Estimation of Hydraulic Conductivity from Grain Size Distribution: a Case Study of Sediments from Panzara River, Tapi Basin, Northern Maharashtra (India)

Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.35 F-Geology (No.1-2)2016:P.1-11 Print version ISSN 0970 4639 Online version ISSN 2320 3234

DOI 10.5958/2320-3234.2016.00001.9

ESTIMATION OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY FROM GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION: A CASE STUDY OF SEDIMENTS FROM PANZARA RIVER, TAPI BASIN, NORTHERN MAHARASHTRA (INDIA)

Golekar R.B.1*, Baride M.V.2, Patil S.N.3, Mohite Rajesh 3, Patil Sunil 3 and Ronad H. N.1 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Rajaramnagar, Islampur District Sangli - 415414 (India) 2 Department of Geology, Z. B. Patil College, Dhule - 424002 (India) 3 Department of Applied Geology, School of Environmental and Earth Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon - 425001 (India) * Present Address: Department of Geology, G.B. Tatha Tatyasaheb Khare Commerce, Parvatibai Gurupad Dhere Art’s and Shri. Mahesh Janardan Bhosale Science College, Guhagar Dist. Ratnagiri (India) 415703 * Corresponding author: Golekar R. B. (e-mail): [email protected]

Received 02 August 2016 : Accepted 15November 2016

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to determine the grain size of the sediments and estimation of hydraulic conductivity. A total 20 sediment samples were collected from 13 different locations from both the bank of Panzara river channel, Dhule district (Maharashtra). Geologically, this region belongs to Deccan Volcanic Province of upper Cretaceous to lower Eocene age. Weight percentage frequencies and cumulative weight percentage frequencies of the sediment samples were computed. The grain size parameters like graphic mean (Mz), graphic standard deviation (ϭ1), graphic skewness (SK) and graphic kurtosis (KG) were also computed. The coefficient of curvature (Cc), coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and hydraulic conductivity (Hc/K) were also calculated. The grain size results showed that sediments are moderate to poor sorted.

Keywords: Grain size, sieve analysis, sediments, Panzara River, Maharashtra, India

1. INTRODUCTION

Grain size distribution is one of the most important characteristics of sediment (Wentworth, 1922). This is true because of grain size is a powerful tool for describing a site’s geomorphic setting, interpreting the geomorphic significance of fluid dynamics in the natural environment and distinguishing local versus regional sediment transportation mechanism. The textural characteristics of the sediments are very important for dealing with problem of soil erosion (Ahmad and Hansnain, 2007). The present study deals with the textural characteristics and temporal distribution pattern of sediments of Panzara River channel, Northern Maharashtra, India.

Golekar R.B., Baride M.V., Patil S.N., Mohite Rajesh , Patil Sunil and Ronad H. N.

The river Panzara is a sub basin of River Tapi, located in Northern Maharashtra, India. The river Panzara originates from Sahyadri Mountains at altitude of 1058m amsl. The total area of Panzara river basin is an about 2758 km2. The area bounded by latitude 20°54’ to 21°13’ N and longitude 74°07’ to 74°56’ E in parts of Dhule districts of Maharashtra, India. Location map of the Panzara river basin has shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Location map of the Panzara river basin

The climate of the area is characterized by a hot summer and general dryness throughout the year except during the monsoon season, i.e., June to September. The minimum temperature is 16°C in month of December and maximum temperature is 45°C in month of May. The normal annual rainfall is range from 500 mm to 655 mm (CGWB, 2009).

1.1 Geological Setting Geologically, study area belongs to Deccan trap of the Cretaceous to the Lower Eocene age. The Deccan Traps exhibits horizontal lava flows, development of flat-topped hills and step-like terraces. The horizontal basaltic lava flows are inferred to be due to fissure eruptions (Vaidyanadhan and Ramakrishnan, 2008). The study area is almost covered by Deccan basalts except few patches which are covered by thick alluvium and Quaternary sediments (GSI, 1984). In the area under study, two types of lava flows have been reported i.e. aa type flow and Pahoehoe type flow (GSI, 1984).

Study area predominantly comprises of Pahoehoe type basaltic lava flows that have been intruded by numerous doleritic dykes. The aa type lava flows consist of thinly porphyritic basalts, hard and compact basalts and is occurred in the lower reaches of the river Panzara. The thickness of ‘aa’ flows is varies from place to place. In general, compound types of flows predominate in the northern part of Maharashtra and simple type of flows are

ESTIMATION OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY FROM GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION: A CASE STUDY OF SEDIMENTS FROM PANZARA RIVER, TAPI BASIN, NORTHERN MAHARASHTRA (INDIA) spread over southern part of Maharashtra. Vesicular or amygdaloidal basaltic flows are rare and subordinate in these areas. These lava flows show thin blocky vesicular massive upper part and lower part is compact and fine-grained (Subbarao and Hooper, 1988). Red boles separate these flows from one another with its thickness varying from a few centimeters to more than a meter.

The area under study shows variety of landforms such as mountains and hills forming gently slope topography. Flat plains covered by alluvium are seen along the river courses. Alluvial zone is confined to elevation below 640m amsl forming low-lying areas. Pediment zone is restricted to hill slopes.

2. METHODOLOGY

In the present study, field work was carried out to collect the sediment samples from the Panzara River channel. Twenty sediment samples were collected in 2013, sampling starts from the origin of Panzara River up to confluence of main River Tapi. These samples were collected to show the variety of samples in the area. Sample locations were given in Table 1.

Table 1: Sediment sampling locations from the Panzara River, Northern Maharashtra, India

Altitude Sr. No. Sample ID Location Latitude Longitude (m amsl) 1 1 Pimpalner 20°57’ N 74°07’ E 515 2 2 A Malpurkasare 20°56’ N 74°15’ E 444 3 2 B Malpurkasare 20°56’ N 74°15’ E 444 4 2 C Malpur Kasare 20°56’ N 74°15’ E 444 Panzara kan sangam 5 3 A 20°58’ N 74°20’ E 395 (Right bank) Panzara kan sangam 6 3 B 20°58’ N 74°20’ E 395 (Left bank) 7 4 Kan river 20°58’ N 74°20’ E 393 8 5 A Akkalpada (Right bank) 20°56’ N 74°27’ E 342 9 5 B Akkalpada (Left bank) 20°56’ N 74°27’ E 355 10 6 A Ner (Right bank r) 20°56’ N 74°30’ E 345 11 6 B Ner (Left bank) 20°56’ N 74°30’ E 343 12 7 Kusumbe 20°55’ N 74°36’ E 308 13 8 War village 20°54’ N 74°41’ E 276 14 9 Dhule 20°55’ N 74°48’ E 248 15 10 Nyhalod 20°59’ N 74°51’ E 267 16 11 A Mandal (Right bank) 21°04’ N 74°51’ E 188 17 11 B Mandal (Left bank) 21°04’ N 74°51’ E 187 18 12 A Betawad (Left bank) 21°09’ N 74°54’ E 165 19 12 B Betawad (Right bank) 21°09’ N 74°54’ E 164 20 13 Mudawad 21°13’ N 74°56’ E 138 Where, amsl - above mean sea level, ° and ’stands for degree and minute

Sediment samples were taken from 8cms down from the river bed with the help of plastic spatula. The bulk sediments sample were reduced by coning and quartering, and a 50

Golekar R.B., Baride M.V., Patil S.N., Mohite Rajesh , Patil Sunil and Ronad H. N. gm portion of the sample were taken for laboratory analysis. Organic matter was separated from the samples by treatment with 30 % by volume H2O2and SnCl2 adopted by the standard procedures (Rajganapathi, 2013). The sediment samples were dried at 40°C using hot air oven.

After this pre-treatment, the sediment samples were sifted at ASTM sieve (from 45 µm to 4.75 mm sizes) sets using a sieve shaker for 15 min. Weight percentage frequencies and cumulative weight percentage frequencies were computed by the standard procedures (Folk and Ward 1957). The sieved materials were weighed separately. The grain size parameters like graphic mean (Mz), inclusive graphic standard deviation (SD), inclusive graphic skewness (Sk) and graphic kurtosis (KG) were computed. The various graphic and moment measures were calculated with the help of formulae of Folk and Ward (1957). The grain size analysis log graphs were plotted with the help origin pro 8 software. Origin Pro 8 software is used for the graphing and data analysis. The coefficient of curvature (Cc) and coefficient of uniformity (Cu) calculated by using the formulas suggested by Holtz and Kovacs (1981) and also calculate the hydraulic conductivity of sediments.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Statistical summary of grain size parameters like percentage of granules, sand, silt, graphic mean (Mz), inclusive graphic standard deviation (SD), inclusive graphic skewness (Sk) and graphic kurtosis (KG) were presented in Table 2. The obtained results of hydraulic conductivity from particles size distributions were presented in Table 3.

3.1 Statistical Analysis of the Grain Size Graphic mean (Mz) is a measure of central tendency, which is calculated by using following formula,

(1)

The obtained value of mean phi ranged from -1.06 to -0.20 Φ (Fig. 2). These value in general show the dominance of granular conglomerate size sediment. The variations in graphic mean reveal that the differential energy conditions and resulting in their deposition.

Figure 2: Graphic Mean trends of sediment samples

The graphic standard deviation is measurement of sorting particles size distribution and it is calculated by using formula,

ESTIMATION OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY FROM GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION: A CASE STUDY OF SEDIMENTS FROM PANZARA RIVER, TAPI BASIN, NORTHERN MAHARASHTRA (INDIA)

(2)

The values of standard deviation of sediment samples were obtained ranged from 0.67 to 1.56 Φ; these results shows that the most of sample are moderately to poorly sorted (Fig. 3).

Figure 3: Standard deviation trends of sediment samples

The graphics skewness measures the symmetrical distribution or predominance of coarse or fine sediments. The graphics skewness calculated by using following formula,

(3)

Skewness value ranged from 0 to 0.05 (Fig. 4). Symmetry of the sample ranges from negative to dominant positive skewness (Fig. 4).The coarse grains skewed are in this category.

Figure 4: Skewness trends of sediment samples

The graphic kurtosis (KG) provides the systematic distribution of the meso-kurtic sediment. It is a ratio between the sorting in end of the curve to that of the central portion. The graphic kurtosis is calculated by using following formula,

Golekar R.B., Baride M.V., Patil S.N., Mohite Rajesh , Patil Sunil and Ronad H. N.

(4)

The value of graphic kurtosis ranges from 2.13 to 9.74, with an average of 4.94. All the samples fall under meso-kurtic type (Fig. 5). Friedman (1962) suggested that extreme high or low values of kurtosis imply that part of the sediment achieved its sorting elsewhere in a high energy environment. The variation in the kurtosis values is a reflection of the flow characteristics of the depositing medium (Seralathan and Padmalal 1994; Baruah et. al., 1997; Naidu et al., 2013).

Figure 5: kurtosis trends of sediment samples

3.2 Graphical Representation of Grain Size Analysis The grain size analysis log graphs were plotted with the help origin pro 8 software. Origin Pro 8 software is used for the graphing and data analysis. They have made significant improvements to managing data creating, exploring and organizing analysis of the results obtained from graphs, it offers extended analysis tools for statistics, 3D fitting, image processing and signal processing. The following log graphs are plotted % finer versus particles size (mm). From curves found that, well graded sand is obtained and sand contain is more where as silt and clay content is less and has not achieved maturity (Fig. 6, 7 and 8).

3.3 Grain Size Distributions To determine whether a material is sand or gravel note where the D 50 value lies on the grain-size distribution curve and extrapolate straight down to the grain-size. If the D 50 value is less than 5 mm in diameter it is considered to be sand (fine, medium or coarse) and if the D 50 value is greater than 5 mm than the material is considered to be gravel. The obtained results show that 14 samples out of 20 belong to the sand size sediments and remaining 06 samples considered as gravel size sediment (Table 3).

The coefficient of curvature (Cc) and coefficient of uniformity (Cu) calculated by using the following formulas (Holtz and Kovacs 1981),

(5)

(6)

ESTIMATION OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY FROM GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION: A CASE STUDY OF SEDIMENTS FROM PANZARA RIVER, TAPI BASIN, NORTHERN MAHARASHTRA (INDIA)

Figure 6: Log graphs (% finer versus particles size in mm) using origin pro 8 software for samples 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A and 3B.

Figure 7: Log graphs (% finer versus particles size in mm) using origin pro 8 software for samples 4, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7 and 8

Golekar R.B., Baride M.V., Patil S.N., Mohite Rajesh , Patil Sunil and Ronad H. N.

Figure 8: Log graphs (% finer versus particles size in mm) using origin pro 8 software for samples 9, 10, 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B and 13

Table 2: Descriptive statistics of the sediment samples from Panzara river Graphic Standard Skewness Kurtosis Sample ID Granule Sand Silt Mean Deviation (Φ) (Φ) (Φ) (Φ) 1 48.64 50.52 0.83 -1.08 1.31 0.03 6.02 2A 46.02 52.66 1.30 -1.23 1.27 0.02 7.08 2B 73.79 25.84 0.36 -1.85 0.81 0.01 3.99 2C 62.95 35.79 1.25 -1.96 0.68 0.01 4.66 3A 59.99 39.24 0.72 -1.65 0.88 0.02 5.06 3B 55.43 44.09 1.21 -1.39 1.01 0.02 3.69 4 73.71 25.61 0.67 -1.78 0.7 0.01 3.27 5A 40.71 58.65 0.62 -1.23 0.91 0 9.74 5B 17.33 82.09 0.58 -0.43 1.29 0.04 5.31 6A 52.95 45.49 1.53 -0.97 1.31 0.02 5.17 6B 53.80 45.39 0.70 -1.42 0.96 0.02 4.02 7 29.47 68.8 1.59 -1.05 1.56 0.03 3.37 8 65.89 34.1 0.06 -1.83 0.8 0.01 6.02 9 22.16 77.34 0.5 -0.62 1.29 0.02 5.45 10 37.79 62.05 0.14 -1.12 0.99 0.01 2.76 11A 22.61 77.10 0.13 -0.62 1.38 0.04 8.52 11B 5.63 93.52 0.84 -0.52 0.96 0.02 4.07 12A 41.86 56.63 1.46 -1.32 1.02 0.01 4.04 12B 29.84 69.85 0.3 -1.02 0.88 0.01 2.13 13 19.49 79.59 0.12 -0.2 1.49 0.05 4.45 Minimum 5.63 25.61 0.06 -1.96 0.68 0 2.13 Maximum 73.79 93.52 1.59 -0.2 1.56 0.05 9.74 Average 43.00 56.21 0.74 -1.16 1.07 0.02 4.94

ESTIMATION OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY FROM GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION: A CASE STUDY OF SEDIMENTS FROM PANZARA RIVER, TAPI BASIN, NORTHERN MAHARASHTRA (INDIA)

If the value of Cu (Coefficient of uniformity) greater than 6 called as well graded sediment and if the value less than 6 called as poorly graded sediment. The Cu value suggests that the all sediment samples from the study area belong to poorly graded sediments.

If the value of Cc (Coefficient of curvatures) less than 1 called as poorly graded sediment and if the value lies between 1 and 3 called as well graded sediment. The Cc value suggests that the 7 sediment samples from the study area belong to poorly graded sediments. The Cc values is observed less than 1 for the Sample ID 3B, 5B, 6B, 9, 11A, 11B and 13 because of these locations located at Kan – Panzara river confluence point and downstream part of the Panzara river basin.

Table 3: Results of hydraulic conductivity, Cu and Cc are obtained from particles size distributions curves D10 D30 D50 D Sr. No. Sample ID Cu Cc K (mm) (mm) (mm) 60 (mm) 1 1 0.7 2 4.4 5.5 2.75 1.04 0.73 2 2A 0.74 2.3 4.1 6.3 2.74 1.13 0.82 3 2B 2.2 5.1 8.2 10 1.96 1.18 7.26 4 2C 0.88 3.4 8.2 10 2.94 1.31 1.16 5 3A 1.3 3.4 6 8 2.35 1.11 2.53 6 3B 1.2 2.9 4.8 9.2 3.17 0.76 2.16 7 4 2.2 5.2 1.6 10 1.92 1.23 7.26 8 5A 0.68 1.9 9.1 5 2.63 1.06 0.69 9 5B 0.64 0.93 3.5 2.5 2.69 0.54 0.61 10 6A 1.1 2.9 1.9 7 2.41 1.09 1.81 11 6B 0.95 2.8 5.1 8 2.33 0.68 1.35 12 7 0.92 1.5 5.3 3.5 2.50 1.74 1.26 13 8 1.3 4 2.8 10 2.38 1.23 2.53 14 9 0.6 1.3 2.5 3.1 2.38 0.91 0.54 15 10 0.9 2.5 3.5 3.5 1.40 1.98 1.21 16 11A 0.62 1.3 2.2 3 2.31 0.91 0.57 17 11B 0.7 1.3 2.1 2.5 1.92 0.97 0.73 18 12A 0.88 2.4 3.9 5.1 2.13 1.28 1.16 19 12B 1.1 2.2 3.2 4 1.82 1.10 1.81 20 13 0.6 0.8 1.6 2.3 2.88 0.46 0.54 Where, K= Hydraulic Conductivity in cm/s, C=Hazen's empirical coefficient, which takes a value 1.5, D 10 is the particle-size diameter for which 10 percent of the sample was finer D 30 is the particle-size diameter for which 30 percent of the sample was finer D 50 is the particle-size diameter, for which 50 percent of the sample was finer D 60 is the particle-size diameter, for which 60 percent of the sample was finer

3.4 Hydraulic Conductivity of the Sediments The hydraulic conductivity of the sediment samples calculated by using the following formula,

Golekar R.B., Baride M.V., Patil S.N., Mohite Rajesh , Patil Sunil and Ronad H. N.

(7) Where, K= Hydraulic conductivity in cm/s, C=Hazen's empirical coefficient, which takes a value 1.5

Hydraulic conductivity results of the sediment samples were observed ranged from 0.54 (Sample ID 9 and 13) to 7.26 (Sample ID 4). If the larger size particles present in the sediment samples then exhibit high hydraulic conductivity whereas, smaller particle present in the sediment samples then exhibit low hydraulic conductivity. This suggests that the hydraulic conductivity is inversely proportional to grain size of the sediments.

4. CONCLUSION

The study depicted surface sediments of Panzara River, their major inputs, transportation, depositional processes and main hydrodynamic. The graphic mean value of sediments indicates that the dominance of granular conglomerate size particles. The sediment, in general, show moderately to poorly sorted and are dominantly strongly coarse grains are skewed in nature. The Panzara River presently is at moderate stage and has not achieved maturity. The coefficient of uniformity (Cu) value suggests that the all sediment samples from the study area belong to poorly graded sediments. The coefficient of curvature (Cc) value reveals that the downstream sediment samples from the study area belong to poorly graded sediments and upstream sediment samples are well graded sediment. This result reveals that the hydraulic conductivity is inversely proportional to grain size of the sediments.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The manuscript is an outcome of M.Sc. dissertation work carried out in North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon. Authors officially acknowledge to the North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon and Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Rajaramnagar, Islampur District Sangli, India.

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