Department of Earth Sciences

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Mission

Strategy

Strength of the Department

:- Earth Sciences being an amalgam of the fundamental sciences, our mission is to unravel the mysteries of our planet and also to apply the knowledge gained for the betterment of mankind.

:- The Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay has dedicated itself to providing leadership in the field of all branches of Earth Sciences. We educate people, guide human activity in local, national and international levels with a comprehensive understanding of the problems related to Earth resources. The Department is actively involved in fields related to:Mineral and energy resources; Petrology; Engineering geology; Structure and tectonics; Sedimentology, Petroliferous basins; Micropalaeontology; Geochemistry; Remote sensing and GIS; Water resources; Seismology; Geophysical exploration; Geomagnetism; Mathematical modeling. The Department has structured academic programmes leading to M.Sc. (Applied Geology), M.Tech. (Geoexploration). The Department also has a vibrant doctoral programme leading to Ph. D. degree.The Department nurtures close associations with international and national organizations and industries through collaborative research projects and consultancy work. Currently the Department is involved in setting up of a state-of-the-art national facility for Ar-Ar geochronology and noble gas isotope geochemistry.

:- The Department draws strength from the reputation of its faculty from their research contributions in reputed international scientific journals and interaction with international and national scientific organizations.The faculty have been bestowed with awards such as Bhatnagar award, von Humbolt Fellow, ICTP Fellow, TWAS award for Earth Sciences, TWAS Visiting Professor and Young Scientist award in recognition of their contribution to Earth Sciences.

1. Broadband exploration of the Indian continental crust for imprints of Deccan volcanism (DST, 2003-06). 2. Crustal configuration and active tectonics of the Andaman Arc Sea region based on integrated geophysical data analysis, (DST, 2008 - 2011).3. Satellite Geoid / Gravity modeling for bathymetry prediction and rheology along carlsberg ridge and Andaman are region, (ISRO, 2008 - 2013).4. Imaging Spectroscopy & Lithological discrimination and mineral potential mapping of Mamandur poly metal sulphide zone, Tamil Nadu, (DST, 2008 - 2011).5. Upper Mantle stratigraphy of the deccan volcanic province sponsoring agency, (DST, 2007 - 2010).6. Geological and Geotechnocal investigation of Naitwar bazar landslide near Rudraprayag area, Uttaranchal, (DST, 2008 - 2011).7. Sequence stratigraphy of the palaeogene succession of Kutch, (BG E&P India Limited, 2008 - 2011).8. Facies, Paleogeography and Digenesis of Cenozoic carbonates, Kutch, (BG E&P India Limited2009 - 2013) .

:- This laboratory supports research related to geochemical analysis of earth materials using conventional methods. Rock, soil, water and other earth materials are analysed for their chemical constituents. Its activities are also supported by instrumental facilities available in the SAIF in the campus.Facilities Available

AAS UV-VIS Spectrometer Ion selective electrode Conductivity meter ICP-AES

:- The lab has a Rigaku D-MaxIC X-Ray diffraction unit with a wide-angle goniometer for characterizing minerals, clays, thin films and other organic and inorganic materials. The system is self-dedicated with search-match facility and a library of 50,000 JCPDS files.

:- The department has a JEOL JSM-840A-40A resolution scanning electron microscope equipped with an electron detector system for secondary electrons and also for back-scattered electrons. An Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) with a liquid nitrogen free detector (XFlash) is attached to it for quantitative analysis of earth materials.

:- The laboratory supports research and development activities in the fields of Remote Sensing and GIS for geomorphological and hydrogeological studies. GIS packages such as IDRISI for Windows, and GEOMEDIA Professional are available.Facilities Available :- Equipments for visual interpretation of aerial/ satellite data Digital image processing facility GIS support system GPS receivers

:- This laboratory supports research activities related to engineering properties of earth materials related to excavations, dam construction, tunneling, landslide; and research related to groundwater resources evaluation and management, and groundwater recharge.

Ongoing Research Projects :-

Research Facilities

Geochemistry Laboratory

X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory

Scanning Electron Microscope Laboratory

Geomorphology, Remote Sensing & GIS Laboratory

Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology and Laboratory

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Geochemistry Laboratory X-Ray Diffraction Lab Scanning Electron Micro. Lab Geomorphology Lab

Engg. Geology Lab

Contact for Further Information :-The Head

Indian Institute of Technology BombayPowai, Mumbai - 400076Email : Website : Ph: 022 - 25767250 / 51 / 52

Department of Earth Sciences

hod.geos@iitb.ac.in www.geos.iitb.ac.in

Computer Laboratory

Industry Interaction

How The Department's Alumni are Placed

:- The Department has a well-equipped computer laboratory with two Sun OS 5.6 servers, two windows NT servers, two Linux servers, 10 Pentiums running WINDOWS 95-2000/WINDOWS NT with supporting accessories. The laboratory provides Internet facilities to all the faculty and students of the Department. Map preparation is done using AUTODESK and CAD softwares. Software for geostatistical work developed in the department is used for linear and non-linear geostatistical studies. Modeling of ground water flow and geochemical modeling are other areas of specialization. Standard thermodynamics packages such as SUPCRT92, EQ3/6, WATEQ, SOLMINQ, MELTS, GWB and SOLVEQ are available. Facilities are available for learning computer-programming languages such as FORTRAN, C, C++, VC++ 5.0, Visual Basic 5.0 and Java.

:- The Department has signed an MOU with M/s Schlumberger Oilfield Services, Mumbai to conduct joint research activities in oil exploration and share software facilities. Students have the advantage of working in Schlumberger laboratories in research activities related to off-shore drilling and oil-exploration. M/s. Schlumberger has installed a SUN server in the Department with state-of-the-art software for interpreting well-logs. The company also supports two fellowships at M.Tech. level.

ver the last twenty years, about 700 students have graduated from the Department. About 65% of the graduates are employed in software industries such as Rolta India Ltd., Infosys, Tata-Infotech, TCS, C-dac, WIPRO and Mahindra-British Telecom; 30% are employed in National and International organizations like Schlumberger, British Gas, De Beers, Halyburton, Cairn Energy, Reliance Oil & Gas, Oil India, GAIL, GSI, AMD, ONGC, NIO, ISRO, NRSA, NML, BARC, and TISCO. 5% are employed as faculty in India and in USA

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Fluid Inclusion Laboratory

Geophysics Laboratory

Micropalaeontology Lab

Structural Geology and Tectonics

Petrography Laboratory

Metamorphic Petrology Laboratory

Mathematical Geology Laboratory

Sample preparation Lab

:-This laboratory is a specialised research facility for determining the physico-chemical properties of tiny fluid inclusions in minerals. The laboratory has the facility for conducting freezing and heating experiments on fluid and melt inclusions.

o oFacilities Available :- Linkam THMSG 600 system (-196 C to 600 C) o Leica 1350 C heating stage

Leica orthoplan microscope with reflectance unit attached with fluorescence system

:- The laboratory has broadband and short-period three-component digital seismographs, Scintrex gravity meter, magnetometer and resistivity meter, supported by a computer laboratory with Sun workstation.

:- The laboratory supports research activities related to study of microfossils. Current research activities of the laboratory are morphometrics and palaeobiology of Cenozoic larger foraminifera, and stable isotopic study of larger foraminifera from reef environment.

:- The laboratory carries out research activities related to regional and global structural and tectonic frame work of the Indian subcontinent based on field and petrographic investigations supported by satellite images.Facility Available :- Microscope with universal stage

Design jet printer for 38"-wide print

:- Basic petrographic work on minerals, rocks and ores is supported by this laboratory. The lab is equipped with 12 transmitted light microscopes, 12 reflected light microscopes, digital photomicrographic attachment and image analysis system. Leco automatic mounting press and Leco microhardness tester are also available. Recently cathodoluminescence (CL) microscope with reflated light and photomicrographic attachment is added in this lab.

:- Regional metamorphic processes are studied through field, microtextural and thermobarometric analyses. Mineral chemical analyses are done using SEM-EDS. Porphyroblast-matrix relations are studied using Leica MZ12 Polarising Stereozoom microscope with a field of view of 27 mm.

:-Research activities include application of classical univariate and multivariate statistical methods to physical data interpretation; time-series analysis; application of mining geostatistics to estimation of mineral resources, and simulation of ore bodies.

: Various types of thin, doubling polished wafers and polished thick sections for different applications can be prepared using Logitech and Geologists syndicate cutting machines as well as precise section cutting machine and polishing machines (Leco)

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Structural Geology andTectonics

Fluid Inclusion Lab Micropalaeontology

LabPetrography Lab

Computer Lab ICP-AES Lab

40Ar-39Ar Labgeochronology