25-Jul-2022: Exploration of Lithium in The Country

Every year, as per approved annual Field Season Programme [FSP], Geological Survey of India [GSI], an attached office of Ministry of Mines, takes up different stages of mineral exploration viz. reconnaissance surveys (G4), preliminary exploration (G3) and general exploration (G2) following the guidelines of United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and Mineral Evidence and Mineral Content Rules (MEMC-2015) for augmenting mineral resource for various mineral commodities including lithium.

During the last five years, GSI carried out 20 projects on Lithium and associated elements in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan. During the present FSP 2022-23, GSI has taken up 18 projects on Lithium in Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan. However, resource of lithium has not yet been augmented by GSI.

Further, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is carrying out exploration for lithium in the potential geological domains of the country. Presently, AMD is carrying out exploration for lithium in parts of Mandya and Yadgir districts, Karnataka.

Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL), a Joint Venture of three CPSEs under Ministry of Mines, has signed a Non-Binding Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with three State-owned organizations of Argentina, for the purpose of information sharing w.r.t. prospective mineral acreages of lithium:

A G2G MoU has been signed between Government of India and the Government of Australia for co-operation in the field of mining and processing of Critical and Strategic Minerals such as Lithium. KABIL has signed a detailed MoU with Critical Minerals Facilitation Office [CMFO], Department of Industry, Science and Resources [DISER], Australia for identifying lithium and cobalt assets for joint investment decisions.

15-Jul-2022: Geological Survey of India Celebrates AKAM Iconic Week with Patriotic Fervour

Geological Survey of India (GSI) celebrated Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (75 years of India’s independence) with great zeal and pomp at Kolkata headquarters and simultaneously throughout its 32 office locations spread across the country. The function was organized as part of the Iconic Week Celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) of the Ministry of Mines that started on 11th July 2022 and will continue till 17th July. Iconic Week is being celebrated pan India by all the departments/organizations under the Ministry.

The main function was held at GSI Central Headquarters campus in Kolkata. The day- long program started with inauguration of an exhibition at Ashutosh Birth Centenary Hall of Indian Museum. Outdoor activities like, release of 75 balloons, unveiling of pot gallery and planting of saplings by Dr. S. Raju, Director General, GSI were some of the highlights of the celebrations.

The indoor program, at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Auditorium, was inaugurated by lighting a lamp by Dr. S. Raju. The program started with the welcoming of the guests and recitation of “Vande Ma Taram”. Three books namely, Spl. Pub. on Active Fault Compendium of India; Records of GSI, Vol-155, Part-2; Indian Journal of Geosciences, Vol-76, No-1 and two online e-publications, Atlas on Sub-marine features of Indian offshore and Geotourism Map of India were released by the DG, and the retired officers were also felicitated by the DG on the occasion. 

Addressing the august gathering, Dr. S. Raju, elaborated the vision, mission and strategic importance of GSI in the changing national and global socio-economic scenario. He also reckoned the future activities of GSI, especially in the domain of mineral exploration and Public Good Geosciences, to make GSI relevant in the years to come. Dr. Raju highlighted GSI’s  efforts for the strategic and critical mineral exploration towards making India “Atmanirbhar”. 

The exhibition organized at Ashutosh Birth Centenary Hall, displayed specimen of rocks, minerals, ores and fossils and their importance were explained to the guests and dignitaries. GSI’s activities and achievements during the last 75 years were also displayed through banners, posters and digital displays. A quiz competition was organized for the students and employees on the Indian Independence and GSI’s landmark achievements. Cultural programs by professional groups on the themes of Indian Independence and Women empowerment were appreciated by one and all.

28-Mar-2022: Survey for New Minerals

The new minerals for which exploration has been done are Emerald, Glauconite, Potash, Molybdenum, Platinum Group of Elements [PGE] and Andalusite.

The Geological Survey of India and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited have submitted geological reports of 25 Blocks of above-mentioned minerals to the State Governments. On 15.03.2022, amendment in Second Schedule has been notified specifying rates of royalty on these minerals. Now, the States can initiate process for auction of these Blocks. The States where these minerals are found are as follows:

1. Potash, Glauconite – Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan (ii) Andalusite – Uttar Pradesh
2. PGE – Tamil Nadu, Kerala
3. Molybdenum – Tamil Nadu.

21-Mar-2022: 61st Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) Meeting of Geological Survey of India (GSI) to be Held in New Delhi

The 61st Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting organized by Geological Survey of India (GSI) under the Ministry of Mines will be held here on 24th March 2022 at NASC Complex, ICAR, Pusa. Union Minister of Coal, Mines & Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi will be the Chief Guest and Minister of State for Coal, Mines and Railways Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve will be the guest of honour.

Senior officers of Ministry of Mines, Geological Survey of India (GSI), members from other Central Ministries, State Directorates of Mining and Geology, representatives from private mining industry, PSUs, Mining associations and other stakeholders will be participating in the meeting. During the one-day meeting, review of follow-up action on the Agenda items of 60th CGPB meeting as well as the new agenda items proposed by the stake holders will be discussed by the Board. Field Season Proposals of GSI for the year 2022-23 will be placed before the Board for discussion.

GSI has formulated about 983 scientific programs for the year 2022-23, which includes 250 programs under mineral exploration including 14 marine mineral investigation programs. Thrust has been given on the exploration of strategic - critical and fertilizer minerals. A total of 106 projects on strategic & critical minerals including 20 projects on fertilizer minerals have been proposed for the year 2022-23. About 100 programs having high socio-economic impact have been proposed under Public Good Geosciences. Last year, during 2021-22, GSI implemented 979 programs, which included 251 programs under mineral exploration including 11 marine mineral investigation programs and 106 programs under Public Good Geosciences.

During the forthcoming year of 2022-23, out of 983 projects, GSI is going to take up 32 programmes at the request of State Governments; 12 programmes in collaboration with national institutes, organisations, IITs etc.; 4 sponsored training courses will be taken up with ISRO and MoEA and there will be 20 sponsored geotechnical projects with various stakeholders like NWDA, CWC, NHPC, Indian Railways, State Irrigation Departments, BRO etc. The finalization of programs will take into consideration the priorities and importance set forth by the Government of India through its various policy decisions and also on the basis of the recommendations of CGPB Committees’ and State Geological Programming Board (SGPB) meetings.

Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi will hand over seven resource bearing geological reports (G2 & G3 stage) of commodities like copper, bauxite, potash, limestone and iron & manganese to the representatives of the respective state DGMs of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Along with this, potential G4 mineral blocks, for auction as Composite License (CL)will be handed over to the respective state representatives of 11 states. These potential blocks consist of mineral commodities like base metal, bauxite, phosphorite, gypsum, limestone, graphite, gold, nickel, chromium, iron, manganese, PGE and diamond. A few publications and a video on “Marine Mineral Exploration by GSI” will be released during the meeting.

The Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) is an important platform of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines wherein the Annual Field Season Program (FSP) of GSI is placed for discussion and to avoid duplication of work. The members of CGPB and other stakeholders like State Governments, Central/ State Government Mineral Exploration Agencies, PSUs and Private Entrepreneurs place their requests for collaborative work with GSI. Based on the priorities set by the Government of India and the importance and urgency of proposals presented by the members and stakeholders, the Annual Programme of GSI for survey & mapping, exploration, Research and Development, multidisciplinary catering to societal projects and training & capacity building programmes during the forthcoming financial year is given a final shape after due discussion and deliberations held at the topmost level at CGPB meeting, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Mines.

5-Mar-2022: Geological Survey of India Pledges to Focus on Augmentation of Mineral Wealth

Geological Survey of India (GSI), the premier Geological organisation of India, celebrated its 172nd Foundation Day  across all the offices with great enthusiasm. The main function was held at the Central Headquarters of GSI, Kolkata yesterday, where Shri Rajendra Singh Garkhal, Director General,  inaugurated the celebrations.

Shri R. S. Garkhal, underlined the strides made by GSI during the last 172 years and stressed on the need to sustain the same through  various initiatives that the organization  has taken  up under its five Missions. He pointed out that GSI has been instrumental in identifying the mineral blocks and augmenting the vast mineral resources of the nation. Shri Garkhal highlighted that recently GSI has handed over more than 150 G2 and G3 Mineral Blocks as well as 152 G4 Mineral Blocks to various state governments for auctioning.  He called upon the young officers to work tirelessly and make use of  state of art technologies for carrying out explorations and other geoscientific work to make the nation self-reliant in the mineral sector. Shri Garkhal interacted with the students and enlightened them about the activities  of GSI and the achievements   made by the organisation since its  inception.

Speaking on the occasion Shri M.M. Powar, ADG & HoD, highlighted the new initiatives that GSI have undertaken, especially on the administration front. Dr. S. Raju, ADG & NMH-III & IV said that GSI as an organisation has evolved with the passage of time and has become a premier Geo-Scientific organization in the world.

On the occasion, coffee table books and audio-visuals were released on the activities undertaken through different missions of GSI. An exhibition of rocks, minerals and fossils was also organized for the students of various colleges from Kolkata and its suburbs.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways. Over the years, GSI has not only grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various fields in the country but has also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute. Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seism tectonic study, and carrying out fundamental research.

GSI’s chief role includes providing objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and geoscientific information of all kinds, with a focus on policy making decisions, commercial and socio-economic needs. GSI also emphasises on systematic documentation of all geological processes derived out of surface and subsurface of India and its offshore areas. The organisation does so by using the latest and most cost-effective techniques and methodologies, including geophysical and geochemical and geological surveys.

GSI’s core competence in survey and mapping is continuously enhanced through accretion, management, coordination and utilization of spatial databases (including those acquired through remote sensing). It functions as a ‘Repository’ or ‘clearing house’ for the purpose and uses the latest computer-based technologies for dissemination of geoscientific information and spatial data, through cooperation and collaboration with other stakeholders in the Geo-informatics sector.

An attached office of the Ministry of Mines, GSI has six regional offices located in Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata and unit offices in almost all states of the country.

8-Sep-2021: Cabinet approves the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in field of Geosciences between the Joint Stock Company Rosgeologia, Russia and the Geological Survey of India (GSI), India

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of Geosciences between the Joint Stock Company Rosgeologia (State holding Company) (referred to as ROSGEO), a legal entity incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation and the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, Government of India.

The main objective of this MoU is to extend mutual cooperation for technological collaboration on exploration for deep-seated and / or concealed mineral deposit; analysis and interpretation of the aero-geophysical data; PGE and REE Exploration and Research; Joint development of the Indian Geoscience Data repository with the Russian state-of-the-art Information Technology; exchange of technology & knowledge in the field of drilling, sampling and laboratory analysis to achieve data accuracy, and cost optimization; and training and capacity building of scientific personnel etc., between "both the parties in the fields of Geosciences.

In view of the rich experience of ROSGEO and GSI and their potential of cooperation, this MoU is particularly beneficial in order to provide an umbrella framework for co-operation between GSI and ROSGEO in the field of Geosciences.

Background: Joint Stock Company Rosgeologia (ROSGEO) is the largest geological State holding company in the Russian Federation with a developed production and technical capabilities, high professional competences and a unique scope of accumulated geological information. The company performs all types of geological prospecting and exploration activities from regional surveys for all types of mineral resources to estimation of the reserves and commissioning of the fields into operation, it possesses the unique competence in the area of offshore geological and on-shelf operations.

During the visit to India in the year 2020, a delegation of ROSGEO had a meeting with the Ministry of Mines and Geological Survey of India (GSI) to discuss the perspectives of Cooperation in exploration works in New Delhi. In this meeting, an MoU was proposed to be signed between GSI and ROSGEO on cooperation in the Field of Geosciences. Accordingly, GSI finalized a draft MoU in consultation with its Russian counterpart i.e. ROSGEO.

28-Jul-2021: Geological Survey of India takes up Seven Projects For Lithium exploration in Different States

Every year, as per approved annual Field Season Programme [FSP], Geological Survey of India, an attached office of Ministry of Mines, takes up different stages of mineral exploration namely reconnaissance surveys (G4), preliminary exploration (G3) and general exploration(G2) following the guidelines of United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and Mineral Evidence and Mineral Content Rules (MEMC-2015) for augmenting  mineral resource for various mineral commodities including lithium.

During FSP 2016-17 to FSP 2020-21, GSI carried out 14 projects on Lithium and associated elements in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Karnataka and Rajasthan. During the present FSP 2021-22, GSI has taken up 7 projects on Lithium in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. However, resource of lithium has not yet been augmented by GSI.

Further, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMDER), a constituent unit of Department Atomic Energy (DAE),has undertaken exploration for lithium in potential geological domains in parts of Karnataka and Rajasthan. AMDER has also taken up subsurface exploration in Marlagalla area, Mandya district,  Karnataka. Reconnaissance surveys have been also carried out along Saraswathi River Palaeochannel, in Jodhpur  and Barmer districts, Rajasthan for locating lithium  mineralisation associated with brine (saline water in salt lakes). Preliminary surveys on surface and limited

subsurface exploration by AMD, have shown presence of Lithium resources of 1,600 tonnes (inferred category) in the pegmatites of Marlagalla – Allapatna area, Mandya district, Karnataka.

As per the available records, Lithium bearing minerals are in Part B ‘Atomic Minerals’ of First Schedule to MMDR Act, 1957 and their reserves/resources are not available in National Mineral Inventory.

Under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, a joint venture company named ‘Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) has been formed by three CPSEs namely National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO),Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL)with equity participation of 40:30:30 respectively, to acquire mineral assets overseas – primarily the critical & strategic minerals including Lithium, Cobalt & others and NOT Rare Earth Elements.

KABIL has signed Non-Binding Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with non-disclosure agreement with the following three State-owned organizations of Argentina, for the purpose of information sharing w.r.t. prospective mineral acreages:

1. M/s JEMSE, a State-owned enterprise of JUJUY province on 10th July, 2020,
2. M/S YPF an Energy major & federal owned enterprises on 9th September, 2020, and
3. M/s CAMYEN, a state owned enterprise of CATAMARCA province on 29th December, 2020.

15-May-2019: Minerals on China border

Arunachal Pradesh has asked the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to explore the possibility of surveying and drilling for minerals along the India-China border since, Beijing carries out “massive” mining activities very close to the border in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Arunachal Pradesh shares 1,126 km of the 3,488 km India shares with China. The State government has also sought the development of road for exploration and extraction of minerals along the international border. The GSI presented the status of mineral deposits in Arunachal Pradesh at the meeting. Data showed that the State has 35% of the total graphite reserves in India – the highest in the country.

The GSI’s 2013 report, however, showed Arunachal Pradesh sits on 43% of the country’s graphite resources followed by Jammu & Kashmir (37%), Jharkhand (6%), Tamil Nadu (5%), and Odisha (3%), But in terms of resources, Tamil Nadu led with 37% followed by Jharkhand with 30% and Odisha with 29%.

The only non-metal element that is a good conductor of electricity, graphite is known as a dry lubricant for its greasy feel. Graphite has many industrial uses, particularly for products that need very high heat.

The State Mining Department and GSI also agreed to promote geo-tourism in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in districts such as Papum Pare, Kurung Kumey, and Ajnaw that have cave formations with lime deposits. Meghalaya is the only State in the Northeast where limestone-rich caves attract a large number of tourists annually. However, many of the Meghalaya caves are under threat from haphazard coal and limestone mining.