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Can very low frequency electromagnetic survey detect graphite deposits in the subsurface? Initial results from Daltanganj, Jharkhand

  • Research Article
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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) survey has been carried out near an open cast mine of graphite deposit in Daltanganj, India. The area has a small mineable open cast mine where mining companies are digging randomly to excavate graphite deposits. The miners fail to find a good amount of graphite deposit as they do not have any prior knowledge about the actual structure and deposition.Since graphite is a non-metallic mineral but holds high conductivity contrast with its neighboring host rocks (Granite gneiss/schist), electromagnetic survey is suitable to map the area. Therefore VLF-EM survey was conducted near the open cast mine to determine the sub-surface graphite deposit and their structural control.The present study shows that there are thick conducting zones associated mainly with graphite mineralization located near to the old mine with a depth of around 40 m and width of ~ 80m. VLF-EM effectively utilized to target the sub-surface graphite mineralization and associated structures in reducing the cost and time for further geophysical surveys. However, other geoelectrical methods can be used to validate the graphite deposits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, Bhopal, 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India

    Arkoprovo Biswas & Shashi Prakash Sharma

  2. Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, West-Bengal, India

    Arkoprovo Biswas

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  1. Arkoprovo Biswas
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  2. Shashi Prakash Sharma
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Correspondence to Arkoprovo Biswas.

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Biswas, A., Sharma, S.P. Can very low frequency electromagnetic survey detect graphite deposits in the subsurface? Initial results from Daltanganj, Jharkhand. J Geol Soc India 86, 530–534 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0343-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0343-z

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