Monday, October 3, 2011
Friday, June 4, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Geological heritage of Goa-a new book
First Published in Panorama, Sunday magazine, The Navhind times, Panaji, Goa, Dec. 20, 2009
Geology is mother of all earth sciences. Geology is also fountainhead of most of the wealth Goa has created after the second world war. When you pick up a book like the recently released- ‘Natural resources of Goa: A geological perspective’ published by Geological society of Goa (GSG) -you get enriched and thrilled to know that this land is geologically special. Richly illustrated with photographs, maps and technical figures in my opinion this is one of the most important technical monograph published in Goa after liberation. It needs to be in the reference collection of all those who need scientific knowledge on landforms of Goa, rocks and minerals and several other aspects. For science and geography teachers in high schools and colleges this book is highly recommended. At just Rs. 225 the book is easily within the reach of the buyers. I am very sure that the GSG would have to bring out a new edition next year. The book has been aptly edited by Goa’s well known earth scientist from NIO, Dr. Antonio Mascarenhas and Mr. Glenn Kalavampara of Goa Mineral ore exporters’ association. Dr. Antonio is a scientist with a difference and one could see in chapter 8 which he has written his practical approach to find solution to coastal environmental issues in Goa. Mr. Glenn has written an impressive chapter on the mining industry in Goa. The original editor of the book- a passionate teacher of Geology from Panaji’s Dhempe college of arts and science Mr. Orlando A. Fernandes was also a special person. He left the world suddenly at such a young age that his dreams couldn’t’ be fulfilled. But we remember him for his passion of the subject and his initiatives to take it to the students. The book which is dedicated by GSG to him says all that he was dreaming about-his vision of Goa’s geological heritage and the application of modern tools and techniques like remote sensing and Geographical information system. After reading the news of the informal release of the book I was eager to have a copy. When I approached one of the contributor to the book, Goa University’s hydrogeologist and earth scientist Dr. Chachadi, he readily spared a copy. Dr. Chachadi has proven that rainwater harvesting technology works with a simple design. People could visit the structures at Goa University to learn about this simple technology. I read all the 10 chapters of the 215 pages book with interest. There is a lot of new information on and about Goa which common people would have never known without referencing expert works. The chapter of Prof. Mike iddowson on evolution of laterities in Goa is an objective lesson for local geology students. Three chapters in the book have been contributed by late Mr. Orlando. Next time you visit Palolem beach, Canacona, look at the rocks there with new respect because they are most ancient rocks-formed even before the continents could be born. Mr. Orlando has given a picture of a rock from Palolem known as trondhjemite gneiss-which has been dated to 3400 million years. Similar rocks have also been found near Anmod village on Goa Karnataka border. A specimen has been kept in Goa University’s geological museum which people need to visit. Orlando was specially interested in Goa’s coastal landforms. His passion comes out clearly in third chapter titled ‘the evolving coast of Goa: a geological perspective’. He considers Goa’s coastline as submergent. I would have wished to see Nio’s Dr. Rajiv Nigam’s supplementary chapter in this book because Dr. Nigam has done a lot of work on ancient climates and geohydrological forms. The book opens with Orlando’s first chapter-a lucidly written account of Goa’s 3.6 billion years old geological history. Orlando had excellent capacity to synthesize complex information. The geological map which he has given in second chapter is easy to understand and interprete. In plain words it tells me that Goa is geologically not homogeneous. Our state is a mosaic, a patchwork a quilt of earth’s violent geodynamic processes. Actually one could spot at least 16 different geological time zones within Goa-horizontally. Comparatively only the beaches and river alluvium of Goa is of recent origin. While we sport the subcontinent’s most ancient rocks, we also have rocks which had seen three tectonic folds. About 65 million years ago, India was floating like an island and moving towards the direction of Asia. The Himalayas were not born and western ghat hills were far off. As Indian landmass moved over a hotpsot of volcanic activity over present reunion islands in Indian ocean-molten lava started flowing covering the land-a phenomenon known as Deccan volcanism. But why this lava did not cover landmass of Goa and was trapped in a small corner of Sattari?. Why we find one patch of India’s most ancient rocks in Palolem and another at Anamod?. What has sculpted the rocks on beaches like Arambol and Anjuna?. The book not only answers many of the nature’s mysteries but also raises new questions and inspires new ideas for research. By producing this book GSG has filled a vast gap in common man’s knowledge about the state’s geological resources and natural heritage. Orlando has indicated several spots which need to be declared as “monuments of geological heritage of Goa’. It would immensely add to nature tourism. Understanding geology is central to the economy of Goa. Geological resources of Goa have sustained the local mining, quarrying and construction industry. Without use of laterite, traditional architecture of Goa is impossible. Laterite is Goa’s geological heritage. But this book gives more detailed knowledge on the process of lateritization and the properties of various laterites. This knowledge would be useful to architects and engineers. The ecological and environmental dimension of geology has not been missed in this book. The final chapter by Dr. Antonio on coastal regulation zone is well written and provides a good review of the ground situation and the complex issues involved in coastal zone management. I have no doubts that after it is made available for sale the book would become popular with readers. For government departments it would be a permanent reference work. If translated in Konkani and Marathi this knowledge would reach a wider audience.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Lunopolitics of Water on Moon-II
Second and final part of my article on LUNOPOLITICS
Lunopolitics of Water on Moon-II
Lunopolitics of Water on Moon-II
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)