Activities of the Department of Geology are spurred by its participation in investigations and research in Applied Geology. Over the past decades, the Department has strived to maintain its multidisciplinary approach towards Earth Sciences by applying the concepts of Geology to solve scientific problems faced by the society.

The department consists of faculty members working on the applied aspects of Environmental Geology, Engineering Geology, Geological Remote Sensing, Hydrogeology, Applied Geomorphology and Sequence Stratigraphy in conjunction with the fundamental subjects such as Petrology, Mineralogy, Stratigraphy, micropaleontology, Economic Geology etc. Some of the important areas of research of this department include Micro-boital environment of sedimentary sequences, Environmental Hydrogeology, Paleo-Environment of River Basins, Geological Remote Sensing of Coastal Geomorphology and Micro palaeontology for hydrocarbon exploration. In the recent years the department has completed major research projects funded by the UGC, CSIR, DST, MHRD and AICTE to the tune of more than Rs 2.50 crores.

The department offers M.Phil and Ph.D programme in frontier areas of geology. A number of research scholars pursue research that is funded by various national agencies.

On a regular basis the department also organises training and continuing education programmes in the areas of Geo-environment, Hydrogeology, Geological remote sensing, Mineral resources management etc.

The department has the necessary expertise to provide consultancy in geological mapping, lithological logging, mapping for engineering construction projects, petrographic study of rocks and minerals, groundwater modeling and Remote Sensing and GIS.

Professor

22203311
ssanjeevi@annauniv.edu

Professor

22203313
elango@annauniv.edu

Assistant Professor

22203312
geonag@annauniv.edu

Assistant Professor

22203393
hachyuthan@yahoo.com

Assistant Professor

22203312
ssrinivasalu@gmail.com

Sequence stratigraphy of Cretaceous sediments of Tiruchirapalli area

Late Neogene-Quaternay of Ferricretes of Jaisalmer Basin, Rajasthan

Quaternary stratigraphy of the area between Palar and Kortallayar Basin, Tamil nadu

Geomorphic controls on groundwater flow regime, and numerical modelling in coastal tract of Palar River basin

Mapping of mineralized zones and silica sand/placer mineral deposits using Remote Sensing and GIS

Environmental and socio-economic impacts of erosion and sedimentation along Chennai coast

Geochronology, eochemistry and sediment texture of tidal flats and ocean cores from the Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Cambay

Holocene sea level changes along the Vedaranniyam coast

A research project on UGC Center with potential for excellence in Environmental Sciences

Landslide hazard Zonation and rehabilitation using Remote Sensing and GIS

Water quality assessment in the Tsunami affected coastal areas of Tamil Nadu-Kalpakkam.

Post Tsunami sediment characterization of Tamil Nadu Coast-Soil salinity mapping and leaching model.

Post Tsunami characterization of Tamil Nadu Coast-Nagapattinam.

Post Tsunami characterization of Tamil Nadu Coast-Kalpakkam.

Hydrogeological characterization and shallow subsurface modelling

Chemical sequence stratigraphy of Campanian-Maastrichtian sediments,Tiruchirappali area, TamilNadu

Depositional Characteristics of Recent and Past Overwash Sandsheets along the Coastal Tracts of Nagappattinam and Vedharanyam, Southeast Coast of India: Implications for Reconstruction of their Time Series

Brief Write up of Most Successful Research Projects

Spectral studies of lunar equivalent rocks in the VNIR and SWIR region of the EMR – A prelude to lunar mineral mapping.
The main objectives are to study and understand the spectral signatures in the VNIR and SWIR region of lunar equivalent rocks present on the Earth’s surface and to relate the chemical, mineralogical and textural composition with the spectral signatures of lunar equivalent rocks. And to develop a spectral library of lunar minerals and rocks and to develop spectral based on empirical models to identify and quantify lunar minerals and rocks in the HySI and M3 images.

Hydrogeological Characterisation and Groundwater flow and transport Modeling at Seripalli Uranium Tailings Pond area
Seepage from uranium tailings piles/ponds is a major hazard. Seepage poses a risk of contamination to both groundwater as well as surface water. The seepage problem is very important with acidic tailings, as the radionuclides involved are more mobile under acidic conditions. Hence, it becomes essential to assess the possible migration of radionuclides along the groundwater in the subsurface environment. This is a major problem in ponds, which may pose a major threat. Assessment of possible migration of uranium through the groundwater system can be studied by numerical modeling of groundwater flow and transport. This study is planned under BRNS project.

Outcrop sequence stratigraphy model
The outcrop sequence stratigraphy model of Cretaceous of Tiruchirapalli area was developed in the DST sponsored research project Four mega sequences were on the on-land Albian –Maastrichtian section . The 2/3 rd order mega sequences are Dalmiapuram sequence (Pre –Synrift sequence, Garudamangalam sequence, Sillakudi sequence (Post rift sequence). This stratigraphy model is a tool in correlation to the subsurface Mesozoic Formations, which is proved hydrocarbon source in Cauvery Basin.

Toxicological impact of essential and nonessential trace element on food web: a study in marine and estuarine ecosystem along the east coast of Tamilnadu.
The main objectives of the research are: Geotechnology of samples using radionuclide to understand the age and period of contamination , understanding the Kinetics and Dynamics of heavy metals in marine and estuarine environments, assessing the heavy metal concentration in the blood and serum samples of fishing population with special reference to women of the study area ,estimating the bioaccumulation of heavy metals throughout the food web , sediments and water, attempting a colenierity between the contamination , birth defects , toxicity symptoms and the concentration of heavy metals study area (East coast of Tamilnadu)

Geoarcheology and Soil Micro morphology of Alluvial Deposits along the Palar Mannargudi Tract, Cauvery Basin, Tamilnadu
Quaternary stratigraphy and Palaeo environments of Cauvery delta has not yet been carried out. This project aims at the study of Quaternary stratigraphy and Paleoenvironments with special reference to ferricrates(surface and subsurface) in relation to the fluvial sedimentation of the area along palar- mannargudi tract , tamilnadu. This project will be conducted with special emphasis on age and formation of ferricrete (near coastal and inland) during the quaternary supplemented by c14 radiometric dates and archeology which will be used as a relative dating tool to build Quaternary stratigraphy and understand man land relationship.

Characterisation of Tsunami deposits along Tamilnadu Coast—Kalpakkam
The characterization of the recent tsunami deposits have been studied in detail. The tsunami run-up, inundation level, sedimentological characters of recent tsunami deposits, micro faunal assemblages and other geomorphologic characters have been studied and recorded for Kalpakkam region of Tamilnadu.

Constraining the tsunami /earthquake recurrence along the Andaman-Sumatra subduction zone based on near –and far field investigations
To study the characteristics of earthquakes and tsunami bt studying the geological signatures of these major natural disasters near to the source region and faraway from the source. This study will throw light on the recurrence interval of past coastal hazards which will help to predict future major disasters.

Depositional characteristics of recent and past overwash sandsheets along the coastal tracts of Nagapattinam and Vedharanyam, Southeast coast of India: implications for reconstruction of their time series
To study the characteristics of past cyclones, tsunami and other coastal flooding by hunting deposits of these paleooverwash sandsheets. This study will throw light on the recurrence interval of past coastal hazards which will help to predict future major disasters.