A Preliminary Biogeochemical Study over the Uraniferous Quartz-Pebble—Conglomerate Zone near Kalasapura, Chickmagalur District, Karnataka, Southern India
- 1 Department of Geology, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India
- 2 Department of Geology, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India
- 3 Department of Geology, School of Earth Sciences, Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburgi, India
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.
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