Delineation of host rocks of uranium in western part of YSR district, A.P., India using geochemical and geospatial modeling approaches

The aim of the research is to delineate the host rock of uranium in the semi-arid regions of Andhra Pradesh, India. Uranium is one of India's major rich resources explored in recent decades, and many parts of the country in general and Tummalapalli, Andhra Pradesh and Jadughuda, Jharkhand in particular, are established locations at present. The present study location is situated in the crescent-shaped Proterozoic Cuddapah basin. The Cuddapah basin that occurs in Andhra Pradesh is a unique middle–upper Proterozoic basin with rich minerals of economic significance along with inter-strata uranium deposits along the non-conformity. Host rocks are dolomites of the Vempalli formation of the Cuddapah Supergroup, while granites of the Archaean basement are the source rocks for uranium mineralization, especially in the Cuddapah basin. The dolomites of the composition CaMg(CO3)2 belong to the formation of Vempalli particularly in this region and phosphatic contain silica and chert mineral inclusions; hence, they are called dolostones. It occurs primarily in the area of Thummalapalli in the YSR district of Andhra Pradesh. The present research is intended to analyze by integrating geochemistry using X-Ray Fluorescence, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for major, minor, and trace elemental analyses along with the geospatial techniques of the host rock formations of uranium mineralization.