Uranium potentiality of South PuruliaShear Zone in Eastern Indian Shield

V. J. Katti, Joydip Sen, A. K. BhattDepartment of Atomic Energy

Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and ResearchGovernment of India

Technical Meeting on Low Grade Uranium Ore, 29-31 March 2010, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria.

Correspondence : vinodkatti@hotmail.com

KEONJHARGARH

JAMSHEDPUR

PURNEASAHARSADARBHANGAMUZAFFARPUR

CHHAPARAHAJIPUR

ARRAH PATNA MONGHYR

BHAGALPUR

DEOGHAR

GIRIDIH DUMKA

RANCHI

LOHARDAGA

ROURKELA

SUNDERGARH

SAMBALPUR

BOLANGIR

PHULBANI

BHAWANIPATAM

KODARMADALTONGANJ

GAYA

BARIPADA

BALASORE

CHAIBASA

CUTTACK

BHUBANESWAR

PURIC H I L K A

L A K E

020 20 40 60 80 100 120 Km

KOLKATA

MALDA

SILIGURI

DARJEELING

KOCHBIHAR

BHUTANN E P A L

84° 85° 86° 87° 88° 89° 90°

27°

26°

25°

24°

23°

22°

21°

20°

19°

18°

90° 89° 88° 87° 86° 85° 84° 83° 82°

18°

19°

20°

21°

22°

23°

24°

25°

ALLUVIUM

LATERITETERTIARY GRAVEL, SANDSTONEAND CLAYRAJMAHAL TRAPS, SYLHET TRAPSAND BASIC DYKESUPPER GONDWANA

LOWER GONDWANA

VINDHYANS/ CUDDAPAHSKOLHAN SERIES AND BIJWAR SERIESSODA GRANITE ANDGRANOPHYREGRANITES (SINGHBHUMGRANITE, BONAI GRANITE,ROMPAHAN GRANITES ANDGRANITES OF EASTERN GHATS )

BAUXITE AND ALLUMINOUS LATERITE

EASTERNGHAT GROUP AND OTHER HIGH GRADE METASEDIMENTS

GANGPUR GROUP

IRON ORE SERIES

DHANJORI QUARTZITE ANDCONGLOMERATE

DHANJORI, DALMA, NOAMUNDI METAVOLCANICS

CHARNOCKITE

ANORTHOSITE

UNCLASSIFIED GRANITE & GRANITE GNEISSES

PENINSULAR REGIONINDEX

UNDIFFERENTIATED GNEISSESDALING FORMATIONDARJEELING GNEISSCHUNTHANG FORMATIONBUXA FORMATION

LOWER GONDWANA, ABOR VOLCANICS, LACHI SERIES

CHOLAHMO SERIES (TRIASSIC)

SWALIKS, TIPAM SERIESPIEDMONT DEPOSITS

EXTRA PENINSULAR REGION

CHATTERPUR

GEOLOGICAL MAP OF EASTERN REGION

ASANSOLE

SURI

RAMPURHAT

BALLURGHAT

SASARAM

RAXAUL

BANGLADESH

BAY OF BENGAL

MP

UP

AP

MIDNAPUR

32

1

Aerial view of U-Cu bearing Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ) and South Purulia Shear Zone (SPSZ)

Jamshedpur

Jaduguda

Ghatshila

Chandil

Beldih Kutni PorapaharTamar

Purulia

S in g h b h u m

S o u th

D A L M A

Purulia She ar Z one

Shea rZone

BhatinNarwapaharTuramdih

Mohuldih

Kuilapal

Jamshedpur

Jaduguda

Ghatshila

Chandil

Beldih Kutni PorapaharTamar

Purulia

S in g h b h u m

S o u th

D A L M A

Purulia She ar Z one

Shea rZone

BhatinNarwapaharTuramdih

Mohuldih

Kuilapal

IRS IC SATELLITE IMAGE OF SINGHBHUM SHEAR ZONE

JAMSHEDPUR

MUSHABANI

SURDA

JADUGUDABHATIN

NARWAPAHARTURAMDIHMAHULDIH

Turamdih

Bhatin Uranium Mill

Important Deposits

Reserve (U3O8 te)

Av. Grade (% U3O8)

Uranium Minerals

Jaduguda 6700 0.067 Uraninite, branneriteBhatin 1150 0.051 Uraninite

Narwapahar 11780 0.044 Uraninite, BraneriteTuramdih 14889 0.037 UraniniteMohuldih 3033 0.063 Uraninite

Uranium Exploitation from Singhbhum Shear ZoneDiscovered in 1951. Total Reserve 47809 te U3O8

Aerial view of U-Cu bearing Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ) and South Purulia Shear Zone (SPSZ)

Jamshedpur

Jaduguda

Ghatshila

Chandil

Beldih Kutni PorapaharTamar

Purulia

S in g h b h u m

S o u th

D A L M A

Purulia She ar Z one

Shea rZone

BhatinNarwapaharTuramdih

Mohuldih

Kuilapal

Jamshedpur

Jaduguda

Ghatshila

Chandil

Beldih Kutni PorapaharTamar

Purulia

S in g h b h u m

S o u th

D A L M A

Purulia She ar Z one

Shea rZone

BhatinNarwapaharTuramdih

Mohuldih

Kuilapal

DALMA Gr.

CGGC

151050 20 KmKm 5

Sushina

S P S Z

85 45 ' 86 0 ' 86 15 ' 86 30 '

AMPHIBOLITE & HORBLENDE SCHIST

M ICA SCHISTCALC GRANULITE, CALC SCHIST

QUARTZITE & QUARTZ SCHISTGRANITE GNEISS, M IGMATITE

GABBRO & ANORTHOSITEPHYLLITE/SCHIST (SINGHBHUM Gr.)META BASIC VOLCANICS INTRUSIVE GRANITEGONDWANA

INDEX

N P S Z

L Kusunda

Bardhm anDistrict

Panchet

Raghunathpur

Adra

Purulia

Puncha

ManbazarBalrampur

Be ldih BarabhumKutn iTamakhun

Banduan

Medin ipur D istrict

JHARKHAND

Jam shedpur

L

F

M E G A

L i n e am e n t

FPanrk id ih

Barm esya

ChhendapatharJhilim ill

Laksm isagar

SarengaRaipur

KhatraPorapahar

Ranibandh

RARE METAL

INDEX

LINEAMENT

SHEAR ZONERADIOACTIVE ANOMALYALKALINE COMPLEX

COPPERBARYTESAPATITE/CARBONATITE

86 45 ' 87 0 '

2345 '

2330 '

2315 '

2300 '

2245 '

PLEISTOCENE SEDIMENTS

Kusum jharia

TentlaMurhu

1.1(a)

1.1(b)

GEOLOGICAL MAP OF PURULIA AND BANKURA DISTRICTS, WEST BENGAL

GP-1

GP-2

Geological Map of Purulia District

Recognition Criteria

Singbhum Shear Zone South Purulia Shear Zone

1. Extension 200 km in length & 0.5-5 km in width forming arcuate belt.

120 km in length and 4-5 km in width semi arcuate belt.

2. Host Rock Chlorite sericite schist, quartzite and sheared conglomerate.

Ferruginous kaolin rocks, quartz-magnetite-apatite.

3. Structure Mineralization hosted in ductile deformation.

Mineralization confined within brittle to brittle-ductile deformation.

4. Age 1.6 Ga (U-Pb dating on uraninite). Not yet dated but possibly younger to SSZ mineralization.

5. RA minerals Uraninite, pitchblende, brannerite.

Adsorbed uranium and uraninite, davidite, columbite-tantalite.

6. Other minerals Cu – Co – Ni – Mo – As – Bi – P P – Fe – Cu – Nb – Au - Ag 7. Nature of Mineralization

Hydrothermal vein type/ strata-bound/disseminated type.

Hydrothermal vein type/iron oxide breccia complex type

8. Status 45.50 % (47809te) of total reserve of the country, Six mines in operation.

Promising zone but not yet fully explored. Hosts potential for proving similar deposits like SSZ.

Comparison between Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ) and South Purulia Shear Zone (SPSZ)

Geological Map of North Singhbhum Mobile Belt

(Modified after Dunn and Dey, 1942)

General stratigraphy sequence of North Singhbhum Mobile Belt (NSMB)

Age NSMB SPSZGroup Formations

Middle -Proterozoic

Intrusive granitoids Barabazar, Alkali feldspar granite

Acidic - Alkaline rocks

Ultramafics, carbonatite, quartz-magnetite-apatite rocks (U hosts) .

Dalma Group(1.6 Ga)

Upper Dalma(Meta basics) Not representedLower Dalma(Phyllite, quartzite)

SSZ assemblage

Lower Proterozoic

Singhbhum Group (2.2 Ga)

DalbhumChaibasa

Quartzite, schist, phyllite, tuffaceousrocks, acid volcanic.

Dhanjori Group (2.4 Ga)

Up. DhanjoriLr. Dhanjori

Not represented

Archean OMG, OMTG, Singhbhum Granite, IOG within cratonicpart (> 3.0 Ga).

Not exposed

()

(After Gupta and Basu, 2000)

Geological characteristics of South Purulia Shear Zone (SPSZ)� Strike extension - 120 km and average width 4-5 km.� Rock types - Tuffaceous phyllite, schist, quartzite,

pyroxenite, carbonatite, quartz-magnetite-apatite, tourmalinite, quartz breccias and alkali granites.

� Structure – Moderate to steep dip foliation, brittle to ductile characters.

� Thrust sense – CGGC towards south over Singhbhum Gr.� Alterations – Kaolinization, carbonation, ferruginization,

silicification, phosphatization, and sulphidation.� Mineralization – Apatite-Magnetite-REE-Nb-Cu-U.� U occurrences - Beldih-Kutni-Chirugora-Porapahar.

Uranium exploration in SPSZ

� U discovered in gossan at Beldih in 1960� Delineation of U anomalies – Beldih (W) to

Porapahar (E) along 50 km stretch of SPSZ.� Techniques applied – Remote Sensing, AGRS,

Radiometric Survey, Geological mapping, Geochemical sampling, Radon emanometry and limited drilling. � Best type area for U mineralization – “Beldih”.

Litho-structural map of South Purulia Shear Zone

� Lineament controlled - ENE-WSW to E-W to ESE-WNW. � Cross lineaments are observed from Beldih to Porapahar.� Alkaline carbonatite rocks associated with U mineralization

occur at the intersection of lineaments.� Surface radioactivity, hydro U anomalies (12-65 ppb) and RA

hand pump (0.012-0.032% eU3O8 x 0.50-1.20m at depth ~30 -50m) fall on either side of lineaments.

Sl. No.

Area Host Rock Dimension (m)

%eU3O8 %U3O8 %ThO2 Remarks

1 Beldih Ferr. Kaolin rock

120 x 2-11(Band-1)

<0.010-0.030

<0.010 -0.047

<0.010-0.030

E-W fracture, total aerial extension of 300m x 85m90 x 2-5

(Band-2)<0.010-0.057

<0.010 -0.100

<0.005-0.026

Qtz.-mt-ap rock

30 x 6-9(Band-3)

0.015-0.090

0.011 -0.024

<0.010

2. Kutni Qtz.-mt-ap. rock

1200 x 5-25

<0.010-0.069

0.011 -0.061

<0.010 E-W to ESE-WNW fractures

3. Chirugora Ferr. qtz. breccias

6 x 3 0.070 0.077 <0.010

5 Porapahar Ferr. qtz. breccias

100 x 5 <0.010-0.021

<0.010 -0.032

<0.005 ENE-WEW cross fracturesin CGGC and Singhbhum Gr.Ferr.

Breccias10 x 2 0.013 0.013 <0.005

Nature of uranium mineralization in SPSZHost rocks

Ferruginous Kaolin rocks

Quartz-magnetite-apatite rocks

C

Geology and Uranium mineralization in Beldih, SPSZ

ABC

D

RA bands delineated by S.P. Logging

A : 0.023% eU3O8 x 10.5m

B: 0.042% eU3O8 x 2.7m

C: 0.040% eU3O8 x 5.4m

D: 0.018% eU3O8 x 9.3mN S

0.040% x 5.4m

0.038% x 5.1m

RA

RA

RA

RA

RA

G rani t e A p a tite -Ma g n e tite ro c k

Ultramafic

Altered brecciated ultramafic

Al tered b recci ated u l tramafi c

Borehole

N

Mine Dump

Spatial view of Spatial view of UltramaficUltramafic--Alkaline complex and Uranium in Alkaline complex and Uranium in BeldihBeldih Apatite mine, SPSZApatite mine, SPSZ

RA

RA

RA

RA

Ka olin roc k

Ultramafic

Altered brecciated ultramafic

Qu a r tz i t e

Mine Dump

S i li c i

f i ed A p

- Mt r o

c k

Kaolin rock

Field features and U mineralization in Beldih

U-Fe rich layers

Kaolin rock

Altered ultramafic

Kaolin rockUltramaficrock

Carbonatite vein

ApAp

Ap

Ap

QQ

Ap rimU + Goethite

T2

Sub surface study for U mineralization in Beldih

T2

RA zone

65.0m

BLD - 2

Kaolin zone

Ultramafics with carbonatite. BLD-1, Depth-28.0m

Altered brecciated ultramafics . BLD-2, Depth-39.0m

E-W Longitudinal section through drill holes

LS

125 m

U mineralization in quartz-magnetite-apatite rocks. BLD-3.

LS

Textural characteristics

Recrystallized calcite and post kinematic secondary apatite rim on primary apatite

Ap

Ap rim

Cc

Cc

Cc

Bt

Deformed carbonatite in Beldih

ApMt

Sid

Sid

Brecciated apatite and magnetite replaced by siderite. Qz-mt-ap rock (depth 118 m)

Cc

Mt

Mt

Py

PyMt

Py

Mt

MtPy

Py

Mt

MtPy

Magnetite replaced by irregular pyrite

REPLACEMENT

DEFORMATION

Brecciated apatite are replaced by goethite along fracture planes in Qz-mt-ap rock

ApU + Goethite

Ap

Ap

Ap

MtAp(core)

Ap (rim)

Goethite

VugSilica

Thin rim of apatite over apatite grains against goethite and vug silica in Qz-mt-ap rock

REPLACEMENT

MINERALIZATION RA mineral with low to medium density alpha

tracks within goethite in Ferr. Kaolin rock U bearing mineral with high density alpha tracks within goethite in Qz-mt-ap rock

Mineral assemblages in radioactive zones in Beldih

Nature of sample

Depth (m)

Rock Types Radioactive bands (G x T)

Radioactive Minerals

Associated Minerals

Surface outcrop

0.00 Ferr. kaolin rocks

0.038 x 5.10 Davidite, Rutile, Zircon, Uraninite, monazite

Kaolinite, fluorapatite, crandallite, goethite, hematite, pyrrhotite, albite, quartz.

Quartz-magnetite-apatite

0.018 x 9.30 Rutile traces of davidite, uraninite, monazite

Goethite, hematite, quartz, fluorapatite, pyrrhotite.

Drill core 107.0 Quartz-magnetite-apatite

0.023 x 6.40 Columbite-tantalite and trace of monazite

Fluorapatite, goethite, siderite, magnetite, quartz and talc

118.0 Quartz-magnetite-apatite

0.018 x 8.40 Uraninite, schoepiteand columbite-tantalite

Fluorapatite, magnetite, pyrite, siderite, quartz, chlorite, ilmenite & talc.

Sources of Radioactivity

Primarily adsorbed U on goethite/magnetite

A few discrete RA minerals

Hydrothermal alterations and paragenesisUltramafics/Carbonatite Kaolin rocksQuartz-magnetite

-apatite rocksAlterations

Carbonation

PhosphatizationSulphidation

Kaolinization

SilicificationFerruginizationUraniumMineralization

Albitization

Tuffaceous Rocks

Deforma-tions

Tourmalinization

Pre-

to S

yn-

Kin

emat

icSy

n- to

Pos

t Kin

emat

ic

Mineralogical Association for U

Uraninite-goethite-hematite-apatite

Uraninite-Nb-Ta minerals-magnetite-pyrite-sericite-apatite

Kaolin/Qtz-mt-ap rocks at surface to shallow depth (<100m)

Qtz-mt-aprock at deeper level (>118m).

Phosphate contents in U mineralized zones Vertical Depth (m)

Rock Type Radioactive bands (G x T)

%U3O8 %ThO2 P2O5 (%)

0.00 Ferr. Kaolin rocks

0.038 x 5.10 0.047– 0.10

0.02 –0.044

3.8 – 6.0

78.0 Ferr. Kaolin rocks

0.035 x 2.20 0.014– 0.065

<0.005 –0.013

3.50 – 6.20

92.0 Ferr. Kaolin rocks

0.018 x 2.50 0.016– 0.023

<0.005 –0.022

25.0 (n=1)

107.0 Qtz-mt-aprocks

0.023 x 6.40 0.024 0.20 -

118.0 Qtz-mt-aprocks

0.018 x 8.40 0.013– 0.063

<0.005 8.7 – 18.6

� Uranium grade increases with depth and phosphate content along with low thorium content

Conclusions

� U mineralization found - i) Ferruginous kaolin rocks & ii) Quartz-magnetite-apatite rocks.

� Primarily adsorbed uranium & discrete U minerals.� Mineralization is correlated with syn-to post kinematics

Mostly confined to brittle deformation zones.� Associated with hydrothermal altered minerals.� Two distinct mineral associations : 1) U-goethite-hematite-

apatite & 2) U-Nb-Ta phase-pyrite-magnetite-siderite-apatite.� Grade of U ore increases with depth and phosphate content� Exploration is still in progress but genetic model appears to be

hydrothermal related vein type mineralization.� SPSZ is potential zone for proving low grade U deposit(s).

1.6 Ga – 0.8 Ga1.9 Ga – 1.1 Ga1. Age

Structural control as evidenced by SPSZ –NPSZ-Mega lineament and multiple cross lineaments

Strong structural control with emplacement along fault with extensive brecciation

4. Structure

Granitoids of CGGC and metasediments of Singhbhum Group of rocks associated with basic and alkaline suites.

Mid. Proterozoic intermediate to felsic igneous and sedimentary rock. Associated with basic-alkaline magmatisam.

3. Host Rock

Intracratonic rift model envisaged for evolution of NSMB

Confined to intracratonic or continental margin and possibly in failed-rift zone

2. Regional Setting

NSMB – SPSZ SECTOR IRON OXIDE BRECCIA COMPLEX TYPE U

DEPOSIT (Olympic Dam)

RECOGNISING CRITERIA

COMPARISON OF IRON OXIDE BRECCIA COMPLEX TYPE vs. NSMB –SPSZ

Reported occurrence of Cu-Au-REE-U-Apatite-Magnetite

Mainly polymetallic. Dominance of iron oxide and trace elements like Cu, U, Au, Ag and REE.

5. Geochemical signature/

Mineralisation

Observed high gravity and magnetic values near SPSZ.

Coincidence of high magnetic and highgravity anomaly –PRIME CRITERIA

7. Geophysical Signatures

Ferruginisation, carbonation, sericitisation, Kaolinisation and silicification observed at number of places.

Most deposits display hydrothermal alteration zones like albitisation, seicitisation and haematitisation

6. Alteration Features

NSMB – SPSZ SECTOR IRON OXIDE BRECCIA COMPLEX TYPE U

DEPOSIT (Olympic Dam)

RECOGNISING CRITERIA

87°E86° 30’

85°E 30’

85° E 86° 87°E30’30’

PURULIA

ADRA +4+8

00

0

-8-4

-4-8-12

-16-20

-24-28-30-26-28

-20

-16-24

-16-12

-8

-8-8

-8

-4 0

0

L

L

L

L

LL

L L

F

F

L

L

LL

LL

SSZ

GHGH

-36

-36

-32-28

-28

-24

-24 -20-16

-20 -12

-12-12-8

-4

0+4

+4 0-4

-8

-12

-12-16-20

-24

-28-32

-36

-36

-32-28-24

-32-32 -36

-36

-36

-34

-4-8

-12

LOW

LOWLOW

0

22°30’

23°00’

22°30’

23°00’

23°30’23°30’BOUGUER ANOMALY in m GalSINGHBHUM SHEAR ZONE (SSZ)GRAVITY HIGH AXISFAULTPHOTO LINEAMENT NORTH SHEAR ZONE (NSZ)

FFL

L

NSZ

INDEX

Source: Gupta and Basu 2000

F

FDalma

A'

A

B'

B

DalmaSPSZSSZ

Jamshedpur

SPSZ

Banduan

Ghatsila

A' A

Gravity Profile along A-A’ and B-B’ and 2-D crustal model along A-A’ (Source, Gupta and Basu, 2000)

D

D' C

C'

Ground Magnetic survey across the SPSZ

Magnetic Profiles across Singhbhum Group between Dalma Volcanics and SPSZ

GSI, 1995

SPSZ2360 gamma

Sushina3200 gamma