Abstract
Exposed chromite deposits in the Sukinda belt, Odisha, India, have already been identified and exploited; but a large part of the area is covered by laterite and remains unexplored. As a case study to establish the feasibility of chromite exploration under laterite rocks, an integrated ground-based gravity, magnetic and very low frequency (VLF) - electromagnetic study was performed over a laterite-covered area at Tangarparha within the belt. North of the present laterite-covered area, a quartzofeldspathic gneiss contains proved chromite pods within ultramafic complexes. The gneiss-laterite contact is depicted by a transition from low to high in both gravity and magnetic anomaly maps at the northern part of the present study area. High Bouguer and residual anomalies (> 10 mGal and > 1 mGal, respectively) within the laterite-covered area indicates the existence of a high density rock in the sub-surface. The 2D models of the residual gravity anomaly depict the presence of high density (> 3570 kg/m3) layer under the laterite cover. The 2D magnetic models mostly reveal shallow surface effects of laterite covers. However, along profiles P2 and P3 high magnetic susceptibilities are detected at depths ≥ 20 m, and are likely to be caused by sub-surface chromite mineralization, as the locations are coincident with gravity highs. High current densities in VLF profiles are also recorded at the same locations confirming the presence of conducting sub-surface layer. Thus, the zone with high density, magnetic susceptibility and conductivity is most likely to be a chromitite-bearing sub-surface layer. The targeted chromite ore is distributed in east-west direction in the form of discontinuous pods of variable vertical thickness and strike lengths at the centraleastern part of profiles P2 and P3. The present study demonstrates that integrated use of ground gravity, magnetic and VLF techniques can effectively identify the target chromite deposits even under lateritic cover.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acharya, D., Singh, P. and Acharya, S. (2009) Characteristic of chromitite in igneous complex along STZ around Moulabhanj-Mathakargola, Orissa, India. International Seminar on Magmatic Ore Deposits (ISMO–2009).
Banerjee, P.K. (1972) Geology and geochemistry of the Sukinda ultramafic field, Cuttack district, Orissa. Geol. Surv. India Mem., v.103, pp.1–158.
Banerjee, B. and Gupta, S.P. (1977) Gravitational attraction of a rectangular parallelepiped. Geophysics, v.42, pp.53–1055.
Basu, A., Maitra, M. and Roy, P.K. (1997) Petrology of maficultramafic complex of Sukinda valley, Orissa. Indian Minerals, v.50, pp.1–290.
Bayrak, M. (2002) Exploration of chrome ore in Southwestern Turkey by VLF-EM. Jour. Balkan Geophys. Soc., v.5(2), pp.5–46.
Bowles, J.F.W. (1986) The development of Platinum-Group minerals in Laterites. Econ. Geol., v.81, pp.78–1285.
Chakraborty, K.L. (1972) Some primary structures in the chromites of Orissa, India. Mineralium Deposita, v.7, pp.0–284.
Chakraborty, K.L. (1973) Some characters of the bedded chromite deposits of Kalrangi, Cuttack district, Orissa, India. Mineralium Deposita, v.8, pp.3–80.
Chakraborty, K.L. and Chakraborty, T.L. (1974) Chromian amphibole from the chromite ores of Kathapal, Dhenkanal district, Orissa, India. Mineral. Magz., v.39, pp.5–727.
Chakraborty, K.L. and Chakraborty, T.L. (1976) Source and fixation of the nickeliferous limonite profile of Sukinda Valley, Orissa. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.17, pp.6–193.
Chakraborty, K.L. and Baidya, T. (1978) Geological setting and mineralogy of the chromite and some associated minerals of Kathapal, Dhenkanal district, Orissa. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.19, pp.3–309.
Chakraborty, K.L. and Chakraborty, T.L. (1984) Geological features and origin of the chromite deposits of Sukinda valley, Orissa, India. Mineralium Deposita, v.19, pp.6–265.
Chakraborty, K.L., Chakraborty, T.L. and Majumder, T. (1980) Stratigraphy and structure of the Precambrian banded iron formation and chromite-bearing ultramafic rocks of Sukinda Valley, Orissa. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.21, pp.8–404.
Chatterjee, P.K. and Banerjee, P.K. (1964) The early kinematic chromite deposits of Orissa, India and their bearing on the classification of chromite deposits. Proc. Int. Geol. Cong. 22nd Session (New Delhi), Abstracts, pp.6–86.
Cornelius, M., Smith, R.E. and Cox, A.J. (2001) Laterite geochemistry for regional exploration surveys–a review, and sampling strategies. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, v.1, pp.1–220.
Deer, W.A., Howie, R.A. and Zussman, I. (1962) Rock-forming minerals, vol. 5: Non-silicates. Longman.
Dhakate, R. and Singh, V.S. (2008) Heavy metal contamination in groundwater due tomining activities in Sukinda valley, Orissa -A case study. Jour. Geography and Regional Planning, v.1, pp.8–067.
Frasheri, A., Lubonja, L. and Alikaj, P. (1995) On the application of geophysics in the exploration for copper and chrome ores in Albania. Geophys. Prospect., v.43, pp.3–757.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (GSI) (2011) Detail Information Dossier (DID) on Iron ore in India: Part II. www.portal.gsi.gov.in/gsiDoc/pub/DID_Iron_Part2.pdf.
Gray, D.J., Schorin, K.H. and Butt, C.R.M. (1996) Mineral associations of platinum and palladium in lateritic regolith, Ora Banda Sill, Western Australia. Jour. Geochem. Explor., v.57, pp.5–255.
Hammer, S., Nettleton, L.L. and Hastings, W.K. (1945) Gravimeter prospecting for chromite in Cuba. Geophysics, v.10, pp.4–49.
INTERNATIONAL GEOMAGNETIC REFERENCE FIELD (IGRF) (2010) World Data Centre for Geomagnetism, Kyoto. http://wdc.kugi.kyotou. ac.jp/igrf/point/index.html.
Karous, M. and Hjelt, S.E. (1983) Linear filtering of VLF dipangle measurements. Geophys. Prospect., v.31, pp.2–794.
Kater, G.N., Wallner, P.H. and Friedrich, G. (1984) A method of exploration for Lateritic and bed-rock Chromite mineralization used in the Philippine. Econ. Geol., v.79, pp.2–381.
Last, B.J. and Kubik, K. (1983) Compact gravity inversion. Geophysics, v.48, pp.3–721.
Mandal, A. (2013) Integrated geophysical studies for delineation of subsurface structure and mineral deposits in the Eastern Indian Shield. Ph.D Thesis (Unpublished), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.
Mandal, A., Mohanty, W.K., Sharma, S.P., Biswas, A., Sen, J. and Bhatt, A.K. (2015) Geophysical signatures of uranium mineralization and its subsurface validation at Beldih, Purulia District, West Bengal, India: a case study. Geophys. Prospect., v.63, pp.13–726. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2478.12205.
Mohanty, W.K, Mandal, A., Sharma, S.P., Gupta, S. and Misra, S. (2011) Integrated geological and geophysical studies for delineation of chromite deposits-A case study from Tangarparha, Orissa, India. Geophysics, v.79, pp.73–185.
Mondal, S.K., Ripley, E.M., Li, C. and Frei, R. (2006) The genesis of Archaean chromitites from the Nuasahi and Sukinda massifs in the Singhbhum Craton, India. Precambrian Res., v.148, pp.5–66.
Mondal, S.K., Frei, R. and Ripley, E.M. (2006) Os isotope systematics of mesoarchean chromitite-PGE deposits in the Singhbhum Craton (India): Implications for the evolution of lithospheric mantle. Chemical Geol., v.244, pp.1–408.
Murthy, I.V.R. and Gopalakrishna, G. (1982) Remanence hysteresis properties of chromites. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.), v.91(2), pp.9–166.
Preetz, H., Altfelder, S. and Igel, J. (2008) Tropical soils and landmine detection–an approach for a classification system. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Jour., v.72(1), pp.1–159.
Qureshy, M.N., Subba Rao, D.V., Bhatia, S.C., Aravamadhu, P.S. and Subrahmanyam, C. (1973) Gravity bases established in India by N.G.R.I.–Part IV. Geophys. Res. Bull., v.11(2), pp.6–152.
Roest, W.R. and Pilkington, M. (1993) Identifying remanent magnetization effects in magnetic data. Geophysics, v.58, pp.3–659.
Saha, A.K. (1994) Crustal evolution of Singhbhum North Orissa, Eastern India. Geol. Surv. India Mem., v.27, pp.341.
Sahoo, R.K. and Kaaden, G.V.D. (1976) Chemistry of Sukinda chromites, Orissa, India, and its petrologic significance. Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie-Monatshefte, v.11, pp.4–494.
Som, S.K. and Joshi, R. (2003) Ni-enrichment and mass balance in Sukinda Laterites, Jajpur District, Orissa. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.62, pp.9–180.
Unwin, D.J. (1978) An introduction to trend surface analysis. Concepts and Techniques in Modern Geography no. 5, Published by Geo Abstracts, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ.
Young, C.T. (2004) Basic magnetic processing and display in MATLAB. http://www.geo.mtu.edu/profile/CTYOUNG.HTM.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mandal, A., Mohanty, W.K., Sharma, S.P. et al. Laterite covered mafic-ultramafic rocks: Potential target for chromite exploration–A case study from southern part of Tangarparha, Odisha. J Geol Soc India 86, 519–529 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0342-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0342-0