Research Contributions


Dr. Ranawat’s main activity of research has been in the field of geology of mineral deposits with reference to study of host rock petrology, mineralogy, mineralization structures & textures, fluid inclusion study, granulometric studies as well as their environmental & risk-benefit assessments. Efforts were made, with moderate success, to rationalize the mining and environmental regulations of the Union and the State Governments.

Under this scheme of work the following mineral deposits have been studied:

  1. Fluorspar Deposits of Rajasthan, Talc & Anthophyllite Deposits of Udaipur Area, Scheelite Prospect of Kararavav, lead-zinc Deposit of Rampura- Agucha & Jhamarkotra rock phosphate deposits.
  2. One of the first Fluid Inclusion Laboratories in India was set up first with a pyrophyllite-body heating stage, then with a CHAIXMECA micrthermometric equipment. FI Lab’s unreserved facility was extended to several researchers from a number of institutions of the country. Help and guidance was also provided to a number of university and state government departments in setting up of ore petrology and fluid inclusion laboratories.
  3. Correct identification of the cataclastic host rocks of the Mando-Ki-Pal Fluorspar Deposits resulted in change of exploration and utilization strategy of the resources (Publication # 1 & 2).
  4. Likewise, study of Karara Fluorspar Deposit resulted in identification of an explosive sub-aerial volcanic vent and its significance in understanding the nature of Malani volcanism and volcanogenic mineralization in Western Rajasthan. Melt inclusions in feldspar and quartz phenocrysts of these rocks have were also described (Publication # 5 & 7).
  5. Fluid inclusion study of the fluorspar deposits of Rajasthan has helped in understanding the varied physico-chemical environments of mineralization (Publication # 3, 5, 7; Ph. D. # 1,2).
  6. The holistic geologic study of the Precambrian ultramafic rocks of Jharol area helped to understand the conditions of anthophyllitization and steatitization of ultramafic rocks and identification of C-O-H as the main components of the metamorphic hydrothermal fluid regime of the area (Terra Cognita 1986, Ph. D. #3).
  7. Risk-benefit study of asbestos resources of Rajasthan (Publication #10). This study and its follow up programs resulted in Government of India’s decision to lift ban on asbestos mining and processing in India (2001). Governments of Canada and Brazil also demonstrated interest in the out come of the study and sent their representatives for firsthand assessment of the problem (1998).
  8. Geologic study of the scheelite mineralization of Kararavav area revealed the economic potentiality of the skarn at the contact of Delhi calcareous formations and the Post- Delhi acid magmatic rocks (Ph.D. #4, 29th IGC, Kyoto, 1992, Abstract).
  9. Geologic study of the Rampura-Agucha lead-zinc deposit revealed its metamorphic characteristics; the study was applied for quantification of liberation characteristics through granulometric studies (Ph.D. #5; Publication # 8,9).
  10. Jhamarkotra Rock Phosphate Deposit is the premier phosphate producing center of India that is being utilized by M/s Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited (RSMML). The ore of Jhamarkotra requires beneficiation for its marketing. Froth flotation studies on the Jhamarkotra ore and its process response were studied to improve the ore recovery (Project # 7). Subsequently, studies have been taken up to utilize the great quantity of bulk circuit tailing under Green Chemistry Program (Project # 9) for utilization as a fertilizer.
  11. A silvery white metallic mineral from Jahazpur, Rajasthan, that has been baffling geologists was identified as native antimony and its report was submitted to The Directorate Mines and Geology, Government of Rajasthan in February 2003 and results have also have been published in the Journal of Geological Society of India, February 2005.

Research findings were delivered as Ph.D. theses, journal publications, reports, and presentations of results at national and three International Congresses abroad. Research work was essentially undertaken as the Principal Investigator of research projects on mineral resources Dr. Ranawat promoted studies and awareness in environmental geology. One of the first papers on the subject was published by us in 1976 (Publication # 18). Efforts in promotion of environmental awareness are continuing, through organization of seminars, etc.

Dr. Ranawat attended and presented research papers at several conferences, including the 5th International Volcanological Congress, New Zealand (1986); 28th International Geological Congress, Washington DC (1989); 29th International Geological Congress, Kyoto (1992), also Chaired the oral session on "ORE FORMING PROCESSES IN ISLAND ARCS AND ACTIVE CINTINENTAL MARGINS" during the 29th IGC. Convener of the during-the-Congress Short Course on "PROCEDURES AND APPLICATION OF GRANULOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ORE MINERALS" during the 30th International Geological Congress, Beijing, 1996 (could not attend due to non-availability of funds)

Suggested and got partly implemented rationalization of environmental regulations in relation to SSI units and mining V/s forest land regulations.
 
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