Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Evaluation of mineral potential, geochemistry and paleo-depositional regime of clastic sediments from Dharwar craton, India |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Focus area : | Geology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Challa Satyasree Sindhuja, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2025 |
Contact info : | sindhujachalla29@gmail.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | The Precambrian time frame marks one of the most significant and irreversible secular changes in the Earth’s early history that has consequently paved way for the formation of habitable planet. The indigenous clastic sedimentary rocks are repositories of vital economic minerals and intrinsically preserve the gradual changes that have occurred during the evolution of Earth. Hence, they are trusted proxies to evaluate Precambrian paleo-environmental conditions, metallogeny and sedimentation styles. The clastic sedimentary lithologies such as conglomerates, quartzites and shales are of conspicuous economic importance as they are potential repositories for gold, REE and atomic minerals. The greenstone belt sequences of Dharwar craton encapsulate wide variety sedimentary sequences that are studded with treasured economic minerals. A systematic and detailed evaluation including geochemical and isotopic studies of these clastic sediments, their metallogeny and its catenation to Precambrian depositional conditions and paleo-environmental aspects will help in bridging the major research gaps related to Precambrian atmosphere-biosphere and lithospheric evolution and sedimentation history. Though pioneering studies have been conducted in the greenstone belt sequences of Dharwar craton, some of the outstanding questions still remain unanswered viz., (1) what is the source of auriferous ore-fluids and associated sulphides, REE and atomic minerals? (2) As all elemental enrichments are intricately related to magmatic activity, tectonism and metamorphism, where have the precious metal-bearing fluids remobilized? (3) What are the complex tectono-magmatic processes and atmosphere-biosphere-lithospheric conditions that favored the enrichment of auriferous sulphides, atomic minerals and REE in clastic sedimentary lithologies? These pertinent science questions can be answered by the proposed scientific studies which will be focused on comprehensive geochemical and isotopic signatures of mineralized clastic sedimentary lithologies from Bababudan and Chitradurga Groups of the Western Dharwar craton. The aim of this project is carry out elaborate field, ore-petrography, geochemistry and geochronological studies (S and O isotopes, U-Pb dating) of clastic sediments to constrain (i) the genetic aspects of mineralized conglomerates, quartzites and shales with focus on sulphide ore paragenesis, (ii) detailed evaluation of mode of occurrence, source and economic potential of REE, atomic minerals such as Uranium and Thorium (iii) understanding geochemical pathways to evaluate sediment recycling, burial history and paleo-depositional conditions of Dharwar craton. In a global context, this study will contribute to discern the major metallogenic processes, crustal evolutionary aspects and Precambrian atmosphere, biosphere and lithospheric conditions. |
Total Budget (INR): | 26,96,900 |
Organizations involved