Integrated approach of heavy metal pollution indices and complexity quantification using chemometric models in the Sirsa Basin, Nalagarh valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Chemometric techniques and pollution assessment indices were applied to determine the source and intensity of pollution in the Sirsa River, Himachal Pradesh,India. Results show EC, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni were above the permissible limit as per the Bureau of Indian Standards.The heavy metal pollution index(HPI) and contamination index(Cd) provided contrasting outcome and poor correlation was observed. A heavy metal evaluation index(HEI)method was developed using a multiple of the mean and correlation coefficient values to provide an alternative pollution classification. The criteria of HEI adopted for reclassification of HPI and Cdproduced comparable results; 40 % samples were labeled as low contamination,50 % as medium contamination, and 10 % as high contamination for all indices. Principal component analysis along with cluster analysis was used to identify the main factors responsible for degradation of water quality,namely discharge of industrial effluent, river bed mining,agricultural runoff, and minor natural or geogenic input.The methods and chemometric study proposed here can be used as effective tools to gather information about water quality and water resource management.

Ichnology and Depositional Environment of the Cambrian Nagaur Sandstone (Nagaur Group) Along the Dulmera Section, Bikaner-Nagaur Basin, Rajasthan

The Lower Cambrian Nagaur Sandstone（Marwar Supergroup） has yielded trace fossils Treptichnus, Cruziana, serially repeated Rusophycus, Diplichnites, Monomorphichnus, Bergaueria,arthropod swimming traces and leap frogging marks of Cruziana ichnofacies. This ichnofossils assemblage is dominantly preserved in fine to medium grained red sandstone beds of the Mohra Member（Nagaur Sandstone）. The presence of graded rip-up clasts, current ripples, dune crossstratification with mud drapes and tidal bundles indicates a subtidal paleoenvironment for the deposition of Nagaur Sandstone Formation, which is corroborated by the Cruziana ichnofacies trace fossil assemblage.

Hill slope instability of Nainital City,Kumaun Lesser Himalaya,Uttarakhand,India

Nainital City of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya is prone to mass wasting processes during monsoon season,which mischievously triggers the hill slope instability in this region. Slate, dolomitic limestone, silty sandstone and rhythmite of the Krol Formation are the main rock types. The present study focuses on the investigation of slope stability in the region in terms of potential seismicity and landslide. Geological and geotechnical mapping indicates that the major portion of the area is characterized by slope wash materials and buildings. The combination of 3-4 joint sets with one random joint is the main structure at outcrops.The major geological structures of this area are Nainital lake fault passing from the center of the lake, Main Boundary Thrust at SW, and Khuriya Fault passing from the SE direction of Nainital City. This work finds that different types of discontinuities(e.g. joints and faults), overburden due to unplanned civil structures,and neotectonic activity in the vicinity of this ara affect the stability of the city. The slate forms the base of the city, dipping slightly towards the lake side along the NW direction, thus accelerating the instability of this area. Rock mass rating(RMR), slope mass rating, factor of safety(FOS) and graphical analysis of the discontinuity for slope kinematics indicate that the study area is a landslide-prone zone. This study can facilitate reducing the risk of human life, and contribute to the ongoing construction works in the area.