The Indian continental crust and upper mantle, C. Leelanandam, I.B. Rama Prasada Rao, Ch. Sivaji, M....
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Book review The Indian continental crust and upper mantle, C. Leelanandam, I.B. Rama Prasada Rao, Ch. Sivaji, M. Santosh (Eds.), Memoir No. 10 of the International Association for Gondwana Research, International Association for Gondwana Research, Japan, (2007), 298 pp To commensurate 60 years of outstanding service and premier leadership by Mr. T.M. Mahadevan to Earth Sciences and its community, the International Association for Gondwana Research brought out a Memoir with rich collection of 21 papers and running to nearly 300 pages. The Memoir assembles papers on an array of topics exemplifying the multidisciplinary nature of the sub-con- tinental lithospheric evolution in space and time by using a combi- nation of the geological, petrological, geochemical and geophysical observations from the Indian shield. The scientific challenge goes beyond simple description of these processes, to understanding the geodynamics of solid earth and to evaluate the relationship between deep-seated processes and their surface manifestations. The title of the Memoir reflect the fact that Mahadevan's celebrated career as a professional geologist and his contribu- tions to crust–mantle petrology became so intertwined with the development of the deep continental studies in India that it is difficult to separate one from another. The preface succinctly enumerates the foremost contributions of the 21 articles of the Felicitation Volume. To express collective respect and appreciation to the eminent scholar, T. M. Mahadevan on his 80th birthday, the members of the Earth Science fraternity portray the sublime qualities and brilliant achievements that rejoice Mahadevan's life so graceful and productive. Mahadevan in his “Six decades of interaction with Earth Sciences: Reminiscences” modestly sums up in just six pages; he has thus scored many sixes so brilliantly. Yet he captures this unique narration and about his life-long fascination and endeavors in Earth Systems Science—more in spirit than in quantum. The classic paper by Mahadevan has kept abreast of state-of-the- art developments and shares his voluminous knowledge concerning modeling of crustal and lithospheric structure and composition. The paper is well referenced and focuses the reader on the importance of a mission for sub-continental lithospheric mantle studies in India. He further calls the geoscientific community to venture out to cross the artificial barriers of sub-discipline to promote collaborative researches with interdisciplinary spirit. There is an impressive account of the tectonic evolution and the kinematics of the crustal scale structures of the Rajasthan Craton by S. Sinha-Roy. Using the geological signatures in combination with gravity data from the central Indian region, a thought-provoking model for the geo- dynamic evolution of the complex four fold belts is presented by R. S. Sharma. An excellent paper by Tsunogae and Santosh on UHT metamorphism from southern Indian Granulite Terrain illustrates a rare blend of spectacular metamorphic textures in conjuncture with geochronology to throw light on the Gondwana assembly. The paper by Jain et al. from the Karakoram shear zone on the one hand demonstrates their enthusiasm; on the other communicate new U–Pb SHRIMP zircon dates and structural findings. Petrochemical signatures exploring mantle rocks are the focus of a number of contributions. One of the main strengths of this volume is the paper by Leelanandam and Vijaya Kumar who offers a comprehensive account of the chromite—bearing ultramafic rocks from Kondapalli. Chalapathi Rao makes a distinct dent on the existing knowledge of SCLM using kimberlites and lamproites as vital tools. Two well structured papers using xenolith data in kimberlites from southern India (Ravi et al.) and Western Continental margin (Karmalkar et al.) respectively open up mantle mysteries to its readers. An interesting paper by Rajendra Prasad and Vijaya Rao provides a balanced coverage of Deep Continental Seismic (DCS) studies and its relevance to comprehend structure and evolution of the Indian shield. Murty and Reddy have done a good job of explaining a correlation between velocity inhomogeneities, seismicity and crustal structure of the Indian Peninsular shield. The following paper by Kayal contemplates on the fate of earthquake generating processes in light of the recent catastrophic earthquakes in India. Architecture of the mantle layering by Ramesh and Prakash Kumar is a welcome addition to this volume. The remaining 5 papers pick up a traditional theme of employing geophysical methods to address geological pro- blems. Although, most of these papers have case-study bias, they do not contribute any new information to our gaps in knowledge. The enormous variety of subject pertaining to geodynamics of the Indian Continental Lithosphere is a reflection on how masterly geophysical details can be put in the large-scale tectonic context (Raval and Veeraswamy). The final paper by Dhana Raju touches upon U—metallogeny as pathfinders for probing the evolution of the Indian Continental Crust. In summary, this valuable memoir should appeal to the entire community of the geoscientists. I would recommend that a copy resides in every institutional library. Anand Mohan Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi—221 005, India Tel.: +91 542 2575417, +91 09336907431 (Mobile); fax: +91 542 2368693. E-mail address: [email protected]. 21 February 2008 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Gondwana Research 14 (2008) 286 www.elsevier.com/locate/gr doi:10.1016/j.gr.2008.02.004
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Transcript of The Indian continental crust and upper mantle, C. Leelanandam, I.B. Rama Prasada Rao, Ch. Sivaji, M....
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
Gondwana Research 14 (2008) 286www.elsevier.com/locate/gr
Book review
TheIndiancontinental crust anduppermantle,C.Leelanandam,I.B. RamaPrasadaRao, Ch. Sivaji,M. Santosh (Eds.),MemoirNo. 10 of the International Association for Gondwana Research,InternationalAssociation forGondwanaResearch,Japan, (2007),298 pp
To commensurate 60 years of outstanding service and premierleadership by Mr. T.M. Mahadevan to Earth Sciences and itscommunity, the International Association for Gondwana Researchbrought out aMemoir with rich collection of 21 papers and runningto nearly 300 pages. The Memoir assembles papers on an array oftopics exemplifying the multidisciplinary nature of the sub-con-tinental lithospheric evolution in space and time by using a combi-nation of the geological, petrological, geochemical and geophysicalobservations from the Indian shield. The scientific challenge goesbeyond simple description of these processes, to understanding thegeodynamics of solid earth and to evaluate the relationship betweendeep-seated processes and their surface manifestations.
The title of the Memoir reflect the fact that Mahadevan'scelebrated career as a professional geologist and his contribu-tions to crust–mantle petrology became so intertwined with thedevelopment of the deep continental studies in India that it isdifficult to separate one from another.
The preface succinctly enumerates the foremost contributionsof the 21 articles of the Felicitation Volume. To express collectiverespect and appreciation to the eminent scholar, T.M.Mahadevanon his 80th birthday, the members of the Earth Science fraternityportray the sublime qualities and brilliant achievements thatrejoice Mahadevan's life so graceful and productive. Mahadevanin his “Six decades of interaction with Earth Sciences:Reminiscences” modestly sums up in just six pages; he has thusscored many sixes so brilliantly. Yet he captures this uniquenarration and about his life-long fascination and endeavors inEarth Systems Science—more in spirit than in quantum.
The classic paper byMahadevan has kept abreast of state-of-the-art developments and shares his voluminous knowledge concerningmodeling of crustal and lithospheric structure and composition. Thepaper iswell referenced and focuses the reader on the importance ofa mission for sub-continental lithospheric mantle studies in India.He further calls the geoscientific community to venture out to crossthe artificial barriers of sub-discipline to promote collaborativeresearches with interdisciplinary spirit. There is an impressiveaccount of the tectonic evolution and the kinematics of the crustalscale structures of the Rajasthan Craton by S. Sinha-Roy. Using thegeological signatures in combination with gravity data from thecentral Indian region, a thought-provoking model for the geo-dynamic evolution of the complex four fold belts is presented by R.S. Sharma. An excellent paper by Tsunogae and Santosh on UHT
doi:10.1016/j.gr.2008.02.004
metamorphism from southern Indian Granulite Terrain illustratesa rare blend of spectacular metamorphic textures in conjuncturewith geochronology to throw light on theGondwana assembly. Thepaper by Jain et al. from the Karakoram shear zone on the onehand demonstrates their enthusiasm; on the other communicatenew U–Pb SHRIMP zircon dates and structural findings.
Petrochemical signatures exploring mantle rocks are thefocus of a number of contributions. One of the main strengths ofthis volume is the paper by Leelanandam and Vijaya Kumarwho offers a comprehensive account of the chromite—bearingultramafic rocks from Kondapalli. Chalapathi Rao makes adistinct dent on the existing knowledge of SCLM usingkimberlites and lamproites as vital tools. Two well structuredpapers using xenolith data in kimberlites from southern India(Ravi et al.) and Western Continental margin (Karmalkar et al.)respectively open up mantle mysteries to its readers.
An interesting paper by Rajendra Prasad and Vijaya Raoprovides a balanced coverage ofDeepContinental Seismic (DCS)studies and its relevance to comprehend structure and evolution ofthe Indian shield. Murty and Reddy have done a good job ofexplaining a correlation between velocity inhomogeneities,seismicity and crustal structure of the Indian Peninsular shield.The following paper by Kayal contemplates on the fate ofearthquake generating processes in light of the recent catastrophicearthquakes in India. Architecture of the mantle layering byRamesh and PrakashKumar is awelcome addition to this volume.
The remaining 5 papers pick up a traditional theme ofemploying geophysical methods to address geological pro-blems. Although,most of these papers have case-study bias, theydo not contribute any new information to our gaps in knowledge.
The enormous variety of subject pertaining to geodynamicsof the Indian Continental Lithosphere is a reflection on howmasterly geophysical details can be put in the large-scaletectonic context (Raval and Veeraswamy). The final paper byDhana Raju touches upon U—metallogeny as pathfinders forprobing the evolution of the Indian Continental Crust.
In summary, this valuable memoir should appeal to the entirecommunity of the geoscientists. I would recommend that a copyresides in every institutional library.
Anand MohanDepartment of Geology, Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi—221 005, IndiaTel.: +91 542 2575417, +91 09336907431 (Mobile);
fax: +91 542 2368693.E-mail address: [email protected].
21 February 2008
