Suitability and availability of sand deposits in Gujarat state of India with reference to their petrography

Gujarat is one of the western states of India. The workable sand deposits are available in shoals along number of rivers in the state. Since 1980 to 1982, 150 sand samples from 100 different rivers in the state have been collected and petrographically examined. The paper described the classification of the sand deposits into four different groups viz., (i) Kachchh Group (ii) Saurashtra Group (iii) North Gujarat Group (iv) South Gujarat Group. This classification is based upon the variation in percentage of various contituents and their physical as well as chemical properties. The authors have established the relationship of the sand deposits with provenance and the geomorphology of the area through which the rivers flow. They have recommanded the suitability of sand deposits of the above four groups based on physical and chemical properties of the constituents.