The tendency of occurrences of slope failures in future in an area is landslides susceptibility. This tendency in eastern hills of Rara Lake was analyzed through mapping process. Bivariate statistical index method was used to produce the susceptibility of landslides. Ninety six slope failures were delineated from Google Earth imagery. The ratio of landslide densities of each individual factor classes to that of whole area gave weight values necessary to produce landslide susceptibility index (LSI). East and South facing slopes, gradients of <30o, elevation of 2000-2800 m, buffers closer to road and streams, grassland and cultivation lands, and lithology of pelitic metamorphic rocks were factor classes with positive weight values. The LSI values ranging from -7.12 to 5.45 were reclassified into five susceptibility classes. Landslide densities of 8.12 and 4.76 per km2 were observed for very high and high susceptible zones. Success rate curve, made from 35 landslides located in the field survey, showed 0.76 portion area under the curve. This gives 76% overall success rate. Higher susceptible areas are cultivated areas and grasslands, where most houses were located. Thus, knowing the landslide susceptibility of areas, necessary preparedness can be done to reduce the impacts.

A detailed geological investigation was carried out to assess the distribution of minerals and their geological control in Bandipur-Gondrang area of Tanahu district, a part of Lesser Himalaya in central Nepal. The area is found rich in both metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits. The main metallic minerals found are iron in Phalamdada and Labdi Khola, copper in Bhut Khola and poly-metallic deposits including suspected gold in Bhangeri Khola and Jaubari Khola-Bar Khola sections. A large deposit of inorganic carbon is found around the Gondrang-Watak area. Similarly, a good quality of green marble (metabasite) is found as decorative stone in Bagar Khola area and good quality of roofing stone in Bandipur area. In addition to these economic deposits other several sub economic to non-economic mineral are also located in the geological map of the area. Categorization of these mineral deposits is based on the probable reserve and laboratory analysis of related samples. Geological control of mineral deposits is considered to be the stratigraphic, structural, metamorphic and hydrothermal. Iron mineralization of the area is found stratigraphical control, copper deposits by magmatism of basic rocks (amphibolites), and poly-metallic deposits are related to the hydrothermal processes.

Arsenic is one of the 92 natural elements found in Earth crust which is referred as" King of Poison". Arsenic contamination in groundwater has been recognized as a great threat to water supply and public health in many countries in the world (WHO 1993). Therefore this research work was done with the objectives to assess the concentration of arsenic in groundwater at Makar VDC of Nawalparasi district by both field kit test and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) test methods and assess the possible natural sources of arsenic mobilization in groundwater and further identify the safe and contaminated aquifers and their distribution below the ground. Based on the field and laboratory analysis it is concluded that the aquifer lying in between 30-70 feet is contaminated with arsenic in toxic level (>50 ppb) while the horizons of aquifers shallower or deeper than this depth are found safe. Present study also showed about 38%, 23 %, 19% and 20 % of aquifers as safe tolerable, toxic and very toxic respectively. Study on the mineralogical composition of the soil and sediment showed that it is rich in arsenic bearing minerals like pyrite, biotitic, iron-coatings and opaque minerals. These minerals are considered potential sources of release of arsenic in groundwater under reducing environment.No adverse health effects are seen on people although the concentration is found in toxic level.This might be either due to hesitation of people to expose their infected organ in front of the research students or the researcher's inability to indentify the symptoms, as it has no normal symptoms and need the experts from the medical field. Present study is able to pinpoint the depth of contaminated aquifer, which is useful for the safe drinking water development strategy.

The Lesser Himalaya in central Nepal is a fold-and-thrust belt with a complex stratigraphy and structure. In the present study, detailed geological mapping was carried out in the Mugling-Banspani area based on stratigraphic units proposed by Stocklin and Bhattarai (1977) to reveal the geological setting and lithostratigraphy of the area. The study shows that the area is occupied by the low-grade metasedimentary rocks of the Lower Nawakot Group. However, there are several discrepancies in classification of the rocks of the Lower Nawakot Group and their classification does not correspond with the field realities. The Anpu Quartzite thought to be the oldest unit of the Nawakot Complex laterally joins to the Fagfog Quartzite. Similarly, the Banspani Quartzite and Labdi Phyllite laterally join to the Purebensi Qu artzite and Dandagao n Phyllite, respectively. Si milar ly, the Nourpul Formation is clearly divisible into three members with distinct lithological characteristics. Based on the above facts, a revise d stratigraphic classification has been proposed for the rocks of the Lower Nawakot Group in the Mugling­ Banspani area. The Lower Nawakot Group can be divided into the oldest Kunchha Formation followed up section by the Fagfog Quartzite (~Anpu Quartzite), Dandagaon Phyllite (~Labdi Phyllite), Nourpul Formation and Dhading Dolomite. The Nourpul Formation comprises three members namely the Purebensi Quartzite, the Amdanda Phyllite and the Labdi Khola Carbonate. The Jalbire Syncline, Mugling Anticline, Aklang Syncline and the Anpu Anticline are the major geological structures of the study area.

Geological mapping was carried out along the Phalamdanda-Dhuwakot section of west-central Nepal in the Lesser Himalaya. The aim of geological mapping was to prospect the metallic mineral resources in the area especially to assess the geological control of mineralization as prognostic mapping and study the genesis of mineralization. The area has developed low-grade metamorphic rocks of the Nawakot Group. Geological rock units like the Kuncha Formation, Fagfog Quartzite, Dandagaon Phyllite, Nourpul Formation and Dhading Dolomite are mapped in the area. Jal Bhanjyang Thrust carries the more older rocks of the Nourpul Formation over the Dhading Dolomite. The area is highly deformed as indicated by presence of folds. Outliers of Fagfog Quartzite and Dhading Dolomite are developed at the core part of the syncline. Phalamdada iron and Anbu Khaireni as well as Dharapani copper are the major metallic deposits reported in the area. Both deposits are considered as the syngenetic in nature. Bulletin of Department of Geology, vol. 20-21, 2018, pp:59-64