Aerial survey for minerals to focus on Raj, Deccan, Jharkhand

In a bid to encourage mineral exploration, the government will conduct aero-geophysical surveys, particularly focusing on western Rajasthan, Deccan trap, areas in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bundelkhand.
Mines Ministry is in the process of conducting an aerial survey of 8.13 lakh sq km area for probing deep seated and concealed mineral deposits. Ministry will appoint a consultant this month and will float a tender by May to hire an agency to conduct the aero-geophysical survey.
"These surveys provide valuable inputs on soil-covered and concealed minerals deposits. West Rajasthan, Deccan trap and peneplained precambrian terrains are areas that will be focused in the surveys to get more precision in data generation," a senior government official said.

Precambrian period extends from around 4.6 billion years ago -- when Earth began to form -- to the beginning of the Cambrian period, 541 million years ago, while peneplain is an area that has been reduced almost to a plain due to erosion.
The precambrian rocks are divided into distinct segments based on principle orogenic trend and are spread over Dharwar, Eastern Ghat, Aravalli and Satpura.
GSI is taking up the National Aero-geophysical Mapping Programme (NAGMP), which includes acquiring aeromagnetic and gravity data. This will aid exploration companies, he said.

"The project will start in the next fiscal, beginning April, and is expected to be completed by 2020-21. The maps and data will be provided in the public domain," he added.

Earlier this month, Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar told PTI that the selection of consultant for aero-geophysical survey of the entire 8 lakh sq km area is in advanced stage and is likely to be completed this month.
He added that the changes being brought in the mining sector over the last one and a half years are going to revolutionise the space in the coming 2-3 years.
Besides, Geological Survey of India has identified 100 blocks which will be offered to private explorers for regional exploration.
These blocks includes total area of about 12,000 sq km with prospects for minerals such as, basemetal, gold, iron, tin/tungsten, strategic minerals, etc.