Uranium enrichment at North Almora Thrust Zone, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

Gaurav Joshi, K. K. Agarwal, Amar Agarwal, J. R. Vidal-Solano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

© 2019, Indian Academy of Sciences. Intensely deformed and mylonitised rocks of the Almora Crystalline Zone (ACZ) have shown the potential of 238U and 232Th enrichment. 232Th, 238U and 40K are investigated by gamma-ray spectrometry in the rock samples collected along the three selected traverses across the North Almora Thrust Zone (NATZ). Obtained average values of U and Th are much higher, 7.3 and 23.9 ppm, respectively, than the average upper crustal abundances (2.8 and 10.7 ppm). The Th/Ra(eU) varies between 2.1 and 23, indicating a higher concentration of Th. The enrichment is due to the remobilisation of the radioisotopes due to the intense mylonitisation and metamorphism from the granitic protolith. The zones of enrichment, although concentrated near NATZ, show a heterogeneous distribution.
Original languageAmerican English
JournalJournal of Earth System Science
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2019

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Uranium enrichment at North Almora Thrust Zone, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this