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Research Journals >
Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences (IJMS) >
IJMS Vol.39 [2010] >
IJMS Vol.39(4) [December 2010] >
| Title: | Relationship between heavy mineral placer deposits and hinterland rocks of southern Kerala: A new approach for source-to-sink link from the chemistry of garnets |
| Authors: | Ravindra Kumar, G. R.
Sreejith, C. |
| Keywords: | Placer deposits
Source rocks
Garnet chemistry
Provenance
Southern India |
| Issue Date: | Dec-2010 |
| Publisher: | NISCAIR-CSIR, India |
| Abstract: | Beach sediments of the Kerala coast contain rich
economically important heavy mineral deposits. Most previous studies have
traced the source of heavy minerals to the Precambrian crystalline formations
in the hinterland based on comparative mineral occurrences. No previous study
has attempted to utilize petrological and geochemical characteristics and
mineral chemistry of source rocks to effectively compare and determine sediment
provenance. A clear knowledge on the composition of minerals from source and
sink is important in precise recognition of source rock. Present study consists
the geological, geomorphologic setting and mineralogical characteristics of
hinterland rocks to trace their connection to placer deposits. It is recognized
that garnet as the abundant heavy mineral in the placer sediments and in source
rocks of different ages and petrogenetic affinity. Garnet composition varies
between different source rock types due to its strong dependency on the bulk
rock composition. In order to decipher the provenance we have compared major
element composition of garnet in the source rocks and placer deposits.
Compelling similarities in mineralogical and mineral chemical characteristics
of garnets (Alm68Prp28Grs3Sps1) is
noted between khondalites and placer sediments suggesting latter as major
source rock for placer deposits of southern Kerala. The study demonstrates
excellent potential of garnets in identifying placer mineral source. |
| Page(s): | 562-571 |
| CC License: |  CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India |
| ISSN: | 0975-1033 (Online); 0379-5136 (Print) |
| Source: | IJMS Vol.39(4) [December 2010]
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