. Based on his experience dating back to the 1980s, he believes India “is vastly unexplored compared to the potential.” His vision has the backing of Carlyle Group, a private investment bank, which committed up to USD 500 million to support Magna’s program to build production and reserves in India. The upbeat mood of the road show contrasted with the dark mood of the current global oil business. India is “a big growing market which is a bright spot in an unsettled world economy,” said Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The sale is an early test of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s program to expand domestic oil and gas production, which has included sweeping regulatory changes in the world’s third-largest energy-consuming country. If the country is unable to increase its flat oil production trend line, the International Energy Agency predicts that India will be importing 90% of its oil by 2040 to meet its needs. “India has a dependence on imported oil and gas, and a clear policy has been set in place to relieve this dependency and that presents tremendous opportunities in the E&P sector,” said Atanu Chakraborty, director general of the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, which is running the auction of properties relinquished by the state-owned Oil and National Gas Corp. (ONGC). Mixed Emotions Consultants in India agree there is reason to be upbeat about India’s future, but they are feeling the global oil slump. “The last 18 months have been very hard,” said Ashish Chitale, who runs Praesagus RTPO, the Indian partner for the consulting firm Sierra-Hamilton. “All the excitement is potential excitement.”

Magnetic Data Interpretation for the Source-Edge Locations in Parts of the Tectonically Active Transition Zone of the Narmada-Son Lineament in Central India

The study has been carried out in the transition zone of the Narmada-Son lineament (NSL) which is seismically active with various geological complexities, upwarp movement of the mantle material into the crust through fault, fractures lamination and upwelling. NSL is one of the most prominent lineaments in central India after the Himalaya in the Indian geology. The area of investigation extends from longitude 80.25°E to 81.50°E and latitude 23.50°N to 24.37°N in the central part of the Indian continent. Different types of subsurface geological formations viz. alluvial, Gondwana, Deccan traps, Vindhyan, Mahakoshal, Granite and Gneisses groups exist in this area with varying geological ages. In this study area tectonic movement and crustal variation have been taken place during the past time and which might be reason for the variation of magnetic field. Magnetic anomaly suggests that the area has been highly disturbed which causes the Narmada-Son lineament trending in the ENE-WSW direction. Magnetic anomaly variation has been taken place due to the lithological variations subject to the changes in the geological contacts like thrusts and faults in this area. Shallow and deeper sources have been distinguished using frequency domain analysis by applying different filters. To enhance the magnetic data, various types of derivatives to identify the source-edge locations of the causative source bodies. The present study carried out the interpretation using total horizontal derivative, tilt angle derivative, horizontal tilt angle derivative and Cos (θ) derivative map to get source-edge locations. The results derived from various derivatives of magnetic data have been compared with the basement depth solutions calculated from 3D Euler deconvolution. It is suggested that total horizontal derivative, tilt angle derivative and Cos (θ) derivative are the most useful tools for identifying the multiple source edge locations of the causative bodies in this tectonically active and transition zone area. As this area is highly prone to hydrocarbon bearing zone, hence, the integrated interpretation could reliably image various thrusts and faults boundaries and the source edge locations with dip and strike orientation along with the basement lineation in encouraging exploration for better understanding of the geo-scientific data.

Electrical signatures of the Earth’s crust in central India as inferred from magnetotelluric study

The tectonic scenario of the Narmada-Son Lineament (NSL) zone has been the subject of debate for the last few decades. It is characterized tectonically as a highly-disturbed zone in Indian geology since Precambrian times. A magnetotelluric (MT) study has been carried out across the NSL zone along a 270-km-long N-S-trending traverse, extending from Hoshangabad in the North to Ner in the South. As a part of the present study, 25 magnetotelluric soundings have been collected and the data rotated to N70°E after removing local distortions, arising from 3D galvanic effects, using the Groom-Bailey decomposition technique. 2-D inversion has been carried out using an NLCG scheme. The results derived from the 2-D inversion have brought out the highly conductive nature of the mid-lower crust at places coinciding with the known faults. The significant high heat flow and seismicity in the region associated with these faults may be caused by tectonic activity and the highly conductive nature of the mid-lower crust. This may be due to the partial melting of subsurface rocks resulting from the high temperature caused by mantle upwarping in the region. The results are also compared with the gravity and a nearby Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS).

Geology of India

Geology of India

Deep electrical imaging of the Narmada–Tapti region, central India from magnetotellurics

Next to Himalayas, the Narmada–Son Lineament (NSL) zone is characterized tectonically as a highly disturbed zone in Indian geology. Magnetotelluric (MT) study is carried out across NSL zone along a 190 km long N–S trending traverse. The present study region extends from Balapur (20°40′34″) in the South to Andharwadi (22°20′49″) in the North. The 2D modeling results for shallow crustal section has brought out a moderately resistive layer (50–200 Ω m) representing the exposed Deccan traps, overlying almost similar resistive layer (20–100 Ω m) inferred to be subtrappean sediments underlain by high resistive basement. The Deccan trap thickness varies from around a few tens of meters to a maximum of 1.5 km along the traverse. A subtrappean sedimentary basin like feature is delineated in the middle of the traverse with a thickness amounting to as much as 2 km. The resistive (>1000 Ω m) upper crust is relatively thin towards the southern and northern part of the traverse and tends to become thicker in the middle. A moderately conductive (50–500 Ω m) layer is traced from mid crust towards south and at lower crust–upper mantle towards north. It is characterized by enhanced heat flow, high density and high seismic velocity. This layer is interpreted as a mafic/intrusive layer presumably associated with magmatic underplating of the crust, perhaps due to reported asthenospheric upwelling due to tectonic activity.

Palaeontology: In search of an identity in the 21st Century

This article tries to examine how the study of palaeontology can be made more effective and visible at a time when the country faces several other acute problems of resources limitation and natural hazard mitigation. It looks at the subject in a larger planetary framework especially with regard to the origin of life, extinction, climatic fluctuations, as a tool for oil and mineral fuel exploration and above all, as a contributing factor in identified thrust areas of Indian geology.

Electrical imaging of Narmada–Son Lineament Zone, Central India from magnetotellurics

The Narmada–Son Lineament (NSL) Zone is the second most important tectonic feature after Himalayas, in the Indian geology. Magnetotelluric (MT) studies were carried out in the NSL zone along a 130 km long NNE-SSW trending profile. The area of investigation extends from Edlabad (20°46′16″; 75°59′05″) in the South to Khandwa (21°53′51″; 76°18′05″) in the North. The data shows in general the validity of a two-dimensional (2D) approach. Besides providing details on the shallow crustal section, the 2D modeling results resolved four high conductive zones extending from the middle to deep crust, spatially coinciding with the major structural features in the area namely the Gavligarh, Tapti, Barwani-Sukta and Narmada South faults. The model for the shallow section has brought out a moderately resistive layer (30–150 Ω m) representing the exposed Deccan trap layer, overlying a conductive layer (10–30 Ω m) inferred to be the subtrappean Gondwana sediments, the latter resting on a high resistive basement/upper crust. The Deccan trap thickness varies from around a few hundred meters to as much as 1.5 km along the traverse. A subtrappean sedimentary basin like feature is delineated in the northern half of the traverse where a sudden thickening of subtrappean sediments amounting to as much as 2 km is noticed. The high resistive upper crust is relatively thick towards the southern end and tends to become thinner towards the middle and northern part of the traverse. The lower crustal segment is conductive over a major part of the profile. Considering the generally enhanced heat flow values in the NSL region, coupled with characteristic gravity highs and enhanced seismic velocities coinciding with the mid to lower crustal conductors delineated from MT, presence of zones of high density mafic bodies/intrusives with fluids, presumably associated with magmatic underplating of the crust in the zone of major tectonic faults in NSL region are inferred.

The breakup history of Gondwana and its impact on pre-Cenozoic floristic provincialism

The concept of ‘Gondwana’, an ancient Southern Hemisphere supercontinent, is firmly established in geological and biogeographical models of Earth history. The term Gondwana (Gondwanaland of some authors) derives from the recognition by workers at the Indian Geological Survey in the mid- to late 19th century of a distinctive sedimentary sequence preserved in east central India. This succession, now known to range in age from Permian to Cretaceous, is lithologically and palaeontologically similar to coeval non-marine sedimentary successions developed in most of the Southern Hemisphere continents suggesting former continuity of these landmasses. Palaeomagnetic data and tectonic reconstructions suggest that the main assembly of Gondwana took place around the beginning of the Palaeozoic in near-equatorial latitudes and that the supercontinent as a whole shifted into high southern latitudes, allowing widespread glaciation by the end of the Carboniferous. From Carboniferous to Cretaceous times the southern continents had broadly similar floras but some species-level provincialism is apparent at all times. The break-up of Gondwana initiated during the Jurassic (at about 180 million years ago) and this process is continuing. The earliest rifting (crustal attenuation) within the supercontinent initiated in the west (between South America and Africa) and in general terms the rifting pattern propagated eastward with major phases of continental fragmentation in the Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous to Paleogene. Gondwanan floras show radical turnovers near the end of the Carboniferous, end of the Permian and the end of the Triassic that appear to be unrelated to isolation or fragmentation of the supercontinent. Throughout the late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic the high-latitude southern floras maintained a distinctly different composition to the palaeoequatorial and boreal regions even though they remained in physical connection with Laurasia for much of this time. Gondwanan floras of the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous (times immediately preceding and during break-up) were dominated by araucarian and podocarp conifers and a range of enigmatic seed-fern groups. Angiosperms became established in the region as early as the Aptian (before the final break-up events) and steadily diversified during the Cretaceous, apparently at the expense of many seed-fern groups. Hypotheses invoking vicariance or long distance dispersal to account for the biogeographic patterns evident in the floras of Southern Hemisphere continents all rely on a firm understanding of the timing and sequence of Gondwanan continental breakup. This paper aims to summarise the current understanding of the geochronological framework of Gondwanan breakup against which these biogeographic models may be tested. Most phytogeographic studies deal with the extant, angiosperm-dominated floras of these landmasses. This paper also presents an overview of pre-Cenozoic, gymnosperm-dominated, floristic provincialism in Gondwana. It documents the broad succession of pre-angiosperm floras, highlights the distinctive elements of the Early Cretaceous Gondwanan floras immediately preceding the appearance of angiosperms and suggests that latitudinal controls strongly influenced the composition of Gondwanan floras through time even in the absence of marine barriers between Gondwana and the northern continents.

Precambrian geology of India

Precambrian geology of India

Precambrian Geology of India by S. M. Naqvi and J. J. W. Rogers, Oxford University Press, 1987, oxford monographs on geology and geophysics no. 6. no. of pages 223. price: £40 (hardback)

Precambrian Geology of India by S. M. Naqvi and J. J. W. Rogers, Oxford University Press, 1987, oxford monographs on geology and geophysics no. 6. no. of pages 223. price: £40 (hardback)

WHAT IS A STANDARD GRAVITY?

The Scandinavian region is uplifting and the Indian region is a stable area so that a negative gravity anomaly can be found in the former region and no systematic anomaly can be found in the latter. Against these expectations there is no systematic negative anomaly in the Scandinavian region and a negative anomaly in India if the anomalies are calculated on the basis of a normal gravity formula including only (n=2 and 4, m=0) terms in the spherical harmonic expansion. It may be, however, that processes responsible for the Scandinavian uplift and Indian geology occur in shallower depths (probably in the B layer, asthenosphere) and that mass anomaly responsible for the anomaly of rather long wavelengths (or smaller wave numbers n and m) exists deep (probably in the C and D layers, mesosphere) within the earth. If such is the case, in order to get gravity anomaly closely related to geology, we must take as the standard gravity not only (n=2 and 4, m=0) terms but also higher order terms in the spherical harmonic expansion. In short we must choose the standard gravity formula so as to get gravity anomaly which is agreeable with other geophysical and geological observations.Studies are made on the basis of the above point of view. Gaposchkin and Lambeck's data on the spherical harmonic expansion of geoidal undulations are used. It is our tentative conclusion that by including terms up to (n=8, m=8) we get anomalies which are more agreeable with geology than the normal gravity formula.

Occurrence of Graywacke in the Lower Siwaliks, Simla Hills

WE would like to direct the attention of scientists regarding the occurrence of graywacke in the Nahan Series near Kalka, Simla Hills, Panjab, which has remained unnoticed in Indian geology.

Geology of India and Burma. M. S. Krisnan

Previous articleNext article No AccessReviewsGeology of India and Burma. M. S. Krisnan J. Marvin WellerJ. Marvin Weller Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Journal of Geology Volume 59, Number 2Mar., 1951 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/625842 Views: 1Total views on this site PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Sir Edwin Pascoe

WITH the recent death of Sir Edwin Hall Pascoe, Indian geology has suffered another severe loss, a loss that, as will be seen later, is particularly, untimely. Pascoe, who died in London on July 7, was the son of Edwin Pascoe and Mary A. Hall, and was born on February 17, 1878. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, of which he was a Foundation scholar.

Thomas Henry Holland, 1868-1947

With the unexpected death of Sir Thomas Henry Holland, K.C.I.E., K.C.S.I., on 15 May 1947, after a short illness in hospital at Surbiton in Surrey, British geology in general and Indian geology in particular has lost its most illustrious figure, one whose outstanding position was recognized by the fact that he was President-Designate of the Eighteenth Session of the International Geological Congress to be held in Great Britain in 1948, being also President of the Organizing Committee of this Congress. With his death, science, education and industry have all lost one of the ablest administrators of this century . Thomas Henry Holland was the son of John Holland and Grace Treloar Roberts of Cornish farming stock, being one of a family of eight children, six boys and two girls. He was born at Helston, Cornwall, on 22 November 1868. His parents later emigrated to Canada to farm at Springfield, Manitoba. He was educated first at a dame’s school at Helston and later he studied under John Gill, a schoolmaster at Helston, who, recognizing Holland’s promise, prepared him for a National Scholarship to the Royal College of Science; this Holland won at the early age of sixteen. At South Kensington, Holland took a First-Class Associateship in Geology with Honours (1888), winning also the Murchison Medal and Prize. Thomas Henry Huxley was then Dean of the Royal College of Science and Holland fell under his spell, becoming a lifelong admirer of Huxley and his methods. In later life Holland frequently praised the tandem system of education practised at South Kensington, as contrasted with that given at other colleges, where several subjects are taught concurrently and the student is not able to concentrate on one at a time.