Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

High Concentration of Cobalt in the Ajabgarh Rocks of Delhi Supergroup, Southwest Haryana, India


Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136 119, India
2 Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun 240 001, India
 

In this study, we report a high concentration of cobalt (Co) in the rocks of Ajabgarh Group of Delhi Super-group from Nasibpur and the surrounding areas of Southwest Haryana, India, which forms a part of the North Delhi Fold Belt (NDFB). Metasedimentary and magmatic phases of the rocks contained high cobalt content ranging from 166 to 3657 ppm. The maximum concentration of cobalt (2371–3657 ppm) was observed in quartzite samples from the Nasibpur area. Cobalt enrichment in these rocks can be attributed to magmatic–hydrothermal and metamorphic fluids in relation to geological features such as shear and foliation zones, which provide a high fluid/rock ratio. Overall, the applications of cobalt are numerous and crucial. The present study warrants further extensive exploration efforts in order to assess the abundance of this valuable metal, as the global cobalt market is increasing in response to a low-carbon economy.

Keywords

Cobalt, Low Carbon Economy, Metamorphic Fluids, Quartzite, Sedimentary Rocks.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Williams, S. R. and Richardson, J. M., Geometallurgical mapping: a new approach that reduces technical risks. In Proceedings of 36th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mineral Processors Conference, CIM, Ottawa, Canada, 2004, pp. 241–268.
  • BHP Group Ltd, Annual Report 2019; https://www.bhp.com/investor-centre/-/media/documents/investors/annual-reports/2019/bhpannualreport2019.pdf
  • Slack, J. F. (ed.), Descriptive and geoenvironmental model for cobalt–copper–gold deposits in metasedimentary rocks. Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5070-G, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, 2019.
  • Gregory, D. D., Large, R. R. and Halpin, J. A., Trace element content of sedimentary pyrite in black shale. Econ. Geol., 2015, 110(6), 1389–1410.
  • Berger, V. I., Mosier, D. L., Bliss, J. D. and Moring, B. C., Sediment-hosted gold deposits of the world: database and grade and tonnage models. Open-File Report, 2014, 1074, p. 51.
  • Decr´ee, S., Pourret, O. and Baele, J. M., Rare earth element fractionation in heterogenite (CoOOH): implication for cobalt oxidized ore in the Katanga Copperbelt (Democratic Republic of Congo). J. Geochem. Explor., 2015, 159, 290–301.
  • Nimis, P., Costa, D. L. and Guastoni, A., Cobaltite-rich mineralization in the iron skarn deposit of Traversella (Western Alps, Italy). Mineral. Mag., 2014, 78, 11–27.
  • Naumov, G. B., Golubev, V. N., Vlasov, B. P. and Mironov, O. F., The Schlema–Alberoda five-element uranium deposit, Germany: an example of self-organizing hydrothermal system. Geol. Ore. Deposit, 2017, 59, 1–13.
  • Zou, S., Zou, F., Ning, J., Deng, T., Yu, D., Xu, D. and Wang, Z., A stand-alone Co mineral deposit in northeastern Hunan Province, South China: its timing, origin of ore fluids and metal Co, and geo-dynamic setting. Ore Geol. Rev., 2018, 92, 42–60.
  • Slack, J. F., Kimball, B. E. and Shedd, K. B., Cobalt. In Critical Mineral Resources of the United States – Economic and Environmental Geology and Prospects for Future Supply (eds Schulz, K. et al.), US Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, Reston, Virginia, USA, 2017, pp. F1–F40.
  • Kampunzu, A. B., Tembo, F., Matheis, G., Kapenda, D. and Huntsman-Mapila, P., Geochemistry and tectonic setting of mafic igneous units in the Neoproterozoic Katangan Basin, Central Africa: implications for Rodinia break-up. Gondwana Res., 2000, 3, 125–153.
  • Cailteux, J. L. H., Kampunzu, A. B., Lerouge, C., Kaputo, A. K. and Milesi, J. P., Genesis of sediment-hosted stratiform copper–cobalt deposits, central African Copperbelt. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 2005, 42, 134–158.
  • Heron, A. M., Geology of north-eastern Rajputana and adjacent districts. Mem. Geol. Surv. India, 1917, 45, 128.
  • Heron, A. M., The Geology of central Rajputana. Mem. Geol. Surv. India, 1953, 79, 389.
  • Choudhary, A., Gopalan, K. and Sastry, C. A., Present status of the geochronology of the Precambrian rocks of Rajasthan. Tectono-physics, 1984, 105, 131–140.
  • Sinha Roy, S., Proterozoic Wilson Cycles in Rajasthan, NW India. Mem. Geol. Soc. India, 1988, 7, 95–107.
  • Roy, A. B. and Jakhar, S. R., Geology of Rajasthan: Precambrian to Recent, Scientific Publisher, Jodhpur, 2002, p. 421.
  • Biju-Sekhar, S., Yokoyama, K., Pandit, M. K., Okudaira, T., Yoshida, M. and Santosh, M., Late Paleoproterozoic magmatism in Delhi Fold Belt, NW India and its implication: evidence from EPMA chemical ages of zircons. J. Asian Earth Sci., 2003, 22, 89–207.
  • Kaur, P., Chaudhri, N., Raczek, I., Kroner, A. and Hofman, A., Geo-chemistry, zircon ages and whole-rock Nd isotopic systematics for Palaeoproterozoic A-type granitoids in the northern part of the Delhi belt, Rajasthan, NW India: implications for late Palaeoproterozoic crustal evolution of the Aravalli craton. Geol. Mag., 2007, 144, 361–378.
  • Kaur, P., Zeh, A., Chaudhri, N. and Eliyas, N., Two distinct sources of 1.73–1.70 Ga A-type granites from the northern Aravalli orogen, NW India: constraints from in-situ zircon U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotopes. Gondwana Res., 2017, 49, 164–181.
  • Singh, Y., Pandit, P. S. C., Bagora, S. and Jain, P. K., Mineralogy, geochemistry, and genesis of co-genetic granite pegmatite-hosted rare metal and rare earth deposits of the Kawadgaon area, Bastar Craton, Central India. J. Geol. Soc. India, 2012, 89, 115–130.
  • Baidya, A. S., Sen, A. and Pal, D. C., Textures, and compositions of cobalt pentlandite and cobaltian mackinawite from the Madan–Kudan copper deposit, Khetri Copper Belt, Rajasthan, India. J. Earth Syst. Sci., 2018, 127, 58.
  • Taylor, S. R. and McLennan, S. M., The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution, Blackwell, Oxford, UK, 1985, pp. 1–312.
  • Roberts, S. and Gunn, G., Cobalt. In Critical Metals Handbook (ed. Gunn, G.), British Geological Survey, John Wiley, UK, 2014, pp. 122–149.
  • Carr, M. H. and Turekian, K. K., The geochemistry of cobalt. Geo-chim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1961, 23, 9–60.
  • Vanhanen, E., Geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the Fe–Co–Au–(U) deposits in the Paleoproterozoic Kuusamo Schist Belt, northeastern Finland. Geol. Surv. Finland Bull., 2001, 399, 398.
  • Witt, W. K., Davies, A. and Hagemann, S. G., Multi-stage alteration and multiple fluid inputs for the Paleoproterozoic Juomasuo, Hang-aslampi and Haarakumpu cobalt (-Au-REE) deposits of the Kuusamo Schist Belt, Finland. In IAGOD Conference, Salta, Argentina, Abstr., 2018.
  • Jansson, N. F. and Weihua, L., Controls on cobalt and nickel distribution in hydrothermal sulphide deposits in Bergslagen, Sweden – constraints from solubility modelling. GFF, 2020, 142(2), 87–95.
  • Feng, C. Y., Zhao, Y. M., Li, D. X., Liu, J. N. and Liu, C. Z., Mineralogical characteristics of the Xiarihamu nickel deposit in the Qiman Tagh mountain, East Kunlun, China. Geol. Rev., 2016, 62, 215–228.
  • Tenailleau, C., Pring, A., Etschmann, B., Brugger, J., Grguric, B. and Putnis, A., Transformation of pentlandite to violarite under mild hydrothermal conditions. Am. Mineral, 2006, 91, 706–709.
  • Xia, F., Brugger, J., Chen, G., Ngothai, Y., O’Neill, B. and Putnis, A., Mechanism and kinetics of pseudomorphic mineral replacement reactions: a case study of the replacement of pentlandite by violarite. Geochem. Cosmochim. Acta, 2009, 73, 1945–1969.
  • Kissin, S. A., Five-element (Ni–Co–As–Ag–Bi) veins. Geosci. Can., 1992, 19(3), 113–124.
  • Velásquez, G., Béziat, D., Salvi, S., Siebenaller, L., Borisova, A. Y., Pokrovski, G. S. and De Parseval, P., Formation and deformation of pyrite and implications for gold mineralization in the El Callao District, Venezuela. Econ. Geol., 2014, 109, 457–486.
  • George, L. L., Cook, N. J. and Ciobanu, C. L., Partitioning of trace elements in co-crystallized sphalerite–galena–chalcopyrite hydro-thermal ores. Ore Geol. Rev., 2016, 77, 97–116.
  • Ahmed, A. H., Arai, S. and Ikenne, M., Mineralogy and paragenesis of the Co–Ni arsenide ores of bou Azzer, Anti-Atlas, Morocco. Econ. Geol., 2009, 104, 249–266.
  • Liu, Y., Li, W., Jia, Q., Zhang, Z., Wang, Z. and Zhang, Z., The dynamic sulfide saturation process and a possible slab break-off model for the giant Xiarihamu magmatic nickel ore deposit in the East Kunlun orogenic belt, northern Qinghai–Tibet plateau, China. Econ. Geol., 2018, 113, 1383–1417.
  • Li, Y. and Audétat, A., Partitioning of V, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ag, Sn, Sb, W, Au, Pb, and Bi between sulfide phases and hydrous basanite melt at upper mantle conditions. Earth Planet Sci. Lett., 2012, 355, 327–340.
  • Muchez, Ph. and Corbella, M., Factors controlling the precipitation of copper and cobalt minerals in sediment-hosted ore deposits: advances and restrictions. J. Geochem. Explor., 2012, 118, 38–46.
  • Liu, W., Borg, S. J., Testemale, D., Etschmann, B., Hazemann, J.-L. and Brugger, J., Speciation and thermodynamic properties for cobalt chloride complexes in hydrothermal fluids at 35–440°C and 600 bar: an in-situ XAS study. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2011, 75, 1227–1248.
  • Wang, Z. et al., Micro-textural and chemical fingerprints of hydro-thermal cobalt enrichment in the Jingchong Co–Cu polymetallic deposit, South China. Ore Geol. Rev., 2022, 142, 104721.
  • Cobalt Market Review 2019–2020, Darton Commodities Ltd, Guildford, UK, 2020.
  • Krauskopf, K. B. and Bird, D. K., Introduction to Geochemistry, McGraw Hill, New York, 1995, 3rd edn, p. 227.
  • Gülaçar, O. F. and Delaloye, M., Geochemistry of nickel, cobalt and copper in alpine-type ultramafic rocks. Chem. Geol., 1976, 17, 269–280.
  • Donaldson, J. D. and Bereysmann, D., Cobalt and cobalt compounds. In Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, 2005.

Abstract Views: 172

PDF Views: 80




  • High Concentration of Cobalt in the Ajabgarh Rocks of Delhi Supergroup, Southwest Haryana, India

Abstract Views: 172  |  PDF Views: 80

Authors

Naresh Kumar
Department of Geology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136 119, India
Swati Rana
Department of Geology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136 119, India
A. Krishnakanta Singh
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun 240 001, India

Abstract


In this study, we report a high concentration of cobalt (Co) in the rocks of Ajabgarh Group of Delhi Super-group from Nasibpur and the surrounding areas of Southwest Haryana, India, which forms a part of the North Delhi Fold Belt (NDFB). Metasedimentary and magmatic phases of the rocks contained high cobalt content ranging from 166 to 3657 ppm. The maximum concentration of cobalt (2371–3657 ppm) was observed in quartzite samples from the Nasibpur area. Cobalt enrichment in these rocks can be attributed to magmatic–hydrothermal and metamorphic fluids in relation to geological features such as shear and foliation zones, which provide a high fluid/rock ratio. Overall, the applications of cobalt are numerous and crucial. The present study warrants further extensive exploration efforts in order to assess the abundance of this valuable metal, as the global cobalt market is increasing in response to a low-carbon economy.

Keywords


Cobalt, Low Carbon Economy, Metamorphic Fluids, Quartzite, Sedimentary Rocks.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv125%2Fi4%2F428-435