Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

Rahul Mohan ¹, Abhay Kumar Singh ², Jayant K. Tripathi ², G. C. Chowdhary ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221005, IN
2 School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi -110 067, IN

Abstract

The chemical characteristics of groundwater in and around the industrial area of Naini district, Allahabad have been studied to evaluate the suitability of water for irrigation and domestic uses. Sixty five water samples representing the shallow and deep groundwater of the area were collected and analysed for pH, EC, TDS, HCO₃, CO₃, SO₄, Cl, Ca, Mg, Na and K. It is observed that the quality of the groundwater is suitable for domestic use with some exception. The observed high quantity of heavy metals at some sites requires immediate attention and detailed study. The calculated values of SAR, RSC and sodium percentage indicate the good to permissible quality of water. However, the high sodium percentage and RSC values at certain sites restrict its suitability for agricultural purposes.

Keywords

Hydrochemistry, Pollution, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Residual Sodium Carbonate, Trace Metals, Naini Industrial Area, Uttar Pradesh.

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Shivk Kumar Pandey ¹, Abhay Kumar Singh ², S. I. Hasnain ¹

Affiliations
1 School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi - 110 067, IN
2 Central Mining Research Institute, Barwa Road, Dhanbad - 826 001, IN

Abstract

A detailed geochemical study of the Pindari glacier meltwaters has been carried out to assess the major ion chemistry and solute acquisition processes at high altitude. Electrical conductivity of the meltwater ranges from 69 to 207 μS cm^-1. Analytical result shows that bicarbonate and sulphate are sub-equally dominant anions, accounting for 49% and 50% of the total anions respectively in equivalent unit. In equivalent unit, calcium is found to be the most dominating cation (74%) followed by magnesium (20%) potassium (3.5%) and sodium (2.5%). Ca-SO₄-HCO₃ is the dominating hydrochemical facies in Pindari glacier meltwater. High contribution of calcium and magnesium to the total cations (90-95%), high (Ca+Mg)/HCO₃ and (Ca+Mg)/(Na+K) ratio indicate that the composition of meltwater draining from Pindari glacier is largely controlled by carbonate weathering and partly by silicate weathering. High concentration of sulphate and average C-ratio (HCO₃/HCO₃+SO₄) value of 0.49 suggests that coupled reactions, involving carbonate dissolution and protons derived primarily though not exclusively from the oxidation of sulphide minerals, largely control bulk meltwater composition. Low concentrations of dissolved ions were observed in the early ablation (May and July) seasons, while the late ablation seasons (September and October) are marked by increased concentrations of observed species.

Keywords

Pindari glacier, Meltwater, Weathering, Diurnal variation, TDS, TSM, Kumaon, Himalaya.

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Abhay Kumar Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067, IN

Abstract

Bed, suspended and core sediments collected from the entire region of the basin were analysed to determine the elemental chemistry of the sediments of the Damodar river basin. The analytical results show that bulk sediment chemistry consists mostly (>75%) of five elements, Si, Al, K, Fe and Na. Mean composition has indicated that the Damodar sediments are depleted in Ca, Mg and heavy metals and enriched in Si and K as compared to the other Indian river basins. The concentrations of heavy metals in the suspended sediments are significantly higher than the bed sediments. In general, heavy metal concentration increases towards the finer size fractions. The depth variation of heavy metals in the core sediments shows no specific trend. Speciation studies show that the lithogenic phase is the major sink for heavy metals. Fe-Mn oxide and organic fractions are the major nonlithogenic phases and Zn is the major constituent of the nonlithogenic phase. Geoaccumulation indices calculated for Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn indicate that Damodar sediments are not polluted with respect to these metals.

Keywords

Geochemistry, Sediment Chemistry, Heavy Metals, Geoaccumulation Index, Damodar River.

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Abhay Kumar Singh ¹, Shiv Kumar Pandey ¹, Subrat Panda ¹

Affiliations
1 School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067, IN

Abstract

An analytical study on major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K) and anions (HCO₃, SO₄, Cl) in the meltwaters draining from Kafni glacier, Pindar valley, were carried out in the present study. The analysis was directed towards the deciphering, of the major ion chemistry, the diurnal variation in solute and suspended sediment concentrations and to trace the source and mechanism controlling water chemistry of Kafni meltwaters. Distinct diurnal variation has been observed by major ionic species and suspended sediment concentration in the meltwater, reflecting varying proportions of meltwater transferred to the channel through different routes. Among cations Ca is the most dominant ion (69%) followed by Mg (19%), Na (8%) and K (4%). Bicarbonate is the dominant anion, constituting 85% of the total anions and 61% of TDS. The hjgh concentration of bicarbonate and its good correlation with Ca indicates their common source, from the dissolution of carbonate rocks. The high (Ca+Mg)/(Na+K) ratio i.e. 8, the high contribution of (Ca+Mg) to the total cations (Ca+Mg/TZ⁺ = 0.9) and low ratio of (Na+K)TZ⁺ = 0.11 also suggests that the carbonate weathering could be the primary source of major ions in these waters. The suspended sediment concentration negatively correlated with IDS and the increasing TSM/TDS ratio with the discharge indicate prominence of physical weathering over chemical weathering in the afternoon time.

Keywords

Weathering, Dissolved Ions, Diurnal Variation, Kafni Glacier, Kumaon Himalaya.

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Abhay Kumar Singh ¹, B. K. Tewary ¹, A. Sinha ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Barwa Road, Dhanbad - 826 001, IN

Abstract

An attempt has been made to study the groundwater geochemistry in part of the NOIDA metropolitan city and assessing the hydrogeochemical processes controlling the water composition and its suitability for drinking and irrigation uses. The analytical results show that Na and Ca are the major cations and HCO₃ and Cl are the major anions in this water. The higher ratios of Na+K/TZ⁺ (0.2-0.7), Ca+Mg/HCO₃ (0.8-6.1); good correlation between Ca-Mg (0.75), Ca-Na (0.77), Mg-Na (0.96); low ratio of Ca+Mg/Na+K (1.6), Ca/Na (1.03), Mg/Na (0.64), HCO₃/Na (1.05) along with negative correlation of HCO₃ with Ca and Mg signify silicate weathering with limited contribution from carbonate dissolution. The hydro-geochemical study of the area reveals that many parameters are exceeding the desirable limits and quality of the potable water has deteriorated to a large extent at many sites. High concentrations of TDS, Na, Cl, SO₄, Fe, Mn, Pb and Ni indicate anthropogenic impact on groundwater quality and demand regional water quality investigation and integrated water management strategy. SAR, %Na, PI and Mg-hazard values show that water is of good to permissible quality and can be used for irrigation. However, higher salinity and boron concentration restrict its suitability for irrigation uses at many sites.

Keywords

Groundwater Quality, TDS, SAR, RSC, Hydrogeochemistry, BGIR, NOIDA.

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