Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

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Radioactive Quartz-Pebble Conglomerates from Western Margin of Bonai Granite Pluton, Sundargarh District, Orissa - A New Find


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1 Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Khasmahal, Jamshedpur - 831 002, India
     

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Several radioactive quartz-pebble conglomerate (QPC) occurrences at the western margin of Archaean Bonai granite and overlying Iron Ore Group (IOG) rocks have recently been located over a total strike length of 8-10 km intermittently in a NE-SW to E-W trend with steep dips due north- west to north in parts of Sundargarh district of Orissa. The QPC samples have analysed up to 0.039% U3O8 and 0.035% ThO2 with high concentration of Y (74 to 518 ppm), La (<100 to 880 ppm), Cr (126 to 633 ppm), Zr (137 to 1250 ppm) and Pb (31 to 581 ppm). Cellulose Nitrate (CN) film studies of few QPC samples indicated adsorbed uranium over goethite and infiltrated ferruginous material (limonite), secondary uranium as encrustation and fracture filling and discrete sub-rounded grains of monazite, zircon, allanite and rare xenotime in the matrix of QPC as radioactive phases. Higher content of Th over U, elevated concentration of Y and La in QPC eliminates the possibility of its low temperature product by epigenetic processes. Poor correlation of U with elements like Pb, Y, Zr, La and Cr can be explained due to surficial leaching of uranium from QPC after its deposition as reflected by adsorbed U over iron- oxides and low U/Th ratio in QPC in the area.

Keywords

Quartz-Pebble Conglomerate, Bonai Granite, Radioactive Minerals, Orissa.
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  • Radioactive Quartz-Pebble Conglomerates from Western Margin of Bonai Granite Pluton, Sundargarh District, Orissa - A New Find

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Authors

Ajay Kumar
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Khasmahal, Jamshedpur - 831 002, India
S. N. S. Birua
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Khasmahal, Jamshedpur - 831 002, India
Dheeraj Pande
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Khasmahal, Jamshedpur - 831 002, India
A. R. Nath
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Khasmahal, Jamshedpur - 831 002, India
P. V. Ramesh Babu
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Khasmahal, Jamshedpur - 831 002, India
S. A. Pandit
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Khasmahal, Jamshedpur - 831 002, India

Abstract


Several radioactive quartz-pebble conglomerate (QPC) occurrences at the western margin of Archaean Bonai granite and overlying Iron Ore Group (IOG) rocks have recently been located over a total strike length of 8-10 km intermittently in a NE-SW to E-W trend with steep dips due north- west to north in parts of Sundargarh district of Orissa. The QPC samples have analysed up to 0.039% U3O8 and 0.035% ThO2 with high concentration of Y (74 to 518 ppm), La (<100 to 880 ppm), Cr (126 to 633 ppm), Zr (137 to 1250 ppm) and Pb (31 to 581 ppm). Cellulose Nitrate (CN) film studies of few QPC samples indicated adsorbed uranium over goethite and infiltrated ferruginous material (limonite), secondary uranium as encrustation and fracture filling and discrete sub-rounded grains of monazite, zircon, allanite and rare xenotime in the matrix of QPC as radioactive phases. Higher content of Th over U, elevated concentration of Y and La in QPC eliminates the possibility of its low temperature product by epigenetic processes. Poor correlation of U with elements like Pb, Y, Zr, La and Cr can be explained due to surficial leaching of uranium from QPC after its deposition as reflected by adsorbed U over iron- oxides and low U/Th ratio in QPC in the area.

Keywords


Quartz-Pebble Conglomerate, Bonai Granite, Radioactive Minerals, Orissa.

References