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State of Alteration of Ilmenite in Teris, Southern Tamil Nadu
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The early-modern red dune sands (teris) in the erstwhile Tirunelveli District of southern Tamil Nadu are typified by the large content of heavy minerals (HM), particularly ilmenite. Size-specific studies show that HMs dominate the -80 to +100 mesh, and magnetic susceptibility (X) studies demonstrate the presence of three fractions of ilmenite, viz., a (X= 286×10-6), b(127×10-6) and c (72×10-6),which the fraction b is most abundant (range = 52-85%). Optical studies show a variety of exsolution features between ilmenite and haematite dominantly in fraction a, less in b and almost absent in fraction c. Chemical and XRD data of ilmenite fractions, indicate that a and b are relatively unaltered and belong to the ferrian ilmenite state, whereas c is altered and reaches the hydrated ilmenite state with notable development of pseudorutile and rutile phases. Further, the b fraction is composed of relatively pure ilmenite compared to a and c. Based on this investigation, the boundary between altered and unaltered ilmenite has been drawn at a magnetic susceptibility of 127×10-6 cgs units. Hence, a physical separation of bulk ilmenite in terms of grain size and magnetic susceptibility can provide commercial ilmenite concentrates of relatively homogeneous nature in respect of composition and crystallinity.
Keywords
Ilmenite, Teri Sands, Magnetic Susceptibility, Alteration, Tamil Nadu.
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