Hydrogeochemistry as a Tool for Platinum Group Element (PGE) Exploration - A Case Study from Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex, Southern India
Authors
-
CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad – 500 007
Vysetti Balaram -
CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad – 500 007
Manavalan Satyanarayanan
-
Department of Geology, Periyar University, Salem - 636 011
Kuppan Anabarasu
-
CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad – 500 007
Denduluri Venkata Subba Rao
-
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Rajahmundary - 533 106
Ali Mohammed Dar
-
Kiwis Eco Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Quthbullapur Mandal, Telangana - 500 090
Chigullarevu Tirumala Kamala
-
CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad – 500 007
Subramaniam Nirmal Charan
Keywords:
No Keywords.Abstract
The use of surface and ground water for exploration of platinum group elements (PGE) has been studied in the Sittampundi anorthosite complex, Tamil Nadu, south India, where PGE mineralization is known to occur in basic and ultrabasic rocks. Groundwater interacting with mineralized rocks creates a geochemical signature which can be linked to the occurrence and distribution of PGE, especially Pd because of its leachability and relatively high mobility in aqueous environment. Forty surface and ground water samples collected from the area were analyzed for PGE and several other major, minor and trace elements using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) to investigate the distribution patterns of individual PGE and other elements for the purpose of evaluating the utility of hydrogeochemistry as a tool for PGE exploration studies. Ground and surface water chemistry reflected the chemical composition of host lithology, particularly the basic-ultrabasic rocks of the region, with the dispersion of PGE and high anomalous concentrations of Pd, Ru and Rh along with several other metals such as Zn, V, Cr and Ni indicating PGE mineralization. The results of this study suggest that groundwater chemistry has significant potential as a PGE exploration tool with advantages such as rapid and low-cost sampling, high contrast anomalies and a uniform sampling medium.Downloads
Metrics
Issue
Section
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
References
Ali, M.D., Akhtar, R.M., Anabarasu, K., Satyanarayanan, M., Balaram, V., Rao, D.V.S., Charan S.N. (2014) Mafic and ultramafic rocks in parts of the Bhavani complex, Tamil Nadu, Southern India: Geochemistry constraints. Jour. Geol. Min. Res., v.6(2), pp.18-27.
Balaram, V., Rao, T.G. and Anjaiah, K.V. (2001) Determination of gold and its geochemical pathfinder elements by ICP-MS for prospecting gold. Jour. Appld. Geochem., v.3(1), pp.41-50.
Balaram, V. (2003) Developments and Advancements in Analytical Techniques for Geochemical Research – An overview. Gondwana Geol. Magz., v.7, pp.339-347.
Balaram, V. (2009) Advances in Geochemical Analytical Techniques and their Application to Petrogenesis and Mineral Exploration, In: Santosh Kumar (Ed.), Magmatism, Tectonism and Mineralization. Macmillan Publishers India Ltd, New Delhi, pp.337-354.
Balaram, V. (2012a) Platinum-Group Elements in Understanding the Earth's Processes. Jour. Appld. Geochem., v.14(2), pp.120-133.
Balaram, V., Satyanarananan, M., Avdeev, D.V., Berdhikov, N., Roy, P., Sawant, S.S., Subramanyam, K.V.S., Anjaiah, K.V., Kamala, C.T., Mathur, R. (2012b) Use of xenon as an internal standard for the determination of trace elements in water samples by ICP-MS. At. Spectrosc., v.33(2), pp.41-47.
Balaram, V., Singh, S.P., Satyanarayanan, M., Anjaiah, K.V (2013) Platinum group elements (PGE) geochemistry of ultramafic and associated rocks from Pindar in Madawara Igneous Complex, Bundelkhand massif, central India. Jour. Earth Sys. Sci., v.122, pp.79–91.
Cameron, E.M., Hattori, K.H. (2003) Mobility of palladium in the surface environment: data from a regional lake sediment survey in northwestern Ontario. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, v.3, pp.299-311.
Cameron, E.M., Leybourne, M.I. (2005) Relationship between groundwater chemistry and soil geochemical anomalies at the Spence copper porphyry deposit, Chile. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, v.5, pp.135-145.
Capobianco, C.J., Hervig, R.L., Drake, M.J (1994) Experiments on crystal/liquid partitioning of Ru, Rh and Pd for magnetite and hematite solid solutions crystallized from silicate melt. Chem. Geol., v.113(1-2), pp. 23-43.
Capobianco., C.J., Drake, M.J. (1990) Partitioning of ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium between spinel and silicate melt and implications for platinum group element fractionation trends. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.54(3), pp.869-874.
Cidu, R., Fanfani, L., Shand, P., Edmunds, W.M., Van't Dack, L., Gibels, R. (1995) Hydrogeochemical exploration for gold in the Osilo area, Sardinia, Italy. Appl. Geochem., v.10(5), pp.517-529.
Dharma Rao, C.V., Santosh, M., Sajeev, K., Windley, B.F. (2012) Chromite–silicate chemistry of the Neoarchean Sittampundi Complex, southern India: Implications for subduction-related arc magmatism. Precambrian Res., v.227, pp.259-275.
Dhanendran, S., Nathan, N.P., Vijay Kumar, R., Laya M.B. Pillai, Balukkarasu, A. (2014) Chromite and sulphide hosted PGE mineralization in Sittampundi layered anorthosite complex, Tamil Nadu. Geol. Soc. India Special Publ., no.2, pp.1-8.
Dwivedi, A.K., Sen, J., Murugan, C., Bairwa, G., Bhatt, A.K., Ramesh Babu P.V., Pandit, S.A. (2008) The application of hydrogeochemical method in uranium exploration -a case study from Barabazar-Manbazar area, Purulia District, West Bengal. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.72, pp.561-570.
Edmunds, W.M., Andrews, J.N., Burgress, W.G., Kay, R.L.F., Lee, D.J (1984) The evolution of saline and thermal groundwaters in the Carnmenellis granite. Mineral. Mag., v.48, pp.407-424.
Ely, J.C., Neal, C.R., Kulpa, C.F, Schneegurt, M.A., Seidler, J.A., Jain, J.C. (2001) Implications of platinum-group element accumulation along U.S. roads from catalytic-converter attrition. Envi. Sci. Tech., v.35, pp.3816-3822.
Fritz, P., Clark, I.D., Fontes, J.C., Whiticar, M.J., Faber, E (1992) Deuterium and 13C evidence for low temperature production of hydrogen and methane in a highly alkaline groundwater environment on Oman. In: Kharaka, Y., and Maest, A.S., (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction: Balkema, pp.793-796.
Giblin, A. (2001) Groundwaters: Geochemical Pathfinders to concealed ore deposits. CSIRO Exploration and Mining, North Ryde, NSW, Australia. p.70.
Gopalakrishnan, K. (2006) Platinum Group of Elements (PGE) In layered complexes. Proc. DST sponsored National Training Course on Applications of ICP-MS in Earth System Sciences, Hyderabad, India, pp.77-91.
Gray, D.J., Noble, R.R.P. (2006) Nickel hydrogeochemistry of the northeastern Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. CRC LEME Open File Report 243R/CSIRO Exploration and Mining Report P2006/524, pp.133.
Hattori, K.H., Cameron, E.M. (2004) Using the high mobility of palladium in surface media in exploration for platinum group element deposits: evidence from the Lac des Iles region, northwestern Ontario. Econ. Geol., v.99, pp.157-171.
Homolova, V., Brenan, J.M., McDonough, W.F., Ash, R. (2008) Olivine-and spinel-silicate melt partitioning of platinum group elements (PGEs) as a function of oxygen fugacity. In: Geological Association of Canada/Mineralogical Association of Canada, Abstracts with Program, pp.74.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) (2005) Soil Quality - Guidance on the determination of background values. International Standard ISO 19258: 2005(E), pp.24.
Kamala, C.T., Balaram, V., Satyanarayanan, M., Subramanyam, K.S.V. (2012) Source identification studies of PGE and other heavy metals released into the urban environment and development of methods for their analysis. Jour. Appl. Geochem., Special Volume, pp.16-25.
Khatun, S., Mondal, S.K., Zhou, M.F., Balaram, V., Prichard, H.M. (2014) Platinum-group element (PGE) geochemistry of Mesoarchean ultramafic-mafic cumulate rocks and chromitites from the Nuasahi Massif, Singhbhum Craton (India). Lithos, v.205, pp.322–340.
Legendre, O., Auge, T. (1986) Mineralogy of platinum-group mineral inclusions in chromitites from different ophiolite complexes., In: Gallagher, M. J., Ixer, R. A., Neary, C. R., and Prichard, H. M., (Eds.), Metallogeny of basic and ultrabasic rocks: London, Inst. Mining Metallurgy, pp.361-372.
Leybourne, M.I. (2007) Aqueous geochemistry in geochemical exploration, in Goodfellow, W.D., ed Mineral Deposits of Canada: A Synthesis of Major Deposit-Types, District Metallogeny, Evolution of Geological Provinces, and Exploration Methods; Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposit Division, Special Publication, no.5, pp.1007-1033.
Narayanaswamy, Balaram, V., Ramkumar, N., Anjaiah, K.V. (1998) Concentrations of gold in natural waters from lateritic terrain, Wynad-Nilambur gold fields, Kerala, India and its possible role in exploration. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.52, pp.301-304.
Nathan, N.P., Kumar, R.V., Balukkarasu, A., and Sai, V.V.S. (2009) Petrography and characterization of PGE ores in Chettiyampalaiyam Block in Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex, Tamil Nadu., International Symposium on Magmatic Ore Deposits at IMMT, Bhubaneshwar.
Peck, D.C., Keays, R.R., and Ford, R.J. (1992) Direct crystallization of refractory platinum-group element alloys from boni-nitic magmas: evidence from western Tasmania. Australian Jour. Earth Sci., v.39, pp.373-387.
Plant, J.A., Cooper, D.C., Green, P.M., Reedman, A.J., Simpson, P.R. (1991) Regional distribution of As, Sb and Bi in the Grampian Highlands of Scotland and the English Lake District: implications for gold metallogeny. Trans. Inst. Min. Metall., Sect. B, Appld. Earth Sci., v.100, pp.B135-147.
Raju, P.V.S., Merkle, R.K.W (2007) Native platinum, chromite and Fe-Ni sulphides in Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.70, pp.680-682.
Rao, Y.J.B., Chetty, T.R.K., Janardhan. A.J., Gopalan, K. (1996) Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr ages and P-T history of the Archaean Sittampundi and Bhavani layered meta-anorthosite complexes in Cauvery Shear Zone, South India: Evidence for Neo-Proterozoic reworking of Archaean Crust. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.125, pp.237-250.
Righter, K., Campbell, A.J., Humayun, M., Hervig, R.L. (2004) Partitioning of Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Ir and Au between Cr-bearing spinel, olivine, pyroxene and silicate melts. Geochim. .Cosmochim. Acta, v.68, pp.867–880.
Sahoo, N.R., Pandalai, H.S. (2000) Secondary geochemical dispersion in the Precambrian auriferous Hutti-Maski schist belt, Raichur district, Karnataka, India. Part I: anomalies of As, Sb, Hg and Bi in soil and groundwater. Jour. Geochem. Explor., v.71, pp.269-289.
Sai, V.V.S., Nathan, N.P. Kumar R. V., Balukkarasu, A. (2009) Occurrence of PGE minerals in Archaean Sittampundi layered Anorthosite Complex, Tamil Nadu, south India. Indian Jour. Geosci., v.63(3), pp.305-310.
Sajeev, K., Windley, B.F., Connolly, J.A.D., Kon, Y. (2009) Retrogressed eclogite (20 kbar, 1020°C) from Neoproterozoic Palghat–Cauvery suture zone, southern India. Precambrian Res., v.171, pp.23–36.
Satyanarayanan, M., Periakali, P. (2003) Geochemistry of groundwater over Salem ultrabasic-Peninsular gneissic rocks, Salem district, Tamil Nadu. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.62, pp.63-73.
Satyanarayanan, M., Balaram, V., Sawant, S.S., Subramanyam, K.S.V., Krishna, G.V., Dasaram, B., Manikyamba, C. (2018) Rapid Determination of REE, PGE, and Other Trace Elements in Geological and Environmental Materials by High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Atomic Spectrosc., v.39(1), pp.1-15.
Satyanarayanan, M., Singh, S.P., Balaram, V., Mohanty, N. (2015) Geochemistry of Madawara Igneous Complex, Bundelkhand Craton, Central India: Implications for PGE Metallogeny. Open Geosciences, v.7(1), pp.836-853.
Satyanarayanan, M., Sylvester, P. J, Balaram, V., Rao, D.V.S., Charan, S.N., Tubrett, M.N., Shaffer, M., Anbarasu, K., Karthikeyan, A. (2010) PGE mineralization in the Late Archaean Sittampundi layered complex, southern India. In: Brown, G.H., Jugo, P.J., Lesher, C.M. and Mungall, J.E. eds. 2010. Abstracts, 11th International Platinum Symposium, 21-24 June 2010, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Release–Data 269.
Singh R.V., Sinha R. M., Bisht, B.S., Banerjee D. C (2002) Hydrogeochemical exploration for unconformity-related uranium mineralization: Example from Palnadu sub-basin, Cuddapah Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India. Jour. Geochem. Explor., v.76, pp.71–92.
Stallard, R.F., Edmond, J.M. (1983) Geochemistry of the Amazon: 2. Influence of geology and weathering environment on the dissolved load. Jour. Geophy. Res., v.88, pp.9671-9688.
Stallard, R.F., Edmond, J.M. (1987) Geochemistry of the Amazon 3. Weathering chemistry and limits to dissolved inputs. Jour. Geophys. Res., v.92, pp.8293-8302.
Stefánsson, A. (2000) Dissolution of primary minerals of basalt in natural waters: I. Calculation of mineral solubilities from 0°C to 350°C. Chemical Geol., v.172, pp.225-250.
Stefansson, A., Gislason, S.R., Arnorsson, S. (2001) Dissolution of primary minerals in natural waters II. Mineral saturation state. Chemical Geol., v.172, pp.251–276.
Subramaniyam A.P. (1956) Mineralogy and petrology of the Sittampundi Complex, Salem District, Madras State, India. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v.67, pp.317–379.
Svorc, L., Tomcik, P., Durdiak, R., Rievaj, M., Bustin, D. (2012) Analytical methods for the detection of osmium tetroxide: A Review. Pol. Jour. Environ. Stud., v. 21(1), pp.7-13.
Reddy, D.V., Nagabhushanam, P., Madhav, T., Chandrakala, P., Reddy, A.G.S (2015) Characterization of groundwater contaminant sources in the coastal sand dune aquifer, Prakasam district, AP India. Environ. Earth Sci., v.74(4), pp. 3453-3466.
Wood, S.A. (2002) The aqueous geochemistry of the platinum group elements with applications to ore deposits. Canadian Inst. Min. and Metal., Special Volume 54, pp.. 211-249.
Wyborn, L.A.I., Jagodzinski, E.A., Morse, M.P., Whitaker, A., Cruickshank, B.I., Pyke, J. (1994) The exploration signature of Coronation Hill gold, palladium and platinum deposit. Proc. Conference: Australian mining looks north - the challenges and choices. 1994 Aus IMM Annual Conference, Darwin, 5-9 August., At Darwin, Volume: Technical program proceedings, (Ed.) Hallenstein, C.P. Aus. IMM Publication Series 5/94, pp.51-55.
Xieyan, S., Yushan, W., Liemeng, C (2011) Magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits in magma plumbing systems: Features, formation and exploration. Geoscience Front., v.2(3), pp.375–384.
Zaccarini, F., Garuti, G., Cawthorn, R.G (2002) Platinum-group minerals in chromitite xenoliths from Onverwacht and Tweefontein ultramafic pipes, eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Can. Mineral., v.40, pp.481-497.
