STUDY OF FAULT BOUNDED IRON-ORE OCCURRENCE IN THE EASTERN MARGIN OF PAKHAL BASIN, MAHARASHTRA

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation work is to study the different aspects of the iron ore occurred within the limestone in the eastern margin of Pakhal basin and to search for the evidences which are helpful for determining its genesis. They are as study of the different structures present in the field, various lithology, signature of hydrothermal activity like reaction texture , replacement present or not, mineralogy, etc. Earlier workers have given their views on hydrothermal iron ore deposits (Chaterjee and Mukherjee (1981, 1985). Bose, 1985, Sigh(2005) and Mukhopadhya et al. (2007). Their views helped to prove that the ore in the study area is hydrothermal. Various analytic methods were also used to prove this, like thin section study, polished section study, XRD analysis, FESEM analysis, etc. In this study the iron ore occurrence has been reported first and an attempt has been made to determine the genesis. The field as well as laboratory studies mostly indicates that the iron ore in the study area is hydrothermal which is supported by some micro crustification in thin polished sectin, rnicroseale intrusions, micro fracturing, some replacement structure around the ore minerals, etc . From XRD and FESEM analysis some incompatible REE elements are too found in it. This indicates that the ore body is formed from hydrothermal activity.