FIELD REPORT

Report on Geology and Mining Aspects of Uranium Exploration at UCIL Narwapahar and Banduhurang Open Cast Mine, Jharkhand

department of geology

Ug-III, semester viClass roll no. - 106registration no. - 12121511018

Chapter 1IntroductionWe, the B.Sc. 3rd Year (Geology Honours) students of Presidency University, Kolkata, carried out our compulsory fieldwork in and around East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand during the time period of 17th February, to 20th February 2015. Major Uranium deposits like those at Narwapahar underground mine and open-cast mine at Banduhurang were visited during our field purpose. The Uranium deposits lie in the Proterozoic meta-sediments of the Singhbhum Shear Zone (SZZ), a zone of intense and deep tectonisation in the eastern part of India. This field-tour was ably guided by our beloved teacher Prof. AMIT KUMAR RAY, whose immense experience in this aspect of geological studies provided a clear understanding of the matter of what is being taught and what is being practised in the geological fieldwork.

Location and AccessibilityNarwapahar Uranium Mine, India is located at Narwapahar, 12 km SE of Jamshedpur, 10 km WNW of Jaduguda, Jharkhand, India.Location coordinates are: Latitude= 22.69607, Longitude= 86.27143.We arrived by ISPAT express at Ghatshila from where we arranged for private transport on road to Narwapahar Mine. Similar transport was done from Narwapahar, which was our base, to Banduharang Mine.

Mining Prospects in the areaThe Singhbhum Shear Zone of eastern India is the most important Uranium producing belt in India. It hosts several Copper and apatite-magnetite deposits. Additionally, Au, Te, Mo and Ni have been recovered as by-products of uranium and copper mining.The Singhbhum Thrust Belt (also known as Singhbhum Copper belt or Singhbhum Shear Zone) is a zone of intense shearing and deep tectonization with less than 1km width and known for a number of copper deposits with associated nickel, molybdenum, bismuth, gold, silver etc. It extends in the shape of an arc for a length of about 160 km.This discovery of Uranium at Jaduguda in this belt paved the way for intensive exploration work and soon a few more deposits were brought to light in this area. Some of these deposits like Bhatin, Narwapahar and Turamdih are well known uranium mines of the country. Other deposits like Bagjata, Banduhurang and Mohuldih are being taken up for commercial mining operations. Some of the other areas like Garadih, Kanyaluka, Nimdih and Nandup in this belt are also known to contain limited reserves with poor grades.

About UCILUranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) is one of the biggest public sector enterprises in India under the Department of Atomic Energy. Soon after independence,the search for Uranium ore began in our country. Uranium was first discovered at Jaduguda in April 1951.UCIL was formed in October 1967 for mining and processing of uranium ore which fulfils the nuclear demand of our country.UCIL plays very significant role in Indias Nuclear Power Generation Programme with 5 operating mines,2 processing plants,and a magnetic recovery plant. The company has adopted the latest-state-of-the-art technology for its mines and processing plants. Enriched with in-house expertise and a term of dedicated professionals. UCIL can be truly termed as Company with a mission.As discovered during the mine visit, the exploration agency for these mines was Atomic Minerals Division,Govt.of India, which carried out geological and geophysical exploration of the potent areas and then handed over the data to the mining agency i.e. UCIL which launched its operation with the commissioning of an underground mine and ore processing plant at Jaduguda (1968). Subsequently, underground mines at Bhatin (1987), Narwapahar (1995) and Turamdih (2003) were commissioned. All these units are within 25 km from Jaduguda in the state of Jharkhand.

Mines Operated in Singhbum Shear ZoneThere are 7 uranium mines present around Singbhum Shear zone. These mines are:1.Bagjata2.Bhatin 3.Jaduguda 4.Narwapahar5.Turamdih 6.Banduharang.Among which Banduharang is an open cast mine and others are underground.

Singhbhum Thrust BeltThus Singhbhum Thrust Belt, hosting a number of vein type deposits has remained as the primary target area for exploration. Genesis of these deposits is linked with Singhbhum granite as the main geochemical derivation of uranium. Mineralization was a result of weathering of the Singhbhum granite, possibly before the lower Proterozoic period, syngenetic deposition of detrital uranium, solubilization of uranium through oxy-atmoversion, transportation through solution and precipitation in contact with reductants. The Singhbhum orogenic cycle, represented by regional metamorphism, emplacement of basic rocks, and shearing helped in polycyclic mobilization of uranium in favourable structural and / or stratigraphic locales.

Purpose of the fieldwork:

The purpose of the field work was to study local geology, geological setting, nature of mineralization, mineralogy, suggested genesis, reserve, mining method, surface geology of various economic mineral deposits.

Caption: Regional geologic map of the eastern Indian craton (Singbhum craton) with the location of the North Singhbhum fold belt, the Singhbhum shear zone, showing all the uranium mines.Chapter 2

Regional Stratigraphy

The first notable geological work ever carried out on Singhbhum Thrust Belt by Dunn & Dey (1942) which provided a sound groundwork for study of regional stratigraphy of the area. Subsequently, the stratigraphic succession has undergone several modifications based on some recent systematic studies (structural and petrographic) supported by recent geochronological data. A generalized chrono-stratigraphic succession of Singhbhum region is depicted below:Generalised Chrono-stratigraphic Succession of the Singhbhum Craton (after Saha et al., 1988)Newer Dolerite dykes and sills C.1600-950 MaMayurbhanj Granite C.2100 MaGabbro - anorthosite ultrabasics

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jagannathpur lava Dhanjori - Simlipal lava Dhanjori GroupQuartzite conglomerate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Unconformity~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Singhbhum Granite C. 3100 MaMafic lava, tuff, acidic volcanics

Tuffaceous shales, BHJ and BHQ with Iron Ore GroupIron Ores, ferruginous chert, localdolomite, Quartzite and Sandstone~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Nilgiri GraniteSinghbhum GraniteBonai Granite~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Folding and metamorphism of OMG and OMTG C.3400 - 3500 MaOlder metamorphic tonalite gneiss (OMTG)C.3775 Ma

Older metamorphic group (OMG):Pelitic Schist, Quartzite, Para-amphibolite, C.4000 MaOrtho-amphiboliteGeological SetupThe most important metal and non-metal deposits in this belt occur in the rocks of Iron Ore SuperGroup of Archean age within the Singhbhum shear zone. These are devided into Chaibasa stage, the Iron Ore stage and Dhanjori stage, the last one having been deposited unconformably over the two older stages.After the deposition of Dhanjori, orogenic forces directed from north and east came into account,which first developed a series of folds and ultimately culminated in an overthrust, along the overfolded southern limb of the geo-anticline. This was accompanied by development of drag folds,flexures and crenulations or minor folds on the limb of major fold and also major,minor cross folds and close,intense shearing,fracturing and brecciation.The fracturing was possibly localised at the crests and troughs of the minor fold.The arcuate trend of the thrust can be traced for a distance over 130 km, from Duarpuram in the west to Baharagora in the south-east. This was due to Singbhum granite massif on the south,acting as a buttress. The resultant structure is an anticlinorium of isoclinally folded rocks dipping consistently north and with a major thrust accompanied by crushing and mylonitisation developed at its southern limb.In the central part of the belt,there is a highly metamorphosed belt of the Chaibasa Group. In the Chaibasa Group there is a thrust which is against the less altered rocks of the Dhanjori group to the south. In the eastern part, however the thrust is within the Chaibasa group itself.In the central part of the Singbhum thrust belt,the shear zone is narrow (about 300 metres wide), but in the vicinity of the Gara Nala towards west it bifurcates into two zones which, when followed westward gradually diverges further and about 5 km,apart near Chakradharpur. The shear zone also widens and bifurcate in the SE direction.While these orogenic movements were still continuing, quartzo-feldspathic material was introduced along the shear zones giving to what is commonly known as soda granite. The later has also undergone much shearing. It appears that apatite-magnetite and also uranium mineralisation were derived from soda granite, though some workers consider migmatisation processes were responsible for the same.

Uranium MineralizationField observations show thatUranium mineralisation is confined to the shear zones.

It occurs in close vicinity of the soda granite where the same is exposed in the eastern and western parts of the belt. It probably also continues in the central part in depth as it has been met in some of the deeper boreholes.

The favourable rocks are quartz-breccia, mylonite, chlorite-sericite schist and less commonly biotite schist.

The mineralization is in the form of minute peppered dissemination and micro-veinlets of uraninite mostly between flakes of platy minerals like chlorite and along other planes of weakness.

The ore bodies are lensoid with a sinistral en echelon disposition and the mineralization is not uniform.

In the eastern part of the belt there is a close association of uranium with apatite-magnetite mineralization, and the sulphide mineralization either coincides with uraniferous zone or runs parallel to it.

In most places like Jaduguda and Keruadungri the sulphide lodes occur on the foot-wall side of uranium lodes, but at a few localities the reverse is the case.

In the western part of the belt the northern shear is better mineralized than the south-ern one and the largest deposit located so far at Narwapahar occurs at the place of splitting of the major shear zone.

Within the zone of shearing and local brecciation, the uranium mineralization appears to have been localized byPost shearing migmatization in eastern and western sectors.

Biotitization in the eastern sector and chloritization and sericitization observed as distinctive wall rocks alteration in the western and central sectors, perhaps suggestive of deuteric alteration.

Major cross-folding and especially their minor synformal warps.

Small scale structures like fracture cleavages, shear planes, cleavage slip schistosity, mineral foliation or axial planes schistosity (S2) and strain slip planes (S3), the latter being more prominent and closely placed within the shear zones.

In the Singhbhum Thrust belt the ore mineralization seems to have taken place in three successive paragenetic sequences with the falling temperature gradient, viz. apatite and magnetite followed by uraninite, and lastly chalcopyrite and other sulphides. From association with widespread silicification, tourmalinization and alteration of the earlier silicate minerals and formation of new ones, most observers (Saha et al. 1968) are of the view that the uranium mineralization is a hydrothermal phenomenon, having taken place around 400oC. In the uranium and copper deposits in the belt, uranium is associated with pyrrhotite, pyrite, pentlandite, chalcocite, molybdenite and a host of other sulphide minerals. Molybdenite occurs as discrete tiny flakes parallel to the foliation of the host rock and appears to have been deposited during the late phase.The nickel occurs as violarite and pentlandite in pyrite and also in chlorite and tends to be concentrated more in the deeper levels of the uraniferous deposits, e. g. Jaduguda.The uranium occurs mainly as minute discrete cubic and octahedral crystals but also in other minerals like chlorite, apatite and magnetite. For example, in Narwapahar only 73 per cent occurs as discrete crystals of uraninite and 27 per cent is looked up as minute grains of uraninite in chlorite, magnetite, quartz etc. The uraninite crystals are corroded by and embedded in the later chalcopyrite and at some places (e.g. Bhalki-Kanyaluka are) also by fluorite. At the extreme western end of the belt, uranium occurs in the form of sooty pitchblende, which according to Kaul (1964) is probably indicative of the falling temperature and mobilization away from the hydrothermal source.

Chapter 3

Definitions of some common terms related to ore and Mining Geology

1)Ore: It is a mineral or an aggregate of minerals from which one or more elements is/are economically extracted today or there is a possibility of doing so in foreseeable future for industrial / strategic use.

2)Ore zoning: It is a systematic variation of chemical and /or mineralogical composition of an ore body / deposit. This variation may occur along any dimension of the ore body / deposit.

3)Ore Shoot: It is the richest part of an ore body. It is often co- relatable with some structures in the deposit itself or with the host rock. It can be delineated on the assay plans of a working mine or on the level plans.

4)Stratiform deposit: When an ore deposit appears like a stratum or layer in an ensemble of layered sedimentary or Sed-Volcanic rocks. Usually such deposits are formed by sedimentation diagenesis or may be formed by guided replacements in some cases.

5)Stratabound deposits: A stratabound ore deposit should be essentially confined within the limits of a stratum or lithounit but is not necessarily parallel with the interfaces of the unit with other units (ore deposit bounded by two strata).

6)ADIT: A tunnel like horizontal entrance to a mine from surface or a horizontal exploratory opening which continued up to the ore body from the surface.

7)ASSAY PLAN: Plan of the mine or a part thereof in which the metal content (tenor) in different parts of an ore body is displayed (in the form of contour lines).

8)DRIVE OR DRIFT- A tunnel like working along the trend (strike) of an ore body.The drives are named as sill, drill, haulage drive depending on location and function. The drives are very useful for exploring the orebody over the strike length from one end to other and serve the transport route of ore and development waste from the stopes.

9)FACE: It is the wall at the end of a drive or stope working.

10)LEVEL: A group of tunnel like workings that are lying approx. the same distance below a datum plane from the surface in a given mine.

11)RAISE: A narrow vertical or inclined working excavated upwards from an ore body.

12)WINZE: A narrow vertical or inclined working excavated downwards from ore body.The downward excavation for winze is carried out by hanging chain ladders or xing iron ladder from the levels and sublevels. The upward driving is done with the help of xing iron ladder upward and making temporary platform for overhand drilling and blasting. The development speed can be expedited by employing mechanized raise climber tted with guide rails and tted with temporary platform for drilling upward.

13)SHAFT: A narrow working excavated from the surface, either vertical or inclined, drawn in order to reach the ore body underneath.The deposit located or continues in-depth is accessed by sinking a well on stable ground adjacent to the footwall side of dipping orebody. It is known as shaft in mining terminology.

14)STOPE: An underground working from which ore is being mined out presently or has been mined out in the past.

15)QUARRY: An open excavation for mining of an ore body.

16)CROSSCUT: The workings running at right or acute angle across the elongation of the orebody are called crosscut with further classication as main drill, ore and exploration crosscut. Orebody across for true width, mine development, production and ore transfer passage.

17)CROWN AND SILL PILLAR- The ore which is blocked and left at the top of the stope to prevent collapsing of upper level is called crown pillar.Similarly the ore which is left below the stope to prevent collapsing of the active stoping is called the sill pillar.

This time the field party did not have the scope to visit the jadugoda Uranium deposit due to some security and environmental hazardous issues. Hence description of jadugoda deposit may be omitted.Narwapahar Underground Mine

Coordinates: 22O42: 86O16The uranium deposit at Narwapahar is one of the many economic deposits in the Singhbhum Thrust Belt (STB). The orebodies are mono-mineralic the uranium occurring as uraninite and the host rock is chlorite quartz schist containing some magnetite. The underlying schist is of similar composition but with increased magnetite content. The ore-bearing chlorite quartz-schist is overlain by a quartz chlorite schist. At their maximum extent the orebodies have a strike length of about 2100 m and extend to a vertical depth of 600 m.

There are 6 uranium-bearing beds/lodes which are:1.Main Band I 2.Main Band II3.Band No. 34.HW Lode West of Fault5.Khundungri I6.Khundungri II

The average dip of the orebody is 30-35 towards the north-east and occurs as tabular lenticular horizons. The thickness of orebodies varies from 2.5 m to 20 m.It is located 12km west of Jaduguda which was commissioned in 1995. A 70o decline has been developed as entry to the mine in the footwall side of the ore body through which large machineries move underground. From the decline, ramps are developed as entry to the stopes at different elevations. This has helped in using large trackless mining machineries like twin-boom drill jumbo, low-profile dump-truck, service truck, passenger carrier, low profile grader, scissor-lift etc. The technology has brought early commissioning of the mine with high productivity and low mining cost. It has also provided the flexibility to adopt different stoping methods that become suitable due to the variations in width and inclination of the ore lenses. Cut-and-fill is the principal stoping method adopted in Narwapahar mine. The de-slimed mill tailings of Jaduguda mill and the waste generated from the Naroapahar mines are used as the filling material. Hoisting of ore from deeper levels is done through a vertical shaft sunk up to a depth of 355m.

Through the vertical shaft we entered the 6th level and via cross-cuts to ramp which fore-laid the ore face where mining was conducted, then we exited from there to the decline which connected the 6th and 7th level.

Mining Methodologies PROPERTIES OF THE ROCK AND ORE BODY AT NARWAPAHAR MINE:Ore strength Moderate,

Rock strength - Weak (Schist),

Shape of the ore Disseminated (lens shaped), irregular

Dip of the ore-body 30-35 NE

Size of ore-body Narrow

Thickness - 2.5 m to 20 m

Ore Grade Low (in aspect of Global Grade Distribution)In-Situ: 0.0047

Run off Mine(ROM): 0.040

Cut off : 0.04

Uniformity Variable

Depth of ore-body Moderate

Tonnage:Total: 16.39 MT

Reservoir Loss: 3MT

Daily: 1500T

(As per data provided during mine-visit)

Based on this, Cut and Fill method whose details are given below, is now practised at Naroapahar Mines

Cut And Fill Method:Horizontal at-back Cut and Fill mining method is applicable under wide range of conditions from small to large deposits of irregular outline, at to steep dipping deposits. The cost of preparation and development is much lower than other methods. The production starts quickly requiring less manpower. The cost of lling operation is high. The development work involves preparation of a haulage drive along the orebody at the lower main level and an undercut at 5-10 m above. There will be number of separate raises for the purpose of man-ways, ore-pass and lling material. The stopes are 90 m long and divided into three panels of 30 m each, separated by 5-m-thick rib pillars. The producing panel is excavated by overhand drilling using Jackhammer drills of 33 mm diameter and wagon-mounted COP-89 drifters. Excessive damage of the roof is experienced by vertical overhand drilling in case of weak rock conditions. The pattern can be changed to 3-m long horizontal holes by air-leg-mounted Jackhammers in two rows on a 1.8-m-high vertical face. The roof is pre-supported by 12-m-long cable bolts at 2*2 m grid, repeated every 7-10 m lift. The blasting is done in horizontal slices not exceeding 3 m in the roof leaving 5*5 m post pillars at 15 m centres along strike and 12 m across if the ground condition dictates.The mucking is carried out by 1.3 m3 electric Load Haul and Dumps (LHDs) operating on consolidated ll. It loads and hauls the broken ore up to the nearest ore- pass which opens at a track-facilitated haulage drive. Diesel or battery-powered locomotive pulls a train of 5-tonne granby cars. The locomotive carries the ore up to the main ore-pass over an underground jaw crusher with output of (-150) mm size. The primary crushed ore is hoisted to surface in 6-tonne-skip driven by 697 KW koepe winders. The stopes are thereafter filled with waste rock, sand and +32 micron size classied mill tailings mixed with 5-15% cement. Cyclic drilling, blasting, loading and lling in three panels of stopes constitute the Cut and Fill mining operation.

Roof Support:Roof support is needed for the giving additional strength which protect most valued employees as well as equipments. A method for providing secondary roof support in an underground mine such as to reduce the hazard of localised crumbling or deteorating condition of a mine roof and is used to improve the stability and maintain the load bearing capacity of the rock near to the boundaries of an underground excavation. The primary objective of a support system is to mobilize and conserve the inherent strength of the rock mass so that it becomes self-supporting.The choice of the type of the support is installed in a particular underground excavation depend upon the extent of the zone of the loosened or fractured rock surrounding excavation.The following roof supports used in Narwapahar are-ROCK BOLTING Rock bolting in 1.5m*1.5m grid pattern is done in the mine using bolts of diameter 16mm, length-2m. A pool out test is carried out to test strength of the bolts. Since the amount of loosening doesnt usually penetrate very far into the rock mass, the support is only required to hold up the dead weight of the loose material. Mechanically anchored rock bolts with the addition of mesh were small pieces of rock a likely to fall out between bolt heads, provide very effective support for the condition. Rock bolts are inserted perpendicular to the foliation.

WIRE MESH: Wire mesh is used to support small pieces of loose rocks and broken rocks from falling. It is easily attached with the roof enforcement with extra faceplates and nuts. It is easily repaired. Mesh is held in place with additional faceplates or washers and nuts on rock-bolts or using separate pins.

Banduhurang Open Cast MineBanduhurang Open Cast Mine is the first open cast Uranium Mine in India. Here mining operation is done by Uranium Corporation of India Limited.

Location: Uranium mineralisation is bounded betweenLatitude 22 43' 15" to 22 43' 45"Longitude 86 9' 45" to 86 11' 30" Survey of India Topo-sheet No. 73 J / 2.

The deposit is situated 6 km. south of Tatanagar railway Station, under Dhalbhum subdivison of E. Singhbhum Dist. Jharkhand.Physiographically the region is marked with three prominent ridges with E-W & NW-SW trend. They are Talsa Pahar, Nandup & Banduhurang.

Regional geology:-Banduhurang mine is located at Singhbhum thrust belt which is well known for poly-metallic mineralisation mainly copper uranium mineralisation. At Banduhurang, mineralisation is mostly confined within chlorite schist. The quartzite/ sericite band overlying the Cu - U mineralisation over the whole stretch of STB from Rakha- Jaduguda in the east to Mohuldih on the west considered as a marker horizon for locating uranium mineralisation. The quartz-sericite schist is overlain by Mica schist. A thin band of Talcose- sericite schist has been reported below the mineralized chlorite schist which is marked by end of mineralization (barrier of radioactive mineral). The bottom most rocks like conglomerates, quartzites with metabasics are represented by Dhanjori group of formation. Basement Singhbhum granite are exposed at south (Rajdoha village).

Stratigraphic Succession (by AMD):Soda graniteMica schistQuartzite /sericite schistMeta greywacke (quartz granular rock) chlorite schistTalcose sericite schistBanded quarzite with /without magnetiteConglomerate & metabasics.Singhbhum granite.

Local Geology

At Banduhurang uranium mineralisation is found at the horizon of chlorite schist horizon is bounded by arkosic rocks on south and northern boundary is not so well defined due to soil cover.At the upper band of chlorite schist small bands & patches of feldspathic schist and silicified schist/quartzite are present discontinuous.

StructuresThe cross folds affect Turamdih and the neighbouring area with a trend of WNW to ESE having asymmetrical fold limb. Steeper limbs dip 70 to vertical & other dip from 10 to 45, both limbs dip northwards. Plunge of the folds is to the east. The transverse thrust fault at the eastern side causing dislocation and up throw the continuity of mineralisation further east wards.

Joints: -Three sets of joints are:47 towards N 28

65 towards N 118

81 towards N 297

Mineralogy of ores:Common radioactive mineral is Uraninite, occurs as discrete grains in three different modes: -As inclusion in single flakes of chlorite.

In the folia of phyllosilicates &

As large grains

Ore Shape: Rounded, Oval, & irregular outlines. Mostly associated with chlorite and less with quartz.Other radioactive minerals: goethite, epidote.Accessory minerals: - Sulphides (Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, Bornite), Oxides (Magnetite, Limonite), Silicates (Epidote, Tourmaline), Titanium rich mineral (Ilmenite, Rutile, Sphene, Anatase) etc.

On the basis of lithology it is difficult to demarcate the Uranium horizon from non-uranium bearing rocks except that the uranium mineralisation is always bottomed by talc - sericite schist.[Compiled from the report given at Banduhurang mine]

Mining methodologyThe mining at Banduhurang is conventional opencast mine using excavator-dumper combination. Careful selection of HEMM was required to maintain ore benches of 6m height, OB/waste benches of 6m/12m height while maintaining ROM quality as well as stripping requirements. A code of practice was formulated for control of ROM quality for this low grade deposit. All important areas will be connected by intranet system for proper planning and control.

Cut off Geological cut off was kept at a value where it was observed that with marginal increase in cut-off grade, the average grade increases minimally while the geological reserve reduces sharply. The cut-off grade value was further confirmed during pit optimisation studies, where the economic pit shell remained almost the same with increase in cut off over a range.

Dilution during miningFrom the 3D block model it was observed that ore zone is enveloped by sub-grade zone (little less than the cut-off grade) which is further enveloped by a zone having still low uranium values. The average grade of sub-grade zone was estimated and it was envisaged as the contributory factor for diluting the runoff-mine ore during actual mining operation. This dilution factor was introduced in the block model before pit optimisation. Conclusion

Suggestions for future prospecting

A stage in the uranium mineralisation of the Singhbhum Thrust Belt has been reached when practically all the exposed areas have been carefully scanned or surveyed in detail for deposits of uranium, but the number of economic deposits so far located is limited. There are, however, vast areas covered with soil or alluvium, especially around the principal streams or are under a thick mantle of gravel or talus and under thick jungle cover which hold out possibilities of occurrence of workable deposits of the presently known or better grade. Such areas are:Between Baharagora and Singpura.

Between Gohala and Badia Mine (particularly around Sankh Nala).

East of Bhatin and north of Jaduguda.

In Rajdah region

Around the Kharkai river, east of Tamadungri.

Under the alluvium of the Sanjai River between Mahali Murup and Nilmohanpur.

Intermittently between Mahali Murup and Duaraparam and Mahali Murup and Lotapahar.

Being the students of Geology, this field party may suggest that owing to absence of exposures of rocks the conventional geological methods are of no avail in these areas. In such areas, for locating new deposits, extensions of known deposits and location of possible areas need further detailed attention. Valuable suggestions can be provided by geochemical surveys based on analysis of soil samples and hydro-geochemical and geo-botanical techniques. This may be followed by geophysical surveys based on magnetometric and resistivity surveys, the latter to assist in deciphering the structure, or by the magnetic method where the uranium mineralization is associated with rocks having appreciable magnetite content.Inferences & SummaryIt may be stated that although the uranium deposits discovered so far in Singhbhum, which are in varying stages of exploration are adequate to meet our present requirement of uranium, they are of a lower grade in comparison to those being exploited in other parts of the world. Hence, for our long-range requirement, location of additional and better grade deposits is absolutely necessary. This requires all-round stepping up of the integrated effort of various branches of earth science and technology with special emphasis on close field and laboratory study of controls of uranium mineralization and application of geochemical and geophysical techniques of prospecting to locate hidden deposits. Singhbhum is so far the most important and richest uraniferous province in India just after Assam and it is hoped that it will continue to play a dominant and key role in the development of nuclear power programme and others needs of atomic energy in India.

AcknowledgementWe would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to some people without whom the trip would have not been possible. Prof. Joydip Mukhopadhyay, Head of the Department, who allowed us to carry out the field work in Narwapahar. We are also thankful to all the Officials and Staff of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited and the Government of Jharkhand for permitting us to carry out our fieldwork . Lastly all our classmates for the immense competitive cooperation and friendly coordination.

Department of Geology, Presidency University, Kolkata | Field Report UG-III, Semester VI | [page of]