Trace element geochemistry of pyrite in the uraniferous dolostone from Tummalapalle area of the Cuddapah Basin, India: Implications for gold mineralization KS Vijay Kumar, Ramesh Chandra Behera, Sahendra Singh, Shalivahan, Ramakrishna Reddy, Rajarshi Chakravarti, Anmol Barla, Dinky Kohli Ore Geology Reviews, 2025 *Corresponding author. • Three generations of pyrite (Py1, Py2, Py3) are identified based on textures and trace element chemistry. • Py1 formed as fine-grained crystals at low temperatures, Py2 formed by recrystallization of Py1, and Py3 formed as euhedral grains during low-grade metamorphism. • Gold occurs as solid solution within arsenian pyrite, with Py3 showing higher gold due to remobilization during early metamorphic recrystallization. • The study highlights the link between pyrite evolution and invisible gold mineralization in the Vempalle dolostone. This study investigates pyrite-hosted gold occurrences within the uraniferous dolostone of the Vempalle Formation, Papaghni Group of the Paleo–Mesoproterozoic Cuddapah Supergroup in southern India. Although the Cuddapah Basin is well known for its stratabound uranium deposits, the mechanisms controlling invisible gold enrichment in pyrite within these carbonates remain poorly understood. Petrographic study of the uraniferous dolostone reveals the presence of sulfide phases like, pyrite and chalcopyrite. On the basis of textural characteristics and trace element distribution, three types of pyrite (Py1, Py2, and Py3) are identified. Py1 is fine-grained and formed during early to syn -diagenetic stages. Py2 originated from the recrystallization of Py1 during late diagenesis and shows coarse-grained, subhedral to anhedral forms. Py3 is subhedral to euhedral in shape, and developed as overgrowths on Py2 during low-grade metamorphic recrystallization and shows higher invisible gold concentration among all the three pyrite types. The Au/As atomic ratios (ranges from 2.6 × 10 −6 to 5.6 × 10 −4 ) plot below the inferred solubility limit for pyrite-hosted gold, suggesting gold occurs in solid solution rather than as free nanoparticles. This study is the first report on the pyrite hosted invisible gold occurrence within the uraniferous Vempalle dolostone of the Cuddapah basin in and around Tummalapalle area. It is inferred that the gold enrichment within the pyrite occurred as a result of the dissolution-reprecipitation of Py1 during metamorphic recrystallization.
Trace elemental systematics of auriferous sulfides within the dolerites of northern Cuddapah Basin, southern India: Implications for invisible gold mineralization Ramesh Chandra Behera, Sahendra Singh, Shalivahan Srivastava, K.S. Vijay Kumar, N. Ramakrishna Reddy, Anmol Barla, Rohit Pandey Ore Geology Reviews, 2025 • The Dhone dolerite is derived from spinel peridotite mantle source and emplaced as a result of the intraplate magmatic activities. • On the basis of textural characteristics, mineral assemblages, and trace elemental composition, two types of pyrite phases are identified. • Py1 is of hydrothermal nature, whereas Py2 is volcanic origin. • The ore mineral associations of the dolerite are pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, magnetite, and covellite. • Gold occurs as solid solution in both the pyrite types, i.e. py1 and py2, within the dolerite. In the present work, the trace elemental systematics of the dolerite-hosted auriferous sulfides have been carried out to understand the nature of invisible gold mineralization within the northern part of Cuddapah Basin, southern India. The whole-rock geochemistry suggests that the dolerite is derived from a spinel peridotite mantle source and emplaced as a result of the intraplate magmatic activities. Within the dolerite, pyrite is the dominant phase associated with chalcopyrite and magnetite. Two types of pyrite phases are identified on the basis of their textures, i.e. Py1 and Py2. Py1 is anhedral to subhedral, whereas Py2 is euhedral. The Co/Ni ratio of Py1 and Py2 suggest their hydrothermal and volcanic origin, respectively. The gold vs arsenic plot indicates that gold occurs as solid solution within pyrite. Py1 is comparatively enriched in gold than Py2. Along with gold, other trace elements like As, Se, Ga, Ge, Sb, Te, and Ti are also present within these pyrite phases. The positive correlation of the gold with these trace elements indicates its solid solution nature. Py2 has a lesser content of gold than Py1, because of the higher ambient temperature. This work is the first report on the invisible gold occurrences within the dolerite hosted sulfides and provides new insights into the gold metallogeny of the northern Cuddapah Basin. The findings also contribute to the broader understanding of the trace elemental behavior in ore-forming processes, particularly in the context of invisible gold within sulfide minerals, which may have exploration implications in this region.
Geological field study of the Papaghni Group, Cuddapah Supergroup in Andhra Pradesh, Southern India RCBS Singh Geological Field Trips and Maps 18 ((1.4)), 1-27 , 2026 2026
Invisible gold mineralization within the Vempalle Dolostone, Joolakalva Area, Cuddapah Basin, Southern India: Insights from in-situ and whole-rock geochemistry RC Behera, S Singh, A Barla, KSV Kumar, NR Reddy, M Dash Lithos, 108462 , 2026 2026
AI/ML-Based Classification of Gold Deposit Types Using Pyrite Trace Element Geochemistry: A Case Study from the Rudia Area, North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern India. RC Behera, S Singh, S A.K, K Sarkar, DP Kumar 35th National Convention of Mining Engineers and National seminar on … , 2025 2025
Trace element geochemistry of pyrite in the uraniferous dolostone from Tummalapalle area of the Cuddapah Basin, India: Implications for gold mineralization KSV Kumar, RC Behera, S Singh, R Reddy, R Chakravarti, A Barla, ... Ore Geology Reviews, 106980 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Trace elemental systematics of auriferous sulfides within the dolerites of northern Cuddapah Basin, southern India: Implications for invisible gold mineralization RC Behera, S Singh, S Srivastava, KSV Kumar, NR Reddy, A Barla, ... Ore Geology Reviews 180, 106569 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Petrography of the Vempalle Dolostone in and Around Anantapur Area, Cuddapah Supergroup, Andhra Pradesh RC Behera, S Singh National seminar 2025 on "Visions in Geological Sciences 2025" on 22nd … , 2025 2025
A new insights into the dolerite hosted invisible gold mineralization within the northern part of the Cuddapah Basin, southern India: Implications from the trace elemental … RC Behera, S Singh AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024, V01-07 , 2024 2024
Trace element systematics of auriferous sulfides and its implications on the gold mineralization within the Vempalle dolostone of the Cuddapah Basin, India. S Singh, S Kumar, K., Behera, R.C., Tirkey, V.K., and Shalivahan Society of Economic Geologists 2024 (SEG 2024) Conference: Sustainable … , 2024 2024
Invisible gold mineralization within Korivipalle dolostone and Dhone dolerites: Implications from EPMA and LA-ICP-MS analysis of pyrite. RC Behera, S Singh, K Kumar, VK Tirkey, R Reddy, S Shalivahan Society of Economic Geologists 2024 (SEG 2024) Conference: Sustainable … , 2024 2024
Invisible Gold Occurrence as a Strategic Element in National and Global Perspective. RC Behera, S Singh, A Barla, D Kohli, SM Aquib Current Trends in Earth System Sciences seminar (CTESS 2022-23), Department … , 2023 2023
Geological Characterization of Auriferous Sulfide Within the Vempalle Dolostone, Cuddapah Supergroup, Southern India: Implication for Carlin like Gold Occurrence. RC Behera, S Singh, A Barla Society of Economic Geologists 2022 (SEG 2022) Conference: Minerals for Our … , 2022 2022
A holistic approach on the gold metallogeny of the Singhbhum crustal province: Implications from tectono-metamorphic events during the Archean-Proterozoic regime S Singh, R Chakravarti, A Barla, RC Behera, S Neogi Precambrian Research 365, 106376 , 2021 2021 Citations: 15
Physico-Chemical Conditions of Pahardiha- Rungikocha Gold Deposit, North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern India. A Barla, S Singh, R Chakravarti, RCBehera Society of Economic Geologists anniversary (SEG 100) Conference, Whistler … , 2021 2021
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
A holistic approach on the gold metallogeny of the Singhbhum crustal province: Implications from tectono-metamorphic events during the Archean-Proterozoic regime S Singh, R Chakravarti, A Barla, RC Behera, S Neogi Precambrian Research 365, 106376 , 2021 2021 Citations: 15
Trace elemental systematics of auriferous sulfides within the dolerites of northern Cuddapah Basin, southern India: Implications for invisible gold mineralization RC Behera, S Singh, S Srivastava, KSV Kumar, NR Reddy, A Barla, ... Ore Geology Reviews 180, 106569 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Trace element geochemistry of pyrite in the uraniferous dolostone from Tummalapalle area of the Cuddapah Basin, India: Implications for gold mineralization KSV Kumar, RC Behera, S Singh, R Reddy, R Chakravarti, A Barla, ... Ore Geology Reviews, 106980 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Geological field study of the Papaghni Group, Cuddapah Supergroup in Andhra Pradesh, Southern India RCBS Singh Geological Field Trips and Maps 18 ((1.4)), 1-27 , 2026 2026
Invisible gold mineralization within the Vempalle Dolostone, Joolakalva Area, Cuddapah Basin, Southern India: Insights from in-situ and whole-rock geochemistry RC Behera, S Singh, A Barla, KSV Kumar, NR Reddy, M Dash Lithos, 108462 , 2026 2026
AI/ML-Based Classification of Gold Deposit Types Using Pyrite Trace Element Geochemistry: A Case Study from the Rudia Area, North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern India. RC Behera, S Singh, S A.K, K Sarkar, DP Kumar 35th National Convention of Mining Engineers and National seminar on … , 2025 2025
Petrography of the Vempalle Dolostone in and Around Anantapur Area, Cuddapah Supergroup, Andhra Pradesh RC Behera, S Singh National seminar 2025 on "Visions in Geological Sciences 2025" on 22nd … , 2025 2025
A new insights into the dolerite hosted invisible gold mineralization within the northern part of the Cuddapah Basin, southern India: Implications from the trace elemental … RC Behera, S Singh AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024, V01-07 , 2024 2024
Trace element systematics of auriferous sulfides and its implications on the gold mineralization within the Vempalle dolostone of the Cuddapah Basin, India. S Singh, S Kumar, K., Behera, R.C., Tirkey, V.K., and Shalivahan Society of Economic Geologists 2024 (SEG 2024) Conference: Sustainable … , 2024 2024
Invisible gold mineralization within Korivipalle dolostone and Dhone dolerites: Implications from EPMA and LA-ICP-MS analysis of pyrite. RC Behera, S Singh, K Kumar, VK Tirkey, R Reddy, S Shalivahan Society of Economic Geologists 2024 (SEG 2024) Conference: Sustainable … , 2024 2024
Invisible Gold Occurrence as a Strategic Element in National and Global Perspective. RC Behera, S Singh, A Barla, D Kohli, SM Aquib Current Trends in Earth System Sciences seminar (CTESS 2022-23), Department … , 2023 2023
Geological Characterization of Auriferous Sulfide Within the Vempalle Dolostone, Cuddapah Supergroup, Southern India: Implication for Carlin like Gold Occurrence. RC Behera, S Singh, A Barla Society of Economic Geologists 2022 (SEG 2022) Conference: Minerals for Our … , 2022 2022
Physico-Chemical Conditions of Pahardiha- Rungikocha Gold Deposit, North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern India. A Barla, S Singh, R Chakravarti, RCBehera Society of Economic Geologists anniversary (SEG 100) Conference, Whistler … , 2021 2021