TITLE:
A Preliminary Biogeochemical Study over the Uraniferous Quartz-Pebble—Conglomerate Zone near Kalasapura, Chickmagalur District, Karnataka, Southern India
AUTHORS:
B. C. Prabhakar, B. N. Rashmi, R. V. Gireesh
KEYWORDS:
Biogeochemistry, Bababudan, Dharwar Craton, Uranium Mineralization
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.6 No.9,
September
16,
2015
ABSTRACT: Quartz-pebble-conglomerate
(QPC) bearing unconformable zone at the base of Bababudan Group of rocks in
Dharwar Craton in southern India is well known for its stratigraphic
significance and uraniferous nature. Over this QPC zone, soil cover is very
thin which is almost devoid of vegetation. A cursory biogeochemical study here
indicated poor (170 to 520 ppb) uranium content in the scantily occurring herbs
and shrub species as well as in the soil substratum (1.8 - 3.1 ppm). The values
in plant species are much below the background values. Almost barren nature of
soil surface and stunted growth of herb and shrub species suggested that
geobotanical rather than biogeochemical study is more serviceable as a clue for
the hidden QPC-type horizons, which quite often bear signatures of uranium
mineralization.