Heavy mineral distribution in the beach sands of North coastal Andhra Pradesh and South coastal Tamilnadu

Abstract

Two different beach-placer samples from Srikurmum of Andhra Pradesh and Navaladi of Tamilnadu were collected and characterized in terms of their total heavy mineral content by heavy media as well as magnetic separation studies. Mineralogical analysis on both the samples revealed the presence of high amounts of garnet and minor quantities of ilmenite. Navaladi beach placer sample contains higher amounts of total heavy minerals than that of the Srikurmum beach. The particle size of garnet is coarser than that of ilmenite. EPMA results indicated that garnet is of almandine variety. The Eastern Ghats metamorphic belt, covering both the areas, is considered to be the source of these beach placer minerals.