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

Gyan Chand ¹, P. Venu ²

Affiliations
1 Geological Survey of India, Calcutta, IN
2 Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, IN

Abstract

Results of the plant distribution pattern with reference to copper mineralisation in Singhbhum copper belt, Bihar are presented. In the heart of mineralised zone, Hyptis suaveolens or Croton roxburghii dominates. In areas under moderately high level of copper, the dominant species is not uniform and some of these stretches are dominated by Hyptis suaveolens or Croton roxburghii while other have shown Cymbopogon martini or Anogeissus latifolia or Shorea robusta or Diospyros melanoxylon. In contrast, sampling zone containing low levels of copper (around 200 ppm and less) is dominated by either Evolvulus aislnoides or Lantana camara or Woodfordia fruticosa. Areas that contain low copper values are also demarcated by Blumea oxyodonta and Polygonum plebejum. Overall analysis indicates that species varied in the copper tolerance and plants like Hyptis suaveolens and Croton roxburghii dominate when log copper values reach around 4.0. Species like Acacia torta, Diospyros melanoxylon and Holarrhena antidysenterica showed their maximum numbers when log copper values are between 2 and 3. It is suggested that the species combination and community structure are dependent on substrate copper levels.

Keywords

Copper Mineralisation, Geobotany, Singhbhum Belt, Bihar.

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P. Venu ¹, Gyan Chand ²

Affiliations
1 Botanical Survey of India, Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah - 700 003, IN
2 Geological Survey of India, Aliganj, Lucknow - 220 020, IN

Abstract

Forty eight plant species (528 plant samples) from the Singhbhum copper belt were examined and their relationships with soil copper gradient were assessed. Syzygium cumini, Woodfordia fruticosa, Cleistanthus collinus and Buchanania lanzan are observed to grow in very high soil copper concentration maintaining remarkably moderate levels of copper in their bioparts. Results of Student's 't' test suggests that some species exhibit preferential concentration of copper in different bioparts. Copper levels estimated in Anogeissus latifolia, Butea frondosa, Cleistanthus collinus, Croton roxburghii, Syzygium cumini, Mitragyna parvifolia, Gardenia gummifera, Nyctanthes arbortristis. Shorea robusta and Terminalia crenulata showed significant relationships with that of soil copper. However, none of the plants examined can be graded as 'hyperaccumulators'or 'accumulators".

Keywords

Biogeochemistry, Singhbhum Copper Belt, Plant Copper.

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