TERMITE MOUND AS A BIOGEOCHEMICAL TOOL FOR MINERAL EXPLORATION - AN EXAMPLE FROM THE MANGAMPETA BARITE MINING AREA, CUDDAPAH DISTRICT, ANDHRA-PRADESH

In the Mangampeta barite mining area, physical (organic matter and bul l density) and physico-chemical (pH and electrical conductivity) prope rties, and the concentration of trace elements viz., Ba, Sr, Cu, Zn, a nd Mn were determined for three types of termite mounds viz., barren ( devoid of any vegetation), monophytic (colonised by a single plant spe cies), and polyphytic (colonised by more than one plant species) and t heir adjoining ground surface soils. A biogeochemical parameter called ''Biological Absorption Coefficient'' (BAC) [ratio of concentration o f the element in the termite mound (C-ts) to that of its adjoining soi ls (C-ss)] of these mounds is computed which helps in the evaluation o f the mounds in biogeochemical orientation surveys. These studies reve al that the mounds exhibit indicator characteristics for Ba, Cu, Zn, a nd Mn for use as tool in mineral exploration.