Geology, geomorphology and mineral resources of khodana and adjoining areas (Haryana) and their significance in landuse planning

Abstract

The area around Khodana, Bhiwani district, Haryana forms a part of the semi-arid region of western India. As vegetation is sparse and mainly xerophytic, photointerpretation technology was effectively utilised in bringing out the broad geology and structural pattern of the mature Precambrian terrain, which were ground-checked and correlated with the results of detailed integrated surveys carried out for base metal sulphide mineralisation in the area.

A number of shear/fault zones, sub-parallel to the formational contacts and the regional fold axes, could be recognised in aerial photographs and on ground checking, were found to be intensely limonitised. The possibility of direct application of the pyrite-pyrthotite, encountered in drilling through shear zones, in landuse planning has been discussed. Discrete use of the quartzites as road ballasts, building stone and bund material, use of clay-rich pockets within pasture lands or micro-depressions in the surrounding terrain for locally-constructed brick kilns and ochreous material as pigments are some other uses of finite land resources of Haryana State.