Objectives: North Odisha Iron Ore Craton (NOIOC) is a distinguished place for iron formation with Banded Iron Formation (BIF) as a common and abundant litho type. In few localities in Bonai-Keonjhar belt (BK belt) Channel Iron Deposits (CID) specifically detrital type of iron deposits occur along with BIF. Chamakpur-Inganjharan sector of BK belt located on both sides of bank of the River Baitarani is occupied by Detrital Iron Deposits (DID) with varying spatial horizon. A comprehensive study had been carried out on morphology and mineralogical characteristics of DID in the specified field area to locate new occurrences of iron ore. Methods: The morphology part of the study is primarily focused on field observations revealing depositional configuration with respect to size, sorting and orientation of clasts. Mineralogical studies have been carried out by using optical microscope with supported by Xray Diffraction (XRD) instrumental technique. The bulk chemical analysis was carried out by employing X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) instrument. Findings: The DID mostly occurs as isolated bodies with limited extensions comprising predominantly of cobbles and pebbles of hematite with varying amounts of shale, BIF & quartz clasts. Mineralogical study reveals that DID of the study area mainly consist of hematite, goethite, quartz and clay. Hematite, goethite, silica and clay are common matrix that bind the clasts in DID. Novelty: DID occur as a type of iron formation next to Banded Iron Formation with regards to abundancy, which has not yet been focused for prospecting. Not much geological work has been done in the area to attain the commercial production of DID, even though they are available in suitable grades. So this paper discusses about the lithological and mineralogical characteristics of DID, which will help in mining of detrital Fe-ores to maintain the sustainable mineral development in a fast depleting BIF hosted Fe-ore scenario. We also discussed the possible mode of deposition of DID in form of alluvium and colluvium that have been supplied from bedded type of Fe deposits. It is evident from the studies that dominated by hematite fragments, DID can be the future source of iron production.

Banded Iron Formation (BIF), a bi-component rock of the Precambrian period is exposed along with iron ore in distinct geographical entities encircling the North Odisha Iron Ore Craton (NOIOC) in Odisha – Jharkhand states, eastern India. Iron formation of the eastern province is confined to Badampahar-Gorumahisani-Sulaipat belt. The litho assemblages belonging to this Iron Ore Group comprise of banded cherty quartzite, banded magnetite quartzite, banded magnetite grunerite quartzite, tremolite-actinolite schist and fuchsite quartzite. Deformations in phases affected the BIF members and associated rocks of the area resulting in successive fold structures. The first generation folds (F1) are characteristically tight and isoclinal having NE plunging axes. The second phase fold (F2) structures in the area with reference to first fold are co-axial, upright and tight to open in nature profusely overprinting the F1 folds are parallel to the general trend (NE-SW) of the belt. Axial plane of the third phase folds (F3) are gentle and broad warps having NW-SE trending axial planes and are found to be the last traceable ones in the area. trending in NW-SE direction are found to be the last traceable ones in the area having gentle and broad warps. The co-axial F1 and F2 folds along the general trend (NE-SW) of the belt are superposed by NW-SE trending F3 fold, which exhibits a geometric configuration as F1 // F2 F3. Such type of multiphase deformed terrain has produced many interference fold patterns in minor scale out of superposition i.e. dome and basin structures, hook shaped patterns, eyed fold and S, Z, and M shaped folds. The paper discusses the episodes of structural events and their signatures in the interference fold patterns in the eastern province of the NOIOC. Keywords: Banded Iron Formation, Badampahar-Gorumahisani-Sulaipat Belt, Deformation Episodes, NOIOC