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Search for atomic minerals widens in Central India
Jan 21, 2012, 05.03AM IST TNN [ Snehlata Shrivastav ]
NAGPUR: Continuing its exercise of exploring known as well as newer areas for uranium, the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) for Exploration and Research is now enhancing activities in the Satpuda - Gondwana formations,
especially in the Sarguja belt. The directorate is also focusing on increasing exploration activities in
Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh for rare earth metals like niobium (used in nuclear reactors) and
tantalum (used in electronics industry).
AMD director Pratap Singh Parihar told
TOI that the central region (Nagpur
office) of the directorate covering some
parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh and Odisha had long been
exploring for uranium in the Gondwana formations in Central India.
Recently, it has enhanced its activities in the Satpuda-Gondwana formations, especially in Sarguja district in Chhattisgarh.
Central region has already been working in Sarguja, Indravati and Jagdalpur areas in Chhattisgarh, and Nalpani area in Durg district. The directorate is also drilling for uranium in Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Karnataka. "We are targeting extension areas in the
already known presence of uranium in
these Satupda-Gondwana formations.
The signatures of mineral were already there. We are now going for more detailed investigations of migmatite rock types, known to contain uranium. Drilling work has already begun in some areas," he said. Parihar was in the city to inaugurate a science expo organized by Raman Science Centre.
AMD is also shifting its focus towards rare earth metals, especially niobium and tantalum. These metals are already
known in these states in certain areas.
The directorate is now concentrating the search in detailed manner in the established areas. "We are getting good
results at Marlagalam in Mandya district in Karnataka," commented Parihar. Niobium is a metal used as an alloy in nuclear reactors and is hence important for AMD while tantalum is used in the electronics industry.
One of the biggest achievement of the
directorate in the recent past has been
establishing presence of as much as
62,000 tons of uranium at 450 parts per
million concentration from earlier known occurrence of 15,000 tons in Kadappa district in Andhra Pradesh. In fact, Uranium Corporation India
Limited (UCIL) has already constructed an underground mine at Tummalapalle. The commercial production of uranium may commence any time this year.
Jan 21, 2012, 05.03AM IST TNN [ Snehlata Shrivastav ]
NAGPUR: Continuing its exercise of exploring known as well as newer areas for uranium, the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) for Exploration and Research is now enhancing activities in the Satpuda - Gondwana formations,
especially in the Sarguja belt. The directorate is also focusing on increasing exploration activities in
Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh for rare earth metals like niobium (used in nuclear reactors) and
tantalum (used in electronics industry).
AMD director Pratap Singh Parihar told
TOI that the central region (Nagpur
office) of the directorate covering some
parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh and Odisha had long been
exploring for uranium in the Gondwana formations in Central India.
Recently, it has enhanced its activities in the Satpuda-Gondwana formations, especially in Sarguja district in Chhattisgarh.
Central region has already been working in Sarguja, Indravati and Jagdalpur areas in Chhattisgarh, and Nalpani area in Durg district. The directorate is also drilling for uranium in Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Karnataka. "We are targeting extension areas in the
already known presence of uranium in
these Satupda-Gondwana formations.
The signatures of mineral were already there. We are now going for more detailed investigations of migmatite rock types, known to contain uranium. Drilling work has already begun in some areas," he said. Parihar was in the city to inaugurate a science expo organized by Raman Science Centre.
AMD is also shifting its focus towards rare earth metals, especially niobium and tantalum. These metals are already
known in these states in certain areas.
The directorate is now concentrating the search in detailed manner in the established areas. "We are getting good
results at Marlagalam in Mandya district in Karnataka," commented Parihar. Niobium is a metal used as an alloy in nuclear reactors and is hence important for AMD while tantalum is used in the electronics industry.
One of the biggest achievement of the
directorate in the recent past has been
establishing presence of as much as
62,000 tons of uranium at 450 parts per
million concentration from earlier known occurrence of 15,000 tons in Kadappa district in Andhra Pradesh. In fact, Uranium Corporation India
Limited (UCIL) has already constructed an underground mine at Tummalapalle. The commercial production of uranium may commence any time this year.
