GEOLOGICAL Survey of India (GSI) has zeroed in on Gondia and neighbouring Chhattisgarh State for exploring possibility of harvesting the uranium deposits in the area. Preliminary study hinted at availability of the uranium that is quite crucial in meeting the energy requirements of the country. Navjit Singh Nayar, Director, GSI, stated that preliminary survey has hinted at presence of uranium in the Bijli Rhyolite strata on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border and hence further detailed survey would be needed to confirm the earlier findings. Uranium is quite rare material as in case the deposits are found, same would need further test post exploration to find out its strength and purity and then only its further usage could be discussed. GSI’s finding was discussed at the 60th meeting of Maharashtra State G e o l o g i c a l Programme Board (SGPB). It was held at GSI’s headquarters in city. Iqbal Chahal, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Mining, Maharashtra, chaired the meet.

 

The meet of agencies working in exploration of earth materials was to review the exploration work conducted in Maharashtra during the Field Season 2023-24 by Department of Geology and Mining. Speaking at the meeting, Chahal asked the top bosses of all the agencies to increase the pace of exploration of critical mineral as same can be game changer for the economy. There are deep seated minerals and their proper survey and documentation is needed to help finalise the policy of mining and geological exploration. Further Chahal asked the agencies to tap Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to achieve the exploration targets. Bijli Rhyolite is a volcanic rock and it is made up of quartz, sanidine and plagioclase and other minerals and hence further detail exploration is needed to confirm the presence of uranium, said Shrikant Manthanwar, Regional Director, AMD. The meeting was also informed that in Nagpur District Kyanite- Sillimanite deposits have been found while at Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts Limestone presence is detected. Also in Sindhudurg district, bauxite deposits have been found in the survey. The meet reviewed the findings of 12 geological projects for the year 2023-24 and also discussed exploration plan for 2024-25 was finalised, and Anjali Nagarkar, Director, Directorate of Geology and Mining, talked about taking 15 surveys for the Field Season 2024-25 that would be taken-up in districts of Nagpur, Kolhapur, Bhandara and Chandrapur.

 

The survey during 2023-24 was taken-up by GSI, Directorate of Geology and Mining, AMD, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI), Mineral Exploration and Consultany Limited (MECL), and other agencies. GSI officials informed that they would be conducting survey for copper, bauxite and other rare earth element during the forthcoming year. Pradip Kulkarni, MECL, stated that mineral exploration is on at Mirgaon block of Bhandara district while Shubham Anjanakar, MOIL, briefed about their ongoing work in Chikhli, Dongri Bazar, Kandri and Beldongri Satak areas of Bhandara and Nagpur District. Pravin Gupte, Chief Scientist, Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminum Research and Development and Design Centre, proposed tie-up with Directorate of Geology and Mining for including in forthcoming mineral auctions. Ajay Deshpande, Associate Scientist, Maharashtra State Remote Sensing Application Centre, informed about mapping of WCL mines and damage assessment of Kharif and Rabi corps through satellite imagery for Nagpur District administration.

 

Om Dutt, WCL, and R Karthikeyan, CMPDI,WCL officials said this year they are targeting excavation in 1,73,824.70 meter area in 40 minutes as against 68,830.10 meter during the last year. Shriram Kadu, Directorate of Geology and Mining, and S P Awale, Deputy Director, was also present. Rao said that there is need for better co-ordination among different agencies to increase the revenue. He referred to reports of Bauxite with JNRDDC and stressed on organising AI training so that all others can be acquainted with the same. Bibhas Sen, Deputy Director General, GSI, RamThapar, IBM, Om Datta Bijani, Sr Manager, CMPDI, R Kartikeyan, Manager, CMDPI, Vandit Vyas, WCL, Shriram Kadu, S P Awale, Roshan Meshram, Senior Geologists, and others were also present at the meeting.