Heavy mineral analysis of Tipam sandstone near Buhchang village, Kolasib district, Mizoram, India

A thick succession of sedimentary rocks belonging to Tipam Group is well exposed all along the road cut sections near Buhchang village, Kolasib district, Mizoram. The heavy mineral suite of the Tipam sediments depicts a cosmopolitan nature. It comprises dominantly of non-opaque variety that includes zircon, tourmaline, rutile, staurolite, kyanite, sillimanite, apatite, epidote, garnet and hornblende. Iron oxide such as magnetite and heamatite constitute the bulk opaque variety. The Tipam sandstone has a complex provenance comprising of high grade metamorphic source as well as igneous and sedimentary sources. Further, it can be suggested that the high grade metamorphic source predominates over the other two sources with a relatively short transportation.