Geochemical Studies in India: CSIR-NGRI Contributions

The Indian Shield, composed of diversified rock types, formed at different ages, emplaced in varied tectonic environments, is a natural laboratory for the geoscientific community. Multi-disciplinary studies involving tools like field geology, petrography, geophysics and geochemistry can better probe the Earth’s interior at a higher resolution. The Geochemistry Division, equipped with state-of-the-art analytical facilities such as XRF, SEM-EDS, MC-TIMS and LA-HR-ICP-MS, has made pioneering contributions to better understand the evolutionary history of the Indian Shield. This excerpt provides a glimpse of the research activities carried out by the Geochemistry Group during the last 55 years. Significant contributions include (1) geodynamics and crustal evolution of the Indian Plate in terms of nucleation, accretion and amalgamation of the three Protocontinents: Dharwar, Aravalli and Singhbhum; (2) geological and geochemical studies on the evidence for early life; and (3) deciphering the depositional environment and provenance of clastic sediments of the Dharwar Craton. Besides southern India, focused research studies in Bastar, Singhbhum and Bundelkhand cratons, Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt, Central Indian Tectonic Zone, Andaman Islands and Antarctica have yielded significant results that were published in recognised peer-reviewed National and International Journals. In addition to fundamental research, the Geochemistry Group has actively collaborated with industries like Hutti Gold Mines Limited (Hutti), Hindustan Zinc Limited (Udaipur) and National Mineral Development Corporation (Hyderabad) for the exploration of base metals and gold in different parts of the country. The analytical facilities created and developed by the Group are currently helping scores of researchers and students from a host of R&D organisations/universities across the country and even a few organisations abroad in pursuing world-class geochemical and environmental research.