Authors : D. D. Kulkarni
Page Nos : 144-147
Description :
In the present study, Udgiri bauxite deposit of Kolhapur district has been selected. The area forms a part of Survey of India toposheets number 47 H/13 and 47 G/16. The bauxite in the study area are overlain by lateritic soil and vesicular laterite capping. Thus, the occurrence numerous laterite capping’s on the bauxite over the hills in the area are separated by narrow valleys thereby indicating an extensive peneplained surface with gentle southerly slope and moderate slope.
The litho-units in the area belongs to Panhala Formation of Wai subgroup of Deccan basalt group. The rocks exposed are amygdaloidal basalt and compact basalt with associated structures. For the purpose of genetic study of bauxite, five lithological sections were observed on the traverse from Village Lavale to Udgiri. These lithosections indicate the bauxite horizons are present at different elevations. This difference is due to unequal weathering process. Further, it is also observed that the formation of bauxite is often restricted to some plateau or part of plateau. This suggest under similar weathering conditions of host rock bauxitization process has not been taken place on uniform scale. Thus, it is concluded that bauxite of the area are product of in situ.
The textural and mineralogical study are undertaken to know the genesis of bauxite ore. The data suggest that progressive enrichment of alumina is essentially a process of preferential and removal of silica and alumina. The bauxite which are underlain by clay horizon in study area probably formed due to fluctuation in water table with variation in PH conditions.
Keywords: Peneplain, weathering, textural, mineralogical, etc.
