Assam: State Geology and Mineral Maps
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GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) PGSI. 307 700-2009 (DSK-II) GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF ASSAM GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA Miscelleaneous Publication No. 30 Part IV Vol 2(i) Assam 150 YEARS in the service of the nation Published by the order of the Government of India 2009 GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) Copy right © India, Geological Survey, 2009 First Edition : 2009 Second Reprint s: March, 2011 Manuscript processed for printing by: G. K. KESARI Geologist (Sr) under the guidance of : G. DAS GUPTA B. V. R. REDDY DR. H.S.M. PRAKASH Director Director AND Director Publication Division Publication Division Publication Division Overall supervision by: B.K. Mohanty Sudipta Lahiri U.K.Behara Ex-Dy. Director General Dy. Director General AND Director In-Charge Geological Survey of India NORTH EASTERN REGION Shillong- 793 003 Printed at ESSAR OFFSET Janapath Lane, G.S. Road, Ulubari, Guwahati-781007, Mobile : +91-9435106080 Price: Inland : Rs. 84/- Foreign : £ 3.31 or $ 4.61 GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) FOREWORD The Miscellaneous Publication 30 Series of the Geological Survey of India brings out concise information on the geology and mineral resources of the states of India. The present volume Part IV, Vol. 2(i) of the series, pertaining to the state of Assam, is a revised and updated version of the first edition published in 1974. During the span of three decades since the first edition was published, enormous knowledge has been added in the sphere of geology of the area, hence warranting publication of a revised edition. The Geological and Mineral Map presented in this volume is based on the 1:2 million scale geological map of North-East India published in 1998. Geological Survey of India continues its untiring work in different realms of earth sciences – a committed goal of ‘digging the past to light the future’. DOVEMAP studies in Assam were taken up for development of village economy through mineral appraisal Programme and to bring both the scientific knowledge regarding land, mineral and water resources as well as environment at the basic level of social set up. There was a need for revision in the lithostratigraphy of the state in the light of the data available through the recent works both in the field and in the laboratory. Some new mineral occurrences have been located in the state through geological and exploration programme. The occurrences of coal from two geological horizons viz. Gondwana and Tertiary of which Tertiary coal deposits of Makum, Mikir Hills and Dilli-Jeypore are the most noteworthy amongst them. This publication will update the knowledge-base on the geology and mineral resources of the state of Assam and will be of great use to the professionals, students of geology and entrepreneurs alike. Thus it will help in boosting the economy of the region. (N. K. DUTTA) PLACE : Kolkata Director General November, 2009 Geological Survey of India GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) “With their four-dimensional minds, and in their inter disciplinary ultraverbal way, geologists can wiggle out of almost anything.” – John McPhee GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) CONTENTS GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) Page 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 (I) CLIMATE ........................................................................................................................................... 2 (ii) FAUNA, FLORA AND CULTIVATION .............................................................................................. 2 (iii) NATURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................................... 2 (iv) PHYSIOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE ................................................................................................ 2 (v) PREVIOUS WORK ............................................................................................................................. 4 (vi) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................. 6 II. GENERAL GEOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY ...........................................................................7 (A) GNEISSIC COMPLEX ...................................................................................................................... 10 (B) SHILLONG GROUP ......................................................................................................................... 10 (C) GRANITE PLUTONS ....................................................................................................................... 11 (D) LOWER GONDWANA GROUP ....................................................................................................... 11 (E) ALKALI COMPLEX OF SAMCHAMPI ........................................................................................... 11 (F) SYLHET TRAP ................................................................................................................................. 12 (G) JAINTIA GROUP ............................................................................................................................. 12 (H) DISANG GROUP ............................................................................................................................. 13 (I) BARAIL GROUP .............................................................................................................................. 14 (J) SURMA GROUP .............................................................................................................................. 15 (K) TIPAM GROUP ................................................................................................................................ 16 (L) DUPI TILLA GROUP ....................................................................................................................... 17 (M) DIHING GROUP .............................................................................................................................. 18 (N) QUARTERNARY SEDIMENTS ........................................................................................................ 18 III. STRUCTURE AND TECTONICS .............................................................................................. 20 IV. GEOLOGICAL HISTORY ....................................................................................................... 22 V : DEVELOPMENT OF VILLAGE ECONOMY THROUGH MINERAL ............................................. 23 APPRAISAL PROGRAMME (DOVEMAP) VI. MINERAL RESOURCES ......................................................................................................... 24 (i) OIL AND NATURAL GAS ............................................................................................................... 24 (ii) COAL ............................................................................................................................................... 24 (iii) LIMESTONE .................................................................................................................................... 27 (iv) BASE METAL ................................................................................................................................... 28 Contd. GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) (v) BERYL .............................................................................................................................................. 28 (vi) BUILDING STONE .......................................................................................................................... 28 (vii) CLAY ................................................................................................................................................ 29 (viii) FELDSPAR ....................................................................................................................................... 29 (ix) GOLD ............................................................................................................................................... 30 (x) GYPSUM .......................................................................................................................................... 30 (xi) IRON ................................................................................................................................................ 30 (xii) MICA ................................................................................................................................................ 30 (xiii) HOT SPRINGS ................................................................................................................................. 30 (xiv) PYRITE ............................................................................................................................................ 31 (xv) RADIOACTIVE MINERALS ............................................................................................................ 31 (xvi) SALT ................................................................................................................................................ 31 (xvii) SILLIMANITE .................................................................................................................................. 31 LOCALITY INDEX ................................................................................................................ 32 REFERENCE .......................................................................................................................