Mineralogy of Fine Sand Fractions of Some Non-Calcareous Soils of North Bihar

Fine sand mineralogy of non-calcareous soils of Siwan district of Bihar indicates appreciably high amount of light minerals in the order: quartz > feldspar > muscovite. Heavy fraction contains mainly opaque minerals, biotite and garnet, although zircon, apatite, rutile and chloritized mica are also present in some pedons. Besides, the heavy fractions of Barpalia and Gyaspur contain appreciable amount of monazite, a mineral bearing radioactive ²³²Th. Calcite and dolomite are, however, absent in these sand samples. Biotite and feldspars are the main weatherable minerals. The soils have attained steady state in respect of dolomite and calcite. Fine sands from the river beds contain garnet, opaque minerals, quartz, feldspar and muscovite. Biotite, apatite and zircon are observed in the fine sand of Jharahi river while only zircon in Ghaghra river.