Mica reserves found in 5 districts

Business Standard, 19th December, 2008

Scanty and scattered reserves of mica have been traced in five districts of Orissa like Kalahandi, Koraput, Phulbani, Bolangir and Sundergarh.
Though the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has traced some scattered reserves of mica in these districts, detailed investigations are yet to be taken to assess the actual reserves in these areas, the steel and mines minister Pradeep Amat said.
He said, only two leases were granted for mining mica in two locations namely Sandubuli and Haradali in Koraput district. While the lease for Sandubuli mica mines remained in force from March 1981 to March 2001, the lease for Haradali mica mines was in force from August 1986 to August 2006.
Regarding the reserves of other minerals in the state, the minister said, as per the information made available by the directorate of geology, the state has a total reserve of 5371 million tonne of iron ore, 121 million tonne of manganese and 1798 million tonne of bauxite.
While the reserves of iron ore in the freehold areas in the districts of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh and Jajpur was estimated at 1164 million tonne, reserves in the retrieved areas in Keonjhar and Sundergarh district was estimated at 197 million tonne. About 277.837 hectares have been reserved in Thakurani-A iron ore block in Keonjhar district for the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the Central public sector undertaking (CPSU).
Similarly, Malangtoli area having a reserve of 434 million tonne has been earmarked for the proposed joint venture (JV) of Orissa Mining Development Corporation (OMC) with Rio Tinto Mineral Development and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC). Besides, the areas, for which mining lease has been granted but not executed till date, is estimated to have a reserve of about 428 million tonne.
The reserves in the leasehold areas is about 3065 million tonne, taking the total known iron ore reserves in Orissa to 5371 million tonne. Similarly, manganese reserves in the freehold areas in the Raygada, Bolangir and Sundergarh district were estimated at 31.30 million tonne. The reserves in the leasehold areas were estimated at 89.7 million tonnes, taking the total to 121 million tonne.
Regarding the bauxite reserves, the minister said, the total bauxite reserves in the freehold areas in the districts of Koraput, Raygada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Keonjhar district were estimated at 1033 million tonne. Potangi bauxite mines which is reserved for Nalco, is estimated to have a reserve of 76 million tonne.
Besides, the reserves in the leasehold areas and the areas decided for grant of mining lease are estimated to have a bauxite reserve of 688.8 million tonne, taking the total known bauxite reserve in the state to 1798 million tonne, Amat said.