GSI to submit report on sand mineral deposits; tenders for exploration soon

The Geological Survey of India (GSI), which recently identified rich deposits of rare and valuable heavy sand minerals in 160 blocks along the Andhra Pradesh coastline having

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Geological Survey of India (GSI), which recently identified rich deposits of rare and valuable heavy sand minerals in 160 blocks along the Andhra Pradesh coastline having an estimated volume of 38,642 million tonnes, will submit a report of its findings to the Centre on Friday. 
The estimated value of these deposits has been pegged at `46,000 crore.

“As a whole, the AP coastline has 160 blocks of rare and heavy minerals including 24 at Bheemili area and 13 near Pudimadaka. These two areas contain nearly 4,302 million tonnes of deposits which may be valued at `6,000 crore on exploration,” N Kutumba Rao, Director General (DG) of GSI, said. 
After the government approves the report, global tenders are likely to be floated for exploration of minerals, he added. The GSI said the valuable minerals include zirconium, garnet, alumilite, sillimanite, rutile, traces of monazite and titanium dioxide. 

These mineral deposits were located at a depth 10 metres in the sea. To work on deep water research projects and for exploration at depths of 300 metres, the GSI signed an agreement with Vietnam for purchase of an ultra-modern deep water exploration capacity ‘Geo Technical Vessel’ (GTV) at an estimated cost of `250 crore.

“At present, we are able to go to a depth of only 100 metres. To acquire the capacity to penetrate much deeper, we are getting a GTV with advanced technologies. This GTV is now at the construction stage and is likely to be brought into service by the end of 2019,” GV Vidyasagar, Deputy DG-Vizag revealed.

L46,000-cr findings  
Some rare substances are:
 Titanium is used for making aeroplanes, rockets and spare parts and for medical apparatus
 Garnet is widely used in jewellery making as well as sandblasting, gem cutting and in water treatment plants
 Zirconium is used in manufacturing atomic reactor spare parts
 Alumilite products are used by paleontologists and  museums for restoration 
and preservation of fossils

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