Lok Sabha Question No. 396 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-17
Subject: Mineral Exploration Targets
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: HARI MANJHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 396 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 th  November, 2016

## MINERAL EXPLORATION TARGETS

## 396. SHRI HARI MANJHI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to undertake mineral exploration in a planned and time-bound manner, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of mineral exploration targets fixed and achievements made during the year 2015-16 and 2016-17, so far, mineral wise;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the role played by the geologists in raising the standard of exploration in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A  N   S  W  E  R

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINES, POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) & (b): Yes. Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of the Ministry of  Mines,  takes  up  mineral  exploration  work  through  its  annual  field  season programs  (FSP).  GSI  also  ensures  that  regional  and  detailed  exploration  is carried out systematically in a time bound manner following the United Nations Framework  Classification  (UNFC)  guidelines  (G4,  G3,  G2  &  G1  stages  of exploration).  Further,  GSI  carries  out  off  shore  mineral  investigation  in  the territorial  waters  (TW)  and  exclusive  economic  zone  (EEZ)  of  India  using  its research vessels as per its annual field season programs.

Besides, Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), a PSU under Ministry of  Mines  is  also  carrying  out  exploration  by  promotional  funding  of  Ministry  of Mines and Ministry of Coal as per plans and timelines set by the government.

Mineral wise Target vs Achievement of GSI for FS 2015-16, and Target for FS 2016-17 is Annexed.

## Mineral-wise physical targets and achievements of MECL are as follows:

|                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                | FY 2015-16                                                                                                                     | FY 2015-16                                                                                                                     | FY 2016-17                                                                                                                     | FY 2016-17   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                                                                        | Mineral                                                                                                                        | Target                                                                                                                         | Actual Achievement                                                                                                             | Target                                                                                                                         | Achievem ent |
|                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                | Drilling (m)                                                                                                                   | Drilling (m)                                                                                                                   | Drilling (m)                                                                                                                   | Drilling (m) |
| Through promotional funding of Ministry of Mines, Mineral Exploration Fund (MEF) and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) | Through promotional funding of Ministry of Mines, Mineral Exploration Fund (MEF) and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) | Through promotional funding of Ministry of Mines, Mineral Exploration Fund (MEF) and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) | Through promotional funding of Ministry of Mines, Mineral Exploration Fund (MEF) and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) | Through promotional funding of Ministry of Mines, Mineral Exploration Fund (MEF) and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) |              |
| 1                                                                                                                              | Gold                                                                                                                           | 2560                                                                                                                           | 2868                                                                                                                           | 3,000                                                                                                                          | -            |
| 2                                                                                                                              | Copper                                                                                                                         | 5260                                                                                                                           | 3439                                                                                                                           | 5,000                                                                                                                          | 1,076        |
| 3                                                                                                                              | Lead - Zinc & Copper                                                                                                           | 1280                                                                                                                           | 108                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                              | -            |
| 4                                                                                                                              | Molybdenum                                                                                                                     | -                                                                                                                              | 2894                                                                                                                           | 1,000                                                                                                                          | 1,207        |
| 5                                                                                                                              | Potash                                                                                                                         | -                                                                                                                              | 166                                                                                                                            | 5,000                                                                                                                          | 874          |
| 6                                                                                                                              | Iron                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                              | -                                                                                                                              | 7,500                                                                                                                          | 2457         |
| 7                                                                                                                              | Limestone                                                                                                                      | -                                                                                                                              | -                                                                                                                              | 1,500                                                                                                                          | 827          |
|                                                                                                                                | Total                                                                                                                          | 9100                                                                                                                           | 9475                                                                                                                           | 23000                                                                                                                          | 6441         |

(c) & (d):  Yes. GSI continuously upgrades the knowledge and skill of its geoscientists and upgrades  its  equipment  of  field  survey  and  laboratories  as  per  the  global  practice. Geoscientists of GSI are provided with the state-of-the-art training, the logistic support, latest field equipment and laboratory support for achieving the objectives of the projects or activity they  are  involved  in  as  per  the  field  season  programmes.  Besides,  the  government  also encourages  collaborations  with  global  exploration  agencies  for  knowledge  sharing  and technological upgradation.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.396 REGARDING MINERAL EXPLORATION ASKED BY SHRI HARI MANJHI FOR ANSWER ON 17.11.2016

## Commodity wise Target vs Achievement of GSI for FS 2015-16 and Target for FS 2016-17

|                                                  |                             | Target vs Achievement for FS 2015-16   | Target vs Achievement for FS 2015-16   | Target vs Achievement for FS 2015-16   | Target vs Achievement for FS 2015-16   | Target vs Achievement for FS 2015-16   | Target vs Achievement for FS 2015-16   | Target vs Achievement FS 2016-17   | Target vs Achievement FS 2016-17   | Target vs Achievement FS 2016-17   | Target vs Achievement FS 2016-17   |
|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Group                                            | Commodity                   | No. of Programs                        | LSM in sq km                           | LSM in sq km                           | DM in sq km                            | DM in sq km                            | Drilling inm                           | No. of Programs                    | LSM in sq km                       | DM in sq km                        | Drilling inm                       |
| Group                                            | Commodity                   | Target                                 | Achvmt.                                | Target                                 | Achvmt.                                | Target                                 | Achvmt.                                | No. of Programs                    | LSM in sq km                       | DM in sq km                        | Drilling inm                       |
| Ferrous                                          | Iron 13                     | 624.00                                 | 730.00                                 | 7.34                                   | 6.70                                   | 12500                                  | 5150.05                                | 24                                 |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Ferrous                                          | Manganese 2                 |                                        |                                        | 3.50                                   | 3.50                                   |                                        |                                        | 8                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Ferrous                                          | Chromite / Chromium 2       | 50.00                                  | 50.00                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 2                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Non- Ferrous                                     | Basemetal 25                | 835.00                                 | 872.00                                 | 11.95                                  | 12.18                                  | 17100                                  | 12022.60                               | 25                                 |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Non- Ferrous                                     | Bauxite 5                   | 50.00                                  | 50.00                                  | 6.50                                   | 6.55                                   | 1980                                   | 2022.25                                | 12                                 |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Precious                                         | Gold 22                     | 775.00                                 | 805.00                                 | 11.50                                  | 10.43                                  | 8106.70                                | 6450.55                                | 24                                 |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Precious                                         | Diamond 9                   | 50.00                                  | 50.00                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 4                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Precious                                         | PGE 8                       | 400.00                                 | 400.00                                 | 1.50                                   | 1.50                                   | 2800.                                  | 2607.65                                | 2                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Precious                                         | Cobalt 1                    | 100.00                                 | 102.00                                 |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | -                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
|                                                  | Tin, Tungsten, Molybdenum 8 | 200.00                                 | 208.00                                 | 8.90                                   | 9.05                                   | 3500                                   | 2492.85                                | 6                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
|                                                  | REE & RM 14                 | 935.00                                 | 946.00                                 | 6.50                                   | 6.90                                   | 1500                                   | 921.70                                 | 13                                 |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Fertilizer                                       | Potash 1                    | 150.00                                 | 97.00                                  |                                        |                                        | 300                                    | 130.00                                 | 2                                  | Target:                            | Target:                            | Target:                            |
| Fertilizer                                       | Glauconite 3                | 200.00                                 | 200.00                                 | 1.00                                   | 1.00                                   | 1000                                   | 1015.00                                | 2                                  | 4,934                              | 154.24                             | 1,65,135                           |
| Fertilizer                                       | Gypsum 3                    | 225.00                                 | 227.00                                 | 1.00                                   | 1.00                                   |                                        |                                        | -                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Fertilizer                                       | Phosphorite 1               | 100.00                                 | 100.00                                 | 0.75                                   | 1.85                                   | 200                                    | 0.00                                   | -                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Dunite 1                    |                                        |                                        | 5.00                                   | 5.00                                   | 800                                    | 757.95                                 | -                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Graphite 3                  | 55.00                                  | 55.00                                  | 0.75                                   | 0.76                                   | 3000                                   | 3378.05                                | 2                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Limestone 8                 | 225.00                                 | 204.00                                 | 38.50                                  | 38.05                                  | 11200                                  | 9870.75                                | 22                                 |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Pyrophyllite 1              | 100.00                                 | 100.00                                 |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | -                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Andalusite 1                |                                        |                                        | 1.00                                   | 1.22                                   | 2000.00                                | 1994.05                                | 2                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Sandstone 1                 | 50.00                                  | 51.00                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | -                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | 1                           | 50.00                                  | 55.00                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | -                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Dimension Stone Glass Sand  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 1                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Barite                      |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 1                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Quartzite                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 1                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Industrial                                       | Clay                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 1                                  |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Coal & Lignite                                   | Coal 28                     | 699.98                                 | 614.98                                 |                                        |                                        | 47500.25                               | 45149.11                               | 19                                 |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| Coal & Lignite                                   | Lignite                     |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 7800.00                                | 8852.40                                |                                    |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| TOTAL                                            | 160                         | 5873.98                                | 5916.98                                | 105.69                                 | 105.69                                 | 1,21,286.95                            | 1,02,814.96                            | 173                                | T:4,934 Ach: 1161                  | T:154.24 Ach: 30.5                 | T:1,65,135 Ach: 71,364             |
| Preliminary Mineral Investigation within EEZ (in | sq km) 11                   |                                        | 15,000                                 |                                        |                                        | 15,819                                 |                                        | 17                                 |                                    | T;25,000 Ach:5891                  |                                    |