I- Panoramic view of Samchampi-Samteran Complex!

Singhachen
hill range at the back. View from Ganjang Village.

2- Panoramic view of the Complex: View from the hill near

Sam teran.
 I. INTRODUCTION

I.i Objective: The o ccurrence of mafic alkaline silicate and

their felsic counterparts associated with carbonatites in an

uncommon but distinctive tectonic settings, such as hot spot,

rifting or block faulting, crustal stability, moderate

folding and oceanic islands are well known ( Hyndman, 1985).

Because of these diverse association, the study of these

rocks are always fascinating.

The present work is an attempt to evaluate the

magmatic history of the alkaline- c arbonatite complex of

Samchampi- Samteran area, Karbi Anglong district of Assam.

Field observations and petrographic studies of the different

rock types would reveal the petrogenetic history of the rocks

and different phases of intrusions. This would be aided by

the petrochemical studies of the rocks to evaluate the mode

of emplacement of the alkaline- carbonatite complex. These

studies would also help to some extent to suggest the nature

of the parent magma and their s uccessive fractionation and

liquid immiscibility in space and time.

The present research work is the first of its kind in

the area under investigation.

1.2. Location and Accessibility:

S a m c h a m p i _ Samteran alkaline - c a r b o natite complex is

located in a hilly and dissected terrain of Diphu Sub

Division of Karbi Anglong District of Assam. It is bounded

o o o
by latitude 26 l O ’OO" - 26 1 2 ’30" N and Longitude 9,3 2 3 ’00"
 2
o
93 25 * 0 0 " E. The area is 38 km NNE of Longnit, a prom in en t

village of Diphu Sub-Division on National High way No 36.(

Figl). Longnit is 2 6 km N N W of Diphu, the district h e a d ­

quarters of Karbi Anglong District, Assam.

The alkaline complex is approachable from Longnit by

a fair weather jeepable road, in the dry season i.e. between

December and April. However, in the rainy season the atea can

be approached from Longnit by trekking.

There are number of small villages located within the

complex. These villages are connected with each other by foot

paths. Samteran is located in the eastern periphery. while

Samchampi is in the northern periphery of the area.

1.3. Climate and Vegetation

The area experiences subtropical humid climate- with

monsoon spreads from April end to September. Annual rainfall

ranges between 80cm and 100cm ( GSI, U n p u b lished reports)

The winter season starts from November and extends up to

o c
March with minimum temperature vary between 4 C and lOf. fhe

coldest days experienced in December and January. The surnmet

is in between end of March and till beginning of the first

o
pre- monsoonal rain, when the temperature shoots up tc 35

with occasional strong wind blows in the area. The humidity

reaches maximum of 98% in June-July. The favourable time for

field work is from D e c e m b e r to March.

The surroundings of the study area is covered with

 LINEAMENT MAP OF THE SAMCHAMPI SAMTERAN COM PLEX.
m nn n >mnu

F ig-1.2
 3

dense mixed jungle mainly bamboo, with occasional large

trees. Due to jhoom or shifting cultivation in the ai ea by

the different ethnic tribes, the vegetation cover at places

became sparse. U n d e rgrowths and cane forests are s ee n along

the stream banks. Shrubs and thorny bushes are quite c om m o n

in the left out zones of the jhoom or shifting c u l t i v a t i o n .

1 .4. G e o m o r p h o l o q y .

The different landforms of the North Eastern States

have been classified on the basis of th e processes

responsible for sculpturing of t he l a nd surfaces. The

landforms identified are denudational landforms, structural

landforms and depositional landforms ( C h a k r a b o r t y , et al.

1987). The denudational landforms are further c l a s s i f i e d into

highly dissected hills, moderately dissected plateau and

inselbergs. While the structural landforms into n a r r o w ri dg e

and valley province, broad ridge and valley p r o v in ce ,

structural plateau plain and dissected structural p lat ea u.

Similarly the depositional landforms have also been

classified into several subdivisions.

The study area forms a part of Jamuna S u b - b a s i n of the

Kopili basin, is characterised by the moderately dissected

denudational hills and a distinct circular depression with

high rim around it have been identified. T h is negative

topography outlined the alkaline-carbonatite r o mp lev

surrounded by relatively higher hills a n d ranges of both

dissected hill and d issected plateau type. The ci rc ul ar

 4

outline of the complex is well defined from LANDSAT imagery (

Figj,2) and aerial photographs. The relatively higher hills of

the surrounding area attain maximum height of 876m from

m.s.l. and within the complex the maximum height attained

being 576m, while the general ground level is 500m. The

surrounding hills and ridges are represented by

granitoid gneisses of Precambrian age. The dissection of

these areas are mainly due to lineament contro l l e d drainage

system. ( op.cit. 1987).

The alkaline - carbonatite complex is represented by

subparallel moderately steep dissected ridges separated by

narrow valleys trending almost in ENE-WSW directions. The

dissections of the ridges are mostly c ontrolled by distinct

sets of joints while the valleys are found to be aligned with

some prominent regional lineaments ( FigLJ).

The drainage pattern of the area is annular which is

represented by two prominent rivers namely Langbrik in the

northern and eastern periphery and Thedong in the s o uth­

west and southern periphery. These two rivers finally got

confluenced about 2 km south of the complex.

Langbrik river originates from Singhason hill( 1387m)

flows south-south easterly and then takes a easterly bend

over a distance of about 3km from Samchampi. The southern

flow of of the river starts at about 1km northwest of

Samteran Village flows for over 3 km and finally swings to

southwesterly direction and merged into Longnit river.

. DRAINAGE MAP OF SAMCHAMPI-SAMTERAN COMPLEX

F i g . - 1-4.
 5

Similarly , T h e d o n g ri v e r o r i g i n a t e s f r o m the d i s s e c t e d h i l l s

to the wes t of the c o m p l e x . It flows along the western

boundary of the c o m p l e x a n d g r a d u a l l y t a k e s a southeasterly

flo w nea r T h u l b u n g v i l l a g e . T he d r a i n a g e w i t h i n the st u d y

are a c o n s i s t s p r i m a r i l y of m i n o r f e e d i n g tributaries, have

exhibited roughly radial pattern. T he e n t i r e d r a i n a g e p a t t e r n

w i t h i n t he s t u d y a r e a a r e t e c t o n i c a l l y c o n t r o l l e d . The s w i n g s

of the r i v e r s a r e m a i n l y d ue to lineament passing through

the are a in E N E - W S W , NW-SE, N-S, and N E - S W directions. The

drainage map( Figf.ti) i n d i c a t e s t he s t r e a m frequency to be

2
8.7/Km .

It h a s b e e n o b s e r v e d that the hi l l ridges within the

complex are m a d e up of f e n i t e s , magnetite rocks a nd chert

breccia w h i l e the m a f i c s u i t e s a n d c a r b o n a t i t e s occupy the

valley portion. Although, th i s is not the thumb rule for

occurrence of the rock types, yet t he least resistant rocks

are a l s o n o t i c e d in t h e h i g h e r r i d g e s also.

1.5 Previous work

S m i t h , 1898 gave- fi r s t g e o l o g i c a l information about

Mikir Hills ( now Karbi Anglong District) for t h e o c c u r r e n c e s

of gneisses, t r a p rock, shales and sandstones. Vinayak Rao

15.1.4 c a r r i e d out limestone investigation in s o m e p a t s of the

dis t r i c t . On the r e p o r t e d o c c u r r e n c e s of coal and limestone

at M e y o n g d i s a , Jamuna valley and Koilajan colliery, Sengupta

tt a.l... 1943, Munshi. et al . 1959 investigated the areas,

respectively. In t h e e a r l y s i x t i e s P o w d e and Banerjee, 1961

 6

carried out geological mapping to the southwest of

Nagaon. Duara and Debadhikari 1964-65 mapped the southern

part of the district and grouped the m e t a s edimentary rock

formations into Shillong Series. Bhattacharya and Barman,

1966 also carried out systematic mapping about 20 km south

of the Samchampi - Samteran alkaline- c arbonatite complex, at

Jamuna valley , Khunbaman and Longlai parbat areas. Nambiar

and Mukhopadhyay, 1973-74; Dutta, Muralidharan, 1974- 7 5 ;

tUlJM.LIjdhSllilll » Qesh R a j . 1975-76; carried out systematic

mapping in different parts of the Karbi Anglong district,

close to the alkaline- carbonatite complex. Pancholi, Oesh

R_aj. and Chandrashekha r . .1979 , first reported the

carbonatites and alkaline rocks around Samchampi area.

Mural i.dharan and P e sh Raj. 1976-77 carried out detailed

investigation on the occurrence of u ltrabasic rocks in

Barpung areas, which is about 20 km NE of Samchampi- Samteran

complex.

The early workers as stated above included the rocks

of Karbi Hill massif into Archaean gneissic Complex overlain

by Shillong Group of rocks. The Tertiary self sediments are

noticed along the southern fringe of the massif.

Pyt.ta. et a l .,.. 198.8 gave a comprehensive idea about the

Samchampi alkaline complex. They c lassified the rocks besides

the alkaline rocks into Precambrian gneissic complex,

represented by older supracrustals, consisting of

sillimanite- quartz- schist, quartzite and amphibolite. These

 7

supracrustals overlain unconformably by q u a r tzofeldspathic

granitoid gneisses ( partly migmatitic), granitoids. The

rocks later intruded by mafic and granite intrusives. The

Precambrian gneissic complex later intruded by carbonatite-

alkaline rocks and a s signed an age of Cretaceous period.

The alkali- c arbonatite complex is represented by alkali

feldspar syenite, maf i c - u l t r a m af i c rocks, carbonatites,

basalt, pyroclastics and f e l d s p a r - b i o ti te-chert/quartz veins.

Tertiary self sediments occur as outlier in the eastern part

v

of the complex. The nearest Tertiary outcrop belongs to

Jaintia Group is about 8km east of Samteran village. It was

suggested that mafic ultramafic alkaline complex probably

forms a part of ring dyke- cone sheet. The trends of the

mafics and carbonatites vary from N-S to E-W. The joints

trend vary from N-S to E-W. Evidence of minor shearing of the

rocks also n o ticed at places in N-S and E-W directions.

C h attopadh v av and Bora, 1990 mapped the alkaline

complex of Samchampi on 1:5,000 scale and geochemical

sampling in 500m grid. They classified the the alkaline rocks

into syenites, alkali pyroxenite, ultramafics( ijolite-

melteigite), carbonatite, apatite- hemati t e - m a g ne t i t e rock

and cherty rock e mplaced into the granitic host rock. The

complex is encircled by zone of fenitization. Carbonatites

laterally grades into mafic-u l t r a m af i c rocks, and

occasionally contain partly digested xenoliths of syenites

and m a f i c-ultramafic rocks. The central part of the complex

is occupied by apatite bearing m a g netite-hematite rock. The

 8

sovites and kasenites are the varieties of carbonatites which

mostly occur as dykes. The geochemical data indicate P 0

2 5

averaging 5%, Fe 6 maximum upto 77%, Zr up to 800 ppm, Zn up

2 3

to 625 ppm. Cr up to 300 ppm, Ti more than 1000 ppm, Sr up to

0.75%, V 300 ppm, Ba more than 1000 ppm, Nb up to 1000 ppm

and Y up to 100 ppm.

V Kumar et a l . , 198.9 save an account of the Samchampi

alkaline complex, dealt with the p e t r o graphy and

petrochemistry and made a possible model for their evolution

in space and time. The syenitic fenite is the most

predominant phase in the complex and are divided into

potassic, sodic and s o d i c -potassic types. Syenitic fenites

are followed by magnetite + p erovskite + apatite rock,

ijolite- melteigite suite, carbonatites, pyroxenit.es and

syenites and also p hosphatic and tuffaceous rocks.

Carbonatites are essentially sovite, olivine phlogopite

sovite and biotite sovite with minor beforsitic types and

contain minor minerals such as pyrochlore, apatite,

magnetite, monazite and zircon. The chemical variation

appears largely to be mineral controlled and enrichment

pattern are characteristic of the individual rock types viz.

Sr and Nb in carbonatite 3005 to 5915 ppm and 81 to 415 ppm.

respectively and Nb in magnetit e - p e ro v s k i t e rock ( 2371 ppm)

etc. Similarly the P, Zr, REE show enrichment in the

selective rock types. They inferred that the carbonatites and

alkaline mafics are derived from picritic

**
or nephelinitic
 9

magma and these rocks are em placed along Kaliyani g ra ben as a

part of larger sylhet trap episode, represents the run thoi ■

most example of the hot spot trace of the Amsterdam plume

along N-S trending Ninety East Ridge that developed durjn-..j

the early stages of rifting of Gondwana L a n d in the i ate

Cretaceous period.

Nag et al., 1995 also mapped the a r ea and (>a v e

detailed petrographic and whole rock chemical study. They

reported phonolite for the f i rst time from the c o mp 1ex ano

their findings are similar to those of Kumar et al.

A c h a r i y a , et al. 1986 suggested fission track da*u i

of apatite to be 105 Ma for the ca rbonatite complex

1.6 Regional Geological Setting

Karbi Hill massif forms the n o rt he as te rl y contiuiatuvi

of the Meghalaya Plateau and northeast remnant of Indian

Peninsular Shield. It exposes deeply eroded basement arm

granitic rocks. The basement rocks are represented pa; a

gneisses containing enclaves of several rock i.ypQr. Tn

certain areas the enclaves are made up of granulit.ic rocks

and rocks with high grade assemblages. The basement rocks are

subjected to intense granitization and mi gm atization aid * hue

represent an Archaean high grade terrain ( Condie, f9R-> 1 . the

supracrustals are en gulfed with large volumes of c; an it ■c

rocks and both the en gu lf in g and the suprarrustal;

undergone multiple and complex deformat ional and meta-no ph ir

paragenesis.

Since the Karbi Hill massif represents a d e ep l y e> <>ded

 10

basement rocks, the supracrustals are represented by biotite

gneiss ( para gneiss) and small amount of quartzites and

mafic rocks. Mafic intrusives are common and intrudes into

the supracrustals.

Karbi Hill high grade terrain shows poly phase

deformation and metamorphism. The major shear zones are

represented by augen gneisses and ductile mylonites. Three

phases of intense folding have been noticed from the massif,

which is characteristic of high grade terrain ( Condie,

1989).

Both prograde and retrograde met a m o r p h i s m with

characteristic mineral assemblages have been noticed in the

rocks of the Karbi massif high grade terrain. Granitic

plutons are common and mainly granodioritic in composition.

These rocks are overlain by the Shillong Group of

metasediments represented by quartzite, phyllite and

conglomerate of Proterozoic age.

The conglomerates are derived from the rapidly

uplifted faulted blocks composed of granitic and quartzo

feldspathic metamorphic rocks. The P roterozoic metasediments

represent a rock a ssemblage similar to the continental rift

environment ( Condie, 1989 p 172).

r~. ■ - V

Intrusive granitoid plutons, with d i verse shape and

dimensions, have been recorded from the terrain. The are late

to post tectonic in nature. The granitoids are usually late

in the magmatic cycle or intrudes c r y s t alline basement that

 11

had under gone previous partial melting episodes, and are

generally associated with tensional regime in the continental

blocks and a ssigned ’A ’ type ( GSI project report,

unpublished, 1991).

Both the basement gneisses and Proterozoic

metasediments are later intruded by mafic alkaline and

carbonatite rocks, which may be precursor to the Sylhet trap

volcanism in the area ( GSI, 1991). These a l kaline mafic

carbonatite complexes are seen to occur in the intersection

of two major lineaments/ fracture zones. These lineaments are

in ENE-WSW and N N E-SSW directions. Besides, WNW-ESE

lineaments are also present in the massif ( Fig. 1 ■*% ).

The gneisses and the Shillong Group are overlain by

the rocks of Tertiary age and represent a platform cover

sediments. Tertiaries are represented by Jaintia ( Eocene),

Barail( Oligocene), Surma ( Miocene) and Tipam ( Mio-

Pliocene) Groups. The shelf sediments of Jaintia Group

composed of Shelia Kopili Formations. The Sheila Formation (

Lower Eocene) is represented by coarse teriginous sandstone

at the base ( Sylhet S and stone member) with minor shale and

thin limestone interbands. The Sylhet S andstone member grades

into Sylhet L imestone member which is represented by

n u mulitic/fossiliferous limestone with thin shale interbands.

The Kopili Formation overlies the Sheila Formation and at

places overlapped the Precambrian gneisses. It is represented

by dark splintery shales with thin laminations of sandstones,

 12

limestone and marl bands.

V
Isolated patches of Barail Group noticed in the

eastern and southern part of the massif. The Barail Group in

the area are dominantly a renaceous that is made up of medium

to coarse grained bluish grey to grey sandstone, often

ferruginous, hard and compact. Shale interbands or partings

are common, at places these shales are carbonaceous. Broad

current bedding often present in the sandstone units.

The Barail Group o verlained by Surma Group of rocks

with post Barail unconformity. The unconformity is

represented by 0.3m to lm thick c o n g l omerate bed. The Surma

Group is dominantly argillaceous and occur in the south

eastern fringes of the massif. It is characterised by

alternate shale siltston e sequence where shale is the

dominant member, with discontinuous micaceous sandstone

bands. These package of sediments are more similar to Bokabil

Formation. The Bokabil Formation grades upward into Tipam

Sandstone Formation of Tipam Group, which is characterised by

coarse ferruginous sandstones with clay bands and large

fossil woods.

In the northern fringes of Karbi Hill massif . the

Brahamaputra River flows in the westerly direction. A thick

alluvial cover occurs in the Brahamaputra Valley. The

alluvium cover has been classified into four

morphostratigraphical Formations. These are Bihora, Hat.ikhuli

 13

, Kaziranga and Dhansiri Formations in d ecreasing order of

antiquity. These morphostratigraphical classifications have

been based on the basis of

(i) Relative height of the depositional surface.

(ii) Sedimentological characters of the deposits and

(iii) Degree of oxidation and pedogenesis.

( Surendranath et al. 1992).

1.7 Stratigraphy
The Karbi Hill massif exposes wide variation of rock

types ranging from Archaean(?) to Recent ( refer section

1.6). The stratigraphic disposition of these lithoformations

worked out on the basis of the published work of Mathur and

Evans ( 1964); Geological Survey of India and intense field

work in the district by the author.

The generalised stratigraphic sequence of the Karbi

Hill massif is as follows ( compiled from GSI Records,Vol

124. p a r t 4 , 1991).

Dhansiri Formation: Grey silty micaceous sand

Kaziranga Formation: Ash grey silt, micaceous

Holocene sand.
Hatikhuli Formation: Moderately compact, yellow
sand with ochre coloured
silty clay.

Unconformity

Upper Bihora Formation: Compact reddish yellow sand.

P leistoce Dihing Formation: C o n g l o m e r a t e ; poorly sorted
-ne.
 14

p e b b l e a n d b o u l d e r s of
granite, quartzite and
s h a l e in f e r r u g i n o u s s a n d y
matrix.

Unconformity
Girujan Mottled clay with
Mio-Pliocene Tipam Group Formation th i n s a n d s t o n e

Tipam : S a n d s t o n e w i t h lenti
sandstone -cular claystone
Formation bands.

Miocene Surma Group Bokabil : Predominantly shale

a l t e r n a t i o n s with
sandstone, siltstone
and rare conglomerate.

Unconformity

Oligocene Barail Group Sands t o n e with rare

shale and c o a l .
r Kopili : S p l i n t e r y S h a l e wit h
Lr.Oligocene Jaintia Formation a l t e r n a t i o n s of
sandstone.
to Group Sheila -Sylhet l i m e s t o n e m ember
Formation
Eocene Sylhet sandstone m e m b e r .
.

--------------------- U n c o n f o r m i t y ------------------------- — —

Cretaceous : A l k a l i n e m a f i c - u l t r a m a f i c ro c k s and
Carbonatites.
S y l h e t Trap.

----------------- N o n c o n f o r m i t y --------------------------
P
r Basic intrusives, grey a nd pink
o
t g r a n i t o i d , p e g m a t i t e a n d q u a r t z vein
e ----------------- I n t r u s i v e C o n t a c t -----------------------
r Kh a s i g r e e n s t o n e
o
z S h i l l o n g Group: Quartzite, Phyllite and
 15

0 conglomerate.
1
c
------------------- D i s c o n f o r m i t y --------------------- -----

Archaeanf?) High Grade terrain: Para gneisses. older

supracrustals; sillimanite quartz schist,

quartzite, amphibolite and granulites.

Migmatites and q u a r tzofeldspathic gneiss.

Samchampi-Samteran alkaline carbonatite complex is

associated with the rocks of Archaean high grade terrain.

1.8. Methodology adopted.

1.8.1 Field technique: The Samchampi - Samteran alkaline

carbonatite complex was mapped in the year 1992 between

January and May by est a b l i s h i n g a camp near village Gan/jang (

2
Plate 2 ) . The area of investigation comprises 12 km . was

mapped in detail on enlarged sheet of Survey Of India

toposheet no 83F/8, scale 1: 50,000. The enlargement done on

approximately 1: 25,000 scale by using Modi Xerox photostat,

machine.

For mapping usually Brunton compass, tape and

geological hammer were used. At places a few pits were dug to

the nature of the outcrop below the top soil cover. The
attitudes of the o u tcrops were plotted on the working sheet

and data recorded in the field note book. Slight,

exaggerations were done in plotting of the outcrops. Outcrops

are mostly confined to the streams, however, in the soil

 16

cover area the outcrops are bouldery. Several field sketches

were made to depict the special features of these outcrops.

Field photographs were taken by using 35mm Camera ( Olympus

0M10 ).
Rock specimens were collected from the outcrops for

thin sections and chemical analyses. The rock specimens were

numbered and plotted on the map .

The structural attitudes of the complex and outside

the complex were recorded on the map. M egascopic characters

of the different rocks were noted and included in this

thesis.

1.8.2 L a b o rato ry me t h o ds / t e chniqu e s :

The laboratory techniques include the study of rock

samples and the study of aerial photographs. The study of

rocks include both petrographic and chemical studies where as

the study of aerial p h o t o graphs involve study of photo mosaic

for generalised and overall picture of the area of

investigation. The aerial photographs studied are

Task No Run No No of Photographs.

88 A 120 39-40.

From these two aerial photog r a p h s a photo mosaic was prepared

and studied under mirror streoscope at Gauhati University

dept of geological Sciences. The results of the study are

given in figure i. Similarly regional lineaments pattern were

studied in the Sate l l i t e imagery and the results are

incorporated in the figure 1.3.

For petrographical studies the rock specimens are cut

 17

into small c h i p s to get a d e s i r e d s i z e a n d th e n mount on the

glass s l i d e for g r i n d i n g a n d p o l i s h i n g . The thin sections,
about 100 nos. w e r e p r e p a r e d in t he l a b o r a t o r i e s of Geology
Department, Gauhati University and Geological Survey of India
at S h i l l o n g a n d C a l c u t t a p e t r o l o g i c a l laboratories.

The thin s e c t i o n s then s t u d i e d u n d e r microscope by

using Zeiss monocular and Laborlux binocular microscopes ai.
t he D e p a r t m e n t of G e o l o g i c a l S c i e n c e s , Gauhati University and
and some th i n s e c t i o n s in O r t h o p l a n POL at the petrology
divisions of G . S.I. in Calcutta and Shillong. The
p hotomicrographs were taken in t he C a m e r a W i l d fitted in the

O r t h o p l a n POL at GSI, C a l c u t t a a n d f e w in L a b o r l u x microscope

Since the study area i n c l u d e r o c k s of alkaline and
carbonatite clan, staining techniques in t he thi n sections
have be e n tried to identify the different phases of

carbonates a n d to d i s t i n g u i s h n e p h e l i n e a n d feldspar . This

process of s t a i n i n g h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d out in the Geological

S u r v e y Of In d i a L a b o r a t o r y at S h i l l o n g .

(1) Sftaining for f e l d s p a t h o i d s : ( Method after Stand

, 1939). T h e r e a g e n t s r e q u i r e d for s t a i n i n g are phosphoric
acid ( 85%) a n d m e t h y l e n e b l u e ( 0.25%) in deminei a 1ised

water.

Procedure for staining : (i) A thi n fil m of the syrupy

phosphoric acid is s p r e a d over t h e u n c o v e r e d thin section

w i t h a g l a s s rod.

(ii) After three minu t e s the section is d i p p e d g e n t l y in the

 18

water to remove the acid.

(iii) It is then immersed in methylene blue solution f o r one

minute.

(iv) The thin section is again dipped in water for a few

times to remove excess dye, and immediately covered with a

drop of glue solution ( durofix plus amyl acetate 1:3) with a

cover slip on the top of the slides.

Mineral stains:-

Nepheline: Deep blue. The altered portion of nepheline is

also give same colour. Feldspars: Unstained.

(II) Sta i n ing for carbonates:( After Dickson , 1965).

Reagents required for staining : 1.5% HC1, Alzarian

red S ( ARS) and potassium ferricyanide ( P F ) solution. 0.2

gms of ARS dissolved in 100 cc of 1.5 % HC1 + 2.0 gms is

mixed in the ratio ARS : PF = 3:2.

Procedure: The uncovered thin section was etched with 1.5%

HC1 for 10 to 15 second. Both calcite and ferroan calcite

show considerable etch. While dolomite shows negligible etch.

The thin section then stained with ARS + PF solution for 30

to 45 seconds. The calcite and ferroan calcite show very pale

pinkish red staining, while patchy unstained portion is

dolomite. Then the thin section washed with distilled water

and dried quickly.

1.8.2.1 Modal Analysis: The measurement of relative amounts

of various mineral components in the rocks are carried out by

modal analyses. This was done by using Swift automtic point
 19

3000 points the

counter. After counting about 2000 to
is
operation is stopped. The final reading in each mineral

from
noted and corresponding initial reading is substracted
converted in
it. The individual mineral counts are then

percentage.
A few mineral phases ( about 13 nos) were identified

by Phillips X-Ray Defractometer at Mineral Physics Division

of GSI in Shillong. Triclinicity of K- feldspars have also

been measured in X.R.D. in the same Laboratory.

The petrochemical samples were prepared by powdering

of the .rock chips into -120 mesh. The powdered samples then

attended to the conning and quartering and one part sent to

the different Chemical laboratories of GSI at Shillong and at

Calcutta. The chemical analyses were carried out by

convensional wet chemical methods for the major oxides and

trace elements in AAS ( Atomic Absorption Spectrometer) at

Shillong. About 22 analyses were carried out at Cane Town,

south Africa by using XRF method along with some trace

elements analyses.
Stable isotope analysis for carbonatites were carried

out in the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

 93 23 ' , a Somchampl G E O L O G IC A L M A P O F S A M C H A M P I.
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FIG. 2 1
S oil Cove r.

I j o l i t e M e lt e l g i t e S u i t e .

M a g n e tite A P Rock.

H I S y e n e t i c Fe nite.

d o F o id a l S y e n ite .

zd P h o s p h a t l c B re c c ia

zd
ZD
Aik. S y e n i t e .

Gro nltoid Gneiss.

ih : C arb ono tite

ZH P h o n o l l te

ZD A p a ti te T u ff.

S i li c i fi e d B r e c c i a t e d Zone.
Foliation . _____________