RARE-EARTHS AND YTTRIUM MINERAL STREAM SANDS AT RANGAMPETA, NORTH ARCOT DISTRICT, TAMIL-NADU

Radiometric survey along the Goddaru Vanka stream near Rangampeta of North Arcot district. Tamil Nadu has brought to light an appreciable concentration of rare-earths (RE)- and yttrium-minerals (allanite, monazite and xenotime) in the stream sands with feed samples assaying 0.034-0.35% CeO2 and 0.003-0.34% Y2O3, and their non-magnetic table concentrates (1-10 wt% of feed) assaying 1.13-10.30% CeO2 and 0.25-1.37% Y2O3. Of the different heavy minerals, magnetite shows positive correlation (r = 0.93 to 0.99)with allanite, xenotime, total RE and Y-minerals, total heavy minerals, CeO2 and Y2O3 of the feed samples. The results also confirm the effectiveness of radiometric and magnetic surveys in delimiting RE-and Y-minerals in the stream sands.