Chromite Deposits of India Field Occurrences, Petrography, Petrogenesis and Exploration

This book aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive account of field occurrences, stratigraphy, petrographic features, mineral chemistry, bulk chemistry and other physicochemical factors to assess the nature and origin of the chromitites of India. This book describes key features of important chromitite fields of the world.

This book deals mainly compilation of data related to field occurrences, geological maps, stratigraphic and structural relations, litho-association, hand specimen details, field sketches, petrography (both in transmitted light and in reflected light), modal analyses and bulk chemistry. It also includes data on published and newly generated data on mineral chemistry, BSE images of EPMA/ SEM study and different mineral–geochemical discriminate plots for petrogenetic evolution. It incorporates data both on P, T of crystallization and re-equilibration conditions, data to assess the parental melt and source rock characterization. It also includes published data on 57FeMossbauer spectroscopic data to assess oxidation condition. Correlation of Indian chromitites with world deposit is done through comparative diagrams. Limited field study and laboratory data are generated to fill the gap of the available data.

The comprehensive database of Indian chromitite helps to solve the intriguing problems on petrogenesis of chromitite of layered complex and podiform chromitite of ophiolite. This publication also has a scope to describe economic minerals associated with chromitite. Considering its economic use in industry, exploration activities of Indian chromitites are described. The database and their interpretation also help the explorer for future guide. Finally, global correlation of Indian field is attempted to give a comprehensive idea on chromitite field of India. This book being a rare encompassing all the aspects of chromitite attracts academician, students, researchers and explorers of India and abroad as well.

CHROMITE: A Brief Outline.- Famous Chromite Deposit of the World.- Indian Layered Deposits.- Indian Ophiolite Fields.- Petrogenesis.- Exploration of Chromite, PGE and Ni.

Right from the doctoral work, the author has a work experience on the field of Indian chromitite for more than 30 years. PI has worked in almost all the chromitite fields of India during his Ph.D. thesis work from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, as a geologist of Geological Survey of India. The quality of the database generated is reflected both in publication and in departmental reports. Many international publications have come out based on the work in this field. During Ph.D. work, he has also done some work in chromitite bearing Sittampundi layered complex and greenstone belt of chromite bearing Nuggihalli Schist. During his professional career, he has done extensive work on ophiolite belt of Andaman. He has done detailed work on podiform chromitite of Andaman ophiolite reporting polygenetic mantle source (both Suprasubduction zone (SSZ) mantle and MORb mantle).

The second author, Biswajit Ghosh, has conducted extensive research on most chromitite occurrences in India, including both stratiform-type in layered igneous complexes and podiform-type hosted in ophiolites. He has vast teaching experience in this field. One of his research interests includes chromites and their modifications (textural and mineralogical) in response to alteration, metamorphism, and deformation in various tectonic settings. He has authored several publications of national and international reputation.