Skip to main content
Log in

Hydrouranium anomalies as an effective tool in exploration of concealed unconformity related U-deposit in Srisailam sub-basin, Andhra Pradesh — Case study from Chitrial area

  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Relationship of hydro-uranium anomalies (2-649 ppb) vis-à-vis underlying uranium ore body has been attempted based on seventy nine water samples collected from the exploratory boreholes on the northern periphery of Srisailam sub basin, Nalgonda district, A.P. Water table is hosted in the granitoid aquifer which underlies the cover rocks of Srisailam Formation. TDS (total dissolved salt) range from 123 to 1088 ppm (x = 329 ppm) and analyzed >500 ppm in eight samples. Water samples show a strong positive correlation of TDS with Cl (r=0.90), Na+ (r=0.82), Mg (r=0.80) and a moderate positive correlation with Sr (r=0.48) and Ca (r=0.70). Low value (<0.4) of Normalised Magnesium (NMg) indicates that host rock aquifer has not undergone chloritisation. Accumulate contour plan of uranium ore body shows NW-SE trend and coincides with the hydro-uranium contour. Correlation sections of ore body display true as well as false hydro-uranium anomalies in N-S and E-W profiles. Hydro-uranium anomalies owe their origin to uranium cations, dissolved from the mineralized horizon in to groundwater. Hydro-geochemical orientation survey carried out at Chitrial plateau may be applied regionally in the Srisailam sub basin as an effective tool to explore the concealed unconformity type uranium mineralization below Srisailam Formation.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cuney, M.L. (2005) World-class unconformity-related uranium deposits: key factors for their genesis. In: Mao Jingwen & Bierlein FP (eds), Mineral Deposit Research: Meeting the Global Challenge. Proceedings of the Eighth Biennial SGA Meeting 2005, Beijing, August 18–21.

  • Ferguson, J., Chappell, B.W. and Goleby, A.B. (1980) Granitoids in the Pine Creek Geosyncline. In: J. Ferguson and A.B. Goleby (Eds.), Uranium in the Pine Creek Geosyncline. IAEA, Vienna, pp.73–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, R.J. (1970) Mechanism Controlling World’s Water Chemistry. Science, v.170, pp.1088–1090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giblin, A.M. and Snelling, A.A. (1983). Application of hydrogeochemistry to uranium exploration in the Pine Creek Geosyncline, Northern Territory, Australia. Jour. Geochemical Exploration, v.19, pp.33–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jefferson, C., Gandhi, S., Ramakers, P., Delaney, G., Thomas, D., Cutts, C. and Olson, R. (2005) Unconformity-associated uranium deposits: 2005 Convention CD-ROM, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeyagopal, A.V., Prakhar Kumar and Sinha, R.M. (1996) Uranium mineralization in the Palnad sub-basin, Cuddapah Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India. Curr. Sci., v..71, no.12, p.25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoeve, J., Sibbald, T.I.I., Ramaekers, P. and Lewry, J.F. (1980) Athabasca Basin unconformity-type uranium deposits: A special class of sandstone type deposits. In: Uranium in the Pine Creek Geosyncline. IAEA, Vienna, pp.575–594.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagaraja Rao, B.K., Rajurkar, S.T., Ramalingaswamy, G. and Ravindrababu, B. (1987) Stratigraphy, structure and evolution of the Cuddapah Basin. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.7, pp.33–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R.V., Sinha, R.M., Bisht, B.S. and Banerjee, D.C. (2002) Hydrogeochemical exploration for unconformity related uranium mineralization: examples from palnad sub-basin, Cuddapah Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India, Jour. Geol. Explo., v.76, pp.71–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, R.M., Shrivastava, V.K., Sarma, G.V.G. and Parthasarathy, T.N. (1995) Geological favourability for unconformity related uranium deposits in northern parts of the Cuddapah Basin: evidences from Lambapur uranium occurrence, Andhra Pradesh, India. Explor. Res. Atomic Minerals, v.8, pp.111–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, R.M. (2004) Application of hydrogeochemical survey in search for concealed uranium mineralisation — Some Indian examples. Jour. Applied Geochem., v.6(2), pp.133–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steven A.M., Earle and Garth L. Drever (1983) Hydrogeochemical exploration for uranium within the Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan. Jour. Geochem. Explo., v.19, pp.57–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasudeva Rao, M., Nagabhushana, J.C. and Jeyagopal, A.V. (1989) Uranium mineralization in the Middle Proterozic Carbonate rock of the Cuddapah Supergroup, Southern Peninsular India. Expl. & Res. for Atomic Minerals, v.2, pp.29–38.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. B. Verma.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Verma, M.B., Dandele, P.S., Nagendra Babu, G. et al. Hydrouranium anomalies as an effective tool in exploration of concealed unconformity related U-deposit in Srisailam sub-basin, Andhra Pradesh — Case study from Chitrial area. J Geol Soc India 78, 468–476 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-011-0108-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-011-0108-2

Keywords

Navigation