Major and Minor Element Geochemistry of Fuller’s Earth, Vikarabad-Tandur Area, Telangana, India

Geochemical investigations have been carried out on Fuller s Earth sampled from the Vikarabad Tandur mining belt of Telangana State, using X-Ray Fluroscence Spectrometry (XRF). The study area is dominantly occupied by rocks of Peninsular Gneissic Complex (PGC) along with enclaves of Schists, basic dykes, Bhima Group of rocks comprising upper Protero oic sedimentary formations such as limestone and a thin cover of Deccan Basaltic Traps and Laterite. These deposits occur in close association with carbonates and occur in the Deccan Traps as members of intertrappean formations. The major and minor element composition of the Fuller s Earth from seven locations of the study area was determined to understand the geochemistry and elemental variations. Mineralogical investigations on Fuller s Earth samples have revealed that the major constituent is palygorskite. Major, minor oxides and LOI were determined to understand the geochemical distribution. Results reveal that the average SiO₂: Al₂O₃ ratio is highest for the Gopalpur Fuller s Earth while the SiO₂: Al₂O₃ ratio is lowest for the Marepalli Fuller s Earth samples. Al₂O₃: MgO ratio is the lowest for the Alipur Fuller s Earth while the Marepalli Fuller s Earth shows the highest Al₂O₃: MgO ratio on account of its low MgO. The Timsanpalli Fuller s Earth has the lowest SiO₂: Al₂O₃ value because of it s high Al₂O₃ content. Geochemical parameters vary in range in the Fuller s Earth occurring in the studied 7 villages.