ROLE OF GEOMORPHIC ENVIRONMENTS FOR ENRICHMENT OF REES AND RADIONUCLIDES FROM THE ANCIENT OROGENIC BELT: PROSPECT FOR ENERGY RESOURCES ALONG THE COAST OF EASTERN GHATS MOBILE BELT, INDIA

Delineation of enriched zone of Rare Earth elements and Radionuclides become crucial as the world increasingly demanding for green and renewable energy resources. This study aims to define the suitable environmental proxies for enrichment of economically potential REEs and radionuclides. The deltaic environment of the river basin and the beach associated with the meandering nature of river are considered suitable for the exploration of REEs and radionuclides. A comprehensive multi-element geochemical survey of stream and beach sediments were undertaken to understand the role of river tributaries in the transportation and deposition of REEs and radionuclides. In the present study, the first absolute ages coupled with the microtextural analysis of detrital zircons are reported, shedding light on major orogenic events linked to economically significant beach placers. Detrital zircons from the Indian coast are associated with high temperature metamorphic events and exhibit characteristic igneous zoning. Zircon overgrowths formed in equilibrium with partial melt and were similar to magmatic zircon, in terms of high Y, Hf and P content, steep heavy-enriched REE pattern, positive Ce anomaly and negative Eu anomaly. The studied zircons inherit the imprints of the high-grade metamorphic events at about 500-600 Ma and 990-900 Ma. Based on our research findings, it has been inferred that beaches adjacent to high temperature terrain affected by major tectonic events are plausibly enriched with heavy mineral placer deposits. The deltaic environment of the river basin and the meandering nature of the river are considered important factors for the deposition of rare earth elements and radionuclides.