Indian ore deposits: current genetic understandings

This article reviews all the contributions made on genetic aspects of various Indian metallic ore deposits between the period 2020 and 2023. We cover ores of chromite, platinum group elements, gold, uranium-copper ores of Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) affiliation, rare earth metals (+ niobium + tantalum + yttrium), and lithium-tungsten, the last two being fresh additions compared to the earlier reviews. Inferences are mainly derived by in-situ trace element analysis of important common ore minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, magnetite and apatite, along with the hydrothermally precipitated gangue phases such as biotite and tourmaline. Studies on conventional stable isotope (of oxygen, carbon and sulfur) analysis continues to be a widely used tool for constraining ore genetic models. In addition, in-situ isotopic measurement of boron and lithium, respectively in tourmaline and micas, along with U–Pb dating of hydrothermal monazite, provided a quantum jump in our understanding of ore-forming processes.