[en] The topics covered in this symposium are geochemistry and petrogenesis of crustal and mantal derives rocks, exploration for precious metals, geochemistry of energy resources atomic minerals, applied geochemistry in environmental studies, and analytical techniques and data processing. Papers relevant to INIS are indexed separately

[en] Application of hydrochemical techniques in uranium exploration plays an important role in quick appraisal of an area measurement of uranium upto ppb level in natural water. Present study deals with the successful utilisation of this tool to delineate the potential target zones in Baramkela-Saria-Ambabhona area, where Mesoproterozoic sediments of Chandrapur and Raipur groups (Chhattisgarh Supergroup) are deposited over Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic crystalline basement complex

[en] In the present work, the extent of signal suppression on all rare-earth elements and yttrium due to the uranium matrix has been studied at a single set of operating conditions for different amount of uranium taken and the tolerance limits have been evaluated. A platform-XS model ICP-MS from Micromass Limited, U.K. was used for the measurements. The instrumental parameters and operating conditions are given

[en] Ability to retard migration of radio nuclides released from the disposed radioactive waste constitutes one of the most important requirements of potential host rocks and soils under consideration for geological disposal of such wastes and thus forms frontier area of applied research in geochemistry. In India, Low and Intermediate Level Solid Radioactive Wastes are being disposed in Near Surface Disposal Facilities (NSDF) constructed within few meters below the ground surface

[en] Advanced geochemical soil gas methods have been successfully developed for the exploration of oil/gas/uranium and for environmental assessments. Application of these cost-effective technologies in India can substantially reduce exploration risk while accelerating the development of oil/gas/uranium onshore resources. A reliable and effective monitoring system using geochemical soil gas surveys ensures that CO₂ Enhanced Oil Recovery operations as well as CO₂ sequestration projects are safe and acceptable for the disposal of CO₂, Soil gas surveys along with other technologies can also be applied for monitoring of oil/gas pipelines for leakage, especially those that are old or pass through populated regions

[en] Middle Proterozoic Kaladgi Basin located in the Northwestern part of the Dharwar Craton is one of the potential target for unconformity type uranium mineralization. Intensive exploration by Atomic Minerals Directorate, have resulted in locating 64 m thick band of uranium mineralization (upto 0.83%eU₃O₈) hosted in the Badami arenites of Kaladgi Super Group in close proximity to the basement comprising schistose rocks of the Chitradurga Group, near Deshnur village, Belgaum district, Karnataka. Similar geological set up extends further northwards the Konkan-Kaladgi region, where the Phonda group of rocks (Badamis) are exposed and recorded an interesting horizon of oolitic zone with a lot of sulphides within the Phonda arenites near Kallamwadi. They also have indicated low order radioactivity (0.04mR/hr) at places

[en] A simple and economical method for the removal of uranium from Gogi mine water using the powdered red brick as a good adsorbent is discussed. Preliminary studies for the removal of uranium using brick showed encouraging results. Further studies were carried to find the amount and size of brick for the quantitative removal of uranium. The results of these studies showed that 50 g of brick with 10 mesh size was enough to remove uranium quantitatively from 100 ml of mine water containing 1800 μg/L of uranium. However the column studies indicated considerable decrease (∼ 5 g for 100 ml of mine water) in the amount of brick required to remove uranium from 100 ml of mine water

[en] Exploration for Uranium in India dates back to 1949, where surveys to locate atomic minerals were initiated in the well established Copper Thrust Belt (CTB) of Singhbhum, in the present day Jharkhand state. Based on the limited understanding on uranium geology, the thrust zones of Singhbhum which were popularly known for hosting Copper mineralization were targeted presuming sympathetic relation between Copper and Uranium. Exploration for uranium over the past six decades has resulted in identifying eleven major uranium deposits distributed in varied geological environs all over the country. Apart from conventional uranium mineralization, non-conventional resources like phosphorite, black shale etc. have immense potential. Even though their uranium grades will be of lower order, their uranium content will be huge due to their extensive size. In addition to intensifying uranium exploration in potential geological domains, AMD also plans to tap the non-conventional resources which will add substantially to the resource base

[en] Rapid industrialization and urbanization worldwide has necessitated search for new materials and technology that are helpful to man and at the same time that are environment friendly. Advances in science and modern technology in twentieth century, especially in the fields of space, nuclear energy, electronics, computers, telecommunications, information technology, superconducting materials, permanent magnets, rechargeable hydride batteries and super alloy steels have brought a host of rare metal and rare earth elements to lime light. The Rare Metals (RM) include lithium, beryllium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum, uranium and thorium. Rare Earths (RE) are coherent group of elements from La (Z=57) to Lu (Z= 71) along with Y (Z=39) and Sc (Z=21) having similar chemical and physical properties. Some of these metals have gained strategic status due to politico-economic reasons. Their strategic nature and gradual depletion of high grade resources have led to sustained efforts to harness lower grade resources. RM and RE are more widespread in the earth's crust than the elements commonly known in our daily life. More than 200 minerals of RM and RE are distributed in a wide variety of mineral classes

[en] Palnad Sub-basin, one of the important geological domains for unconformity-related uranium mineralisation, is surrounded by basement granitoids in the northern and western parts. These granitoids exhibit medium to coarse grained, holocrystalline granular nature and hypidiomorphic, inequigranular texture. Major mineral composition is represented by microcline, orthoclase perthite, plagioclase and quartz, whereas minor and accessory minerals include hornblende, chlorite, epidote, apatite, zircon, anatase and sphene. Banganapalle sediment cover over basement granitoid has shown immense potential of fracture-controlled epigenetic type uranium mineralisation (0.13-0.55% U₃O₈) in Koppunuru-Dwarakapuri area, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. It is also observed that basement granitoids in these parts have high intrinsic uranium (19 ppm; U/Th ratio 3.80; n = 30) and found to be main source of uranium in the system, which was probably released, remobilised and concentrated at suitable structural locales during the basement reactivation