Geochemical Studies of the Precambrian of India: Suggestions for Future Research Work

A critical evaluation of the scope, nature, and results of the geochemical researches so far conducted on the Precambrian of India, when viewed against the background of contemporary global trends, reveals that India lags very much behind countries like Canada, the U.S.A., South Africa, and Australia in this important discipline. To remedy, and even reverse this rather unfortunate situation, the paper proposes some major research projects aimed at elucidating (I) the geochronological evolution of the Indian Precambrian; (2) geochemical affinities and evolution of Early Precambrian volcanic-plutonic complexes; (3) nature of the Indian protocrust; (4) evolution of Iron formations and related chemical sedimentary rocks; (5) bio-geochemistry of the Indian Precambrian; (6) geochemical facies of granitic complexes; (7) Precambrian ore genesis and metallogeny in India; (8) evolution of Precambrian carbonatite complexes; (9) episodes of Precambrian volcanism and plutonism; (10) nature of 'cratonization' in Peninsular India; (11) core-mantle-crust differentiation in the Indian sub-continent; and (12) plate-tectonic regimes in the Precambrian of India, and related metallogenic provinces.

As fundamental geochemical researches on the Indian Precambrian are extremely relevant to India's planning for socio-economic uplift, because the results can be applied to projects aimed at locating new ore deposits, the paper emphasises that unless the Government of India sets up expeditiously a National Institute of Precambrian Geochemistry, it would be impossible for India to plan meaningful mineral exploration programmes in the future, and to catch up with the tremendous advances made in the western world. The structure of such an institute is outlined in Table I of the paper.