SMM11, 19 March: mineral reserves in remote areas of northeastern India are worth more than 10 trillion rupees, an official from the Geological Survey of India said today. However, these deposits found in inland areas have not yet been explored.
(Tapan Pal), director of PSS, GSI and (North Eastern Region) in the north-east, said exploration of the minerals would contribute to the region's economic prosperity.
Mulkh Raj Jarngal, director and deputy director of India's Northeast Regional Bureau, said coal reserves in Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are estimated at 164.2 million tons. "in Mount Gallo, we estimate coal reserves at about 576.48 million tons. However, in the Cassie Mountains, we are unable to carry out exploration due to geological and local problems.
He also said that the reserves of bauxite in Meghalaya were estimated at 5.88 million tons. Gallium, scandium and other metal elements have also been found in laterite bauxite.
GSI also reported that 98088 tons of ilmenite bauxite had been mined from the Song Valley in Meghalaya. Another Director-General also informed that an estimated 38,000 tons of sillimanite reserves had been found in the Niangbrakgithim area near Mount West and Mount Mangarro.
GSI said it was awaiting approval from the Hasishan Autonomous Regional Council to begin mining bauxite in the Nongstoin region. Jarngal was also informed that limestone resources estimated at 101.086 million tons had been found in Meghalaya and southern Assam.
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