Journal of The Indian Association of Sedimentologists (peer reviewed)

Editorial

G M Bhat — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Paris Agreement on climate change came into force on 4 November 2016 which was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015. Under this agreement, 175 countries are legally bound to commit themselves to limit the increase of global warming temperatures to under 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this goal, mitigation and adaptation policies have been adopted at the national and international levels. Mitigation measures include decarbonisation policy, for example the large-scale development of low-carbon energies to replace fossil fuel energy in a sustainable way. At present, efforts are focussed on the energy transition from fossil fuel driven energy to low-carbon energy which is mineral intensive. Rare earth elements (REEs) are core components of clean energy technologies such as solar, wind turbines and electric vehicles in the process of energy transition. In the quest for slow down the global temperature rise, development of low-carbon energy to achieve carbon emission reduction goals, rare earth elements are the key components to the energy transition. The criticality of supply and demand of raw materials is the key issue in planning the sustainable transition from fossil fuel driven energy to green energy. Over the past few years many countries established critical raw materials lists, in which rare earth elements have been given most attention.

Geochemistry of Neoproterozoic arenites from the Murwara area, Katni District, Madhya Pradesh: Implications for provenance, weathering and Tectonic Setting

Priyanka Onker, H.U Usmani, R.S Raghuwanshi — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Geochemical analysis in terms of major, trace and rare earth elements of the Neo-Proterozoic arenites of Rewa and Bhander Groups of the Vindhyan Supergroup from Murwara, Katni district, M.P., has been carried out to determine the provenance, weathering and tectonic setting. The arenites are rich in SiO₂ content but less in Na₂O, K₂O and CaO contents, suggesting the dominance of quartz and less amount of feldspars and rock fragments. Geochemically, these rocks are classified as quartz arenites to sub litharenite to sub-arkose. The CIA (75-98) and PIA values for these arenites and A-CN-K diagram indicates a high intensity of weathering in the source area. High LREE/HREE ratios, negative Eu anomaly and La/Sc, Th/Sc, Th/Co and Cr/Th ratio values suggest felsic source of these arenites. The discriminant diagram for these arenites indicates a quartzose sedimentary provenance. Ni vs TiO₂ and Th/Sc vs Sc bivariate plots indicate that the felsic rocks have been the source rock for these arenites. The discrimination diagrams based on log (K₂O+Na₂O) vs SiO₂ and Fe₂O₃+MgO vs TiO₂ contents show a passive margin setting. Whereas the results of new discriminant function multi-dimensional diagram for the high silica arenites reveals a change from collision to continental rift setting.

Textural characteristics of fluvial sediments in the Kosi River Basin, Bihar, India

Saba Imam, Atul Aditya Panday — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The fluvial sediment samples collected from the Kosi River Basin, Bihar were subjected to textural analysis. The textural parameters were computed using the appropriate phi values. Statistical metrics including mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis were estimated. From the findings, the mean size of river sand has been observed from medium to fine-grained nature (between 0.97 ? and 2.72 ?). Within the range of 0.50 ? to 0.77 ?, the standard deviation denotes a moderately well-sorted to moderately sorted nature. The sediment samples exhibit skewness values ranging from -0.344 ? to 0.267 ?. The Kurtosis varies between 0.86 ? and 1.9 ?, indicating a leptokurtic to mesokurtic nature. Thus, the statistical measures have revealed that sediments are dominant in the medium sand category, moderately well sorted, finely skewed, and fall under leptokurtic character. The bivariate plots constructed between the statistical metrics indicate the unimodal nature of sediments.

Constraining provenance and age of the siliciclastic rocks from the south-western Bundelkhand Craton, Central India

Erfan Mondal, Kamaal Parvez, Iftikhar Ahmad, Wamiq Mohammed Khan — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The lithology of the Bundelkhand craton, central India, includes highly deformed tonalite, trondhjemite and granodiorite (TTG) gneisses (3.55–2.7 Ga), followed by volcano-sedimentary greenstone belts and a suite of undeformed granitoids ranging in age from 2.52 to 2.49 Ga. The granitoids, which are by far the most dominant lithology of the craton, have intruded into the TTG gneiss-greenstone assemblage. In addition to huge granitic bodies, rhyolitic rocks of 2.54 Ga have also been observed in the Bundelkhand craton. In this study, we report the first occurrence of a small isolated outcrop of siliciclastic sedimentary rocks within the Bundelkhand granitoid suites in and around the Panchwara village, in the southwestern part of the craton. These siliciclastic sedimentary rocks are intruded by the youngest granitic phase of the Bundelkhand granitoid suite, dated as 2.49 Ga old. Thus, their age is determined to be older than 2.49 Ga. Petrographic studies suggest that these rocks are arkose in nature and geochemical composition indicates that they were derived from the older gneiss-greenstone successions and the older granitic phase (2.52 Ga) of the Bundelkhand granitoid suite. The REE modelling suggests that the sediment contribution from different sources is: 50% greenstone belt (15% basalt + 35% sedimentary rocks), 35% gneisses and 15% older granitoids. Detrital zircons from these sedimentary rocks reveal two age populations: one group of zircons is clustering around 2.52 Ga and the other group is ranging from 3.0 to 3.3 Ga indicating at least two protoliths for these sediments. Our field, petrographical and geochemical data, coupled with previously studied zircon geochronological data, is best explained by a model involving deposition of sediments derived from TTG gneiss, greenstone belt and also from the older phase of the granitoid suite. It is interesting to note that the basin received sediments from the older granitic phase of 2.52 Ga age and was closed before the emplacement of the youngest granitic phase at 2.49 Ga. This study, thus, provides for the first time, conclusive evidence for the presence of a late Archean sedimentary basin within the Bundelkhand craton. It is proposed that the sediments were deposited penecontemporaneously with the pulses of the granitoid magmatism in the Bundelkhand Craton that took place ~2.5 Ga.

Landslide susceptibility mapping using frequency ratio method along the Bhaderwah-Bani Road, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Yudhbir Singh, Mehreen Liaqat, Sumit Johar, Shifali Chib, Gaurav Singh Parihar — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study outlines a method for landslide susceptibility mapping utilizing remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). Since the terrain from Bhaderwah to Bani in J&K is prone to landslide threats, the study has been conducted there. The purpose of the current study is to determine and identify the significant terrain elements causing landslides. Nine contributing factors on landslides were taken into account throughout the analysis. Thematic data layers are created in the GIS domain based on local events. Topographic maps, satellite images, on-site observations and publicly available published maps are used to gather the landscape data. To determine the standardized scores of criteria expressing their factor of importance for a given decision problem in terms of thematic parameters, categories, and their normalized weights the Frequency ratio (FR) method is used to digitize these maps along with tabular data and to create a GIS database. A particular landslide susceptibility zonation (LSZ) map was created on a GIS platform by statistically combining weightages from several thematic maps. Using FR, the LSZ map was divided into five separate susceptibility zones. According to the study's finding, 8% of the area is in a very high susceptibility zone, with the remaining 12%, 15%, 23%, and 42% falling into high, moderate, low, and very low susceptibility zones, respectively. The outcomes of the current study might aid policy and decision makers in moving forward with regional development initiatives including land use planning.

Heavy metal toxicity and its human health assessment: A preliminary study from the Perumal Lake sediments, Tamil Nadu, India

Baranidharan Sathiyanarayanan, Vasudevan Sivaprakasam — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The current investigation manifests the heavy metal toxicity and its human health assessment to appraise the environmental deterioration of the sediments within the Perumal Lake, Tamil Nadu, India. Five surface samples were collected from the Perumal Lake in 2023, which undergoes the selective perception of the granulometric analysis, implying supremacy of the clay content and limited sand and silt contents. The organic matter indicates the higher input of waste disposal, and the CaCO₃ illustrates the existence of shell fragments in the lake environments. Noteworthy results of the heavy metal concentration as arranged in the devaluation order as Zn > Cu > Fe > Cr > Ni > Mn > Pb > Co > Cd. Followed by the heavy metal concentration, the environmental contamination indices such as I_geo denote that except for Cd metal, other heavy metals indicate moderate to extreme pollution status. The Enrichment Factor (Ef) illustrates Fe, Co, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb, highlighting no metal enrichment. In contrast, Mn and Cr reveal low metal enrichments, and the Cf reveals all the heavy metals, which argues for low to high contamination ranges. The C_d and the _mC_d are categorized as very high, and PERI underscores the low-risk category. The Hazard Index (HI) of the non-carcinogenic category and carcinogenic demonstrates that children and adults are primarily at risk of ingestion. At the same time, the dermal pathway indicates low jeopardy to children and adults and no risk to humans. The Heavy Metal Toxicity Load (HMTL) poses the sample location three registers a significant accumulation of toxic contagion proposed to remove from the sediments. Realm of heavy metal toxicity and its human health assessment underscores for researchers in environmental quality determination, and the strategies discussed such as phytoremediation, in-situ capping, and biotechnological techniques, may be helpful in evaluation and implement remediation methods of pollution in aquatic environments.

Provenance of sediments and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in the “Mis Amores” beach, Veracruz, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, grain-size, mineralogy, and geochemistry of Mis Amores (MA) beach sediments, Tuxpan, Veracruz State, Gulf of Mexico are analyzed. The textural parameters reveal that the sediments are fine-grained and vary from well-sorted to very well-sorted nature. The SEM-EDS analysis reveal that the sediments are abundant in minerals such as quartz, alkali feldspars, zircon, ilmenite, and pyroxene. Geochemically, the sediments are classified as sub-arkose type. The Chondrite normalized rare earth elements (REE) pattern suggest that the source area is dominated by felsic and intermediate igneous rocks (Eu/Eu^* = 0.90 - 1.19, number of samples n = 16). The provenance discrimination diagrams indicated that the MA sediments were derived by the weathering of felsic igneous rocks, probably from the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt. The results of this study reveal that the Tuxpan River played an important role in delivering sediments to the MA beach area.

The environmental indices suggest that the sediments are moderately contaminated by Zn and moderate to extremely contaminated by Cu and As. The Cu (> 84%) and Zn (> 82%) concentrations are predominantly associated with the exchangeable fraction, which are readily bioavailable. Cu, As, and Zn in the MA sediments were derived from the agricultural activities and waste water discharges from the sanitary network of the Tuxpan town and port.

Depositional sequences and sea level changes during Bathonian-Oxfordian, Kutch (Kachchh) Basin, Gujarat, India

Diwakar Mishra — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Kutch sedimentary basin is situated at extreme west of Indian Peninsula is an excellent example of cyclic sedimentation in Mesozoic shallow marine regime. The Bathonian to Santonian shallow marine rocks crops out in the Kutch Mainland extending for ~ 193 km from Habo in the east to Lakhpat in the west. Based on detail field studies in the Jhura dome, Kutch Mainland and laboratory investigations of 43 carbonate rock samples, the 370 m succession of carbonate-dominated rocks is stacked into three depositional sequences of regional importance. The 84 m Transgressive sequence-I of Bathonian age consisting of four microfacies assemblages represents an upward deepening facies succession. The 130 m regressive sequence of Callovian age composed of five microfacies assemblages showing upward shoaling facies succession. It was deposited during stillstand period followed by gradual increase in sediment supply. The 155 m transgressive sequence II of Early Oxfordian age consists of four microfacies assemblages that deposited during highstand of sea level in the basin together with episodic and less sediment supply. The relative sea level curves indicate high-order sea level variation during whole sequence before to major drop in sea level at the end of the transgressive sequence-II. The microfacies study reveals that these high order sequences are regionally comparable and might have been controlled by an active tectonic mechanism together with global sea level change.

Stability assessment and mitigation of vulnerable slopes utilizing kinematic analysis and slope mass rating approach along Basohli-Bani Road, Kathua District, Jammu and Kashmir

Shifali Chib, Yudhbir Singh — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Slope instability issues have a significant impact on the community's and surrounding area's socio-economic development. The current study examined the stability of sensitive rock-cut slopes in the Basohli-Bani region of Kathua district using geotechnical investigations. The study region is located in the Outer and Lesser Himalayan tectonic zones in the northwestern Himalaya. The current study's purpose was to determine the slope's stability status so that rapid mitigating measures could be recommended to avoid population losses and inconveniences. The stability assessment was conducted using rock mass characterization techniques for slope stability evaluation, such as Slope Mass Rating (SMR) classification system. Kinematic analysis was also employed to look at the various mechanisms of structurally controlled failures in jointed rock masses. The input data for the slope stability assessment was gathered through extensive fieldwork and stereonet plotting. The wedge mode of failure is the most prevalent mode, as demonstrated by kinematic analysis of the structural discontinuities. A total of thirty-two land sliding locations were considered for the cut slope stability evaluations. The SMR results show that sixteen of the thirty-two vulnerable locations are unstable, seven are completely unstable, eight are partially stable, one is stable, and none is completely stable. Site-specific mitigation strategies have been recommended for rock cut slopes that are partially stable, unstable, or completely unstable. These measures also help to mitigate the socio-economic repercussions. This study will aid ministry of road transport and highways even more because numerous civil engineering projects are now ongoing and several new ones are in the planning phases in the study area.

39th Convention of Indian Association of Sedimentologists & International Conference on Voyage of Sedimentology from the Mountains to the Oceans: An Innovative Trajectory

Dr. S Vasudevan — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The 39th Annual Convention of the Indian Association of Sedimentologists (IAS) and the International Conference on "Voyage of Sedimentology from the Mountains to the Oceans: An Innovative Trajectory" took place from December 6th to 8th, 2023, at the Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University. This event was organized under the auspices of the IAS and held in anticipation of the impending centenary year of Annamalai University and the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The conference was meticulously conceptualized to showcase various aspects of sedimentary processes, environments, and resources, aligning with the overarching themes of the approaching centenaries. It aimed to bring together experts, researchers, academicians, and professionals in sedimentology to share their groundbreaking research, ideas, and experiences related to sedimentary processes, environments, and resources. As a multidisciplinary field, Sedimentology plays a pivotal role in elucidating Earth's history, managing energy and mineral resources, addressing environmental concerns, mitigating geological hazards, studying climate change, and supporting civil engineering and construction projects. The significance of sedimentology lies in its ability to provide invaluable insights into the processes and environments shaping our planet, contributing to various practical applications with profound societal, economic, and environmental implications.

With a comprehensive agenda, the conference featured the International Association of Sedimentologists Lecture series, keynote speeches, invited talks, oral and poster presentations, and Workshops centered on identified themes. Additionally, post-conference field excursions were organized to enhance participants' understanding and exploration of sedimentological concepts in practical settings.

Training-cum-Field Workshop on Decoding Clastic Sedimentary Systems: Report

Iftikhar Ahmad, M.E.A Mondal, Kr. Farahim Khan, P.P Chakraborty — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (India) under the aegis of the Indian Association of Sedimentologists organized Training-cum-Field Workshop on “Decoding Clastic Sedimentary Systems” during February 20-25, 2024. Here, we present a detailed report of The Training-cum-Field Workshop. The workshop aimed to impart training to students, research scholars, early career researchers and industry professionals on various aspects of clastic sedimentary systems including sequence stratigraphy, basin analysis, prospect evaluation, exploration of unconventional resources, depositional environment and paleocurrent analysis of siliciclastic rocks, etc. The workshop included classroom lectures covering wide ranging topics in sedimentology to enhance the knowledge of clastic sedimentary systems of the young students and experienced professionals. It also comprised tutorials and hands-on exercises on sequence stratigraphy, paleocurrent analysis, thin section study of siliciclastic rocks and drone-based topographic change detection exercise. A two-day dedicated field training was conducted in nearby sedimentary basins as part of the workshop.