Dr. Boddepalli Govindarao

Assistant Professor
Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Kanpur

Research Interests: Ore Geochemistry • Critical Metal Exploration • Experimental Sulfide Mineralogy • Geometallurgy • Metal-Microbe Interaction

About Me

Dr. Govindarao

Assistant Professor, Economic Geology

PhD, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur

My areas of expertise include economic geology, ore geochemistry, mineral exploration, and experimental sulfide mineralogy. My research focuses on understanding the genesis and occurrence of base and critical metals through a combination of field-based and experimental techniques.

I utilize state-of-the-art analytical facilities, including EPMA, SEM-EDX, LA-ICP-MS, TEM, XRF, and XRD, to solve problems in Ore Geology and Geometallurgy. I also conduct collaborative research to assess heavy metal concentrations in soil and sediments.

  • Phone: +91-512-679-2285
  • Email: bgovind@iitk.ac.in
  • Office: Room No. 307, Department of Earth Sciences, ESB-3
  • Website: https://www.iitk.ac.in/govindarao-boddepalli

Publications

Peer-reviewed Journals

  • 2020: Govindarao, B., Pruseth, K.L. and Mishra, B. Sulfide partial melting and galena-tetrahedrite intergrowth texture: An experimental study. Mineralogical Magazine, 84(6), pp.859-868.
  • 2020: Govindarao, B., Pruseth, K.L. and Mishra, B. Experimentally produced Cu-Pb-Ag-Sb-S melts at 500°C: implications to partial melting of massive sulfide ores. Ore Geology Reviews, 121, p.103560.
  • 2018: Govindarao, B., Pruseth K.L., Mishra, B. Sulfide partial melting and chalcopyrite disease: an experimental study. American Mineralogist, V. 103, pp. 1200-1207.
  • 2017: Govindarao, B., Parihar, R., Pruseth, K.L., Mishra. B. The occurrence of breithauptite and nisbite-like Sb-Ni phases at Sindesar-Khurd, Rajasthan, India: implication to melt-assisted sulfide remobilization. Canadian Mineralogist, V. 55, pp. 75-87.

Conference Proceedings

  • 2025: Govindarao, B. and Panda, P. Trace and REE signatures of chalcopyrite from Malanjkhand copper deposit, Madhya Pradesh, India, Goldschmidt2025.
  • 2024: Govindarao, B. and Ganesh, Y. Rare earth element geochemistry of manganese deposits from Garividi, Andhra Pradesh, India, Magmatic processes in the Indian Shield, ANRF, IIT Kanpur.
  • 2022: Govindarao, B., Chinnasamy, S. S. Srivastav, P., Mathew, G. Evidences of diffusion dominated cubanite lamellae in chalcopyrite. Abstract. American Geophysical Union, USA.
  • 2018: Govindarao, B., Pruseth, K.L., Mishra. B. Compositions of Cu-Pb-Ag-Sb-S melts produced at 500°C. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 217.
  • 2018: Govindarao, B., Pruseth, K.L., Mishra. B. The correlation between the contents of Cu, Pb, Fe, Zn, and Sb with S in sulfide partial melts at 600°C. Abstract, in SEG conference Keystone, Colorado, USA.
  • 2017: Govindarao, B., Pruseth K.L., Mishra, B. Sulfide partial melting and chalcopyrite disease in sphalerite. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 378.
  • 2016: Govindarao, B., Pruseth, K.L., Mishra. B. Melting experiments in the ZnS-PbS-FeS-CuSbS2 system at 600°C. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 256.
  • 2016: Govindarao, B., Pruseth, K.L., Mishra. B. Melting Experiments in the System ZnS-PbS-FeS-Cu2S-Sb2S3: Implication to metamorphosed base metal sulfide deposits. Abstract, in GSI Seminar 2016, India, Seminar Abstract Volume, pp. 222-223.

Our Team

Current scholars and lab alumni

Ph.D. Scholars

Pratikshya Panda

Batch 2025

Trace element and critical mineral potential in chalcopyrite

Shivani Patel

Batch 2025

Topic Title Pending

Swastik Deshmukh

Batch 2025

Mapping of mineral with Remote Sensing methods

swastikd25@iitk.ac.in

Bulbul Barik

Batch 2025

Topic Title Pending

M.Tech. (On-going)

Mridul Anand

Batch 2025

MS / M.Tech (Completed)

Vanishika Meena

2026

Ganesh Yeldurthi

2024

Riddhiman Gosh

2024

EconXLab

Economic Geology and Experimental Ore Petrology Laboratory

Welcome to EconXLab at the Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Kanpur. Our group is dedicated to advancing the understanding of ore-forming processes through an integrated approach that combines field studies, analytical techniques, and experimental work.

Facilities Available

(Contact PI for user charges)

  • Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
  • Petrographic Microscopes
  • Tube Furnace (up to 1000°C)
  • Muffle furnace (up to 1000°C)
  • Hydrothermal oven (300°C)
  • Autoclave Reactors
  • High Pressure Autoclave
  • Fume hood & desiccators
  • Precision cutting machine
  • Grinding & Polishing
  • Ultrasonic cleaner
  • Hot plate & magnetic stirrer

Service: Ore Characterization

For mining and metallurgical applications

  • Ore polished section preparation
  • Ore mineral identification
  • Micro textural characterization
  • Micro-electron beam analysis
  • Whole rock major and minor elemental analysis

For service details and charges, contact: bgovind@iitk.ac.in

Contact Information

Location

Room No. 307, Second Floor
Department of Earth Sciences
ESB-3, IIT Kanpur

Email

bgovind@iitk.ac.in

Call

+91 512 679 2285