Provenance of heavy minerals with special reference to ilmenite of theHonnavar beach, central west coast of India

摘要

Heavy mineral assemblage and geochemistry of ilmenite from the Honnavar beach, Karnataka, central west of India have been studied to understand their provenance. The heavy mineral assemblage of ilmenite, magnetite, zircon, hornblende, epidote, sphene, kyanite, garnet and staurolite indicates its derivation mixed sources of gneissic/granitic, basic and high-metamorphic rocks. Trace element content of ilmenite like Co, Cr, V and Ni suggests gneissic to basic provenance. The study indicated that the heavy mineral characterizing the Precambrian gneissic, granitic basic rocks, has been derived from the hinterland the river Sharavati brings these minerals. The minerals, characterizing high-grade metamorphic sources like garnet, kyanite and staurolite appear reworked and derived from the offshore/palaeo- and brought out by combined action of alongshore current from south and waves to the present beach.