The potential for Discovery of economic Gold Deposits in Sri Lanka
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Date
1996-08-10
Authors
Nawaratne, S. W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya
Abstract
Historical records such as Mahawamsa and recent archeogeological observations indicate that gold was mined in large quantities in Sri Lanka during the ancient times. At present small quantities of gold are mined from alluvial placer accwnulations. Present investigations show that significant quantities of alluvial gold occur in the zone lying between the gem-bearing gravel layer and the decomposed bed rock in the areas drained by Walawe Ganga and its tributaries such as Kiri-ibban wewa In such zones, the gold content varies from place to place and concentrations up to 9g per tonne of sediment were observed The gold grains show different morphological features and occur' as dust, flakes and nuggets. Some grains contain 100% Au whereas others have lesser amounts with the balance being constituted of Ag, Cu and Mn.
The Walawe Ganga basin lies near the eastern boundary of the Precambrian Highland Complex rock terrain of Sri Lanka. The highest alluvial placer gold concentrations are found in zones of intense shearing and fracturing in the country rock which are commonly mineralized with sulphides and carbontes and intruded by quartz veins and pegmatites. The source of the gold in Wala\W Ganga basin sediments appears to be young fracture controlled mineralization in the Highland Complex rocks.
Description
Keywords
Agriculture , Potential , Economic , Gold
Citation
Proceedings of the Annual Research Sessions, August 10,1996, Uninversity of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, pp 125-130