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INTRODUCTION

The ancient Indians were the first in the world to take notice of the mineral diamond for
its beauty and hardness. Diamond was discovered by the Indians in the eighth century B.C. They
used to collect diamonds from its secondary sources i.e., the quaternary gravel beds and gravel
bars in the sediments. Despite this ancient tradition, the primary sources of diamonds
(kimberlite, lamproite, and other kimberlite clan rocks) have been found in India only after its
Independence (except the Majhgawan pipe).The diamondiferous Majhgawan pipe has operated
as India's only significant primary diamond mine with a grade of about 10 carats per hundred
tonnes.

Diamond occurrences in India are quite widespread. Information on the ancient diamond
mines and geology of the diamond bearing strata is available from the writings of the medieval
period European travellers traders and Portuguese and British officials and geologists of the
Geological Survey of India (GSI). Systematic geological details are obtained from the
investigations carried out for diamonds since, 1950's, mostly by the GSI, which were at peak in
1980s with implementation of National Diamond Project, aimed at assessing the diamond
potentials of different known host rocks. Subsequent works were oriented towards locating

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primary host rock for diamond and many kimberlite bodies in the already known areas and new
kimberlite/lamproite fields in virgin areas were discovered.

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The known areas of occurrences of diamond source rocks are broadly grouped into three
diamond provinces, namely the South Indian Diamond Province (SIDP), the Central Indian
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Diamond Province (CIDP) and the East Indian Diamond Province (EIDP). Each of these
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Provinces extends approximately over an area of 100,000 sq. km and includes both primary
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(Kimberlites/Lamproites) and secondary source rocks (conglomerates and gravels) for diamond.
The SIDP is confined to the Dharwar Craton in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and
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Maharastra, the CIDP to the Aravalli Craton in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and
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Uttar Pradesh and the EIDP to the Bastar and Singhbhum Cratons in the states of Maharastra,
Chhattishgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.
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Considering the Cratons and presence of diamonds and the source rocks, areas have been
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prognosticated for kimberlite search in India.They are: (1) South Indian Diamond Province
(SIDP) including East Dharwar Craton and adjoining Dharwar Mobile Belt; (2) West Dharwar
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Province; (3) East Bastar Craton including parts of Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt (EGMB); (4) West
Bastar Craton; (5) Southern part of Bundelkhand – Aravalli Craton ; (6) North of Central Indian
Suture (CIS); (7) Southern part of Singhbhum Craton including Singhbhum Mobile Belt; (8)
Raigarh Mobile Belt; (9) Structural Corridor of Son – Narmada rift zone; (10) Structural
Corridor of Tapti Lineament Zone; (11) Mahanadi Gondwana Graben and (12) Godavari
Gondwana Graben.

The SIDP consists of both primary and secondary source rocks of diamond. The
kimberlites localised within the Eastern block of the Dharwar Craton are grouped into three
fields, namely Wajrakarur Kimberlite field, (WKF), Narayanpet kimberlite Field (NKF) and
Raichur Kimberlite Field (RKF). The major lamproite dykes occurring along the eastern margin
of the Craton i.e. within the Nallamalai Fold Belt (NFB) and close to the north eastern margin of
the Cuddapah basin are included in the Chelima Lamproite Field (CLF) and Jaggayyapeta
Lamproite Field (JLF) respectively. Until now, only the WKF is found to contain
diamondiferous pipes. Besides, the SIDP is well known for several diamondiferous
conglomerates in the Banganapalle conglomerate/sandstone horizons of which the late
Proterozoic Banganapalle conglomerate, occurring at the base of the Kurnool Group of rocks
 4

was extensively mined in both Kurnool and Palnad basins. Old workings are also found in the
middle Proterozoic Cumbum pebbly sandstone older to the Banganapalle conglomerate,
occurring in the Kolluru area in the north-eastern corner of Cuddapah basin. Though this
diamond occurrence is rather localised, it assumes significance, in that, many of the world
famous diamonds were reportedly recovered from gravels of the area. Another localised
occurrence of old mining activity confining to the Mesozoic /Tertiary (?) sandstone is around
Mallavelli to the east of Vijaywada and south-eastern side of the Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt. The
gravels mainly of Krishna river along with those of the Pennar river, Sagileru, Kundair, Hundri
and Ramileru yielded large quantities of diamonds. Diamond occurrences in the Godavari
gravels are sporadic.

The CIDP also consists of primary and secondary source rocks. The NE-SW trending
Panna Diamond belt with established ancient mining activity is located within this province.
This is the only belt where active mining for diamond is presently carried out in the country. The
National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd is exploiting Majhgawan kimberlite/lamproite,
the only diamond producing mine.A little amount of diamond is being recovered from placer
occurrences. The kimberlites/ lamproites (-1100Ma) intruding into the Kaimur Group of rocks
are found along the western margin of the Vindhyan basin adjoining the Bundelkhand granite

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and are included in Majhgawan Kimberlite/Lamproite Field. Kimberlitic rocks discovered in this

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province are only a few and sporadic and are reported from the Bundelkhand granite terrain. The

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Vindhyan Supergroup of rocks host a major share of diamonds produced from the Panna
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Diamond Belt in the form of three diamondiferous conglomerate horizons associated with the
Itwa sandstone, Jhiri shale, and Gahadra sandstone Formations of the Rewa Group of rocks of
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late Proterozoic age. Diamondiferous alluvial gravels are found mostly along the banks of the
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Ken-Ranj-Baghain rivers and lateritic gravels over the Baghain and Gahadra Sandstone
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Formations.
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The EIDP is known for ancient diamond mining activity at a few places only viz.,
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Wairagarh area in Maharastra, and Hirakud area in Orissa and Koel-Sankh river areas in
Jharkhand. Kimberlite discoveries in the province are very recent and investigations carried out
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in different parts of the Bastar Craton led to identification of two new kimberlite fields (1)
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Mainpur kimberlite Field (MKF) and (2) Tokapal Kimberlite Field (TKF), both in the state of
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Chhattisgarh. The kimberlites of the MKF intruded into the Khariar group of rocks and those of
TKF into the Indravati group of rocks of late Proterozoic age. Some of the kimberlites in the
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MKF are known to be diamondiferous. The recent discovery of kimberlitic / lamproitic rocks in
Nuapada district of Orissa has opened a new area of primary source rocks for diamond. A few
lamproite dykes have been discovered recently in adjoining Bargarh district, Orissa. A few of
the Cretaceous lamproites intruding into the Gondwana sediments of the Damodar valley
coalfields and South Rewa Gondwana basin show similarities to that of lamproitic rocks.
Diamonds are also reported in the gravels of Maini, Ib, and Mand rivers in Chhattishgarh and
Tel-Mahanadi rivers in Orissa. The ancient workings in Wairagarh area appear to be in the
conglomerates as well as gravels. The conglomerates and grit are associated with either the
middle Proterozoic Sakoli group or the early Proterozoic Dongargarh Group of rocks.

The Peninsular India with several Archaean-Proterozoic nuclei is cris-crossed by many

deep-seated fractures. These nuclei,underlain by.thick lithospheric mantle roots, have witnessed
different events of kimberlite,lamproite magmatism. The NW –SE trending fractures and /or
their intersections with NE-SW to ENE-WSW trending fractures appear to be major loci for
emplacement of kimberlites/lamproites. High level (crater facies) kimberlites and lamproites are
generally expected in the Aravalli and Bastar Cratons in view of their emplacement into the
platformal sediments. However, occurrences of large pipes cannot be ruled out in Cuddapah
 5

basin and even in highly eroded granite-greenstone terrain in the Dharwar Craton where 20 to 60
ha size diamondiferous kimberlite pipes have been found.

Until 1980, the kimberlite-exploration efforts by various exploration agencies were

rather limited and were not properly coordinated. However, in last 15 years India saw the
discovery of a number of kimberlites/lamproites in Chhattishgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
and Orissa, some of which are diamondiferous.(Fig. 1)

Meaningful prospecting and exploration for diamond and kimberlites depend much on
the right type of prognostication. Prognostication for mineral search is essential at different
stages of prospecting from regional operations over large areas to detailed operations over
narrowed down target areas.

DIAMOND RESERVE AND PRODUCTION IN INDIA

Diamond has been the most priced among the gems since more than 2000years.The price of
diamond depends upon its weight, quality, shape and flawlessness. Diamond has a high refractive index
and strong dispersion which gives it that exciting brilliance when cut as facetted stone. Gem diamonds

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are transparent and colourless or show faint shades of different colours. The transparent water clear

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diamonds are known as " of first water" or "blue white". When yellowish tinge is present, they are termed

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as off-colour stones. Diamonds with green, blue or red shades are rare but are most valuable gems.
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Flawless stones of good colour are employed in gem trade while off colour, flawed and defective
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stones, chips and cutting as well as small grains and dust are used industrially.
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RESOURCES:
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DIAMOND FIELDS OF INDIA ARE GROUPED INTO 3 REGIONS:

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1. South Indian tract of Andhra Pradesh, comprising parts of Anantapur, Cuddapah, Guntur, Krishna,
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Mahboobnagar and Kurnool districts

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2. Central Indian tract of Madhya Pradesh comprising Panna belt and

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3. Eastern Indian tract of mostly Chhattisgarh and Orissa, lying between Mahanadi and Godavari
valleys.
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As per the records from the Indian Mineral Year Book-2001, the recoverable reserves of diamond
as on 1.4.1995 are placed at 981,515 carats. In addition to the above, there are conditional resources of
about 1.9million carats. Recoverable reserves of diamond by grades and states, are given in table below:
RESERVES OF DIAMOND (BY STATES/GRADES) (IN CARATS)
State/Grade Recoverable reserves (As on 1.4.1995)
Proved Probable Possible Total
India(Grade: 851156 - 130359 981515
Unclassified)
By States
Andhra Pradesh 5465 - - 5465
MadhyaPradesh 845691 - 130359 976050

PRODUCTION & STOCKS

Production of diamond at 57,406 carats in 2000-2001 registered an increase of 40% over the
 6

previous year. There are two reporting mines both in public sector located in Panna district of Madhya
Pradesh. Of these, one mine, owned by National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (NMDC)
contributed as much as 99% to the total output of diamond and the remaining 1% was by the Department
of Geology & Mining, Govt of Madhya Pradesh.

Of the total output, gem variety covering only rough and uncut constituted 29% and
industrial 71% covering off colour and dark brown varieties. Mine head stocks of diamond at the
end of the year were 11360 carats as against 6095 carats in the beginning of the year. The
average daily employment of labourer during 2000-2001 was 360 as against 389 in 1999-2000.

PRODUCERS OF DIAMOND, 2000-2001

Location of Mine
Name and address of producer.
State District

National Mineral development Corporation. Ltd. Madhya

Panna
10-3-311/ A, Castle Hills, Masab Tank, Hyderabad- 500028, A.P. Pradesh

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Director of Geology & Mining, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Madhya

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Panna
Panna, Dist Panna, Madhya Pradesh Pradesh

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PRODUCTION OF DIAMONDS, 1998-99 TO 2000-2001
(By States) (Quantity in Carats; Value in Rs. ‘000)
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State 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001

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Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value

India 34580 216506 40956 213985 57406 276837
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Madhya 34580 216506 40956 213985 57406 276837

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Pradesh
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PRODUCTION OF DIAMOND 1999-2000 & 2000-2001

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(By Sector / state / district / states) (Qty. in carats; value in Rs.’000)

State/ 1999-2000 2000-2001
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District No.of Quantity Value No.of Quantity Value

Mines Gem Indus- Others Total Mines Gem Indus- Others Total
trial trial
India 2 11938 29017 40956 213985 2 16466 40940 - 57406 276837
Public 2 11938 29017 40956 213985 2 16466 40940 - 57406 276837
Sector
Private - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sector
Madhya 2 11938 29017 40956 213985 2 16466 40940 - 57406 276837
Pradesh
Panna 2 11938 29017 40956 213985 2 16466 40940 - 57406 276837
* Covers off colour and dark brown
 7

MINE-HEAD STOCKS OF DIAMONDS, 2000-2001

(By state / Grades) (Qty. in carats)

State At the beginning of the year At the end of the year
Gem Gem
Rough Rough
Industrial* Others Total Industrial* Others Total
& &
Uncut Uncut
India 2324 3771 - 6095 3489 7871 - 11360
Madhya
2324 3771 - 6095 3489 7871 - 11360
Pradesh
* Covers off colour and dark brown

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DETAILED INFORMATION ON DIAMOND IN MADHYA PRADESH,

CHHATTISGARH, MAHARASTRA AND ORISSA

DIAMOND PROSPECTS IN MADHYA PRADESH

PANNA DIAMOND BELT

Introduction

The diamond belt occurs on the northern fringe of the Vindhyan plateau in Panna and adjoining
districts of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. The belt is 80km long and 6 - 10 km wide and trends ENE
WSW. The area bounded by N.Latitude 24°30': 25°00' and E.Longitudes 80°00': 80°45' covers about
4000 sq.km. Sporadic diamond mining has been going on in this belt for nearly 400 years. Diamonds
occur in recent gravels, conglomeratic horizons in the Vindhyan Supergroup of Proterozoic sediments
and in two kimberlite/lamproite pipes intrusive into the above sediments. Even lateritic caps over

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sandstone are diamond bearing. The diamonds are largely of gem variety and off colour.

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Accessibility

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Panna, a small town and district headquarters is in the western part of the belt. It is well
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connected by road, 70km from Satna on Allahabad Bombay section of Central Railway and 200 km from
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Jhansi on Delhi-Madras trunk section. The nearest airport, Khajuraho, is at a distance of 40 km and is
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connected to Delhi and Varanasi. The western part of the diamond belt is in the Panna National Park and
is normally not available for exploration.
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Geological setup:

The area is represented by basement rocks comprising Bundelkhand Granites (2400 Ma approx.)
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with enclaves of older metamorphics such as sericite quarzite, banded magnetite quartzite, quartz--
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hornblende schist, garnetiferous mica schist and amphibolites.

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Bundelkhand granite is a composite mass of different phases of granite, composition ranging

from granite to tonalite and minor diorite variants. The bulk of the granite consists of coarse grained pink
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porphyritic granite, medium grained pink non-porphyritic granite and grey granite. The granites and older
metamorphics are traversed by numerous dolerite, olivine-dolerite, basalt, olivine-basalt, gabbro,
pyroxenite, peridotite, lamprophyre and possible kimberlite dykes. Syenite, micro-granite, pegmatite,
aplite and quartz veins have also been recorded from granites.

The Upper Proterozoic Supergroup of rocks overlies the basement with an unconformity. The
Vindhyans are represented by a sequence of sandstone, shale and limestone. They have been divided into
Semri, Kaimur, Rewa and Bhander group of rocks respectively in order of younging. The Gahadara
Sandstone surface is dotted by outliers of Deccan Trap basalt (60-110Ma approx.) and laterites.

The Vindhyans host a major share of diamonds of the Panna Diamond Belt because of the
Majhgawan and Hinota diamondiferrous kimberlites/ lamproites and the diamondiferous conglomerates
towards top of the Itwa sandstone, at the base of the Jhlri shale and, towards top of the Gahadara
Sandstone.

Lithostratigraphic succession of the rocks of the diamond belt is presented In Table 1.

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Table-1

LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC SUCCSESSION OF THE ROCKS IN PANNA DIAMOND BELT

Age Super Group Group Formation Member Lithology

Recent to Alluvium with diamondiferous gravel
Quaternary beds at the base
Diamondiferous and non-
diamondiferous lateritic gravel veneer
60-110 Ma Deccan Trap Two basaltic flows, partly lateritised
Cretaceous (?) Infra- Purple and white sandstone
(?) trappeans
----------------- ------------------ unconformity --------------------------------------------
Lower Rewa Group Pink and white, medium grained
Gahadara
to sandstone with diamondiferous
Sandstone
Middle conglomerate
Palaeozoic Green and yellow shale and siltstone
Jhiri Shale with diamondiferous conglomerate at
the base and as interbeds
Rohania White, medium grained sandstone

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Sandstone with diamondiferous conglomerate

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Itwa Sandstone Pindhra Shale Chocolate and green shale

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Bhulwa Limestone, chert
Limestone
VINDHYAN SUPER GROUP

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Banbiha Greenish, glauconite sandstone
Sandstone
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Chocolate and grey calcareous shale

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Panna Shale
and siltstone.
KIMBERLITE DIATREMES
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974-1120 Ma Kaimur Group Baghain Sst. White, medium grained sandstone.

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Pipartola Cong. Reddish conglomerate with jasper.

1250 Ma Semri Group Palkawan Shale Black, grey, yellow and white shale.
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Pandwafall Sst. Greenish glauconite sandstone.

------------------ ----------------- ------------------ Unconformity --------------------------------------------
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BUNDELKHAND GRANITES

2400 Ma Basalt, dolerite, gabbro, pyroxenite,

Intrusives
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lamprophyre and kimberlite (?) dykes.

Aplite, microgranite and quartz reefs.
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Multiphased granite intrusives (grey

Granites
granite, pink porphyritic granite and
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pink medium grained granite).

Sericite-quartzite, banded magnetite-
Older quartzite, muscovite schist,
metamorphics garnetiferous mica schist, amphibolite
gneiss and ultramafites.

Exploration:

The Geological Survey of India (G S I) carried out regional exploration over a large part of the
belt and detailed exploration of the two pipes, and two conglomeratic blocks at Hatupur and Sahidan. The
adjoining cratonic area of Bundelkhand has also been examined and a few ultrabasic and basic bodies
appeared interesting.

The diamond bearing lamproite pipe at Majhgawan is being mined by National Mineral
Development Corporation Limited (NMDC), with an average annual production of 16,000 carats. The
lamproite pipe at Hinota has low diamond incidence and is not worked. NMDC also took up mining of a
large gravel block at Ramkheria but abandoned the work due to operational difficulties. The extension of
Hatupur conglomerate block has been explored by MECL. Rest of diamond mining in the Panna area is
 11

done by the unorganised sector. The State Government collects 20% royalty on sale of diamonds from
this sector. . '

The occurrence of diamonds over such a long belt viewed in the light of only two known
diamond bearing pipes at one end of the belt strongly point to contribution of diamonds from more pipes.
A strong magnetic anomaly exists along the length of the diamond belt. Drilling at three places over this
anomaly has revealed presence of ultrabasic rocks below the sedimentary cover.

A geological map of the belt and a status map on the work carried out in Panna area are enclosed.

As a result of GSI's work several prospective blocks have been identified for further
investigation. Such blocks are listed below and short description on their status is enclosed. .

A. LAMPROITE/ KIMBERLITES

A.1 MAJHGAWAN KIMBERLITE/LAMPROITE DIATREME

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Geographic data:

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Location : Majhgawan, Panna district.
Lat.: N. 24039' ; Long. E.: 80002' ; Toposheet no. 63 O/2

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Coordinates :
Extent : 515 x 330 m diatreme. of
Access : Majhgawan pipe is located about 20 km south-west of Panna, the district
headquarters. Since Majhgawan pipe is a diamond producing mine, it is
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connected to Panna by an all weather road.

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Topography: The pipe intrudes into the Baghain sandstone, which forms a flat geomorphic surface with a
height of 360m to 400m above MSL. At present, the mine is approximately 80m deep with a number of
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benches.
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Surface water : NMDC has constructed a small reservoir just to the south of the mine wherefrom it uses
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water for its treatment plant.

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Ground water : The water table is approximately 20 m below the surface. The mine requires draining of
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water with the help of pumps.

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Geological setup:

The Majhgawan kimberlite diatreme identified as lamproite by a few is a downward tapering,

cone shaped body measuring about 515 x 330 m in plan. The contact with the host rock dips at fairly
constant angle of 700 inwards. The contact between the kimberlite diatreme and the Baghain sandstone is
normally sharp. In the western and southern periphery, however, the kimberlite is highly sheared and
traversed by a network of calcite veins.

The diatreme contains both cognate and accidental xenoliths, the former predominating over the
later. The accidental xenoliths include black porcellanite, purple shale and the Baghain sandstone.

The yellow and blue ground are well developed with a capping of 5 to 6m of soil. The contact
between the yellow and the blue ground is at an average depth of 14 m from the surface.

There are five varieties of kimberlite:

1. Basaltic kimberlite with phlogopite.

2. Basaltic kimberlite without phlogopite.
 12

3. Kimberlite breccia with phlogopite.

4. Kimberlite breccia without phlogopite and
5. Kimberlite breccia with abundant phlogopite

Three distinct phases of emplacement of kimberlite could be recognised from the study of matrix
and cognate xenoliths of the kimberlite breccia.

Exploration :

It is to be emphasised at the outset that the Majhgawan kimberlite is the only commercially
exploited kimberlite in the country. NMDC which has been mining the deposit for many years possess
data on incidence, average weight and types of diamonds and aspects related to its mining, treatment and
marketability of diamonds. However, the exploration programme was aimed at: (1) establishing offshoots
of the kimberlite diatreme, (2) deciphering the geometry of the body and study of different petrographic
varieties at depth and (3) establishing incidence of diamond in the 'extended arm' of kimberlite on the
basis of surface sampling with the help of deep pits.

A total of 2943.70 metres of drilling in 25 boreholes was done to study the pipe. During shallow
drilling, two prominent offshoots were delineated upto a depth of 40 m and an additional reserve of

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kimberlite (0.14 Mt) has been established upto a depth of 40 m.

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To study the behaviour of the Majhgawan kimberlite at depth, 5 boreholes were drilled from outside the

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pipe area. The drilling has established the extension of pipe to a vertical depth of 330 m). The wall of the
pipe indicates an inward dip of about 700 to 800. As against the diameter of the pipe, which is about 330
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m on surface, it reduces to about 125m at a depth of 330m. The pipe continues to further depth.
Treatment of about 1643.71t of kimberlite (Table 2) from offshoot yielded 14 diamonds weighing 7.20 ct
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indicating an incidence of 0.43 cpht as against 10 cpht in the main pipe.

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Table- 2
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Details of excavation, treatment and diamond recovery in Majhgawan kimberlite Block

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Pit Depth Excavation Treatment Total Diamonds Gem Off. Colour Industrial
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No. (m) (cu m) (t) No. Wt (ct) No. Wt (ct) No. Wt (ct) No. Wt (ct)
7.50 46.87 68.82 - -
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1 - - - - - -
1A 8.30 51.87 130.70 4 1.67 1 0.33 1 0.51 2 0.83
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2 28.50 178.13 471.90 3 1.80 2 1.41 1 0.39 - -

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3 41.80 261.25 665.27 4 2.08 2 1.02 - - 2 1.06

4 7.50 46.87 - - - - - - - - -
5 10.00 62.50 139.70 3 1.65 2 1.02 - - 1 0.63
6 12.00 75.00 159.32 - - - - - - - -
7 6.50 40.63 - - - - - - - - -
Total 763.12 1643.71 14 7.20 7 3.78 2 0.90 5 2.52

The different petrographic varieties of kimberlite and their daimond content are given in table 3.
 13

Table- 3

Comparison of incidence of diamonds in different varities of kimberlite by Haldar (1972) and Ghosh.

Diamond Diamond
Petrographic variety Incidence (cpht) Incidence (cpht)
(Haldar 1972) Ghosh (1982)
i) Kimberlite breccia without phlogopite 5.70 - 24.80
ii) Kimberlite breccia with phlogopite . 4.77 - 9.04 22.05 - 30.09
iii) Basaltic kimberlite without phlogopite 3.70 - 25.82
iv) Basaltic kimberlite with phlogopite 7.00 -18.02 11.45 - 13.90
v) Kimberlite breccia with abundant phlogopite 12.94 -13.35

It can be observed that there are wide variations in the incidence of diamonds in the same variety
of kimberlite. The ratio of gem, off colour and industrial diamonds from the Majhgawan pipe is 38:40:22.
(as per NMDC data).

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Recommendations:

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For increasing the indigenous production of diamonds in the country, the Majhgawan kimberlite
prospect can provide following support :
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1. With the help of suitable mining methods, the production can be raised considerably.
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2. At present there is no method for recovery of micro-diamonds (less than 0.5mm in size) from
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kimberlite. A method to this effect has to be worked out.

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A.2 HINOTA KIMBERLITE DIATREME

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Geographic data
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Location : NNW of Hinota Village, Panna district

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Coordinates : Lat. N.: 24040' ; Long. E: 80001' Toposheet no. 63 D/2

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Extent : 200 x 180 m diatreme.

Access : Hinota kimberlite diatreme is located about 20 km WSW of Panna, the district
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Headquarters.
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Topography : The pipe is emplaced into the Baghain sandstone which forms a flat geomorphic
surface with a height of 360m to 400m. The pipe forms a topographic depression.

Surface water : The area is surrounded by small ephemeral streams. A few small ponds (100 m diameter)
are found in a radius of about 2.5 km from the pipes.

: The Hinota diatreme is emplaced into the Baghain Sandstone Formation of the Kaimur
Geological setup
Group (Vindhyan Supergoup). On surface, the diameter of the pipe is 200 x 180 m with a slight NW-SE
elongation. On the aerial photographs, the pipe is recognised by its high density of vegetation and
negative topography. It is well recognised on satellite imageries also. The pipe was discovered as a result
of magnetic and electrical resistivity surveys by GSI.
 14

The drilling in the Hinota pipe indicated top 2.5m of detrital material, followed by about 25 m of
earthy yellow and greenish clayey matter and then blue ground upto a depth of 60 to 75m ending up in
hard kimberlite. The diatreme comprises massive basaltic and micaceous kimberlite grading into
autolithic kimberlite breccia. Chemical analysis of Hinota kimberlite is presented in table 2.

Exploration :

a. Regional mapping on 1:50,000 scale. The study was aided by aerial photo-interpretation.
b. Large scale mapping: About 120 sq.km on 1:12,500 scale for sedimentological studies, plotting
of conglomerate horizons and diamondiferous gravel horizons.
c. Detailed mapping: About 0.5 sq.km on 1:1,000 scale, grid sampling, demarcation of different
lithounits, drilling and shaft sinking.
d. Geophysical studies: Magnetic, electrical resistivity and gravity surveys to understand its
geophysical characteristics.
e. Drilling: During 1968-70 and again during 1984-86, the drilling was done in the Hinota pipe to
know its geometry at depth and petrochemical characters. During 1984-86, a total of 631.65 m of
drilling was done in 3 boreholes, which indicated that the body extends beyond 160m in depth.
f. Shaft Sinking: One 18.50m deep shaft was sunk in the pipe.

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Following is the summarised log of the shaft.

In
00.00 - 01.20 m Black clayey soil
01.20 - 02.20 m Black clayey soil with concretions
of
02.20 - 07.00 m Weathered kimberlite
07.00 - 11.50 m Basaltic kimberlite
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11.50 -13.50 m Weathered, serpentinised, carbonated kimberlite

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13.50 -18.50 m Kimberlite breccia and yellow ground

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(g) Processing: A total of 228.40 tonnes of material from the shaft was
treated and only two diamonds weighing 1.71 ct were recovered, which
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shows a very low incidence of diamond. Earlier studies by NMDC and GSI
also indicated its low diamond content.
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Recommendations : As diamond incidence is low, further investigation in this pipe is unwarranted.

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Caution : The Hinota pipe falls in the Panna National Park area and to obtain prospecting lease,
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and to carry out large scale operations or even preliminary surveys, a prior permission from the
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Ministry of Environment, Government of India, is necessary.

B. CONGLOMERATES

B.1 HATUPUR BLOCK

Geographic data:
Location :Hatupur, Panna district.
Coordinates :Lat.: 24048'; Long.: 80025' ; Toposheet no. 63 D/5
Extent :Hatupur block is 3 km x 3 km in extent; Hatupur, Rakhel and Damulua
villages are located within the block.
Access : The block is located about 23 km ENE of Panna on Panna-Paharikhera
Road.
Topography : The block fringes at Gahadara sandstone scarps in the southeastern part of the block, with an
elevation difference of about 70m .There is a small hill in the eastern part of the block with a height of
440m.
 15

Surface water : The area is drained by small ephemeral streams. A comparatively large stream
exists in the western part of the block. There are two large tanks in the north.
Water table : On the basis of drill hole data, the water table is recorded at about 15m below the
surface.
:Following is the lithostratigraphic sequence of rock units on the basis of regional and
Geological setup
large scale mapping and drilling.

Gahadara Sandstone Formation (Upper Rewa sandstone)

Jhiri Shale Formation with a basal conglomerate
Rewa Group
Itwa Sst. Formation with diamondiferous conglomerate towards top.
Panna Shale Formation

Kaimur Group Baghain Sandstone Formation (Upper Kaimur Sandstone.)

Palkawan Shale Formation

Semri Group Pandwall Sandstone Formation.

--------------------------------------------- Unconformity ------------------------------------

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Bundelkhand granite with enclaves of older metamophics.

In
: The Jhiri shales are exposed on the surface in the entire block. At the base of the Jhiri shale, a
Jhiri Shale of
diamondiferous conglomerate horizon (Jhiri conglomerate), varying in thickness from 4 cm to 54 cm,
exists. The Jhiri shale is underlain by Itwa Sandstone Formation. Towards the top of (but not at the top)
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the Itwa Sandstone Formation, another diamondiferous conglomerate horizon (known as Itwa
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conglomerate) exists. The Jhiri and Itwa conglomerates are separated by 2 to 3 m thick sandstone
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horizon. The Itwa Sandstone Formation and Jhiri Shale Formation (with conglomerate) show very gentle
dip towards SSE. The gradient is 1.5 to 2 m per 100 m.
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Itwa Conglomerate: It is an ill sorted conglomerate and comprises subangular to subrounded

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granules, pebbles and cobbles of white sandstone (Baghain sandstone), green glauconitic
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sandstone (Semri), yellow and white shale fragments (Semri) , vein quartz, jasper and chert
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(from basement). The pebbles do not show preferred orientation. The matrix is arenaceous. The
thickness of conglomerate varies from less than 5 cm to 2m. Drilling indicated frequent variation
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in thickness of conglomerate. During shaft (2 x 2m) sinking, these conspicuous variations have
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been observed. On an average, the thickness is about 50 cm.

Jhiri Conglomerate: It is also a thin blanket type of conglomerate, thickness of which varies from 2
cm to 70 cm. It is composed of subrounded to rounded well sorted granules and small pebbles of
vein quartz, jasper, chert, Pandwall sandstone and platy fragments of shale set in a fine
glauconitic silty matrix.
Exploration :
Large scale mapping The area has been mapped on 1:12,500 scale to demarcate conglomerate
horizons, diamondiferous lateritic and alluvial gravels.
Detailed mapping About 5 sq.km on 1 :2000 scale.
Drilling For the sake of convenience, the Hatupur Block was divided into two sub-
blocks. In the western block the grid was laid at 200m intersection and in the
eastern block at 250 m intersection. A total of 3345.95 m of drilling was done
in 108 boreholes. The drill hole data revealed that the thickness of the Jhiri
conglomerate ranges from about 1 cm to 70 cm. The depth of conglomerate
varies from 4.55m to 36.35m.
 16

The Itwa conglomerate is separated from the Jhiri conglomerate by a non-diamondiferrous shale /
sandstone horizon, the thickness of which varies from 2 to 4 m. The thicker conglomerate horizons also
carry sandstone interbeds. The thickness of Itwa conglomerate varies from 1 cm to 2.42m and depth from
surface varies from 3.42 m to 62.28m. Core loss has also been recorded in a few drill holes. In view of
this, much thicker horizon of conglomerate is expected in the pits than in boreholes.

Isopach map for the Jhiri and the Itwa conglomerates indicates irregular distribution of
conglomerate. Both the conglomerates are thicker along palaeochannels than adjoining parts. The
palaeochannels are oriented along NE-SW and E-W directions. Isolated patches of thick conglomerate
are also recorded. The stratum contour plan of the base of the Itwa conglomerate horizon shows uniform
and conspicuous south-easterly gradient.

Shaft Sinking: 36 shafts (2.5 x 2.5m) , ranging in depth from 5m to 34.75m, were sunk on a grid
varying from 100 to 250m to excavate the conglomerates. At the bottom of the shaft, where the Itwa
conglomerate was encountered, two east-west oriented drives (1.8m height, 2.1m width and 6m length on
each side) were driven to win the requisite quantity of conglomerate. The average thickness of
conglomerate in shafts worked out to be 60 cm, varying from 17cm to 1.40m. A total of 4746.92 t of
conglomerate was obtained from 6494.50 cu m. of excavation, which was treated at NMDC plant,
Majhgawan.

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Dimensions of explored prospects :

In
of
i) Sub-block A The sub-block (area 0.3 sq.km) was proved to contain conglomerate reserves of
about 0.45 Mt with a diamond incidence of 27.91 cpht. This block is open at both
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ends, indicating the possibility of its further extension towards east and towards
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south-west. MECL has drilled in the eastern extensions of the block, the results of
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which are yet to be received.

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ii) Sub-block B This sub-block measures 750 x 500m. Proved reserves of pure and diluted
conglomerate estimated are 0.53 Mt and 1.49 Mt, respectively. Treatment results of
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the samples drawn are not available so far. The depth of the Itwa conglomerate
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varies from 20.95m to 29.10m

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iii) Sub-block C The block is along a NW-SE trending channel defined by drill holes 43A, 43B,
46A, 46C, 47, 47A, 47B, 47C, 48, 48B, 50, 50C, 51 and 51C. Thickness of the Itwa
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conglomerate ranges from 1.14 to 1.80m and depth varies from 6.45 to 21.65m. On
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the basis of the data of three pits (P-28, P-35 and P-36) and drives, about 0.31 Mt
of undiluted and 0.74 Mt of diluted conglomerate of proved category have been
estimated. Probable reserves of 0.60 Mt of undiluted conglomerate and 2.72 Mt
diluted conglomerate have been estimated on the basis of drill hole data. The
treatment results are not yet available.

iv) Sub-block D It is a small block located in the northeastern corner of the Hatupur block and
defined by drill holes 56-A, 57B and 61 C. The thickness of the Itwa conglomerate
varies between 22 and 30 cm and depth varies from 8 to 8.5 m. Probable reserves
of the conglomerate have been estimated at 0.106 Mt. for the undiluted and 0.742
Mt for the diluted categories.
v) Sub block E It is 1 km long, trending N-S and defined by drill holes 50A, 50B, 55, 55A, 55B
and 60C. The thickness of Itwa conglomerate varies from 10 to 77cm and depth
from 12.70 to 25.15m. No pits have been sunk in this sub block. On the basis of the
drill hole data, probable reserves of the conglomerates have been estimated at 0.378
Mt of undiluted and 1.49 Mt of diluted conglomerate.
 17

vi) Sub-block F It has a dimension of 500 x 500m and is a south-easterly extension of the subblock
C. Drill holes 49A and 54 and pit No.37 are located in the block. The depth of the
Itwa conglomerate varies from 23.40 to 26.05m and thickness from 29 cm to
1.70m. On the basis of the drill hole and pit data, proved and probable reserves of
diluted conglomerate have been estimated at 0.247 Mt and 0.495 Mt respectively.

Diamonds:

The percentage of gem quality of diamonds is very high (55%). Off-colour and industrial
diamonds constitute 19% and 26% of the total diamonds. The largest sizes of diamonds recovered so far,
during the exploratory operations, are 3.38 ct (industrial variety), 2.27 ct (gem quality) and 1.68 ct (off
colour). Average size of gem, off-colour and industrial varieties is 0.6 ct, 0.45 ct and 0.63 ct,
respectively.

B.2 SHAHIDAN BLOCK

Geographic data:
Location : 2.5 Km NE of Panna, Panna district.

a
Coordinates : 24044': 80012' ; Toposheet no. 63 D/2

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Extent : 2700 X 700 m

In
Topography : Gently rolling terrain. of
Access : Panna is well connected by road from different places. The block is easily
approachable by metalled road to Paharikhera. Janakpur village is at the centre of
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the block.
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Jhiri conglomerate occurs at the base and as interbeds within the JhiriShale and siltstone
Geological setup:
of the upper part of the Rewa Group. It forms escarpment to the SW and NE of Panna. The conglomerate
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is coarse, pebbly or granular, with subrounded granules of jasper, chert, sandstone and shale. It is rather
well sorted with a sandy matrix.
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Exploration: Shahidan area has the record of best and larger size diamond recovery. Data computed from
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the operations of one of the large and systematically managed mines in Shahidan area during 1919-1925,
indicated diamond incidence of 43 cpht. During 1972-74, GSI drilled 20 boreholes which indicated that
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the cumulative thickness of conglomerate to the SSE of Janakpur is above 30 cm. During 1980-85,
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mapping (on 1:5000 scale) and drilling (62 boreholes by MECL) was done. Drilling showed an average
thickness of 20 cm of conglomerate. Drilling was spaced at 300m apart along the strike of the formation
(N72 E - S 72 W) and at 200m apart along dip direction (S 18 E). 10 pits sunk at drill hole sites indicated,
on an average, 1.7 times greater thickness of conglomerate.

The northern part of the area has a number of old workings which are upto 15m deep and water
logged, causing seepage problem. The large tank (Lokpal Sagar) at the SW part of the block may also
cause seepage problem. A part of the northern section is in reserve forest, while the southern part is under
cultivation.

B.3 GANJA - SHAHPUR BLOCK

Geographic data:

Location : Near Ganja - Shahpur village, Panna district. Toposheet : 63 D/5

Topography: Gently rolling terrain.
 18

Geological Set up

Both Itwa and Jhiri conglomerates are encountered in the area. The Jhiri conglomerate is
both matrix as also clast supported. The clast supported conglomerate has 50% to 70% of clasts
embeded in an argillaceous matrix. The clasts comprise mainly of grey, white, cream and pink
coloured quartzite, vein quartz, red and brown jasper, green shale, yellow chert, greenish
sandstone and BHJ. The matrix supported conglomerate has 15% to 40% of clasts set in an
argillaceous groundmass. The clasts are generally of granule size. These include white quartzite,
vein quartz, grey quartzite, green shale, cream quartzite, jasper, pink quartzite and chert.

Exploration:16 holes drilled in the area encountered Jhiri conglomerate at a depth of 12.15m in the
northwest and at 49.30m in the southeast, down the dip. This is in conformity with the regional dip of the
formation.

The Itwa conglomerate is intersected at a depth of 13.48m in the northwest and 50.50m in the
southeast. Thickness of Itwa conglomerate varies from 6 to 70 cm.

Drill hole data also indicated that there is a rapid variation in the number of bands of Jhiri

a
conglomerate from 1 to 6. The Itwa conglomerate has generally one or two bands, except for

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southwestern side where 5 bands are recorded. .

In
Reserve: On the basis of drill-hole data, indicated reserves of the Jhiri conglomerate is about 6.74 Mt and
of
that of the Itwa conglomerate about 4.44 Mt
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C. RIVER GRAVELS
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Geographic data:
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Location : Itwa, Brijpur, Ramkheria villages, Panna district.

Coordinates : N.Lat.: 24047'- 24049'; E.Long.: 80023'- 80030'; Toposheet no. 63 D/5
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Extent : Gravel zone extends from Ramkheria (24049': 80027') in the east to Itwa (240
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47' : 800 23') in the west.

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Access : The area lies about 20 Km ENE of Panna and an all weather road between
Panna and Paharikeria runs through the entire length of gravel zone.
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Topography The area is practically flat, with the Baghain River incising into the
flood plain deposits.
Surface water The Baghain river is perennial and flows towards ENE.
Ground Water The water table shows high fluctuations and is very shallow during
rainy season and early winter.
Exploration :

Regional mapping Systematic mapping of alluvial zone was done as part of regional
(1:50,000): mapping
Large scale mapping: The area around and along the Baghain river was mapped on 1 : 12,500
scale as a part of delineation of diamondiferous gravel zones
Geophysical Survey: Geophysical survey of the gravel along the entire river section in Itwa-
Ramkheria section was done during 1970s and the depth of bed rock was
demarcated by taking cross traverses.
Dimension of the prospect The area covers a length of approximately 15 km and width of 1 to 2
 19

km.Diamondiferous gravel is restricted to the basal part of the alluvial

pile and its thickness varies from 30 cm to 4 m. It comprises boulders and
pebbles of sandstone, shale and laterite, set in sandy matrix.
Diamond Incidence : Diamondiferous alluvial gravel of Ramkheria has been worked since
historical past. Bulk sampling by the GSI in 1956 in the gravel indicated
an incidence of 26 cpht. The exploration by NMDC proved a resource of
about 1,15,000 ct with incidence of about 16 cpht.
Recommendations : Ramkheria gravel deposits indicate higher diamond incidence than
the Majhgawan kimberlite. Moreover the percentage of gem quality
diamonds is more than that from the Majhgawan mine. In such
context, this prospect appears to be quite promising provided prior
exploration is done in the gravel. A few areas were delineated on
the basis of photogeological studies for detailed exploration along
the Baghain River.

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In
D. BUNDELKHAND BASEMENT of
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Several ultrabasic bodies are found in the Bundelkhand granite massif. Many of them seem to
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have been emplaced after or along with the granitic rocks. Preliminary exploration revealed diamonds
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from the area. The bodies are small in size. However, in view of their possible regional relevance in the
emplacement of diamond bearing pipe rocks, short descriptions are given below.
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D.1 ANGOR AND BANDHA ULTRABASIC BODIES

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Geographic Data:
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Location : 0.5 km north of Angor Village

Prospect : Angor Ultramafic prospect
District : Chhattarpur district.
Coordinates : 24044'; 79025' Toposheet no.54 P/6.
Access : Angor is a village on the Sagar-Chhatarpur state Highway, being about 40
km south of Chhatarpur, which is the district headquarters and 130 km SW
of Panna. The nearest railhead is Harpalpur on Jhansi Manikpur broad gauge
section.

Topography The granitic country is flat

Water Sources: Water supply is possible from nearby seasonal streams; scarcity may
exist during summer. Groundwater is limited
Geological setup The ultramafic rocks are found in Bundelkhand granites. The body
is
exposed mainly on the eastern side of the road but much of it has
been levelled off to form cultivated land.
Exploration : :
Geophysical surveys indicate a 450 m long and 200m
 20

wide body, trending in NNW-SSE direction. Another 170m long

and 30m wide body is located 0.5 km NW of the first body. Drilling
indicates top 7 -12m weathered zones, underlain by brecciated
carnbonated pyroxenite, underlain by harzburgite. The body dips
450 towards east. 7 boreholes totalling 792.35m were drilled in the
main body, which continues beyond 289m depth.
Six large pits reaching to a depth of 10m were put and two diamonds
totalling 0.2 carats were recorded after treating 937.40 tonnes of excavated
material. In course of another excavation, 311.80 tonnes of treated
material yielded five diamonds weighing 3.52 carats. NMDC treated 1000
tonnes without any recovery of diamond.
A similar body occurs near Bandha (240 39/:790 19'; 54 P/6) to the
southwest of Gulganj. It is a dyke-like body, about 10m wide and covered
by soil at both ends. 86 tonnes of material treated yielded two diamonds
weighing 1.62 ct (one gem 0.57ct and one industrial 1.05 ct).

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. Recommendations In view of the diamond incidence, both the bodies could be

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subjected to further investigation.
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D.2 DONGRAHA ULTRABASIC ROCK
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Geographic data:
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Location : East of Dongraha, Panna district.

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Coordinates : 24051'; 80008'

Extent : 10m long and 50cm to 1m wide; trends N 30 E - S 30 W.
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Geological setup: The rock is intensely weathered, black in colour and porphyritic with
phenocrysts of altered olivine. Groundmass contains calcite and dusty opaques like ilmenite, magnetite
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and possibly perovskite.

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Exploration: No exploration was carried out.

D.3 ULTRABASIC ROCKS OF HARSA

Geographic data:
Location : 1.5 km north of Harsa village, Panna district.
Toposheet : 63 D/1
Coordinates : 24046' ; 80006'
Extent : The outcrop measures 1 m long and 50 cm wide.
Access : Harsa can be approached from Madla on Chhatarpur -Panna Road. Madla
lies on the eastern bank of Ken river.

The outcrop shows sharp contact with prophyritic pink granite; the other side is covered
Geological set up:
by residual soil, rich in carbonate kankars. The rock is massive, greenish, hard, compact and shows
porphyritic nature. The xenocrystic grains are rounded. Second generation olivine grains are euhedral.
 21

The groundmass is a turbid mass of calcite. Serpentine, magnetite and opaques are also present. The rock
has been identified as lamprophyre.

Exploration: No exploration for recovery of diamond was carried out.

D 4 ULTRABASIC DYKE NEAR BARIARPUR BARRAGE

Geographic data:
Location : East bank of Ken river, north of Barrage. Panna district
Coordinates : 24051' ; 80006'. Toposheet no.63 D/1.
Extent : A dyke-like body, 5m to 10m wide and more than 1 km long, ends covered
under soil.
Access : Bariarpur village is 20 km by forest road from Madla. It is also approachable
from Ajoygarh, a sub-divisional town of Panna district.

The body occurs like a dyke, trending N 50 E -S 50W. It is well exposed in the west
Geological set up :

a
bank canal of the barrage, varying in thickness from 5 to 10m. The rock is grey, green to greenish brown,

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showing olivine, reddish mica and opaques. The body cuts through Bundelkhand granite and shows

In
contact metasomatism. The rock is traversed by serpentine, carbonate and quartz veins. It continues under
soil cover for 600m, as proved by drilling three holes, spaced 200m apart; further extension possible.
of
Two pits were sunk in the eastern bank of the Ken river and treatment of 138 tonnes of material
from one of the pits yielded one diamond (off-colour) weighing 0.44 ct.
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Recommendation: In view of large strike extension and diamond incidence, the body should be
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further investigated.
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D.5 BASALTIC KIMBERLITE OF BIHARPUR AREA

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Geographic data:
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Location : 0.7 km WNW of Biharpur, Panna district.

24057' : 80031' - Toposheet no. 63 D/9
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Coordinates :
Extent : 600m long and 1 to 5m wide.
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Access : Biharpur is situated to the north-east of Kohari which lies on Panna-Kalinger

road and is about 70 km from Panna. The area is just south of the well
known Kalinger Fort.

Geological setup:An olivine bearing porphyritic dyke traverses granite intermittently for about 600m. It
trends ENE-WSW. Olivine is altered and the groundmass is light brown glass, showing spherulitic
structure and a colourless mineral showing fibrous habit.

Exploration:Two boreholes, aggregating 298.43m, were drilled. No kimberlite was intersected in any of
the holes and it appears that this dyke pinches off at very shallow depth. About 33 cu m excavation was
done, and 55 tonnes of material treated but no diamonds were recovered.

PROSPECTS IN CHHATTISGARH

The Chhattisgarh State forms a part of Bastar Craton extending on west to Maharashtra
and on east to Orissa. It is of great significance that the Raigarh Mobile Belt, located between
the Bastar Craton on south-west and the Singhbhum Craton on north-east, is manifested by the
 22

presence of diamond in all the streams of Ib, Maini, Mand and Sankh and their tributaries. The
Archon of Bastar Craton is bordered by Protons of Raigarh Mobile Belt and Eastern Ghat
Mobile Belt and this tectonic scenario is important in regional prognostication for diamond and
kimberlite is Bastar Craton. In Bastar Craton there has been no major thermal activity after 2000
Ma. Hence, the Proterozoic platformal belts over the cratonic area have been selected as first
priority blocks for investigation of kimberlite.

The eastern and central parts of the craton are priority areas because they represent the
low heat flow and high permeability zones. The area is marked by presence of platform cover
sediments which protects the kimberlite diatremes from erosion. The prominent Proterozoic
basins are Chhattisgarh basin, Pairi-Khariar basin, Ampani basin, Indravati basin, Sabri basin
and Albaka basin.

Considering all the positive features, the following target areas have been prognosticated
in search for kimberlites.

a) The Pairi-Khariar basin and surrounding granitic terrain, b) the Indravati basin and
adjoining gneissic complex on west and south, c) the Sabari basin and adjoining gneissic

a
complex, d) Saraipalli area comprising rocks of Chhattisgarh basin and the adjoining granitic

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terrain, e) the Albaka and Abujhmar basins, f) the southern part of Chhattisgarh basin and

In
adjoining granitic terrain, g) the Raigarh Proterozoic crystallines bordering the Bastar Craton.
of
A total of 14 priority target blocks have been demarcated of which 11 are in Chhattisgarh and
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three in Madhya Pradesh. The area of each block has been tentatively kept at 5000 Sq. Km.
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In the Chhattisgarh State, so far, two Kimberlite fields have been identified which are
Mainpur Kimberlite Field in Raipur district and Tokapal Kimberlite Field in Bastar district.
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A. MAINPUR KIMBERLITE FIELD (RAIPUR DISTRICT)

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The Mainpur Kimberlite Field (MKF) is one of the three established diamond bearing
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kimberlite fields in Peninsular India, the other two being Panna in northern Madhya Pradesh and
Wajrakarur (including Chigicherla and Kalyandurg kimberlites) in Andhra Pradesh. MKF is
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located in the south-eastern part of the Raipur district of the state of Chhattisgarh in Central
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India, 135km SE of Raipur city. Exploration activities by the GSI and the State Government
have led to the identification of five kimberlite pipes (including three diamondiferous pipes) and
more than 40 kimberlitic indicator anomaly zones in the MKF, which are likely to be associated
with kimberlitic bodies.

Tectonic Setting:

The Mainpur Kimberlite Field is located within the Bastar Craton (BC) close to its
contact with the granulite terrain of the lower to middle Proterozoic Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt
(EGMB) in the east. This contact is also marked by occurrences of middle to late Proterozoic
alkali syenite complexes, the nearest being at Khariar in Orissa. The Archaean granite-
greenstone of BC is overlain by late Proterozoic platform sediments of Chhattisgarh Supergroup
deposited in different sub basins. The kimberlites of MKF are intrusive within the platformal
sediments of the Pairi sub basin.

Discovery of five kimberlitic diatremes (Payalikhand-I & II, Bahradih, Jangra and
Kodomali) has led to the establishment of Mainpur Kimberlite Field in southeastern part of
Raipur district in Chhattisgarh state.
 23

The area under investigation falls in Survey of India Toposheet Nos 64L/4 and L/8 and is
confined to the cratonic part. The kimberlitic diatremes have been emplaced over the Bastar
craton close to the Bastar craton-Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt contact.

The area falls in the Mahanadi major basin in the water divide zone between the Tel river
sub-basin and the Pairi-Sondur river sub-basin. The eastern part of the area is characterized by
high plateau with steep scarps (Khariar plateau) and the western part is characterized by rugged
undulating topography comprising isolated hills with elevations of more than 700m.

The regional tectonic set-up in the Mainpur Kimberlite Field includes three distinct units
viz. the Bastar Craton, the Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt (EGMB) and the Proterozoic sedimentary
sequences. The Archaean rocks include a group of gneissic complex (quartzo-felspathic-biotite-
hornblende gneiss, banded iron formation and pyroxenites). These rocks have been intruded by
gabbroid rocks and further engulfed by multiphase granitoid rocks (Bundeli granitoid). The
Eastern Ghat group of rocks constitute high grade granulite facies charnockite, two pyroxene
garnetiferous granulities and leptynite. Younger dolerite intrusives occurring as swarms trend
mostly NW-SE and ENE-WSW.

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Late Proterozoic sedimentary rocks over the crystalline basement formed the Khariar

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syneclise. These cover sedimentary rocks are included in Pairi/Khariar Group and have been
of
lithostratigraphically equated with the Singhora group of rocks occupying a NNE-SSW tract
north of Khariar basin at the eastern fringe of the main Chhattisgarh basin. The sedimentary
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rocks include sandstone, shale, chert and limestone.

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Regional Structure:
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The cratonic area is characterized by NW-SE trending fractures extending for hundreds
of kilometers and E-W fractures both marked by extensive doleritic intrusion and silicifications.
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The EGMB set up mainly exhibits N-S to NNE-SSW trending fractures. The cover sediments
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are horizontally disposed and show N-S to E-W trending faults and fractures. At the junction
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between Bastar Craton and EGMB, N-S trending intrusives of alkaline rocks have been reported
(Mahadevan et al., 1989). Many of the fracture lineaments are characterized by the presence of
eo

basic-ultrabasic intrusives.
G

Kimberlitic rocks: their occurrence and distribution

: Five kimberlitic diatremes have been located in a linear span of 12.5 km in the Mainpur
kimberlite field. The kimberlitic diatremes are Payalikhand-I (100m x 100m), Payalikhand-II
(50m x 50m), Jangra (>50m across), Kodomali (300m across) and Bahradih (300m x 200m).
Most of the diatremes are circular in plan while Bahradih diatreme is elliptical. Amongst the
diatremes only kodomali exhibits fresh rock exposures. While others have been weathered to
green earth at the surface.

The broad regional stratigraphy of MKF belt is as follows:

Recent-Sub Recent - - Soil, alluvium, laterites

(?)
Upper Proterozoic Chhattisgarh Super - Shale,limestone,quartzite,
Group, Khariar arenites and
Group and Ampani conglomerate
Group
 24

Lower Proterozoic Budeli Granitoids - Alkali granites,

porphyritic granite,
granodiorite and sheared
granite gneiss with
pegmatites
- Bilari Group - Lakhadabri acid
volcanics, Arangi basic
volcanics.
- Disconformity - -
- - Arjuni formation Phyllite, BIF,
metagreywacke with
subordinate volcanics
and polymict
conglomerate
- Sonakhan Group - Uncorformity
- - Bagmara Formation Pillowed metabasalt, acid
volcanics, shale, chert,
pebbly schist.

a
- Uncorformity -

di
- Eastern Ghat Group - Khondalite, charnokite

In
of and mafic granulite
Archaean To Baya Gneissic - Amphibolite, biotite
Proterozoic complex Peninsular gneiss, tonalite-
y

Gneiss granodiorite gneiss and

ve

migmatite.
ur

- Tonidongar Group - Metaultramafites and

basics, high grade
lS

metasediments, banded
ca

magnetite quartzite and

fucschitic quartzite.
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lo
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A. 1. PAYALIKHAND DIATREMES
G

Geographical data:

Location Payalikhand village, Raipur district

Coordinates Lat 20010/10//; Long 82021/00//, Toposheet No:
64 L/8
Access 169 km from Raipur
Topography 460m above MSL

Geological Set up:

The Payalikhand area comprises a complex lithological assemblage represented by

metavolcanics and metasedimentary sequences of Sonakhan Group, rocks of Baya Gneissis
Complex, khondalite and charnockite suite of rocks of the Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt, intrusive
Bundeli granitoid and the sedimentary cover sequences of Pairi and Ampani Groups and
Chhattisgarh Super Group.
 25

Exploration:

This includes reconnaissance/large scale mapping, pitting/trenching, geochemical and

bulk sampling, petro – mineralogical studies, shallow drilling and also inputs from geophysical
surveys and photogeological and remote sensing studies. Two diatremes have been located along
the slope of a foothill of the Khariar plateau.
Characteristics of the diatremes:

Number and Dimension Trend Emplacement Outcrop Diamond

name of control characteristics contents/Heavy
kimberlite minerals
body
MKF Payalikhand 100m x Circular Within Expressed as Diamondiferous
Field -I 100m granitoid a break in and garnet,
rocks (64L/8) slope, highly spinel,
altered clinopyroxene

a
kimberlitic

di
rock (green

In
earth)
diatreme
of
facies
Payalikhand- 50m x Circular Within Along break Diamondiferous`
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II 50m granitoid in slope,

rocks 64L/8 highly altered
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kimberlitic
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rock as green
earth.
ca
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A. 2. BAHRADIH DIATREME
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Geographical data
Location Bahradih village, Raipur district
G

Co-ordinates Lat: 20012/ 30// : Long 82012/ 00//, Toposheet

no 64L/4
Access 12 Km northwest of Payalikhand
Topography Approx 300m above M.S.L
Geological Set up The geological set up is same as that of
Payalikhand Block. The kimberlite pipe
located at Baharadih is elliptical in shape.
Presence of xenoliths of consolidated shale and
sandstone within the weathered kimberlite
indicate post Khariar age of diatremes. Since
the kimberlite pipe does not crop out above the
Khariar cover sediments, it is therefore,
presumed that it has only intruded part of the
sequence.
 26

Exploration:

This includes reconnaissance/large scale mapping, pitting/trenching, geochemical

sampling, bulk sampling, shallow drilling, inputs from the geophysical surveys, remote sensing
and photogeological studies.

The Bahradih diatreme is located in an ampitheatre like depression created by the second
order nala. The amphitheatre is surrounded by resistant granitoid rocks. Bahradih diatreme
surfaces at an altitude of 560m from MSL.

Characteristics of the diatreme:

Name of Dimension Trend Emplacement Outcrop Diamond

kimberlite control characteristics contents/Heavy
body minerals

Bahradih 300m x Sub circular Within Ampitheatrical Diamondiferous

200m granitoid depression, and garnet,

a
rocks (64L/4) highly altered spinel,

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kimberlitic clinopyroxene,

In
rock (green orthopyroxene,
earth), phlogopite
of
diatreme
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facies
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A. 3. JANGRA DIATREME
lS

Another pipe has been located near Jangra (200 08’ 30”: 820 19’ 40” ). The Jangra diatreme
ca

is also located in an ampitheatre like depression created by a first order drainage. Like the
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Bahradih diatreme, at Jangra also the ampitheatre is surrounded by resistant granitoid rocks.
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Jangra diatreme surfaces at an altitude of 500m from MSL.

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Characteristics of the diatreme

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Name of Dimension Trend Emplacement Outcrop Diamond

kimberlite control characteristics contents/heavy
body minerals

Jangra 50m x 50m Circular Within Ampitheatrical Not known/

granitoid depression garnet and spinel
rocks 64L/8 within
granitoid

A. 4. KODOMALI DIATREME

Kodomali ( 20 0 11/ 10// : 820 14/ 08// ) kimberlite exposes as a dyke with an WNW-ESE
trend and is the only diatreme with rock exposure visible at the surface, amongst the five known
diatremes in Mainpur Kimberlite Field. Like other diatremes, this diatreme is also surrounded by
the granitoids. The near surface alteration as green earth is not much as compared to other
diatremes.
 27

Characteristics of the diatreme

Name of Dimension Trend Emplacement Outcrop Diamond

kimberlite control characteristics contents/ heavy
body minerals

Kodomali 300m x 300m Circular Within Fresh rock Diamondiferous

granitoids exposed with and garnet,
64L/8 calcretes and spinel,
patchy clinopyroxene,
development ilmenite and
of near olivine
surface green
earth

Kimberlites of Mainpur kimberlite field have been classified into three volcanic facies,
viz. crater, diatreme and hypabyssal. Crater facies material has been preserved as xenoliths

a
within Payalikhand-I and -II diatremes. Bahradih, Payalikhand I and II and Jangra diatremes

di
have been classified as diatreme facies rocks. Only Kodomali rocks are classified as hypabassal

In
facies of
Recommendation: The MKF has scope for further work to establish more kimberlite pipes
y

and evaluation of their diamond potentiality.

ve
ur

B. TOKAPAL KIMBERLITE FIELD (BASTAR DISTRICT)

lS

The discovery of diamondiferous kimberlitic diatremes in Proterozoic sedimentary

basinal area of Pairi-Khariar group, led to further search of kimberlites in similar geotectonic
ca

conditions in parts of Sabari and Indravati basinal areas in Bastar district of Chhatisgarh state.
gi

The regional search for kimberlites in Indravati basinal area has located kimberlite clan rocks in
Tokapal, Duganpal, Bhejripadar and Parpa-Parakot areas and the Tokapal Kimberlite Field
lo

was established. The kimberlitic rocks are confined within the upper Proterozoic Indravati
eo

sediments and the upper parts (tuffs) are highly oxidized and are manifested by lateritised sub-
G

domal morphostructures. The area is occupied by the Archaean-Proterozoic rocks of Bastar

Craton. The kimberlitic pipes have intruded along NW-SE trending fracturers, which are
exhibited by mafic dyke swarms in the area. The NW-SE trending dyke swarms as well as major
lineaments and faults possibly indicate reactivated mantle permeable zones along which the
kimberlitic pipes have been emplaced within the Proterozoic cover sediments.

Regional Geology and tectonics:

The Bengpal and Sukma group include amphibolite and granulite facies gneiss,
metasedimentary and meta igneous complex showing polyphase deformation and
metamorphism. The Bailadila Group and equivalents include lower amphobilite facies, BIF
dominated, metasedimentary and metaigneous rocks. The Kotri supergroup includes bimodal
acid and basic volcanics, ultramafics, sediments and shallow level intrusive granites. The
Abujhmar group includes basalt, gabbro, conglomerates, sandstone and shale. The Indravati and
Sabari group of sediments constitute the lower clastic facies and the upper carbonate facies.

The regional tectonics set-up in the Indravati basinal area includes three distinct units
viz. the Archaean assemblage of Bastar Craton, the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) and the
 28

Proterozoic sedimentary sequences of Indravati and Sabari Groups. The Indravati basinal area
forms the east – central part of Bastar Craton.

The Tokapal, Duganpal and Parpa-Parakot kimberlitic rocks probably indicate multiple
intrusions from a single or multiple feeders covering an area with 5km length and 1 km width.
The borehole core samples indicate multiple intrusions at different levels with deposition of tuffs
in the upper part.

The Bastar kimberlites exhibit small domal morphostructurers within regional domal
morphostructures. Sub-aerial effusive activity has also been preserved because of minor erosion
in this area, which is very rare. The crater facies pyroclastic rocks have been well preserved in
the area. This is the first and rare example in the Bastar cratonic area where kimberlitic pipes are
surrounded by the remnants of tuff rings.

The Bastar kimberlites are in the crater facies, without much erosion. It is also interesting
to note that in Baster, there are kimberlitic flows in phases overlain and underlain by Indravati
sediments.

a
B.1. TOKAPAL KCR (KIMBERLITE CLAN ROCK) BODY

di
In
The Tokapal rock is exposed in pit section and the rock is greenish in colour and shows
typical kimberlitic clast-matrix texture and flowage structure. The rock shows crude banding and
of
top portion is lateritised and covered by black soil horizon.
y
ve

Characteristics of the pipe

ur

Tokapal Place Trend Dimension Control Characteristics Diamond

lS

Kimberlite content
ca

Field,
Indravati
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Basin
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Tokapal Not Not known Within Manifested by Not

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KCR established sediments sub-domal known

body (Jagdalpur morphostructure
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Formation) in with laterite and

the form of black soil cover.
flows,65E/16) The rock is
exposed in pit
sections only.

B. 2. DUGANPAL KCR BODY

The Duganpal kimberlitic rock is exposed in the Duganpal nala section and the tuffs are
exposed in the Bahar nala section. The tuffs and pyroclastic rocks are lateritised and manifested
by highly oxidized subdomal morpho-structures. The pyroclastic rocks of Duganpal area
constitute pyroclastic breccias and tuffs. The pyroclastic rocks belonging to the crater facies
include the basal breccia overlain by the purely stratified coarse pyroclastics and well notified
tuffs. The pyroclastic breccia contains angular to rounded clasts (>25%) of red and purple shale,
limestone and siltstone ranging from few mm to 0.5m. These fragments, including phlogopite –
olivine spinel rich mantle xenoliths, are cemented.by pyroclastic materials similar to that of
 29

overlying tuffs. The soil and stream sediment samples over the body are highly dominated by
spinels and ilmenites. The body has been exposed by drilling.

Characteristics of the pipes

Tokapal Place Trend Dimension Control Characteristics Diamond

Kimberlite content
field,
Indravati
Basin
Duganpal Not established Not Within Manifested by sub-domal Not
KCR body established, sediments morphostructure and highly known
may be (Jagdalpur oxidized tuffs with kimberlite
westward Formation) in clan rocks of crater facies.
extension of the form of
Tokapal flows,65E/16
body

B. 3. BHEJRIPADAR KCR BODY

The Bhejripadar kimberlitic body is located near village Bhejripadar (65 E/16). The body

a
is exposed within the sandstone unit of Tirathgarh Formation. The body is also characterized by

di
a domal morphostructure with bouldery exposures of greenish yellow kimberlite in the sloping

In
ground. The rock is highly altered and preserves typical kimberlitic clast-matrix texture. It
contains xenoliths of shale, sandstone and altered ultramafic nodules.
of
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Characteristics of the pipe

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Tokapal Place Trend Dimension Control Characteristics Diamond

ur

Kimberlite content
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field,
Indravati
ca

Basin
Bhejripadar Not Not Emplaced The body Not
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established established into the exhibits a sub- known

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sediments domal morpho-

structure.
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Bouldery
G

outcrops are
exposed in the
slopes. The
body is mostly
covered by
sediments and
lateritic soil.
:

B. 4. . PARPA – PARAKOT KCR BODY

The kimberlitic rock in Parpa – Parakot sector was observed from the borewell cores
drilled by the State Agricultural Department. The crater facies rocks are concealed under the soil
and laterite cover of >20m. The borehole data show the presence of kimberlitic tuffs and
pyroclastic rocks below 19.87m from the surface upto 36.67 m. From 36.67m to 62.69m
greenish black massive kimberlite was observed. These kimberlitic rocks may be part of the
Tokapal body, which needs to be confirmed by geophysical investigation.
 30

Characteristics of the pipe

Tokapal Place Trend Dimension Control Characteristics Diamond

Kimberlite content
field,
Indravati
Basin
Parpa- Concealed Not Emplaced Nil Not
Parakot under soil, established, into the known
KCR laterite and may be sediments
body sediments eastward
revealed by extension of
drilling Tokapal
body

rocks have also been reported within the lower clastic facies of
Ultrapotassic and ultramafic
Indravati Group of rocks..The ultrapotassic rocks may be compared with the group III type of
ultrapotassic rocks as described by Foley et al (1987). The rock shows different types viz. a high

a
potassium silica undersaturated, low potassium silica saturated and silica over-saturated types.

di
The ultramafic rocks intrusive into the Tirathgarh Formation are composed of Mg rich chlorite

In
and ortho-pyroxenes (mostly enstatite) with carbonates and opaques. So, the emplacement of
kimberlite clan rocks was preceeded by ultrapotassic and ultramafic magmatism during the
of
deposition of clastic sediments of Indravati group.
y
ve

Petrographic studies reveal that the Bastar kimberlites are very much altered. Olivine
ur

pseudomorphs are dominated as serpentine, antigorite with fine-grained carbonates and spinels.
At places, radiating, rounded grains of chlorite are observed in the matrix. Typical bronze
lS

yellow coloured phlogopites are observed in the groundmass. In some sections the country rocks
mainly of shale fragments are oval shaped and its margins are highly digested and embayed due
ca

to the interaction with kimberlitic magma.

gi
lo

C.EXPLORATION FOR KCR IN RAIGARH MOBILE BELT

eo

The exploration for KCR was also conducted in the Tapti Lineament Zone (TLZ) in parts
G

of Raigarh and Surguja districts of Raigarh Mobile Belt from 1994 to 2000 on the basis of
reported diamond incidences in the river gravels of Ib, Maini, Mand, Utial and Talda drainages.
A total of 6000 sq km area was covered by PGRS studies and stream sediment sampling, but no
primary source of diamond has been located except one grain of chromite falling in the edge of
kimberlite field.

D. SARANGARH SECTOR

The Sarangarh area falls in the north eastern part of Chhattisgarh basin. A major part of
the area forms a part of Bardwar sub basin of Chhattisgarh supergroup. Stream sediment
sampling in the area revealed presence of kimberlitic pyrope garnet which are found to be G-9
type of lherzolitic derivative. In addition G-5 garnet has also been discovered from stream
sediment samples. Detailed sampling in this area is recommended.

PROSPECTS IN MAHARASTRA

Indicator mineral survey carried out in the western part of Bastar craton, falling in
Chandrapur and Garchiroli districts of Maharastra has revealed chrome diopside and G5 garnet
 31

in 5 drainage area. The chrome pyroxenes show some similarity with the pyroxenes from the
Monastry kimberlite field., South Africa, in terms of their Ca/ (Ca + Mg) and Mg/(Mg + Fe)
ratio with chromium.

Results of the Indicator Mineral Survey:

Preliminary indicator mineral survey carried out in the western parts of Bastar Craton
covering Chandrapur and Garchroli districts, in Maharastra has shown chrome pyroxenes in 12
out of 60 samples, from five drainage areas viz. Andhari and its tributaries in Mul-Sindewahi
area southeast of Saoli and north of Awalgaon, all in Chandrapur district and Deorighat nala – a
tributary of Sati nadi, east of wairagarh and Karwapa nala south of Chatgaon, Garhchiroli
district. Besides one garnet grain having a composition close to G5 garnet (high magnesian
almandine, Dawson, 1980) was recovered along with chrome pyroxenes (MgO-6.9%,
TiO2O.03% and Cr2O3-0.06%)

Detailed indicator mineral survey carried out in two blocks viz. Andhari river and
southeast of Saoli has confirmed the presence of G5 garnet and chrome diopside in seven
samples. The chrome diopsides include both calcic and subcalcic varieties. In general, the

a
chrome dipside population is calcic with Cr2O3 in the range of 0.12 to 0.55%. The G5 garnets

di
have MgO in the range of 6.42% to 10.65%. ,FeO – 23.69%, SiO2 – 37.63% to40.17%, Al2O3 –

In
21.03% to 23.15%, TiO2 - 0.01% to 0.12% and Cr2O3 – 0.04% to 0.12%
of
The chromium pyroxenes of the area comprise three types viz., low chrome diopside,
y

low to high chrome, sub-calcic diopsides and sub-calcic chromian – augite/salite. By and large
ve

the population is sub-calcic with high Fe and A12O3. The plots of Cr2O3 with Ca/Ca+Mg and
Mg/Mg+Fe of the chrome diopsides indicate some similarity to the chrome diopsides from the
ur

Monastery Kimberlite field, South Africa. (Mitchell – 1986) and Letseng la terae kimberlite,
lS

Lesotho, particularly with the samples of high Ca/Ca+Mg ratio of the study area.
ca

The recovery of chrome diopside is considered to be important, particularly when

gi

recovered with other indicator minerals. This particularly true, as similar chrome-pyroxenes can
lo

also be found in many alkaline rocks such as minette, alkali basalts, nephelinite etc. (Mitchell
1986). As there is no reported occurrence of any such rocks in the present area, and considering
eo

the presence of G5 garnet coupled with pyroxenes, the indicator minerals may probably, be
G

kimberlitic. This is in conformity with the regional survey and indicates the source area of the
indicator minerals, narrowing down the search area. Though traverses during the study have not
shown any kimberlites and lamproites in the area, test pitting in selected areas may be required
to examine the possibility of these rocks.
PALEOPLACER DIAMONDS OF WAIRAGARH, MAHARASTRA:

Diamond incidence is known from conglomerates of Wairagarh area in Maharastra

(Tavernier 1676). A brief account of the diamond incidence in Wairagarh area is as follows:

The Wairagarh area exposes a narrow stretch of (10km x 6km), NNW-SSE trending low
grade, highly deformed meta sedimentary belt within the terrain occupied by Archaean Amgaon
Gneiss and forms a part of the western part of Bastar Craton. The metasediments comprise
framework supported polymictic conglomerate, gritty and pebbly arenaceous units, quartzite and
quartz-mica schist. Polymictic conglomerate is made up of bizarre assemblage of clasts of
different composition and size set in a well-foliated quartz sericite matrix. Quartzite dominates
the clast population accounting nearly for 80%, and the remaining includes gneiss, vein quartz,
ferruginous quartzite, and metabasics. The deformed clasts display high degree of flattening and
 32

the rock records variable (sub horizontal to steep) stretching lineation. The conglomerate grades
laterally in to gritty quartzite and mica schist. The ductile shear zone occurring along the eastern
margin of Sakoli Fold belt passes through the sediments resulting strong deformation of the
basement – cover rocks.

The Wairagarh metasedimentary unit (WMS) appears to have been deposited over the
gneissic basement. The Dongargarh granite dated 2465-2270 Ma by Sarkar 1994, occurs along
its eastern margin. A narrow lensoidal body of granite occurs within the WMS towards its
southcentral part. The lensoidal body of granite does not show any strain evidence. Younger
cover rocks of platformal facies of probable Pakhal rocks (mid to late Proterozoic) and lower
Gondwana affinity (Talchir) occur to the western and northwestern part respectively. The
stratigraphic status of WMS is still not clear. The total absence of granite clasts in the WMS and
the undeformed nature of granite as compared to the strained nature of the WMS suggest that the
granite may be intrusive, which may assign an early Proterozoic age to the WMS.

From the available records it is known that mining in Wairagarh area was prevalent since
the early part of 15th century. Farishta in 1425, Garcvia daorta in 1565 and Abul Fazal in 1590
(Ball, 1984) described the richness of the mines and the quality of the diamonds. From the

a
distribution of the old workings and abundant dumps it can be assumed that the entire area was

di
scanned for diamonds, including alluvial, colluvial, weathered bed rock and even the laterite

In
profile developed over the conglomerate. It appears that the clast rich portion was selectively
of
mined, as good crop of heavy minerals are associated with such coarse clastics. The workings
having a general size of 25m-40m diameters are seen spread throughout the area. Study of the
y

old dumps and stacks suggest that the old miners have removed the clasts at the site of pits itself
ve

and the matrix was crushed to 1cm and 5mm size for recovery of diamonds.
ur

An octahedral diamond (3.5mm long and 2.5mm wide, 0.15 carat) recently recovered
lS

during the GSI investigations of the conglomerate unit of WMS shows a light greenish tint with
ca

well developed crystal faces. The octahedra edges show stepped surfaces and twinning noticed is
of spinel law, having a triangular shape in plan. A black coating, noticed in a cavity on one face,
gi

appears to be graphite inclusion. Along with diamond other heavy assemblages identified
lo

include ilmenite, garnet (G-5 garnet, almandine, grossular and andraditic garnets), pyroxenes,
eo

amphibole, staurolite, chrome spinel and rare tourmaline. The chrome pyroxenes are low chrome
variety. The Ca/(Ca+Mg) and Mg/Mg+Fe ratios of the pyroxenes do not indicate any
G

kimberlite/lamproite affinity.

The discovery of diamond in an older conglomerate of probable early Proterozoic age

points to much older diamondiferous intrusion in the western part of Bastar Craton. The source
rock of diamond probably of Archaean age may be difficult to locate due to complex geological
processes the terrain has undergone, which include granite intrusion, regional metamorphism
followed by deposition of younger proterozoic and Gondwana rocks. This find has opened up
new vistas of diamond search in similar geological milieu in the western Bastar Craton.

PROSPECTS IN ORISSA

In order to locate more kimberlite/lamproite bodies within and adjacent to Mainpur

Kimberlite field in the eastern part of Bastar Craton, multisensor Twin otter aero-geophysical
survey were carried out by the Airborne Mineral Survey and Exploration Wing (AMSE Wing)
of Geological Survey of India during 1994-98 along E-W flight lines at intervals of 500m with a
mean terrain clearance of 80m covering an area of about 27,850 sq. km. from Mainpur-
 33

Payalikhand area in the south to Raigarh-Sundergarh area in the north around Chhattishgarh-
Orissa border. The vast amount of this aero geophysical data was utilized for search of
kimberlite.

Near Sakri village, Bargarh district, Orissa NE-SW trending olivine lamproite dyke cross
cutting a NW-SE trending dolerite dyke has been discovered. Recently some more small
lamproite bodies have been discovered in the adjoining areas.The lamproite in Sakri confirmed
by SEM/EDX studies has olivine (altered), titaniferous phlogopite, and carbonates (dolomites
and calcites) besides zinc bearing chrome spinels, clinopyroxene, monazite and high Fe-Ba
potash feldspars(sanidine?). Discovery of this lamproite has raised hopes of finding more such
dykes and main lamproite bodies along the ideal setting of the contact of Bastar Craton and
Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt. It may be mentioned here that this present setting is similar to the
Krishna lamproite field (KLF) on the eastern margin of Dharwar Craton just outside the NE horn
of Cuddapah basin in Andhra Pradesh.

Discovery of a lamproite dyke on the margin of Bastar Craton and Eastern Ghat Mobile
Belt and incidence of several kimberlite indicators in Mainpur-Gariaband and Khariar road-
Paikamal area prove that the integrated strategy is well founded and worth continuing further to

a
utilize the vast amount of aero-geophysical data available with GSI pertaining to this area.

di
Recently State DGM has recovered diamond from a pipe in Kalmidadar.

In
of
Analytical results:
y

Determinative analytical techniques such as SEM-EDX, EPMA were pursued for

ve

suspected heavies to identify indicator minerals. Deep red garnets recovered from samples
ur

drawn from the north of Mahasingh in southern faulted contact zone of Gondwana with cratonic
gneiss in Ib basin are identified to be magnesian almandine by SEM-EDX with MgO around
lS

7%. Garnets from stream sediments of Motur nala, a tributary to Tel river to south of
ca

Dharamagarh were identified as magnesian almandine by SEM-EDX with MgO around 13%.
Suspected garnets from Indravati river basin are identified as magnesian almandine by SEM-
gi

EDX with MgO around 9%. MgO, FeO, CaO% of these garnets from all the three river basins
lo

when plotted on Dawson-Stephens diagram, fall in G-5 field.

eo

The Cratonic domain of western Orissa lying in tectonic juxtaposition with circum
G

cratonic EGMB is a promising regional target of primary diamond exploration due to its lofty
age old diamond panning records and recent discovery of kimberlite diatremes in adjoining state
of Chattisgarh having identical geological milieu.
G
eo
lo
gi
ca
lS
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PART - II
of
In
di
a
34
 35

DETAILED INFORMATION ON DIAMOND IN ANDHRA PRADESH &

KARNATAKA

DETAILED PROSPECTS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

South India is known from antiquity, for its most beautiful, famous and large size
diamonds. The ancient diamond mining activity was concentrated mostly along the alluvial
tracts of the Krishna River in the modern State of Andhra Pradesh. Many celebrated diamonds
like the Great Moghul (787 ct), the Koh-i-noor, Pitt/Regent (41 – ct), Nizam (440 ct), Hope (67
ct), Orloff, Darya-i-noor etc. are known to have been recovered from the mines along the
alluvial tracts of the Krishna River, perhaps aptly referred to as diamond river by Ptolemy.
Having a place of pride for the ancient diamond mining as trade, Andhra Pradesh is bestowed
with both primary (kimberlites and lamproites) and secondary (conglomerates and gravels)
sources of diamond.

Geologically, this historically world-famous diamond province occurs in the Southern

a
Indian Shield which is divided into Dharwar Craton and Southern Granulite Terrain based on the

di
gross lithological assemblages (Ramakrishnan. 1993). The Dharawar Craton exposes a granite-

In
greenstone ensemble composed predominantly of granitoids, gneisses and greenstone (schist)
belts and late to post-tectonic granites (Closepet Granite and its equivalents) which were
of
intruded by mafic dyke swarms. This dyke infested Archaean granite-greenstone terrain is
y

unconformably overlain by sediments of Meso-to-Neo Proterozoic intracratonic sedimentary

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basins (Radhakrishna 1990, Drury et al, 1984). The granite-greenstone terrain and sediments in
the north and northwestern part are covered by Cretaceous-Tertiary lava flows of the Deccan
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Trap. The cratonic granite – gneiss assemblage concealed below the lava flows perhaps extends
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upto the Son – Narmada Lineament in the north. The Craton is bounded by the Eastern Ghats
Mobile Belt in the east, the rifted continental margin – a result of fragmentation of the
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Gondwana Land in the west, the Godavari Graben in the northeast and the Palghat – Cauvery
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Shear System in the south.

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Dharwar Craton remained free of any orogenic movements since – 2500 Ma.. The
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Southern Granulite Terrain, on the other hand, shows imprints of Pan African (600 – 500 Ma)
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remobilization marked by the EW to WNW – ESE trending shear belts (Ramakrishnan , 1993).
These major geological events in the South Indian Shield were followed by the fragmentation of
the Gondwana Land, northward drifting of the Indian Plate and widespread lava flows of the
Deccan Traps under the influence of a mantle plume activity.

The South Indian Peninsular Shield is endowed with both kimberlites and lamproites.
The known kimberlites are distributed in two major fields, namely Wajrakarur Kimberlite Field
(WKF) and the Narayanpet Kimberlite Field (NKF) within the granite-greenstone terrain, while
the lamproites are distributed in two fields, namely the Nallamalai fold belt of the Cuddapah
basin and the Jaggayyapeta Lamproite Field or Krishna Lamproite Field (JLF/KLF) within the
Peninsular Gneissic Complex.

The South-Indian diamond province is confined to the south of Pranhita – Godavari rift
zone, essentially consisting of four main geotectonic units namely (1) Western block of Dharwar
Craton (WDC), (2) Eastern block of Dharwar Craton (EDC) (3) Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt
(EGMB) and (4) Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT). These kimberlites and lamproites are known
 36

to occur only from the Eastern Dharwar Cratonic block mainly falling in Andhra Pradesh and
minor parts in adjoining Karnataka.

A.KIMBERLITES AND LAMPROITES

Kimberlites and lamproites are located in about 270 x 180 Km area and found
prominently in Wajrakarur-Lattavaram-Chigicherla-Kalyandurg area (WKF) in Anantapur
district,A.P.,Narayanpet Kimberlite Field(NKF) in Mahboobnagar district, A.P.and Gulbarga
district of Karnataka and Chelima-Zangamrajupalle area (CZLF) in Prakasam district,A.P. and
Jaggayyapeta Lamproite Field(JLF) also known as Krishna Lamproite Field of Krishna and
Nalgonda districts of A.P. The Anantapur and Mahboobnagar occurrences are found emplaced
into various units of the Peninsular Gneissic Complex and the Prakasam occurrences into Upper
Proterozoic sediments of the Cuddapah Supergroup.

Geological Setup:

The general geological sequence in the gneissic terrain to the west of Cuddapah Basin is
as follows:

a
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Younger intrusives Kimberlites, dolerite and gabbro dykes, pink

In
and grey granites
Dharwar Supergroup Greenstones represented by meta-acid and
of
basic volcanics and meta sedimentaries
Peninsular Gneissic Complex Grey granite, tonalite gneiss, banded gneiss,
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migmatite etc.
Older Metamorphics Amphibolite, banded ferruginous quartzite
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etc.
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The Kimberlites are the youngest intrusives emplaced into various lithounits, around
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840-1200 Ma in age and found on the pediplain occurring at an elevation of 460-500 m above
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MSL indicating substantial erosion of the kimberlite bodies. Experimental studies of co-existing
facies in the mantle xenoliths revealed that depth of origin of these kimberlites could be ranging
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from 100-180 km.

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The WKF occupies the western parts of Anantpur district and the southern parts of
Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. It measures 120km x 60km area. The kimberlites are
emplaced into the gneisses and schist belt.

In Wajrakarur Kimberlite Field (WKF) a total of 21 kimberlites are distributed in 3

clusters, viz,

(i) Wajrakarur – Lattavaram cluster – 13 bodies (pipe – 1 to pipe-13)

(ii) Chigicherla cluster – 5 bodies (CC-1 to CC-5)
(iii)Kalyandurg cluster – 3 bodies (Kl-1 to Kl-3)
Majority of the pipes in WKF are diamondiferous.
During 2004, two new kimberlite bodies have been reported from Timmasamudram(TK-
1 & TK-2) area.

The Narayanpet Kimberlite Field (NKF) is located about 150 km southwest of

Hyderabad and 200 km north of the WKF. It measures 60 x 40 km in extent, covering western
parts of Mahboobnagar district in Andhra Pradesh extending into eastern parts of Gulbarga
district in Karnataka. This field is located in the northern and eastern Dharwar block.
 37

All the kimberlites of the NKF are emplaced into the migmatite gneisses and younger
granites of the PGC. The Maddur and Kotakonda clusters are associated with major E-W faults
and their resultant splays due to the reactivation along this vector.

The Kimberlites of Narayanpet Kimberlite Field (NKF),occur in four noticeable clusters,

viz.,

(i) Maddur cluster – 11 bodies (MK-1 to MK-11)

(ii) Kotakonda cluster – 7 bodies (KK-1 to KK-7)
(iii)Narayanpet cluster – 10 bodies (NK-1 to NK-10)
(iv) Bhima cluster – 6 bodies (BK-1 to BK-6).
Out of abovementioned 34 kimberlites four bodies of Narayanpet cluster(NK-7to NK-10)
and all the bodies of Bhima cluster(BK-1 to BK-6) are located in Gulbarga district in Karnataka
and the rests are in Andhra Pradesh.
Incidence of diamond has not yet been reported from these bodies.
During 2001-02 inbetween NKF and WKF three new kimberlite bodies were discovered

a
near Siddampalle village (SK-1,SK-2&SK-3) in Gadwal district,A.P.

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In
of
A.1 WAJRAKARUR – LATTAVARAM AREA (WKF)
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Geographical data:
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Area Wajrakarur – Lattavaram, Anantapur District.

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Coordinates Lat.: 14005/ – 15003/; Long.: 77018/ – 77023/

Toposheet nos 57E/8 & F/5
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Extent Extends in about 25 x 10 km area between

Wajrakarur (15001’ : 77023’ ; T.S no. 57 E/8)
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in the north and Muligiripalle (14051/ ; 77019/ ;

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57F/5) in the south.

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Access Easily accessible from Guntakal, an important

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railway junction which is about 15 to 45 km

from the area. Guntakal-Anantapur State
Highway passes through the area.

Kimberlite pipes:

There are thirteen kimberlite bodies in the area , three(pipes 1,2 & 6) at Wajrakarur, four
(pipes 3, 4, 8 & 9) at Lattavaram, one each at Muligiripalle (pipe 5) and Venkatampalle dyke
(pipe 7) and P-10, P-11, P-12 & P-13. These are found on the pediplain rising to an elevation of
460 – 480m above MSL. Of the 13 kimberlites except the pipe 6, the rest occur in the residual
soil area drained by the Pennar river system. The Pipe 6 occurs under black soil cover drained by
the Hagari river system.

The Kimberlites generally contain olivine, serpentine, carbonate, enstatite, diopside,

phlogopite, perovskite, magnetite, ilmenite, iddingsite, melilite etc. Olivine is the most common
phenocryst followed by pyroxene, garnet, ilmenite and mica. They are set in a fine grained
matrix giving panidiomorphic texture. The matrix is completely altered into serpentine, chlorite,
 38

amphiboles and clay minerals. The pipes 2 and 5 contain high amounts of phlogopite,
perovskite, richterite, melilite and glass and are classified as lamproites.

The kimberlites generally show high values of MgO, Al2O3, CaO, K2O and TiO2. MgO
varies from 7.2% to 31.71%. In the micaceous variety TiO2 shows high values of 2.45% to
2.57%. K2O is present in higher amounts ranging from 0.55% to 3.37%. Geochemical data
suggest that the pipes 2 and 5 have affinity to lamproites. They are characterized by significantly
high values of TiO2, Fe2O3, K2O, Na2O and P2O5.

Crustal xenoliths (mostly granite and metabasalt) are high in the pipes 1, 6 and 7 and
mantle xenoliths (lherzolite, hartzburgite, dunite) and peraluminous corundum and kyanite
eclogites in the pipes 3 and 4. The kimberlite indicators viz. pyrope garnet, picroilmenite and
chrome diopside are more predominant in the dyke 7 and also in the pipes 3, 4 and 6.

Geophysical surveys comprising gravity magnetic and resistivity surveys have resulted
in discovery of the pipes 6, 8 and 9. The unweathered kimberlites (2 and 5) showed high gravity,
magnetic and resistivity values whereas the weathered kimberlites (1 and 6 ) gave low gravity of

a
0.5m gals and low resistivity values in the range of 15 to 20 ohm.m.

di
In
WAJRAKARUR KIMBERLITES of
In Wajrakarur area, three kimberlite bodies (pipes 1, 2 & 6) are found over a length of 4
y

km in an E-W direction. The pipe 6 occurs in black soil area whereas the rest in the residual
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brown soil area.

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KIMBERLITE PIPE 1 (WAJRAKARUR PIPE)

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It is the largest kimberlite pipe in the country and has been mined for diamonds
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intermittently between 17th and 20th centuries.

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On the northwestern side of Wajrakarur village (15001/; 77023/

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Location
57 E/8.
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Dimension 1080m X 180 m, longer axis trending N 60 E-S 60 W; walls dip at

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800 – 850 into the pipe

Drilling 3268 m in 26 boreholes. Deepest borehole upto 277m. Yellow
ground (3 to 13m thick) occurs in the south-western part of the
pipe followed by blue ground which extends beyond 277m. In the
north eastern part hardebank intersected at depths between 77 and
151m. Crustal xenoliths constitute about 40 to 60% in the upper
part and decrease to 30% at depth.
Sampling Bulk sample pits on 100 x 30 m grid along N-S lines- total 36 pits
(each 3x2x10m in size), 24 in the southeastern part and 12 in the
northeastern part – about 20 tonnes of kimberlite drawn from each
pit, underground workings in the southeastern part two shafts
(each 3 x 2m in size) upto 34m depth connected by a 90m long
drive (2 x 2m in size), two cross cuts (2 x 2m) from the shaft – 1,
one 45.7m long in northerly direction and another 91.8m long in
southerly direction.
 39

Diamond incidence and resources: Diamond incidence from the surface and underground
samples is as follows:

Quantity processed (t) No. of diamonds and Diamond incidence

wt(ct) (cpht)
Surface samples (36 9028 202/48.65 0.53
pits)
Underground samples 4752 182/32.23 0.67
Total 13780 384/80.88 0.58

In the southwestern part there are a few pockets with diamond incidence upto 3 cpht. The
incidence is generally low in the northeastern part.

Area Quantity processed (t) No. of diamond and Diamond incidence

wt (ct) (cpht)
SW part 10,530 360/79.79 0.75

a
NE part 3,250 24/1.09 0.03

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In
The kimberlite reserves estimated for the southwestern part (400 x 150m) are about 6.94
Mt upto 60m depth with a diamond resource of 52,000 ct. As the incidence is very low the
of
reserve estimates were not made for the northeastern part.
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Though the average incidence is less, a large majority of diamonds in general are gem
ve

quality and diamonds upto 9.45 ct were recovered. Large size diamonds are recovered even
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today by locals from the adjoining fields mostly during monsoon.

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KIMBERLITE PIPE-6 (WAJRAKARUR WEST PIPE)

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Location About 1.5 km west of Wajrararur and 300m north of Kottakunta tank.
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Dimension 260 x 240m – roughly circular in shape

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Drilling 19 boreholes. Deepest borehole upto 280m depth. The body is

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completely covered under 1.5m thick black soil. Yellow ground occurs
upto a depth of 45m, followed by blue ground which extends beyond
G

280m depth. A granite – kimberlite breccia raft (170m long and 30-80m
wide) is found in the centre of the pipe extending upto 35 to 40m depth.
Granite xenoliths constitute upto 70% of the rock.
Sampling Bulk sample pitting on 40 x 40m grid covering the entire body excluding
the breccia – 25pits (each 3 x 2 x 10m size) amounting to 1500 cu m of
excavation. Underground sampling from two shafts (each upto 45m
depth) and one drive 143.5m long ( 2 x 2m size) at 45m depth. Total
excavation is about 1104 cu m.
 40

The sampling results are as follows:

Quantity processed (t) No. of diamonds and Diamond incidence

wt (ct) (cpht)
Surface samples (25 3754 129/30.34 0.80
pits)
Underground samples 4717 242/26.47 0.56
Total 8471 371/56.81 0.67

The kimberlite resources estimated upto 60m depth are of the order of 5.99 Mt with a
diamond resource of 40,000 ct.

KIMBERLITE PIPE -2 (WAJRAKARUR EAST PIPE)

Location About 2.5 km east of Wajrakarur

Dimension 380 x 70m, longer axis trending N 75 E – S 75
W.Recent work (F.S. 2000-2002) established

a
that it is a composite body comprising of the

di
main and two satellite bodies.

In
Drilling 11 boreholes,Unaltered kimberlite/hardebank
at surface
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Sampling Earlier 772 tonnes of kimberlite was
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processed but no diamond was discovered.

Recent work (F.S. 2000-2002) established that
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the pipe is diamondiferous. Three diamonds

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were recovered after processing 278 tonnes of

kimberlitic material. Diamonds are of gem
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variety and range of weight is 0.04 to 3.26 ct.

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LATTAVARAM KIMBERLITES
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Four kimberlites (pipes 3,4,8 and 9) are located in a radius of 0.5 km., about 1 to 1.5km
G

east of Lattavaram (14055/: 77017/; 57F/5). Outcrops are scanty but covered by a veneer of soil.

The results of exploration are as follows:

Pipe No. Dimension Area (ha) No. of Quantity No. of Diamond

(m) boreholes Processed diamonds incidence
metreage (t) wt (ct) (cpht)
drilled (m)
3 120x40 0.48 6/634.10 907 12/2.55 0.28
4 265x130 3.45 11/863.55 2400 30/6.02 0.25
8 110x55 0.50 5/282.20 1773 40/5.95 0.33
9 37x21 0.07 229 4/1.17 0.5
 41

KIMBERLITE PIPE -5 (MULIGIRIPALLE PIPE)

Location About 1.5 km east of Muligiripalle

Dimension 240 x 45m, Longer axis trending N 85 E – S 85 W
Drilling 1049.55m in nine boreholes. Hardebank in the northern
part, yellow ground in the southern part, 2 to 5m thick-
blue ground upto 12m depth beyond which hardebank
occurs.
Sampling Five bulk sample pits ( 3 x 2 x 10m each). 276 cum of
excavation, 482t of processing. No diamonds
recovered.

KIMBERLITE DYKE – 7 (VENKATAMPALLE KIMBERLITE)

Location About 0.5 km east of Venkatampalle (14056/ ;

77021/; 57F/5)
Dimension 1.2 km long x 0.5 to 30m wide – dyke like

a
body.

di
Trend N 50 E – S 50 W

In
Drilling 4372.40m in 34 boreholes drilled over 1.2 km
length.
of
24 - I series holes (30m depth)
7 - II Series holes (125m depth)
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3 - III Series holes (250m depth)

Of the 1.2 km length, dyke enlargements are
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over 600m length. In the remaining 600m

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length, kimberlite is in the form of veins along

the fracture/fault zone. I series intersections
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are fairly consistent in the central part of the

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dyke (thickness upto 10m) – thickness

reduces in II and III series intersections.
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Sampling Bulk samples from 10 trenches in seven dyke

enlargements trenches 3 to 4m deep – total
excavation is 1663 cu m. The results of
sampling are as follows

Kimberlite Overburden
Processing(t) 1515 1221
No.of diamond/wt(ct) 1142/119.52 2838/543.26
Av.Diamond 7.88 44.5
incidence (cpht)
 42

Kimberlite resources
Diamond resources
Diamond characteristics
About 0.5 Mt upto 90m depth (for the 600m length of dyke
enlargements). About 14000 t of overburden over the dyke
enlargement.
48000 ct upto 90m depth in the kimberlite and 4700 ct in the
overburden over the dyke enlargements.
A large majority of the diamonds recovered from the
kimberlitres are gem quality. Till now, the pipes 1 and 6 and
dyke 7 have yielded more number of diamonds. In the pipes 1
& 6, about 90% of the diamonds by weight are gem quality
and in the dyke-7, about 60% by weight. The largest diamond
recovered from the area is 16.30 ct by weight (from dyke-7)
and is of gem variety.

KIMBERLITE PIPE – 10 (ANUMPALLE KIMBERLITE)

Location 0.75 km west of Anumpalle village (14059/ 40// : 77030/ 55//)

Dimension 1200m long x 1000m wide pod shaped body.

a
Trend N 600W – S 600E

di
In
Emplaced into the younger granitoids at the intersection of the ENE –WSW fracture with
the major NW-SE trending Singanamala fault. No outcrops, covered by 1.5m kimberlite
of
calcretre, rafts of granite float in the kimberlite – two linear disconnected satellite bodies noticed
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to the west of the main body.

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Pipe no Area in Hectares Material Diamond Diamond

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processed recovery incidence

(tonnes) No/Wt.Ct. (ct/100t)
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P-10 63 1434 48/14.71 0.78

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KIMBERLITE PIPE –11 (DIBBSANIPALLE KIMBERLITE)

G

Location 0.5 km SSE of Dibbsanipalle village (15002/ 00// : 77028/ 00//)

Dimension 143m long x 82m wide Bean shaped
Trend ENE - WSW

Emplaced close to the contact of the TT gneisses and TGA rocks close to the intersection
of the ENE-WSW fracture with the NW-SE major fault.

Scattered boulders of melanocratic kimberlite occur on surface. Bodies covered by 1m

thick calcrete soils.
Pipe no Area in Hectares Materials Diamond Diamond
processed recovery incidence
(tonnes) (no/wt.ct.) (ct/100t)
P-11 1.1 275 2/2.15 0.78

KIMBERLITE PIPE – 12 (CHINTALAMPALLE KIMBERLITE)

 43

Location 1 km west of Chintalampalle village (15002/ 00// : 77028/ 00//)

Dimension 130m long x 40m wide
Trend N600E – S600W

Emplaced into the younger granitoids along a NE –SW trending and its intersection with
the NW-SE trending major fault. Melanocratic outcrops, rest of the body is highly weathered
and carbonated.

Pipe no Area in Hectares Materials Diamond Diamond

processed recovery incidence
(tonnes) (no/wt.ct). (ct/100t)
P-12 0.48 69 Nil Nil

KIMBERLITE PIPE -13 (TUMMATAPALLE KIMBERLITE)

Location 2.5km NE of Tummatapalle village (14049/ 55// : 77041/ 00//)

Dimension 125m long x 100m wide

a
Trend ----

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In
Emplaced into the TGA rocks along a ENE-WSW sinistral fault that displaces the
Manutla dome.Melanocratic outcrops and partly weathered and altered kimberlite capped by
of
calcretes.
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A.2. CHIGICHERLA AREA (WKF)

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Geographic data:
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Area Chigicherla. It is about 60km southeast of Wajrakarur-

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Lattavaram area, Anantapur District.

Coordinates Lat: 14031/; Long. 77041/ ; Toposheet no. 57F/10
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Access Located about 12 km north of Dharmavaram and 20 km SSE of

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Anantapur – easily approachable from Anantapur-Bangalore NH

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7. Guntakal – Bangalore railway line passes through the area.

Geological setup The Chigicherla kimberlite bodies are emplaced into the grey
G

hornblende granites and dolerites. ( in Chitravatri sub-basin).

These bodies occur on a high flat terrain around 400m above
MSL. Major basic dykes trend in NE-SW and NW-SE
directions.
Exploration So far five kimberlites are reported in the area, one in 1989 by
CGWB and the other in 1992 by GSI. The body CC-1 is about
1.5 km northeast of Chigicherla and the CC-2, about 0.75 km
north of the village. Both the kimberlites are partly covered by
red soil/calcrete. A few hard outcrops occur.

The body CC-1 is pale green coloured, porphyritic with

numerous anhedral olivines set in the fine grained matrix of
serpentine, carbonates and opaque dust. Two generations of
olivine are present. The kimberlite indicators are rare.

KIMBERLITE PIPE CC-1

 44

Dimension 315 x 185 m – pear shaped, longer axis trending NW-SE.

Sampling A grab sample of 119 t from a well dump in the body yielded 4
diamonds weighing 0.44 ct. Subsequently 436 tonnes of
material has been processed which yielded 5 diamonds
weighing 1.31 ct averaging 0.30 cpht.

Maximum depth of trenches 3.5m

Overburden thickness 0.35 to 2.40 m

KIMBERLITE BODY CC-2

Dimension 200 x 175m

Trend NNW-SSE,
Sampling A total of 302 tonnes of kimberlite material was processed
which yielded two diamonds weighing 1.02 ct averaging 0.35
cpht

a
The body covers 3.5 hectares. emplaced into the TGA rocks close to the intersection of

di
ENE-WSW fracture with the NW-SE shear.

In
of
KIMBERLITE BODY CC-3
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.Dimension 70 x 15m
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Trend N-S
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This kimberlite body covers an area of 0.1 hectare is emplaced at the contact of the
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Ramagiri schist belt and the younger granitoids along a ENE-WSW trending fracture.
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KIMBERLITE BODY CC-4

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Location This kimberlite located about 1.75km west of

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Golapalle, close to the intersection of a ENE –

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WSW fault with a NW-SE fracture.

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Dimension 125m x 100m, nearly circular in outline

Incidence of diamond 15 diamonds weighing 2.17 ct were recovered
from 88 tonnes of kimberlite material drawn
from 5 trenches, indicating an average
diamond incidence of 2.46cpht.

KIMBERLITE BODY CC-5

Location : This kimberlite body is

located about 1km NE of
Gollapalle.
Dimension : 220m x 70m
Incidence of diamond : 6 diamonds weighing 1.38 ct
have been recovered from 175
tonnes material of pipe CC-5.
All are gems ranging in weight
from 0.05 to 0.51 ct, the
 45

average weight of the stones

being 0.23 ct.

A. 3.KALYANDURG

KIMBERLITE PIPE – KL - 1 (PILLAPALLE KIMBERLITE)

Location 1 km NNE of Pillapalle village (14034/ 10// : 77001/ 10//)

Dimension 350m long x 250m wide
Trend NNW - SSE

Emplaced into the closepet granite close to the intersection of NNW-SSE fracture with
the ENE-WSW trending fracturers. No outcrop. Highly weathered and carbonated megacryst of
ilmenite seen. Processing of 280 tonnes of material has yielded one diamond weighing 0.08 ct.

KIMBERLITE PIPE – KL – 2 (MUPALAKUNTA)

Location 1.5 km north of Mupalakunta village (14033/ 20// : 77002/ 30//)

a
Dimension 100m long x 80 m wide

di
Trend -

In
Oval shaped; emplaced into the closepet granite along ENE – WSW trending fractures.
of
No outcrops, covered under kimberlite calcrete, megacryst of ilmenite, eclogite and kyanite
y

bearing eclogite nodule extensively recovered.

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From panned concentrate of 50 kg weathered kimberlite material one micro-diamond

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was recovered.
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KIMBERLITE PIPE – KL -3 (NAGIREDDIPALLE)

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Location 0.5 Km NNW of Nagireddipalle village

(14033’40”: 76058’30”)
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Dimension 450m long x 250m wide

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Trend ENE - WSW

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Emplaced in closepet granite along ENE-WSW trending fractures. A coupled detached

melanocratic outcrops; rest of the body is covered under 1.5m thick calcrete soil. Ilmenite
megacrysts strewn over the kimberlite.

A.4 TIMMASAMUDRAM KIMBERLITE

Two new kimberlite pipes(TK-1 & TK-2) have been discovered during 2004 near
Timmasamudram village (14o31/45//N : 77018/30//E ; 57F/6), Anantapur district.

The bodies are capped by 1.0m – 1.5m thick calcrete. A few hardebank boulders found
on TK-1 show large rounded macrocryst of olivine (upto 1cm across) embedded in a fine
grained groundmass of serpentinised and carbonated olivine. Mantle (peridotites) and crustal
(granitoid) nodules do occur in these bodies. Preliminary studies of the heavy mineral
assemblages have indicated the presence of picroilmenite, spinel and chrome-diopside.

A.5 MADDUR KIMBERLITE CLUSTER

 46

Geographic data:

Area Maddur , Mahaboobnagar district.

Coordinates Lat. : 16046/-16051/; Long. :77038/-77042/), Toposheet no. 56
H/9
Extent Kimberlites occur in about 10 x 2 km area between Maddur
(16049/ : 77036/ ; 56H/9) in the north and Kotakonda
(16045/:77014/ ; 56H/9) in the south.
Access Located about 40 km due NW of Mahaboobnagar and
approachable by metalled and fair weather roads.

Geological set up:

The kimberlites are found emplaced into the Peninsular Gneissic Complex comprising
biotite granite, pink granite and migmatites. The bodies are mainly found at an elevation of 480-
500m above MSL. The rocks generally contain olivine, serpentine, perovskite, monticillite
carbonate etc and show high values of TiO2. Kimberlite indicators are rare.

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KIMBERLITE PIPE – MK – 1 (APPIREDDIPALLI)
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Location 5 km SE of Maddur (16052/ : 77037/)

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Dimension 65m long x 20m wide

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Trend N45W – S45 E.

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Emplaced into granodiorite close to the intersections of NW – SE and E-W fault. A few
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outcrops of unaltered, steel grey kimberlite in a flat terrain.

gi

KIMBERLITE PIPE – MK – 2 (MADDUR-SE-KIMBERLITE)

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Location 4 Km SE of Maddur (16052/ : 77037/)

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Dimension 120 m X 33 m
G

Trend E-W

Emplaced within granodiorite and falls on E-10 fault. Moderate high ground with good
capping of kimberlitic calcrete.
KIMBERLITE PIPE – MK-3 (MADDUR SE KIMBERLITE)

Location 4 km SE of Maddur and 100 m north of MK-2

(16052/ : 77035/)
Dimension 150m x 52m
Trend N75 W – 575 E
Emplaced within granodiorite and falls on E-10 fault. Moderate high ground with good
capping of kimberlite calcrete.

KIMBERLITE PIPE – MK – 4 (MADDUR TANDA KIMBERLITE)

 47

Location 1.5 km NW of MK-1 and 3.5 km SE of Maddur (16052/ :

77037/)
Dimension 80 m x 35 m
Trend E-W

Emplaced into weathered biotite granite close to the intersection of NW-SE and E-W
faults. No outcrop – no calcrete concealed body is exposed in well section, and altered yellow
ground is seen.

KIMBERLITE PIPE MK – 5 (PIDIRIPAHAD KIMBERLITE)

Location 2 km NE of Pidiripahad ( 16050 : 77035/)

Dimension Dyke
Trend N 800W – S800E, dipping towards south.

Emplaced into granodiorites and falls very close to the intersection of NNE-SSW and E-
W faults. Moderate high ground, linear dyke body with good exposures.

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KIMBERLITE PIPE MK – 6 (NIDIJINTA KIMBERLITE)

di
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Location 2 .km west of Nidijinta and 500m east of MK-2 & MK-3.
(16050/: 77040/)
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Dimension Dyke
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Trend N300E – S300W

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Emplaced into granodiorites and located at the intersections of NW-SE and E-W fault.
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Stream bed-no exposures, exposed in well sections – weathered, altered, carbonated, micaceous
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rock (yellow ground).

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KIMBERLITE PIPE MK – 7 (DUPPATGOTTU KIMBERLITE)

gi

500m north of Duppatgottu (16049/: 77041/)

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Location
Dimension Dyke
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Trend N75E – S 75W

G

Emplaced into biotite granite and located at the intersection of N-S and NW –SE faults.
No outcrops, no calcrete, concealed weathered body exposed in a well section, altered yellow
ground, fracture controlled emplacement.

KIMBERLITE PIPE MK – 8 (KAZIPUR KIMBERLITE)

Location 1 km SSE of Kazipur (16052/: 77035/)

Dimension Not known
Trend Not known

Emplaced into biotite granite and located between two NE-SW trending faults. Exposed
in a well section with crustal xenoliths of pink granite. Phenocrysts of olivine and phlogopite
mica are noticed. Panned concentrates contain chrome diopside and ilmenite.

KIMBERLITE PIPE MK – 9 (MONAPURAM KIMBERLITE)

Location 1.5 km east of Monapuram (16050/: 77037/)
 48

Dimension Not known

Trend Not known

Emplaced into biotite granite and located close to the intersections of ENE-WSW and
NNW-SSE trending faults. Weathered rock is exposed in a well section, , phenocrysts of altered
olivine is present. Heavy concentrates contain a few grains of garnet, chrome diopside and
zircon.

KIMBERLITE PIPE MK – 10 (GOKAPASALWAD KIMBERLITE)

Location 3 km SSE of Chellapur and 3.8 km ESE of Gokapasalwad

(16058/: 77034/)
Dimension Not known
Trend Not known

Emplaced into biotite granite and located on the NW-SE trending fault. Exposed in a
well section. Crustal and mantle xenoliths noticed. Chrome diopside, phlogopite, ilmenite and

a
olivine are noticed in a hand specimen.

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In
KIMBERLITE PIPE MK – 11 (KAMUSANIPALLI KIMBERLITE)of
Location 1.5 Km ESE of Kamusanipalli Kimberlite 1.5 km ESE of
Kamusanipalli (16047/ : 77035/)
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Dimension Not known

Trend Not known
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lS

Emplaced into biotite granite and located close to the NE – SW veering ENE – WSW
fault responsible for MK – 7 & 9 emplacement also. No outcrops, weathered yellowish brown
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rock.
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A.6 KOTAKONDA CLUSTER

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KIMBERLITE PIPE KK-1 (KOTAKONDA KIMBERLITE)

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Location 15 km N 700E of Kotakonda (16046/ : 77039/)

Dimension 2 km in length with an average width of 50m.
Trend NE – SW trending dyke veering to ENE-WSW.

Emplaced into granodiorite along a NE-SW to ENE-WSW veering fracture. Good

outcrops of hard steel grey kimberlite with yellow ground capped by laterite are present.
 49

KIMBERLITE PIPE KK – 2 (VINJAMUR KIMBERLITE)

Location 1.5km WNW of Vinjamur (16045/ : 77038/)

Dimension Extension of KK – 1
Trend E-W

Emplaced into granodiorite along NE-SW to ENE – WSW veering fracture. Outcrop or
calcrete are absent. Highly weathered altered, yellowrish green kimberlite with occasional steel
grey hard kimberlite fragments are present.

KIMBERLITE PIPE KK – 3 (ABHANGAPUR KIMBERLITE)

Location 1.5km east of Abhangapur (16046/ : 77043/)

Dimension Not known
Trend ENE - WSW

Emplaced into the granodiorite close to the intersection of NNW-SSE and NW-SE
trending faults. It occurs as. E-W trending dyke like body exposed in well section.It is highly

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weathered, altered to yellow ground.

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KIMBERLITE PIPE KK-4 (RAMANNAPALLE KIMBERLITE) of
Location 2 Km NW of Vinjamur(16047/ : 77042/)
Dimension Not known
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Trend ENE - WSW

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Emplaced into granodiorite along ENE – WSW trending fractures. The pipe is exposed
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in an abandoned well section.It is highly weathered & altered yellow ground.

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KIMBERLITE PIPE KK -5 (BOMMANPAHAD KIMBERLITE)

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Location 1.5 km southwest of Bommanpahad (16046/ : 770 36/)

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Dimension Not known

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Trend Not known

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Emplaced into the granodiorite along a NE-SW trending fracture. Kimberlite is highly
weathered, yellowish in colour with altered olivine phenocrysts and phlogopite. The body is
exposed in a well section having a 4m overburden. A few picroilmenites noticed in the heavy
mineral concentrate.

KIMBERLITE PIPE KK – 6 (AMMIREDDIPALLE KIMBERLITE)

Location 0.5 km east of Ammireddipalle (16045/ : 77035/)

Dimension 20 m x 10 – 12m
Trend WNW - ESE

Emplaced into the granodiorites close to the TT Gneiss – TGA contact along NW – SE
trending fracture. Hard, dark green coloured rocks, extremely fine grained, inequigranular in
texture with small laths/macrocrysts with crustal xenoliths.
 50

KIMBERLITE PIPE KK – 7 ( KAMUSANPALLE KIMBERLITE)

Location 2 km SSW of Kamusanpalle village

Dimension 80m x 20m
Trend ENE- WSW

Emplaced into granodiorite at the intersection zone of ENE – WSW & NW –SE
lineaments. No outcrops, concealed by 1m thick soil cover, with no calcrete capping.

A.7 NARAYANPET CLUSTER

KIMBERLITE PIPE NK – 1 (NARAYANPET KIMBERLITE)

Location 2 km north of Narayanpet (16045/ : 77030/)

Dimension Not known
Trend Not noticeable

Emplaced with the TT gneisses along NNW – SSE trending fractures. Couple of

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unaltered hard steel grey, inequigranular, porphyritic Kimberlite boulders floating in a highly

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weathered altered carbonated ‘yellow ground’ as noticed in the road cutting.

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KIMBERLITE PIPE NK – 2 (PERAPALLI KIMBERLITE)
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Location 2 km west of Perapalli & 1 km east of NK-1 (16045/ : 77031/)
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ve

Dimension Not known

Trend N 20W – S 200E.
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Outcrops over a length of 50m with an average width of 20m. Emplaced with the TT
gneisses along NNW-SSE trending fracture. Outcrop of unaltered steel grey hard porphyritic
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inequigranular kimberlite in a flat terrain. Calcrete is seen about 200m to the NW extension of
the outcrop indicating presence of subsurface yellow ground.
gi
lo

KIMBERLITE PIPE NK -3 (MUDALABID KIMBERLITE)

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Location 1.5 km east of Mudalabid (16048/ : 77029/)

G

Dimension Not known

Trend Not known

Emplaced along the contact of the TT gneiss and TGA rocks along NW-SE trending
faults. Exposed in a well section and is highly weathered with a number of crustal and mantle
xenoliths, chrome diopside, phlogopite mica flakes, olivines (fresh & altered ) are noticed in
hand specimen.

KIMBERLITE PIPE NK – 4 (DAMARAGIDDA KIMBERLITE)

Location 1.5km Southwest of Damaragidda (16049/ : 77030/)

Dimension Not known
Trend N200W – S200E

Emplaced along the contact of TT gneiss and TGA rocks along NW-SE trending
fault.Exposed in a well section, highly weathered, yellowish in colour with pseudomorphs of
olivine noticed in hand specimen.
 51

KIMBERLITE PIPE NK – 5 (SAJANAPUR FAST KIMBERLITE)

Location 1 km east of Sajanapur (16049/ : 77028/)

Dimension 1m x 1m
Trend Not known

Emplaced along the contact of the TT gneisses and TGA rocks along NW-SE trending
faults. Hard and compact variety, dark in colour with phenocryrts of olivine & ilmenite.

KIMBERLITE PIPE - NK – 6 (SAJANPUR ENE KIMBERLITE)

Location 2 km ENV of Sajanpur (16049/ : 77028/)

Dimension Not known
Trend N40W – S40E

Emplaced along the contact of TT gneiss and TGA rocks along NW – SE trending faults.

a
Exposed in a well section with a width of 50 cm. Phenocryrts of olivine and phlogopite are

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present.

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A.8. CHELIMA-ZANGAMRA JUPALLE AREA(NALLAMALAI FOLD BELT)
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Geographic data:
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Area : Chelima-Zangamrajupalle, Prakasam district.

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Extent : The kimberlites occur in two areas, viz., Chelima 15026/: 78042/;
571/11) – Pachcherla area and Zangamrajupalle (14046/: 78053/; J/13
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area, separated by a distance of 75 km.

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Access : The area is located in a thickly forested terrain of the Nallamalai hill
range – Chelima is accessible by Nandyal – Giddalur state Highwaqy
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and Guntur-Guntakal railway line.

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G

Geological set up: Kimberlite dykes intruding the rocks of the Cumbum Formation of the
Cuddapah Supergroup are recorded in Chelima – Pachcherla area and in the boreholes drilled in
Zangamrajupalle area, in the Cuddapah Basin. The dykes indicate an age of 1200 to 1340 Ma,
occurring close to eastern margin of the Dharwar Craton.

The dykes have high content of phlogopite, calcite, TiO2 and P2O5 and are
enriched in REE content. Based on the mineral and chemical characters, the dykes are classified
as lamproites.

A number of old workings occur in Chelima dyke areas along 3 long rows
in WNW-ESE to NW-SE direction.

Recommendation: In Andhra Pradesh, diamonds and their host rocks are found over a vast
area. The primary host rocks i.e. kimberlites and lamproites are mainly found in the gneissic
terrain on the western side of the Cuddapah Basin. A perusal of the location and distribution of
the extensive diamondiferous conglomerates and gravel deposits in the Krishna and Pennar
drainage basins clearly show that the few kimberlites and lamproites so far known could not
 52

have been the only source for the vast secondary deposits. Further it is difficult to visualize that
the large diamonds such as the Great Moghul, the Orloff, the Kohinoor etc found in the Krishna
gravels near Kolluru, Paritala etc to have been transported over a distance of 300km from the
known Wajrakarur kimberlites. The paleocurrent studies of the Banganapalle sediments
indicated provenance to the southwest and northwest of the Cuddapah Basin. It is therefore,
apparent that a number of kimberlites/lamproites exists and lie undetected in the soil covered
areas south, west and north of the Cuddapah Basin and within the basin itself. The known source
rocks tested so far are not of much economic significance and therefore intensive efforts are
needed to identify additional primary host rocks for diamond.

A.9 JAGGAYYAPETA (KRISHNA) LAMPROITE FIELD(JLF/KLF)

The JLF or KLF falls north of the Krishna river, along the eastern margin of Dharwar
Craton (DC) in Krishna and Nalgonda district. It exposes granites and gneisses of the PGC
intruded by mafic dyke swarms with trend swerving between WNW-ESE and ENE-WSW.

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The JLF/KLF is spread over an area of about 160 sq. km. and comprises 25 lamproite

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bodies located just outside the peripheral parts of the north-eastern horn of Cuddapah basin. The

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lamproites occur as 0.5m – 5m dykes, mostly as clusters and run for lengths of about 1m to
of
400m in close association with dolerite dykes mostly emplaced along the contacts between
granite gneiss and dolerite dykes. The bodies occur as clusters around nine localities viz. (i)
y

Ramannapeta (ii) Vedadri (iii) Pochampalli (iv) Gopinenipalem (v) Tirumalagiri (vi)
ve

Anumanchipalli (vii) Palleru (viii) Nallabandagudem and (ix) Reddlakunta in addition to a

ur

lamproite vent, measuring 20m x 25m, as the eastern flank of the hill near Vedadri.
lS

RAMANNAPETA LAMPROITE CLUSTER

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Location Located 2 km south west and east of Ramannapeta village (16044/45// :

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80009/30//, 65D/2 )
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Dimension Ranges from 0.5m to 1.5m thickness with lengths upto 200m.
Trend NW-SE to N 20 W-S 20E
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G

Emplaced into granitoids fringing Cuddapah basin alkong intersection of NW-SE and
NNW-SSE trending fracture/basic dyke intimately associated with basin dyke of NNW-SSE
trend. Occurs in the form of detached, melanocratic dyke bodies. The bodies are weathered on
the surface with prominent chilled margins.All the bodies of the cluster are diopside lamproite.

VEDADRI LAMPROITE CLUSTER

Location Located 3 km NW of Vedadri temple hill (16043/30//: 80007/30//,

65D/1)
Dimension Ranges from 0.5m to 15 m for dykelets, 20 x 20m for vent faces.
Trend N 50 W – S 50 E

Emplaced into granitoids fringing Cuddapah basin along the intersection zone of NW-SE
fracture/basic dyke system. Occurs in the form of dykelets and volcanic plug. The dykelets are
of two variants i.e. diopside lamproite and olivine lamproite while the volcanic plug is in the
form of fragmental intrusive breccia with xenolithic material of indurated granite and quartzite.
 53

POCHAMPALLI LAMPROITE CLUSTER

Location Located 3km west of Pochampalli village (16050/00// : 80010/00//, 65

D/1)
Dimension Ranges in width from 1m to 2 m and strike length upto 200m.
Trend N 50 W – S 50 E, N 80 E – S 80 W

Emplaced into granitoids rimming Cuddapah basin along two directions NW-SE and
ENE-WSW direction. Occurs in the form of cluster of dykelets (3) dissecting granite hillock
with two distinct petrological variants, i.e. diopside lamproite and phlogopite lamproite with
cluusts of country rock xenoliths.

GOPINENIPALEM LAMPROITE BODY

Location Located 2 km South of Gopinenipalem village (16055/ : 80010/)

a
Dimension Not known

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Trend Not known

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Emplaced in the fault zone trending N20W-S20E. No outcrops, boulders of lamproites
are strewn over the cultivated fields. This body exhibits pyroclastic textural features.
y
ve
ur

TIRUMALAGIRI LAMPROITE CLUSTER

lS

Location Located over Tirumalagiri Temple hill (16055/ 80008/).

Dimension Ranges in width from few mm to 2.5m and has strike length upto 250m.
ca

Trend N 20W – S 20E and N 70W – S 70E

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lo

Emplaced into granites along fault/fracture/basic dyke zone trending N20W-S20E,

N70W-S70E. Occurs in the form of clusters of dykelets with widths of few mm to 2.5m thick.
eo

All the bodies of the clusters are diopside lampriote variants, with distinct hypabyssal textural
G

features.

ANUMANCHAPALLI LAMPROITE

Location 0.75 km NW of Anumanchapalli village(16056/ : 80004/).

Dimension Ranges in width from 0.5m to 1m with strike length of 200m.
Trend N800W – S800E

Emplaced into granite at the contact with basic dykes. Occurs in the form of detached
dykelets with the body exhibiting a hard and compact nature. The body is a diopside lamproite.

RAMAPURAM LAMPROITE BODY

Location Located 1 km SE of Ramapuram Cross Roads (16057 /10// : 80003 /30//).

Dimension Ranges in width from 0.5m to 1m with strike length of 15m.
 54

Trend N45W – S45E.

Emplaced into granites along NW-SE fracture zone. Occurs in the form of detached
dykelets close to the Paleru riverbank. The body is hard compact and is a diopside lamproite.

.NALLA BANDAGUDEM LAMPROITE BODY

Location `Located 0.5 km SE of Nallabandagudem village(16057 /20// : 80001

/
50//).
Dimension Ranges with width from 0.5m to 1m with strike length of 50m
Trend N20W – S20E

Emplaced into granites and cuts across a basic dyke body which trends N80W – S80E
Occurs in the form of a dyke and displays characters typical of other diopside lamproites of the
area
.
REDDLAKUNTA LAMPROITE BODY

a
di
Location Located 2.5 km NNE of Reddlakunta village(16055 /50// : 800 02 /30//).

In
Dimension Ranges in width from 1m to 5m and has a strike length of over 400m.
Trend N30W – S30E
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Emplaced into granite. Occurs in the form of a continuous linear dyke with altered
surface. The body is hard, compact, fine-grained diopside lamproite.
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lS

A.10. SIDDAMPALLE KIMBERLITES

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During 2001-02 three new kimberlite bodies were discovered near Siddampalle village
(SK-1, SK-2, SK-3) in Gadwal district, Andhra Pradesh. The first body (SK-1) measuring
eo

100x65m is located about 2km N25E of Siddampalle village and SK-2 measuring 110x50m is
G

located about 1.5km N10W of Mallapuram Tanda. The third body (SK-3) measuring 26 x 14m
is exposed in a well section. SK-1 & SK-3 are mainly ‘hardebank’ variety while SK-2 is a
concealed body with calcrete cover.

B. CONGLOMERATES

The Upper Proterozoic Banganapalle conglomerates occurring at the base of the Kurnool
Group of rocks is a potential source for diamond. The Banganapalle Quartzite with
conglomerate is well developed on the western margin of the Kurnool sub-basin and northern
margin of the Palnad sub-basin. Extensive old workings are found in the conglomerates at
several places prominently around Banganapalle, Vajragiri, Munimadugu, Ramallakota etc.

The Banganapalle Quartzite, occurring as detached outliers, has wide distribution over a
length of 225 km in the Kurnool basin and 120 km in the Palnad basin. The stratigraphic
sequence of the Kurnool Group of rocks is as follows:
Kurnool Group Paniam Quartzite
Auk Shale
 55

Narji Limestone
Banganapalle Quartzite
--------------------Unconformity--------------------
Cumbum Formation
Lower Cuddapah Supergroup Tadpatri Formation
Vempalle Formation

In the Kurnool basin, the Banganapalle outliers occur prominently between Kurnool (57
I/1) in the north and Tadpatri (57 J/1) in the south, over a length of 100 km and a width of 25
km. The area falls between the latitudes 14030' -15052' and longitudes 77020' - 78048'.

The Banganapalle Quartzite consists of sandstones and grits with minor

conglomerates.The formation ranges in thickness from 1 to 30m. The sediments are disposed as

horizontal to sub-horizontal beds with 3 to 8 degree dip towards south and southeast.

a
Thin and impersistent conglomerate beds occur at the base of the formation. The

di
conglomerate is hard and compact and composed of sub-rounded clasts of chert, vein-quartz and

In
jasper set in siliceous/ ferruginous / argillaceous material. Its thickness ranges from 1cm to
3m,average being 10cm. Apart from the basal conglomerate 2 to 3 thin conglomerate layers
of
(thickness upto 20 cm) separated by sandstone partings occur within the lower part of the
formation.
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The conglomerates are disposed as lenses differing in size and the clasts show a lot of
ur

variation in size ranging generally from 2 to 64mm. Mostly disc / bladed pebbles are
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predominant. The heavy minerals in the conglomerate, apart from diamond are magnetite,
ilmenite, zircon, rutile, garnet, tourmaline etc.
ca
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General palaeocurrent direction in the sandstones is mainly either towards northeast or

southeast indicating a westerly provenance for the sediments. Similarly, the mixed assemblage
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of heavy minerals also indicate the granitic /gneissic terrain to the west of the Cuddapah Basin
eo

as provenance. The textural characters and disposition of the conglomerates indicate a low
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energy beach environment with retention of fluvial characters.

The major conglomerate areas investigated by GSI/NMDC to assess their diamond

potential in the Kurnool basin are 1. Banganapalle-Nereducherla 2) Ramallakota-Yambai 3)
Undutla-Tammarajupalle-Cementnagar and 4) Balapuram-Rangapuram. All these areas occur in
Kurnool district.

B.1 BANGANAPALLE - NEREDUCHERLA AREA

Geographic Data:

Area : Banganapalle - Nereducherla, Kurnool district.

Coordinates : Lat.: 15012' -15020'; Long.: 77050'-78015'
Toposheet no. 57 I/2 & E/16
Extent : 30 km long and 200 m to 2 km wide, between Banganapalle (15019' :
78013'; 57 I/2) in the east to Nereducherla (15012' : 77014'; 57 E/16) in the
SW.
 56

Access : Easily accessible by Banganapalle - Peapully metalled road and fair

weather roads, about 90km from Kurnool, the district headquarters

Geological set up:

The Banganapalle Quartzite in the form of detached outliers form
small plateaux viz., Banganapalle Plateau, Rallakotturu-Lingambadi Plateau, Allahabad Plateau,
Munimadugu Plateau etc. overlying the Tadapatri Formation, comprising essentially variegated
shales and basic flows. The Intervening areas between the plateaux expose older Tadpatri rocks,
The southern side of the sandstone belt is flanked continuously by the Narji Limestone whereas
in the northern side a few outliers of the limestone occur sporadically. The plateau areas are
covered with sandy soil derived from weathering of the underlying sandstone.

The maximum exposed width of the formation is nearly 2 km to the west of Banganapalle
and minimum (200m) in Vajaragiri area in the central part of the belt. The thickness of the
formation varies from 1 to 30m and is more in the inside of the plateaux while it is less along the
fringes due to erosion.

The basal conglomerate is generally purplish brown to yellowish earthy brown, ranging in
thickness from 1 cm to 100 cm with an average thickness of 10 cm. Thick conglomerate layers

a
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occur locally. The conglomerate is mainly composed of chert, jasper and vein quartz and is
predominantly matrix supported. The cementing material, in general, is either ferruginous or

In
siliceous. of
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Exploration:To assess diamond potential of the conglomerates (mainly basal) exploration was
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carried out in 'two phases during 1980-87. The work was done by GSI in association with
MECL and NMDC, in eight selected blocks in the area, six in the Munimadugu-Allahabad
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plateau areas and two in the Banganapalle-Rallakotturu-Lingambadi Plateau areas. To delineate

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the distribution and geometry of the conglomerate beds, drilling was carried out on a grid of 100
x 100m, 200 x 200m, and 500 x 500m.
ca

To draw bulk samples for processing, large pits were excavated mostly along fringes of the
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plateaux. The pits are shallow ranging in depth from 1.1 to 6.8m. The pit dimensions varied
lo

depending upon the thickness of the conglomerate bed and overburden. The pit sizes, in general,
are 10 x 10m, 20 x 10m and 20 x 20m.
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MUNIMADUGU BLOCK:
Detailed mapping (on 1 : 2000 scale) : 1.70 sq.km
Drilling : 588.15m in 60 boreholes
Excavation : 19,139 cu m in 32 pits
Processing : 3917.93 t
No. of diamonds/weight : 167/84,38 ct
Diamond incidence : 2.26 cpht
Average diamond weight : 0.50 ct
Conglomerate resource : 60, 700 t
Diamond resource : 2,000 ct

Along the northern fringes of the plateau, the conglomerate is generally of a ferruginous
variety, thickness varying from 5 to 20 cm, over a strike length of 280 m. An average incidence
of 8.32 cpht (spot values upto 35 cpht) was recorded. Average diamond weight from this area is
0.87 ct.

ALLAHABAD WEST AND WEST EXTENSION BLOCKS:

 57

Detailed mapping (on 1 : 2000 scale) : 4,20 sq.km

Drilling : 2083.5 m in 143 boreholes
Excavation : 25,803 cu m in 39 pits
Processing : 5199.17 t
No. of diamonds/weight : 221/71.24 ct
Diamond incidence : 1.48 cpht
Average diamond weight : 0.32 ct
Conglomerate resource : 10,44,000 t
Diamond resource : 15,600 ct

The conglomerate is generally of siliceous type, thickness upto 40 cm. Spot values for
diamond are upto 7 cpht.

ALLAHABAD SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST EXTENSION BLOCKS:

Detailed mapping (on 1 : 2000 scale) : 4.15 sq.km

(on 1 : 500 scale) : 0.16 sq.km
Adit wall mapping : 240 lm

a
Excavation : 26,963 Cum in 39 pits

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Processing : 4374.90 t

In
No. of diamonds/weight : 298/125.90 ct
Diamond incidence : 2.89 cpht
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Average diamond weight : 0.42 ct
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Conglomerate resource : 3,94,000 t

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Diamond resource : 11,400 ct

ur

Along the northern fringe of the plateau, the basal conglomerate is ferrugenous and
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argillaceous at places and it ranges in thickness from 5 to 20 cm. An incidence of 8.23 cpht was
recorded over a length of 200m (with spot values upto 27.35 cpht)
ca
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RACHERLA . MUNIMADUGU REGIONAL BLOCK:

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Detailed mapping (on 1 : 10,000 scale) : 4.92 sq.km

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Drilling : 847.50 m in 60 boreholes

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Excavation : 1891 cu m in 32 pits

Processing : 261.25 t
No. of diamonds/weight : 4/0.77 ct.
Conglomerate resource : 15,23,000 t

BANGANAPALLE BLOCK:

Detailed mapping (1 : 2000/5000 : 0.82 Sq km

scale)
Drilling : 477 m in 58 boreholes
Conglomerate resource : 67,700 t

RALLAKOTTURU - LlNGAMBADI BLOCK:

Detailed mapping (on 1 : 5000 scale) : 4. 5 sq.km
Drilling : --
Excavation : 18,033 cum in 21 pits
Processing : 2310.10t
 58

No of diamonds/weight : 104/51.67 ct
Diamond incidence : 2.59 cpht
Average diamond weight : 0.49 ct
Conglomerate resource : 21,37,00 t
Diamond resource : 26,600 ct

The conglomerate in the northern part is ferruginous to argillaceous and it gave an incidence
of 7 cpht (spot high values upto 13.46 cpht). In the southern part, the conglomerate is
argillaceous and diamond incidence is low.

Of the total diamonds recovered, gem quality constitutes about 76% while the off colour
and industrials, 8% and 16% respectively. Modified forms as well as octahedrons and
dodecahedrons are common. . Inclusions are either black opaques or green dots/scales. A few
diamonds exhibit water worn characteristics. The largest diamond recovered is 6.15 ct and it is a
gem.

Conclusions: Though extensive old workings are recorded in the Banganapalle Nereducherla
area, the exploration carried out in different blocks has not indicated high diamond incidence for

a
the Banganapalle conglomerates. The diamond incidence is very erratic and low though spot

di
values of the order of 35 cpht are recorded. The average incidence in any block did not exceed 3

In
cpht and is below the grade of economic viability both in shallow and high overburden areas.
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B.2 RAMALLAKOTA- YAMBAI AREA
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Geographic data
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Area : Ramallakota - Yambai, Kumool district

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Coordinates : Lat.: 15o33' - 15°35' ; Long.: 77°59' - 78°08'

Toposheet nos. 57 I/2 & E/14
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Access : Ramallakota is about 10 km from Veldurti, located on the National

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Highway 7 and Secunderabad - Guntakal railway line.

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Geological set up:

The Banganapalle Quartzite rests over the Vempalle Formation, comprising
mainly dolomitic limestone. The thickness of the quartzite varies from 1 to 9 m with an average
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thickness of 5 m.

The conglomerates associated with sandstone are reddish brown and greyish white type,
ranging in thickness from 2 to 20 cm in Ramallakota area and 0.5 to 1 m in Yambai area. Two to
three conglomerate layers are present which are lensoid and impersistent. These are mainly
composed of pebbles of vein quartz (90 to 95%), quartzite and chert in Ramallakota area
whereas in Yambai area the conglomerates have vein quartz as well as chert and shale.

Exploration: The National Mineral Development Corporation limited carried out exploration
during 1968-71 in the belt extending over 15 x 2 km area, between Ramallakota in the west and
Yambai in the east. 21 pits were excavated for drawing bulk samples. Of these, conglomerate is
encountered in seven pits. The NMDC processed both conglomerate and sandstone to test for
their diamond incidence.

GSI (1987-88) carried out large scale mapping, west of Ramallakota in about 15 sq,km
area, on 1 : 12500 scale. The conglomerate occurs as lensoid intercalations and a large part of
the area is covered by old workings.
 59

Diamond incidence: The result of bulk sample processing (by NMDC) is as follows:

Rock type Quantity No. of diamonds Average weight Diamond

processed (t) (ct) of diamond incidence
Conglomerate 655 77/15.27 0.20 2.29
Conglomerate soil 386 124/22.49 0.18 5.80
Sandstone 580 6/1.31 0.21 0.22
Sandstone soil 240 59/8.20 0.14 3.40

The studies (by GSI) on the textural characters of the conglomerate vis-à-vis the diamond
incidence in the pit samples processed indicate that well sorted conglomerates are relatively
enriched in diamonds.

Recommendations : The erratic distribution and lensoid geometry of the conglomerate beds
warrant close spaced pitting/shallow drilling to delineate the beds as well as estimate the
conglomerate resources.

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B.3 UNDUTLA-TAMMARAJUPALLE -CEMENTNAGAR AREA

:
In
of
Geograhpic data
Area : Undutla-Tammarajupalle-Cementnagar, Kumool district.
Lat.: 15o30' –15o25'; Long.: 78o10' – 78o15'
y

Coordinates :
ve

Toposheet nos. 57 I/2, I/3 & I/6

Access : The area is about 60 km from Kurnool, the district headquarters
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and is well connected by Kurnool-Nandyal highway and Guntur-

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Guntkal Railway line.

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Geological set up: The Banganapalle Quartzite overlies the Tadapatri shales and basic flows
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whereas the Narji Limestone and the Panyam Quartzite occur overlying the Banganapalle
Quartzite In the eastern part of the area.
lo
eo

There are two major plateaux, the Undutla Plateau In the north and the Cementnagar
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Plateau in the south, seperated by Tammarajupalle valley. The plateau comprises the
Banganapalle Quartzite and younger formations whereas the valley area is occupied by the
Tadpatri shales. The Banganapalle Quartzite occupies the valley area in the southeastern part of
the Undutla Plateau owing to faulting.

On the western and southern slopes of the Undutla Plateau, siliceous chert pebble
conglomerate occurs, ranging in thickness from 0.5 to 3 m with thin sandstone partings. Vein
quartz clasts are less jasper and quartzite are rare.

In the Cementnagar Plateau, the thickness of the Banganapalle Formation ranges from 7 to
22.5 m, with three interbedded conglomerate layers. Facies variation is noticed along strike. The
conglomerate layers (10 cm to 2 m thick) pinch-off towards south. The top and bottom layers
contain predominantly chert pebbles whereas the middle layer vein quartz & quartzite.

To delineate feasible areas for bulk sampling of the conglomerates and to study their
Exploration:
sedimentological characters, the area falling mainly in the Gani RF and the Panyam RF was
examined during 1988-89.
 60

Area examined : 100 sq.km

Section measurement : 110 lm
Sedimentological studies : 30 samples.
On the western and southern slopes of the Undutla Plateau, the conglomerate is 0.5 to 3m
thick with low to moderate overburden. The overburden further increases towards east and
southeast with an overlap of younger sediments.

In the Cementnagar Plateau, the three conglomerate layers ranging in thickness from 1
Oem to 2 m occur in the lower part of the Banganapalle Quartzite (7 to 22.5 m thick). The
middle layer has a maximum thickness upto 2 m and old workings are present in this layer.

The outliers around Gorumanukonda and Bugganipalle are 2 to 10m thick with thin
conglomerate layers (5 to 20 cm thick). The area was extensively worked by the ancients as
evidenced by innumerable old workings.

Recommendations: The conglomerates from both the Undutla and Cementnagar Plateaux have
to be tested for diamond potential.

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B.4 BALAPURAM - RANGAPURAM AREA

In
of
Geographic Data:
Area Balapuram - Rangapuram, Ku rnool district.
y

Coordinates Lat.: 15°25' -15°34'; Long.: 78°00' - 78°10'

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Toposheet no. 57 I/2

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Access Approachable by metalled and fair weather roads from Dhone and
Guntur -Guntakal railway line.
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Geological set up:

The Banganapalle Quartzite occurs as detached outliers overlying the Vempalle
Formation in the west and the Tadapatri formation in the east. The various rock formations
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occur at different levels due to post Kurnool faulting.

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The size of the Banganapalle Quartzite outliers, their thickness and the incidence of
conglomerate varies widely. The outcrops north of Rangapuram vary in size from 0.05 to 0.25
G

sq.km, with an average thickness of about 1 m, whereas in rest of the area, sizes vary from 1 to
20 sq.km with an average thickness of 8m. The formation is mostly composed of sandstones
with thin lenses and layers of conglomerate.

Exploration: About 200 sq.km area lying south of Ramallakota-Kalava Bugga road, north of
Betamcherla-Rangapuram Railway line and west of Somayajulapalle-Betamcherla road was
examined for delineating feasible areas for exploration. In a major part of the area, the formation
is devoid of significant conglomerate layers except in the northern part where the formation is
interbedded with 2 to 4 conglomerate layers, ranging in thickness from 5 to 25 cm. Extensive
old workings are found in Virapalle-Repalle area.

C. RIVER GRAVELS

The Quaternary gravels deposited along the alluvial tracts of the Krishna and the Pennar
rivers are known to have been the major source for diamonds in the historical past. The Koh-i-
 61

noor (186 ct), the Pitt or Regent (410 ct), the Orloff (189 ct), the Hope (45 ct), the Great Mogul
(787 ct), to name a few, are the world famous diamonds produced from the gravels ot the
Krishna valley. Though ancient diamond mining activity is known all along the banks of the
Krishna River, from Satanikota in Kurnool district in the west to Paritala in Krishna district in
the east, over a distance of 400 km, the Intensity of mining was more over a 60 km long belt,
between Kolluru (Guntur district) on the right bank and Paritala (Krishna district) on the left
bank.

Apart from the Krishna valley, old workings are recorded along the banks of the Pennar
River, around Chennur-Kanuparti in Cuddapah district and the Sagileru River (a tributary to the
Pennar ) around Sanjivaraopeta-Kalasapadu in Prakasam, Cuddapah districts.

KRISHNA GRAVELS

Gravels occur as disconnected flats of varying dimensions from the confluence of the

a
Krishna with the Tungabhadra near Satanikota (near Kurnool) to Paritala, over a distance of 400

di
km. These occur either in the form of terraces or along palaeochannels under the alluvial cover.

In
They are deposited over the Archaean gneisses, the Cuddapah and the Kurnool group of rocks.
of
They occur as far as 7 km away from the left bank of the river in Chandralapadu area.
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In the stretch between the confluence of the Krishna and the Tungabhadra to Ustapalle
ve

the gravels mostly occur on the terraces, whereas in the area between downstream of Ustapalle
ur

and Paritala, which is a vast flood plain, they are deposited along palaeochannels presently
buried under thick alluvial cover.
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The terrace gravels occurring between the confluence of the Krishna with the
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Tungabhadra to Nagarjunasagar Dam are presently submerged by the reservoir waters. A few
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unworked gravel flats are still available in the stretch between the Nagarjunasagar dam and
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Ustapalle. Though intense mining activity prevailed during the historical past in the flood plain
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area downstream of Ustapalle, some unworked gravel flats are available for further exploration.
G

C.1 KOLLURU - BODANAM AREA

Geographic data :
Area : Kolluru - Bodanam, Guntur district.
Coordinates : Lat.: 16°37' -16°42'; Long 79°57' - 80°01'
Toposheet nos. 56 P/14 & 65 0/2
Extent : About 10 km long and 1 to 1.5 km wide extending from Kolluru
(16°42' : 80°01'; 65 0/2) in the northeast to Bodanam (16°38' :
79°57' ; 56 P/14) in the southwest.
Access : Approachable from Sattenapalle, a commercial place in the area at
a
distance of 60 km from Kolluru; about 35 km from Bellamkonda,
the Mandai Headquarters, situated on Nedikudi-Guntur Broad
Gauge railway line. The area is accessible by metalled/fair weather
roads.
 62

Geological setup:
The area forms a part of the northeastern corner of the Cuddapah Basin, which
exposes an interbedded sequence of phyllite and quartzite, with bands of gritty/pebbly sandstone
and dolomite of the Cumbum Formation (Nallamalai Group) of Cuddapah Supergroup, Narji
Limestone of the Kurnool Group and Archaean granites and gneisses. The Narji Limestone is
thrust over by the rocks of the Cumbum Formation, which in turn are thrust over by the
Archaean gneisses and granites. Quaternary sediments comprising colluvial fans, terrace gravels
and alluvium are deposited over the phyllite and limestone.

Diamonds are found in the terrace gravels deposited by the Krishna River and the
colluvium derived from the Cumbum Formation. The area extends over 10 x 1 to 1.5 km. Four
distinct terraces are recognised in this area. Of these, almost the entire gravel occurring on the
terrace T3 was mined out by the ancients. Gravel on the terrace T2 is overlain by a 10 -12m
thick overburden of silt/clay. Only the gravels on the terraces T1 and T0 are either under thin
alluvial cover or exposed. The terrace T1 is narrow and impersistent. T0 gravel occurs as bar
deposits along the course of the present day river.

The gravels are composed of mostly well rounded pebbles, cobbles and boulders of
quartzite and vein quartz. Banded jasper, chert, agate and chalcedony and fragments of granite

a
and basic rock form minor constituents.

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In
The colluvial gravels are found as fans occurring close to the hills in the southern side of
of
the area. The fans are composed of mostly angular to sub-angular pebbles and cobbles of vein
quartz, sandstone and phyllite and also rounded to well rounded granules and pebbles of smoky
y

vein quartz in a silty/ clayey matrix.

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ur

Exploration: During 1987-1992, preliminary exploration was carried out in the terrace
gravels and the colluvium.
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a) Regional mapping(1 :50,000 scale) : 90.00 sq km

b) Large scale mapping (1: 4,000 scale) : 3.14 sq km area around Kalluru
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Excavation and processing:

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Excavation (cu m)
G

Processing
Bulk sample (tonnes)
Test Pits Total
pits
i) Terrace gravel
T0 50(3)+ 470(20) 520 270
T2 503(12) 2262(2) 2765 104
T3 65(4) 60(1) 125 70
ii) Colluvium
685(46) 770(6) 1455 773
+ The figures in parenthesis indicate number of pits.

Dimensions of the explored area:

T0 gravel : Delineated over 0.27 sq km - gravel thickness ranges from 0.15 to 5.50 m
 63

with an average of 2.30m.

T2 gravel : Ranges in thickness from 1 to 105m. extent could not be delineated owing to
5-12m thick overburden.

Colluvial gravel : Occurs in about 0.9 sq km, of which, in about 0.2 sq km. area, old
workings exist -gravel thickness ranges from 0.10 to 5.5m (av. 2.3m) and overlain by
0.50 to 5.30 m thick over burden (av. 1.66 m).

Diamond incidence and gravel resources: Processing of bulk samples indicated a low diamond
incidence, details of which are given below:

Quantity Diamond Recovered Diamond Gravel resource

Type of sample
processed (t) (No./wt in ct) Incidence (cpht) (Mt)
T0 270 1/0.02 0.007 0.2
Terrace
T2 104 - - -
gravel
T3 70 2/0.09 0.13 -

a
Colluvial gravel 773 6/5.11 0.66 3.2

di
In
Of the nine diamonds recovered, six are from the colluvium. The colluvial diamonds are
larger in size and weigh from 0.31 ct to 1.65 ct. Almost all the diamonds are gem type with
of
yellowish tinge and a few have black inclusions. The diamonds exhibit modified forms and
pitted nature.
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ve

Recommendations: T2 terrace gravels of Chityala area and the colluvial gravel in Chityala Bodanam
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area are to be tested for their potential.

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C.2 CHANDRALAPADU AREA

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Geographic data:
Area : Chandralapadu, Krishna district.
lo

Coordinates : Lat.: 16°37' -16°42'; Long 80°09' - 80°15'

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Toposheet no. 65 D/2

G

Extent : About 35 sq km area of the flood plain occupied by

palaeochannels, extending from Ustapalle in the northwest and
Popuru in the southeast.
Access : The area lies about 15 km southwest of Nandigama, located on the
Hyderabad-Vijayawada N.H. 9 and is approachable from
Nandigama by tar pitched metalled/fair weather roads.

Geological set up: The area forms a part of the floodplain of the Krishna River with inselbergs of
granite and gneisses. In the northwestern part of the area, an interbedded sequence of phyllite
and quartzite of the Cumbum Formation (Cuddapah Supergroup) is exposed, forming ridges
near Ustapalle. The flood plain is occupied by 1 to 9m thick alluvium, composed of black soil,
sand and clay. The alluvium is underlain by gravels deposited over the Archaean gneisses. Old
workings are found in the form of elongated depressions, south and southeast of Chandralapadu.
.

Diamonds occur in the gravels deposited along the palaeochannels occurring in three
different buried terraces. The oldest terrace - T2, occupied by the major palaeochannels extends
from Ustapalle in the northwest to Popuru in the southeast, over a length of 12 km and a width
 64

of 2 to 4 km. The next younger terrace T1, occurs at 8 to 10m lower than the T2 terrace. The
youngest terrace T0 is 2 to 5 m lower than the T1 terrace.

The gravel thickness in different terraces is as follows:

Terrace Gravel thickness (m) Overburden thickness (m)

range average range average
T2 0.10-3.90 0.84 1.1-7.0 3.10
T1 0.10-5.50 1.05 1.0-9.0 2.84
T0 0.10-0.70 0.30 1.0- 7.0 2.10

Besides, three higher level terraces occurring at 43m, 77m and 123m above MSL are
recorded on the slopes of Gudimettakonda hill near Ustapalle. These terraces, however, have
only very thin and small remnants of gravel.

The gravels are composed of well rounded pebbles, cobbles and boulders of mostly
quartzite and vein quartz, sandstone, siltstone, jasper, agate, chalcedony and minor granite and

a
conglomerate. Size reduction of the gravel clasts is observed along down stream of

di
palaeochannels. The source for the gravel clasts is essentially the Cuddapah Basin. The major

In
heavy minerals associated with the gravels are magnetite, epidote, zircon, garnet, ilmenite,
corundum, tourmaline, chromite (?) etc. The garnets mostly correspond to almandine-spessartite
of
group.
y
ve

Exploration: Exploration was carried out in a few blocks in the palaeochannels under the National
Diamond Project (a collaborative programme of GSI, MECL and NMDC) during 1980-87 and
ur

subsequently by GSI in 1990-91, to delineate the gravel flats and to assess their diamond
lS

potential. The exploratory works involved test pitting, and geophysical surveys to delineate the
gravel flats, collection of bulk samples and processing to recover diamonds.
ca
gi

The geophysical surveys had only limited success in identifying the gravel beds. In
certain areas, the geophysical parameters are not clear due to salinity of the goundwater and
lo

feeble contrast of the physical properties of the various layers.

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G

The blocks explored were (a) Chandralapadu Block (b) Patempadu Block (c)
Veladikottapalem Block (d) Kodavatikallu Block (e) Pokkunuru Block ( Kondapeta Block and
(g) Punnavalli Block.

(a) Chandralapadu Block: This block lies about 2 km south of Chandralapadu (1641' : 80
12') and extends over a length of 1.2 km in NW-SE direction with an average width of about
500m. There is a 1 km long and 200m wide old working zone within this block. The gravel
thickness ranges from 0.45 to 2.10m and overburden from 2.1 to 6.3m.

Large scale mapping (1 :2000 scale) : 0.75 sqkm

Processing : 852 t

(b) Patempadu Block: This is located about 200m southwest of Patempadu village (160 40/
0
:80 14'). It extends for about 1.6 km in NW-SE direction, ranging in width from 200 to 50Orn.
This block has extensive old workings. The thickness of gravel ranges from 0.10 to 3.30 m and
overburden from 3 to 1m. In this block, the area between the old workings contain unworked
gravel. The bed rock has undulating surface and minor depressions.
 65

Large scale mapping (1:2000 scale) : 0.50 sq km

Processing : 2453 t

(c) Veladikottapalem Block: This is located very close to and on the western side of
Veladikottapalem village (160 38/: 800 14/). It extends in NW-SE direction, over a length of 4.8
km and width ranging from 0.8 to 1.6 km. This is the largest block of unworked gravel. Two
small old working zones measuring about 200x120m each are noticed in the central part of the
block. The gravel thickness ranges from 0.1 to 3.9m and overburden from 1.1 to 6m. .

Large scale mapping (1:8000 scale) :6.90 sq km

Processing : 4444 t

(d) Kodavatikallu Block: This block lies very close to the Krishna River, extending over a
length of 3.62 km in NW-SE direction from about 1 km east of Kodavatikallu (16030' : 80011')
and width ranging from 200 to 500m. It is devoid of old workings. In this block, both T0 and T1
gravels occur. The T0 gravels range in thickness from 0.10 to 0.70 m, with 1 to 5m thick

a
overburden. The T1 gravel is 0.10 to 5.5m thick and the overburden is 1 to 9m.

di
In
: of
Large scale mapping (1 :4000 scale) : 2.5 sq km
Processing : 2551 t
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ur
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(e) Pokkunuru Block: This area falls close to Pokkunuru village (160 39/ : 800 09') on
ca

either
side of the Pokkunuru-Chandralapadu road, extending over 1 km length and about 300m width.
gi

This block is devoid of old workings.

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eo

Large scale mapping (1:4000 scale) : 0.30 sq km

Processing : 91 t
G

(f) Kondapeta Block: This block lies towards east of Kondapeta (160 39 ': 800 12') village.

Large scale mapping : 0.05 sq km

Processing : 377t

(g) Punnavalli Block: This block lies about 0.5km north of Punnavalli (16037/ : 80012/)
village.

Large scale mapping : 0.04 sq km

Processing : 102 t

Dimensions of the prospects: Areas of unworked gravel zone delineated in different blocks is
 66

given below:
1. Chandralapadu 0.219 sq km
2. Patempadu 0.214 sq km
3. Veladikottapalem 4.936 sq km
4. Kodavatikallu 0.395 sq km
5. Pokkunuru 0.106 sq km
6. Kondapeta 0.035 sq km
7. Punnavalli 0.024 sq km

Results of processing: Samples for processing were drawn from the seven blocks explored in the
area.
No. of bulk sample pits 82

Excavation 42,287 cu m of alluvium and gravel

Processing 11,426 tonnes of gravel (11,132 t of bulk samples + 294 t of

a
test pit samples. each bulk sample, in general, is more than 100

di
t . A majority of samples are from T2 terrace)

In
No.of diamonds recoveredI 115/96.09 ct
of
weight
0.83 ct
y

Av. weight of diamond

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The diamond incidence is found to be quite erratic, spot values vary from 0.07 cptit to
lS

19.2 cpht. The paleotopography with undulations and depressions has played a part in
concentrating diamonds. For example, from the trenches EP-29 and 29A (Patempadu block),
ca

274 tonnes of gravel drawn from an area measuring 25 x 10m yielded 29 diamonds weighing
gi

30.33 ct.
lo

About 82% of the diamonds are gem; 10% off.colour and 8% industrial. Average weight
eo

of stones is about 0.83 ct. About 38% of the diamonds are above 0.5 ct, which include 20% of
G

the diamonds of more than 1 ct size. About 68% of the diamonds are 'shapes' and a majority are
distorted octahedral or dodecahedral crystals.

Assessment of diamond incidence and gravel resources was done for four major blocks,
the details of which are given below. Assessment was not done for the remaining three blocks as
the areas explored are small in size.

No. of
Gravel Diamond Resources
diamonds
processed recovered incidence
Block No. of pitsl Qty I wt (ct) (cpht) Gravel Diamond
(t) (Mt) (ct)
Chandralapadu 6/852 12/2.67 0.31 0.40 1240
Patempadu 21/2552 63/59.99 2.44 0.22 5460
Veladikottapalem 35/4444 27/21.37 0.48 18.10 86400
Kodavatikallu 12/2557 9110.04 0.85 0.74 6290
 67

Recommendations: Close spaced auger hole drilling/test pitting would enable accurate delineation of
the channel configuration and gravel flats. The exploration indicated that though the overall
diamond incidence is very low (1 cpht) there are some high spot values. Thus the richer zones
within the channels, if any, would be very narrow. Bulk sampling on a closer interval (100 x
100m & 100 x 50m) would give a better picture of the diamond incidence and help in
delineating potential zones, if any.

The occurrence of alkaline lamprophyre body at Ramannapeta near Ustapalle warrants

further search for lamprophyric/ kimberlitic rocks in the area. Further, basic and ultrabasic rocks
are reported in the catchment area of the Paleru-Munneru rivers.

C. 3 PARITALA AREA

Geographic data:

Area Paritala, Krishna district

a
Coordinates

di
Lat.: 160 37' to. 39'; Long.: 80 020' : 80 025'

In
Toposheet no. 65D/6
of
Extent .
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About 36 sq km of triangular area lying

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between Pari tala (160 39': 800 25') in the north

ur

and the Krishna River in the south, Munneru

River in the west and Atkuru (16037': 800 24')
lS

in the east.
ca

Access Pari tala is about 35 km from Vijayawada,

gi

located on the HyderabadVijayawada N.H.9

lo
eo
G

Geological set up: The area forms a part of the vast flood plain of the Krishna River.
Towards north of Paritala, are hill ranges comprising the charnockites khondalites of the Eastern
Ghat complex. The flood plain area is composed of black soil, clay and sand underlain by gravel
deposited over weathered gneiss/charnockite,

The gravels deposited over the gneiss charnockite form the host rock for the diamonds in
the area. They range in thickness from 0.50 to 2.20m and are overlain by a 2 to 6.50m thick
alluvium. The gravel is composed of well rounded pebbles and cobbles of mainly quartzite, vein
quartz and minor amounts of chert, jasper, agate and subangular to subrounded quartzite. The
heavy minerals in the gravels are garnet, epidote, magnetite, pyroxene, corundum, tourmaline
and zircon. .

Many old workings are recorded in this area near Paritala, Battinapadu, Mogaluru and
Atkuru. These are aligned in a WSW-ENE direction. These mines are known to have yielded
large diamonds. An attempt by the Hyderabad Deccan Company (in the later part of 19th
 68

century) to assess the diamond potential resulted in the recovery of 3444 stones weighing 2085
ct from the gravels processed from the old workings near Paritala.
Exploration: Preliminary exploration in the area was carried out by GSI during 1968-72. The work
included hand auger drilling, collection of samples and processing to recover diamonds.
Geophysical surveys involving seismic and electrical resistivity methods were also attempted to
locate and delineate the gravel patches. However, they were found to be not of much help due to
saline ground water condition and poor contrast in the physical properties of different layers. A
few bulk samples were collected and processed under the National Diamond Project during
1980-87. The work carried out are indicated below:

Quantum of work done

Nature of work In 1968-72 In 1980-87 Total
1. Large scale mapping (sq km) 32 - 32
2. Auger drilling (m) 1500(269)* . 1500
3. Excavation (cu m) - 4957(10)* 4957(10)*
4. Processing (t) 110(11)* 725(10)* 835(21)*
5. Diamond recovery (No./wt in ct) 3/4.13 - 3/4.13

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* - No. of auger holes drilled I pits excavated I samples processed.

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On the basis of auger hole data, six small unworked gravel patches were delineated with
a gravel resource of 2.4 million tonnes. The extent and average thickness of gravel and
of
overburden in each of the six gravel patches is given below:
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Gravel patch Area (sq m) Average thickness (m)

Gravel Overburden
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A 367500 0.90 4.10

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B 215040 0.60 3.00

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C 480000 0.80 4.70

D 252096 0.90 3.30
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E 176832 0.80 3.70

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F . 0.20 6.30
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Processing of samples indicated the diamondiferous nature of the gravels. Though the
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110 tonnes of gravel processed during 1968.72 yielded three diamonds weighing 4.13 ct, the.
725 tonnes of gravel processed under the NDP did not yield diamonds. The details of quantity of
gravel processed, diamonds recovered and reserves of gravel in each of the six gravel patches is
given below:

Gravel Quantity of gravel processed Diamonds recovered (No./wt in Gravel

Patch ct) reserves
During During Total During During Total (Mt)
1968-72 1980-87 1968-72 1980-87
A 28(3) 86(1) 114(4) -- -- -- 0.68
B 28(2) 142(2) 170(4) 1/3.25 -- 1/3.25 0.27
C 54(6) 251(2) 305(8) 2/0.88 -- 2/0.88 0.76
D -- 33(1) 33(1) -- -- -- 0.45
E` -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.27
F -- -- -- -- -- -- N.E.
* -- 213(4) 213(4) -- -- --
 69

( *Area outside these gravel patches.

Figures in parenthesis indicate number of samples processed.) (.N.E-Not estimated)

Of the three diamonds recovered from this area, two are off colour variety (greenish
black) and one gem (yellowish), ranging in weight from 0.25 ct to 3.25 ct. Two diamonds are
octahedral and one is a flat piece.

Recommendations: The garnets recovered from the gravel samples indicated a source to be the
gneissic country. The Munneru is the main river draining mainly the gneissic country and
joining the Krishna river very close to and upstream of the area. The catchment area of the
Munneru river may be searched for concealed kimberlites.

PENNAR GRAVELS

Pennar valley forms the southern limit of the known diamond occurrences in Andhra
Pradesh. Old workings are recorded along the banks of the river in the area around Chennur-

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Kanuparti-Jammalamadugu in Cuddapah district and between Somasila and Sangam in Nellore

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district. The gravel occurs mostly on terraces in Anantapur, Cuddapah and Nellore districts.

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C.4 HINDUPUR-JIRAPALLE AREA
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Terrace gravels occur as disconnected flats between Hindupur (13034' : 770 29' ; 57 G/5)
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and Jirapalle (140 42' : 770 16' ; 57 F/6) In Anantapur district, over a stretch of 150 km. They
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occur upto a distance of 300-500m from the present river course and are deposited over
weathered gneisses. The gravels are composed essentially of well rounded vein quartz and
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contain corundum, garnet, ilmenite and magnetite as heavy minerals. Occasional diamond finds
are reported by locals.
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C.5 CHENNUR.KANUPARTI-JAMMALAMADUGUAREA
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In this area, extensive old workings are recorded around Chennur (140 34' : 780 48' ; 57
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J/14) on the right bank and Kanuparti (140 33' : 780 49' ; 57 J/14) and about 7 km east of
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Jammalamadugu (57 1/5) on the left bank of the river in Cuddapah district. The gravel is
composed of well rounded pebbles, cobbles and boulders of mainly quartzite and vein quartz
with minor amounts of clasts of banded jasper, basic rock, chalcedony etc. The gravels are
deposited over the Kurnool Group/Cuddapah Supergroup of rocks.

C. 6 SOMASILA. SANGAM AREA

In this area, the gravels occur on an older terrace (T3) as disconnected flats extending
from Somasila in the west to Sangam in the east, over a stretch of 35 km in Nellore district. The
gravel is nearly 10m thick and composed of well rounded pebbles, cobbles and boulders of
quartzite, vein-quartz, chert, jasper etc
.

SAGILERU GRAVELS

Gravels are found all along the Sagileru valley, over a length of 100 km and old
 70

workings are recorded in the surface gravels, over a distance of 40 km between Giddalur and
Porumamilla.
C.7 GIDDALUR-SIDDAVATTAM AREA

Geographic data :
Area : Giddalur - Siddavattam, Prakasam & Cuddapah districts
Coordinates Lat.: 14°28' -15°23'; Long.: 78°45' - 79°08'
Toposheet nos 571/15,16, J/13, N/1,2 & 3.

Extent .
Sagileru valley is about 100 km long, between Giddalur (
15023/:78055/ ;57 I/15) and Siddavattam (14029/ : 79000/ ;
57J/11) and 10 km wide.

Access Approachable both from Cuddapah (district headquarters) and

Nandyal (commercial centre) by metalled roads; a major
district road passes through the Sagileru valley between

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Giddalur and Siddavattam. Cuddapah and Giddalur are

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connected by railway lines.

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Geological set up:The Sagileru valley is an intermontane valley flanked by the Nallamalai range
on the west and the Velikonda range on the east. The area is underlain by mostly phyllites with
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minor quartzites of the Cumbum Formation, Cuddapah Supergroup, which are intruded by small
riebeckite syenite bodies. The formation has NW-SE trend with steep to vertical dips.
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Both erosional and depositional landforms are observed. The erosional landforms
comprise hilly terrain of high relief, residual hills, pediment and pediplain. The high hill ranges,
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residual hills and pediment are made of quartzites and phyllites whereas the pediplain is
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composed of phyllites with a veneer of brown soil. The depositional landforms include alluvial
fans, paleochannels, terraces, floodplain and active channels with which the gravel deposits are
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found.
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Many gravel flats occur all along the course of the Sagileru and the streams draining into
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the Sagileru from the Nallamalai range, particularly, the Enumaleru. Both surface and
subsurface gravels are found.

The surface gravels occur as fans on the right bank of the river and close to the hills and
as paleochannels. These range in thickness from 1 to 3m and were worked extensively by
ancients around Kalasapadu (150 06': 780 56' ; 57I/16), Adimurtipalle (150 12': 780 54' 57I/16),
Sanjivaraopeta (150 17': 780 54'; 57I/15) etc.

Terrace gravels are well developed all along the right bank of the river. The gravels are
found on two terraces, T2 and T1, overlain by alluvium. The T1 terrace is locally developed and
gravels are scanty. The T2 terrace is well developed and persistent. The T2 gravels are 2 to 3m
thick, occurring below a 3 to 4m thick alluvium. The gravels are mainly composed of rounded to
well rounded clasts of quartzite, ferruginous quartzite, vein-quartz etc., in the size range of
pebble to boulder.
Exploration: During 1989-92, preliminalry exploration was done to map the various
landforms and associated gravels and to test the gravels for their diamondiferous nature.
 71

Quaternary mapping (1:50,000 scale) : 870 sq km

Pitting : 200 cu m

Processing : 640t

Bulk sampling was done at seven different locations, five samples from the fan gravels
(Adimurtipalle - Kalaspadu . Narsapuram . Venkatasettipalle areas), one sample from the terrace
gravel (Vaenkamarri area) and one sample from the paleochannel (Doddampalle area).

Processing of 640 tonnes of gravel yielded two diamonds weighing 0.99. ct. Both the
diamonds are from the fan gravels. Of the two diamonds recovered, one (0.95 ct) is from the
Kalasapadu area, by processing 77 tonnes of gravel. The area has extensive old workings. The
second diamond, which weighs 0.04 ct, is recovered from Venkatasettipalle area by processing
of 44 tonnes of gravel. The recovery of two diamonds indicate the diamondiferous nature of the
gravels.

The gravel deposits are extensive and tentative geological reserves are as follows. About

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550 Mt of gravel are estimated, of which the fan gravels alone constitute nearly 400 Mt.

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Fan gravel Paleochannel
of Terrace gravel
gravel
Area
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Quantit
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Area Quantity Area Area Quantity

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(sq km) (Mt) (sq kml (Mt) (sq km (Mt)

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*Giddaluru-Sanjivaraopeta (57I/15) 6 17 5 17 20 130

Adimurtipalle (57I/16) 13 12 . . - .
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Kalasapadu (57I/16) 35 90 - . . .
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Narsapuram (57I/16) 2/ 5 2 15 . -
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Venkatasettipalle-Attuluru (57N/2) 80 200 . . . .

Muttukuru (57N/2) 25 64 . - . .
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164 387 7 32 20 130

Recommendations: The regional sampling of the gravels confirmed their

diamondiferous nature. Further detailed sampling is necessary to prove the grade of the different
gravel flats, particularly the fan gravels.

The composition of the gravels suggests very nearyby provenance i.e. the Nallamalai
range, comprising the Bairenkonda Quartzite and the Cumbum Formation, where
kimberlitic_ampriotic dykes are reported from Chelima Pachcherla and Zangamrajupalle areas.
It is, therefore, required to search for more kimberlitic rocks in the area.

* In Giddaluru area possible reserves of 307 mt of fan gravels and 170 mt of terrace
gravels has been estimated (Grade uncertain) (29 diamonds weighing 0.99ct was recovered from
639.82 tonnes of gravels). Ref. Final Report on preliminary assessment of gravels for diamonds
on the Sagileru River Basin of Prakasam and Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh.
 72

PROSPECTS IN KARNATAKA

The discovery of Kimberlites in Maddur – Narayanpet area in Mahaboobnagar district of

Andhra Pradesh by GSI, during late 1980s and early 90s, prompted to extend the search for
kimberlites further westwards to parts of the adjoining district of Gulbarga in Karnataka. In
1995-96, OP: A.P led to the discovery of 5 kimberlite bodies (NK – 7, 8, 9, 10 and BK-1) – of
Narayanpet Kimberlite Field (NKF) from Gulbarga district, thus bringing the State of Karnataka
into the Kimberlite map of India. Two more kimberlite occurrences (BK-2 & 3) were located in
F.S. 1996-97 in Gulbarga district. Subsequently Project of Diamond was formed in OP:
Karnataka and Goa in 1997-98 & during F.S. 1997-98 1998-99 and 1999-2000 three additional
Kimberlite occurrences were reported from Gulbarga district, Karnataka (BK-4, 5 & 6 ).

Based on available historical data on ancient diamond mining activity and considering
the geodynamics and structural features of the area, regional search for kimberlites in Raichur
area was initiated in 2000-2001. This has led to the discovery of three kimberlite bodies in this
area, the field has been christened as Raichur Kimberlite Field (RKF) .

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GULBARGA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA

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KIMBERLITE PIPE NK – 7 (PUTPAK KIMBERLITE)

1 km north of Putpak (16049/ 15// : 77027/ 50//)

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Location
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Dimension -
Trend -
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Occurs at the intersection of NW-SE trending fracture with E-W fault. Highly weathered
yellowish kimberlite with phenocryrts of phlogopite and few crustal xenoliths.
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KIMBERLITE PIPE NK – 8 (KESHWAR KIMBERLITE)

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Location : 1.5 km NNW Keshwar

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Both hard and compact unaltered melanocratic kimberlite together with weathered and
altered kimberlite with calcrete cover occupy an area of about 50m x 10m.

KIMBERLITE PIPE NK – 9 ( NARZAPUR KIMBERLITE )

Location 0.75 km WSW of Narzapur (16049/ 35// : 77023/ 55//)

Dyke-like body, approximately 50mm x 10m in dimension, emplaced into TT gneisses

along a NW – SE fracture, close to an E-W fault. Hard and compact melanocratic kimberlite
with phenocryrts of olivine and ilmenite showing pelletal texture. Olivines are fresh and
rounded. Crustal xenoliths are abundant.

KIMBERLITE PIPE NK – 10 (HIMALAPUR KIMBERLITE)

Location 2.5 km SW of Himalapur (16050/ 55// : 77019/ 35//)

 73

Hard variety of Kimberlite with Steel grey colour is exposed amidst grayish soil with
calcrete. Harder part shows porphyritic texture with phenocrysts of fresh olivine and phlogopite.
Crustal xenoliths measuring upto 6 cm x 6 cm are common.

BHIMA KIMBERLITES (BK – 1 to BK – 6)

KIMBERLITE PIPE BK-1 (BEWANAHALLI KIMBERLITE) – 1)

Location 16050/ 25//: 77019/ 00//, 4.5 km ESE of Bewanahalli.

Two small pockets of calcrete rich soil, on pouring gave a few grains of chrome diopside
and ilmenite. Further probe by pitting exposed highly weathered and altered yellowish
kimberlite.

KIMBERLITE PIPE BK – 2 (BEWANAHALLI KIMBERLITE – 2 )

Location SE corner of Bewanahalli (16051/ 00// : 77016/ 45//)

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Highly weathered soft, friable altered variety of Kimberlite of yellowish green colour

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exposed in stream section, xenocrysts of altered olivine, chrome diopride, ilmenite and

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phlogopite are seen. of
KIMBERLITE PIPE BK – 3 (SHIVAPUR KIMBERLITE )
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1.5 km SSW of Shivapur (16051/ 45// : 77016/ 30//)

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Location
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Approximate dimension of 70m x 20m. Not exposed. Informed from a few calcrete
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fragments spread over the black soil, which showed pseudomorphs of olivine and ilmenite
grains. Pitting exposed highly weathered greenish kimberlite below 1 – 1.5m thick soil.
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KIMBERLITE PIPE BK – 4 (YAGAPUR KIMBERLITE)

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Location 2.5km WSW of Yagapur (16054/ 40// : 77007/00//

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Occurrence of the concealed kimberlite is indicated on the surface by calcrete with

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kimberlite indicator minerals in soil. The weathered kimberlite, which occurs about 2m below
soil cover is soft, dirty green in colour, serpentinised and carbonated.
KIMBERLITE PIPE BK – 5 (GONDAGERA TANDA KIMBERLITE)

Location: 0.5 km NNW of Gondagera Tanda (16039/ 30//: 77014/ 05// )

The body trending NNW – SSE direction neasures about 270m in length and 100m in
width, which occurs as highly weathered yellow ground, below 1 m top soil and nodular
calcrete. The light yellowish green clayey material shows supentinised olivine, phlogopite, Cr –
diopside and opaque grains.

KIMBERLITE PIPE BK - 6 (SUTAR HOSAHALLUI KIMBERLITE)

Location: 2.5km NNW of Sutar Hosahalli (16052/ 30//: 77013/ 0//)

 74

Located on the basis of piositive indication obtained from SSS. Occurs as a few rounded
to subrounded, highly silicified and carbonated, boulders strewn over the soil. Chrome diopsides
is the most characteristic mineral.

Location : 1.5 km NNW Keshwar

Both hard and compact unaltered melanocratic kimberlite together with weathered and
altered kimberlite with calcrete cover occupy an area of about 50m x 10m.

KIMBERLITES OF RAICHUR KIMBERLITE FIELD

UNDRALDODDI KIMBERLITE (RK-1)

Location Located at about 750m SW of Undraldoddi (16008 /35// : 770 28

/ //
40 ).
Dimension 700m in length x 190m width

a
Trend WNW-ESE

di
In
Emplaced at the contact between grey and pink biotite granite. It is concealed, but
exposed in a number of dugwell sections.
of
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Kimberlite is capped by 1 to 1.5m thick calcrete below the topsoil and the rock is highly
ve

weathered, soft, friable, tuffaceous at places and greenish yellow/yellowish green in colour.
ur

Undradoddi kimberlite with an areal extent of over 10 ha is the largest of the kimberlite so far
discovered from Karnataka. Panned concentrates of the weathered kimberlite yielded chrome
lS

spinel, chrome – diopside,garnet, phlogopite, perovskite, enstatite and zircon, of which the first
three are in greater abundance.
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Presence of diamond in this pipe is yet to be tested.

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METTI MALKAPUR KIMBERLITE (RK – 2)

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Location Located at about 300m east of Mettimalkapur (16008 /35// : 770 24

/ //
30
And about 8 km west of RK-1 kimberlite.
Dimension Oval shaped body with 110m x 80m
Trend WNW - ESE

Exposed in a dug well section and emplaced in granite gneiss. Calcrete cover with brown
sandy soil represents the surface manifestation of the concealed kimberlite body. The rock is
massive, fine grained, bluish green/grey in colour and traversed by thin veins of carbonate. It is
highly carbonated and contains autoliths and crustal xenoliths.

MALIABAD KIMBERLITE (RK – 3)

Location 700m WSW of Maliabad (16008 /15// : 770 21 /25//) and 6 km south
of Raichur.
 75

Kimberlite is covered under 1m thick calcrete below 1-2m thick soil/dump as the pipe
occurs within the Maliabad fort (ruins). Emplaced in granite at the intersection of E-W trending
& N-S trending lineaments. Highly weathered, friable and greenish yellow (yellow ground
variety) in colour.

INVESTIGATION FOR PLACER DIAMOND IN KARNATAKA

The Geological Survey of India carried out preliminary investigation for placer diamonds
in Raichur district covering about 200 km2 area in Bhima – Krishna river basins, but failed to
locate either diamonds or kimberlite indicator minerals in stream/soil samples (Rao, 1990).
Nelahal Aralibenchi, Jagarkal and Hospet areas near Raichur were examined by GSI for the
possible occurrence of diamonds but were not successful (Srinivasan, 1987, 1988). The Hagari
basin area in Bellary district was also searched for diamond occurrences (Rao, 1989).
******************

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