Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimization of Survey Area for Auriferous-Sulphide Mineralization Using Integrated Geophysical Study: A Case Study from Gani-Kalva Fault Zone, Cuddapah Basin, India

  • Published:
Pure and Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Gani-Kalva fault (GKF), located in the western part of the Cuddapah basin, India, is well known for hosting mineral deposits of iron, copper, and gold. In the present study, we undertook a comprehensive exploration approach, combining semi-detailed gravity and remote sensing surveys followed by detailed geophysical surveys comprising self-potential, electrical resistivity, and induced polarization to map the potential gold mineralization zones within the GKF. The integration of the linear pattern of gravity anomaly and its derivative with satellite imagery and airborne electromagnetic anomalies suggests that the Gani block between extensional bends and fault splays might be favourable for subsurface mineralization. The inverted resistivity and induced polarization depth sections across these anomalous zones highlighted the presence of the low resistivity and moderate chargeability bodies, typically at a depth range of 30–50 m. Subsequent borehole drilling was conducted at these promising locations, confirming the presence of auriferous sulphide mineralization within quartz veins and veinlets. However, elemental analysis of core samples from this borehole reveals only 2.5 ppm of gold. Although these results may not be very encouraging in the context of current exploration standards, the study clearly emphasized the pivotal role of geophysical techniques in the optimization of the survey area for targeting high mineralization potential zones.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets analysed during the current study are restricted under Geological Survey of India Data Policy.

Code availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Ahmed, A. H. (2022). Mineral deposits and occurrences in the Arabian-Nubian Shield. Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Appavadhanulu, K. (1959). A report on the Copper occurrences near Gummonikonda, Kurnool Dist. Unpublished progress report of Geological Survey of India for F S 1958–59.

  • Arasada, R. C., Srinivasa Rao, G., & Anand, R. (2022). Crustal architecture of North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern Indian Shield: Constraints from two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional modelling of Bouguer gravity and aeromagnetic data. Geological Journal, 57(7), 2668–2685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chetty, T. R. K. (2011). Tectonics of Proterozoic Cuddapah Basin, Southern India. Journal of Geological Society of India, 78(5), 446–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coulson, A. L. (1932–33). The Kalava (Calwa) wall in Kurnool district of Madras presidency, an example of monoclinal folding, accompanied by faulting probably along an old line of weakness. Records of the Geological Survey of India 96.

  • Doyle, H. A. (1990). Geophysical exploration for gold—a review. Geophysics, 55(2), 134–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eldougdoug, A., Abdelazeem, M., Gobashy, M., Abdelwahed, M., Abd El-Rahman, Y., Abdelhalim, A., & Said, S. (2023). Exploring gold mineralization in altered ultramafic rocks in south Abu Marawat, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 7293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gobashy, M. M., Eldougdoug, A., Abdelwahed, M., Abdelazeem, M., Abd El-Rahman, Y., Abdelhalim, A., & Said, S. (2023). Role of integrated magnetics and geology in tracking and exploring complex structures controlling gold mineralization. Example from the Fawakheir-Atalla Gold Prospects, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 16, 1–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • GSI. (1981). Geological and mineral map of Cuddapah basin with scale 1:250,000.

  • Hallof, P. G. (1967). The use of induced polarization measurements to locate massive sulphide mineralization in environments in which EM methods fail. In Mining and Groundwater Geophysics/1967. Geological Survey of Canada Economic Geological Report, 26, 302–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kher, S. V., & Peshwa, V. V. (1989). The geology and structure of the area south of Gani, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh—a study based on remotely sensed data. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 17(4), 61–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, W. (1872). Kudapah and Karnul Formations in the Madras Presidency. Geological Survey of India Memoirs, 8(1), 1–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koné, A. Y., Nasr, I. H., Traoré, B., Amiri, A., Inoubli, M. H., Sangaré, S., & Qaysi, S. (2021). Geophysical contributions to gold exploration in western Mali according to airborne electromagnetic data interpretations. Minerals, 11(2), 126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan, M. S., & Balasundaram M. S. (1944). Report on Iron deposits near Ramallakota, Kurnool dist. Unpublished progress report of Geological Survey of India, for FS 1943–44.

  • Kumar, S., Arasada, R. C., Rao, G. S., & Singh, S. (2023a). 3D inversion of gravity and aeromagnetic data over the Western North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern Indian Shield, for delineating prospective sulfide (Au) mineralization zones. Natural Resources Research, 7, 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, S., Arasada, R. C., & Rao, G. S. (2023b). Multi-scale potential field data integration using fuzzy C-means clustering for automated geological mapping of North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern Indian Craton. Minerals, 13(8), 1014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaFehr, T. R. (1991). Standardization in gravity reduction. Geophysics, 56(8), 1170–1178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lakshminarayana, G., & Vijay Kumar, D. (2018). Occurance of high level magma intrusives and associated mineralization near Gani Inlier, Kurnool sub-basin, Cuddapah basin, India. Journal of Geological Society of India, 91, 431–440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madhwa Simha, K. R., & Nagaraja Rao, H. R. (1954). Electrical and magnetic surveys carried out in Gani–Chemmakkapalli and Kalava–Soamarajupalli areas, Kurnool dist, Unpublished Progress Report of GSI for F S 1952–53.

  • Nagaraja Rao, B. K., Rajurkar, S. T., Ramalingaswamy, G., & Ravindra Babu, B. (1987). Stratigraphy, structure and evolution of the Cuddapah basin. In B. P. Radhakrishna (Ed.), Purana Basins of Peninsular India (Middle to Late Proterozoic) (Vol. 6, pp. 33–86). Geological Society of India Memoirs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Narayanaswamy, S. (1966). Tectonics of Cuddapah Basin. Journal of Geological Society of India, 17, 33–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • OHR. (1971). Final report, operation hard rock, airborne mineral surveys and exploration, India, volume-I, technical discussion prepared for Government of India, Parsons Corporation, Los Angeles-New York.

  • Paterson, N. R., & Hallof, P. G. (1991). Geophysical exploration for gold, R. P. Foster, Gold metallogeny and exploration. Blackie and Son Ltd.

  • Philip, G., & Virdi, N. S. (2006). Co-existing compressional and extensional regimes along the Himalayan Front Vis-à-Vis Active Faults near Singhauli, Haryana, India. Current Science, 90(9), 1267–1271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, K. N. D., Patel, V. C., Bansal, A. R., & Singh, A. P. (2023). New insights into the crustal magnetization of the eastern Indian shield inferred from the aeromagnetic data-based depth to the bottom of the magnetic sources (DBMS). Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 245, 105544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohit V. G., Madhusudhan, D. G., Mohan Babu, M., Vijayakumar, D., & Rajesh, V. G. (2016). Investigation for gold and associated minerals in Gani and Kalava area of Cuddapah basin, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished GSI Progress Report for F S 2014–15 and F S 2015–16.

  • Rama Rao, J. V., Murty, N. V. S., & Balakrishna, B. (2008). Regional gravity and magnetic (TF) surveys in toposheet no.s 56 H/12, 16 (Full) & 57 I/1, 2, 5 & 6 under project: Geophysical mapping. F S 2007–08.

  • Rama Rao, J. V., Murty, N. V. S., & Balakrishna, B. (2013). Imprints of Gadwal-Raichur Schist Belt Beneath Cuddapah sediments, evidences from gravity and magnetic anomalies, Kurnool Area, Andhra Pradesh. Journal of Geophysics, 34(2), 95–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rambabu, H. V. (1993). Basement structure of the Cuddapah basin from gravity anomalies. Tectonophysics, 223, 411–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao, D. P., Bhattacharya, A., & Reddy, P. R. (1996). Use of IRS-1C Data for geological and geomorphological studies. Current Science, 70(7), 619–623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, P. S. (1960). Geology and copper deposits of Gani Copper belt, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, Unpublished GSI progress report for the F S 1959–60.

  • Sastry, B. B. K., & Rahim, A. (1973). Exploration for copper in Gani-Kalava Area Kurnool district, AP Unpublished GSI Progress Report for F S 1969-73.

  • Satish Kumar, K., SivaSankar, P., Parveen Begum, S., Laxman, B., Phalke, M., Devidas, M., Maha Laxmi Naidu, V., Solomon Raju, P., & Srinagesh, D. (2021). Appraisal of Veldurti-Kalva Gani (VKG) fault, Cddapah Basin, India: Gravity and magnetic approach. Journal of Earth System Science, 130(1), 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sultan, S. A., Mansour, S. A., Santos, F. M., & Helaly, A. S. (2009). Geophysical exploration for gold and associated minerals, case study: Wadi El Beida area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 6, 345–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathy, V., & Saha, D. (2013). Plate margin paleostress variations and intracontinental deformations in the evolution of the Cuddapah basin through Proterozoic. Precambrian Research, 235, 107–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinze, W. J., Aiken, C., Brozena, J., Coakley, B., Dater, D., Flanagan, G., Forsberg, R., Hildenbrand, T., Keller, G. R., Kellogg, J., Kucks, R., Li, X., Mainville, A., Morin, R., Pilkington, M., Plouff, D., Ravat, D., Roman, D., Urrutia-Fucugauchi, J., … Winester, D. (2005). New standards for reducing gravity data—The North American gravity database. Geophysics, 70(4), J25–J32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Additional Director General, HOD, GSI, SR, for his encouragement and permission to publish this work and for permitting them to carry out the work. All the authors are thankful to the Chief Editor and two anonymous reviewers for careful handling of our manuscript. This work is a part of the Ph.D. thesis work of the first author DVK. We are thankful to the internal reviewer, GSI, NER, Shillong for his valuable review and suggestions.

Funding

Not applicable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. North Eastern Region, Geological Survey of India, Rynjah, Shillong, 793006, India

    D. Vijayakumar & M. Mohan Babu

  2. Department of Applied Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826004, India

    D. Vijayakumar & G. Srinivasa Rao

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India

    G. Srinivasa Rao

  4. Central Region, Geological Survey of India, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440006, India

    G. Rohit

  5. Southern Region, Geological Survey of India Training Institute, Hyderabad, 500068, India

    D. G. Madhusudhan

Authors
  1. D. Vijayakumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Mohan Babu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Srinivasa Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Rohit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. G. Madhusudhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Views and opinions expressed in this work are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views/opinions of the organization they belong to.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Vijayakumar.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Conflict of interest

No potential competing interest was reported by the authors in the present work.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vijayakumar, D., Babu, M.M., Rao, G.S. et al. Optimization of Survey Area for Auriferous-Sulphide Mineralization Using Integrated Geophysical Study: A Case Study from Gani-Kalva Fault Zone, Cuddapah Basin, India. Pure Appl. Geophys. 180, 3901–3917 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-023-03354-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-023-03354-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation