On the occurrence and mineralogy of the manganese ore bodies of Eklingji, Udaipur district, Rajasthan

Abstract

The occurrence of manganese ore deposits of Eklingji, a locality situated about 14 miles NNE of Udaipur Town, is recorded here for the first time.

The country rocks in which the ores occur are Aravalli phyllite, quartzite and limestone striking NE-SW to N-S. Workable ores are generally found occupying the joints, bedding planes and brecciated portions of the country rocks. There are also some instances of concentration of ores in pockets and cavities within the host rocks.

Hard and massive ores are more common than soft and powdery ores. Generally the ores are found in botryoidal, mamillated and various other forms usually having colloform bandings. Ore-microscopic study of the ores revealed the presence of cryptomelane, manganite and pyrolusite. Often the ores have concentric or linear banded texture of colloidal origin. Crystalline pyrolusite (polianite) and manganite either occupy vugs and small cavities within colloform ores or are radially arranged on their surfaces. The paragenetic sequence of the ore-minerals has been suggested on the basis of their textural relationship. The origin of the ore-minerals has been attributed to solidification and crystallization of a colloidal manganese ‘gel’ that mineralised the country rocks along planes of weakness at a low temperature.