PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION FOR POTASH IN NAIBASTI BLOCK

IN SATIPURA SUB-BASIN OF NAGAUR GANGANAGAR EVAPORITE

BASIN, HANUMANGARH DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN (G3).
FSP ID M2ASMIF-MEP/NC/WR/SU-RAJ/2021/36466
Parusharama Gangaikoppa (120377), Akash Singh (121614) & Jawed Ahmad (121083)

The Nagaur- Ganaganagar Evaporite Basin (NGEB) contains a very thick pile of
marine sediments of the MarwarSupergroup comprising Jodhpur Group, Hanseran
Evaporite Group (HEG) and Nagaur Group in ascending order and is covered by thick
sequences of Quaternary sediments.Exploration for potash in NaiBasti Block(Toposheet
44 K/6) was carried outin FS 2021-22and it is continuedas spill over item.
A total 6.00Sq km area has been mapped in detail (1:4,000) and drilling of
1891m has been done. The exploration is mainly based on sub surface vertical drilling,
as main mineralized zonesare beyond 600 m depth.Total 09 vertical boreholesi.e
RJNGNB-1 to RJNGNB - 9are planned on grid pattern with 800m spacing.Geophysical
logging is being carried out for each borehole after the completion of drilling.
Based on borehole logging data, the intersected litho-units are Quaternary
sediments, Nagaur Group, HanseranEvaporite Group (HEG) and Jodhpur Group. HEG
consists of halite, anhydrite/gypsum, dolomite, magnesite, polyhaliteand sylvite with
thin layers of red/greenish grey clay. Seven major halite cycles, were observed in HEG.
Primary structures like bedding, laminations, graded bedding; burrow structure and
penecontemporaneous deformational structure are present in Quaternary sediments and
NagaurGroup. On the other hand, algal stromatolitic structures are also preserved in the
dolomitic unit of HEG. Minor faults and slip planes have been observed within the rocks
of NagaurGroup and HEG. Jodhpur Group consists of hard and compact reddish brown
sandstone. Potash mineralization is mainly associated with the H2 halite cycle, where
visual mineralisation of sylvite and polyhaliteoccurs within depth range of 645m to
680m.The prominent sylvite rich zone varies from 0.30m to 2.00m thickness.
Total 250 nos. of core samples is generated& processed for submission to the
Chemical Laboratory, Western Region, Jaipur. The sample length varies from 0.50m to
12.30m depending on the lithological variations.Analytical results of submitted samples
are awaited.