PROSPECTING AND EVALUATION OF BEACH PLACERS ALONG THE COASTAL BELT OF INDIA

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4268263

Mahadevan, V; Das, G R.N.; Rao, N N

The Atomic Minerals Division has been engaged, since 1950, in the survey of the beach sands on the southwestern coast of India. The reserves of monazite up to a depth of 25 ft have been estimated at 1.4 million tons, and those of ilmenite at 52.5 million tons. It is not known, however, to what further depth workable concentrates may be found. Preliminary survey has indicated the presence of monazite and other heavy minerals on the sea bed within half a mile of the west coast and also on the beds of inland lakes. The proportion of heavy minerals is lesser on the east coast. The hinterland, consisting of gneissose crystallines, heavily intruded by the pegmatites, is the primary source of the heavy minerals. The drainage pattern, topography, climate, and coastal configuration determine, to a large extent, the deposition of these placer minerals. For delineation of the zones containing appreciable monazite, samples are drawn at regular intervals in a grid pattern and the weight percentage in each sample is plotted against the respective grid station and isopach lines drawn to demarcate the barren from the rich zones. Reserves are calculated following conventional procedures. (auth)

• Research Organization: Dept. of Atomic Energy, India
• NSA Number: NSA-13-006642
• OSTI ID: 4268263
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/1663
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

COAST
DEPOSITS
ECONOMICS
GEOLOGY
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY
GNEISS
HEAVY MINERALS
ILMENITE
INDIA
INTRUSION
LAKES
MONAZITES
PEGMATITES
PLACERS
PROSPECTING
SAND
SEA
SEDIMENTS