The thrust area in each category is described below:
Crustal evolution: Geometric and structural analyses of major discontinuities, tectono-metamorphic, tectono-magmatic, geochronological character of cratonic areas, volcanology, petro-mineralogic characterization of magmatic complexes etc with an aim to decipher the evolutionary history of the earth.
Metallogeny: Petrogenesis, mineralization, fluid inclusion studies, mass balance studies, stable Isotope studies of ore deposits in varied geological set ups.
Geodynamics of Indian Plate and its consequences: 3-D seismic structure of Andaman - Nicobar Islands and its implications for subduction tectonics; monitoring of ground motion across major discontinuities; tectono-magmatic activities
Climate change and responses of Environmental System-past and future: Quaternary geological studies of the coastal sediments in order to reconstruct the palaeo-climatic events key to understanding future climatic changes; 3d sediment distribution, glaciological studies, monitoring of polar continental ice sheets
Deep continental studies including deep drilling: Estimation of three-dimensional seismic velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle up to a depth of 60 km beneath earthquake prone areas (North-eastern India) using Local Earthquake Tomography (LET) method.
Evolution of sedimentary basins thru space & time: Sedimentological and geochemical characterization and sequential stratigraphic interpretation of supracrustals. Assessment of tectonic, palaeo-climatic and eustatic processes influencing the evolution of continental crust and the sedimentary basins contained therein.
High resolution stratigraphy and Palaeo-biology: Study of the life through ages to trace the path of organic evolution, decipher biostratigraphy, palaeo-environment, establish temporal distribution of life forms, chronology of sediments and their correlation with extra basinal occurrences, affinities and palaeo-ecology.
Geomorphology, Quaternary geology, neo-tectonics, Palaeo-seismology: Quaternary geological and geomorphological studies to construct evolutionary model of coastlines, leading to projection of likely future shore line trends so that the economic/commercial activity can be planned in conformity with likely natural changes and also to prepare a Beach Rating hazard map for the benefit of users of beaches.
Regular monitoring of the very recently resurrected volcano to record the chronological changes in the nature of eruption; petrological characterization of the recent volcanic products and comparative studies of the same to that of the earlier ones; study of relationship of volcanism vis-à-vis tectonic framework.
Identification and delineation of sites showing revival of palaeo-drainage and liquefaction, shift from dry to damp areas and vice-versa as well as emergence of land along the coast after major earthquake events
Meteorites and extra-terrestrial material: Study of chondrites to have an idea about the earliest planetary environment; to distinguish between the effects of primary processes from secondary processes involving alteration and thermal metamorphism.
Geosciences instrumentation: Use, preventive maintenance and calibration of sophisticated geoscientific prospecting instruments; standardization and improvement of the existing methodologies or developing new methodologies for achieving better detection limit for various elements. Creation and up dating of REE database; standardization of PGE and Au methodology.
Studies in Antarctica: Monitoring of polar ice front and growth pattern of shelf ice giving an insight on the dynamic processes of different snow and ice regimes; study of iceberg distribution pattern; monitoring movement of Continental ice sheet using high precision GPS.
Other research areas:
Urban geology
Health hazards caused by groundwater contamination
Coal Bed Methane
Hazard zonation and mitigation etc.
GSI laboratories: Precise analytical database generated through intensive laboratory studies is the backbone of all modern research. In recent years, research investigations in Earth Sciences are also becoming increasingly dependant on such rigorously generated database. Development and progress in the field of instrumentation techniques and its abundant potential in the application domain led to the generation of the desired database. To keep pace with this emerging global trend, research and development in the fields of Petrology, Analytical chemistry, Geochronology and Isotope Geology, Palaeontology, Geophysics, Mineral Physics and Photogeology and Remote Sensing etc., continued to remain important activities of the Geological Survey of India. Research-oriented activities are taken up in the department to supplement various field investigations and activity domains.
Concerted efforts have been initiated in the Geological Survey of India to upgrade and modernize the various laboratories with a view to provide international-standard laboratory back-up and support to various ongoing field investigations.
Petrology: Petrology laboratories take up individual research projects pertaining to crustal evolution, metallogeny, health hazard etc and also provide support to other research projects of GSI.
Palaeontology: Palaeontology Divisions of the Central Headquarters carried out research works focusing on the early organic evolution, biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of the Proterozoic era, study of the terrestrial vertebrate community of the Early Triassic, documentation of the faunal turnover and environment shift across the Cretaceous - Tertiary and Eocene - Oligocene boundaries and palynostratigraphy of the subcrop Gondwana and Tertiary sediments.
Geochronology and Isotope Geology: The Geochronology and Isotope Geology Division continued to provide isotopic age data utilising Rb-Sr, U-Pb(zircon) and Radiocarbon methodologies pertaining to research and developmental work and as inputs to ongoing field investigations of the Department. The Division recently introduced studies on Sm - Nd isotopic systematics.
Photogeology and Remote Sensing: Photogeology and Remote sensing studies employing state-of-the-art technology have contributed in a very significant way for various R & D and Application Projects carried out in GSI. The sphere of activities of the PGRS laboratories encompass mapping of inaccessible / sediment covered terrains, Geoenvironmental impact analysis, change detection studies etc.
Analytical Chemistry: Chemical labs provide very precise and accurate analytical data for samples of various FSP and other research projects of the department with the help of classical as well as various sophisticated instrumental techniques. A field season item ‘Geochemical studies on the impact of municipal garbage in solid waste dumping area, Kolkata’ has been taken by the Central Chemical Laboratory, Kolkata in this year.
Geophysics: The Geophysical divisions pursues studies pertaining to crustal structure and neotectonic activity, urban Geology and Seismic microzonation, subduction tectonics, Seismic hazard and risk evaluation, basement configuration from Bouguer anomaly etc.
Mineral Physics: These Laboratories in GSI are well equipped with modern instruments to carry out physical analysis of geological materials.
Curatorial: The Curatorial and Repository Units of the Geological Survey of India shoulders the responsibility to preserve the rocks, minerals, fossils and meteorites collected during field surveys and through exchange and as gift. These units regularly organizes exhibitions at different forums, assist research workers, provide educational aid, does consultancy services in setting up of museums/exhibitions, etc. In addition these units also maintain the repositories in different museum galleries.
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