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
Saxena, A.
- Chemical Weathering of the Indo-Gangetic Alluvium with Special Reference to Release of Fluoride in the Groundwater, Unnao District, Uttar Pradesh
Authors
1 Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow - 226 007, IN
2 SMEC India Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon - 122 002, IN
Source
Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78), Vol 77, No 5 (2011), Pagination: 459-477Abstract
In the central part of Indo-Gangetic alluvium in the Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh there are many pockets where groundwater shows high fluoride content. Drinking of fluorinated ground water has effected a large population and in many villages more than 80% of the population is suffering from fluorosis. The source of this fluoride appears to be the alluvial sediments deposited in the geological past as no hard rock terrain is present in the nearby areas. The area is dominantly made up of mud with pockets of sand. The sand fraction is made up of quartz, plagioclase, microcline, muscovite and biotite along with some accessory minerals like garnet, epidote, chlorite, tourmaline, hornblende, kyanite and a few opaque minerals. Moreover, the fluoride content in the groundwater varies both spatially and with depth indicating a sporadic occurrence. The surface water is devoid of high content of fluoride but is reported in hand pumps and in the dug wells. This paper deals with the geochemical study of the sediments up to a depth of 45m as most of the hand pumps are up to this depth to understand the source of fluoride. 14C dates of calcretes have suggested that the 45 m thick succession must have been formed in about 45000 years.Two different location sites were selected; one showing higher concentration of fluoride (Marksnagar village) while at other site which is about 4 km east of Marksnagar, the fluoride content was minimal (Durgajkhera village). Major elements and 24 trace elements were determined using XRF and it was found that when major elements are normalized with respect to upper continental crust (UCC) there is an enrichment of Si in all the samples. Na shows depletion where as Ti and K show enrichment. Fe and Mn show enrichment probably due to the formation of clay minerals. Si, and K enrichment is due to weathering of feldspar while Mg, Fe and K may have been released by the weathering of biotite. The CIA for the ancient sediments ranges from 54-64 while for the modern sediments of the Ganga River it varies from 50-64 indicating that there is no change in the rate of weathering in both modern and ancient sediments. The rate of weathering at all the sample locations was compared with that of UCC. The CIA values also suggest that there is an incipient weathering and indicate that the weathering of biotite is more progressive than muscovite. There is also a positive correlation between CIA values and the fluoride content in the ground water. Higher percentage of biotite and chlorite (altered biotite) was found at Marksnagar in comparison to Durgajkhera. It appears that the fluoride content in the ground water is due to dissociation/alteration of mica minerals mainly biotite.
Keywords
Groundwater, Chemical Weathering, Fluoride, Uttar Pradesh.- Paddy Cultivation during Early Holocene:Evidence from Diatoms in Lahuradewa Lake Sediments, Ganga Plain
Authors
1 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, IN
2 7-11-2C, Metrocity, Nishatganj, Lucknow 226 006, IN
Source
Current Science, Vol 114, No 10 (2018), Pagination: 2106-2115Abstract
Lahuradewa lake deposits, adjacent to the Lahuradewa archaeological site were rich in diatoms, going back to about 10 kyrs. The diatoms are grouped into four categories, namely, planktic, benthic, paddy field and anthropogenic-influenced. The variation in planktic and benthic forms reflects changes in the water budget of the lake in response to the change in rainfall, viz. more planktic in humid phases and less planktic in dry phases. These changes correspond to the changes identified by other proxies, namely phytolith. Paddy field diatoms are present in good numbers since about 8 ka along with anthropogenic diatoms; their numbers increase during dry phases and decrease in humid phases. This supports the contention that humans were living in this area since early Holocene and agriculture activity started around 8 ka. Presence of paddy field diatoms in lake sediments is rather unique. It is argued that the lake margin was used for paddy cultivation. Intermittently, sediment and organic remains namely paddy field diatoms, rice phytoliths and grass microcharcoal were washed from lake margin agricultural fields into deeper parts of the lake to be preserved in lake sediments.Keywords
Agriculture, Diatoms, Holocene, Lahuradewa Lake, Paddy Field.References
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