Sarat Phukan

Petrographical and thermo-chemical investigation of some North East Indian high sulphur coals

The Tertiary North East Indian coals, classified as sub-bituminous rank, have found less industrial application owing to their physico-chemical attributes. These coals are characterized by low ash (<15%), high volatile matter (>35%) and high sulphur (2.9-4.46%). Majority of the sulphur occurs in organic form affixed to the coal matrix owing to marine influence, is difficult to remove. The coal maceral analysis shows the dominance of vitrinite (>75%) with lesser amounts of liptinite and inertinite. Reflectance measurements (Rmax) of these sub-bituminous coals fall in the range of 0.57 to 0.65. In this study, the petrographical (maceral), thermal and other physico-chemical analyses of some low rank Tertiary sub-bituminous coals from north-east India were carried out to assess their potential for combustion, liquefaction and coal bed methane formation. The petrofactor, conversion (%) and oil yield (%), combustion efficiency of the coal samples were determined. The respective linear correlations of conversion (%) of the coals with their vitrinite contents, petrofactor and oil yield values have been discussed. The relative combustion efficiency of the coals was measured from the thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) of coals. The influence of maceral composition upon gas adsorption characteristics of these high volatile coals showed the increase in methane adsorption with vitrinite enrichment. Both the maceral and mineral matter contents were observed to have important influence on the gas adsorption characteristics.

Morphodynamics of the Kulsi River Basin in the northern front of Shillong Plateau: Exhibiting episodic inundation and channel migration

The present study is undertaken in the Kulsi River valley, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River that drains through the tectonically active Shillong Plateau in northeast India. Based on the fluvial geomorphic parameters and Landsat satellite images, it has been observed that the Kulsi River migrated 0.7–2 km westward in its middle course in the past 30 years. Geomorphic parameters such as longitudinal profile analysis, stream length gradient index (SL), ratio of valley floor width to valley height (Vf), steepness index (

Understanding the Tectonic Behaviour of the Shillong Plateau, India using Remote Sensing Data

k_{s})

Study of subsoil radon anomaly using LR-115 (II) nuclear track detectors in and around the Geleki oilfield, Assam Shelf

ks) indicate that the upstream segment of the Kulsi River is tectonically more active than the downstream segment which is ascribed to the tectonic activities along the Guwahati Fault.

Simultaneous measurements of radon and thoron, and their progeny levels in dwellings on anticlinal structures of Assam, India

^{14}\hbox {C}

Organic geochemical appraisal of hydrocarbon potential and thermal maturity of lower paleogene coal deposits of Meghalaya, India

14C ages obtained from the submerged tree trunks of the Chandubi Lake, which is located in the central part of the Kulsi River catchment suggests inundation (high lake levels) during 160 ± 50 AD, 970 ± 50 AD, 1190 ± 80 AD and 1520 ± 30 AD, respectively. These periods broadly coincide with the late Holocene strengthened Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM), Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the early part of the Little Ice Age (LIA). The debris which clogged the course of the river in the vicinity of the Chandubi Lake is attributed to tectonically induced increase in sediment supply during high magnitude flooding events.