Minerals

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Karmayogi

Minerals

Geological and metallogenic history of India is similar to mineral rich Australia, South Africa, South America, and Antarctica, as they formed a contiguous landmass prior to the breaking up of Gondwanaland.

Possessing a rich wealth of mineral resources and a flourishing mining industry producing 84 minerals out of which 4 are fuel minerals, 11 metallic, 49 non metallic and 20 minor minerals, India is wholly or largely self-sufficient in about 40 minerals constituting primary raw-materials for thermal power generation, iron and steel, aluminium, cemet, refractories, ceramics, glass and inorganic chemicals.

The public sector contributes 90 percent of the total mineral production in India. In 1995-96, India produced minerals (excluding atomic minerals) worth US $9 billion. India's mining industry employs 0.8 million people, and accounts for about 3.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product ('GDP"), and 11 percent of total industrial production of the country, minerals form 17 percent of India's exports. The exports include cut-and-polished diamonds, mica, iron-ore, chromite, granite (dimension stone), manganese ore, barytes, and soapstone, valued at US $7.2 billion in 1996-97.

The recent discovery of high value minerals like gold, diamond and tungsten in certain areas has enhanced the possibility of further exploration and exsploitation of such minerals.

An extimated 85 billion tonnes of mineral reserves remain to be exploited. Besides coal, oil and gas reserves, the mineral inventory in India includes 13,000 deposits/prospects of 61 non-fuel minerals.

Contribution of other governmental organisations:
High quality geological database has been generated by natiional agencies like the Geological Survey of India, Mineral Exploration Corporation, National Remote Sensing Agency, National Geophysical Research Institute and Indian Bureau of Mines. This database is accessible on a commercial basis and makes investment in mining exploratiion in India a low-risk investment proposition. These organizations also help the government in formulating the policy for mining operation and its implementation.

Fast Facts:
- India has one of the world's largest reserves of Chromium; Barite; Titanium concentrate and granite or Dimension Stone

- India is the largest producer of Mica in the world

- India is one of the largest producer and exporter of gemstones in the world.

- Minerals form about 17% of India's exports.