Dr. Sunder Raju P. V

Chief Scientist , Geochronology

Dr. Sunder Raju P. V

pvsraju.ngri@csir.res.in

Academic Identity
              

Specialization

Precambrian Geology , Mineral Exploration.

Research Area

Dr. Raju PVS is Chief Scientist and Project Leader at the CSIR–National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad. A graduate of Osmania University, he has conducted postdoctoral research in Canada, Finland, South Africa, and Australia through prestigious fellowships such as BOYSCAST, RAMAN, Indo-Australian, NSERC, and SITRA.

His research focuses on platinum group minerals (PGMs), chromitite, and iron oxides (magnetite). He played a key role in developing magnetite and sulfide certified reference materials (CRMs) for LA-MC-ICPMS and co-discovered a major low-grade, high-tonnage gold mineralization zone in the Dharwar Craton. His international field experience spans Madagascar, South Africa, China, Canada, and Finland, along with Carlsberg Ridge expeditions exploring hydrothermal vents for mineral deposits.

Dr. Raju represents India in the International Critical Minerals (ICM) and International Forensic Geology (IFG) working groups under IUGG. He is a Fellow of SEG (USA), GSSA, and IFG, and a member of NASI and ICDD (USA). Recipient of the Prof. C. Mahadevan Mineral Science Award, he authored “Gold in Banded Iron Formation.” Passionate about science outreach, he mentors young researchers and contributes to national scientific committees and review boards.

 

Ongoing Research Projects

Sl.No

Title of Project

Project Category

Participating Agencies

Your Role as defined

1

"New Mineral Prospectivity for harnessing Gold resources in GR
Halli prospect, Chitradurga Schist belt, Karnataka ,Western Dharwar Craton using Machine Learning and Deep
Convolutional Neural net works

Core Research Grant (CRG) SERB

NGRI and Unvt of Hyd 

Project leader

2

Mineralogical and Geological Characterization of Indian Glauconites For alternative potassium fertilizers, .

 Ministry of Mines , GOI

NGRI and

IIT, Mumbai

Project Leader

3

A targeted Integrated approach for Gold through Geological, Geochemical and Geophysical Studies in Greenstone belts of Eastern and Western Dharwar Craton

  DST,  GOI

NGRI

Project Leader

4

Integrated Geological, Geochemical and Geophysical Studies for the delineation of Chromitite extensions in Nuggihalli Schist Belt, and Implications for Ni-Cu-PGE Mineralization

Ministry of Mines, GOI

NGRI and

IISC, Bengaluru

Project Leader

5

Petrology and Geochemistry of chromite hosting mafic-ultramafic layered intrusion in Holenarsipur-Nuggihalli schist belt, Western Dharwar Craton, Karnataka: Implications for Ni-Cr±PGE mineralization

DST

NGRI

Project Leader

Honors & Awards

  1. Dr Mahadevan Mineral Science Award 

  2. BOYSCAST Fellowship (DST)

  3. Raman Fellowship (CSIR)

  4. NSERC -FELLOWSHIP ( NRC Canada)

  5. SITRA (Finland Govt) 

  6. Indo-Australian Fellowship by (Australian Academy of Sciences)

Publications

Satish K and P V Sunder Raju (2025) Integrated Gravity and Magnetic approaches for concealed Chromitite Exploration in Sukinda Valley, Orissa, India Geological Journal. DOI:1002/gj.70074

Benjamin Boadi, P.V. Sunder Raju and David Dotse Wemegah (2022) Analysing Weighted Overlay and Fuzzy Logic Models for Lode Gold Prospectivity Mapping in the Ahafo Area- Southwest Ghana. Ore Geology Reviews, 149, 105059 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2022.105059 

P V Sunder Raju* and P C Lightfoot (2023) The Exploration potential of the Cuddapah-Pulivendla sill complex, Andhra Pradesh, India: mineral chemistry constraints on sulfide saturation history of the magmas. The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology, 61, pp 1496-1500 DOI: 10.3749/AB00031., ISSN 2817-1713 pp. 1175-1576 The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and PetrologyDecember 28, 2023, Vol.61, 1175-1576. doi:https://doi.org/10.3749/AB00031 

Shuvabrata De, P.V. Sunder Raju (2022). Mesoarchean terrestrial sedimentation in a continental rift setting and its provenance implications: An example from the Bisrampur Formation, Singhbhum craton, India. Earth Science Reviews, 234, 2022  104205.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104205  IF 12.038

Rajat Mazumder,Shuvabrata De, P.V. Sunder Raju, (2022), Paleoarchean surface processes and volcanism: Insights from the eastern Iron Ore Group, Singhbhum craton, India, Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 232, 2022, 104122, ISSN 0012-8252, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104122  IF 12.038

Sunder Raju P V, Mazumder R, (2020) Archean Sedimentation on Dharwar Craton, India and its implications, “Earth-Science Reviews” vol 202 F, Article No 102999 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.102999 IF  141

Rajat Mazumder, Shuvabrata De, P.V. Sunder Raju, (2020), Archean-Paleoproterozoic transition: The Indian perspective. Earth-Science Reviews ,Vol 202 F, Pg 427-440 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2018.11.013    IF 12.41

Sunder Raju P.V. and Satish Kumar.K (2020), Magnetic Survey of Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold ( IOCG) and Alkali Calcic alteration system in Gadarwara, M.P, India :Implications on Copper Metallogeny ,“Minerals” Pgs 67-85 Minerals 2020, 10, 671, doi:10.3390/min10080671 IF 3.00

Sunder Raju, P.V., Eero Hanski and Yann Lahaye. (2015), LA-MC-ICPMS dating of Zircon from Chromitite of the Archean Bangur Gabbro Complex, Orissa, India- Ambiguities and Constraints. Geologica Acta, 13, 4, 325-334.  Doi:1.0.1.1 3 4 4/Geologica Acta2015.13.4.5

Sunder Raju, P. V. & Eriksson, P. G. (2015). Evolution of _3.5–2.5 Ga basins of the Dharwar Craton. In: Mazumder, R. & Eriksson, P. G. (eds) Precambrian Basins of India: Stratigraphic and Tectonic Context. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 43, 223–230, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/M43.15 .(Book Chapter).

 

Books

Gold in Banded Iron Formations in Western Dharwar Craton Geology, Geochemistry and Genesis of Gold in Banded Iron Formations, Western Dharwar Craton, Karnataka, India 978-3-8433-7364-7 

Research Scholars

Doctoral - 3 

Post doctoral - 2 

TWAS - 4 

ASEAN -2

Educational Qualification

M.Sc., M.Tech., PhD.,PGDEM

Proffessional Experience

32 Years of Professional Experience in R & D at both National and International levels and is a learned member of prestigious Academies and Societies in Geology.

Hard core Field Geologist 

Proffessional Affiliations

  • Fellow Society of Economic Geologist (SEG, USA)

  • Fellow ICDD (USA)

  • Fellow IAGOD

  • Member-National Academy of Sciences (NASI)

  • Member GSSA 
  • Fellow MGMI