Lithium Exploration in the Amareshwar Region, Dharwar Craton, India
摘要
Lithium (Li) is a critical metal in India due to its growing demand and limited global production. Its importance in achieving global sustainability goals, particularly net-zero emissions, has caused increased exploration efforts. The Amareshwar region in the Parampur schist belt of the Dharwar Craton, Southern India, is a promising site for Li exploration. The region hosts pegmatite bodies intruded at the boundary of amphibolites and granitoids, that contains spodumene (LiAlSi3O8). These pegmatites are composite, zoned, and primarily composed of quartz, plagioclase, k-feldspar, spodumene, and muscovite. Satellite surveys and existing data were used to identify potential spodumene-bearing areas. Band-ratio and RGB composite techniques on ASTER data were employed to delineate these regions. Integration of these maps with lithological, structural, and geochemical data from the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) improved the accuracy of spodumene identification. Validation with Geological Survey of India (GSI) maps, which also marked Li-pegmatites, showed strong alignment, confirming the effectiveness of the generated maps. These findings proved invaluable for fieldwork where the presence of the spodumene bearing pegmatite bodies were identified. The accuracy of the pre-field maps was thus tested and it proved helpful in exploration targeting and can guide future exploration in the region.