A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
Dey, R. C.
- Trans-Aravalli Vindhyan Evaporites under the Semi-desertic plains of Western India - Significance of Depositional Features
Authors
1 Geological Survey of India, 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Culcutta 700016, IN
Source
Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78), Vol 37, No 2 (1991), Pagination: 136-150Abstract
A large evaporite basin of upper Proterozoic and early Cambrian age exists in the sub-surface of western part of India, now represented by the semi-desertic plains of Punjab-Haryana-Rajasthan and extending beyond the Salt Range of Pakistan. This has come to light in recent years by intensive exploratory drilling. Under a thick blanket of Quaternary sediments (305-330 m) of southwest Punjab (Faridkot and Ferozepur districts) and north-west Haryana (Sirsa district), in contiguity with Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan, there occurs in the sub-surface huge thickness of sedimentary rocks, essentially sub-horizontal in disposition. Part of this sedimentary sequence consists of halite and associated evaporites (polyhalite, anhydrite, limestone and dolomite), attaining a cumulative thickness of over 600 mat Hansera in Rajasthan.Synthesis of available data suggests that the present evaporite sequence constitutes a marginal facies of a larger evaporite basin existing to the west.
Keywords
Evaporite, Trans-Arava1li Vindhyan, Desert, Sedimentology, Rajasthan.
- Ancient Smelting Devices (Retorts) from Different Parts of India
Authors
1 'Greenwood' D-7, 315-B Upen Banerjee Road, Kolkata-700060, IN
Source
Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78), Vol 72, No 4 (2008), Pagination: 527-532Abstract
India is an ancient country with rich heritage - not only spiritual and cultural, but also in mining and metallurgy long-Deserted ancient mines/Old workings, large stone grinding tools, mine wastes, slag heaps and dumped ancient metallurgical artefacts are mute reminders of bustling activities of a clan of ancient miners and metallurgists in different parts of India. Ancient India had two pioneering contributions to the global science-Production of high quality crucible steel (Britishers called 'wootz') and 'rustless' iron, and an ingenious method of downward distillation of zinc vapour from the smelted ore in specially designed retorts (sophisticated pyrotechnique operation).
The present paper deals with ancient smelting devices/Retorts found in locales, now in Rajasthan Haryana, H.P/Uttarakhand, U.P, Andhra Pradesh and TN, where the author had the opportunity to work on ground and study the devices. These are of similar looks (cylindrical, hollow, thick-walled or thin-walled) and dimensions (30-35 cm in length and 8-12 cm in cross-sectional diameter). There is striking similarity in retorts (cylindrical, centrally bulging/pear-shaped, hollow, thin-walled) used in lead-zinc extraction at Zawar (Rajasthan) and in Tons valley (H.P). Same is the case with the devices used in iron metallurgy (cylindrical, hollow, thick-Walled) at Asawari (Haryana), and Mondour and Kusmi areas (U.P). The retorts (cylindrical, hollow, thin-Walled) found near Agnigundala (A.P.) and Veppanapalli (TN ) are slightly different. The residual materials inside the devices of a few locales have been scanned by Emission Spectrography for 30 elements, analysed by A A Spectrophotometry, and by classical methods for iron and silica C-14 dating of charcoal pieces from slag-Retort dumps at Asawari (Haryana) assigns an age of late first millennium BC.
Keywords
Ancient Smelting Devices, Basemetals, Iron, Zawar, Asawari, Tons Valley, Mondour, Agnigundala, Veppanapalli, C-14 Dating.- Nagaur - Tertiary Interface Under Punjab-Haryana Semi-Desertic Plains in Western India
Authors
1 'Greenwood' D-7, 315-B Upen Banerjee Road, Kolkata - 700 060, IN
Source
Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78), Vol 74, No 1 (2009), Pagination: 131-137Abstract
The subsurface Nagaur Basin in northwest Haryana and southwest Punjab hosts evaporite sequence, conformably overlain by Nagaur red beds and grey beds. A polymictic conglomerate intervenes the Nagaur sequence and the overlying Tertiary sequence. The focus is on the new finds of (i) distinctive 'grey beds' overlying ubiquitous red beds, (ii) 'Malout conglomerate and grit' horizon (Palaeocene-Miocene) marking an unconformity over the Nagaur Group (early Cambrian) and (iii) 'entrapped gas and dried-up leaves/carbonaceous flakes' in the conglomerate unit and succeeding Tertiary rocks. Palaeoenvironmental significance has been discussed. The Nagaur 'red beds' has been likened to 'continental red beds' of Schreiber (1978) and 'reworked red beds' of Krynine (1949). The 'grey beds' are channel fillings, fresh material having been derived from fresh cuttings by streams/rivers following structural grains in the Aravalli landscape where the interfluves provided weathered (oxidised) materials for the red beds. Association of continental red beds and grey beds is known in the Newark Series (Triassic) of the Eastern United States and the Keweenawan 'late Precambrian' of the Lake Superior region.Keywords
Subsurface Nagaur Sedimentary Basin, Continental Red Beds, Grey Beds, Polymictic Conglomerate, Palaeoenvironment, Punjab-Haryana.References
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