Skip to main content
Log in

Trace element geochemistry and genesis of the copper ore deposits of the Singhbhum shear zone, Eastern India

  • Published:
Mineralium Deposita Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The genesis of the copper ore deposits of the Singhbhum shear zone, India, has been worked out through a detailed geochemical examination of the ores and the country rocks. Following different techniques of atomic absorption, the abundances of Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ag, Mn and Hg were determined and the trace element characteristics of the principal rock units in and outside the shear zone have been compiled and critically evaluated. The data suggest that the ore deposits are the result of a sequence of long-continued and over-lapping geological processes culminating in intense shearing, syntectonic granitization and considerable mobilization of the ore elements. The Precambrian metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of the shear zone, as well as those enclosing it, served as the source, while diffusion of the ore constituents and their precipitation in physicochemically favourable structural traps, formed in response to shearing, resulted in the formation of the deposits.

Zusammenfassung

Als Beitrag zur Klärung der Genese der Kupferlagerstätten in der Singhbhum Shear Zone, Indien, wurden geochemische Untersuchungen an Erzen und Nebengestein durchgeführt. Spurengehalte von Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ag, Mn, Hg wurden mit Hilfe der AAS bestimmt, ihre Verteilung innerhalb der Zone und der angrenzenden Gesteinstypen wird diskutiert. Auf Grund der vorliegenden geochemischen Daten wird folgende Deutung zur Entstehung der Erzlagerstätten gegeben: Die Bildung der Singhbhum-Erzvorkommen ist das Ergebnis einer Folge langandauernder und sich überschneidender geologischer Prozesse, wie intensiver Scherung, syntektonischer Granitisation und damit verbundener Mobilisierung der oben genannten Elemente. Die präkambrischen Metasedimente und Metavulkanite innerhalb der Scherzone und ihrer näheren Umgebung sind als „Muttergesteine“ der erzbildenden Elemente anzusehen. Die Bildung der Lagerstätte ist das Resultat der Diffusion von Lösungen und ihres Absatzes in physikalisch-chemisch günstigen „Struktur-Fallen“, gebildet im Anschluß an die Scherung.

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

  • Angino, E. E., Billings, G. K.: Atomic absorption spectrometry in geology (Methods in geochemistry and geophysics series — 7), 144 p. New York: Elsevier Publishing Co. 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball, V.: On the copper of Dhalbhum and Singhbhum. Geol. Surv. Ind. Rec. 3, 86–93 (1870).

    Google Scholar 

  • Banerji, A. K.: Cross folding, migmatization and ore localization along part of the Singhbhum shear zone, south of Tatanagar, Bihar, India. Econ. Geol. 57, 50–71 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banerji, A. K. Hundred years of the concepts on the origin of the copper ore deposits within the Singhbhum shear zone, Eastern India (Abst.). Symp. History of Concepts on Mineral Deposits, 7–8 (1970).

  • Boling, E. A.: A multiple slit burner for atomic absorption spectroscopy. Spectrochim. Acta (Perkin-Elmer Corp. Pub. AA-414) 22, 425 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, R. W.: Geology, geochemistry and origin of the lead-zinc-silver deposits of the Keno Hill — Galena Hill area, Yukon territory. 302 p. Geol. Surv. Canada Bull. 111 (1965).

  • Boyle, R. W. The source of metals and gangue elements in epigenetic deposits. Mineral. Deposita (Berl.), 3, 174–177 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolezal, J., Povondra, P., Sulcek, Z.: Decomposition techniques in inorganic analysis (English edition), 224 p. London: Iliffe Books Ltd. 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, J. A.: The mineral deposits of Eastern Singhbhum and surrounding areas. Geol. Surv. Ind. Mem. 69 (part 1), 1–183 (1937).

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, R. W. Dey, A. K.: The geology and petrology of Eastern Singhbhum and surrounding areas. Geol. Surv. Ind. Mem. 69 (part 2), 1–456 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez, F. J., Manning, D. C.: Atomic absorption analyses of metal pollutants in water using a Heated Graphite Atomizer. Atomic Absorption Newsletter 10, 65–69 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich, G., Kulms, M.: Eine Methode zur Bestimmung geringer Konzentrationen von Quecksilber in Gesteinen und Böden und ihre Anwendung bei der geochemischen Exploration von Erzlagerstätten. Erzmetall 22, 74–84 and 214–218 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, A. K.: A statistical approach to the exploration of copper in the Singhbhum shear zone, Bihar, India. Econ. Geol. 60, 1422–1430 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, R. W. Mineralization in relation to stratigraphy, structure and igneous action in parts of Singhbhum shear zone, Bihar, India. Ph. D. thesis (unpublished), 134 p. Calcutta Univ. 1966.

  • Ghosh, A. K. A quantitative study of minor elements in the sulphide ores of Rakha Mines, Singhbhum, Bihar, Bull. Geol. Soc. Ind. 5, 16–18 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, A. K. Banerji, A. K.: On the nature and petrogenesis of Dhanjori lava near Rakha Mines, Singhbhum, Bihar. Jr. Geol. Soc. Ind. 11, 77–81 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilmer, E.: Geochemische Untersuchungen im Bereich der Lagerstätte Meggen (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge). Ph. D. thesis, 162 p. Technische Hochschule Aachen 1972.

  • Krauskopf, K. B.: The source of ore metals. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 35, 643–659 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, B.: Genetic significance of trace elements in certain rocks of Singhbhum, India. Min. Mag. 36, 661–670 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naha, K.: Metamorphism in relation to stratigraphy, structure and movements in part of East Singhbhum, Eastern India. Quart. Jr. Geol. Min. Met. Soc. Ind. 37, 41–88 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Price, V., Ragland, P. C.: Trace metals in quartz by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Southeastern Geol. 7, 93–100 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Saha, A. K., Sankaran, A. V., Bhattacharyya, T. K.: The behaviour of trace elements in the magmatic members of the Singhbhum granitic complex. Jr. Geol. Soc. Ind. 9, 178–196 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, S. C.: Ore deposits along Singhbhum shear zone and their genesis. In: Contributions to the geology of Singhbhum, p. 91–101. Calcutta: Jadavpur Univ. 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, S. C. Mackinawite from the sulfide ores of the Singhbhum copper belt, India. Am. Mineralogist 56, 1312–1318 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, S. N., Saha, A. K.: On the stratigraphic relationships of the metamorphic rocks of Singhbhum-Gangpur regions. In: Contributions to the geology of Singhbhum, p. 22–31. Calcutta: Jadavpur Univ. 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnellmann, G. A.: Sulphide mineralization in the Singhbhum shear zone (Discussion). Econ. Geol. 63, 694 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strasheim, A., Strelow, F. W. E., Butler, L. R. P.: The determination of copper by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy. Jr. South African Chem. Inst. 13, 73–81 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Talapatra, A. K.: Sulphide mineralization associated with migmatization in the southeastern part of the Singhbhum shear zone, Bihar, India. Econ. Geol. 63, 156–165 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talapatra, A. K. Sulphide mineralization in the Singhbhum shear zone (Discussion). Econ. Geol. 64, 695–696 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K. K., Wedepohl, K. H.: Distribution of the elements in some major units of the earth's crust. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 72, 175–192 (1961).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wodzicki, A.: Migration of trace elements during contact metamorphism in the Santa Rosa Range, Nevada, and its bearing on the origin of ore deposits associated with granitic intrusions. Mineral. Deposita (Berl.), 6, 49–64 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ghosh, A.K. Trace element geochemistry and genesis of the copper ore deposits of the Singhbhum shear zone, Eastern India. Mineral. Deposita 7, 292–313 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206791

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206791

Keywords

Navigation