You are on page 1of 6

SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA

No.11, 2021, pp.40-45

Characterization of Hydrothermal Alteration at Chigargunta


and Bisanatham Gold Deposits, South Kolar Greenstone
Belt, Dharwar Craton, India

DEBASIS PAL1, SAKTHI SARAVANAN CHINNASAMY 2* and SWAPNENDU GOON3


1
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, National Institute of Technology Rourkela - 769 008, India
2
Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400 076, India
3
Matri Apartment H-5 Bl-B BC 336, Samarpally Krishnapur, Kolkata - 700 102, India
*E-mail: geosaks@gmail.com/chinnasamys@iitb.ac.in

Abstract: The South Kolar Greenstone Belt (SKGB) which is the southern extension of the main Kolar belt hosts several gold
deposits and prospects. Among them Chigargunta (CG) and Bisanatham (BN) deposits are most significant deposits. Excluding
the western lode of CG which is within the mafic volcanic rocks, majority of the auriferous lodes are hosted in the felsic
volcanics (Champion Gneiss) that forms the main eastern mineralization system. In BN, mineralisation is hosted mainly within
mafic volcanic rocks that are in closer proximity with Bisanatham granite. Different litho-association has certainly impacted in
the development of distinct alteration zones which are mineralogically different in each of these prospects. Three distinct alteration
zones with specific mineral assemblages were reported in CG and, at least two zones were identified in BN. The present study
focuses on alteration mineralogy and its changes within the alteration zones to characterize the hydrothermal alterations of
two distinct gold hosting rocks, in terms of mineralogy and mineral chemistry, in SKGB.

Keywords: Gold Deposits, Hydrothermal Alteration, Mineral Chemistry, Chigargunta, Bisanatham, South Kolar Schist Belt,
Dharwar Craton

INTRODUCTION and Pal, 2008; Saravanan et al., 2009; Chinnasamy and Mishra,
There are several reported gold prospects and deposits in 2013; Swain et al., 2015; Swain et al., 2018). Recently, Pal et
the Dharwar Craton. They are the world-famous Kolar and Hutti al. (2019) on the basis of fluid inclusion and stable isotope
gold deposits apart from Ramagiri, Jonnagiri, Mangalur, and (carbon and sulfur) data from the CG and BN, inferred that the
Gadag etc. Although the Kolar Gold Mines discontinued the low saline metamorphic fluid derived from decarbonation of
operations in the year 2001 there is still proven gold deposits marine carbonates was the most plausible source of ore forming
and prospects in the southern extension of the Kolar belt which fluid in the SKGB. They have also reported three distinct
is labeled as South Kolar Greenstone Belt (SKGB). Chigargunta hydrothermal alteration zones in CG deposit and two in BN
(CG) and Bisanatham (BN) are the two significant deposits deposit each with specific mineral assemblages. In this
among others in SKGB (Fig. 1a). In the CG, most of the communication, we present the hydrothermal alteration, mineral
auriferous lodes are concentrated in felsic volcanics (i.e. assemblages as well as changes in mineral compositions of
Champion Gneiss) in the eastern part while few are hosted by two distinct hydrothermally altered host rocks from two
mafic volcanic rocks in the west (Fig. 1b). Metabasalt is the different gold deposits – CG and BN – in SKGB.
major host rock for the auriferous veins in the BN. Detailed
accounts on structural control, alteration mineral assemblages, GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
ore petrography, fluid inclusions and stable isotopes of orogenic
gold deposits from Archaean greenstone belts of Dharwar Kolar Schist Belt, a Neoarchaean granite-greenstone belt
Craton are presented by several authors (Ziauddin and (Chardon et al., 2002) that extends 80 km N-S and 2-4 km
Ramachandra, 1963; Santosh, 1986; Siddaiah and Rajamani, E-W has been historically well known for gold production.
1989; Mishra and Panigrahi, 1999; Pandalai et al. 2003; Mishra Prolific gold mineralization within the schist belt is hosted

SPEC.PUBL.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, NO.11, 2021


CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AT CHIGARGUNTA AND BISANATHAM GOLD DEPOSITS 41

within bimodal volcanics in the form of quartz-carbonate veins, minor gold mines and prospects are located in this part of the
and less in sulfidic amphibolites and banded quartzites belt where CG and BN are historically the two significant ones.
(Siddaiah and Rajamani, 1989). Kolar Gold Field (KGF), Virupakshipura-Lakkhanayakhanhalli (New-Bisanatham),
located in the central part of the belt, has produced more than Yerakonda, Kudithanapalli, Sanganapalli, Peddapartikunta and
800 tonnes of gold. KGF is demarcated by two NW-SE trending Malappakonda are the other notable prospects in the SKGB
faults – the Balaghat North Fault in the north and Gifford’s (Fig. 1a).
Fault in the south. The southern extension of the schist belt In the CG deposit the central and eastern parts are occupied
beyond the Gifford’s Fault is characterized by reduced thickness by felsic volcanics (Champion Gneiss) whereas most of the
of the basin, intrusion of Bisanatham Granite and subtle change western part of the belt is covered by mafic rocks comprising
in the metamorphic grade of basalt into amphibolites. The metabasalt and metagabbro. The major auriferous lodes are
continuation of Champion lode to south of the Gifford’s Fault found within the Champion Gneiss although few lodes occur
is highly obscured. Considering these major changes, for the within the mafic volcanics (Fig. 1b). The major mineralization
ease of discussion in this study, the portion of the schist belt is controlled by N-S trending and steeply dipping shear
between Gifford’s Fault and Bisanatham Fault, which is the foliation. The BN deposit comprises old BN and new BN mines
actual delimiter between Central and South Kolar Schist Belt, (Fig.1a). Gold mineralization in old BN is mainly associated
has been clubbed with SKGB. The SKGB extends for 30km with quartz veins within schistose metabasalt. The old BN mine
along the strike length with a 3 km width at the center of the has three lodes – the Main lode, Foot wall lode and the Hanging
belt which covers around 50 sq. km area. Many major and wall lode. In the new BN mine, gold mineralization has been

Fig. 1. (a) Geological map of SKGB showing locations of Chigargunta and Bisanatham deposits with other smaller prospects. Inset shows the
location of SKGB in the Dharwar Craton (modified after Vishwanatha, 1978). (b) Geological map of Chigargunta deposit showing the distribution
of the auriferous lodes. Yellow circles denote sample locations. Modified after GSI (1982).

SPEC.PUBL.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, NO.11, 2021


42 DEBASIS PAL

divided into two sub-systems namely the Eastern load system Chlorite
and the Central load system. The Eastern lode system occurs Three types of hydrothermal chlorites were identified from
at the contact of schistose metabasalt and Champion Gneiss. the CG as reported by Pal et al. (2019), they are; (i) type-1:
The Central lode system occurs well within the mafic chlorite as alteration product of biotite, at times associated with
greenstones (mainly granular amphibolite). The trend of epidote; (ii) type-2: chlorite as alteration product of hornblende
foliation in the Eastern lode system is N15°- N25°E, and dip in association with epidote; (iii) type-3: chlorite as alteration
westerly at 70°-80°. The foliation planes act as major structural product of hornblende without epidote. Type-2 and 3 chlorites
control for the emplacement of auriferous veins. from the CG are Fe-rich and show almost similar Fetotal value
with an average value of 2.31 atom per formula unit (apfu)
PETROGRAPHY except type-1 chlorite which is having quite high Mg content.
Compositionally two types of chlorites were identified from
At CG the felsic part of the unaltered host rock i.e. the BN deposit. They are: Fe-rich (type-1) and Mg-rich (type-2)
Champion Gneiss comprises of microcline, plagioclase, chlorites. Fe-rich type-1 chlorite is similar to CG chlorites and
perthite, quartz, ±biotite, ±muscovite with minor epidote, are chamositic in composition, whereas type-2 chlorite is rich
ilmenite, sphene and zircon. The intercalated mafic part within in Mg (avg. 3.08 apfu) and is compositionally different from
the Champion Gneiss is defined by preferential alignment of the CG chlorites. Thus, most of the CG chlorites fall within the
amphibole along with biotite, muscovite, calcite, and quartz. chamosite field except type-1 that falls within clinochlore field.
Tourmaline, chlorite, biotite, muscovite, epidote and quartz However, BN chlorite belongs to both chamosite (type-1) and
along with pyrrhotite, pyrite and arsenopyrite are the major clinochlore (type-2) group (Fig. 2b). Both the types of chlorites
hydrothermal alteration minerals characteristics of proximal (Fe-rich and Mg-rich) are observed from the two different areas.
alteration zone. At some places chlorites occur as an alteration In general CG chlorites towards Mg-rich ones while BN has
product of biotite and amphibole. Tourmaline in general is two compositionally different types of chlorites.
euhedral in nature, occurs in clusters and shows strong
zoning. Almost all of the feldspars are altered and converted Biotite
to sericite. CG and BN contain biotite with distinct chemical
At BN the quasi-altered host metabasalt, mainly comprises composition as described by Pal et al. (2019). However, in this
of amphibole, chlorite, biotite and quartz with subordinate study an extensive analysis of biotite shows further variable
amount of epidote, sphene and rutile. Schistosity is defined by chemical compositions form both the deposits. It can be
amphiboles and streaks of biotite. Biotite, muscovite, epidote, classified into two types based on the observed chemical
tourmaline are the major hydrothermal assemblages occurring composition form both the deposits. In general, biotite (Bt)-1
along with quartz–carbonate veins in the mineralized zone. is Fe-rich whereas Bt-2 is Mg-rich. A slight difference in Fe/
Pyrrhotite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite are the major (Fe+Mg) values were observed in Bt-1 between CG (avg. 0.49)
sulfides in the decreasing order of abundance in the mineralized and BN (avg. 0.61) deposits. However, Bt-2 has almost similar
zone. Tourmaline mainly occurs along the schistosity in the composition in both the deposits (CG: avg. 0.33; BN: avg.
alteration zones. These tourmalines are zoned and smaller in 0.38). The concentration of Fe in Bt-1 is relatively higher in
size when compared to CG tourmaline. BN when compared to CG biotite and can be classified as ferro-
biotite (Fig. 2c) and Annite (Fig. 2d). Both the types of biotite
MINERAL CHEMISTRY from CG fall within the magnesio-biotite field (Fig. 2c) and
classified as phlogophite biotite (Fig. 2d).
Amphibole
Amphiboles in general occur in both the deposits and occur Tourmaline
along the foliation. Amphiboles from the CG are ferro- Tourmaline from both the deposits belongs to alkali group
tschermakite in composition that is altered to form actinolite (Fig. 2e). Chemically most of the tourmalines from the CG
in their rim. However, at BN there are two types of amphiboles: deposit are dravite-oxydravite in composition except few
(i) high Fe (type-1) that are similar to CG amphiboles and (ii) samples, whereas BN tourmalines are both schrol-oxyschrol
high Mg (type-2) that are magnesio-hornblende in composition. and dravite-oxydravite in nature (Fig. 2e). Tourmalines from
Type-1 amphiboles are similar in compositions and show the both areas show strong zoning and variation in terms of
similar alteration trend with CG amphiboles whereas type-2 FeO, MgO, CaO, NaO and TiO2 content from core to rim.
shows alteration trend towards actinolite field from Mg- Deprotonation substitution were noticed from both locations
hornblende (Fig. 2a). in SKGB which is characterized by the total Fe+Mg <3 apfu.

SPEC.PUBL.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, NO.11, 2021


CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AT CHIGARGUNTA AND BISANATHAM GOLD DEPOSITS 43

Fig. 2. Mineral classification diagram showing various minerals occurring in the alteration zones. (a) Amphibole classification (after Leake et al.
1997); (b) Chlorite classification (after Bayliss, 1975); (c and d) Biotite classification [(c) after Foster, (1960); (d) after Wlodek et al., (2015)]
(e) Tourmaline classification based on the major alkali minerals in the X site vacancy; and (f) Mg/(Mg+Fe) content vs X-site vacancy/(X-site
vacancy+Na) (after Hawthorne and Henry, 1999).

Tourmalines from the CG area have relatively high Na relatively rich in K2O content as compared to CG (CG: avg.
content (avg. 0.63) and low X-site vacancy (avg: 0.19 apfu), 9.64 wt.%; BN: avg. 10.80 wt.%).
whereas BN tourmalines are poor in Na (avg. 0.39 apfu) and
has more X-site vacancy (avg. 0.30 apfu). CG tourmalines Calcite
generally contain low Fe/(Fe+Mg) (avg. 0.31) in contrast to The carbonates in the alteration zones of CG and BN are
BN counterparts (avg. 0.56). Occurrence of tourmaline in represented by calcite. Though at CG the concentration of
association with biotite, muscovite and chlorite (±epidote) calcite is very less in the auriferous veins, at BN significant
indicate that presence of more Fe 2+ than Fe 3+ which is amount of calcite is present in the quartz-carbonate veins.
inferred from the Mossbauer spectroscopic data (Dyar et al. Calcites at CG are quite variable in composition of FeO,
1999). Higher Fe2+content in tourmaline was observed from MnO and MgO. FeO content varies from 0.42 to 2.36 (avg.
both CG (avg. 0.72 apfu) as well as BN (avg. 1.25 apfu) 1.2 wt.%) while MnO and MgO ranges from 0.22 to 3.0 (avg:
deposits. 1.1 wt.%) and 0.08 to 1.35 (avg: 0.55 wt.%) respectively.
BN calcite shows similar compositions of MnO (1.13 wt.%),
Muscovite MgO (0.42 wt.%) and FeO (1.26 wt.%) with CG counterparts.
Muscovite composition does not vary much between CG
and BN except K2O concentration. However, intra-deposit Epidote
compositional variation is observed from both the deposits. Epidote from both CG and BN falls into either zoisite or
FeOtotal varies from 0.40 to 4.99 (avg. 2.55 wt.%) in CG while clinozoisite group. Epidotes from the BN are SiO2 and Al2O3
in BN it ranges from 1.47 to 6.35 (avg. 2.35 wt.%). At CG, rich compared to CG ones. The average values for SiO2 and
MgO content lies between 0.07 and 1.82 (avg. 0.73 wt.%) Al2O3 at CG are 38.26 and 28.40 wt.% and for BN are 40.28
whereas at BN it varies from 0.17 to 1.49 (avg. 0.72 wt.%). and 32.36 wt.% respectively. Similar content of CaO was
K2O at CG muscovite varies from 7.97 to 10.55 wt.% but at observed in both the locations. The average value of CaO
BN it ranges from 9.34 to 11.12 wt.%. BN muscovite is from the CG is 23.4 wt.% while BN is 24.42 wt.%. In contrast to

SPEC.PUBL.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, NO.11, 2021


44 DEBASIS PAL

BN, CG epidote is high in Fetotal with an average value of muscovite, epidote, sericite present in both CG and BN
6.21 wt.%. indicates that the alteration has taken place at mid to upper
greenschist facies metamorphic conditions (~400°C and 3 kbar;
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Table. 1 of McCuaig and Kerrich, 1998).
From a detailed petrographic and mineral chemistry it is
The present study records mineralogical and composi- evident that the influx of the hydrothermal fluid along the
tional changes of the two distinct hydrothermally altered host shear zone produces chlorite and calcite from amphibole as a
rocks from two different deposits in SKGB. Amphiboles from result of fluid-rock interaction (Phillips and Groves, 1984).
the CG and BN are ferro-tschermakite and magnesio- Supply of significant amount of sulfur from fluid helps to
hornblende in composition respectively. These amphiboles are react with amphiboles and precipitate pyrrhotite along with
altered to actinoilte at the rim of the grains during the chlorite and calcite. Similarly, pyrite is precipitated from
hydrothermal alteration process. Three types of chlorites with biotite due to sulfidation reaction in the alteration zone
varying Mg and Fe contents were observed in these deposits. which is evident from the petrography. Thus, hydro-
A wide range of substitution between Si and AlIV in the thermal chlorite and biotite compositions that are associated
tetrahedral site and Fe, Mg and AlVI in the octahedral site is with sulfide minerals reflect the hydrothermal alteration that
observed in these chlorites in both CG and BN. Similar to occurred at mid-upper greenschist facies metamorphic
chlorite, two types of biotite Fe-rich and Mg-rich, were conditions possibly through metamorphogenic fluid during
observed in the alteration zones in both the deposits. Each gold mineralization.
biotite type is compositionally similar for both CG and BN
deposits however, differs between the deposits. Tourmalines Acknowledgements: We sincerely thank Dr. V. N. Vasudev
in SKGB are also of two types. CG tourmaline is mostly of and his colleagues at the Geological Society of India for inviting
dravite-oxydravite in composition and BN tourmaline us to present this work during the National Seminar on ‘Gold
compositions varying from schrol-oxyschrol and dravite- Mining in India: The Way Forward’, held at Kolar Gold Fields
oxydravite. The low saline, reduced ore forming fluid was during February 15-16, 2019. This study has been financially
responsible for transportation of the ore is evident from the supported by a grant to SSC from the Science and Engineering
tourmaline chemistry at SKGB, which is characterized by low Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and
Na, high Fe2+, moderate to high X-site vacancy and low- Technology (DST), Government of India, under Young Scientist
moderate Fe number of tourmalines from both the CG and BN Scheme (YSS/2015/000960). EPMA data were generated by
deposits. This variation is similar to composition of Hutti and DST-sponsored CAMECA SX-Five electron microprobe
Uti tourmalines as previously reported (Hazarika et al. 2015). housed in the Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay. DP
An extensive work on fluid inclusion and stable isotopic studies is thankful to NIT Rourkela for support and financial assistance
from the CG and BN also support low saline, reduced in the form of a research fellowship. This work forms a part of
metamorphogenic fluid (Pal et al. 2019) for gold mineralization. the doctoral thesis of DP. An anonymous journal reviewer is
The mineral assemblage i.e. tourmaline, biotite, chlorite, thanked for the constructive reviews and comments.

References
Bayliss, P. (1975) Nomenclature of the trioctahedral chlorites. L.R. (1999) Stable isotope and crystal chemistry of tourmaline
Canadian Mineral., v.13, pp.178–180. across pegmatite-country rock boundaries at Black Mountain and
Chardon, D., Peucat, J-J., Jayananda, M., Choukroune P, Fanning, Mount Mica, southwestern Maine, USA. European Jour. Mineral.,
C.M. (2002) Archean granite-greenstone tectonics at Kolar (South v.11, pp.281–294.
India): interplay of diapirism and bulk inhomogeneous contraction Foster, M.D. (1960) Interpretation of composition of trioctaheral
during juvenile magmatic accretion. Tectonics, v.21(3), pp.1-17. micas. U.S. Geol. Surv., pp.1–49.
Chinnasamy, S.S. and Mishra, B. (2013) Greenstone metamorphism, GSI (1982) New Gold Finds South of Kolar Gold Field (In
hydrothermal alteration, and gold mineralization in the genetic Mallappakonda-Chigaragunta areas, Chittoor Dt., Andhra
context of the granodiorite-hosted gold deposit at Jonnagiri, Pradesh. Geol. Surv. India, Unpubld. Report..
Eastern Dharwar Craton, India. Econ. Geol., v.108 (5), pp.1015– Hawthorne, F.J. and Henry, D.J. (1999) Classification of the minerals
1036. of the tourmaline group. European Jour. Mineral., v.11, pp.201–
Dyar, M.D., Guidotti, C.V., Core, D.P., Wearn, K.M., Wise, M.A., 216.
Francis, C.A., Johnson, K., Brady, J.B., Robertson, J.D. and Cross, Hazarika, P., Mishra, B. and Pruseth, K.L. (2015) Diverse tourmaline

SPEC.PUBL.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, NO.11, 2021


CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AT CHIGARGUNTA AND BISANATHAM GOLD DEPOSITS 45

compositions from orogenic gold deposits in the Hutti-Maski RP (ed) Gold’ 82: the geology geochemistry and genesis of gold
greenstone belt, India: implications for sources of ore-forming deposits. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp.689–712.
fluids. Econ. Geol., v.110, pp.337–353. Santosh, M. (1986) Ore fluids in the auriferous Champion reef of
Leake, B.E., Woolley, A.R., Arps, C.E., Birch, W.D., Gilbert, M.C., Kolar, South India. Econ. Geol., v.81, pp.1546–1552.
Grice, J.D., Hawthorne, F.C., Kato, A., Kisch, H.J., Krivovichev, Saravanan, C.S., Mishra, B. and Jairam, M.S. (2009) P–T conditions
V.G. and Linthout, K. (1997) Nomenclature of amphiboles: Report of mineralization in the Jonnagiri granitoid-hosted gold deposit,
of the subcommittee on amphiboles of the international eastern Dharwar Craton, southern India: Constraints from fluid
mineralogical association commission on new minerals and inclusions and chlorite thermometry. Ore Geol. Rev., v.36,
mineral names. Min. Mag., v.61, pp.295–321. pp.333–349.
McCuaig, T.C. and Kerrich, R. (1998) P-T-t-deformation fluid Siddaiah, N.S. and Rajamani, V. (1989) The geologic setting,
characteristics of lode gold deposits; evidence from alteration mineralogy, geochemistry, and genesis of gold deposits of the
systematics. Ore Geol. Rev., v.12, pp.381–454. Archean Kolar Schist Belt, India. Econ. Geol., v.84(8), pp.2155–
Mishra, B. and Pal, N. (2008) Metamorphism, fluid flux, and fluid 2172.
evolution relative to gold mineralization in the Hutti-Maski Swain, S. K., Sarangi, S., Sarkar, A., Bhattacharya, S., Srinivasan,
Greenstone Belt, Eastern Dharwar Craton, India. Econ. Geol., R., Patel, S. C., Pasayat, R.M., Sawkar, R. H. (2015) Isotope (C
v.103(4), pp.801–827. and O) composition of auriferous quartz-carbonate veins, Central
Mishra, B. and Panigrahi, M.K. (1999) Fluid evolution in the Kolar lode system, Gadag Gold Field, Dharwar Craton, India:
Gold Field: evidence from fluid inclusion studies. Mineral. Implications to source of ore fluids. Ore Geol. Rev., v.70, pp.305–
Deposita, v.34(2), pp.173–181. 320.
Pal, D., Chinnasamy, S.S., Goon, S., John, M.M. and Ghosh, S. (2019) Swain, S.K., Sarangi, S., Srinivasan, R., Sarkar, A., Kesarwani, M.,
Alteration mineralogy, fluid inclusions and stable isotope Mazumdar, A., Satyanarayanan, M. (2018) Stable isotope (COS)
studies from Chigargunta and Bisanatham gold deposits, South and geochemical studies of auriferous quartz-carbonate veins,
Kolar Greenstone Belt, Dharwar Craton, India: Implications Neoarchaean orogenic Ajjanahalli and Gadag Gold Field,
on genesis of gold mineralization. Ore Geol. Rev., v.111, Chitradurga schist belt, Dharwar Craton, southern India:
pp.102946. Implication for the source of gold mineralizing fluids. Ore Geol.
Pandalai, H.S., Jadhav, G.N., Mathew, B., Panchapakesan, V., Raju, Rev., v.95, pp.456–479.
K.K. and Patil, M.L. (2003) Dissolution channels in quartz and Viswanatha, M. N. (1978) Geological map of parts of the Kolar
the role of pressure changes in gold and sulfide deposition in the Greenstone belt, Karnataka, scale 1:50,000, Geological Survey
Archean, greenstone-hosted, Hutti gold deposit, Karnataka, India. of India, Bangalore.
Mineral. Deposita, v.38(5), pp.597–624. Wlodek, A., Grochowina, A., Golêbiowska, B. and Pieczka, A. (2015)
Phillips, G.N. and Groves, D.I. (1984) Fluid access and fluid wall A phosphate-bearing pegmatite from Lutomia and its relationships
rock interaction in the genesis of the Archean gold–quartz vein to other pegmatites of the Góry Sowie Block, southwestern
deposit at Hunt mine, Kambalda, Western Australia. In: Foster Poland. Jour. Geol. Sci., v.60(1), pp.45–72.

SPEC.PUBL.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, NO.11, 2021

You might also like