Gold Potential of Epithermal Breccia along the Deldar- Kui-Chitrasani Fault in South Delhi Fold Belt, Southwest Rajasthan and Northern Gujarat

The Deldar-Kui-Chitrasani (DKC) fault is a brittle structure manifested by anastomosing system of fractures in the southwestern part of the South Delhi Fold Belt (SDFB). Based on the identification of cross-fibre and 'jigsaw puzzle' type structures, presence of vugs lined with cryptocrystalline quartz, replacement of calcite by chalcedonic quartz and evidences of argillic alteration, the breccia along the fault is recognised by present workers as epithermal breccia. Lithogeochemical sampling of the breccia reveals that, besides moderate base metal signatures, gold values are consistently present in significant concentrations comparable to regional anomalies associated with epithermal gold deposits in the United States. In view of the high proportion of magmatic rocks in the southwestern part of the SDFB, the DKC fault zone is considered a favourable target for searching epithermal type of gold mineralisation.