Abstract
Breithauptite (NiSb), a rare antimonide, is generally found associated with hydrothermal vein ores of Ni and Co. In India, it has so far been recorded only from the gold-quartz veins of the Kolar Gold Field. Occurrence of this antimonide in a sediment-hosted milieu however, has seldom been noted. We report here the identification and characterization of this rare phase in both the stratiform and the vein-type ores of the sediment-hosted Zn-Pb sulphide deposits and prospects within the Dariba-Rajpura-Bethumni metallogenic belt in Northwestern India. Metamorphic remobilization from the stratiform ores of the belt has been postulated as a possible mechanism for the conspicuous segregation of breithauptite as a discrete phase within these ores.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cook, N.J. (1996) Mineralogy of the sulphide deposits at Sulitjelma, Northern Norway. Ore Geology Reviews, v.11, pp.303–338.
Deb, M. and Pal, T. (2004) Geology and Genesis of the base metal sulphide deposits in the Dariba-Rajpura-Bethumni belt, Rajasthan, India, in the light of basin evolution. In: M. Deb and W.D. Goodfellow (Eds.), Sediment-hosted lead-zinc sulfide deposits with emphasis on the deposits in the northwestern Indian shield: Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp.304–327.
Deb, M. (1982) Rare minerals in Rajpura-Dariba ores — some further comments: Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.23(5), pp.253–260.
Gemmell, J. B., Zantop, H. and Meinert, L. D. (1992) Genesis of the Aguilar zinc-lead-silver deposit, Argentina; contact metasomatic vs. sedimentary exhalative. Econ. Geol., v.87, pp.2085–2112.
Haldar, S.K. (2004) Grade and Tonnage Relationships in Sediment-hosted Pb-Zn Sulphide Deposits of Rajasthan, India. In: M. Deb and W.D. Goodfellow (Eds.), Sediment-hosted lead-zinc sulfide deposits with emphasis on the deposits in the northwestern Indian shield: Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp.264–272.
Hewitt, D.F. (1992) A partial study of the NiAs-NiSb system. Econ. Geol., v.43 pp.408–417.
Mineral Data Publishing (2001) http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/breithauptite.pdf
Raghu Nandan, K.R., Dhruva Rao, B.K. and Singhal, M.L. (1981) Exploration for Copper Lead and Zinc Ores in India. Bull. Geol. Sur. India, Series A, Econ. Geol., v.47, pp.125–128.
Ramdohr, P. (1969) The ore minerals and their intergrowths. Pergamon Press, 1174p.
Uytenbogaardt, W. and Burke, E.A.J. (1973) Tables for microscopic identification of ore minerals. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 430p.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pal, T., Deb, M. Breithauptite: A rare antimonide in the Dariba-Rajpura-Bethumni belt, Rajsamand district, Rajasthan. J Geol Soc India 74, 35–38 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-009-0101-1
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-009-0101-1