Provenance, Mineralogical and Morphological Analysis of Zircon from Chavara Placer Deposits, Kerala, India

ABSTRACT The Chavara placer deposit of Kerala, India, is one of the world’s richest concentrations of heavy minerals, hosting ilmenite, zircon, rutile, and monazite in significant quantities. In this study, zircon concentrates were systematically characterised through particle size distribution, magnetic separation, and detailed morphometric and provenance analyses. Size distribution results revealed that the zircon grains are fine-grained, well-sorted, and coarse-skewed, consistent with stable, low-energy beach depositional environments. Morphological attributes, including roundness, circularity, and aspect ratio, indicated mature sedimentary history and derivation from highgrade metamorphic terrains, notably granulite facies rocks such as khondalites and migmatites. Additionally, magnetic separation and microscopic studies revealed inclusions of garnet and monazite within zircon grains, which affect their magnetic properties and beneficiation behaviour. This work integrates advanced mineralogical analyses to establish the provenance and industrial significance of Chavara zircon, aligning with the growing demand for critical minerals essential in various hightechnology industries.