JOURNAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA

Vol.80, September 2012, pp.351-362

Characterization of Bauxite Deposits from Kachchh Area, Gujarat

G. N. JADHAV1, N. SHARMA2 and PRIYANKA SEN1,3

1
Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400 076
2
Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, M.S.University of Baroda, Vadodara - 390 002
3
Institute of Petroleum Technology, P.D.P.U., Raisan, Gandhinagar - 382 009
Email: jadhav@iitb.ac.in

Abstract: The bauxites deposits of Kachchh area in Gujarat are investigated to characterize them based on mineralogical
and petrographic studies. The major bauxitic mineral in these occurrences is gibbsite, with minor concentration of
boehmite and diaspore. Apart from the bauxitic minerals, the other associate minerals are kaolin, calcite, alunite and the
iron ore minerals such as hematite and goethite and titanium rich anatase. The iron ore minerals (hematite and goethite)
are 10-50microns in size and are disseminated throughout the oolitic and pisolitic bauxitic minerals. At places the
goethite exhibits colloform texture. The preservation of basaltic texture in some of the samples indicate that the insitu
nature of these bauxites, which are formed by the alteration of calcic plagioclase from the parent basalt. Although, the
basalt occurs as the main parent rock for these bauxites, the presence of calcite in some of the samples represent the
possibility of having a limestone parent rock at least in some of the bauxite occurrences.

Keywords: Gibbsite, Boehmite, Diaspore, Alunite, Oolite, Pisolite, Colloform texture, Kachchh, Gujarat.

INTRODUCTION present work the bauxites in Kachchh area (Fig.1) have

Bauxite is the most important ore of aluminum which
belongs to the family of lateritic rocks. It is characterized
by the enrichment of aluminum hydroxide minerals,
such as gibbsite [Al(OH)3], boehmite [γ-AlO(OH)], and
diaspore [α-AlO(OH)], together with the iron ore minerals
hematite and goethite, the kaolinite and small amounts
of anatase (TiO2). India is endowed with more than 3000
bauxite resources (GMDC report: personal communication)
and the chemical, mineralogical, and physico-mechanical
properties of these bauxites widely vary depending upon
the parent rock composition, mode of generation,
geomorphologic position and duration, and age of bauxite
formation. In India, Gujarat state is bestowed with large
Bauxite deposits estimated about 97.0 million tons (GMDC
Report: personal communication), of which 90% are
distributed in three districts namely, Kachchh, Jamnagar,
and Junagadh. The deposits of Kachchh and Jamnagar are
well known for their high grade aluminium ore. Bauxite
deposit of Kachchh is one of the easily mineable deposits
in the country by virtue of the low elevation and lack of
any overburden. The bauxite mines of Kachchh are owned
by Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC
report, personal communication) and a gross reserve of
42.41 million tonnes of bauxite is explored in Kachchh
District (GMDC Report: personal communication). In the
been investigated for detailed petrographic characteristics
and ore petrographic interpretation.
GEOLOGY OF THE AREA
In Kachchh, the major bauxite deposit occurs in a
narrow belt of laterite cover, which is situated 20 to 40 km
away from the Gujarat coast with a parallel alignment.
It is extending over a length of 200 km from Ramania in
Mundra taluka in the south-eastern extremity to very
near to Lakhpat in Northern West part of the district. The
Tertiary sequence of western Kachchh region is given
in (Fig.2) (Biswas, 1992).The bauxite deposits of the
study area are associated with the laterites of the Sub-
Nummulitic group of rocks, which form a continuous
horizon separating the underlying Deccan traps from
the overlying Tertiary. In Kachchh area, the laterite is a
porous, pitted rock with red, yellow, brownish grey colors.
Texturally it varies, exhibiting predominantly concretionary
and conglomeretic appearance. The reddish to brown
laterites, which are highly ferruginous, appear to be
somewhat different than the grey bauxitic-laterites.
These laterites are about 3 to 4 m thick and gradually
pass in to the clayey zones varying from 2 to10 m in
thickness.

0016-7622/2012-80-3-351/$ 1.00 © GEOL. SOC. INDIA

352 G. N. JADHAV AND OTHERS
Recent
Mio-Pliocene
Deccan Trap
Cretaceous (Umia and Bhuj)
Jurassic
Eocene
Gajnan series
Laterite belt with bauxite patches
Fig.1. Geological map of Kachchh showing the bauxite mines (five) of GMDC, Gujarat. (modified from the regional geological plan by
GMDC)
FORMATION OF BAUXITE
Before going to the formation of bauxite we should have
an introduction to the formation of laterite because they
represent the principal environment within which the alumina
ore that is bauxite occurs.
Laterite formation: Laterite is defined as the product of
intense weathering in humid, warm, intertropical regions of
the world, and is typically rich in kaolinitic clay as well as
Fe- and Al-oxides/oxy-hydroxides. They also contain
significant concentration of other metals such as Ni, Mn,
and Au, as well as Cu and PGE. Laterite may be subdivided
in two types, one is ferrugineous, which is called Ferricrete
and another is aluminous, which is called alcrete or, bauxite
(Butt et.al. 2000). It forms on the stable continental land
masses, over long periods of time. As with most soil/regolith
profiles the main process involved in lateritization can be
subdivided into those of eluviation, where clays and solutes
are removed from a particular horizon and illuviation, where
material is accumulated, usually at lower level. A generalized
laterite profile is shown in Fig.5, together with an indication
of the pattern of horizontally oriented leaching and the
retention of a variety of different elements in the regolith
zone.
The base of the laterite profile (Fig.5) is characterized
by saprolith zone, which is highly weathered rock, where
the primary texture and the fabric are still preserved. The
fluid involved in this type of weathering is typically of
oxidizing nature and slightly acidic; the lowermost saprock-
zone is characterized by the destabilization of sulfides
and carbonates and the associated leaching of most
chalcophile metals and alkaline earth elements. The lower
saprolite zone is characterized by the destruction of feldspar
and ferromagnesian minerals, with silicon and aluminum
retained in clay minerals (kaolinite and halloysite). Fe
oxides/oxyhydroxides are also formed in this zone among
which some metallic phases are partially retained such as
hematite and goethite.
The mid to upper saprolite zone shows alteration of all
but most resistant minerals as well as destruction of early
formed secondary minerals such as chlorite and smectite.
Only minerals like talc and muscovite tend to survive
intact through this zone. The upper part of regolith profile
that is pedolith zone, is characterized by complete
destruction of rock fabric and leaching of all but most stable
minerals. This zone is dominated compositionally by Al, Si
and ferric-Fe occurring mainly on kaolinite, quartz and
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012
 CHARACTERIZATION OF BAUXITE DEPOSITS FROM KACHCHH AREA, GUJARAT 353

Fig.2. Tertiary stratigraphy of Kachchh (after Biswas, 1992).

hematite /goethite. A ferruginous residual zone is best
developed in the mafic/ultramafic bedrock, whereas kaolinite
is more abundant in felsic lithologies.
This zone is also characterized by accretionary and
dissolution textures such as pisoliths and nodules, or
kaolinite replacement by gibbsite or amorphous silica. In
the upper zone some metals like Au, Cr, V, Sc and Ga tend
to be associated with Fe oxide/ oxy-hydroxides in the
ferruginous residuum, whereas other elements are retained
there as their hosts are particularly stable such as Zr, Hf in
zircon, Cr in chromite, Ti in rutile etc (Robb, 2005).
Ferricretes are characterized by a ferruginous residuum in
the upper zone where Fe2O3 content can be as high as
20%. They tend to form under specific climatic conditions
where rainfall is less than about 1700mm per year but
average temperatures are high (Tardy, 1992). Under higher
rainfall conditions ferricrete dissolution tends to occur and
aluminum hydroxide (gibbsite Al(OH) 3) accumulates.
Formation of Bauxite Ore
The accumulation of an alumina rich residuum, as
opposed to one enriched in iron, in the upper zone of lateritic
profile is a function of high rainfall, but also lower average
temperature (around 22°C rather than 28°C for ferricretes)
and higher humidity. Alumina enrichment is also due to
relatively high Si mobility compared to Al, and probably
reflects near neutral pH conditions like between 4.5 and 9
(Fig.3). This results in differential dissolution of minerals

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012

354 G. N. JADHAV AND OTHERS
Fig.3. (A) Solubility of Si and Al as a function of pH (after Raiswell
et al. 1980). (b) Solubility of amorphous silica at 25° C
(after Bland and Rolls, 1998).
such as feldspar and kaolinite, where Si is leached in
preference to Al giving a gibbsite like residue. This process
can be shown schematically as - Feldspar- (loss of Si) →
Kaolinite- (loss of Si) → Gibbsite (Al(OH) 3).
Seasonal climatic variation is also important for the
formation of bauxite because alternate dry and wet spells
makes fluctuation of groundwater levels and, hence
dissolution of mass and transfer of the same. This fluctuation
gives the variation in bauxite profiles as well as
transformation from hydrated gibbsite to dehydrated form
like boehmite and diaspore (α−AlO(OH) ). It is also found
that in humid, equatorial laterite zones, hydrated mineral
that is gibbsite and goethite are abundant, whereas in
seasonally contrasted climates the ores are relatively
hydrated and boehmite-hematite assemblage form (Tardy,
1992).
In the laterite, both Al and Fe are present in almost
equal concentration along with Si, but high quality bauxite
requires both Fe and Si to be removed but not alumina.
Hence segregation of Al and Fe is a necessary process
in bauxite formation because ferruginous mineral tend to
contaminate the ore. In this context the interplay of Eh and
pH is very important to determine the quality of the ore.
This can be explained by Norton’s model (Norton, 1973)
which is shown in the Fig.4. In action of Eh and pH the
Si is leached by hydrolysis, which can be represented by
the equation
Si4+ + 4H2O ↔ H2SiO4 + 4H+
Si is increasingly soluble at higher pH, whereas Al is
most soluble either at very low or at high pH (Fig.4). Fe is
most mobile as ferrous iron at low Eh and pH. In lateritic
environment where concentration of both Fe and Al
Fig.4. Eh-pH diagram showing conditions relevant to the formation
of laterites and bauxite ore. The solubility contours are in
Mol-1 and assume equilibrium of the solution with gibbsite
and hematite/goethite (after Norton, 1973)
occur, it is rather special condition where these two metals
are segregated, that gives the condition of high quality
bauxite formation. In the Fig.4 there is an iso-solubility
curve, where Al and Fe are equally soluble. Above this curve
the Al mineral such as gibbsite is more soluble and the Al is
preferentially leached than below the curve where Fe mineral
such as goethite and hematite are more soluble and Fe is
preferentially leached. Using these limitations several
situations can be possible, which are relevant to bauxite
formation. In the same figure (Fig.4) the field-1 and 2 is
characterized by leaching of both Fe and Al. So, there will
be no laterite formation. Si enriched podzol soil is more
likely to form in this condition. In the same figure (Fig.4)
field-3 and 4 are characterized by restricted solubility of
both Fe and Al. Hence, laterite and bauxite both can form
only if the bedrock composition itself has high iron and
aluminum content. In the field-3 (Fig.4) bauxites are unlikely
to form because of the preferential leaching of Al from the
soil, even if the right climatic condition and the protracted
time period are given. Only high Fe laterite will form in this
condition. As the groundwater solutions in the field-5
(Fig.4) will contain more Fe than Al, laterite will form in
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012
 CHARACTERIZATION OF BAUXITE DEPOSITS FROM KACHCHH AREA, GUJARAT
this field. The optimum condition of the bauxite formation
lies in field-6 (Fig.4) as here Fe will be leached preferentially
by groundwater solutions. In this field Al hydrolysates are
stable especially between pH 5 to 7, and gibbsite will
accumulate. Thus this model shows the initial as well as the
subsequent Eh and pH condition along with the initial rock
composition and the climatic conditions are equally
important for the formation of the bauxite ore. So, in short,
three processes can be put forward for the formation of
bauxite, (a) weathering and leaching in-situ of bedrock to
produce alumina and iron rich residues; (b) enrichment of
sediments of weathered rocks in aluminum by ground-
water leaching; and (c) erosion and redeposition of bauxitic
material.
METHODOLOGY
The samples of bauxite, associated clay and the host rock
collected from six working mines namely Roha-Kotda,
Ratadia, Goniassar, Naredi, Daban and Nandra from
study area were studied using various analytical techniques.
Thin sections of these samples were prepared for
petrographic and textural studies. Ore petrographic studies
were carried out using doubly polished thin sections
(0.3 mm) and polished thick sections (around10 mm) of
each sample. A comprehensive and quantitative mineralogy
of these bauxites have been made by means of X-ray
Diffraction Studies (Fig.6).
Fig.5. (A) Generalized laterite regolith profile showing the different horizons and the terminology used in the description. (B) Generalized
pattern of element mobility in lateritic regolith (after Butt et al. 2000).
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012
355
BAUXITE PETROGRAPHY
Microscopic studies of the samples collected from the
field were carried out to study their optical properties both
under transmitted and reflected light. Thin sections of these
samples having thickness about 0.3 mm were prepared to
study the samples under transmitted light. The samples were
cut and polished to study their properties under reflected
light (ore petrography) (Ineson, 1989).
Under transmitted light, most of the bauxitic samples
show oolitic and/or pisolitic textures. In general, the ore
petrographic observation reveals the presence of two main
metallic phases, hematite and goethite having size dimension
of approximately 10-50 microns which are disseminated
throughout the oolitic and/or pisolitic structured bauxites.
Big altered oolitic grains are surrounded by small grains.
Larger oolites are observed in many samples and are
having dimension of approximately 500 microns. The
detailed descriptions of these bauxitic and /or metallic
minerals in different mines are given below.
Goniassar Mine (GNSR / GN)
The samples from Goniassar mine are studied under
both transmitted and reflected light. The petrgraphic
observation shows typical oolitic and pisolitc texture, where
the oolites are very large in size. Traces of iron oxides are
seen associated with bauxites, and at places replacement
texture is seen where bauxitic minerals are being replaced
356 G. N. JADHAV AND OTHERS
by iron oxides, goethite (light grey) and hematite (white)
along the irregular fractures. It has been observed that, the
oolitc grains are mostly having very less metallic minerals
inside but their concentration is more in the matrix.
Roha-Kotda Mine (RK / RKD)
The Roha-Kotda mine bauxite is characterized by the
presence of big oolite/oolith of bauxitic minerals. The iron
oxides, hematite and iron hydroxide e.g. goethite are
disseminated through out the samples. Concentric zone of
oolite contains inclusion of hematite. Oolitic and pisolitic
textures of gibbsite are common which occur in the matrix
of mainly clay minerals.
Naredi Mine (NRD / NNDR)
The Naredi mine samples preserve well developed oolitic
texture with zoning of bauxitic minerals in the matrix of
gibbsite and ferruginous clay. Some of these samples
preserve the basaltic texture of their parent rock with the
presence of less altered plagioclase feldspar grains. At
places, the altered plagioclases are disseminated both within
the oolite and also in the matrix. The major minerals
observed under reflected light are, goethite, hematite and
anatase.
Daban Mine (DBN)
In Daban mine, though the limestone samples are present
in the working mines, bauxite sample give least evidence of
a limestone parent rock for the genesis of this bauxite. The
Fig.6. Comparative account of XRD charts of different bauxite samples collected from the study area where (i) Minerals: G = Gibbsite,
Go = Goethite, A - Anatase, K = Kaolinite, H = Hematite, C = Calcite, and (ii) Bauxite Mine Localities: DBN = Daban, GNSR =
Goniasar, RD = Ratadia, RKD = Roha Kotda and NNDR = Naredi.
oolitic gibbsite grains are surrounded by jasperoid (reddish
brown), Fe-oxide in thin sections.
Ratadia Mine (RD / RT)
The clay mineral content of Ratadia mine is more as
compared with the other mines. The samples are
characterized by irregular mesh like, complex growth of tiny
vein-lets of iron oxide material (whitish) in the groundmass
of lateritic bauxite. Oolites and isolates of bauxite are
common in the clayey matrix. A few opaque minerals are
disseminated in the matrix as well as in the oolites.
QUANTITATIVE MINERAL ANALYSIS BY XRD
A precise estimate of bauxite mineralogy is essential for
characterizing the bauxite deposits as well as establishing
its suitability for alumina and non-metallurgical uses. X-
Ray Diffraction (XRD) is widely accepted as the standard
analytical tool for the mineralogical characterization of any
crystalline solid. In the present work, XRD analysis (Fig.6)
has been carried out to collect detailed information on the
mineralogical composition of different bauxite, associated
clay and host rock samples. Generally chemical variations
in lateritization processes are manifested by variations
in constituent bauxite minerals. Fine crystalline nature
and its intense weathering unfortunately did not allow
identifying properly the modal composition of the rocks
through petrographic investigation. Therefore, the mineral
assemblages were principally identified by the Reitveld
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012
 CHARACTERIZATION OF BAUXITE DEPOSITS FROM KACHCHH AREA, GUJARAT
powder X-ray diffraction method. (XRD pattern of
bauxite were analyzed using Mineral Quantification
Reitveld Analysis Software). The XRD analysis (Fig.6)
reveals that, in all the mines the gibbsite is the major
bauxitic mineral with minor concentration of boehmite and
anatase (TiO2). Mine-wise description of XRD results are
given in (Fig.6).
Goniassar Mine (GNSR / GN)
The samples from Goniassar mine are showing varying
composition of bauxitic minerals, where their contribution
varies in a range from 46.8 wt% (gibbsite+boehmite) in GN-
7 to 59.5 wt% in GN-6 bauxite. The samples with low
concentration of bauxitic minerals are characterized by
high Fe-mineral concentrations and vice versa. Fe-mineral
concentration varies from 1.0 wt % in GN-6 to 33.7 wt %
(hematite+ goethite) in GN-7. Small amount of calcite is
also reported from both samples.
Roha-Kotda Mine (RK / RKD)
In the sample RK-2 the bauxite is only represented by
gibbsite whereas in sample RK-3 gibbsite is associated with
small amount of boehmite and diaspore. Hematite and
goethite both are present in RK-2 but in RK-3 only hematite
is present.
Naredi Mine (NRD / NNDR)
In both the samples of Naredi mine, the bauxite is
represented by gibbsite only and the highest gibbsite
concentration (NRD-11) is associated with Lowest Fe-
mineral concentration and vice versa. Kaolin concentration
is almost similar in both the samples.
Daban Mine (DBN)
In both the samples from Daban mine the bauxitic
mineral is represented by gibbsite only. The concentration
of gibbsite varies from 92.8 wt% in DBN-8 to 69.7wt% in
DBN-7 and associated Fe- minerals are also drastically
change from 1.0wt% in DBN-8 to 24.1wt% (hematite
+goethite) in DBN-7.
Ratadia Mine (RD/RT)
In RT-5 sample the lower wt % of gibbsite (49.8wt%) is
associated with high kaolin (31.0wt%) and considerable
amount of calcite (6.9wt%). The presence of alunite or
alumstone (KAl3 (SO4)2 (OH)6) is one major observation in
this bauxite samples. The detection of alunite gives the
possibility of presence of some sulfur source nearby this
bauxite.
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012
357
Quantitative Analysis by XRF
The use of radioisotope XRF for the analysis of major
and minor elements in bauxite material has been found to
be accurate and precise. The technique and the
instrumentation have been found to be reliable. In terms of
bauxite exploration this technique is therefore highly
recommended, as it requires little sample preparation and
the added advantage of the speed of processing results when
compared to that of wet chemical methods. Each sample
was ground into powder using mortar and pestle and
screened until all material passed through the screen of mesh
aperture 200 mm (0.074 mm or 74 microns). The samples
were oven dried at 105°C until a constant weight is obtained
for each sample. The sample is then pressed into a pellet of
25mm diameter by mixing 0.5 g of the powdered sample
with cellulose powder in a 1:2 weight ratio using
SPEDAC hydraulic press at a pressure of 10 tons. The
cellulose serves dual purposes as a binder and also reduces
absorption of the target material. All the samples were
analyzed (at XRF lab in SAIF,IITB) with respect to the
international standard of Darling Range Bauxite -206
B600.Alumina contents of most samples are of commercially
recommended level and good enough for aluminum
production. Iron content showing a wide range 0.51wt% in
Daban samples to 24.49wt% in Goniassar bauxite samples.
TiO2 content is almost consistent for all the samples
investigated from different mines, ranging from 1.72wt%
to 8.14%. So, during beneficiation of bauxite, titanium may
be important byproduct. Silica content is low in all mines
but it is showing high percentage in GN-6 and RT-5. This
may be because of high clay content in the samples of those
two mines. All the other oxides are very low in percentage
except CaO in Goniasar and Ratadia Mine (4.09wt%
and 4.6wt% respectively) (Table 1).
Quantitative Analysis by ICP
Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission
Spectrometry (ICP-AES) is now an established technique
for elemental analysis and is being used for the determination
of trace elements and REEs in representative samples of
various bauxites collected from the study area. In the present
study also the technique has been used to find out the
concentration of the trace and associated rare earth elements.
The sample solutions were analyzed for the different trace
elements and REE, which were given in the Table 2 with
their observed concentration in ppm.
DISCUSSION AND PROBABLE GENESIS OF BAUXITE
Kachchh is the pre-cratonic rift basin in the western
358 G. N. JADHAV AND OTHERS

Table 1. Major and minor oxide composition of bauxite samples analyzed by XRF (%)
Analyte GN-6 GN-7 RK-2 RK-3 NRD-2 NRD-11 DBN-7 DBN-8 RT-5 RT-7
Al2O3 52.98 48.12 58.12 58.65 49.15 58.83 49.29 63.51 50.72 50.9
Fe2O3 3.29 24.49 3.42 2.82 17.92 1.19 21.94 0.51 3.84 15.48
SiO2 12.48 1.7 3.09 2.94 1.78 1.43 1.72 1.76 10.94 2.73
TiO2 3.72 3.9 5.68 8.14 5.28 7.58 1.72 3.75 3.59 3.25
ZrO2 0.08 0.15 0.15 0.24 0.15 0.2 0.05 0.1 0.18 0.27
V2O5 0.12 0.18 0.16 0.19 0.18 0.19 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.14
Cr2O3 0.04 0.08 0.09 0.05 0.04 0.07 0.04 0.08 0.13 0.1
CaO 4.09 0.14 0.54 0.14 0.07 0.95 0.37 0.09 4.6 0.06
MgO 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.23 0.01 0.01 0.03
K2O 0.02 0.05 0.06 0.09 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.04 0.38 0.5
Na2O 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.01
SO3 0.14 0.13 0.09 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.1 0.71 0.01
LOI 22.81 20.98 28.55 26.67 25.25 29.46 24.46 29.98 23.72 28.94
Sum 99.79 99.96 99.97 99.96 99.97 99.97 99.97 100.06 98.89 100.42
Bauxite mine localities: DBN = Daban, GN = Goniasar, RT = Ratadia, RK = Roha Kotda, NRD = Naredi

Table 2. Concentration of trace elements in bauxite samples analyzed by ICP (ppm)

Trace GN-6 GN-7 RK-2 RK-3 NRD-2 NRD-11 DBN-7 DBN-8 RT-5 RT-7
Elements
Ce 240.17 57.37 192.08 64.33 95.38 109.88 23.77 61.28 97.92 61.65
La 114.93 23.16 97.41 36.38 46.79 64.42 7.76 30.09 47.62 29.53
Th 29.94 114.52 27.40 31.13 76.20 26.53 88.06 22.69 28.45 70.04
Zn 35.68 39.17 38.52 100.39 47.69 81.10 58.53 26.22 91.21 87.14
Ni 120.30 2.96 13.07 11.58 6.38 8.05 3.23 5.97 54.05 31.27
U 18.05 25.42 21.84 22.73 28.41 22.24 20.84 17.06 9.68 26.22
Y 17.13 6.07 12.07 15.54 8.60 11.45 0.37 7.09 9.62 17.53
Ba 74.36 51.23 38.36 57.76 71.48 76.90 33.45 36.41 66.90 43.36
Co 19.67 28.70 35.47 57.24 32.73 37.89 12.50 18.78 21.44 50.06
Cr 258.30 469.63 556.26 442.7 207.38 281.22 235.23 445.54 691.86 786.73
Ga 38.35 69.78 56.58 72.52 72.09 77.56 43.02 53.56 49.43 69.78
Pb 86.47 55.85 82.31 61.86 55.76 75.67 37.17 43.37 49.12 46.47
Sr 321.70 129.70 264.15 199.26 95.43 247.54 216.03 107.20 667.21 187.60

margin of India, which has comprised of sediments ranging
from middle Jurassic to Recent (Biswas, 1971). Basaltic
flows were erupted during the Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene
time. These represent the period of non-deposition in the
stratigraphic column. According to Calvo et al. (1999), the
basalt layers of Kachchh are inclined from NE to SW and
has experienced several phases of subsidence followed by
marine transgression and regression, which has lead to the
formation of a complete tertiary sequences in the western
part of the Kachchh region. In general bauxite is found above
the Deccan trap basalt but bauxite deposits are also reported
above Middle Eocene Shale in Ratadia river section
(Calvo et al. 1999). Tertiary rocks are exposed mainly in
the narrow costal plains of Kachchh mainland and in
the peripheral plain of other highlands (Fig.1). Among the
five mines visited for the present study three of them namely-
Daban, Goniassar and Roha-Kotda mines are situated at the
boundary between the upland and coastal plain. Ratadia
mine is falling in the costal zone and Naredi mine is little
inside the upland area. All the bauxite samples are studied
systematically with respect to petrography, ore-petrography
and geochemistry. As bauxite is a weathering product of
the parent rock, many of the fine size ore minerals are
difficult to identify from the petrography under reflected as
well as transmitted light. Under reflected light almost
all the minerals in the thin sections show grey colour of
different shades. Simultaneous study of the same sample
and same feature under transmitted light and/or reflected
light and/or under both lights, helped to identify them. Most
of the bauxitic and/or lateritic bauxite samples showed
oolitic and/or pisolitic textures under transmitted light as
well as in reflected light (Plate 1A and 1B). This texture
was found from the bauxite samples of all the mines. In
general, the ore petrographic observations revealed the
presence of two main metallic phases such as, hematite
(Fe2O3) and goethite (FeO,OH) having size dimension

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012

 CHARACTERIZATION OF BAUXITE DEPOSITS FROM KACHCHH AREA, GUJARAT 359

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

Plate-1A Photomicrographs of bauxite ores from Kachchh. 1 - Thin section view under reflected light showing a big oolite of bauxitic(light
grey) material contains large, almost euhedral goethite (darker grey) crystal. Zoning is also visible at the boundary of the oolite which is
darker grey in colour. Black spots within as well as outside the oolite are cavities (GN). 2 - Thin section view under reflected light. Here
also a perfect zoned pisolite containing a euhedral goethite within it and some small goethites are also disseminated within and out side
the pisolite (GN). 3 - This thin section view under transmitted light is showing the typical oolitic and pisolitic and concentric zoning
texture of bauxite (GN). 4 - This thin section under reflected light is showing the big oolites and pisolites, which are embedded in a
matrix also found made up of small oolites and pisolites, specks of goethite, hematite and other opaque minerals (GN). 5 - Polished
section view under reflected light is showing the interstitial spaces between bauxitic ooids filled with hematite (white). Goethite (dark
grey) is disseminated with in this hematite as well as with in oolites (GN). 6 - This is the same photo of 5 with high magnification (10X)
the pattern of the diffused boundary is better visible ferruginous material is also visible at the boundary (GN). 7 - In this polished section
two oolites are joined together to form a big oolite (RK). 8 - This is showing typical oolitic texture with goethitic cement in the pore
spaces. Tiny Hematites are also disseminated within the oolites (RK). 9 - These ( 8 and 9) are thin section photomicrographs under
transmitted plane polarized light and cross polarized light respectively. Both he photographs are showing the several oolites which are
perfectly zoned. The big oolite contains relict part of the basalt (highly altered in to clay) at the center surrounded by the bauxitic
material (Naredi).

of approximately 10 to 50 microns, which are disseminated
throughout the oolitic and/or pisolitic structured bauxite
sections (thick/thin) and present as cementing material as
well. Traces of iron oxides were seen to be associated with
bauxites. At places replacement textures were seen, where
bauxitic minerals were being replaced by goethite (light
grey) and hematite (white) along the cavities or vesicles of
irregular nature. Some of these samples e.g. samples from
Goniassar, Naredi and Daban, preserved the basaltic texture
with the presence of relict and less weathered plagioclase
feldspar laths. This was the strong evidence of basalt being
as their parent rock. XRD analyses (Fig.6) of the same
samples revealed that, in all the mines the gibbsite was the
major bauxitic mineral with very minor concentration of
boehmite and/or diaspore. Quartz was absent in most of the
mines however, the minor quantity presence of anatase
(TiO2) has been reported from all the mines. Considerable
amount of Calcite has been reported from Ratadia and
Goniassar mines, which has indicated that the presence of
limestone as associated and/or parent rock. The detection

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012

360 G. N. JADHAV AND OTHERS

1 2 3

4 5 6

250µm

7 8 9

Plate 1B. Photomicrographs of bauxite ores from Kachchh. 1 - In a few places of the sample the basaltic intergranular texture is well
preserved. (Naredi). 2 - In this, the plagioclase is seen to be preserved. Plagioclase is altered but the twin lamellae are still identifiable.
(Daban). 3 - The big grain in this photomicrograph is calcite (Daban). 4 and 5 - The photographs are showing the gibbsitic-oolite with
zoning in a ferruginous clay matrix. The big oolite is containing several micro-oolites and micro-pisolites within it. (Daban). 6 - Thin
section under plane polarized light showing bauxite oolites, laths, grains and disseminated goethite (Ratadia). 7 and 8 - These two
photomicrographs are showing perfectly zoned oolites. In 7, the oolites have iron rich outer zone, whereas in the 8 the oolite is having
gibbsitic (pinkish grey) central part and relatively lighter grey outer part. (Ratadia) 9 - This photo shows the evidence of alteration due
to solution activity along the grain boundary (Ratadia).

of alunite or alumstone (KAl3 (SO4)2 (OH)6) in one sample
(RT-5) of Ratadia mine gives the possibility of presence of
some sulfur source nearby this bauxite.
The XRF analysis of the samples analyzed revealed that
alumina contents of most of the samples were of
commercially recommended level and good enough for
aluminum production. Iron content showing a wide range,
starting from 0.51 wt% in Daban samples to high order of
24.49 wt% in Goniassar bauxite samples. The Al2O3 and
Fe2O3 concentrations are found to have an inverse relation
(Table 1). Now these observations of the present study can
be combined with the generalized lateritic—bauxite profile
to understand the genesis of the bauxite deposits of the
present study area. Figure 7 represents the bauxite profile
made by Calvo et.al. (1999) for the Kachchh bauxite
generated from basalt. The observations made from the
present study match well with this profile.
In the present study the absence of smectite and presence
of gibbsite as dominant Al mineral with minor concentration
of kaolinite suggests that the samples were taken from the
horizon between Transition zone of Kaolinitic Saprolite and
Ferricrete (Fig.7). The diagenetic transformation in saprolite
transition zone was expressed by the replacement texture
and by occasional infilling of pores spaces by kaolinite and
hematite, and/ or by goethite. Iron frequently posses a higher
mobility than aluminum, which can lead to pure yellow and
whitish bauxite in the Alucrete zone. This bauxite horizon
can be capped or replaced laterally by lenses or horizon
rich in iron and this is evidenced by the spectacular replace-
ment texture photographs from Ratadia mine (Plate 1B).

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 CHARACTERIZATION OF BAUXITE DEPOSITS FROM KACHCHH AREA, GUJARAT
Fig.7. Generalized profile of laterite-bauxite formed above Deccan Trap basalt in Kachchh (modified after Calvo et al. 1999).
The main minerals were gibbsite often with kaolinite,
hematite and subordinate goethite. The diagenetic
transformation in the alucrete was characterized by the
texture changing from relict to deformed, gel-like, vesicular,
fluidal, brecciated texture, whereas in single grain, nodular
and pisolitic texture. The diagenetic changes in the texture
were accompanied by the changes in mineralogy, which must
have caused the separation of Si, Al and Fe accompanied
by the crystallization of coarse grained gibbsite. Along
with all these observations the most important feature
observed was the relict textures of basalt from Goniassar,
Naredi and Daban mines, which also belong to this zone
indicating the direct evidence of basaltic parent rock. In
the Goniassar and Naredi this basaltic texture was found
to be preserved within a pisolite (Ref. Plate 1B-1). The
transformation of basalt into saprolite, ferralite and bauxite
was the weathering process which appeared to be product
of complete neomineralization via solution. All elements
pass into solution, where the sequence and the rate of their
precipitation depends on environmental factors such as
chemistry of primary and secondary mineral phases or the
concentration of elements in aqueous solution and the
intensity and rate of drainage. The lateral mineralogical
evolution of the Box horizon (Fig.7) was characterized by a
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012
361
transition from a facies rich in alumina into a facies rich in
iron. The dominant iron mineral was hematite with the traces
of goethite. According to Calvo et al. (1999), during the
lateral textural evolution the massive hard bauxite- rich in
iron, changed in the seaward direction into yellow to white
bauxite- relatively poor in iron with a bolder like structure.
Similarly in the present study, the bauxite in the Ratadia
mine was harder and red in colour (lateritic-bauxite) due to
iron concentration in comparison to the white and pinkish-
white bauxite in the Roha-kotda mine. Indurated bauxite
concretions or nodules were embedded in a soft gibbsitic
matrix. Calvo et al. (1999), also pointed out that in near
costal areas with the subsiding tendency during bauxitisation
a special pisolitic and boehmite-diaspore facies occur.
Accordingly in the present study, the bauxite from Goniassar
and Roha-Kotda mine which were in coastal area revealed
the presence of both boehmite and diaspore in the XRD
study (Fig.6). In his opinion the neclui of pisoliths composed
of gibbsite or kaolinite also indicated well preserved relict
texture of basalt. Because the pisolitic gibbsite- boehmite
and diaspore facies have developed under ground water
table, in depressions, indicating hydromorphic low pH and
low Eh condition. In this condition Fe minerals were more
soluble than Al (Fig.4). So, the pisoliths composed of
362 G. N. JADHAV AND OTHERS
gibbsite and kaolinite were formed from the decomposition
of plagioclase feldspars from the basalt and Fe from the
mafic minerals is selectively leached being more soluble.
The environment was rich in humic acid and sulfur evidenced
by the presence of alunite. Roha-kotda mine was situated
very close to Goniassar mine and like other mines it was
also laying above Deccan Trap basalt. Texturally and
minerologically it was almost similar with the Goniassar
mine. So, considering these factors the genesis of the Roha-
kotda mine can be considered same as Goniassar
mine.Ratadia mine was situated far away from the Goniassar,
Daban and Naredi mines. As stated earlier that bauxite
deposits were reported in two places in the startigraphic
column; one was the above the late Cretaceous to Paleocene
Trap Basalt and another was above Middle Eocene Shale in
Ratadia river section. This sample may be of secondary in
origin i.e. formation of bauxite from the shale in marine
environment. The presence of associated limestone in the
XRD analysis in the Ratadia mine sample might have favored
the origin from shale in marine environment. But the
limestone of same concentration has also been reported
from the Goniassar mine. If the bauxite of Ratadia mine
has formed in marine environment, according to
Balasubramaniam and Sable, (1976), Balasubramaniam and
Namdas, (1978), Balasubramaniam, (1987) it should have
high concentration of U. But from the ICP analysis of present
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Acknowledgements: PS(M) is thankful to the Mine
managers of all the bauxite mines in the study area for
helping her to carryout geological field work and to collect
the representative samples. She is pleased to thank Mr. P.
Mathur, and several other officers from GMDC, who have
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PS(M) and GNJ are thankful to the GMRDS, Gandhinagar
for the partial financial support for the present research work.
PS(M) and GNJ are also thankful to Mr Mahesh Kulkarni
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manuscript and helping us to improve it further. Authors
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PS(M) to carryout quantitative analysis of several bauxite
samples of study area.
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JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.80, SEPT. 2012