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G. Sankaranna ¹, E. A. V. Prasad ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati - 517 502, IN

Abstract

Trace element (Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd) analysis of termite mounds, their adjoining surface soils, as well as plants developed on termite mounds and on their adjoining surface soils was carried out. A biogeochemical parameter viz., biological absorption coefficient (BAC) was calculated to characterise the intensity of enrichment or depletion of trace elements in termite mounds and also in plants from their substrate. Enrichment or depletion of trace elements in termite mounds is discussed with reference to the type of mound i.e., barren (devoid of any vegetation), monophytio(co1onised with a single taxonomic plant species) and polyphytic (colonised with more than one taxonomic plant species). The study reveals that: (1) All barren and monophytic termite mounds showed higher concentration of Cu than that of their surface soils, (2) Polyphytic termite mounds showed lower concentration of Cu and Zn than that of their surface soils, and (3) The plant species occurring on polyphytic termite mounds showed higher BAC values for Cu and Zn than the same species on their adjoining surface soil.

Keywords

Biogeochemistry, Termite Mounds, Plants, Base Metals.

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E. A. V. Prasad ¹, D. V. Vijayasaradhi ¹

Affiliations
1 Environmental Geoscience Laboratories, Department of Geology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, IN

Abstract

Unlike serpentine soils, reported from different parts of the world, those occurring in the mineralised zones of chromite in Kondapalli area do not show any characteristic vegetation to demarcate and differentiate the serpentine soils from the adjoining nonserpentine soils. However, Ocimum adsendens is found to be an accumulator of chromium, occurring exclusively on the chromite ore body, and serves as an indicator plant. NJ plant is found to be an indicator of vanadium in vanadiferous magnetite of Putrela.

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V. Raghu ¹, E. A. V. Prasad ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati - 517 502, IN

Abstract

In the Mangampeta barite mining area, physical (organic matter and bulk density) and physico-chemical (pH and electrical conductivity) properties, and the concentration of trace elements viz., Ba, Sr, Cu, Zn, and Mn were determined for three types of termite mounds viz., barren (devoid of any vegetation), monophytic (colonised by a single plant species), and polyphytic (colonised by more than one plant species) and their adjoining ground surface soils.

A biogeochemical parameter called "Biological Absorption Coefficient" (BAC) [ratio of concentration of the element in the termite mound (C₁₈) to that of its adjoining soils (C₈₈)] of these mounds is computed which helps in the evaluatioo of the mounds in biogeochemical orientation surveys. These studies reveal that the mounds exhibit indicator characteristics for Ba, Cu, Zn, and Mn for use as tool in mineral exploration.

Keywords

Econcmic Geology, Biogeochemistry, Mangampeta Barite Deposit, Termite Mound, Andhra Pradesh.

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M. Jayarama Gupta ¹, E. A. V. Prasad ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati - 517 502, IN

Abstract

In order to study the biogeochemical interactions under the influence of organic matter, seven elements, namely Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Co, in termite soils and their adjoining ground surface soils of Ramagiri goldfield were analysed on both ash weight and dry weight bases.

A biogeochemical parameter, called "coefficient of apparent organic binding (CAOB)", is computed as the ratio of the concentration of an element in ignited sample and of the same element in dried sample. The variations in this parameter are due to insolubility of certain elements in the digested medium and volatilization of certain others on ashing.

The elemental concentration estimated on ash weight basis was converted into dry weight basis by recalculation taking organic matter into consideration. On this basis different degrees of insolubility or volatilization of different elements have been estimated.

Keywords

Biogeochemistry, Insolubility, Volatilization, Soils, Rarnagiri Goldfield.

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