Team Leaders: S.K. Bhushan – MSPL, M.K. Pandit, Rajasthan University, V.K. Chittora, GSI and G. Vallinayakam – Kurukshetra University.
Dates: Post Conference – Sunday 12th February 2012 to Friday 19th February 2012.

Field Trip Cost: 81,000 INR (1350 €): The cost includes air travel between Bangalore to Jodhpur, air conditioned road transport, breakfast, pack lunch, and dinners, Pick-ups and transpor to air ports, and seven night‘s hotel accommodation. Final destination would be at Jaipur. The participants can have can have an option of coming back to Bangalore or take up a separate tourist programme to Delhi, Agra etc at their own cost. Our Conference Manager will assist the delegates with best tourist packages to suite their needs.

Please note the following:
•Those delegates who do not wish to return to Bangalore and have their separate return journey from Jaipur may write to the Secretariat in a separate email. The cost of return air fare will be reimbursed at Bangalore during the Conference.
•The field trips are financially self supported, would be conducted on no profit and no loss basis. If field trip finishes with a significant surplus refunds will be made to the delegates.

Number of Participants: The maximum number of participants this field trips is 30. A minimum number of 20 participants would be required to run the field trips. The participants are requested to indicate clearly their preferences when registering. The field trip registration would be provided on first come first serve basis.

General Description:

Malani Volcanic Province: The Neoproterozoic Malani bimodal volcanics constitute the largest suite of anorogenic acid volcanics in India that has aerial spread of over 3100 km2 in the state of Rajasthan. The 745 ± 10 Ma old volcanism succeeded the granitic activity of Abu Pluton and ceased before the onset of Marwar sedimentation. Volcanism initiated as basaltic eruption with occasional andesite or trachybasalts followed by voluminous outpouring of peralkaline and peraluminous rhyolite, basalt, dacite and trachyte flows and terminated with the outburst of ash flow deposits.  The other rock types associated with rhyolites are trachytes, dacites, pithstones, welded tuff, vatic, lithic and crystal ash, ignimbrite, obsidian, pyroclastic slates, agglomerate, volcanic breccia and volcanic conglomerates. Majority of the acid volcanics are high potassic and few are calc-alkaline or low potassic in composition. Essentially eruptions were under terrestrial conditions through fissures, shield volcanoes and central cones. The “hot spot” triggered volcanism in an extensional tectonic regime of continental crust had initial basaltic magma generated at greater depth. This magma while migrating upwards supplied additional heat for the partial melting of lower sialic crust resulting in the generation of felsic magma. The crustal extension has helped in the upward advancement of the felsic magma. The crustal extension has helped in the upward advancement of the felsic magma.

Thar Desert: A large part of the journey in this field trip is through western Rajasthan that constitutes the Thar Desert. The desert with its boundaries towards north, east and south by Ghaggar-Sutlaj rivers, Aravalli hill ranges and Great Rann of Kachch respectively has an average elevation of 200-300 m MSL. The Quaternary continental sediments in the Thar Desert comprise a multiple episodic succession of fluvial, fluivo-lacustrine and Aeolian deposits. Saline depressions, ranns or playas within the desert represents evidences of receding sea. A variety of sand dunes like parabolic, transverse, reticulate, longitudinal, barachans etc are common. Interdunal plains host gypsite/calcrete beds. The Thar, like any other desert, conjures up a vision of a vast emptiness where man ekes out a miserable existence, harassed by a pitiless wind that batters him with a million sand grains. Yet history shows that the deserts have been both the refuge and cradle of civilizations. The participants are exposed to glimpses of history of Thar, the valour of warriors, splendours of kings and the architectural marvels of medieval India. The journey, it is hoped, would be extremely pleasant and memorable.

Some Useful Comments: Some other points pertinent to this field are:

• The month of February is one of the best periods to visit this part of India. The weather is comfortable. The maximum temperature varies between 30 degree Celsius during the day and 10 degree Celsius during the night.  Light woolen cloths are required during the evening times.
  
  
• Accommodations at all the places will be shared rooms in good tourists’ hotels. Cuisine in most places is likely to be Indian, which could mildly spicy. The hotels would provide multi-cuisine food, including continental. Safe bottled water is recommended for drinking and would be arranged.
  
  
• Malaria and other mosquito borne diseases are rare in this region in the month of February, however, it would be advisable to consult your respective nation consulates or WHO sites on any health warnings.
• Field Trip Guide books will be posted in the website and printed copies with maps would be made available to all the participants.
  
  
• There would be adequate opportunity for collection of field samples at all locations. The field party leaders would guide the participants about the sample collection. Participants who wish to collect samples are (i) invited to bring their preferred sampling equipments (ii) sample packing material and (iii) should be prepared to cover the cost of sample shipment.
• All road travels from Jodhupur to Jaipur are by 35-seat air-conditioned luxury coach. Road travels from the main road to the kimberlite locations are by field vehicles.
  
  
• There is no specific dress code for the field trip. But in view of local weather conditions light trousers and light shirts are recommended.
  
  
• Participants must arrange for their own travel and medical insurance.
  
  
  
• Itinerary

Field Trip Deadlines:

Registration & Refund guidelines for the Field Trip:

Registration guidelines for the field trips are as follows:

• Only those persons are entitled for registration to the field trips who have registered for the main conference.
• Registration for the field trips requires full payment of appropriate fee.
  
  
• Field Trip Refunds: Refunds resulting from cancellation by a delegate are less 10% administration fee before 30th September, 2011. Between 1st October 2011 and 1st December 2011 refunds will be 50% of the total field trip costs. There will be no refunds after 1st December, 2011.
  
  
• If field trips are cancelled by 10 IKC through insufficient participation prior to 1st December 2011, field trip payments will be refunded in full.
  
  
• If delegates are not allocated a place on any of the requested field trips, an option for the other field trip, if available, would be made available to the participants on the condition of payment/return of the differential fee of that field trip. In case the delegate is not interested in that option, the field trip payments will be refunded in full.
  
  
• All requests for cancellations of field trip participation must be received in writing by post, e-mail or fax by the Conference Secretariat. Cancellations are not accepted by telephone. All cancellations are subject to the limitations specified above.