Fluid inclusion study of radioactive granitoids and cherty cataclasite in the southeastern part of Nanded district, Maharashtra: implications for Uranium mineralisation

Abstract

Radioactive granitoids and cherty cataclasites are delineated in Thadisaoli–Khatgaon and Shahpur–Sujayatpur sectors in southeastern part of Nanded district, Maharashtra, which have recorded anomalous radioelemental contents (Granites: upto 1% U3O8 and 0.20% ThO2; Cherty cataclasites upto 0.11% U3O8 and <0.005% ThO2) and enrichment in trace element and rare metal and rare earth element concentration (Nb: upto 146ppm, Y: upto 226ppm, Zr: upto 559ppm and total REE: upto 2010ppm). The mineralised granitoids are affected by profuse pegmatitic/quartzo-feldspathic, quartz and epidote venations and mainly confined along the NE–SW and NNE–SSW faults/shear zones. Radioactive phases are represented by discrete uranium/thorium ore minerals (uraninite, β-uranophane and thorite) and high content of resistates viz., apatite, zircon, allanite, sphene, cerianite, monazite and ilmenite.