FIELD ITINERARY FOR CENTRAL INDIAN LAMPROITES
(Offered Post Conference)

Team Leaders: Dr. Abhijeet Mukherjee

Dates: Post Conference – Sunday 12th February 2012 to Wednesday 16th  February 2012.

Field Trip Cost : 72,000 INR (1200 €): The cost includes (i) to and from air travel between Bangalore and Khajraho, (ii) transport from airport to hotel, (iii) transport from hotels to lamproite and other field locations, (iv) transport to world heritage sites at Khajraho, (v) breakfast, pack lunch and dinners for three days (vi) Pick-ups and transpor to air ports, and (vii) Four night‘s hotel accommodation at Khajraho (please see the details below).

Please note the following:
•Those delegates who do not wish to return to Bangalore and have their separate return journey from Khajuraho 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 on post-conference field trips is 30. A minimum number of 20 participants would be required to run the field trips. If more number of delegates is interested, then this field trip would be conducted in two batches.

General Description: More than one lamproite field are known in the state of Madhya Pradesh in Central India (Figure-1). These are (i) Majhgawan and Hinota lamproite and (ii) the newly discovered Saptharishi Lamproite Cluster occur 80 km WSW of Majhgawan.


Figure-1 showing the location of Majhgawan in Central India

Majhgawan lamproite hosts the oldest primary diamond mine in the world, being mined since 18th century. Apart from the primary sources of diamond, the trip itinerary would include visiting the historical artisan diamond mining areas (secondary deposits) east and northeast of Majhgawan diamond mine. 


Figure-2 showing geological map of the lamproite breccia (after GSI)

A visit to the world heritage site of about 1000 year old Khajuraho temples is also proposed, which are famous for their excellently preserved erotic sculptures based on the ancient Indian treatise on sex known as “Kama Sutra”.  Khajuraho temples are one of the most popular tourist destination in India. Only about 20 temples remain at Khajuraho, which were built by the Chandela Rajput rulers between 950 and 1000 AD. Different groups of these temples were built for Hindu and Jain pantheons, respectively. Some of these temples show remarkable preservation of both the medieval temple architectural style and the sculpture. Participants would find Khajuraho a memorable place to visit.

A traverse to Majhgawan from Khajuraho would be through the typical dry deciduous forests of tropical India. Part of the travel is through the beautiful and pristine Panna Tiger Reserve. If time permits, a visit to the serene surroundings of Ken River Crocodile Sanctuary would be organised.

Sampling Opportunities: There is no restriction for sampling near Shahidaan and Hatupur. At Bunder the participants will have a chance to see core and outcrops. There will be no sampling opportunities. Efforts are being made to obtain permission for at least restricted sampling at Majhgawan and Hinota.

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

  • February is a spring time. The weather is mildly warm to the maximum of 30 degrees celsius during the day, however the nights could be nippy and down to about 10 degrees celsius as the minimum. The average temperature is even moderate between 25 and 15 degrees celsius. Rainfall is rare.
  • Accommodations at Khajraho will be shared AC rooms in good luxury 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.
  • Adequate government security would be arranged for participants who stick to the IKC field group.
  • 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.
  • Sampling at the NMDC mine at Majhgawan and other recent discoveries could be restricted. Discussions to at least allow controlled sample collection are in progress. If such permissions are granted, the 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.
  • Travel from Bangalore to Khajraho would be either by a route flight via Mumbai or by a chartered flight directly from Bangalore to Khajraho. Road transport from Khajraho hotels to the lamproite and other field locations are by hired field vehicles.
  • There is no specific dress code for the field trip. But in view of local weather conditions light trousers and long-sleeved shirts are recommended.
  • Participants must arrange for their own travel and medical insurance.
Field Trip Route can be viewed through the map with link


View Larger Map 

Field Trip day to day itinerary:

12-02-2012
0600 Hrs

Leave Bangalore and Arrive at Khajraho Via Delhi. Halt at Khajuraho (Point A in the map)
Visit to the world heritage site of about 1000 year old Khajuraho temples.
Sound & Light Show during evening.

13-02-2012
0800 Hrs

Visit Majhgawan Lamproite Diamond Mine (Point B in the map) being operated by National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC). See preserved crater - diatreme sections of multiphase lamproite intrusion in the Neoproterozoic platformal sediments. Discussion on the volcanology, phase relations and petrology of Majhgawan lamproite.
Visit the diamond processing unit of NMDC. Visit to Hinota Pipe

Visit Panna Tiger Reserve in the afternoon.
Return to Khajuraho hotels and halt.

14-02-2012
0800 Hs

Fore-Noon: Visit the extensive historical secondary diamond workings east of Majhgawan Lamproite. Shahidan and Hatupur villages (Point D in the map) have centuries old secondary diamond workings, and a trip to those ancient diamond mines will be organised. In addition, participants would be able to see the current unorganised alluvial and laterite hosted diamond mining sector of the Panna region.

Return to Khajraho.

15-02-2012

Leave Khajuaho 0630 Hrs. Arrival at Bunder Project 1030 Hrs.
Field work in Saptharishi cluster of lamproites (Point C in the map; location is approximate).
Leave Bunder Project 1430 Hrs. Arrival at Khajuraho 1830 Hrs. Halt

16-02-2012

Fly back to Bangalore*

* The participants will have option of opting for a tourist programme of North India. For this they need to get registered with Conference Managers well in advance.


Field Trip Deadlines:

1. Field Trip Registration Opens 1st February 2011
2. Field Trip Registration Closes 1st September 2011
3. Field Trip Cancellation Less 5% Closes 30th September 2011
4. Field Trip Notification 1st October 2011
5. Field Trip Cancellation Less 50% Closes 1st December-2011

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.