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Jamshedpur, May 15: Mineral-rich Jharkhand may soon feed the growing demand for gold, platinum and rare earth minerals in India.
The Geological Survey of India’s (GSI) eastern India head office in Calcutta, in its projected exploration report for 2012-13, has included the Singhbhum belt for gold and platinum exploration and Silli block in Ranchi district for unearthing rare earth minerals.
The GSI has given its nod for extending the ongoing gold exploration project at Rodiya village, around 7km from Chandil sub-division in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, and a 15km stretch between Parasi and Ghanshyampur villages in Tamar block of Ranchi.
Sources in the state unit of GSI in Ranchi confirmed that the gold exploration at Chandil and Tamar blocks, which has been carried out for more than a year, had reached its final stage of chemical assessment and data synthesising.
The various phases of exploration for future mining activity begins with geological mapping, systematic sampling. If results are positive, further mapping and closer sampling, followed by drilling are carried out.
The process is wrapped up with a final assessment of the chemicals and data synthesising.
“At the moment, we are awaiting reports of the chemical assessment to determine the grade of gold found in these regions. This will be the exploration’s final outcome,” said a senior official at the GSI state unit.
This apart, a separate team of GSI surveyors that had conducted mappings for gold exploration at Tilaitand near Sundernagar in Potka block of East Singhbhum district has found positive results as well.
“Favourable results have cropped up during mapping on the Kunderkocha patch. We will be starting further mapping and samplings in this region,” the official told The Telegraph.
Kunderkocha, which falls in Potka, has already seen private gold mining with commercial production begun in March 2004 by Manmohan Mineral Industries on a 48.5-acre area taken on lease.
GSI teams of surveyors are also camping in Jojohatu village of Tonto block in West Singhbhum, 80km from Jamshedpur, to start geological mapping for platinum in the area.
“Platinum group of elements have already been found in this region and we will be carrying out mapping in 2012-13. The explorations will kick off either before or after monsoon,” said the state GSI official.
The platinum group of elements is widely used in the nuclear sector as well as the electronic industry.
The GSI is also eyeing Muri village in Silli block of Ranchi for the prospect of exploration of rare earth minerals. It assumes significance in the wake of the recent move by China to ban export of rare earth minerals to any country.
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