Abstract

Omprakash Mahato and P. K. Srivastava^*

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/390535

Beds of Talchir formation are well exposed in the western part of the Bokaro coalfields (Dudhi Nala) which comprises tillite, conglomerates, sandstones, with dropstones and turbidite sequences comprising siltstones and shales. This work presents the study of glacigenic Talchir sediments of Dudhi Nala section and sediments of Bokaro river. The morphology, major oxides, trace elements, Rare Earth elements and minerals found in these sediments are of great geological importance. The minerals present in these samples have been also investigated. The samples collected from Dudhi Nala are enriched in SiO2 (66-68 wt % compared to 25-60 wt % in the samples of Bokaro river). In contrast to SiO2, Fe2O3 is dominant in the Bokaro river samples. Dudhi Nala samples are rich in trace elements like Ba (1047 ppm), Rb ( 219 ppm), Sr (312 ppm), Zr ( 256 ppm) and Pb (65 ppm), where as Bokaro river samples dominates in Cr (140 ppm), Sc (39 ppm), V (117 ppm) and Zn (90 ppm). FESEM/ EDX analysis was done to study the morphological characteristics and elemental composition were analysed by FESEM/EDX. Thermal characteristics of the samples were studied by TGA/DSC. Further, XRD analysis confirmed that Calcite and feldspar are the common minerals present in the samples of the both the study areas.

Bokaro coalfield; Morphology; Minerals; Rare earth elements

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