Abstract
Extensive laterite cappings are observed in the northern part of Kolar schist belt and they are underlain by pillowed metabasalt and partially weathered auriferous cherty intercalations. To appraise the possible distribution of trace elements in both laterite cappings and in plants growing over there, a geobotanical study was conducted in the well exposed, almost flat to slightly undulating lateritic profiles in Jaderi-Holur-Nayakarahalli stretch in the northern part of Kolar schist belt. Due to humus-poor lateritic soil and scanty rainfall, the vegetation is sparse and scrubby. Shrub species are relatively more abundant than herbs and trees. The shrub species studied are Argyreia cuneata, Dodonaea viscosa, Carissa carandas, Ziziphus species, Barleria buxifolia and Atylosia scarbiocides. The herb species are mainly represented by Leucas ciliata, Pulicaria wightiana, Hyptis suaveolens, Tephrosia tinctoria, Trichodesma indicum, Stylosanthes fruticosa, Evolvulus alsinoides, Pavonia zeylanica, Orthosiphon diffusus, Waltheria indica and Stachytarpheta indica. Less frequent species included Acacia megaladena and Dolichandrone atrovirens. Geochemical analysis of different plant species and lateritic soil samples has been carried out. Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni, Co, As, Mn and Mg are in good concentration in soil but the same are impoverished in the plant species except Mn. A few analyses for Au show that its values are close to background concentration. However, plant uptake of Au appears to be better (25 - 86 ppb). The humic acid activity could have enabled gold to get absorbed by plants. While all other analyzed metals show higher range of concentration in soil compared to flora, gold shows a reverse relationship.
Highlights
Extensive laterite cappings are observed in the northern part of Kolar schist belt and they are underlain by pillowed metabasalt and partially weathered auriferous cherty intercalations
To appraise the possible distribution of trace elements in both laterite cappings and in plants growing over there, a geobotanical study was conducted in the well exposed, almost flat to slightly undulating lateritic profiles in Jaderi-Holur-Nayakarahalli stretch in the northern part of Kolar schist belt
The herb species are mainly represented by Leucas ciliata, Pulicaria wightiana, Hyptis suaveolens, Tephrosia tinctoria, Trichodesma indicum, Stylosanthes fruticosa, Evolvulus alsinoides, Pavonia zeylanica, Orthosiphon diffusus, Waltheria indica and Stachytarpheta indica
Summary
Known for its world class lode gold deposits which are almost exhausted due to continuous mining for over 100 years This auriferous belt is made up of abundant metavolcanic sequences and thin metasedimentary intercalations of BIF. Lateritic soil and the enclosed cherty bands are drained by streams and the stream-sediments are panned by locals to extract gold fines/nuggets This aptly reflects the auriferous nature of cherty BIF-bearing metavocanics in the studied area. Plants which grow in this area, could have possibly up-taken gold, besides other metals, during their metabolic activity In this background, the areas near Nayakarahalli, Jaderi, and Holur, south of Srinivasapura where lateritic profiles are well developed, though discontinuously, have been subjected for geobotanical and biogeochemical studies with the main objective of understanding metal concentration, especially gold, in plants and soil
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