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

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Genetic Implications of Rare Uraninite and Pyrite in Quartz-Pebble Conglomerates from Sundargarh District of Orissa, Eastern India


Affiliations
1 Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Jamshedpur-831002, India
2 Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Applied Geology, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad-826004, India
3 Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad-500016, India
     

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Petrographic and EPMA studies reveal the presence of discrete grains of uraninite and pyrite are being reported for the first time in quartz-pebble conglomerates from western margin of Bonai granite pluton, Sundargarh district, Orissa. Uraninite grains (2-3 μ in size) are subrounded to muffin shaped which show variation in UO2 (63.86 to 71.73 wt %), ThO2 (5.48 to 6.42 wt %) and RE2O3 (1.57 to 2.23 wt %). Pegmatitic source of uraninite is revealed by comparing UO2, ThO2, PbO, CaO content and ratios of UO2/ThO2 and CaO/ThO2 in uraninites from pegmatite and other environments and areas. Subrounded to muffin shape of uraninite, their association with subrounded pyrite and heavies like zircon, tourmaline, chromite, monazite, magnetite and their comparable chemistry with well established quartz-pebble conglomerates of India and world are indicative of their detrital origin. Pyrite, minor chalcopyrite and rare galena are observed as sulphide phases in conglomerate. Variable shapes of pyrite, their low Co (up to 0.16 wt %) and Ni contents (up to 0.09 wt %) and Co/Ni ratio less than 1.0 (mean = 0.63) favours sedimentary/diagenetic origin.

Keywords

Quartz-Pebble Conglomerate(QPC), Uraninite, Pyrite, Bonai Granite Pluton (BGP), Orissa.
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  • Genetic Implications of Rare Uraninite and Pyrite in Quartz-Pebble Conglomerates from Sundargarh District of Orissa, Eastern India

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Authors

Ajay Kumar
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Jamshedpur-831002, India
A. S. Venkatesh
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Applied Geology, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad-826004, India
P. V. Ramesh Babu
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad-500016, India
S. Nayak
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad-500016, India

Abstract


Petrographic and EPMA studies reveal the presence of discrete grains of uraninite and pyrite are being reported for the first time in quartz-pebble conglomerates from western margin of Bonai granite pluton, Sundargarh district, Orissa. Uraninite grains (2-3 μ in size) are subrounded to muffin shaped which show variation in UO2 (63.86 to 71.73 wt %), ThO2 (5.48 to 6.42 wt %) and RE2O3 (1.57 to 2.23 wt %). Pegmatitic source of uraninite is revealed by comparing UO2, ThO2, PbO, CaO content and ratios of UO2/ThO2 and CaO/ThO2 in uraninites from pegmatite and other environments and areas. Subrounded to muffin shape of uraninite, their association with subrounded pyrite and heavies like zircon, tourmaline, chromite, monazite, magnetite and their comparable chemistry with well established quartz-pebble conglomerates of India and world are indicative of their detrital origin. Pyrite, minor chalcopyrite and rare galena are observed as sulphide phases in conglomerate. Variable shapes of pyrite, their low Co (up to 0.16 wt %) and Ni contents (up to 0.09 wt %) and Co/Ni ratio less than 1.0 (mean = 0.63) favours sedimentary/diagenetic origin.

Keywords


Quartz-Pebble Conglomerate(QPC), Uraninite, Pyrite, Bonai Granite Pluton (BGP), Orissa.

References