A note on the occurrence of molybdenite at Ashapura, Raichur District, Karnataka

A new occurrence of molybdenite is reported from the granites of Ashapura area, 6 km SSW of Raichur town. An E-W trending leucogranite dyke within pink granite shows anomalous concentrations of molybdenum ranging from 15 ppm to 3.26%. Significant concentrations of tungsten (100-900 ppm), silver (upto 11 ppm), copper (upto 665 ppm), platinum (19 to 253 ppb), palladium (60 to 380 ppb) and iridium (7 to 73 ppb) are also observed. The mineralisation occurs along the western periphery of the granitoid, stretching over 1.5 km from Jalibenchi to Ashapura. Petrologic characters, alteration products and geochemical parameters compare well with granite hosted porphyry type molybdenite mineralisation reported elsewhere.