Abstract:
Recently discovered in-situ beryl occurrence at Kaltota, southcentral Sri
Lanka was studied by a pilot study of soil survey to probe its mineralogical and
geochemical characteristics. Overall mineralization of the occurrence comprises of beryl,
garnet, tourmaline, quartz, topaz and zircon. Beryl and tourmaline occur mainly as
scattered detrital grains and as gravity-enriched elluvial concentrations within the
overburden. Geological evidences suggest subsurface extension of the mineralization in
host pegmatite and in contact zone. Total of 18 soil samples were collected from a preplanned
grid within the site and, mineralogical analysis was performed on the panned
heavy mineral concentrates of soils. In chemical analysis, soil samples were treated
with both aqua regia digestion and alkali fusion method followed by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). With the better results, alkali fusion method was
chosen to obtain be concentrations in the soils. The results of the mineralogical analyses
shows an existence of beryl and other gem minerals in different proportions in the
heavy concentrates, which are in comparison with the anomalous Be concentrations
found in the chemical analyses of soils. The results are to be further examined by a
detailed study, probably followed by drilling to elucidate subsurface distribution of the
mineralization.
