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Dissertation on

TAGADUR CHROMITE
MINE NUGGIHALLI SCHIST BELT
Submitted by,
VENKATAKRISHNAIA
H.C
4 th Sem,
M.Sc[Geology]
Reg.No :
09TUSG4008
Department of
Geology
Bangalore

Submitted to,
Dr. B.C.PRABHAKAR
Professor
Department of Geology
Bangalore University .

INTRODUCTION ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS

Ultra-mafic rocks also referred as ultra-basics are igneous
and meta-igneous rocks with very low silica content (less
than 45%), greater than 18% MgO, high FeO, low
potassium. These are composed of usually greater than 90%
mafic minerals, which are dark coloured , and high
magnesium and iron content.
The earths mantle is usually composed of ultra-mafic
rocks. Many of them are found in the lower parts of the
thick sills, flows and lopoliths, where they grade upward
into basic rocks.

continue

Most ultra-mafic rocks are formed due to early formed

crystals , some of them are of remelting of crystal
differentiates and some of them are due to metasomatic
alteration of pre-existing , less mafic igneous rocks and
intrusions are due to perhaps largely crystalline.
Perodotite magma rising from beneath the basaltic
substratum. Most of the coarse-grained types are made
up principally of olivine and iron ores. A few coarsegrained ultra-mafics carry a small amount of calcic
plagioclase and devoid of Feldspar.
Examples: 1.Dunite 2. Peridotite 3. Pyroxenite
4. Serpentinite etc..

LAYERED INTRUSION

Layered intrusion is a large sill like body of igneous rock

which exhibits vertical layering or differences in
composition or texture. These intrusions are typically of
many km`s in area covering from around 100 km2 to over
50,000 km2 and several hundred meters to over a kilometer
in thickness .
Layered intrusions are found in typically ancient cratons
and are rare but worldwide in distribution. The intrusive
complexes exhibit evidence of fractional crystallization
and crystal segregation by settling or floating of minerals
from a melt.

CAUSES OF LAYERING

Mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions occur at all levels within the

crust, from depths in excess of 50 km to depths of as little as 1.5
to 5 km. The depth at which an intrusion is formed is dependent
on several factors: Convection, Diffusion , settings of
phenocrysts, assimilation of Wall rocks
and
Fractional
crystallization.

DISTRIBUTION OF ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS

The majority of ultramafic rocks are exposed in orogenic
belts, and predominate in Archaeanand Proterozoic terraines.
Ultramafic magmas in the Phanerozoic are rare, and there are very
few recognised true ultramafic lavas in the Phanerozoic.

Layered Complexes in the World

1. Bushveld Igneous Complex Transvall , South Africa
2. The Koillisma Layered Igneous Complex Finland
3. Pindos Ophiolite Complex - North-west Greece
4. Giles Layered Igneous Complex - Central Australia

Layered Complexes in India

1.Sukinda Ultramafic Complex Orissa
2. Baula-Nausahi Ultramafic Complex Orissa
3.Jojohatu-Roroburu Ultramafic Complex Jharkhand
4. Bhandara -Nagpur Belt Maharashtra
5. Kondapalli Igneous Complex Andhrapradesh
6. Sittampundi Igneous Complex Tamil Nadu
Layered Complexes in Karnataka
1. Nuggihalli Schist Belt - Hassan District
2. Sindhuvalli Talur belt - Mysore district

NUGGIHALLI SCHIST BELT

The Nuggihalli Schist Belt is situated in the western part of

the Dharwar Craton. The Western Dharwar Craton is
composed of older supracrustals known as the Sargur Group
(3.33.1 Ga) that are enclosed within the associated tonalite
trondhjemitegranodiorites . The rocks in the Nuggihalli
schist belt belong to the Sargur Group.

The Sargur Group of rocks occur as linear ultramaficmafic

belt, containing minor classic sediments and banded iron
formation (BIF), in the Nuggihalli area The ultramaficmafic
rocks of the Sargur Group occur both as intrusive bodies as
well as volcanics. This belt has received considerable
attention in view of gold, copper, chromite, and vanadiferous
,titano-magnatite mineralization in different places.

PREVIOUS WORK

Firstly , Bruce Foote [1900] made a passing mention of possible

Dharma outliers near Tagadur betta and Belagumba.
In 1906 , Sampath Iyengar discovered the Nuggihalli schist
belt and correlated it with the Chithradurga schist belt. Sampath
iyengar observed that this belt comoposed of mainly hornblende
schists , ultrabasics and quartz reefs .
Again in 1922, Sampath Iyengar described the chromite and
titanomagnatite bodies and made a breif mention of the kyanite
occurance of Malavanaghatta.
Pichamuthu in 1956, described the ultramafics of the alpine
type and included them as a part of the major ultramafic zone in
karnataka, and he compared this zone to the Great dyke of the
Rhodesia.

continue

Radhakrishna in 1957 , described the chromite deposits and

the associated rocks of Byrapur. Varadarajan in 1964, described
the ultramafites and associated rocks of this belt..
Phene in 1969 described amphibolite,green schist and
quarzyte from this belt.
Unpublished works by the GSI officers made the sequence of
the rock formations such as the horneblende schist, quartz
mica schist and ferruginuos quartz [lower Dharwar ] followed
by the ultrabasics and talc- chlorite schists.
Viswanadha in 1971 , examined the vermiculite occurrence
of malavanaghatta and ponnasamudra.
Ramakrishna in 1972, described the ultramafic bands of the
belt in relation to asbestos mineralization.

METHODOLOGY

After a detailed Literature survey of geology ,

geomorphology and tectonic features of the Nuggihalli belt
area, chromite mine pits near Tagadur were selected for
the study.
Geological mapping was carried out on a Scale of
1:25000 using survey of India . Tope sheet number : 57C/8
and all the litho section were mapped on their map.
Dip and Strike of the schistose foliation using Brinton
Clinometers compass
were measured
GPS was used for the precise spot and sample
locations.
Fresh samples at different places with in the mine
area of both host rocks and mineralization were
representative samples of different rocktypes were
prepared for thin section and polished section of ores were
prepared for ore microscope studies.

REGIONAL GEOLOGY OF NUGGIHALLI SCHIST

BELT

Nuggihalli Schist Belt is a prominent, linear and narrow

belt of schistose and ultramafic rocks situated in the
western part of the Dharwar craton in Hassan district of
Karnataka state. This belt has considerable attention in view
of the chromite, vanadiferous titanomagnetite and gold.
The Nuggihalli schist belt trends in a NNW-SSE direction
with the length of 60 kms starting from Arasikere in the
North (13058l:76017l) to Kempinakote in the south
(12054l:76031l) and with average width of about 1km, with a
maximum width at central bulge near Nuggihalli of over
3km.

TAGADUR MINE

METAMORPHISM

The ultramafic rocks especially the amphibolites schists,

were considered to belong to greenschist facies in view of
the mineral assemblage of tremolite, actinolite and
chlorite.
Even where gneissic intrusions are seen in the ultramafics
and where the ultramafics isolated as enclaves, the
mineralogy is of actinolite, tremolite and chlorite. It is
well known that ultramafic schists in all grades of
metamorphism show similar low grade mineralogy
when fluids like water are involved and therefore are not
diagnostic indicators of P-T conditions.

GEOLOGICAL SETTINGS OF THE TAGADUR AREA

Topography and Drainage

The Tagadur mining area is an undulating terrain
having gentle slope both Eastrly and Westerly. The general
area ranges from 911 to 973 mtrs above MeanSeaLevel. Few
seasonal Nallahs are observed in the area towards North West,
North East and Central part of the area and flow only during
monsoon and remains dry during other seasons.
The surrounding area of the Mining block is using
for cultivation of Coconut, Sugar cane and seasonal crops
such as Ragi and Maize. This area receives a moderate rainfall
ranging from 500-600 mm annually and under sub-tropical
climate.

MINEROLOGY

The Tagadur Chromite Mine is a part of Nuggihalli Schist belt

received considerable attention in view of the Chromite,
Gold and Vanadiferrous Titano-Magnetite mineralization.
Recently an interesting discovery of Copper mineralization
has been made.
The foliation of the Schist is predominantly NNW-SSW with
steep dip towards East. The Tentative sequence as identified
in the region / area is indicated below.
Dolerite dyke , Amphibolite , Quartz vein ,Sepiolite
Granitic Gneisses, Titano Magnetite Serpentinite,
Tonalitic Gneiss , Talc Chlorite Schist , Chromite Ore
Gabbro .

GEOLOGICAL SETTINGS OF TAGADUR

CHROMITE MINE

SOUTH BLOCK

Tagadur area is one of the ore producing mines of

chromite in Nuggihalli Schist Belt. It is in the southern
part of the Nuggihalli Schist Belt .Interesting lithological
characteristics and structural features are observed here
, the chief lithological varieties here include strongly
schistose serpentinite , serpentinized dunite, chromite
rich serpentinite and talc-chlorite rich schistose rocks.

1. Strongly Schistose Serpentinite

2. Chromite Bearing Schistose Serpentinites
3. Dunite with Sepentinized Sequence
4. Talc- Chlorite Schist with poor Chromite concentration

FIELD PHOTOS

Schistose Serpenitinite with Magnasite veins

Dunite cleavages with poor Chromite

concentration

Chromite body enclosed in Ultramafics

Chromite occurance in Lensoid body

Chromite occurance in Vein

types

PETROGRAPHY

In this study, detailed investigation in the chromite

deposits of the Nuggihalli Schist Belt and detailed
petrographic investigation of the Tagadur chromite mine
has been carried out by systematic sampling from the
mine sections of open cut and outcrops, by using
petrographic and mineral analyses. Important rock types
observed petrographically
are serpentine, Dunite ,
amphibolites, talc-chlorite schist, peridotite etc.
In this chapter petrographic description of the different
rock types observed and sampled in the field is produced
Variations in the comopositions of the different
lithologies and their textural patterns are also observed.

Schistose Sepentinite

In handspecimen it is green coloured and coarse grained. The

mineral grains have stretching effects. It shows strong
alterations and is traversed by thin magnasite veins . In thin
sections well developed schistosity is observed , serpentine
grains are abundant , olivine grains mostly occur as relict
grains [ fig1] ,they are greysih to greenish colour . Magnasite
show aciculars with in serpentinized rock and is developed
due to the alteration [metasomatism]. Fine fissility is
developed along with schistose magnasite veins and shows
micro level sheath folding and stretching effects . Pyroxene grains
are less in abundance and they are invariably altered to
Hornblende and shows strong pleochroism [ dark green-yellowbrown] and its pseudomorphs are observed here.

Podiform Chromite bearing Sepentinite

The lithosection is the schistose serpentinite and shows

transition features. In hand specimen it is generally green
or greenish grey in colour . Here, the podiform chromite
has been found , they are found as thin or thick veins and
these are stretched up and shows boudinage texture ,
which is due to the deformation. In thin sections this
serpentinite shows schistosity and is mainly made top of
altered olivine and pyroxenes with enstatite grains and the
boundaries shows plenty of alterations . Chromite grains
appear as dark grey to brownish coloured , they are
rounded to subhedral in shape and at places they also show
pinch and swell structures .

Schistose Peridotite

In handspecimen , the periditite is dark grey in colour

and is coarse grained. Pyroxene minerals display strong
orientation to produce schistosity . Foliation planes are well
developed , sometimes dotted with chromite grains , veins of
chromite are also sometimes observed.
In thin section , peridotite shows the composition of
pyroxenes ,olivine and minor plagioclase . Pyroxene which are
both augite and hypersthene shows subhedral to euhedral and
cumulus nature. Strong alteration is also commonly observed to
hornblende and some extent to chlorite . Olivine shows
irregular cracks. It occurs rounded to subrounded grains and is
strongly altered to serpentine , talc and carbonates. Chromite
shows chain textures which are wider at interstices and
narrowing at the margins.

Talc-Chlorite Schist

Talc chlorite schist shows light grey to greenish grey

coloured , which is easily identified by its softness and it is
closely associated with chlorite and tremolite . The rock
has been derived from the alteration of dunite and pyroxene.
Under microscope, schistosity is commonly seen. Grains of
talc and sheaths of chlorite are chief minerals of this rock.
Fine aggregates of talc are aligning along the schistose
planes. Sheaths of chlorite are closely intertwined with talc
grains.
Chlorite under plane polarizer light is green coloured and
can be seen chlorite coatings on ultramafics , under
crossnicols , it shows strong bluish grey colour. Chromite also
shows alignment along schistosity , it indicates that the
deformation was post dating chromite mineralization.

THIN SECTION PHOTOS

Schistose
texture

Schistose rock showing flowage of Chromite

grains

Schistose rock showing inclusion of Chromite in

Hornblende

ORE PETROGRAPHY STUDY

In this section the important ore microscopic

characteristics of chromite and its association with host
rocks of tagadur mine have been described.
Chromite

Chromite generally exhibits fine granular to massive texture in

polished specimens. It is deep brown to black in colour . It is
subhedral to anhedral in shape and occasionally euhedral. The
grain size of the chromite is varies considerably with the amount
of gangue minerals. Normally it occurs either as lensoid or
podiform ore. Under microscope it show high relief and poor
reflectance
Colour varies from grey to grayish brown .
Pleochroism is not observed .It occurs as isotropic and brownish
red internal reflectance are normally observed . Sometimes
silicate inclusions especially are serpentine grains are observed.

A detailed description of the different structures found in

chromite ores of tagadur area are described below.

1.Schistose Texture
Chromite is highly deformed zones shows stretching and
flowage along the schistosity . At that
places , it show
microlevel pinch and swell structure . This kind of texture are
important to understand the post-depositional structural important
on the ore and its state at that time . [fig .4.1]
2.Net Texture
In net textured chromites inter cumulus chromite grains are joined
together to form net-texture . Due to shearing the net-textured
chromite grains locally are fragmented and both silicate and
chromite grains show orientation in a planar fabric. [fig 4.5]

Photograph showing strongly Schistose rock with foliations

Chromite grains showing Net texture in Host

rock

Panidiomorphic Texture
Near many cumulus
zones chromite shows
panidiomorphic texture ,
medium to coarse grained .
Euhedral
grains
are
displayed in the silicate
matrix which is mostly
made up of serpentines.
This texture is commonly
noticed in dunite and
peridotite varieties.

Euhedral to Sub hedral grains in Chromite

Chain Texture

It is a very common texture in ultramafic rocks. Thayer

(1969) used the term to describe texture small euhedral
to subhedral of chromite crystals join ends together to
form chains encircling silicate minerals . Sometimes
the chains occur at the margins of serpentine
pseudomorphs. The chain texture is more prevalent in
disseminated ores where the crystals are joined along
the long diagonals of the grains and encircle the
serpentine pseudomorph. This type of textures indicate
development of crystals under the condition of free
growth

Chain like Chromite grains in

Hostrock

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Tagadur mining area is an important tract from the point of chromite

productivity in Nuggihalli Schist Belt, an ancient ultramafic supercrustal
belt. Field and petrographic study of this area has revealed that chromite
occurs in different lithological setup. The host rock lithologies of
chromite ore include 1.strongly schistose serpentinite 2.serpentinite with
chromite 3. Dunite bearing enclaves and 4. Talc- Chlorite schist .
Amongst them serpentinite with dunite enclaves is a formable unit from
the chromite deposit . Petrographically all these litho units are strongly
altered usually to serpentine and less to chlorite and talc.
Some of the ultramafic varieties are strongly schistose and some show
local effects deformation . Chromite is occur as veins , pods and lensoid
bodies , thier localization and size are highly valuable. Their deposition
appears to be strongly evolutioned by deformation effects . They have
been dragged, stretched , boudinazed and localized.
When studies under microscope chromite displays variety of textures like
1.panidiomorphic 2.cumulus 3.chain 4.mesh textures .

continue

Early formed chromite layers display cumulus and mesh textures where
as the subsequent chromite layers display Panidiomorphic texture. In
the highly schistose and deformed zones chromite also show stretching
at microscopic level. Though chromite in handspecimen display
massive habit several structural imprints of deformation are evident
under microscope, especially when chromite occurs with schistose
serpentinite. However, in granular variety the effects of deformation is
minimum.

In the overall study , it is informed that the chromite of the study has
been formed as a result of early segregation of ultrabasic magma was
evolving in the magma chamber , to start with they were formed as early
crystal fractionates and basal layers of magma enriched in chromite and
it distributed in the later sequences. However successive batches of the
ultrabasic magma produced by partial wetting of periditite magma
,probably produced , chromite rich layers in different horizons . All of
them have been subsequently tilted and metamorphoshosed during
regional scale folding

REFERENCE

Maibam Bidyananda and Sachinadh Mithra, Room Temperature

characteristics of the chromites from the Nuggihalli Schist Belt ,Dharwar
craton ,Southern India. Jour.Geo.Soc.India,vol . 86, pp.9
R.Nijagunnappa and C. Naganna ,(1983) , Archean meta lamphropyres from
Nuggihalli Schist Belt: An arechean layered complex as interpreted from
chromite distribution , Jour.Geo.Soc.India , vol.78, pp.507-513.
S.Varadarajan and C.Pande , (1969), Metamorphic history of Nuggihalli
Schist Belt,Hassan district, Mysore state.,Journal of the Indian geo sciences
association,vol-10,p-81.
R.K.Sahoo ,J.K.Mohanthy,S.K.Das and A.K.Paul, (2009)Chromites of India ,
their textural and mineralogical characteristics , ISMO
Minik.T.Rosing, Robert Frei , Sisir.K.Mandal and Ria Mukhejee ,
2010,Compositional variations in the Meso Archean chromites of the
Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Western Dharwar craton India: potential parental melts
and implications for tectonic setting ,Jour.Geo.Soc.India, vol-10,pp-865-888.

perumala V.S.raju, V.S.S.K.Babu, and Ronald K.W.Merkley,(2011),New data on the

mineralogy of chromite from the Nuggihalli Schist Belt,

J.K.Mohanty , A.K.Paul, R.K.Sahoo, (2001) , Sequence of Chromite crystallization

from the Baula-Nausahi igneous complex,Orissa,india

continue

K.L.Chakraborthy ,Chromite ores associated with the ultrabasic rocks of

Baula-Nausahi ,OrissaIndia : Their mineragraphy and genisis. Jour.
Geo.Soc.India , vol 24, a, no.1

T.C.Devaraju, R.P.Viljoein , R.H.Sawkhar,(2010),Magic and Ultramafic

magmatism and associated mineralization in the
DharwarCraton , Southern
India

Chromite data from wikipedia

K.T.Damodaran and B.Somasekhar,chrome chlorite from the Nuggihalli

Schist Belt.
C.Naganna and S.G.Phene, 1969, Study of opaque minerals associated with
the Ultrabasic rocks of Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Mysore state, The Indian
mineralogist , vol-10,pp.227-235.

S.V.Srikanta and S.Jayaram, 1983,Report on the Geology and Geochemistry

of part of Nuggihalli supracrustal Belt and adjacent areas , Karnataka,India.

C.Naganna and S.G.Phene, 1971, Study of the distribution on the trace

elements in the rocks of Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Hassan district, Mysore state.

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