The origin of basal lherzolites in the mantle section of harzburgite‐dominated ophiolites is enigmatic. The basal part of the mantle section is well exposed in the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite, Pakistan, which is one of the harzburgite‐dominated ophiolites of the Tethys Ophiolite Belt. In this contribution, we describe the basal lherzolite of the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite, Pakistan, and discuss its origin based on the trace‐element characteristics of its clinopyroxenes. The basal lherzolite exhibits porphyroclastic to mylonitic textures. Primitive mantle‐normalized trace‐element patterns of the porphyroclastic clinopyroxenes were characterized by low ratios of light rare‐earth elements (LREEs) to heavy rare‐earth elements (HREEs), low abundances of HREEs, and positive Sr anomalies. These geochemical characteristics are not consistent with a lherzolite and its clinopyroxenes, which is formed by a residue after a low degree of partial melting and melt extraction from peridotites in a mid‐ocean ridge setting. Instead, the compositions of the clinopyroxenes are consistent with open‐system melting induced by the infiltration of slab‐derived fluids into residual peridotites that had been depleted in REEs. The compositions of chromian spinels in the chromitites of the basal peridotite sequence are also consistent with their formation in an arc setting. We conclude that the basal lherzolites of the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite represent a residue after a relatively high degree of partial melting, and that the clinopyroxenes were added as metasomatic crystallization from slab‐derived arc‐related melts to this residual depleted peridotite in a subduction setting.
The upper Turonian–Maastrichtian Kawagarh Formation represents a thick sequence of carbonates in the Kalachitta Range, Pakistan and it is the only stratigraphic record of Late Cretaceous sedimentation in northwestern Lesser Himalayas. Global sea-level marks a gradual fall of ∼40 to 50 m during the deposition of the Kawagarh Formation. This study is based on detailed outcrop and petrographic investigations of six stratigraphic sections exposed in Kalachitta Range. Carbonate grains are dominantly composed of pelecypods, oysters, trigonia and plankton distributed in a micritic groundmass. Five microfacies, (1) Planktonic Mudstone, Wackestone and Packstone Microfacies, (2) Pelecypodic Planktonic Mudstone and Wackestone Microfacies, (3) Pelecypodic Wackestone and Packstone Microfacies, (4) Marl Microfacies and (5) Dolostone Microfacies, were identified using distribution of faunal types and matrix. Based on faunal paleoecology, microfacies analysis and sedimentary structures, a shallow open-marine, northward-dipping ramp model has been proposed for the deposition of the Kawagarh Formation beginning with a transgressive cycle, which also corresponds to global sea-level rise, and possibly terminated by uplift owing to initial collision of the Indian Plate with the Kohistan-Ladakh Arc at the end of the Cretaceous.KEYPOINTSPaleontological and paleoecological evidence is used to develop a shallow, open-marine ramp deposition model for the Kawagarh Formation.The initiation of Kawagarh sedimentation with transgression in the late Turonian synchronise with global sea-level curve. Sedimentation was terminated by initial collision of the Indian Plate with the Kohistan-Ladakh Arc.
Owing to the release of toxic gases, leachate and thermal emissions that originate from waste dumps, these sites significantly impact environmental sustainability. The study attempts to assess the deleterious impact of municipal solid waste (MSW) dump on surrounding forested landscape by employing geospatial technologies, which are cost and time-effective. For this purpose, temporal period ranging from 2015 to 2020, having 41 valid satellite observations has been selected for study. Firstly, the radii of intense hazardous zone and hazardous zone have been measured, as two separate parameters, which are 580 ± 30 m and 1260 ± 30 m, respectively. Secondly, average spatial extent of bio-influence zone is measured to be 1262 m while the average thermal influence zone extends up to 530 m around the MSW dumping site. A detailed analysis of influence zone variations reveals that the bio-influence zone depends on multitude of meteorological parameters, whereas the thermal influence zone relies mainly on seasonal temperature fluctuations. Moreover, the level of severity of emissions from MSW decomposition directly depends upon temperature. The long-term variability analysis of these hazardous zones reveals the stationarity of their spatial extents, signifying forest resilience. This study has proved significance of geospatial techniques as an alternate of expensive and time intensive assessment methods involving in situ measurements. So the proposed technique is beneficial for environmentalists, decision-makers and municipal authorities for analysing the extent and severity of MSW pollutants for forest community to address the problem of ecological degradation.
This article presents spatial and temporal variations of planetary boundary layer (PBL) sulphur dioxide (SO2) over megacity Lahore and adjoining region, a typical representative area in the Indo-Gangetic Basin (IGB) largely influenced by transported volcanic SO2 from Africa, Middle East, and southern Europe, by using data retrieved from satellite-based Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) during October 2004–September 2015. We find a positive trend of 2.4% per year (slope 0.01 ± 0.005 with y-intercept 0.35 ± 0.03 Dobson Unit (DU), correlation coefficient r = 0.55 and 2-tailed p-value at 0.1) of OMI-SO2 column with the average value of 0.4 ± 0.05 DU. Strong seasonality of OMI-SO2 column is observed over the region linked with local meteorology, patterns of anthropogenic emissions, crop residue burning, and vegetation cover. There exists a seasonal high value in winter 0.56 ± 0.24 DU with a peak in December 0.67 ± 0.26 DU. The seasonal lowest value is observed to be 0.29 ± 0.11 DU in wet summer with minimum value in July 0.25 ± 0.06 DU. High growth rates of OMI-SO2 column over the study region have been observed in January, June, October, and December ranging from 5.7% to 11.6% per year. Satellite data show elevated OMI-SO2 columns in 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2012 largely contributed by trans-boundary volcanic SO2. A detailed analysis of volcanic SO2 transported from Africa and Middle East (Jabal Al-Tair, Dalaffilla, and Nabro volcanoes) over the study area is presented. Air mass trajectories suggest the presence of long-range transported volcanic SO2 at high altitude levels over Lahore and IGB region during the volcanic episodes. The SO2 enhancements in PBL during winter season are generally due to significant vertical downdraft of high-altitude volcanic SO2. For the first time, we present significant influence of volcanic SO2 from southern Europe (Mt. Etna volcano) reaching over the study area. Daily mean OMI-SO2 levels up to 21.4, 10.0, 5.6, and 2.4 DU have been noticed due to the eruptions from Dalaffilla, Mt. Etna, Nabro, and Jabal Al-Tair volcanoes, respectively.
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