Geobotany and biogeochemistry of Gymnosporia montana - a case study from Nellore Mica Belt, Andhra Pradesh

The use of vegetation in interpreting geological phenomena is becoming an i mportant tool in the search for ore deposits which are buried under thick s oil cover or layers of unmineralised rock. The present investigation was un dertaken to study the distribution of Gymnosporia montana developed on pegm atites with a view to establish this species as a geobotanical indicator of these rock types. A significant feature of this area is the occurrence of G. montana as a lithological indicator of pegmatites. The biogeochemical be haviour of G. montana was studied by analysing the leaves and twigs of this plant species. It has the capability of accumulating large amounts of Ca, K, Mg, B, Ba, Cu, Mn, Sr and Zn. Further, this study has given great scope to understand the geobotanical and biogeochemical behaviour of this plant s pecies in this famous Nellore mica belt.