Cesium Enrichment and Resource Evaluation in Aplite and Pegmatite at the Southern Slope of Belamu Hill, Purulia District, West Bengal

The cesium bearing aplite and pegmatite in the southern slope of Belamu hill occur in association with calc-Silicate and granite gneiss country rocks of Chhotanagpur Gneissic Complex (CGC). The hydrothermal units are highly peraluminous and tectonically disturbed in which, cesium is mainly incorporated within pollucite and Li-Muscovite Rb/Sr shows sympathetic relationship with cesium having a strong correlation towards the higher end for both aplite and pegmatite. Cesium resource evaluation by ground survey and shallow drilling has been done for aplite and pegmatite. Reserves and grades established for both aplite and pegmatite have shown concoidance with the statistical laws of distribution, suggestive of productive output.