Characterization of the Geology of Subsurface Shallow Conglomerate using 2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging at Baragadi, Panna District, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

The 2D electrical resistivity imaging study is the rising tool used for characterization of the geology of subsurface diamondiferous shallow conglomerate and geological condition at Baragadi, Panna District, Madhya Pradesh, India. In the present study, the 2D electrical resistivity imaging of subsurface shallow conglomerate has been generated using through Computerized Resistivity Meter (CRM-500) and the Wenner electrode configuration has been used for 2D electrical resistivity imaging studies. The measured apparent resistivity values have been subjected to inversion so as called a resistivity pseudosection by using RES2DINV 3.56 software. Resistivity contrast technique has been adopted to distinguish the rock properties in the form of resistivity distribution displayed in the imaging sections and to delineate the distribution of diamondiferous conglomerate horizons within clay and kankar deposits in the Baragadi shallow congromerte lower part of Upper Vindhayan Formation. @ JASEM Diamond has been adorned as the king of gemstone since time immemorial. Panna Diamond Belt (PDB) occupies an area of 4000 sq. km. along the northern margin of the Vindhyan basin in Panna District, Madhya Pradesh, India between Latitude 24º 30′ N-25º 00′ N and Longitude 80º 00′ E-80º 45′ E (Fig. 1). It is an 80 km long linear belt trending ENE-WSW between the Majhgawan Diamond Mines (24º 39′; 80º 02′) in the west and Majhgawan railway station (24º 54′; 80º 40′) in the east. Shallow diamond mines operated by unorganized sector under the permission from the Department of Mining and Geology, Government of Madhya Pradesh, India. The Vindhyan super group is represented mainly by arenaceous and argillaceous litho units with minor calcareous component belonging to the Kaimur, Rewa and Bhander group. The Panna diamond belt occurs as a part of Vindhyan super group in the northern fringe of Vindhyan basin (Soni et. al., 1987; Chalapathi Rao, 2005 and 2006). The diamondiferous conglomerate beds are found in the Baghain sandstone, Panna shale, Rewa sandstone and Jhiri shale formations of Vindhyan super groups. The Vindhyan rock formation shows a general trend of ENE-WSW and dipping 2º to 5º towards SSE direction. About 25km from Panna in SW direction, the pear shaped and nearly circular kimberlite, lamproite and diatremes are located near Majhgawan and Hinota villages respectively (Hamilton, 1819; Medlicott, 1859; Merh, 1952; Babu, 1998). The conglomerate bed is well represented fairly thick with gradual tapering and strikes in ENE and WSW directions. The thicker portions of the conglomerate bed consist of bigger pebble too. Thus, it is inferred that they represent N-S or NNW-SSE trending paleo-channels. The average thickness of the conglomerate bed which containing diamond is 0.60m and yield 27.91 carats /100 tons. The conglomerate bed also contains higher percentage of gem quality diamonds (55 %) when compared to Majhgawan kimberlite (38 %) (Rau and Soni, 2003). MATERIAL AND METHOS The 2D electrical resistivity imaging technique is adopted to explore the possible locations for the further exploration of diamondiferous conglomerate and quaternary gravel in Baragadi, Panna District, Madhya Pradesh, India (Figs. 2a and 2b).