India has stepped up exploration for critical minerals, with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) considering 195 exploration projects for the 2024-25 field season (current fiscal year), which is more than the previous three This represents almost half of the 433 exploration projects carried out during the field season (2020-2020). from 2021 to 2023-24). There are 16 Critical Minerals Assessment Programs (CMAPs) under which the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan has identified secondary enrichment zones, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. It has been implemented in 10 states including the state, Kerala, Telangana, Manipur and Meghalaya. .
India has a list of 24 important minerals and reserves of at least 17 discovered or recorded by India.
These minerals are important for our future as they support industries such as technology, defense, and clean energy. By exploring and securing these resources, India aims to reduce its dependence on imports and strengthen its position in the global supply of critical minerals.
Of the 48 important mineral blocks that were auctioned in four separate auctions, 24 were sold.
According to details available from the Union Ministry of Mines and provided by Lok Sabha Minister G. Kishan Reddy, there is nearly 40 million tonnes of graphite in India, including in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand. It includes 8.6 tonnes spread across five provinces. , Kerala, Odisha and Tamil Nadu) and 32 meters across Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal and Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. – As per details of resource augmentation provided by GSI at various cut-offs and grades.
Similarly, India’s phosphorous (phosphate rock) reserves are reported to be around 31 tonnes, primarily across two states, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The combined titanium reserves in the states of Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu amount to approximately 16 meters.
Some of the other significant mineral reserves (originally thought to be less than 1 meter) include reserves such as zirconium in Kerala, Orissa and Tamil Nadu, ore and Contains metal reserves of tin.
Increased resources
Since the MMDR Amendment Act of 2015, resources expanded across the state by GSI cover a further 15 critical minerals, including 32 tonnes of graphite.
According to data submitted to Parliament, India has 230 tonnes of rare earth elements (REE – RM) resources spread across eight states, with Gujarat having the most at 192.67 tonnes, followed by Assam at 30.51 tonnes. . Approximately 282 tonnes of niobium – all in Gujarat. Glauconite/potassium is 830 meters with the largest deposits reported from Rajasthan at 354 meters and Bihar at 300 meters.
Other big resources include lithium, also known as white gold. This includes 5.9 meters in J&K and 6.4 meters in Rajasthan. 41 meters of titanium – mostly in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, 28.7 meters and 12.6 meters respectively. 74 metric tons of gallium – Chhattisgarh (30.5 metric tons) and MP (28.7 metric tons) are the main resource producing states. 71 tonnes of vanadium – mainly from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and MP.
Smaller reserves of less than 5 meters have been reported for minerals such as platinum group elements (Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra), tin (3 meters in Haryana) and molybdenum (Tamil Nadu – 1.7 meters). Masu.
andhra story
“Geological Report (GR) containing 59 resources and 65 Geological Memorandum (GM) of GSI on critical mineral commodities have been handed over to the concerned State/Central Government for auction.Andhra Pradesh As for the state, four GRs and two GMs in critical mineral commodities have been handed over,” Reddy said in Parliament recently.
Significant mineral-bearing resources (for which GRs have been handed over) include two graphite blocks in Andhra’s East Godavari district, manganese and cobalt in Vizianagaram district, and tungsten in Anantapur. GSI’s geological memorandum included one lithium block at Kadapa and one graphite block at Vizianagaram.
