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The composition of marine authigenic iron silicates bears subtle evidence of paleo-oceanographic and paleoclimatic conditions. This study focuses on the compositionally unique glauconite within the Early Cretaceous Pariwar and Habur formations in the Jaisalmer Basin and discusses its implications. The Al-glauconite is enriched in TFe 2 O 3 (> 18 wt%), and is considered as Fe-rich Al-glauconite. The X-ray diffraction parameters, the micro-texture, and the K 2 O content reveal an evolved to highly evolved structure of the glauconite. It is abundant in shallow subtidal and tidal- and wave-influenced shoreface facies, and it forms either by the alteration of fecal pellets or as bioclast infillings. Micropaleontological and ichnological proxies confirm the glauconitization in an oxygen-depleted, shallow marine depositional setting. Small-sized (< 1 cm) fodinichnial, pascichnial, domichnial, and repichnial traces, and agglutinated foraminifera ( Bathysiphon) corroborate the oxygen-depleted seawater. The landward expansion of the oxygen minimum zone, leading to oxygen depletion in coastal settings, facilitates the glauconitization in a marginal marine setting. Kaolinite and Fe-Al-smectite react in the presence of excess Fe, forming Fe-rich Al-glauconite on the seafloor. Therefore, the compositionally unique glauconite reflects atypical seawater chemistry with increased elemental influx of Al, Fe, and Mg related to intense continental weathering, kaolinite substrate, and mobilization of Fe 2+ in oxygen-depleted seawater.

Mordenite zeolite is considered a molecular sieve because of its adsorbent material characteristics used in the industry as a gas separator. High Si/Al ratios of this zeolitic material in its crystal lattice provide high thermal stability in the structure. To minimize the production costs, this work synthesized the mordenite zeolite in absence organic template (high costs of production). For this purpose, rice husk ash (silicon source) was used from a thermoelectric plant that uses biomass for power generation under the “Moving Grade Reactor” method and metakaolin (aluminium source) derived from the construction. To obtain the zeolitic material, an alkaline treatment with sodium hydroxide and deionized water was required. Different Si/Al ratios (5, 10, 15, and 20) were used to evaluate the highest efficiency in adsorption capacity. The textural properties of mordenite as a function of specific surface area ranged from 314 to 347 m 2 /g, with micropore volume 0.198–0.279 cm 3 /g with average pore diameter ranging from 5.9 to 6.2 Å. N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms obtained for mordenite presented type IV hysteresis, characteristic of microporous materials. X-ray diffraction showed crystalline phases of mordenite zeolite, mostly. The FTIR reinforces the success of mordenite synthesis by the vibration bands corresponding to the zeolitic material. TGA revealed water desorption and absence of an organic director. The mean cation-exchange capacity values ranged from 1.10 to 1.78 meq/g indicating a 62% increase of 20-mordenite zeolite compared to 5-mordenite in the zeolitization process. This result is satisfactory and promising for the use of mordenite as adsorbent material.

The textile industries release a substantial amount of effluents into water resources every year. The vast majority of these effluents are composed of heavy metals that bind the textile fibres with dyes. This work proposes to use an adsorption system composed of clay-minerals (kaolinite and montmorillonite) and molecular sieve (zeolite) for separating the Cu 2+ and Cr 6+ ions, considering the pH changes of aqueous solutions. The adsorbent materials were characterized using the following state of the art techniques such as X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Cation exchange capacity. During the adsorption tests, the contact time of the adsorbates (Cu 2+ and Cr 6+ ions in concentrations of 100, 50, 10 and 5 mg/L) with the adsorbents vary from 1 to 4 h in acidic and alkaline conditions (pH 3.5 and 7.5). The results indicate maximum adsorption of Cu 2+ (at pH 3.5) and Cr 6+ (at pH 7.5) ions on application of the zeolitic material. The clay minerals conclusively proved to be less efficient when compared to zeolite. It can be concluded that the adsorption system has achieved the desired efficiency, with substantial removal of Cu 2+ and Cr 6+ ions for zeolites in synthetic wastewater solutions of the textile industry.

The combustion of fossil fuels accounts for over 85% of global energy supply and is a major source of CO₂ emissions. Geological storage in mature reservoirs and deep saline aquifers is a promising mitigation strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Paraná Basin (South America) and the Gondwana Damodar and Son-Mahanadi basins (India) present suitable conditions, with porous sandstone reservoirs sealed by impermeable caprocks. This study investigates CO₂–brine–rock interactions in a synthetic saline aquifer under high pressure (25–200 bar) and temperature (50–100 °C) for 24–96 h. The laboratory experiments in a hydrodynamic reactor revealed precipitation of carbonate minerals, confirmed by XRD. PHREEQC modeling predicted the formation of calcite, dolomite, magnesite, siderite, and dawsonite, with a marked decrease in the concentrations of brine ions. The results effectively establish that CO₂–brine interactions promote mineral trapping, providing insights into long-term CO₂ stabilization in saline aquifers.

Rice husk is considered as a waste in the rice industry but is proficient in manufacturing different materials, such as zeolites, which is produced in large quantities all over the world, for example in Brazil. Zeolite is an adsorbent support material, which can be synthesized from rice husk ash (RHA) with external sources of aluminium (ESA). The scientific community has been conducting several measures to minimize the environmental impacts caused by greenhouse gases. Several mitigation processes are presently investigated, which includes carbon dioxide injections into adsorbent materials (e.g. zeolites). The efficiency of this technology involves a zeolitic material with high crystallinity and high concentrations of SiO2 and Al2O3 (aluminosilicates). In the present work, zeolites have been synthesized from rice husk ash (SiO2 source) and external aluminium sources (Al2O3 - alumina, gibbsite and metakaolin) to fulfill that purpose. With the aid of XRF, XRD, SEM/EDS and FTIR techniques, the zeolitic material was characterized in two distinct crystalline phases: Mordenite and ZSM-5. The synthesis was carried out by the ideal addition of ESA (2.5 g) to RHA. According to the literature, the zeolitic materials formed by the mixture of Mordenite and ZSM-5 can be availed for gas separation and greenhouse gas storage.

Stress accumulated in rocks in tectonically active areas may manifest itself as electromagnetic radiation emission and temperature variation through a process of energy transformation. Land surface temperature (LST) changes before an impending earthquake can be detected with thermal infrared (TIR) sensors such as NOAA-AVHRR, Terra/Aqua-MODIS, etc. TIR anomalies produced by 10 recent earthquakes in Iran during the period of Jun 2002–Jun 2006 in the tectonically active belt have been studied using pre- and post-earthquake NOAA-AVHRR datasets. Data analysis revealed a transient TIR rise in LST ranging 2–13°C in and around epicentral areas. The thermal anomalies started developing about 1–10 days prior to the main event depending upon the magnitude and focal depth, and disappeared after the main shock. In the case of moderate earthquakes (<6 magnitude) a dual thermal peak instead of the single rise has been observed. This may lead us to understand that perhaps pre-event sporadic release of energy from stressed rocks leads to a reduction in magnitude of the main shock. This TIR temperature increment prior to an impending earthquake can be attributed to degassing from rocks under stress or to p-hole activation in the stressed rock volume and their further recombination at the rock–air interface. A precise correlation of LST maps of Bam and Zarand with InSAR-generated deformation maps also provides evidence that the thermal anomaly is a ground-related phenomenon, not an atmospheric one.

Although sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns in resource-poor countries, little data are available from rural areas on culture-proven sepsis. The aim of the present study was to provide information in this regard. The study reports results on the incidence and aetiology of neonatal sepsis cases admitted to a facility in a rural area in eastern India. Blood culture was done for all babies, with suspected clinical sepsis, who were admitted to the sick newborn care unit at Suri where the study was conducted during March 2009-August 2010. A standard form was used for collecting clinical and demographic data. In total, 216 neonatal blood culture samples were processed, of which 100 (46.3%) grew potential pathogens. Gram-negative infection was predominant (58/100 cases) mainly caused by enteric Gram-negative bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common Gram-negative isolate. The emergence of fungal infection was observed, with 40% of the infection caused by yeast. Gram-negative organisms exhibited 100% resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime, and gentamicin. Amikacin and co-trimoxazole showed 95% (n=57) resistance, and ciprofloxacin showed 83.3% (n=50) resistance among the Gram-negative bacteria. Carbapenem showed emerging resistance (n=4; 6.6%). Results of analysis of risk factors showed an extremely significant association between gestation and sepsis and gender and sepsis. Gastrointestinal symptoms were highly specific for fungal infections. One-third of babies (n=29), who developed culture-positive sepsis, died. Blood culture is an investigation which is frequently unavailable in rural India. As a result, empirical antibiotic therapy is commonly used. The present study attempted to provide data for evidence-based antibiotic therapy given to sick newborns in such rural units. The results suggest that there is a high rate of antibiotic resistance in rural India. Urgent steps need to be taken to combat this resistance.

The success of the oil and gas industry depends on utilizing a good geological model. The traditional interpretation of a geological model requires the use of both seismic and well log data. Since seismic data is an indirect measure of the lithology, it can miss out on some important lithological boundaries due to absence of high‐frequency data in the deeper section. Well log data, on the other hand, is a direct measure of the lithology and can be a good addition to demarcate lithological boundaries. This paper identifies the lithological boundaries using gamma‐ray log based on two different techniques without much involvement from the interpreter. The workflow considers the amplitude spectrum of the seismic data to tie with the well‐derived output. This data‐driven automated process can help an interpreter draw and develop a geological model quickly and efficiently.

Lower Palaeolithic succession in India is generally represented within a single geo-chronological stage. Unfortunately, very few attempts have successfully isolated stages within it. Mayurbhanj district lies between Singhbhum (west) and Midnapur (east). The seven Lower Palaeolithic sites studied in the area indicate a heavy concentration of population in this period. Evidence seems to represent an archaic Lower Palaeolithic human occupation, which evolved into an Acheulian form comparable to the Midnapur industry. Finally it can be proposed that Mayurbhanj acted as a large, rich, and pristine epicentre of Lower Palaeolithic occupation from where successive periodic movements must have entered Midnapur district.