NEWS AND NOTES PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY – 2017 Dr. HARISINGH GOUR VISHWAVIDYALAYA, SAGAR, MADHYA PRADESH

The Annual General Meeting (AGM)-2017 of the Geological Society of India was held at the Wadia Hall of the Department of Applied Geology, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, on the afternoon of 26th October 2017. This University happens to be the oldest and largest in the State of Madhya Pradesh and has been accorded the status of a Central University in 2009. Set up in the year 1946 by its benefactor Dr. Harisingh Gour, who was a great legal luminary, patriot, educationist and philanthropist of his time, the University has grown into a major centre of higher learning, research and scholarship in Central India attracting students from far and wide. Applied Geology Department The Applied Geology Department of the University, which hosted the AGM and the concurrent seminar was set up and nurtured by such stalwarts such as Prof. W.D. West and rightfully enjoys the reputation as one of the leading earth-science departments of the country and has been recognized very early as a Centre for Advanced Study in Geology (CASG) by the University Grants Commission. The alumni of this department have distinguished themselves in academia, governmental organizations/laboratories and in mineral exploration and mining industry. The invitation extended by the noted Palaeontologist-Stratigrapher, Dr. Raghavendra Tiwari, who is the current Vice-Chancellor of the University, gave the Fellows of the Society a great opportunity to spend a couple of days at this picturesque and serene campus participating in the seminar and getting acquainted with the work being carried out in the Applied Geology Department of the University. Seminar on Deccan Volcanism As has been the convention, a National Seminar on Deccan Volcanism and Biotic Events across the K/T Boundary was organized during 26-28 October, 2017 to coincide with the Annual General Meeting of the Geological Society of India. Professors R.K. Trivedi and P.K. Kathal as Conveners and Professor R.K. Rawat as Organizing Secretary spared no effort in a very successful and content-rich seminar as well as a concluding field-trip to geologically interesting spots in and around Sagar in the Deccan Trap country. The inaugural function of the National Seminar/AGM was held at

Jawarharlal Nehru Library Hall, Dr. Harisingh Gour Viswavidyalaya, Sagar. The Seminar was held at the Wadia Hall of the CASG, Department of Applied Geology. Each session began with one or two special lectures by invited experts on selected topics of current interest in the Deccan Volcanism studies. Mention may be made of the presentations by H.K. Gupta and his colleagues on the new findings of his group (based on deep drilling project) on reservoir induced earthquakes in the Koyna region of the Deccan Traps; Changing perspectives on the Indian late Cretaceous by Professor Ashok Sahni; Giant Plagioclase Basalts from Sagar District by Promod O. Alexander; Cretaceous volcanic units in ocean basins in and around the Indian Peninsula by K.S. Misra; Characteristics of basalts drilled from Koyna-Warna area by D.K. Sinha; P.K. Saraswati on the limits of resolution of stratigraphic records; N.C. Mehrotra on the significance of dinoflagellate cysts in petroliferous basins of India along the K/T boundary; Subhendu Bardhan on the K/T mass extinction event; and Kusumita Arora on LIDAR surveys at Koyna region. The broad themes under which the presentations were classified in different sessions of the Seminar are as under: 1. Petrology & Geochemistry of Deccan Volcanics and Associated Sedimentaries 2. Paleontological Proxies and Palaeoenvironmental Analyses 3. Case studies across K/T Boundary in the Subcontinent 4. Paleontological Studies across K/T Boundary 5. Miscellaneous Topics connected with Deccan Volcanism The Abstracts volume brought out by the organizers listed 72 papers (including invited special lectures), most of which were presented at the seminar and it is hoped that after careful scrutiny a suitable publication incorporating the new results on Deccan volcanism studies will be brought out for the benefit of a wider readership. A Field excursion was organised to have an overview of the regional geology of the area around Sagar. The stratigraphic succession of Deccan lava flows, infratrappeans (Lametas), and the intertrappeans were shown to the participants of the National Seminar by Prof. P.O. Alexander and Prof. P.K. Kathal with Prof. Ashok Sahni elucidating on several paleontological aspects.

(a) Lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries. (b) Prof. R.P. Tiwari addressing the inaugural gathering. (c) Presenting Memento to Prof. Promod O. Alexander 250

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018

Participants at the Seminar and AGM-2017

A panoramic view of the Deccan Trap country around Sagar

Prof. Ashok Sahni in the field with young scholars on Lametas

PROF. C. RADHAKRISHNAMURTHY ENDOWMENT LECTURE PRECEDED THE AGM Dr. T. Radhakrishna, Scientist-G (Retd.) and Senior Consultant, National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala delivered a lecture on "Probing deep interior of earth through Palaeomagnetism and rock magnetism: some Indian examples". The following is the gist of his lecture. Gilbert in 1600 postulated that the Earth is a gigantic magnet. Although it was well known subsequently that the field was not constant in time, the source of the main field and the cause of the secular variation remained a mystery for long. In a breakthrough Gauss in 1838 proved that almost the entire field has to be of internal origin and it behaves truly as dipole. In 1930s, Larmor postulated that the magnetic field and its temporal variations are due to the rapid motion of highly conductive metallic iron in the liquid outer core. The geomagnetic field and its variations over time provide the most direct method to study the dynamics of the earth’s interior through time. The science of palaeomagnetism has the ability to unravel the variations of the geomagnetic field with time, even on timescales of millions to billions of years. Palaeomagnetism is the key discipline for several major discoveries in the late fifties and early sixties leading to important new instinct to the concept of plate tectonics that has

been operating over the past 200 Ma. In the past two decades, there has been a growing interest to extend the concept back into Precambrian times in the form of supercontinent cycle, according to which earth history is seen to have been punctuated by the episodic assembly and breakup of continental crustal units; recognition of supercontinents such as Rodinia, Nuna is arguably one of the most important advance

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018

Prof. Harsh K. Gupta honouring Dr. T. Radhakrishna 251

in earth science. Palaeomagnetic results of the late Phanerozoic, in combination with kinematics of relative plate motion modeled using marine magnetic anomalies, trends of fracture zones in the world’s ocean basins and reference frames for absolute plate motion based on the use of hot spot tracks, have yielded important innovative ideas on the plume tectonics and the Mesozoic reconstructions of continental landmass. Comparisons of results from palaeomagnetism with predictions of numerical experiments of deep mantle flow have given rise to a significant leap in establishing and quantifying the motion of mantle plumes, particularly in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. While the magnetic field directional data plays a crucial role in these tectonic reconstructions and crustal configurations, the data on geomagnetic field strength is very precious to document the behaviour of Earth’s magnetic field during key time periods. All these studies aim towards probing the role of active upwellings from the lower mantle indicating the surface plate tectonics, existence of any defined cyclic pattern in long-term geomagnetic field behaviour and to develop numerical simulations of the geodynamo process responsible for generating earth’s magnetic field variations in order to assess its sensitivity to changing conditions in deep interior of our planet. In India, significant contributions were made in palaeomagnetism in late 1950s and early 60s in tune with the global developments. Prof. C.R.K. Murty, in whose memory this lecture is intended, is very prominent among a few others, like Prof. V.L.S. Bhimasankaram, R.N. Athavale and R.K. Verma, for the pioneering works on the Deccan basalts and the proposal of northward drift of India. Dr. C.R.K. Murty also deserves appreciation for the “make-in-India” concept which is reflected in developing a few instruments to carry out palaeomagnetism investigations. Since the times of Prof. C.R.K. Murty, instrumental and analytical techniques have witnessed much refinements; an array of modern instruments developed improving the sensitivity, precision, reliability and speed of measurements enabling to address many of the outstanding issues and processes very effectively. This lecture is intended to cover a representative suite of significant contributions from India that may summarize the current array of Indian studies applying palaeomagnetism and rock magnetism to a variety of geodynamic processes that concerns deep interior of earth, and to stimulate further research in this exciting science. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING-2017 The 58th AGM of the Society was held in the Wadia Hall, Centre for Advanced Studies in Geology, Applied Geology Department, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh (MP) on 26th October 2017 at 4.00 P.M. Prof. Harsh K Gupta, President, Geological Society of India in his opening remarks welcomed all the Fellows and several Awardees of the Society and thanked them for travelling to Sagar to be present at the AGM. He also thanked the authorities of the Harisingh Gour University (which is a Central University now) for hosting the AGM and for organising the National Seminar. Dr. Gupta briefly touched upon the deep drilling programme initiated in the Koyna-Warna region by the MoES under the Inter Continental Scientific Drilling programme (ICDP) in the Deccan Trap country and hoped that the valuable drill-core material made available for detailed studies by multi-disciplinary teams of scientists in different institutions will throw substantial new light on the Deccan Flood Basalts. Dr. Gupta also made a mention of the birth Centenary Celebration of Late Dr. B.P. Radhakrishna as well as the 6-decades of existence and service to the earth-science community of India by the Geological Society of India will fall in the first half of 2018 and action has to be initiated early to concretize the envisaged programmes. Before presentation of the Annual Report by the Secretary, the assembled observed a minute’s silence in respectful homage to the deceased fellows of the Society during the review period 2016-17. 252

Shri R.H. Sawkar, Secretary of the Geological Society of India, then read out the notice of the AGM of the Society to consider and adopt the Annual Report of the Society as well as the Audited Statement of Accounts. The first item of the agenda taken up for consideration by the General Body was the confirmation of the minutes of the AGM for the year 2015-16, which was unanimously approved. This was followed by the presentation of the Annual Report for 2016-17 by the Secretary. The report was proposed for acceptance by Prof. R. Srinivasan and duly seconded by Prof. Arun Kumar Shandilya. Accordingly, the general body accepted and approved the annual report. In absence of the Treasurer (Shri S. Jithendra Kumar), Dr. Fareeduddin presented the Audited Statement of Accounts for the period 2016-17. The statement of accounts was proposed for acceptance by Dr. K.S. Misra and duly seconded by Prof. R. Venkatachalapathy. Thereafter, the audited statement of accounts was adopted by the general body. Shri R.H. Sawkar, Secretary of the Society proposed to continue with Mr. M. Shankar Narayana, Chartered Accountant, as auditor for the ensuing year 2017-18. Dr. Gopal Dhawan proposed to accept the continuation of the auditor and the same was seconded by Shri Nithesh Kumar Datta. Subsequently, continuance of Shri M. Shankara Narayana as Chartered Account for the year 2017-18 was ratified by the AGM. SOCIETY AWARDS-2017 The Geological Society of India has from time to time instituted several awards to recognize and honour Earth Scientists who have contributed significantly to the furtherance of knowledge in different fields of the Geological Sciences (for details of all the awards, please refer www.geosocindia.com). The following Awards for 2017 were conferred by the Prof. Harsh K. Gupta, President of the Society at the concluding part of the Annual General Meeting. The awardees responded briefly after the awards were conferred on them. M.R. SRINIVASA RAO AWARD Awarded to Dr. Hetu Chandrakanth Sheth, Professor of Igneous Petrology and Volcanology, Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay. The citation read as follows: Prof. Hetu Chandrakanth Sheth has made major research contributions on Deccan flood basalt volcanism and the western Indian volcanic rifted margin. He has contributed substantial new volcanological, petrological-geochemical and geochronological data

on the Deccan basalts, trachytes and ankaramites. He has also contributed many novel ideas, such as on tectonic flexures at rifted volcanic margins, alternatives to mantle plumes, classification of large igneous provinces, genetic links between giant plagioclase basalts in flood basalt provinces and Phanerozoic anorthosites formed in the deep continental crust, and unusual columnar jointing and vesiculation features in basaltic lavas. He has studied alkaline complexes and rhyolitic rocks (including their spherulites and lithophysae) of the Deccan and Indo-Madagascar flood basalt provinces, and mafic dyke JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018

swarms of the Deccan. He has also contributed significantly on the volcanology of Barren Island, India’s highly active volcano. He has additional contributions on igneous provinces outside India. Sheth has used a wide range of research approaches, namely field geology, physical volcanology, petrography, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology and tectonics. He has published 67 papers in reputed journals which are well cited, even in fields such as planetary geology, petroleum geology and biogeography. Sheth as a teacher has generated considerable interest in igneous petrology and volcanology among students, while his outstanding research has put Indian igneous petrology and volcanology on the world stage. Prof. Hetu Sheth replied as follows: “It is an honour for me to receive the Geological Society of India’s M.R. Srinivasa Rao Award 2017 in Petrology. I thank the Society, its President and Council members for selecting me for this honour. Field geologists, petrologists and college professors of the olden days, even with few funds and facilities did some amazing work, still relevant today. I am particularly pleased to receive this award at Sagar, where such a master of Deccan volcanism studies as the late Dr. W.D. West worked, thought and taught. In pursuing my dreams in igneous petrology and volcanology I have been supported and encouraged by many people. G.K. Upadhya taught me igneous petrology in junior college and B.Sc. at Somaiya College, and K.V. Subbarao and D. Chandrasekharam in my M.Sc. at IIT Bombay. D. Chandrasekharam, later my Ph.D supervisor, initiated me into Deccan flood basalt stratigraphy. After my Ph.D in 1998 came post-doctoral stints at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad (with Kanchan Pande), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (with Surendra Pal Verma), the University of Hawaii (with John Mahoney), and the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR, Mumbai). In 2003 I joined my alma mater as a faculty member, in the same vibrant department where I have grown significantly over the years and where both my former teachers and students are now my faculty colleagues. The many good Ph.D students here give me hopes for the future of geology and petrology in this country. I am grateful to have had P. Krishnamurthy as one of my unofficial teachers for his support and bringing recognition to my work. I thank N.V. Chalapathi Rao, M. Jayananda, Naresh C. Ghose, Rajesh Srivastava, and the late Shivaram Viswanathan of IIT Bombay, for their encouragement. It has been my good fortune to have collaborated with many brilliant colleagues with diverse skills in India and abroad who have shared my excitement. The more notable ones in alphabetical order are Rajneesh Bhutani, D. Chandrasekharam, Aswini Kumar Choudhary, Ciro Cucciniello, Raymond Duraiswami, Trupti Gurav, Alexei Ivanov, the late John Mahoney, Leone Melluso, Cliff Ollier, Kanchan Pande, Jyotiranjan Ray, Hrishikesh Samant, Kamal Kant Sharma, Ignacio Torres-Alvarado, Loÿc Vanderkluysen, Surendra Pal Verma and Georg Zellmer. Thank you again to everyone who has supported and encouraged me in my work. S. NARAYANASWAMI AWARD Awarded to Dr. Akshaya Kumar Sarangi, Executive Director, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd., Jharkhand. The citation reads as follows: Dr. Akshaya Kumar Sarangi is personified in the Indian mineral sector as one with unique blend of professional brilliancy and academic instinct. His 34 years long career in uranium industry is well demonstrated by his stunning role in assessment of deposits, feasibility studies and project planning which has led to gigantic growth of the sector in last two decades. Successful operations of Turamdih and Banduhurang uranium mines in Jharkhand are testimony to his ingenuity and skill of critical assessment of exploration details. His JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018

contribution towards initiating a new project at Tummalapalle with inputs for mining and processing technology has helped development of large low-grade complex uranium mineralisation in south Cuddapah basin of Andhra Pradesh. He has also played crucial role in launching many new uranium projects, namely Lambapur in Telengana, Domiasiat in Meghalaya, Gogi in Karnataka and Rohil in Rajasthan.

In the light of international developments in nuclear co-operation, Dr. Sarangi’s strategic role towards expanding the business opportunities through acquisition of overseas uranium properties, sourcing of fuel, authoring key policy initiatives etc., has helped in institutional growth of uranium industry. His pioneering efforts to align the resource/reserve reporting procedure of Indian uranium sector with UNFC has been hailed by UNECE as a remarkable step towards global initiative for sustainability in mining. He has also played key role in framing Rules on Atomic minerals after amendments in MMDR Act and has been playing a lead role in the formulation of Indian Mineral Industry Guide (IMIG). In the academic arena of the country, Dr. Sarangi is known for expert lectures on mineral economics, mining geology, resource classification etc., in addition to multifarious scholastic contributions and R&D in leading universities. Dr. Sarangi has been honoured with prestigious National GeoScience Award for the year 2013 by Honourable President of India, MEAI’s Master Tanay Chadha Memorial Geologist Award 2015, SGAT Award for excellence 2015, Dr. PN Bose memorial award from IE & MJ 2011, Dr. J. Coggin Brown Memorial Gold medal, 2009 and DN Thakur Gold medal in 2008 from MGMI. Dr. Akshaya Kumar Sarangi replied as follows: “I am truly delighted to be honoured by the Geological Society of India – a platform with galaxy of outstanding geo-scientists from all domains of geology. Standing here on this stage is an inexpressible emotion studded with gratification, encouragement and responsibility. I am thankful to the jury for valuing my efforts in the mineral sector amongst others and thereby this privilege to be at the podium. When I hold this citation that carries the name of S. Narayanaswami, it gives me a very special feeling. It is the masterly work of this exceptionally talented geologist of GSI on limestone deposits around Hathibari-Purnapani of Gangpur Group in Odisha which was a major reference for my M.Sc. dissertation work in the same area during early 80s. His detailed work in this basin had brought to light the economic value of limestone to the steel industry of the country, thereby supporting the growth of a key sector in Indian economy. His scholarly work on Kolar gold field had provided clues for locating economic concentration of gold in this area, thereby extending the life of the operations. Contributions of S. Narayanaswamy in the field of economic geology have inspired industrial vitality to the nation. In this context of economic extraction of minerals, the uranium sector of the country poses serious challenges to the geologists. The uranium basins of the country with low-grade complex uranium mineralization warrant application of out-of-box considerations for converting the resource to reserve and to bring out the final product. Strategic nuclear programme of the country demands integrated 253

approach towards continuous evaluation of deposits, extraction of uranium and addition of resources through exploration. Fortunately, the sector has thrived to deliver and continues to excel in all its endeavours receiving recognitions from time to time. The uranium production of the country has now recorded multi-fold increase, specially in last two decades with eight mines and three process plants. Many deposits are already under assessment and development in different parts of the country. In this regard, I am thankful to the Council of Geological Society of India for noticing my contributions in the uranium sector of the country and appreciating the growth story. Well, when I was walking along the path with lots of complexities around, I was not alone. I was ably guided and supported by a group of talented geo-scientists. I carry their share of recognition through this honour. I take this opportunity to thank my seniors who had guided me all throughout and pushed me to take higher responsibilities standing by my side with necessary hand-holding. My colleagues in the industry and my friends across the mineral sector of the country have always supported me with professional inputs, which I acknowledge. Contribution of a geologist in the mineral sector is not limited to exploration only. He needs to be given space for appropriate use of exploration data throughout the life cycle of operation of the mine. Appreciation of role of a mining geologist is the hallmark in success story of uranium sector of the country and I take this opportunity to thank the industry management for such prudence. My long journey would not have been possible without the care and support of my parents for education, encouragement for excellence and guidance for professional integrity. My wife and daughter have also their share of sacrifices in supporting my pursuits, which I thankfully acknowledge. Thanking the Almighty for all His blessings on me is beyond my words. I only pray for His blissful approval to carry on with the responsibility bestowed on me through this honour. Thank you once again Geological Society of India”. H.S. PAREEK AWARD Awarded to Dr. Alok K. Singh, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh for his paper on “Petrographic and Geochemical Characterization of Coal from Talcher Coalfield, Mahanadi Basin, India” published in JGSI (Vol.87(5), pp. 525-534). The citation reads as follows : Dr. Alok K. Singh has been working on the Petro-chemical characterization, maturation and evolution of Gondwana and Tertiary coals & lignites of India for over two decades. Dr. Singh has made significant scientific contributions in the field of Coal Geology and

Organic Petrology. Research publications numbering over 50 indicate his expertise and understanding of the subject. Several citations in high impact journals of repute signify his major findings. Dr. Singh has used the coal microscopy to understand the maturation and source rock characteristics of Indian coals and lignites. He has shown rarely visible evidence of the hydrocarbon emigration through micro fractures in Nagaland coals and evidence of natural pyrolysis of the resinite in 254

coal through thermal maturation vis-a-vis hydrocarbon generation. Employing petrographic data as a tool he has evolved new models and has successfully used them for the reconstruction of the paleodepositional environment and evolution of various coal basins of the country. His work related to application of coal petrology in the coal beneficiation has created a new dynamics in coal preparation to improve the clean coal yield at a low ash level as well as to understand the floatability behavior of coal particles in the fine coal circuit of the coal preparation plants. Dr. Singh is currently working on the projects related to demineralization and desulfurization of Indian coals using biological tools. He is handling different projects on Indian coals funded by the different funding agencies of the Government of India. Dr. Alok K. Singh replied as follows: “I feel greatly honoured and privileged to receive H.S. Pareek award of the Geological Society of India for the year 2017. I am greatly humbled looking at the eminence and the lofty academic stature of the past awardees. I express my sincere thanks to the President, the members of the Council of the Geological Society of India and the learned members of the jury for having decided to confer this prestigious award on me. I dedicate this award to my Ph.D. supervisor Late Prof. M.P. Singh, who passed away on 13th April, 2017. This award will be a true homage for him. In true sense he was a friend, philosopher and mentor and due to him only I have started to work in coal and organic petrology. His patience and encouragement are to a great extent responsible for shaping my professional carrier. Prior to joining the academics I was in the corporate R &D and due to this reason I have always tried to make my research work more application oriented. My research focus is how the Indian coals can be utilized in the industry without causing environmental pollution and due to this reason I am working on various aspects of clean coal technology. At this moment I remember all my teachers who have imparted not only geological training, but have also shown the real path of artof-living. I can never forget the help and blessings which I got from my parents. It would be unfair if I don’t mention about my wife Dr. Vibha Singh, who helped me overcome all the struggles and to my daughter Anugya and son Ananay, who supported me throughout. I would like to express my sincere thanks to my research students and colleagues for their constant support to achieve my endeavors”. JGSI RADHAKRISHNA PRIZE Awarded to Dr. Yamuna Singh, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Hyderabad for the paper entitled “First report of metamict alluaudite (a sodium iron manganese phosphate mineral) from Pisangan, Ajmer district, Rajasthan” by Yamuna Singh et al., published in JGSI (Volume 87, No. 1, January 2016, pp. 55-61). The citation read as follows: After joining Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) in 1981, Dr. Yamuna Singh carried out exploration and research for locating U, Th, Nb, Ta, Be, Li, REE, Y and associated mineralisation mainly in various parts of Central and Southern India. He was responsible for the discovery of pegmatite-hosted rare metal and rare earth deposits of economic significance in and around Kawadgaon, Bastar Craton, Central India. He also brought out a distinct vertical zonation between the rare metal and tin pegmatites in apical parts of the host granite in the area. In addition, he was responsible for the discovery of: (1) Rare metal-bearing pegmatites in Surguja dt., Chhattisgarh; (2) U and U-Th occurrences hosted in Precambrian granitoids and metamorphic rocks in Gadchiroli dt., Maharashtra; (3) Radioactive Bijawar Conglomerate and Quartzite in Hoshangabad dt., M.P.; (4) Proterozoic Indravati Sandstone in Bastar dt., JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018

knowledge and experience of many scientists of AMD who made significant contributions to my career, imparting professional field and laboratory training. I profusely thank each one of them. The unflinching support, care and blessings of my maternal grandparents and my mother have been instrumental in helping me reach where I stand today, for which I am indebted to them. I profusely thank my wife Shanti and our two sons Sanjay and Vijay for their all round support and admirable patience”. Chhattisgarh; (5) Radioactive Pakhal sedimentary sequence, Khammam dt., Telangana; (6) REE-rich granitic soils in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh and Karimnagar dt., Telangana; and (7) Identified and characterised specific granitoids hosting Y & REE minerals in Jashpur dt., Chhattisgarh that helped in locating several similar Y & REE-bearing granitoids and xenotime-bearing placers in their vicinity in other parts of the Chhotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex terrain. Dr. Singh investigated radioactive and other minerals associated with U, Th, Be, Li, Nb, Ta, REE, Y, ore deposits/occurrences in diverse geological settings of India, and provided quality mineralogical data, which helped immensely in planning, exploration and research for atomic minerals that are in great demand for the growing nuclear power programme of India. Using X-ray crystallography, he studied oxidation grade of polygenetic uraninites from India for elucidating genesis of Indian uranium-ores, particularly from Proterozoic sedimentary basins of India, albitite belt of Rajasthan and Rihand valley, Central India. He reported first Indian occurrences of five rare ore-minerals viz., (1) Phurcalite, (2) Domeykite, (3) Koutekite (including anomalous concentration of silver), (4) Ianthinite and (5) Alluaudite. Dr. Singh has edited several issues of AMD’s Annual Journals, “Exploration and Research for Atomic Minerals”, “Journal of Atomic Mineral Science” and “Smarika”. He is a recipient of S. Narayanaswami Award in 2012, Prof. S.M. Ramananda Setty Award in 2011 (Mineralogical Society of India, Mysore) and Hindi Sevi Samman Puraskar - 2011-12. Dr. Yamuna Singh replied as follows: “I feel deeply honoured and privileged to receive the JGSI Radhakrishna Prize. I cannot think of any other award that can be sought after more than this one that carries the name of the greatest geoscientist of the post independent India. Dr. B.P. Radhakrishna, a doyen of Indian Geology, guided, mentored and groomed innumerable geoscientists who attained great heights in the national and international arena. I am grateful to Prof. H.K. Gupta, the President of the Geological of Society and its Council Members for considering our research work worthy of conferring this award. The above paper reports the discovery of first Indian occurrence of ‘Alluaudite’, which is metamict and is hosted in a zoned pegmatite near Pisangan, Ajmer district, Rajasthan. Alluaudites known till date, world over, are non-metamict-type. In contrast to known world alluaudites, the reported alluaudite is radioactive, and shows innumerable cracks formed due to radiation damage (metamictisation) induced by bombardment of alpha particles. Significantly, based on the innovative applications of crystallographic and geochemical characteristics of newly discovered alluaudite, petrogenetic history of the host pegmatite has been constrained. The mineral discovery has brought India in world map of ‘Alluaudite’ occurrence for metamicttype alluaudite. I thank my illustrious teachers of the Department of Geology, Government Science College, Rewa, M.P., who impressed my young mind the most. The AMD not only nurtured and enriched me, but also offered me an ideal platform to pursue my research. My work drew upon the JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018

GSI SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE AWARD Awarded to Dr. Gopal Dhawan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), Nagpur. The citation read as follows: Dr. Dhawan did his M.Tech. in Applied Geology from Roorkee University (now IIT Roorkee), and has been awarded Ph.D, in Geology by Indian School of Mines (ISM)/IIT Dhanbad. Dr. Gopal Dhawan joined NHPC as an Executive Trainee in 1980 and reached the position of Executive Director of the organization as CMD, MECL in 2012. Dr. Dhawan has studied important rock quality parameters influencing stability of caverns in the Himalayas and laid down procedure for Rock Mass Classification based Engineering Geological Mappings. This provides a reliable database for designing tunnels and caverns by using empirical methods of rock mass classification. He introduced rock mass classification approach to logging of exploratory drifts and tunnels. He also examined applicability of RMR & Q systems and developed a new correlation between the two for Himalayan rocks.

His remarkable contributions in Engineering Geology and Geotechnical investigations in a number of Hydro Power Projects in India are Loktak (Manipur), Salal (Jammu & Kashmir), Chamera-I & Parvati (Himachal Pradesh), Dhauliganga (Uttarakhand), Teesta-V (Sikkim), Tawang & Subansiri Basin (Arunachal Pradesh), Devighat in Nepal, Kurichu & Chamkarchu in Bhutan, Thamanti & Shazaye in Myanmar. Dr. Gopal Dhawan is an able administrator and technocrat with long vision of growth, as CMD, he steered MECL from its annual turnover of about Rs.150 crore to Rs. 365 crore and turned the company into a profit making and dividend paying entity for the last five years. MECL has attained the status of Miniratna PSE under his chairmanship. He has fully modernized MECL by procuring 32 latest hydrostatic drilling rigs and state of art geophysical and geological survey equipments. He is also constructing an ultra-modern Laboratory, Workshop and Training-cum-Conference Centre. In recognition of the performance of MECL during 2016-17 under his tenure, the Company has been conferred with “SCOPE Award of Excellence & Outstanding Contribution to the Public Sector Management” in 2017. Dr. Dhawan is recipient of (1) Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award by Central Board of Irrigation and Power in 2004, (2) Outstanding Contribution in Rock Mechanics & Tunnelling Technology by ISRMTT in 2008, (3) CEO with HR Orientation Award by Institute of Public Enterprises in 2013, (4) Outstanding Leadership 255

Award for Excellence in Indian Mineral Industries by MEAI in 2014, (5) CSR Silver Award in 2014, (6) Performance Excellence Award 2015 by Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering and (7) award for Outstanding Contribution for Auctioning of Mineral Blocks at ETV Conclave in 2016. Dr. Gopal Dhawan is President, Indian Geological Congress (IGC) 2016-17 and Immediate past President, Indian Society of Engineering Geology (ISEG). Dr. Dhawan was a Member of the Research Council of NGRI, Hyderabad for last three years up to March 2017. Dr. Gopal Dhawan replied as follows: “I feel greatly honoured to receive the Geological Survey of India Sesquicentennial Commemorative Award in recognition to my contributions in the field of Engineering Geology and Coastal Geotechnics in the country and abroad. I sincerely thank the President and Council Members of Geological Society of India for conferring me with this prestigious award. At this special moment, I remember my parents for providing me best education in Geology, my favourite subject. It is a coincidence that I am receiving this award at Sagar, one of the most prestigious seats of learning in Geology, established by Prof. W.D. West. I am happy to share with you that my Ph.D guide at ISM, Prof. V.D. Choubey was an alumni of this great Institution. Today, I miss him the most. I am very much thankful to NHPC, my first & foremost employer, the CMD and Directors, who have provided me the best opportunities to serve the Company with full potential in various important Hydro Power Projects in India and neighbouring countries. It is a matter of great satisfaction that many investigation projects initiated while in NHPC, have been successful and turned into producing Hydro Power Projects. In fact, these projects were my open field laboratory where I experimented with new ideas and concepts to help construction engineers in project formulation and tackle difficult geological situations. This work perhaps, has made me eligible for receiving this prestigious award in geoscience. I am sincerely thankful to Ministry of Mines, Government of India, for their support as head of Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, where I could utilise my experience gained earlier to steer the Company for steady growth by motivating human resources and improved infrastructure and turned MECL into a profit making and dividend paying Miniratna PSE which I believe has also attributed for this honour. I dedicate this Award to all my team members in NHPC and MECL for their support and wishes without which I would not be today standing at this august house”.

Swiss National and Swarnajayanti Fellowships). Santanu is also an outstanding teacher. In IIT Kanpur, he received outstanding-teacher recognition from the Academic-Senate for 4 times in a row. Prof. Santanu Misra replied as follows: “I feel myself honored to accept the prestigious Dr. K. R. Gupta Gold Medal of the Geological Society of India. This recognition will be a great source of inspiration for my past as well as present research groups. I thank the Geological Society of India and the council members of the Society, and also wish to convey my deep regards to those who nominated me for this medal and supported my nomination. I take this auspicious opportunity to express my heart-felt appreciation for my teachers, collaborators, students and support staffs who have largely contributed to my academic endeavours. Generous support from various funding agencies and industries is greatly acknowledged. It is indeed a very happy moment to recall my host institute–the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur for providing me all sorts of support required for the development of a faculty. Dr. K.R. Gupta, after whom this medal is entitled contributed to the growth of earth sciences in many ways in our country. I pay my homage to this great personality. Finally, I dedicate this award to the entire young Indian geologists community, who are working hard to uphold the flag of Indian geoscience. S.M. NAQVI GOLD MEDAL Awarded to Birendra Pratap Singh, Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The citation read as follows: Dr. B.P. Singh obtained his B.Sc., MSc. and Ph.D. degrees in Geology from the Banaras Hindu University. He carried out his Ph.D on the Kaimur Group of rocks of the Vindhyan Supergroup with special reference to their utilization in glass industry in 1985. Subsequently,

K.R. GUPTA GOLD MEDAL Awarded to Santanu Misra, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. The citation read as follows: Dr. Santanu Misra is a well-known young geologist with remarkable experience from different parts of the globe. His pioneering and substantial research finds extensive applications for our understanding of the mechanical behaviour of deep-Earth. Santanu showed how deformation affects in producing partial melts in subduction zones and modifies significantly the seismic anisotropy in lower-crust. His approach in solving a research problem consists of three fundamentals of science–theory, experiments and modelling. Being a geoscientist, Santanu meticulously integrated fieldobservations into these three pillars. Santanu also worked on problems of landslides, fracture and earthquake mechanics. The versatility of his research demonstrates the breadth of his knowledge and the insight he has in the Earth Sciences as a whole. This is also evident from his excellent publication track in reputed journals. His important contributions to Earth Sciences has been recognized by many prestigious awards and fellowships (e.g., INSA Young Scientist Medal, 256

he joined University of Jammu as a lecturer in Geology and continued there till first half of November 2005. Later, he joined as a professor of Sedimentology in the Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University. With joining the University of Jammu, his research focus shifted to the Himalayan Foreland basin sequences as the Jammu is situated on them. He has used many proxies including geochemistry, fluid inclusion petrography, stable isotopes analyses, besides field and other sedimentological attributes in resolving the issues of the Himalayan Geology. His significant contributions are recording of: (1) growth fault and forebulge in the Late Paleocene in the Himalayan foreland basin and assigning age of India-Asia Collision ~58 Ma based JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018

on them, (2) shallow marine depositional systems similar to the Persian Gulf in the Paleogene sequences of the Himalayan foreland basin, (3) western Himalayan foreland basin sequences mainly received sediments from the trans-Himalayan metamorphic rocks, Indus-Suture zone and the Higher Himalaya during Paleogene, (4) geochemical signatures of the foreland sediments are either intermediate between the active and passive continental margins or same as the passive continental margins, (5) late Paleocene (~57.9 Ma) transgression as driven by the collisional tectonics and middle Eocene (~41.3 Ma) regression as forced by the global cooling on the Indian subcontinent, (6) biogenic features in calcareous paleosols that developed in an arid to semi-arid climatic conditions when the atmospheric pCO2 was ~465 ppmV; and changes in climate from wet equatorial to dry subtropical during Paleogene with the passage of the Indian Plate from the equator to 30°N latitude, (7) Neoproterozoic evaporite-bearing sequences of the Lesser Himalaya have experienced a depth of burial ~10 km. Currently, Dr. Singh is pursueing research on the other Paleogene basins of India namely Jaisalmer, Kachchh and northeast Himalaya, and studying the signatures as well as impacts of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) on the shallow marine environments of these basins. Dr. B.P. Singh replied as follows: “I feel greatly honoured by receiving the “S.M. Naqvi Gold Medal of the Geological Society of India”. For this recognition, I am grateful to the President, Prof. Harsh K. Gupta and the entire Council of the Geological Society of India. Prof. S.M. Naqvi was a poineer geoscientist, whose contributions were enormous in Indian Geology extensively using geochemistry. Incidently, I too have used geochemistry in resolving some of the issues of the Himalayan Geology in general and Himalayan foreland basin in particular. On this occasion, I would like to thank many individuals and institutions who helped me in achieving my goals. My Ph.D. supervisor, Prof. R.M. Singh shaped my thoughts during the early stage of my career. During my stay in the University of Jammu, Prof. S. K. Shah was a great inspiration for me. I received training on calcretes from Prof. S. K. Tandon availing SERC fellowship of the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi that helped me in furthering research on paleosols of the Himalayan foreland basin. My collaborators Prof. Yong Il Lee, Dr. S. K. Parcha and Dr. Y. Raghumani Singh have nicely contributed towards my achievements. Most of the chemical analyses that I used in my publications was carried out in the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology and for that I feel highly obliged to the authorities of the WIHG. The positive attitude of many of my colleagues in the Department of Geology, University of Jammu and Banaras Hindu University created conducive research environments. My M.Phil students and Ph. D. scholars were my real hands towards my contributions. I will fail in my duties, if I would not acknowledge the cheerful support of my wife Mrs. Pratibha Singh, daugher Bhumika and son Abhijit in all my endevours”. M. RAMAKRISHNAN GOLD MEDAL Awarded to Dr. R. Srinivasan, Editor, Current Science, Bangalore. The citation read as follows: Dr. R. Srinivasan obtained his Masters and Ph.D degrees from University of Mysore. He started his research at Central college, Bangalore and continued at the Department of Mines and Geology. He obtained his Ph.D under the guidance of Late Prof. C.S. Pichamuthu, doyen of Precambrian Geology of our country. Srinivasan taught in Bangalore and Mysore Universities between 1963 and 1973, served as Geological Consultant in Geomysore Services during 19731986 and later as Scientist at National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad (NGRI) till 2003. After superannuation, he continued as JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018

Technical Advisor to Geomysore India Pty. Ltd. of the Australian Indian Resources. Since 2012, he has been associated with the Centre of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, as INSA Senior Scientist and later as Senior Research Associate. The deep insight R. Srinivasan developed on the Archaean geology of the Dharwar craton was through rigorous field work, detailed structural mapping of critical geological sections, sedimentological, paleobiological, geochemical and geochronological studies and comparative studies of Archaean geology of the Dharwar craton with other parts of India. The main contributions of R. Srinivasan for Archaean geology through his studies in the Dharwar craton are: (1) discovery of extrusive ultramafic rocks grading into subvolcanic layered complexes, (2) Archean flood basalt, (3) braided fluvial plain sedimentation Ca 2900 Ma, (4) anoxic to oxic transition in the depositional environment between 2900-2700 Ma; (5) ice rafted glacio-marine sedimentation

ca 2700 Ma; (6) stromatolite proliferation ca 2700 Ma ; (7) syngenecity of coccoid, rod shaped and filamentous bacteria in Archaean BIF; (8) C isotope evidence for organic origin of carbon in graphites; (9) normal, not scalding temperature of Archean oceans (10) turbidite sedimentation of greenstone belt greywackes, (11) Mesoarchean differentiation of granodioritic upper crust (12) coeval evolution of Archean sediments and volcanics in intra-arc and back-arc foreland settings in the Eastern and western parts of the Dharwar craton; (13) Structural and geochronological evidences for the basement-cover relations; (14) syntectonic evolution of gneisses and granulites and (15) coeval evolution of potash rich granites and granulites at higher and lower crustal levels ca 2600-2550 Ma. He is at present the Chief Editor of Current Science, a leading Science Journal of the country and is actively researching on (1) reasons for glaciation in Archaean, an era when greenhouse gases are supposed to have been abundant. (2) U-Pb and zircon geochronology to verify the stratigraphic and tectonic models that he has proposed for the Dharwar craton, (3) the study of stable isotopes for understanding the source of gold mineralising fluids in the Dharwar craton. Dr. R. Srinivasan replied as follows: “I am grateful to the President and the Council Members of the Geological Society of India who considered me worthy of this award. I have essentially been a field geologist, although I have used geochemistry and geochronology to substantiate the models I have proposed based on field observations. I see my research career as in two phases (1) Pre-NGRI days 1963 to 1986; (2) NGRI and post NGRI days-1986 till present. Pre-NGRI days: I was initiated into research at Central College, Bangalore by Dr. B.L Sreenivas in 1963. Dr. B.P. Radhakrishna, then Director of Mines and Geology, nurtured my growth as a researcher and acted as my mentor. I am fortunate that Prof. C.S. Pichamuthu, doyen of Precambrian geology of India was my guide for Ph.D. I attribute my growth as a field geologist to my mentors and to B. Rama 257

Rao and Prof. K. Naha. Mr. R.H. Sawkar and Dr. Sudhakar, then Geologists in the DMG went with me on those field trips and introduced me to the ultramfic belts, greywacke and manganese sedimentary horizons. I am grateful to my wife Smt. Malathi for the support I received from her. During 1984-85 under a National Science Academy Project of USA Prof. Richard W. Ojakangas, University of Minnestota, Duluth, USA, trained me on Archean sedimentology. NGRI days to present: Prof. V.K. Gaur pulled me into NGRI in 1986 to be a full time researcher. Dr. S.M. Naqvi, Head, Geochemistry Division, heartily supported my entry. I could map several critical sections and carry out craton wide structural observations along with Prof. Naha, Prof. Mukhopadhyay, Dr. Naqvi, Mr. R.H. Sawkar and Dr. S. Jayaram in the Dharwar craton. Both Prof. D. Mukhopadhyay and Prof. Naha have refined my understanding of structure and tectonics especially at the terrain boundaries. With the support and encouragement of Late Dr. S.M. Naqvi, Dr. V. Balaram, Dr. P.K. Govil, Prof. K. Gopalan, T.V. Sivaraman, Dr. Bhaskar Rao, Dr. Sarangi and John Zacharia carried out geochemical, geochronological, carbon and oxygen isotope and radiogenic element distribution work. Apart from Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd dating of gneisses and anorthosites, we tried Rb-Sr and Pb-Pb dating of metasediments of Dharwar and Sargur belts. Paleobiological work was carried out at BSIP along with Late Prof. B. Venkatachala, Late Dr. Manoj Shukla and Dr. Mukund Sharma. Under ILTP project of the DST, I had the opportunity of comparing and contrasting the Archean rocks of Karelia and Kola of Russia and the Dharwar craton of India. The Lopian-Saamian controversy in Russia is similar to the Dharwar-Sargur controversy in India. Prof. Alfred Kroener supported my field trips to Murchison greenstone belt, Kalgoorlie and Kambalda regions in Australia led by David Groves. He also supported my visit to Sri Lanka to get a comparative idea between granulites in Sri Lanka and southern India. Before and during my NGRI days I had several rounds of discussions with Dr. M. Ramakrishnan, J. Swami Nath, M.N. Viswanatha, Brian S. Chadwick, V.N. Vasudev, Bob Newton, Michael Raith and Dr. M. Jayananda. These discussions and debates helped me refine my understanding of the geology of the Dharwar craton. After my retirement from NGRI in 2003 I worked on gold mineralization in Dharwar craton at Geomysore India Pvt. Ltd. In 2012 I joined as INSA Senior Scientist at the Centre for Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences (CAOS) at IISc with the kind encouragement of Prof. J. Srinivasan, Prof. G.S. Bhat of CAOS and Prof. P. Balaram, then Director of IISc. During my tenure at INSA, Senior Scientist I interacted with my sedimentology mentor Prof. Ojakangas of Minnesota, USA, Dr. V.S Hegde, SDM College Dharwar and Sri S.V. Srikantia and documented evidence for 2700 Ma old glaciation in the Dharwar schist belts. The U-Pb SHRIMP dating program initiated

258

with Dr. Sarangi, ISM, Dhanbad, Maibam Bidyananda, Manipur University, Alan Nutman of Australia and Alex Gerdes of Germany with support and encouragement of Prof. S.K. Satheesh of CAOS is currently underway. I would not be standing before you today, but for the help, encouragement and learning from all these scientists. I would like to express my gratitude to all of them on this occasion while receiving this award with all humility”. AGM-2018 Prof. R. Venkatachalapathy, Department of Geology, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu formally extended an invitation to all the Fellows of the Geological Society of India to attend the AGM2018 at their University and also participate in the Seminar being organized on the occassion. Prof. Venkatachalapathy thanked the Geological Society of India for accepting their invitation. In conclusion, Dr. Harsh K Gupta, President of Geological Society of India honoured the organisers of the AGM and the Seminar at the

Prof. H.K. Gupta along with Profs. R.K. Trivedi and P.K. Kathal, the Organizers of the Seminar. Geology Department of the Sagar University and expressed the indebtedness of the Society to the University. The proceedings came to an end by the vote of thanks proposed by Dr. K.S. Godhavari, Secretary of the Society. Geological Society of India Bengaluru - 560 019 E: [email protected]

M.S. RAO K.S. GODHAVARI

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.91, FEB. 2018