Survey to explore minerals at 25 potential sites in Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh government has approved 25 potential sites where surveys will be conducted to explore deposits of diamond, gold, and other minerals in the current financial year (2022-23), a senior official with the mining department said.
 

The sites were finalised at a recently concluded meeting of Chhattisgarh State Geological Programming Board. Besides six sites of limestone, surveys would be taken up at 14 places with potential iron ore deposits. One site each of potential gold, copper, graphite, bauxite, and moissanite would be taken up for the initial study, the official said. Once the preliminary exploration is completed, the advanced exploration work with modern technology would be taken up.
 

Endowed with rich minerals, the Chhattisgarh government has decided to accelerate the exploration work that could generate additional revenue for the state. In the financial year 2021-22, Chhattisgarh has earned Rs 12,305 crore from the mining revenue. The amount, which is 29 times the revenue recorded during the state’s inception in November 2000, will further enhance with the operation of more mines.
 

The state government officials said prospecting work had almost completed in three limestone mines located in Champa-Janjgir district. The three mines include Hirmi, Karhi-Chandi-Khaparadih and Dhabadih. The officials said the combined reserve of all the three limestone mines was over 2,000 million tonnes (MT). The state would soon float tender and auction the limestone mines.
 

As of now, Chhattisgarh has identified over 100 potential mineral blocks on the basis of exploration taken up by government agencies. 
 

The state had issued tender inviting notices for 40 mineral blocks of minerals like gold, iron ore, limestone, and bauxite. Of it, as many as 15 blocks have been successfully auctioned.
 

The state is working out an extensive plan to explore high-value minerals with a focus on lithium. According to officials, surveys have indicated lithium deposits in the central and southern regions of Chhattisgarh.
 

The state has expedited the work to complete the required clearances and extract lithium, given the demand for the mineral.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified a Lithium Block in Katghora-Guchapur area of Korba district, and the reconnaissance survey hints at deposits of lithium with high concentration.
 

In the Korba belt, analytical results indicate significant mineralisation of rare earth elements and other rare metals. Similarly, a reconnaissance survey for gold and associated sulphide mineralisation in Barjor area of Jashpur district reveals the anomalous gold value in the bedrock sample.