Trace-element studies of phosphate-bearing Gangolihat dolomites, Pithoragarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

The trace-element geochemistry of the Gangolihat Dolomite reveals that Sr, Rb, Ba, Ce and Zn have a positive correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.70) whereas Cr, Pb, and Ni are feebly sympathetic to P 2O 5, while Ga and Cu are antipathetic. Thus, the exceedingly high content and close proximity with phosphorus of Sr, Ba, Ce, La, Y, Rb and possibly Ni is indicative of their contemporaneous enrichment during later diagenetic changes. On the basis of a high yttrium content in the phosphate-rich samples, it is concluded that phosphorus was supplied from a pegmatitic source.