UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
B.Sc. DEGREE COURSE IN GEOPHYSICS
SEMESTER SYSTEM WITH CREDITS
(Effective from the Academic Year 2003-2004)

SYLLABUS

Semester IV - Paper V - Economic Geology

Duration: 3 hrs
Maximum Marks: 100
Credits: 4

Unit I

Processes of mineral formation - Primary and secondary processes : Brief outline of Magmatic, Sublimate, contact metasomatic, Hydrothermal, Metasomatic replacement. Sedimentary, Evaporite, Placer, Residual, Oxidation and Supergene enrichment and Metamorphic.

Classification of Mineral deposits - controls of ore localization.

Unit II

Mode of Occurrence, uses and distribution of the following ores and industrial minerals in India: Realgar, Orpiment, Stibnite, Molybdenite, Cinnabar, Gypsum, Corundum, Red Ochre, Ilmenite, Magnesite, Chromite, Cassiterite, Rutile, Yellow Ochre, Graphite, Calcite, Dolomite, Cerrusite, Fluorite, Phosphate, Monazite and Asbestos.

Unit III

Mode of Occurence, Origin and distribution of the following ore deposits in India: Gold, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Lead & Zinc and Bauxite.

Unit IV

Minerals required for the following industries: Abrasive, Fertilizer, Paint, Refractory, Glass, Ceramic and Cement - their mode of occurrence, physical properties, chemical composition and distribution in India.

Unit V

Coal and Petroleum. - Occurrence, Origin and distribution in India.

Building Stones - Characters, Distribution and mode of occurrence.

Mineral wealth of Tamil Nadu.

Books Recommended

Economic Mineral Deposits by A.N. Bateman, Asian Publishing House, 1962.

Ore Deposits of India by Gokhale and Rao, Thomson Press, New Delhi, 1972.

India's Mineral resources by S.Krishnaswamy, Oxford IBH Publishin Co., New Delhi., 1979