Tungabhadra Kimberlite Field, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh

The diamondiferous Upper Proterozoic conglomerates and the associated sandstone beds display sedimentary structures that are suggestive of provenance in the northwest, i.e. towards the Tungabhadra river drainage basin. Multidisciplinary surveys in this region have led to the discovery of a kimberlite body (350 m x 470 m), concealed under alluvial soil spread on the left bank of the Tungabhadra River near Mantralayam. The study area, represented by the granitoids of Peninsular Gneissic Complex with remnants of Gadwal schist belt, presents a domal upwarp that plunges into the river. The domal surface displays intense fracturing with prominent NW-SE/WNW-ESE and subordinate NE-SW trends, which show marked preponderance and dilation on the northern low angle plunge parts. Traverses coupled with extensive stream sediment sampling and the study of specific mineral chemistry is suggestive of presence of kimberlite, which is supported by actual recovery of micro-diamonds from the yellow ground. The kimberlite contains mantle nodules of phlogopite-bearing websterite and siliceous mica-garnet-chrome diopside bearing lherzolite; the selective non-silicification of interstitial chrome diopside in the latter being enigmatic. The silicification of these mantle nodules could be due to the emplacement of kimberlite into a surface water body and subsequent action of silicasaturated groundwater.