Algae Associated with Alluvial Gold of Indus at Attock
Abstract
Soil algal flora from auriferous alluvials of the river Indus in the vicinity of Attock Fort were studied. In all 31 species belonging to 18 genera were found. The blue green genera were Aphanocapsa (1 sp.), calothrix (1 sp.), Chrooccus (3 spp.), Gloeothece (1 sp.), Lyngbya (1 sp.), Merismopedia (1 sp.), Nostoc (1 sp.), Oscillatoria (8 spp.), Phormidium (3 spp.), Stichosiphon (1 sp.) and Symploca (2 spp.). The Chlorophyceae found belong to 6 genera viz., Gloeocystis (1 sp.), Micrspora (1 sp.) and Ulothrix (1 sp.). Xanthophyceae was represented by a single plant, Heterococcus. This is the first study of algae found in relation with gold and may help in gold prospecting.
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