Uranium Mineralization in Leucogranite of Mastipuram Area, Wanaparti District, Telangana – A New Find

Abstract

The NNW-SSE trending leucogranites in and around Mastipuram, Wanaparthi district, Telangana are intrusive into Peninsular Gneissic complex. The leucogranite is metaluminous to mildly peraluminous, alkali-feldspar granite with I-type signatures, probably formed from a fractionated melt involving crustal component. Magmatic and hydrothermal contributions are supported by wide range of U/Th ratios in mineralized samples, which also show Na-enrichment as compared to non-mineralized leucogranites. Average U and Th contents and U/Th ratio in mineralized leucogranite is 541ppm, 147 ppm and 2.85, respectively. Main ore mineral is uraninite and its altered form - gummite, while secondary uranium minerals such as schoepite, uranophane and haiweeite are also identified in leucogranite by XRD. Reconnoitory drilling of ten boreholes have confirmed sub-surface continuation of uranium mineralization with varying width of 1m to 31m at vertical depth of about 50m. Thus, the leucogranites bordering Gadwal schist belt around Mastipuram forms a very potential target.

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Uranium and Radon in Groundwater from the Goesan Area of the Ogcheon Metamorphic Belt (OMB), Korea

“…For example, radon concentrations are higher in granitic areas and lower in other geologic units such as metamorphic rocks or sedimentary rocks, as discussed by Cho et al [10] for 3818 community groundwater system (CGS) wells. Uranium mineralization or uranium minerals including uraninite are commonly found in granitic rocks worldwide [11,13,17,18]. Because the occurrence of secondary uranium minerals is associated with granitic rocks and dykes along with fractures, localization of uranium minerals was emphasized [66,67].…”

“…Since then, a nationwide survey of groundwater uranium and radon concentrations has been ongoing over 5500 wells in Korea [3][4][5][6][7], with detailed surveys focusing on cities and counties with high proportions of granite distribution [8][9][10]. Many studies have shown that groundwater uranium and radon levels are closely related to bedrock geology, and that their concentrations are highest in granite and granitic gneiss [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”