Geophysical Exploration of Dolomite and Baryte Deposits in the Gunjeda Formation, Pakhal Supergroup, Telangana

This study presents an integrated geological and geophysical investigation for dolomite and baryte mineralization in Pocharam area, Garla mandal, Mahabubabad District, Telangana, located within the Proterozoic Pakhal Supergroup. The region comprises predominantly dolomite, quartzite, and shale formations of the Gunjeda Formation within the Mallampalli Subgroup. Field observations confirm the presence of stratabound baryte occurring as lenses and pockets interbedded within cherty dolomite, with widths ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 meters and trending NW–SE to N–S. Ground magnetic surveys using a Precision Proton Magnetometer (PPM) were conducted over seven profiles, and Total Magnetic Intensity (TMI) maps revealed strong magnetic highs in the northern area, attributed to quartzite and iron-rich shales, and magnetic lows in the southern and southwestern areas, correlating with dolomite and baryte-rich lithologies. Depth estimation through Radially Averaged Power Spectrum (RAPS) analysis indicated that the target mineralized zones occur within the upper 50 meters, while deeper anomalies likely represent the Archaean basement. Borehole data confirmed the continuity of dolomite, though baryte was found to be spatially localized. The results validate that magnetic geophysical methods effectively delineate lithological boundaries and support the identification of low-magnetic, mineral-rich zones. This study highlights the utility of integrating geological mapping with magnetic anomaly analysis for efficient targeting of non-metallic mineral deposits in Proterozoic terrains like the Pakhal basin.