PREVIEW OF STUDY TOUR : The geology study tour arrange by our respected geology faculty, Dr. P.D. Mali & Mrs. Machcha. Madam under the support of our respected head of the department, to Osmanabad Caves & Ramling was arranged on 23/08/2014.

This field visit gave us a wider aspect about all the geological concepts covered in the class session. Our class of SE-Civil consisting of 70 students approximately were taken to field visit location by arranged buses.

Objective of study tour :

The rock specimens, samples were studied by everyone with keen interest and a detail study was carried out. Mr. P.D. Mali sir and Machcha madam were pouring in loads of knowledge and all the relevant technical information about the minerals, rocks wherever necessary.

The rock and mineral formations studied were :

1) Vesicular structure

2) Amygdaloidal structure

3) Hard & compact basalt

4) columnar joints

5) Zeolitic Basalt.

6) To identify different volcanic layers

7) To observe waterfall

8) To identify potholes

DETAILED STUDY OF LOCATIONS WITH GEOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW:

I] DHARASHIV / OSMANABAD CAVES :

Dharashiv caves, also known as Osmanabad caves are located in Osmanabad at an approximate distance of 2 Km south from Osmanbad.

Amygdaloidal Basalt & Zeolitic Basalt was the major geological formation that was studied here.

The outer portions of the caves and also some interior portion consisted of Amygdaloidal basalt & Zeolitic Basalt.

The primary rock was basalt and the vesicles were covered with secondary mineral mainly calcite.

The caves have deteriorated due to high weathering action. These caves resemble the caves at AJANTA & ELLORA but due to improper site selection during the carving of caves, the caves have now deteriorated completely.

ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE :

The visit and detailed study of the Dharashiv caves has led us to the conclusion that amygdaloidal basalt is an improper rock upon which any engineering structure cannot be constructed.

Amygdaloidal basalt & Zeolitic Basalt is highly susceptible to weathering, hence the caves deteriorated gradually with the span of time.

II] RAMLING :Things observed at Ramling :1) Columnar Joints : 2) Waterfall : 3) Potholes :

Columnar Joints are present to a massive extent at RAMLING.

Columnar jointing is a geological structure where sets of

intersecting closely spaced fractures, referred to as joints, result

in the formation of a regular array of polygonal prisms, or

columns. Columnar jointing occurs in many types of volcanic

rocks and forms as the rock cools and contracts. Columnar

jointing can occur in cooling lava flows and ash flow tuffs, as well

as in some shallow intrusions

ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE :

The study of Columnar Joints has led us to the conclusion

that a site consisting of Columnar Joints is not very suitable for

any engineering construction activity. This is due to the fact that

Columnar Joints are not hard and compact and are also prone to

percolation and porosity.