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

Yamuna Singh ¹, S. D. Rai ¹, Y. Lakshminarayana ¹, R. N. Sankaran ¹

Affiliations
1 Atomic Minerals Division, Begumpet, Hyderabad 500 016, IN

Abstract

Survey in parts of Karimnagar district, Andhra Pradesh, has brought to light the occurrence of colluvial placer deposits with appreciable concentration of REE and Y minerals in Dharmawaram-Yerabali area. The heavy minerals in the soil are thorite, zircon, xenotime, monazite, rutile, ilmenite, brookite, and magnetite. Panned concentrates (n=18) analysed 0.19 to 0.40% Y₂O₃ Dilute sulphuric acid leaching of the mineral concentrates solubilised 50% Y₂O₃.

Keywords

Yttrium, REE, Soil, Andhra Pradesh.

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Yamuna Singh ¹, S. D. Rai ¹

Affiliations
1 Atomic Minerals Division, Begumpet, Hyderabad 500016, IN

Abstract

The duricrust and the soils derived from the Precambrian granitic rocks of Kunkuri area in Raigarh district, Madhya Pradesh, contain anomalous concentratioIis of rare earth and yttrium minerals. The polymineral table concentrates obtained from the granitic soil contain xenotime, monazite, zircon, Hmenite and rutile. Chemical analyses of table concentrate indicate values up to 3.08% Y ₂0₃.0.30% Er₂0₃ and 0.0286% EU₂0₃ in the ratio of 10 : 1 : 0.1. Corresponding data on table concentrates from the source granitic rocks also demonstrate a similar form in Y ₂0₃ : Er₂0₃ : EU₂0₃' Y/Er ratio is 10. which is similar to the average granites, while Er/Eu ratio of 10 is anomalously high, being 4 times the average for granitic rocks. Since the REE and Y·bearing minerals are radioactive and contribute to a major part of the radioactivity in soHI alluvial deposits of the areas investigated, aeroradiometric surveys fonowed by ground radiometric checkings, preferably along 2nd to 5th order streams in the adjoining areas, are recommended.

Keywords

Geochemistry, REE, Soils, Kunkuri, Madhya Pradesh.

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S. D. Rai ¹, D. C. Banerjee ¹

Affiliations
1 Atomic Mineral Division, Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500 016, IN

Abstract

Several inland placers containing commercially viable resources of xenotime have been described from the Chhotanagpur granite gneiss terrain of Gumla district, Bihar and Raigarh district, M.P. Recent surveys in the adjoining western sector of Surguja district, have confirmed xenotime as a significant minor constituent (3-5 %) in the heavy mineral assemblages (1-4 %) of the various tributaries , of Mahan river.

The assemblage is typical characteristic of a granite migmatitic provenance. Geomorphologically, few of these occurrences are developed over limited extents as poorly sorted sediments in low order, less mature streams having steeper slope and smaller depth with an insignificant flood plain development. Mineralogically, the heavy mineral assemblages consist of ilmenite ± garnet (10-40 Wt%) with monazite (40-70 Wt%), zircon (10-20 Wt%) and magnetite (traces to 5 Wt%). A few of these placers are being investigated as potential sources for Yttrium as their heavy mineral suites, quantitatively, have a higher total content of xenotime and nronazite for upgradation to a marketable product acceptable to the chemical industry.

Keywords

Xenotime, Stream Placers, Economic Geology, Mahan River Basin, Madhya Pradesh.

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